Endoscopic vein harvesting: a guide for approaching difficult cases and assessing patients preoperatively.

Coronary artery bypass grafting remains the most commonly performed cardiac surgical procedure worldwide. The long saphenous vein still presides as the first choice conduit as a second graft in multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Traditionally, the long saphenous vein has been harvested with an open approach which can potentially result in significant wound complications in certain circumstances.

Red blood cell transfusions and the survival in patients with cancer undergoing curative surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Allogenic red blood cell transfusions exert a potential detrimental effect on the survival when delivered to cancer patients undergoing surgery with curative intent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between perioperative allogenic red blood cell transfusions and risk of death as well as relapse after surgery for localized solid tumors. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched from inception to March 2019 for studies reporting the outcome of patients receiving transfusions during radical surgery for non-metastatic cancer.

The reality of general surgery training and increased complexity of abdominal wall hernia surgery.

Introduction: The Accreditation and Certification of Hernia Centers and Surgeons (ACCESS) Group of the European Hernia Society (EHS) recognizes that there is a growing need to train specialist abdominal wall surgeons. The most important and relevant argument for this proposal and statement is the growing acceptance of the increasing complexity of abdominal wall surgery due to newer techniques, more challenging cases and the required 'tailored' approach to such surgery. There is now also an increasing public awareness with social media, whereby optimal treatment results are demanded by patients.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of the Elastic Properties of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm.

Objective: To evaluate the aortic wall elasticity using the maximal rate of systolic distension (MRSD) and maximal rate of diastolic recoil (MRDR) and their correlation with the aortic size index (ASI).

Methods: Forty-eight patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were enrolled in this study. A standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol was used to calculate MRSD and MRDR.

Accreditation and certification requirements for hernia centers and surgeons: the ACCESS project.

Introduction: There is a need for hernia centers and specialist hernia surgeons because of the increasing complexity of hernia surgery procedures due to new techniques, more difficult cases and a tailored approach with an increasing public awareness demanding optimal treatment results. Therefore, the requirements for accredited/certified hernia centers and specialist hernia surgeons should be formulated by the international and national hernia societies, while taking account of the respective health care systems.

Methods: The European Hernia Society (EHS) has appointed a working group composed of 18 hernia experts from all regions of Europe (ACCESS Group-Hernia Accreditation and Certification of Centers and Surgeons-Working Group) to formulate scientifically based requirements for hernia centers and specialist hernia surgeons while taking into consideration different health care systems.

Minimally Invasive Redo-Aortic Valve Replacement: Reduced Operative Times as Compared to Full Sternotomy.

Objectives: Increasing experience with minimally invasive cardiac (MIC) aortic valve (AV) replacement makes AV reoperations (rAVR) an appealing alternative to conventional redo surgery. The aim of the study was to compare the perioperative outcome after isolated MIC versus full-sternotomy (FS) rAVR.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 116 patients from three centers who underwent rAVR by using a FS ( = 70, 60.

Weaning from veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: how I do it.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is a rescue treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) failing protective mechanical ventilation. It temporarily provides proper gas exchange: hypoxia is treated by adjusting the blood flow rate and fraction in spired oxygen over the ventilator (FiO) on the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit while CO removal is regulated by the ECMO fresh gas flow. Therefore, ventilator settings can be gradually reduced allowing the lungs to rest and recover.

Global Outreach Using a Systematic, Competency-Based Training Paradigm for Inguinal Hernioplasty.

Importance: Sustainable, capacity-building educational collaborations are essential to address the global burden of surgical disease.

Objective: To assess an international, competency-based training paradigm for hernia surgery in underserved countries.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this prospective, observational study performed from November 1, 2013, through October 31, 2015, at 16 hospitals in Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic, surgeons completed initial training programs in hernia repair, underwent interval proficiency assessments, and were appointed regional trainers.

Effects of fenoldopam mesylate on central hemodynamics and renal flow in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: color Doppler echocardiographic evaluation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 0.1 microg/kg/min of fenoldopam mesylate on renal flow and central hemodynamics measured by echocardiography in hemodynamically stable patients with preserved renal function undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: Experimental observational study.

Haemolysis due to active venous drainage during cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison of two different techniques.

To facilitate mini-access for cardiac surgery, two different methods of active venous drainage are used: vacuum assisted drainage and centrifugal pump aspiration on the venous line. The aim of this study was to compare the haemolysis produced using these two techniques. From June to December 1999, 50 consecutive patients were operated on using a ministernotomy.