A clinical case of Fournier gangrene.

Objective: To present a case of Fournier gangrene and the specific surgical therapy

Case Presentation: A 71-year old patient with a two days history of pain in the perineal region, swelling, developing necrosis and foul-smelling lesions was examined in emergency settings. The swelling of subcutaneous plane involved the flank regions, mainly on the left side. The investigations were performed (full blood count, blood urea, electrolytes, coagulation profile).

Delayed venous repair for distal phalanx replantation.

Background: Vein anastomosis is the most important factor determining the success in the replantation of distal phalanx amputations. It is very difficult to find the collapsed veins and to perform vein anastomosis immediately after arterial repair. We have chosen to delay the vein repair between 30 minutes and 1 hour to give time to the veins to expand to a more reasonable diameter for repair.

Systemic inflammation and early atheroma formation: are they related?

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease started by endothelial injury and defined by arterial wall load with free and esterified cholesterol, followed by subintimal focal recruitment of circulating monocytes and T-lymphocytes that heals by fibrosis and calcification. Inflammation plays a crucial role in atherogenesis either by local cellular mechanisms or humoral consequences easily measurable in plasma. In most cases inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are triggered by cardiovascular risk factors: hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking or diabetes.

Training program and learning curve in experimental microsurgery during the residency in plastic surgery.

This article presents a comparison of microsurgical training of groups with different background. A protocol based on the rat femoral arterial anastomoses was used to provide an objective representation of the microsurgical skills progress. The performance is assessed by consistent (x4) patency of a standardized anastomosis.

Prognostic value of heart rate variability after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be influenced by autonomic dysfunction that can be evaluated by assessment of heart rate variability (HRV). Its predictive value resulted from studies performed prior to large scale use of reperfusion therapy. We assessed the prognostic value of HRV parameters 1 year after AMI in patients treated conventionally or by a reperfusion method in the first 12 hours from onset.