Articles: surgery.
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Basidiobolus ranarum is a fungus found in the dung of amphibians, reptiles and insectivorous bats. Basidiobolomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous infection of the trunk and limbs caused by B. ranarum. The disease is a well-known infection in the tropical areas. It usually presents with subcutaneous or gastrointestinal lesions and rarely with systemic affection. Recently, the etiologic role of B. ranarum in the gastrointestinal infections has been increasingly recognized. ⋯ Our study raises several notions. Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis is often misdiagnosed as cancer (lymphoma or carcinoma), tuberculosis or inflammatory bowel disease. Its recognition needs high index of suspicion and increased awareness especially in patients with chest, abdominal or neck masses and eosinophilia. The diagnosis of basidiobolomycosis can be established on histological basis in most cases. The fungal morphology and the Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon are characteristic histological features of this condition. There are no prominent risk factors. Usually, surgery and prolonged antifungal therapy are required.
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To review the initial experience of gasless transaxillary robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery in a series of patients and describe modifications of the technique for the North American patients, selection criteria, and other issues related to this technology. ⋯ Robotic thyroid surgery is feasible in North American patients and can be safely performed. The procedure has potential complications and a definite learning curve exists for both surgeons and operating room staff. Training methods need to be validated to ensure safe adoption. More studies need to be performed to further evaluate the relative benefits of this technique.
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Innovations (Phila) · Mar 2011
Short- and long-term outcomes in octogenarian patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CAB) on elderly patients presenting with multivessel coronary artery disease has become routine in modern day operating rooms. The aim of our study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes in octogenarian patients undergoing off-pump CAB (OPCAB) versus on-pump CAB (ONCAB). ⋯ : In this series, OPCAB reduced the incidence of in-hospital mortality compared with ONCAB. Long-term mortality was similar between groups.