Articles: cations.
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To explore the role of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) size on surgical and survival outcomes. ⋯ Among the tumors measured, 21.5% were <20 mm and 78.5% >20 mm. Larger tumors were associated with higher Ca19.9, T3-T4 and N1, higher grade, perineural invasion, R1 resections, more positive lymph nodes, and higher lymph node ratios (P < 0.05). Tumours <20 mm showed a better prognosis (33 vs 23 months; P < 0.01), but worse surgical results with higher pancreatic fistula (21.1% vs 14.6%; P < 0.01) and mortality rates (1.5% vs 0.3%; P = 0.04). PDAC size was associated with worse prognosis (hazard ratio 1.26, P = 0.02), together with Ca19.9, grading, and N1. When measured at imaging, tumor size was underestimated (median 23 vs 30 mm; P < 0.01) and did not influence prognosis CONCLUSIONS:: PDAC size >20 mm, measured at gross pathology, correlates with surgical outcomes and is an independent predictor of poor prognosis. Given that imaging underestimates size by about 20%, perhaps tumors that measure >20 mm at imaging should be considered for neoadjuvant treatment regardless of resectability.
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Intrathecal morphine (ITM) has been used in hopes of providing good postoperative analgesia in cardiac surgery. Little is known about its use in isolated aortic valve replacement surgery. ⋯ Intrathecal, morphine, fentanyl, analgesia, aortic, cardiac, surgery.
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To evaluate the use of the new absorbable polymer scaffold poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) in complex abdominal wall reconstruction. ⋯ In our early clinical experience with the absorbable polymer matrix scaffold P4HB, it seemed to provide superior clinical performance and value-based benefit compared with porcine cadaveric biologic mesh.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jul 2017
Observational StudyCerebral Gaseous Microemboli are Detectable During Continuous Venovenous Hemodialysis in Critically Ill Patients: An Observational Pilot Study.
Continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) may generate microemboli that cross the pulmonary circulation and reach the brain. The aim of the present study was to quantify (load per time interval) and qualify (gaseous vs. solid) cerebral microemboli (CME), detected as high-intensity transient signals, using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. ⋯ This observational pilot study shows that CVVHD was associated with a higher gaseous but not solid CME burden in critically ill patients. Although the differentiation between gaseous and solid CME remains challenging, our finding may support the hypothesis of microbubble generation in the CVVHD circuit and its transpulmonary translocation toward the intracranial circulation. Importantly, the impact of gaseous and solid CME generated during CVVHD on brain integrity of critically ill patients currently remains unknown and is highly debated.
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Mafenide acetate is used in some burn wounds for its ability to penetrate eschar but requires frequent uncomfortable dressing changes for its application. The authors hypothesize that hydrofiber dressings will hold mafenide acetate solution for an extended period of time and maintain antimicrobial activity longer than traditional gauze, thus possibly obviating the need for frequent dressing changes. Four experimental arms included: 1) hydrofiber, stored on a dry well plate as control, 2) gauze saturated with 2.5% mafenide acetate, stored on nonsterile porcine skin, 3) hydrofiber saturated with mafenide acetate, stored on dry well plate, and 4) hydrofiber saturated with mafenide acetate, stored on nonsterile porcine skin. ⋯ Gauze saturated with mafenide acetate did not reliably demonstrate antimicrobial activity beyond 0 hours. Hydrofiber saturated with mafenide acetate, whether stored on a dry well plate or nonsterile porcine skin, consistently possessed sustained antimicrobial activity as demonstrated by zones of inhibition greater than 2 mm to both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Mafenide acetate-soaked hydrofiber dressings stay moist and maintain antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa for at least 72 hours without repeated soaks.