Transanal transabdominal TME: how far can we push it?

Over many decades, advances in surgical technology, such as the use of the electrocautery Bovie, development of minimally invasive and advanced endoscopic platforms and the ability to create and maintain pneumorectum have propelled surgical techniques forward to today, with development of the transanal total mesorectal excision TME (taTME) for en bloc resection of rectal cancers. The transanal platform offers, for now, a viable alternative to perform safe and oncologically sound TME, especially favorable in cases of low rectal lesions in a narrow pelvis post neoadjuvant treatment. The aspiration of the colorectal community remains to continue to push the operative boundaries whilst maintaining safe oncological principals with the best possible functional outcomes for patients. In this article we review this evolving technique and focus on future directions.

Optimal Anticoagulant Therapy in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Interventions.

Bivalirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor. It is a new recommendation for the treatment of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Bivalirudin combined with aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors has proved to be an effective and safe choice for the management of thrombus in coronary artery disease. The use of bivalirudin compared with the combination of heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors as anticoagulant therapy is associated with reduced severe bleeding and inpatient mortality, as well as diminished costs. There is only a slight increase of late stent thrombosis, which may be controlled with the use of thienopyridines.

Global Acute Myocardial Infarction Perspectives: Beyond Door-to-Balloon Interventions.

The goal in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) intervention is achieving a door-to-balloon time of less than 90 minutes. Challenges in North America and Europe include patient education and implementing legislative mandates for STEMI guidelines. Globally, hurdles for primary percutaneous coronary intervention include limitations of access and financial constraints to providing STEMI care to vast populations. Adherence to North American and European guidelines globally remains an unrealistic goal given the unique cultural, demographic, and fiscal dynamics in poorer countries. The authors propose a four-phased population-based strategy for global acute myocardial infarction development and a pharmacoinvasive approach to STEMI care based on socioeconomic characteristics.

Compulsive Thrombus Management in STEMI Interventions.

Thrombus is a fundamental concept in the pathophysiology of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Distal embolization and no reflow are associated with less angiographic success, reduced myocardial blush, less ST resolution after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, larger enzymatic infarct size, lower left ventricular ejection fraction at discharge, and higher long-term mortality. We believe that with the use of thrombectomy devices, these shortcomings can be minimized. Based on our experience from the Single Individual Community Experience Registry (SINCERE) database, we formulated a selective thrombus burden management strategy (the Mehta classification) for thrombus management.

Door-to-Balloon ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Interventions: Illustrated Cases.

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) intervention comprises 2 components, the STEMI procedure and the STEMI process, which have unique aspects that can be modified and improved, ultimately affecting patient outcome. The 15 illustrated cases in this article highlight suggested improvements mainly in the STEMI procedure, with some references as to how the authors practically improved the STEMI process for the described procedure. The illustrated procedures have been meticulously selected from more than 1000 short door-to-balloon STEMI interventions recorded in the Single Individual Community Experience Registry (SINCERE) database, and are aimed at educating the reader about unique STEMI skills.