To report the outcomes of the correction of mixed astigmatism with non-penetrating femtosecond laser intrastromal astigmatic keratotomy in patients with previous refractive surgery. One hundred twelve eyes that had low mixed astigmatism after excimer laser surgery, refractive lens exchange, or phakic intraocular lens implantation underwent intrastromal astigmatic keratotomy using paired ...

BACKGROUND:: Loss of follow-up represents a potential source of bias. Suggested guidelines propose 20% loss of follow-up as acceptable. However, these guidelines have not been established through scientific investigations. The goal of this study was to evaluate how loss of follow-up influences the statistical significance in a trauma database. METHODS:: ...

The major factors that determine a favorable long-term clinical and functional outcome after conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include correct implant positioning and restoration of the mechanical axis with soft tissue balancing to reduce aseptic failure; hence, the need for further developmental strategies that improve the accuracy and reproducibility of ...

INTRODUCTION: The value and risk of simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with bilateral knee arthritis is a subject of debate. HYPOTHESES: The risk of complications following simultaneous bilateral TKA will be increased compared to the rates published in the literature for unilateral TKA, and the clinical and functional ...

ABSTRACT Background: Extraocular muscles of patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy (TO) may respond differently to strabismus surgery than those of other strabismic patients. This study reports postoperative alignment changes in patients with TO compared with patients with non-restrictive strabismus following unilateral inferior rectus muscle recession (IRR). Methods: We reviewed records of ...

Object Cerebral bypass is a useful microsurgical technique for the treatment of unclippable aneurysms and invasive skull base tumors. The authors present the largest reported series of cerebrovascular bypasses in the pediatric population. They describe the short- and long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of extracranial-intracranial and local bypasses performed for ...

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of completing a lobectomy by completely video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (cVATS) in the management of bronchiectasis is unclear. By retrospectively comparing the outcomes from the lobectomies that used thoracotomy vs. cVATS, we determined the appropriateness of the minimally invasive cVATS approach in the management of bronchiectasis. METHODS: Between ...

To evaluate the outcomes of midtrimester emergency cerclage and to find out the contributing factors. Twenty-five patients presenting with cervical dilation and effacement with the membranes at the level of the external os or prolapsed into the vagina were included in the study. At the time of the cervical cerclage ...

Scant data exist on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of atrial fibrillation in Kenya. Traditionally, atrial fibrillation (AF) in sub-Saharan Africa is as a result of rheumatic valve disease. However, with the economic transition in sub-Saharan Africa, risk factors and associated complications of this arrhythmia are likely to change. A ...

The aim of the study is to investigate whether laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LPL) could be used to manage large renal pelvic stones, generally considered excellent indications for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL). This study was performed from May 2009 to March 2012 at Al-Azhar University Hospitals (Assiut and Cairo), Egypt. It included two ...

Si Wu Tang (Four Agents Decoction), a traditional Chinese decoction composed of Angelica Sinensis Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Alba, and Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata in a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 : 1, has been used to treat women's diseases for more than a thousand years. According to ...

Postoperative thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for an extended period of 4 weeks is now preferred over short term thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing total hip/knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). However, most of the data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of extended thromboprophylaxis and short term thromboprophylaxis is from clinical trials ...

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with high operative risk. In spite of favorable entire results, long-term mortality of patients is high. HYPOTHESIS: The present study aims to identify independent preprocedural risk factors to improve risk stratification in ...

Purpose: This study aimed to establish the role of risk factors in the etiology of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods: Between September 2001 and March 2008, 1040 patients underwent isolated CABG at our clinic. Nine hundred and eleven of these patients did not have any ...

BACKGROUND: This study aims to analyze the midterm outcomes of minimally invasive edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (MVR) with artificial chords (CHORD) or without artificial chords (noCHORD) in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: Records of all patients undergoing edge-to-edge MVR through minithoracotomy at a single institution over a 7-year period ...

To investigate the feasibility and long-term functional outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with modified double-stapled mucosectomy. From January 2002 to March 2011, fourty-five patients underwent ileal pouch anal anastomosis with modified double-stapled mucosectomy technique and the clinical data obtained for these patients were reviewed. Patients with ulcerative colitis ( = ...

