CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetic patients present high risk of having to undergo minor or major amputation during their lifetimes, because of ischemia or infection. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify risk factors for major amputation in diabetic patients with foot infections. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective clinical-surgical trial at the Vascular Surgery Service of Santa Casa de São Paulo. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with diabetic foot infections who underwent 129 hospitalizations in the Vascular Surgery Unit were analyzed in accordance with a pre-established protocol to compare two groups of diabetic patients: one that underwent major amputations and the other that underwent minor amputations or debridements. The patients were predominantly male, in their sixth decade of life, and had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chronic arterial insufficiency, age, diabetes mellitus duration, ascending lymphangitis, calcaneal lesions, Wagner's classification, laboratory tests and different microorganisms in deep tissue cultures were the risk factors evaluated in all patients. RESULTS: The statistically significant risk factors for major amputation included age, ascending lymphangitis (odds ratio, OR: 2.5), calcaneal lesions (OR: 10.5), Wagner grade 5 lesions (OR: 3.4), chronic arterial insufficiency without possibility of revascularization (OR: 5.4) and diabetes duration. Presence of Gram-positive microorganisms was associated with the need of major amputation. The serum urea, creatinine, glucose and white blood cell levels were not significant risk factors for major amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for major amputation were: age, ascending lymphangitis, calcaneal lesions, Wagner grade 5 lesions, arterial insufficiency, diabetes duration and Gram-positive microorganisms in cultures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible link between symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaque and Chlamydia pneumoniae. BACKGROUND: Recently, several studies have demonstrated that there may be a possible link between Chlamydia pneumonia and carotid atherosclerosis, however the real role of Chlamydia pneumoniae is not completely understood. METHOD: This is a prospective study with a total of 52 patients analyzed. All patients had been submitted to endarterectomy, and had suffered thrombotic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack up to 60 days prior to the surgery. Every patient presented carotid stenosis over 70%. The plaque was removed during the surgery and the laboratory exams were immediately done. Evaluation of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The PCR analyses of all 52 patients were negative for Chlamydia pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: These initial results do not show a relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae and symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaque.

ResumoObjetivo: Analisar fatores prognósticos relacionados com a letalidade dos doentes com aneurisma de aorta abdominal roto.Método: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, 72 doentes portadores de aneurisma de aorta abdominal roto, operados no período de 1976 a 2000 pela disciplina de Cirurgia Vascular da Santa Casa de São Paulo.Resultados: A análise descritiva dos dados mostra média de idade de 67,93 anos, com desvio padrão de 11,58 anos, sendo 32% do sexo feminino e 68% do sexo masculino. Do total, 28% tinham história prévia de aneurisma e 72% desconheciam a doença. A pressão arterial sistólica na admissão foi de 96,53 mmHg. A dor esteve presente em 100% dos doentes, assim como massa abdominal pulsátil. O local de rompimento do aneurisma foi em 93% dos casos para o retroperitônio, 4% para o duodeno e 2% para peritônio livre.Conclusão: Os fatores prognósticos relacionados à letalidade que se mostraram com significância estatística foram: idade, pressão arterial admissional, diurese intra-operatória, volume infundido e creatinina admissional. Results: The descriptive analysis of the data shows a mean age of 67.93 years, with a standard deviation of 11.58, 32% female and 68% male. Of the total number, 28% had a previous history of aneurysm and 72% were not aware of the disease. Mean systolic blood pressure during hospital admission was 96.53 mmHg. Pain was present in 100% of the patients, as well as throbbing abdominal mass. In 93% of the cases the location of the aneurysm rupture was the retroperitoneum, 4% in the duodenum, and 2% in the free peritoneum. PalavrasConclusion: The prognostic factors related to mortality and morbidity that demonstrated statistical significance were: age, initial blood pressure at hospital admission, diuresis during surgery, volume infused, and creatinine levels.

Os autores descrevem técnica de via de acesso para exposição ampla da coluna toracolombar anterior (T10 -L5) a que foi submetida uma série de cem pacientes com indicação cirúrgica para correção de diversas doenças da coluna. A partir das estruturas envolvidas, são analisados e comentados os tempos operatórios pertinentes bem como as complicações transoperatórias e pós-operatórias decorrentes da técnica. Sugere-se que a técnica de acesso proposta seja utilizada quando adequada à doença a cuja correção se destina, independente da área de comprometimento clinicamente objetivada.

Introdução: Complicações vasculares no pós-operatório imediato ou precoce, com conseqüências desastrosas, são raras no transplante renal. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão das complicações vasculares em pacientes transplantados renais pediátricos nos últimos 20 anos. Métodos: Retrospectivo com 84 pacientes pediátricos transplantados renais na Sta. Casa de S. Paulo, no período de out/1985 a abr/2005, (45 femininos e 39 masculinos), com idade entre 1 e 17 anos, sendo avaliadas as complicações vasculares após o transplante. Resultados: Dos 84 pacientes, 11 tiveram complicações vasculares (13%), sendo 1 (1,2%) com trombose venosa, 2 (2,3%) com trombose arterial, 7 (8,3%) com estenose da artéria renal e 1 (1,2%) com ruptura da anastomose arterial. Conclusão: As complicações vasculares são raras e geralmente levam a perda do enxerto. Os pacientes com estenose da artéria renal, quando diagnosticados precocemente, mantém boa função no enxerto após tratamento cirúrgico ou com intervenção endoluminal.