As an alternative to surgery, percutaneous cholecystostomy seems to be a safe method in critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis and can be performed with low mortality and morbidity. Delayed cholecystectomy and ERCP, if needed, can be performed after the acute period has been resolved by percutaneous cholecystostomy.

Successful management of subclavian and axillary artery injuries requires prompt diagnosis because the occult nature of these injuries necessitates a high index of suspicion. Although revascularization procedures are often successful, it is the associated neurological, orthopedic, and soft tissue injuries that affect the functional outcome of the limb.

Microbiological examination may be as useful as and less costly than other diagnostic procedures and is the only method which can guide the choice of antibiotic therapy.

Since patients affected by Buerger's disease consist a group of young population who are still in their productive stages, every effort should be taken to obtain a limb salvage in the ischemic period. Although the patency rates do not seem promising, the limb salvation rate was quite satisfactory.

No abstract

Culture specimens should be obtained from both the bone and the overlying deep soft tissue in patients with suspected osteomyelitis whose clinical conditions are suitable. The decision to administer antibiotic therapy should depend on these results.

A higher oxidative stress in the valvular tissue may contribute to venous stasis ulcer formation.

Angioseal provides a safe and effective way of closing the femoral artery puncture site with acceptable morbidity rates.