BACKGROUND: The impact of parathyroidectomy on allograft function in kidney transplant patients is unclear. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study of all kidney transplant recipients from 1988 to 2008 who underwent parathyroidectomy for uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism (n = 32). Post-parathyroidectomy, changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and graft loss were recorded. ...

PURPOSE: Wrist arthrodesis after resection of a giant cell tumor of the distal radius can be performed using a vascularized free fibular transfer (VFFT) or a nonvascularized structural iliac crest transfer (NICT). The purpose of this study was to compare the union times, functional outcomes, and complications after these procedures. ...

To investigate the effects of placement of the absorbable packing material Nasopore at the anastomosis site of newly formed mucosal flaps on postoperative re-bleeding, discomfort, and on the success rate of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). A review of the medical records of patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction that underwent external ...

PURPOSE: Outcomes following laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) pyeloplasty are limited to small cohort studies with short-term follow up.Within this study we evaluated the clinical and renal function outcomes of the largest LESS pyeloplasty cohort to date with a mean follow-up of 12 months. METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with symptomatic ureteropelvic junction ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rotational deformities on patellofemoral alignment using the dynamic magnetic resonance imaging method on patients whose femur fractures were treated with intramedullary locking nails. METHODS: The dynamic patellofemoral magnetic resonance imaging results of 33 patients (5 females and 28 ...

OBJECTIVES: Different drug-eluting stents (DES) may have different performance in bifurcation PCI. Thus, we compared the performance of a novel zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZRS) with that obtained using two other DES in bifurcation PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with bifurcated lesions undergoing DES implantation were treated by a provisional approach ...

BACKGROUND: In patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), transcatheter closure is the current procedure of choice. There are multiple devices available with limited current comparative data and varied recommendations for device selection. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of the Flipper coil (FC) and the Amplatzer Duct Occluder (ADO). ...

Background and Purpose: To compare the advantages of flexible and rigid cystoscopy assisted ureteral catheter placement prior to prone percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL). Patients and Methods: From March to September 2012, a total of 80 patients with kidney stone underwent PNL by the same surgical team. The patients were randomly assigned ...

BACKGROUND: Cutting the hepatic branch of the anterior vagus nerve (HB-AVn) technically facilitates the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preserving or sacrificing this branch on postoperative gallbladder functions. METHODS: The patients (n = 40) were prospectively randomized into two groups. The HB-AVn was ...

OBJECTIVESVideo-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy is currently the best treatment for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. It can be performed through either one or two stages of surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the operative and postoperative results of two-stage unilateral vs one-stage bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy.METHODSFrom November 1995 to February 2011, 270 patients ...

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcome of visual internal urethrotomy after perineal anastomotic urethroplasty for post-traumatic pediatric posterior urethral strictures. Methods: Data of 22 boys who had been subjected to internal urethrotomy for recurrent stricture following perineal anastomotic urethroplasty for post-traumatic posterior urethral strictures between 1998 and 2008 was analyzed ...

Introduction Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital anomalies. There are many studies describing successful initial repair, but there are few studies examining long-term result. The aims of this study were to evaluate our patients that have been reconstructed for hypospadias and undergone final clinical examination after puberty and ...

The anesthetic plan for patients undergoing awake craniotomy, when compared to craniotomy under general anesthesia, is different, in that it requires changes in states of consciousness during the procedure. This retrospective review compares patients undergoing an asleep-awake-asleep technique for craniotomy (group AW: n=101) to patients undergoing craniotomy under general anesthesia ...

Study Design. A retrospective study.Objective. To describe the technique of a partial pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PPSO) and to report on the clinical and radiologic outcomes.Summary of Background Data. Numerous corrective osteotomy techniques have been reported. Until now, there still has been no reported method that can achieve a correction angle ...

Few studies have analyzed the clinical impact of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a function of the positioning of the inserted electrode. We investigated retrospectively the three-year outcomes in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients following bilateral STN DBS in terms of the electrode positions. Forty-one advanced PD patients ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is usually characterised by a poor outcome in the short-term; clinical and instrumental features are heterogeneous and could characterise subgroups with different prognoses. The aim of our study was to describe a subgroup of patients with CA showing an impressive favourable long-term survival. METHODS: ...

OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with poor peripheral vessels still remains problematic, as the transapical approach is not always feasible and is sometimes associated with myocardial damage, bleeding, post-procedural chest pain and pleural effusion. In order to address these issues, we adopted the recently introduced transaortic (TAo) ...

