Innominate artery (IA) traumatic injuries are rare but life-threatening, with high mortality and morbidity. Open surgical repair is the treatment of choice but is technically demanding. We describe a case of blunt trauma to the IA with ongoing bleeding, treated successfully by combined (hybrid) endovascular and open surgery. The case demonstrates the immediate usage of modern endovascular and surgical tools as part of endovascular and hybrid trauma management.
Pleural effusion following cardiac surgery is a common complication that sometimes requires invasive treatment. Conventional methods for evacuation include needle aspiration and chest tube insertion. We present an effective, easy and potentially time-saving method of thoracocentesis, using a single-lumen central venous catheter.
It has previously been reported that the Ley prosthesis, a 0.5-mm-thick titanium alloy plate designed for reconstruction and stabilization of the unstable sternotomy, leads to shorter hospital stay and reduces the need for further surgical procedures in patients with postoperative mediastinitis after open heart surgery. We report our initial experience with the Ley prosthesis in patients with chronic aseptic sternotomy dehiscence. The study included 6 male patients (age 42-80 years) with opiate-derivate-dependent intractable pain and significantly reduced quality of life caused by noninfected sternal pseudoarthrosis and unstable sternotomy with large sternal bone tissue deficit. Four of the patients had undergone various surgical fixation procedures 8 days to 12 months after the primary operation. The patients were treated with reconstruction and stabilization of the sternum with the Ley prosthesis 10 to 40 months after the primary operation. In 1 patient bone transplantation was used. No immediate peri- or postoperative complications were observed, and all patients were discharged 4 to 11 days after surgery. One patient who received a bone transplant developed wound infection, and the prosthesis was removed 5 weeks after implantation. At 6-month follow-up all sternotomies were found stable, and patients reported that pain had decreased and quality of life was significantly improved. Our results demonstrate that the Ley prosthesis can be safely and efficiently used for the reconstruction and stabilization of the sternum in patients with intractable pain caused by noninfected postoperative sternal dehiscence and large sternal bone tissue deficit.
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