Training with simulation versus operative room attendance.

Reduced training times, increasing complexity of endovascular and open vascular interventions and concerns for patient's safety have necessitated a modernisation in surgical training. A more strategic approach is required to facilitate the acquisition of surgical skills outside the operating room and to minimize the risks to patients as surgeons develop their technical expertise. Virtual reality simulation has been proposed as a means to train and objectively assess technical endovascular performance without risks to patient safety. This article reviews the evidence and the limitations for this adjunctive tool, the implementation in current training programmes and future applications to maintain the highest standards of care for treatment of vascular disease.

Abdominal decompression for intra-abdominal hypertension after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is increasingly recognized in critically ill patients and can result in respiratory, hemodynamic or renal dysfunction. We report the case of a patient suffering from diabetic nephropathy who underwent simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Within 12 h after the operation, the patient developed IAH resulting in oliguria and a rise in serum creatinine. Surgical abdominal decompression was performed, resulting in immediate restoration of kidney graft function.

Antegrade revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the short- and long-term results, obtained after open revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischaemia as a reference in a field with growing interest for PTA and stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we reviewed 14 patients with 15 antegrade revascularizations for chronic intestinal ischaemia, between 1996 and 2003: ten bypasses either to the celiac trunk or to the mesenteric artery and five bifurcated bypasses to both arteries were performed. There was one reimplantation for Wilki syndrome. Graft patency was monitored for a mean period of 24 months (range 1-84 months) by clinical examination and duplex scanning. MAIN RESULTS: one patient had recurrence of symptoms that disappeared after successful reoperation. There was one perioperative death All the other patients (84%) had a long-term symptom free survival. CONCLUSION: antegrade mesenterial revascularization through an upper abdominal approach is an excellent technique with good long-term results. It sets a high standard that will be difficult to obtain with mesenteric PTA and stenting. It remains the preferred method of revascularization in low-risk patients.

Endovascular repair for aorto-enteric fistula: a bridge too far or a bridge to surgery?

PURPOSE: To review our experience of endovascular treatment of aorto-enteric fistula (AEF). METHODS: Between March 1999 and March 2005, 15 patients in five university and teaching hospitals in Belgium and The Netherlands were treated for AEF by endovascular repair. Twelve (80%) were male. The mean age was 67 years. Thirteen (87%) had had previous aortic or iliac surgery, 1.7-307 months before. All patients showed clinical or biochemical signs of bleeding. Eight (53%) were in shock, five (33%) had systemic signs of infection. Eight (53%) patients were treated in an emergency setting. Ten (67%) were treated with an aortouniiliac device, three (20%) with an aortobiiliac device, one with a tube graft and one with occluders only. All patients received antibiotics postoperatively for a prolonged period of time. RESULTS: All AEF were successfully sealed, the 30-days mortality was nil. Mean hospital stay was 20 (2-81) days. One patient died 2.7 months later of postoperative complications, one died of lung cancer. Until now, there are no signs of reinfection in four (27%) patients (mean follow-up 15.7 (1-44) months). However, reinfection or recurrent AEF occurred in nine (60%) patients after 9.5 (0.61-31) months. Seven patients were reoperated successfully, two patients died after reintervention. CONCLUSION: Endovascular sealing of AEF is a promising technique, which provides time to treat shock, local and systemic infection, and co-morbidity. This creates a better situation to perform open repair in the future with possibly better outcome. Danger of reinfection remains high. Endovascular sealing of AEF should, therefore, be seen as a bridge to open surgery when possible.

Coagulopathy, hypothermia and acidosis in trauma patients: the rationale for damage control surgery.

Severe trauma to the torso or extremities often results in significant hemorrhage, which contributes to morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to this traumatic blood loss are complex. We review its major components: coagulopathy, acidosis and hypothermia, which have led to the concept of damage control surgery.