Ultrasound-Guided Placement of Central Venous Port Systems via the Right Internal Jugular Vein: Are Chest X-Ray and/or Fluoroscopy Needed to Confirm the Correct Placement of the Device?

Background: Percutaneous central venous port (CVP) placement using ultrasound-guidance (USG) via right internal jugular vein is described as a safe and effective procedure. The aim of this study is to determine whether intraoperative fluoroscopy (IF) and/or postoperative chest X-ray (CXR) are required to confirm the correct position of the catheter.

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2014, 302 adult patients underwent elective CVP system placement under USG.

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma of the thigh. A case report.

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (DF) is an extremely rare benign soft tissue tumor, prevalent in adult men, mostly arising in deep regions of extremities. The tumor presents with a slowly growing and no recurrence or metastases after surgical excision. Histologically, DF is characterized by a collagenous stroma that contains spindle- and stellated-shaped fibroblastic cells positive for vimentin.

Anastomotic leakage and septic complications: impact on local recurrence in surgery of low rectal cancer.

Purpose: We thought to determine the influence of anastomotic leakages (AL) and septic complications (SC) on the incidence of local recurrence (LR) in patients undergoing curative surgery for rectal cancer.

Methods: The records of 479 patients (286 male, 193 female; median age 67 years) who received, between 1966 and 1975 (Group A) and 1976 and 1985 (Group B), curative surgery for middle to low rectal cancer were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received mesorectal excision in the course of abdominoperineal excision (Group A) and of anterior resection with colorectal anastomosis (Group B).

Surgical treatment of hydatid disease of the liver: 25 years of experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of conservative and radical treatment of liver hydatid disease.

Methods: Records of patients who underwent surgery for liver hydatid disease between 1980 and 2005 were reviewed. Outcomes measured were operative morbidity and mortality, hospital stay, and recurrence.

Cerebral ependymoma in a patient with multiple sclerosis case report and critical review of the literature.

Background: The concurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and brain tumors is a rare but well-recognized condition. The radiologic evidence of the progressive evolution of a mega-plaque in a tumor has never been described. We report the first case of such an occurrence.

Intra-operative ultrasound for detection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intra-operative ultrasound (IOUS) imaging in detecting liver secondaries at the time of primary colorectal surgery and to evaluate the impact of IOUS on patient management.

Methods: Data from 167 patients with primary colorectal cancer who were admitted for elective surgery between January 1995 and December 2003 were prospectively evaluated and analysed. All patients underwent pre-operative abdominal ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT), as well as IOUS.

Anterior cervical fusion with interbody titanium cage containing surgical bone site graft: our institution's experience in 103 consecutive cases of degenerative spondylosis.

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether anterior cervical fusion performed using BAK-C cage is a safe and effective method in the treatment of degenerative cervical disorders. Between 1998 and 2001, a consecutive series of 103 patients underwent anterior cervical fusion with titanium cage for cervical radiculopathy and/or spondylotic myelopathy. All the patients underwent single-level surgery.

A case of intraroot cauda equina cavernous angioma: clinical considerations.

Study Design: Case report and literature review.

Objective: Intradural-extramedullary cavernoma is a rare condition with only 23 cases reported in the literature. Most cases described adhere to spinal root or spinal cord.

Papillary glioneuronal tumor. Case report and literature review.

Objective And Importance: Papillary glioneuronal tumor is a recently described neoplasm composed of gliovascular pseudopapillae associated with intervening neuronal cells ranging from neurocytes to ganglion cells. This tumor is not currently included in the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system. We describe a new case of papillary glioneuronal tumor and analyze the data for a series of further 15 patients from international literature.

Meningiomas infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus: surgical considerations of 328 cases.

The aim of the study was to discuss our management strategy and results of patients affected by meningiomas infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus. We describe 328 patients with meningiomas that were infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus. All the patients were surgically treated.

Extrathecal intraradicular nerve sheath tumor.

Object: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical profile of patients harboring extrathecal and intraradicular nerve sheath tumors (NSTs), located inside the sleeve of an extrathecal nerve root and very often within the proximal portion of the spinal nerve, and to evaluate the incidence of long-term dysfunction of the tumor-affected roots if resected. These tumors have not received particular attention in the literature.

Methods: A single-institution series of 16 patients who had undergone surgery for intraradicular NSTs during a 50-year period was selected retrospectively.

The role of echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of heart failure.

Heart failure has emerged as one of the most pressing health care issues in the United States. It is estimated that 4.8 million people have chronic heart failure, and approximately 400,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Prospective evaluation of omentoplasty in preventing leakage of colorectal anastomosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of omentoplasty, by means of intact omentum, in preventing anastomotic leakages after rectal resection.

Methods: Between 1992 and 1997 a total of 112 patients (64 males) with a mean age of 64.7 (range, 39-83) years were randomly assigned to undergo omentoplasty (Group A) or not (Group B) to reinforce the colorectal anastomosis after anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Rectal cancer and inguinal metastases: prognostic role and therapeutic indications.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of patients with inguinal metastases from rectal cancer.

Methods: Clinical records and data concerning the follow-up of patients referred to our institution for rectal cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into four groups based on the time interval between first admission and appearance of inguinal metastases.

Diastolic heart failure: standard Doppler approach and beyond.

Evidence of normal systolic left ventricular function has been reported in up to 30-40% of patients with clinical signs of congestive heart failure, suggesting that diastolic dysfunction is an important predictor of prognosis and mortality. Doppler echocardiography as a noninvasive diagnostic procedure is able to provide immediate and relevant information on functional and structural changes underlying the clinical syndrome of heart failure. Four distinct early filling/late diastole (E/A) ratio patterns (normal, delayed relaxation, pseudonormal, restrictive) can be discerned if viewed within the context of other available clinical information.

Antimesenteric perforations of the colon during diverticular disease: possible pathogenetic role of ischemia.

Unlabelled: The pathogenesis of free perforations occurring on the antimesenteric border of the pelvic colon during the course of diverticular disease has received little attention, with most being generically referred to as diverticular perforations.

Purpose: This study was designed to identify the pathogenetic factors responsible for free perforations that may occur in the antimesenteric intertenial area during the course of diverticular disease.

Methods: Vascular alterations of the colonic wall associated with diverticula and open antimesenteric perforations were analyzed.

Oxygen effect on O2 deficit and VO2 kinetics during exercise in obstructive pulmonary disease.

We evaluated the effect of supplemental O2 on energy metabolism of hypoxemic humans by measuring O2 uptake (VO2) kinetics and other cardiorespiratory parameters in nine male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and seven age-matched control subjects (on air and on 30% O2) at rest and during moderate cycle ergometer exercise. Heart rate, ventilation, VO2, CO2 output, respiratory exchange ratio, O2 cost of work, and work efficiency were measured with a computerized metabolic cart; O2 deficit and VO2 time courses were calculated. In COPD patients, 30% O2 breathing resulted in 1) reduction of O2 deficit (from 488 +/- 34 ml in air to 398 +/- 27 ml in O2; P < 0.