Derivaciones arteriales temporales en los programas de entrenamiento para los cirujanos generales.

The skills development to address vascular trauma by general surgeons is important in hospitals in countries with a lack of vascular surgeons, so we agree the implementation of training programs in vascular surgery basic techniques for general surgeons. In Peru, through an exploratory survey, 43 public hospitals have at least one vascular surgeon, of which 20 are located in Metropolitan Lima, and 14 of the 26 regions of Peru have at least one public institution with vascular surgery capabilities. We recommend the incorporation of the transient arterial shunt technique as an alternative to vascular anastomosis due to its security and feasibility for general surgeons training programs.

Es importante el desarrollo de habilidades por los cirujanos generales para abordar el trauma vascular en los hospitales de países con escaso número de cirujanos vasculares, por lo que coincidimos con la implementación de programas de capacitación en técnicas básicas de cirugía vascular para los cirujanos generales. En Perú, a través de una encuesta exploratoria, encontramos que 43 hospitales públicos cuentan con al menos un cirujano vascular, de los cuales 20 están ubicados en Lima Metropolitana, y 14 de las 26 regiones del Perú cuentan con al menos una institución pública con capacidades en cirugía vascular. Recomendamos la incorporación de la técnica de derivación arterial transitoria como alternativa a la anastomosis vascular debido a su seguridad y factibilidad para los programas de formación de cirujanos generales.

Optimizing Exposure for Mitral Repair: Anterior Annulus-to-Leaflet Stitch Technique.

Exposure of anatomic landmarks is key in mitral valve repair. We report a technique to improve exposure of the mitral valve posterior leaflet during video-assisted procedures. It consists of a traction stitch placed on the leaflet free edges after triangular resection and through the anterior left atrial wall close to the mitral annulus. Gentle traction on this suture pulls the posterior leaflet on the plane of the mitral annulus to improve exposure and to expedite the reconstruction.

Intraoperative electroneurography-guided intercostal nerve cryoablation for pain control after thoracoabdominal aneurysm open surgical repair.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain after thoracoabdominal (TAAA) or thoracic (TAA) aortic aneurysm open surgical repair may be debilitating and induce limitations in mobilization resulting in a longer length of stay, higher rate of pulmonary adverse events, readmissions, and a higher risk of mortality. Commonly employed analgesic strategies do not completely solve this issue and have their own drawbacks. Cryoablation of intercostal nerves has been proposed as an appealing alternative to address the postoperative pain. METHODS: Between 2020 and 2021, data of all consecutive patients undergoing TAA or TAAA aortic aneurysms open repair with electroneurography-guided cryoablation of intercostal nerves were collected. Postoperative pain was recorded using patient-reported 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS). Need for adjunctive opioid drugs and postoperative complications were also recorded. Narcotic usage was calculated as morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) per day. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients (8 males, mean age 61.1-year-old) underwent open surgical repair for TAAA (13 cases) or TAA (2 cases) and received intercostal nerve cryoablation. There were no intraoperative deaths and cases of spinal cord ischemia. Overall, 70 intercostal nerves underwent electroneurography-guided cryoablation, with a mean of 4.6 nerves per patient. On the first day after extubating, mean NRS was 4.6 and the MMEs calculated was 6.7, decreasing over the days. There was one case of pneumonia and atelectasis requiring bronchoscopy. There were no reported bowel complications. The mean postoperative length of stay was 16 days and in the intensive care unit stay was 6.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Electroneurography-guided cryoablation of intercostal nerves is a safe and reproducible technique which can be used in addition to systemic pain management for TAA and TAAA open repair.