Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane treatment of venous leg ulcers: correlation between 4-week and 24-week outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate correct correlation between an intermediate rate of wound reduction (40% wound area reduction after 4-weeks treatment) and complete healing at 24 weeks in patients with a venous leg ulcer (VLU). METHOD: A retrospective follow-up study of patients completing a multicenter randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing the number of patients achieving at least 40% healing of their VLU within 4-weeks of treatment with either dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM) allograft or multilayer compression only was conducted. Outcomes assessed were rates of complete healing within 24 weeks of enrolment and days to healing. Data were divided into two groups based on status at RCT completion (healed at least 40% yes or no). Correct correlation with status at 4 weeks and complete healing within 24 weeks was determined. Clinical characteristics were also compared for patients with and without correct correlation between 4-week and 24-week status. RESULTS: We identified 55 patients at 5 study sites. Some 47 without complete healing during the initial study were eligible. As three patients were lost to follow-up we evaluated 44 records. Of these, 20 (45.4%) had reduced wound size of ≥40% and 24 (55%) had <40% reduction during the initial study. Complete healing occurred in 16/20 (80%) of the ≥40% group at a mean of 46 days, p=0.0027 and 8/24 (33.3%) of the <40% group at a mean of 103.6 days, p=0.0023. Overall, correct correlation of status at 4 weeks and ultimate healing status of VLU occurred in 32/44 patients (73%). CONCLUSION: These results confirm that the intermediate outcome used in our initial study is a viable predictor of ultimate VLU healing.

Ureteroscopic treatment of upper tract urinary calculi.

Ureteroscopic treatment of upper urinary tract calculi is continuously evolving. Initial reports were limited to the treatment of distal ureteral stones. These cases had mixed success, and compared to modern ureteroscopy, had significant associated morbidity. The entire urinary tract can now be safely accessed via ureteroscopy almost always. Improvements in ureteroscope technology have certainly made this possible. These advances include smaller steerable scopes and sharper optics and video. The enhanced view of the upper urinary tract in combination with advances in lithotripsy, in particular, the holmium laser, has resulted in increased treatment success and reduced procedure related morbidity. This review describes the advances in ureteroscopic technology and provides data regarding treatment success and associated complications.

Imaging-guided radiofrequency ablation of solid renal tumors.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a retrospective review of imaging-guided radiofrequency ablation of solid renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since May 2000, 35 tumors in 20 patients have been treated with radiofrequency ablation. The size range of treated tumors was 0.9-3.6 cm (mean, 1.7 cm). Reasons for patient referrals were a prior partial or total nephrectomy (nine patients), a comorbidity excluding nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy (10 patients), or a treatment alterative to nephron-sparing surgery (one patient who refused surgery). Tumors were classified as exophytic, intraparenchymal, or central. Sixteen patients had 31 lesions that showed serial growth on CT or MR imaging. Of these 16 patients, four patients with 10 lesions had a history of renal cell carcinoma, and two patients with 11 lesions had a history of von Hippel-Lindau disease. Four patients had incidental solid masses, two of which were biopsied and shown to represent renal cell carcinoma, and the remaining two masses were presumed malignant on the basis of imaging features. Successful ablation was regarded as any lesion showing less than 10 H of contrast enhancement on CT or no qualitative evidence of enhancement after IV gadolinium contrast-enhanced MR imaging. RESULTS: Of the 35 tumors, 22 were exophytic and 13 were intraparenchymal. Twenty-seven of the 35 were treated percutaneously using either sonography (n = 22) or CT (n = 5). Two patients had eight tumors treated intraoperatively using sonography. Patients were followed up with contrast-enhanced CT (n = 18), MR imaging (n = 5), or both (n = 5) with a follow-up range of 1-23 months (mean, 9 months). No residual or recurrent tumor and no major side effects were seen. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results with radiofrequency ablation of exophytic and intraparenchymal renal tumors are promising. Radiofrequency ablation is not associated with significant side effects. Further follow-up is necessary to determine the long-term efficacy of radiofrequency ablation.

