Post-sternotomy chronic osteomyelitis can be successfully treated mainly by systemic antimicrobial therapy alone, without mandatory surgical treatments, provided that accurate microbiological and radiological studies are performed. The presence of CoNS and Corynebacterium species seemed to be associated with a need for a prolonged combined antimicrobial therapy with a minimum of 6 months up to a maximum of 18 months. The CT scan and the 3D reconstruction of the sternum proved to be a good method to evaluate the status of the sternum and support the treatments. The VAC therapy was not useful in treating osteomyelitis, although, if used appropriately in the postoperative deep sternal wound infection with the sponge fitted between the sternal edges, it seems to be an effective method to eradicate the infection in the sternum and to prevent chronic osteomyelitis.
VAC is a safe and effective option in the treatment of post-sternotomy mediastinitis, with excellent survival and immediate improvement of local wound conditions; furthermore, the use of Nitinol clips after VAC therapy demonstrated to be a safe and non-invasive option for sternal resynthesis. After VAC therapy, a reduction in number of muscular flaps used and an increase of direct sternal resynthesis were observed.
PurposeMinimally invasive surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has shown good results and low complications incidence. Our objective was to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of this technique in our center.MethodsThe procedure included pulmonary vein isolation, ganglionic plexi ablation, ligament of Marshall resection, and left atrial appendage exclusion through beating heart minimally invasive bilateral thoracotomies. Patients were monitored daily by telemedicine during the first 4 months and then by quarterly 24-h Holter monitoring or by implantable cardiac monitor. Ablation success was defined as freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence lasting more than 30 s and from antiarrhythmic drugs. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months.ResultsTwenty-two consecutive patients with AF, paroxysmal in 27% and persistent in 73%, were treated. Mean age was 63 ± 10 years, 86% were men. Seventy-three percent of patients had previously undergone to one or more catheter ablations. Median follow-up period was 22 months (25°–75° percentile, 20–27). Patients free from any arrhythmia recurrence for at least 6 consecutive months discontinued antiarrhythmic therapy. Ablation was successful in 73% of patients at 12 months. Freedom from AF recurrences independently from antiarrhythmic therapy status was 91% at 12 months. Results were consistent in patients that reached 24 months follow-up. There were no deaths. Complications were: one conversion to sternotomy owing to thoracic adherences, one pacemaker implant, and one postoperative hemothorax requiring surgical revision.ConclusionsOur results show that minimally invasive surgical ablation was feasible and gave satisfactory results at long-term term follow-up in patients with AF.
The occurrence in the same young patient of three synchronous tumors deriving from different embryogenic tissues and without a clear correlation with a common etiopathogenic factor is very unusual. We report a case of a Caucasian woman submitted to wide resection of a large retroperitoneal liposarcoma and right radical nephrectomy for suspected tumor infiltration. Histological examination of the right ureter and renal pelvis showed the presence of a multifocal urothelial carcinoma that was clinically asymptomatic. Two months later, during follow-up, chest X-ray and computed tomography documented a coin lesion of the upper left lung, confirmed by positron emission tomography. This nodule was surgically removed and examined histologically, resulting in a diagnosis of sclerosing hemangioma. The patient is alive without evidence of recurrent disease.
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