Robot-assisted gynecological surgery in a community setting.

The objective of this study is to review our experience using the da Vinci robotic system to perform various gynecological surgeries for benign indications. Between July 2005 and April 2008, 110 patients underwent robot-assisted gynecological surgeries in Rochester General Hospital, NY. The records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed by an independent data collector to analyze the safety, effectiveness, and outcome of the surgeries done using the robotic system.

Intravascular ultrasound assessment of longitudinal plaque distribution patterns in patients with angiographically silent coronary artery disease after heart transplantation.

Aims: The purpose of this three-dimensional intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) study was to assess longitudinal plaque distribution patterns in patients with angiographically silent coronary artery disease (CAD) after heart transplantation (HTX).

Methods And Results: Out of 334 patients without diameter stenosis >/=25% determined by coronary angiography, 321 underwent successful three-dimensional ICUS (30 MHz) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and all segments of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Early plaque formation was found in 296 patients (92.

Shear stress and vascular remodeling: study of cardiac allograft coronary artery disease as a model of diffuse atherosclerosis.

Background: The assessment of remodeling in diffuse atherosclerosis by intravascular ultrasound is hampered by the lack of an appropriate reference segment. Transplant coronary artery disease is an accepted model of diffuse atherosclerosis. Flow-dependent remodeling is regulated by shear stress.