Articles: cations.
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Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are susceptible to various medical complications, including ventriculostomy-associated infections (VAIs) in those who undergo external ventricular drain (EVD) placement. Many preventative strategies for VAIs have been used during the last 20 years, but their overall effect is unknown. Using the Nationwide (National) Inpatient Sample, we examined trends in VAI rates and mortality during a recent 12-year period in the aSAH population. ⋯ Despite numerous VAI-preventative strategies, the national VAI rate in aSAH patients has not changed; however, a reduction in mortality is suggested. Further studies are needed to determine how best to reduce VAIs, and to identify factors influencing observed trends in VAI and mortality.
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The purpose of this study was to assess whether perfusion-decellularization technology could be applied to facial grafts. ⋯ Acellular scaffolds were produced from the porcine ear, and may be a valuable platform to treat facial deformities using regenerative medicine approaches.