Does aortic valve repair in valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction compromise the longevity of the procedure?

OBJECTIVES: The effect of performing aortic valve repair in combination with valve-sparing operation on the length of time for which patients are free from reoperation is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if the performance of aortic valve repair during valve-sparing operation modified the freedom from reoperation time. METHODS: From January 2003 to July 2014, 78 patients with a mean age of 49±15 years underwent valve-sparing operation. Sixty-eight percent of these patients were male. Twenty-two (28%) aortic valve repair procedures were performed in this patient population. In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 77.3% of patients had moderate/severe aortic insufficiency, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 58.6% of patients had moderate/severe aortic insufficiency (ns = not significant). Additionally, 13.6% of patients in the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group had functional class III/IV, while 14.2% of patients in the valve-sparing operation group had functional class III/IV (ns). RESULTS: The in-hospital and late mortality rates, for the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation and valve-sparing operation groups were similar, as they were 4.5% and 3.6%; and 0% and 1.8%, respectively. In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 0% of patients presented moderate/severe aortic insufficiency during late follow-up, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 14.2% of patients presented with moderate/severe aortic insufficiency during this period (ns). In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 5.3% of patients presented with functional class III/IV, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 4.2% of patients presented with functional class III/IV (ns). In the aortic valve repair + valve-sparing operation group, 0% of patients required reoperation, while in the valve-sparing operation group, 3.6% of patients required reoperation over a mean follow-up period of 1621±1156 days (75 patients). CONCLUSION: Valve-sparing operation is a safe and long-lasting procedure and performance of aortic valve repair when necessary does not increase risk of reoperation on the aortic valve.

Laparoscopic ureteral reimplant for ureteral stricture

Purpose: Evaluate the initial experience of laparoscopic ureteral reimplant for ureteral stenosis. Materials and methods: From January 2004 to June 2008, 10 patients underwent 11 laparoscopic reconstruction surgeries for ureteral stenosis. Seven cases of stenosis of the distal ureter, two at the level of iliac vessels, a case of bilateral distal stenosis and one in the medium third. Eight ureteroneocystotomies were performed by extravesical technique with anti-reflux mechanism, two cases of vesical reimplant with Boari technique and one case using the psoas hitch technique. Results: The average surgical time was 166 minutes (115-245 min), mean blood loss was 162 mL (100-210 mL) and the average hospital stay was 2.9 days (2-4 days). There were two complications: a lesion of the sigmoid colon identified peroperatively and treated with laparoscopic sutures with good evolution, and a case of ureteral stone obstruction at the 30th day postoperative, treated by laser ureterolitotripsy. All patients had resolution of the stenosis at an average follow-up period of 18 months (3-54 months). Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery represents a feasible, safe and low morbidity technique for ureteral reimplant in ureteral stenosis.

Aneurisma de artéria renal em rim transplantado: reparo ex vivo e reimplante do enxerto / Renal artery aneurysm in a transplanted kidney: ex vivo graft repair and reimplantation

Aneurisma verdadeiro de artéria renal em rim transplantado é ocorrência rara. As possibilidades de tratamento dependem do tamanho, da localização do aneurisma e da clínica apresentada pelo paciente. Descreve-se um caso de aneurisma gigante de artéria renal em rim transplantado que recebeu tratamento ex vivo e reimplante na fossa ilíaca direita. Detalhes do procedimento cirúrgico são descritos.

True aneurysm of a renal artery in a transplanted kidney is a rare occurrence. Treatment options depend on size and location of the aneurysm and the patient's clinical condition. We report a case of a giant aneurysm of the renal artery in a transplanted kidney that was treated ex vivo and reimplanted in the right iliac fossa. Details of the surgical procedure are described.

Anestesia en reimplante heterotópico de mano / Anesthesia for heterotopic reimplantation of the hand

Los operarios industriales están expuestos a graves lesiones, ocasionadas en el 85 por ciento por descuido en las medidas de seguridad y/o valoración inadecuada del riesgo. Se presenta el caso de una amputación traumática de mano por máquina inyectora de plástico, donde se realizó por primera vez en nuestro medio, un reimplante heterotópico de mano. Se expone la técnica anestésica empleada y se enuncian consideraciones hemodinámicas vinculadas a esta clase de cirugía, y consideraciones quirúrgicas en función de la selección de candidatos a reimplantes.