Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with novel H1N1 influenza virus infection.

The cardiac effects imposed by the novel H1N1 influenza strain have not been elucidated until now. Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities were evaluated in a series of 50 patients with confirmed novel H1N1 influenza infection. Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, laboratory correlations, and the effect ECG abnormalities may exert on disease outcomes were prospectively studied.

Subacute thyroiditis in the course of novel H1N1 influenza infection.

To describe the first documented case of subacute (De Quervain) thyroiditis in the course of novel H1N1 influenza infection. This is a case report of a patient diagnosed at the General Hospital "G. Hatzikosta" of Ioannina, Greece.

Evaluations of laparoscopic proctocolectomy versus traditional technique in patients with rectal cancer.

Background: This was a retrospective study that evaluated the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LS) for rectal cancer, in comparison with a case control series of open surgery (OS), during an 8-year period.

Methodology: Between October 1998 and December 2006, 203 patients with rectal malignancies underwent colectomy; 146 of them had colectomy with the traditional technique (OS), while 57 underwent resection of rectal cancer laparoscopically (LS). The LS group was compared with 60 patients from the OS group (selected from the 146 OS group patients), matched by size, sex, age, anatomical location of the tumor, type, extent of resection, and pathological stage.

Different pain scores in single transumbilical incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus classic laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The attempt to further reduce operative trauma in laparoscopic cholecystectomy has led to new techniques such as natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). These new techniques are considered to be painless procedures, but no published studies investigate the possibility of different pain scores in these new techniques versus classic laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this randomized control study, we investigated pain scores in SILS cholecystectomy versus classic laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Evolution of Fabry disease in male patients: the Greek experience.

Fabry disease is a progressive metabolic disorder with a clinical course characterized by different phases and a variety of disease manifestations. The first symptoms generally appear in childhood or early adolescence and are followed by late life-threatening complications involving vascular, renal, cardiac, and cerebral systems. We report the clinical and biochemical characteristics of 16 male patients from 10 unrelated families who represent almost the entire cohort of known Fabry patients in Greece.

Video-thoracoscopic management of a postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula.

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) after pneumonectomy is a well-known, dreaded complication associated with a high mortality rate. We present a case of video-assisted thoracoscopic management of a silent, small BPF. After thoracoscopic removal of all debris and inflammatory tissues, the identified BPF was successfully sealed by thoracoscopic instillation of tissue glue.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication combined with posterior gastropexy in surgical treatment of GERD.

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) has become established as the procedure of choice in the surgical management of the majority of patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Postoperative paraesophageal herniation has an incidence range up to 7% in the immediate postoperative period.

Aim: A prospective randomized trial was scheduled to study the role of posterior gastropexy, in combination with LNF, in prevention of paraesophageal herniation and improvement of postoperative results in surgical treatment of GERD.

Reappearance of viral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in northwestern Greece.

Background: Minor outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) with renal failure have occurred in northwestern Greece over past decades. However, during the most recent decade, there has been a paucity of human cases despite the detection of hantavirus in rodents of this area.

Case Reports: We present herein the cases of two patients with VHF, arising in the same area, hospitalized for a short period of time.

A severe coarctation of aorta in a 72-year-old female: a case report.

Aortic coarctation is a congenital malformation of the aorta usually diagnosed and corrected early in life. Long-term survival is exceptional in patients with untreated aortic coarctation. In this case report, we present a late diagnosis of aortic coarctation in a 72-year-old female.

Surgical management of nonparasitic splenic cysts.

Nonparasitic splenic cysts require a totally different type of surgical management than that of parasitic cysts. Three cases of nonparasitic splenic cysts and their surgical management by the open and laparoscopic approaches are presented. The surgical technique and review of the recent literature are discussed to demonstrate the current trends in the operative management of nonparasitic splenic cysts.

Echocardiographic evolution of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis with aorto-left atrial fistula formation.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) due to Staphylococcus aureus is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Paravalvular abscess formation is a common complication of PVE at the aortic position, but fistula formation is rarely seen. This report describes an 84-year-old patient with staphylococcal aortic PVE.

Radical therapy for muscle-infiltrating bladder cancer (cystectomy or radiotherapy): does age affect the final therapeutic benefit for the patient?

Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic outcome of radical cystectomy and radical radiotherapy in patients with T2N0M0 clinical stage bladder cancer in relation to their age.