Long-term results of treatment for ureteroenteric strictures.

OBJECTIVES: To review the long-term outcome for ureteroenteric stricture treatment. METHODS: The ileal conduit diversions that formed ureteroenteric strictures from 1966 to 1999 were reviewed. The strictures were diagnosed radiographically, and malignancy was excluded. The treatment, location, length, diameter, and timing of stricture development after conduit creation was evaluated and compared regarding the time until stricture recurrence (failure). Success was defined as symptomatic improvement and radiologic evidence of patency. RESULTS: Forty patients, after exclusions, returned for ureteroenteric stricture repair, comprising 79 procedures (27 open repairs and 52 balloon dilations). The open repair had a success rate at 1, 2, and 3 years of 92%, 87%, and 76%, respectively. Seven of the open cases were preceded by failed dilations. Balloon dilation had a success rate at 1, 2, and 3 years of 15%, 15%, and 5%, respectively (P = 0.0001 versus open). Similar patency results for open versus balloon (P = 0.0001) were noted with analysis restricted to each patient's first stricture repair. Strictures greater than 1.0 cm were more likely to recur (P = 0.03). All strictures forming within 6 months of the conduit creation were treated with dilation and failed within 1 year. Of note, 11 of the 40 patients were found to have less than 25% renal function on the strictured side. CONCLUSIONS: Open repair for ureteroenteric strictures offers excellent long-term patency (76% at 3 years, P = 0.0001). On review, balloon dilation appeared to have less successful patency rates and was often followed by open repair after failure. Patients with a history of anastomotic strictures should be closely monitored to avoid renal damage and failure.

The DiMarco-Jurado pleuropericardioplasties: complete closure of the pericardial space with advancement/rotation flaps after adult primary cardiac operations.

This article describes three new techniques for completely closing the pericardial space. They entail the creation of three flaps of living, vascularized tissue: two pericardial and one pleural. Utilizing advancement and rotational plastic surgical principles, complete closure can be performed without tension or the use of any pericardial substitutes. These flaps create great laxity and tissue redundancy during closure, greatly reducing any possibility of graft compromise or impairment of myocardial diastolic function. There are three types of closure described, types I and Ia, and type II, creating great versatility in closing the pericardial space (and adaptability to the surgeon's preferences). These flaps are able to create pericardial tissue redundancy (and therefore laxity upon closure) in both the transverse and longitudinal directions, and are therefore suitable to any cardiac procedure. The advantages of these techniques in creating a tension-free complete closure include the possibility of a safer reoperation if needed. The DiMarco-Jurado pleuropericardioplasties as described are quick and easy methods to completely close the pericardial space without tension and may be utilized after all adult (and possibly pediatric) primary cardiac procedures.

Fate of long-term survivors of Mustard procedure (inflow repair) for simple and complex transposition of the great arteries.

Between 1967 and 1976, 106 children with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (55 simple, 51 complex) survived the Mustard procedure. Late death occurred in 8 patients (1 simple, 7 complex TGA). Cardiac arrhythmia developed in 31 patients, 6 of whom required a permanent pacemaker. Postoperative cardiac catheterization showed mild superior vena cava obstruction in 4 patients, mild pulmonary venous obstruction in 3, and baffle leak in 4. Only 1 of these patients underwent reoperation elsewhere for a baffle leak. Two other patients had reoperation for subpulmonary stenosis and 1, for tricuspid regurgitation. The actuarial survival at 18 years is 92 +/- 2.3%, and the event-free survival is 83 +/- 3.8% (95% confidence limits). Eighty-seven patients are in New York Heart Association Functional Class I, and 3 are in Class II. The results of this study show that the long-term survival and event-free survival have been satisfactory. Late death was significantly higher in patients with complex TGA (p = .027). Postoperative arrhythmia was common, but only 6 patients required permanent pacemakers and the incidence of late complications and reoperation has been low.