Biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation after minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: a prospective comparison to conventional surgery.

Objectives: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques are increasingly used but have longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, which may increase inflammatory response and negatively affect coagulation. Our aim was to compare biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation as well as transfusion rates after minimally invasive mitral valve repair and mitral valve surgery using conventional sternotomy.

Design: A prospective non-randomized study was performed enrolling 71 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery (35 right mini-thoracotomy and 36 conventional sternotomy procedures).

The worst-case scenario: Bridging repair with a biologic mesh in high-risk patients with very large abdominal wall hernias-a prospective multicenter study.

Background: While modern techniques allow midline fascial closure for most abdominal hernias, a bridge repair with mesh may be the only alternative in very large defects. When the risk of infection is high, the use of prosthetic mesh is controversial. We aim to examine outcomes after bridge repair of very large abdominal hernias at high risk for postoperative infection with a second-generation biologic mesh.

[Early outcome of surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in Icelandic females].

Introduction: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) is the second most common open-heart procedure performed in Iceland. The aim of this study was to analyze the early outcome of AVR among females in Iceland.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study including 428 patients who underwent surgical AVR due to AS in Iceland from 2002-2013.

Unexplained cough: it is time to rule out Sjogren's syndrome.

Sjogren's syndrome is associated with chronic cough, but sicca symptoms are missing from cough evaluation guidelines. We evaluated patients with unexplained cough for undiagnosed Sjogren's syndrome. Patients referred to our pulmonary clinic (Sheba Medical Center, 2009 to 2012) with unexplained cough and concomitant dry eyes were selected for evaluation.

The Effect of Nasal Tip Rotation on Upper Lip Length.

Background: Increasing the nasolabial angle (NLA) with tip rotation generates the appearance of a lengthened lower facial third. In particular, the upper lip show seems increased following elevation of the nasal tip.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to quantify the impact of tip rotation on upper lip length (ULL), and to establish a predictable correlation between the two.

Sensitivity of quantitative EEG for seizure identification in the intensive care unit.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of quantitative EEG (QEEG) for electrographic seizure identification in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Six-hour EEG epochs chosen from 15 patients underwent transformation into QEEG displays. Each epoch was reviewed in 3 formats: raw EEG, QEEG + raw, and QEEG-only.

Advances in the Treatment of Syndromic Midface Hypoplasia Using Monobloc and Facial Bipartition Distraction Osteogenesis.

Midface hypoplasia or retrusion remains a persistent feature of syndromic craniosynostosis years after successful treatment of the cranium. Although expansion of the cranial vault in infancy by traditional fronto-orbital advancement, posterior expansion, or both, can treat the immediate intracranial constriction, midface hypoplasia and its stigmata of exorbitism, sleep apnea, central face concavity, and malocclusion remain suboptimally treated. Initial enthusiasm for the procedures was tempered due to a high rate of infectious complications; timing and indications for surgery continue to stir controversy.

Mycobacterium avium Complex Infection in a Patient with Sickle Cell Disease and Severe Iron Overload.

A 34-year-old female with sickle cell anemia (hemoglobin SS disease) and severe iron overload presented to our institution with the subacute presentation of recurrent pain crisis, fever of unknown origin, pancytopenia, and weight loss. A CT scan demonstrated both lung and liver nodules concerning for granulomatous disease. Subsequent biopsies of the liver and bone marrow confirmed the presence of noncaseating granulomas and blood cultures isolated Mycobacterium avium complex MAC.

Vaccine myths and misconceptions.

Communicable diseases are on the rise worldwide. Some of the increase in prevalence of these nearly eradicated diseases is due to a decrease in vaccination rates. This decrease is primarily due to parental concerns over vaccine safety and the increasing rates of autism spectrum disorders.

Is imaging the extremities with PEM feasible? A novel application for a high-resolution positron emission scanner.

Introduction: Positron emission mammography (PEM) has better spatial resolution than positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), or PET/CT. We evaluated the feasibility of extremity imaging with PEM using PET as a standard.

Methods/materials: Fourteen patients underwent sequential PET/CT and PEM.

Methemoglobinemia in a newborn: a case report.

The purpose of this report was to describe a case of methemoglobinemia involving different systemic complications as a result of local anesthetic injection with lidocaine in a 2-day-old female patient. Acquired methemoglobinemia is considered a major, potentially life-threatening complication. There are several reports of this complication related to anesthetic agents, most commonly prilocaine and benzocaine.

Evaluation of various maneuvers for prevention of air embolism during central venous catheter placement.

This study is designed to evaluate the various physiologic maneuvers (Valsalva, humming, breath-hold) for the potential prevention of air embolism during central venous catheter placement. Central venous pressure measurements were prospectively obtained in 40 patients undergoing central venous catheter placement. The average central venous pressure at baseline was 3.

Pelosi-type vs. traditional cesarean delivery. A prospective comparison.

Objective: To determine the effect of a simplified method of cesarean delivery on postoperative febrile morbidity, operative time, blood loss, total cost and length of hospital stay at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Study Design: From March 22, 1997, until September 26, 1997, 304 consecutive primary low transverse cesarean deliveries were evaluated at Yale New Haven Hospital. The patient age, duration of ruptured membranes, use of prophylactic antibiotics, operative times, blood loss, major complications, analgesic use, diet advancement, length of hospital stay and total cost of hospitalization were recorded for 275 eligible cases.