Patients And Methods: Between 1995-2006, 119 patients with clinical stage T2N0M0 bladder cancer were treated with radical radiotherapy (group A) and were divided in 2 subgroups: >70 years old (A1) and 70 years old/B1 subgroup and View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Five-year survival in comparable HD and PD patients: one center's experience.

Several studies have yielded conflicting results regarding morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. We performed a retrospective analysis in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in our department, who were equally distributed between HD and PD, in order to compare 5-year survival probabilities and hospitalization rates in the two modalities. Of the total 94 new ESRD patients who initiated dialysis in our department from January 1995 to December 2000, 48 were allocated to PD and 46 to HD.

Video-assisted cervical mediastinoscopy: our seven-year experience.

Mediastinal exploration is a common procedure used for the diagnosis of the thoracic diseases and the staging of lung cancer. A retrospective review was performed to assess sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and morbidity of video-assisted cervical mediastinoscopy (VACM). From 1999 to 2006 a total of 139 VACMs were performed in 138 patients.

Seroma and recurrence in laparoscopic ventral hernioplasty.

Background: Recurrence after laparoscopic ventral hernioplasty is a severe problem despite surgeons' increased experience in recent years. It is well known that the main reasons for recurrences are lack of experience, bad technique, infection, and seroma. The aim of this study was to investigate the events, what caused recurrences, and the technique to prevent recurrence in laparoscopic ventral hernioplasty.

Preincisional and intraperitoneal ropivacaine plus normal saline infusion for postoperative pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.

Background: A clinical trial was designed to assess the use of preincisional and intraperitoneal ropivacaine, combined or not with normal saline, to reduce pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods: For this trial, 120 patients were randomly assigned to six groups. For all the patients, preincisional local infiltration of ropivacaine around the trocar wounds was performed.

Two-stage surgical treatment of unresectable obstructive rectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastases.

Unresectable obstructing rectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastases is usually a fatal disease. This prospective study was scheduled to treat this difficult condition using a multimodal curative strategy combined with a two-stage surgical treatment. Patients with T4N2 or N3M1 rectal cancer and hepatic metastases underwent a two-stage surgical treatment; in the first stage, a decompressing colostomy plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in liver metastases.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by surgical trainees.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess morbidity, mortality, and outcome in select patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by consultants or by Specialist Registrars (SpRs) and Senior House Officers (SHO), in the General Hospital of Ioannina 'G. Hatzikosta' in northwestern Greece.

Methods: Between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005, 1370 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed, 445 (33%) by SpRs and SHO and 925 (67%) by consultants.

The liver in brucellosis.

Background & Aims: Brucellosis involves the liver in varying ways, ranging from benign subclinical increases in serum aminotransferase levels to ominous chronic suppurative disease. Data on histopathology of the liver in brucellosis are scarce and contradictory. We sought to determine the liver histologic patterns present in a series of brucellosis patients and review the existing knowledge about liver involvement in this worldwide, prevalent zoonotic infection.

Horton's three sisters: familial clustering of temporal arteritis.

The authors describe 3 histologically confirmed cases of temporal arteritis occurring in three siblings aged 62-72 years old, diagnosed from 1999 to 2005. Chapel Hill publication surrogate parameters combined with the American College of Rheumatology criteria for vasculitis were used in the diagnostic procedure. The diagnosis of temporal vasculitis was confirmed by right occipital artery excision and demonstration of relevant histopathology.

Diltiazem-induced eosinophilic pleural effusion.

A 68-year-old woman developed eosinophilic pleural effusion and systemic eosinophilia 2 months after starting antihypertensive therapy with diltiazem. Several drugs are known to cause this disorder; however, the only other drug the patient had been taking was clonidine, which she had taken for the past 3-4 years. She was evaluated for all other possible causes of eosinophilia and eosinophilic pleural effusion, including malignancy, infection, and autoimmune disorders.

Intrathoracic cancer of the splenic flexure.

Blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm is a well known but uncommon event of thoracoabdominal traumatic injuries. It occurs in 1-5% of polytrauma patients and requires a high degree of suspicion for a rapid diagnosis. The frequency of delayed diagnosis is difficult to be estimated and up to 30% of blunt diaphragmatic ruptures present late.

Long-term follow-up of patients with adult-onset Still's disease.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Methods: Eleven patients with AOSD who were regularly followed-up during the past 13 years, even after discontinuation of treatment, were evaluated for the long-term prognosis of the disease and its possible complications.

Results: No exacerbation of the symptoms was noted during therapy.