Initial Experience with Total Thoracoscopic Ablation

BACKGROUND: Recently, a hybrid surgical-electrophysiological (EP) approach for confirming ablation lines in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) was suggested. The aim of this approach was to overcome the limitations of current surgery- and catheter-based techniques to yield better outcomes. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with AF underwent total thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) following transvenous catheter EP ablation (residual gap and cavotricuspid isthmus [CTI] ablation). Holter monitoring was performed 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Ten patients (90% with persistent AF) underwent successful hybrid procedures, and there was no in-hospital mortality. An EP study was performed in 8 patients and showed that successful antral ablation in all pulmonary veins was achieved in 7 of them. The median follow-up duration was 7.63 months (range, 6.7 to 11.6 months). Nine patients underwent Holter monitoring 6 months postoperatively, and the results indicated an underlying sinus rhythm without AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia lasting more than 30 seconds in all of the patients. There was no recurrence of AF during follow-up. CONCLUSION: A hybrid approach that consists of TTA followed by transvenous catheter EP ablation (residual gap and CTI ablation) yielded excellent outcomes in our patient population. A hybrid approach should be considered in patients with a high risk of AF recurrence.

Surgical Treatment of Post-Infarction Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture: Three Cases Review

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LFWR) is rare, but is one of the most serious complications of myocardial infarction and is associated with high mortality. Several operative techniques have been attempted, but early diagnosis and prompt surgical management are crucial for a positive patient outcome. We report three cases of LFWR successfully treated with surgical methods.

Surgical Treatment for an Invasive Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava

A 49-year-old woman presented with right lumbar pain and edema in both legs. Computed tomography showed a large low attenuated mass around and in the S7 segment of the liver involving the right kidney and multiple enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. There were multiple variably sized discrete nodules in both lungs. Cavography showed subtotal occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). She was successfully treated by wide resection and IVC reconstruction with partial cardiopulmonary bypass and metastasectomy.

Surgical approach of orbital medial wall fractures

Medial orbital wall fracture was described by Converse and Smith in the first time in 1957. These fractures which comprise more than 30% of all the orbital wall fracture are may easily be overlooked in routine orbital radiology. Accordingly, examination with orbital CT is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. These type of fracture are followed frequently by post-oprative complication such as diplopia and enophthalmos because it is very difficult to approach to orbital medial was in these operations. The mechanism of the orbital wall fractures are abruptly increased hydraulic pressure by sudden impact on orbital rim or soft tissue of orbital region. So patients who show the signs of subcutaneous emphysema, edema on the orbital region or diplopia need to get through examination with orbital CT for accurate diagnosis and immediate reconstruction of the fractured orbital wall. Conventional approaches in the operations of the orbital medial wall fractures are that with bicoronal incision, subciliary incision, transconjunctival incision and infra-orbital rim incision. But, approach with bicoronary incision, needs broader dissection and longer time for operation. Operations with transconjunctival incision and that with subciliary incision have difficulty to approach to fractured sites. Operations with other conventional methods may be also followed by scar problem. The authors performed reduction and reconstruction of the fractured orbital medial wall fractures successfully without any complications and difficulties by intra-eyebrow approach with which they made incision of 2 - 2.5 cm on mid-area of eyebrow to expose fractured medial wall with good operative field.

Transcutaneous reduction and external bone fixation device for the treatment of zygomatic arch fracture

Zygomatic arch is a prominent structure among facial bone and this is the major cause of vulnerability from the facial trauma. The fracture of zygomatic arch has been treated by ancillary methods of closed reduction approaching through temporal incision or intraoral incision. But, these methods gas a limitation of reduction force vector and it has a difficulty in maintaining the secure fixation of the reduced unstable fractured bones. All 22 cases of zygomatic fracture were reduced by transcutaneous screw and fixed with external fixation device successfully. There was no post-operative complication, such as non union, malunion, and visible scar. This method also has advantages of less post-operative edema and pain.