Pathology of valved venous homografts used as right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduits in congenital heart disease surgery

Objectives

Although valved venous homografts (VVHs) are used for establishing right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery continuity in some complex heart defects, the tissue changes that occur in situ have not been described. We review the gross and microscopic changes observed in explanted VVH conduits and their effects on functionality.

Increased hospital costs are associated with low skeletal muscle mass in patients undergoing elective open aortic surgery

Objective

Low psoas muscle area is shown to be an indicator for worse postoperative outcome in patients undergoing vascular surgical. Additionally, it has been associated with longer durations of hospital stay in patients with cancer who undergo surgery and subsequently greater health care costs in Europe and the United States. We sought to evaluate this effect on hospital expenditure for patients undergoing vascular repair in a health care system with universal access.

Focal hole versus screw stimulation to prevent false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during spinal instrumentation

ObjectiveWe describe a stimulus-evoked EMG approach to minimize false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during lumbosacral spinal instrumentation.MethodsIn 36 patients receiving 176 lumbosacral pedicle screws, EMG threshold to nerve root activation was determined using a focal probe inserted into the pilot hole at a depth, customized to the individual patients, suitable to position the stimulating tip at the point closest to the tested nerve root. Threshold to screw stimulation was also determined.ResultsMean EMG thresholds in 161 correctly fashioned pedicle instrumentations were 7.5 mA ± 2.46 after focal hole stimulation and 21.8 mA ± 6.8 after screw stimulation. Direct comparison between both thresholds in individual pedicles showed that screw stimulation was always biased by an unpredictable leakage of the stimulating current ranging from 10 to 90%. False negative results were never observed with hole stimulation but this was not true with screw stimulation.ConclusionsFocal hole stimulation, unlike screw stimulation, approaches absolute EMG threshold as shown by the lower normal limit (2.6 mA; p < 0.05) that borders the upper limit of threshold to direct activation of the exposed root.SignificanceThe technique provides an early warning of a possible pedicle breakthrough before insertion of the more harmful, larger and threaded screw.     

A standing posture support device that reduces laparoscopic surgeons’ occupational lower limb stress

Background: We developed a surgical knee rest (SKR) that can be used to decrease the stress placed on the lower half of the body when surgeons work in the standing position. We tested the effectiveness of this device in the context of laparoscopic surgery.

Material and methods: Five healthy, right-handed male surgeons participated, and we recorded surface electromyography (sEMG) signals from the two heads of the left and right gastrocnemius (Gc) muscles during laparoscopic resections of colorectal cancer. The outcome variable was the percentage of maximum Gc muscle effort generated, reported as percent maximal isometric voluntary contraction (%MVC), and this variable was compared between surgeries performed with and without use of the SKR. Assessment covered the first 100?min of surgery, subdivided into two 50-min periods.

Results: Mean %MVC of the left Gc muscle for the full 100-min test period was significantly decreased when the SKR was used (p?=?.027, vs. SKR not used). Notably, mean %MVC of both Gc muscles was significantly decreased during the first 50?min of surgery (p?=?.008 and p?=?.0046).

Conclusion: The SKR is useful for decreasing physical stress incurred by laparoscopic surgeons when working in the standing position.     

经椎旁肌间隙入路与微创经皮入路手术治疗胸腰椎骨折的效果比较

目的比较胸腰椎骨折患者接受经椎旁肌间隙入路与微创经皮入路手术治疗的效果及关节功能。方法回顾性分析2014年4月-2015年10月在该院接受内固定手术治疗的胸腰椎骨折患者,根据手术入路不同分为椎旁入路组和经皮微创组,分别接受经椎旁肌间隙入路与微创经皮入路手术治疗。比较两组患者的手术情况、围手术期血清创伤分子含量以及远期功能恢复情况和矫正畸形效果。结果椎旁入路组的手术时间明显短于经皮微创组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);术中出血量、术后引流量、术后卧床时间、住院总时间与经皮微创组比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者术后当天的血清肌酸激酶(CK)、肌红蛋白(Myo)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),术后3、6和12个月时的伤椎前后缘高度比、Cobb角、视觉模拟评分(VAS)比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论椎旁肌间隙入路与微创经皮入路手术治疗胸腰椎骨折的效果和创伤程度相当,椎旁肌间隙入路的手术操作更为简单、手术时间更短。