BACKGROUND:: Covered self-expanding metal stents are being used more frequently in benign biliary strictures (BBS). We report the results of a multicenter study with fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS) placement for the management of BBS. AIM:: To prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of FCSEMS in the management of ...

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing surgery for recurrent pilonidal disease are at high risk of developing re-recurrence. The present retrospective analysis was performed to compare long-term results in patients with recurrent disease undergoing midline excision surgery compared to patients undergoing the Karydakis flap procedure. METHODS: Only patients with previous excision surgery apart ...

Background. Reliable central vein access is a fundamental issue in modern advanced oncological care. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of complications and patient perception regarding central vein access ports. Methods. We prospectively studied 249 single lumen access ports implanted between 1 July 2008 and 15 ...

We assessed the effect of the topical application of epsilon-aminocaproic antifibrinolytic acid (EACA) on the pericardium of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This is a prospective, randomized, and double-blind study. We evaluated 26 patients with chronic coronary heart disease indicated ...

OBJECTIVES: The C-Port® Distal Anastomosis Systems (Cardica, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA) demonstrated favourable results in feasibility trials. However, distal vein anastomoses created with the C-Port® or C-Port xA® system have never been compared with hand-sewn distal vein anastomoses. The objective of this study was to compare distal end-to-side anastomoses ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In Taiwan unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is widely used, but it is uncomfortable for some patients. While meperidine has been adopted in colonoscopy, its use in EGD has not received extensive attention. This was a prospective study to investigate the use of meperidine as a single sedative agent ...

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after open vein harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients ranges in different studies between 2 and 20%. Triclosan is an antibacterial substance that reduces the growth of bacteria by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis. We hypothesized that wound closure with triclosan-coated ...

Aim: To study the long-term benefits of ambulatory oxygen (AO) in combination with pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients experiencing exertional desaturation. Patients and methods: Normoxaemic COPD who participated in outpatient PR and desaturated >4% and <90% during endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) were randomised to ...

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to investigate the protective effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on intestinal barrier function integrity and its therapeutic potential on endotoxemia and systemic inflammatory response in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in the study. All patients ...

BACKGROUND: Wide excision of perineal lesions, often including the entire anal canal, may be necessary for benign and malignant conditions. Closure of these large defects is challenging, especially when continence is a goal. The aim of this study was to assess our experience with local flap closure of large perineal ...

OBJECTIVES: Increasing degrees of renal impairment are associated with higher rates of morbimortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This incremental risk has not been well studied in off-pump procedures (OPCAB). We assessed its impact on OPCAB and on-pump CABG (ONCAB). METHODS: A total of 1769 patients undergoing primary CABG ...

Anterior interbody fusion has previously been demonstrated to increase neuroforaminal height in a cadaveric model using cages. No prior study has prospectively assessed the relative change in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated neuroforaminal dimensions at the index and supradjacent levels, after anterior interbody fusion with a corticocancellous allograft in a ...

Degenerative hip conditions most commonly affect older patients. However, many cases occur in younger patients. Total hip arthroplasty is the conventional approach; however, hip resurfacing is a viable option. Fifty-three metal-on-metal resurfacings in 46 patients under age 30 were performed. Patients had a variety of etiologies, and were followed clinically ...

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is a worldwide used therapy to improve neurological outcome in patients successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest (CA). Preclinical data suggest that timing and speed of induction are related to reduction of secondary brain damage and improved outcome. METHODS: Aiming at a rapid induction and ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of computer-aided detection (CAD) for computed tomographic colonography (CTC) when employed as either primary-reader or second-reader paradigms in a low-prevalence screening population. METHODS: Ninety screening patients underwent same-day CTC and colonoscopy. Four readers prospectively interpreted all CTC data sets using a second-reader paradigm (unassisted interpretation ...

BACKGROUND:: The management of basilar invagination (BI) and atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD) is a challenge OBJECTIVE:: To describe a new innovative method to reduce BI and AAD through a single-stage posterior approach METHODS:: 35 patients with irreducible BI and AAD (May, 2010 - April, 2012). In all patients, reduction of AAD ...

STUDY DESIGN:: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE:: To study clinical and radiological outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a zero-profile anchored spacer compared to a standard interposition graft with anterior plating. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:: Anterior plating increases fusion rates in ACDF, but is associated with higher rates ...