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The aim of this study was the evaluation of contralateral hip fractures after a previous hip fracture. For this retrospective analysis patients were selected from the database of the LUMC, a teaching hospital in the south-west of the Netherlands. We analyzed all patients with a second fracture of a hip between 1992 and 2007. The exclusion criteria were high impact trauma and patients with diseases or medication known to have a negative effect on bone metabolism. A total of 1,604 hip fractures were identified. The possible predictive factors for the second fracture and descriptive statistics related to surgery (Hb and HT before and after the operation, total amount of intra- and postoperative blood loss, type of osteosynthesis, complications, time of death after the last fracture, time between arrival in the hospital and operation and hospital stay for both fractures) were recorded. A total of 32 second hip fractures were identified (2%) at a mean of 27.5 (SD 28.9) months after the initial hip fracture. The mean age at the first fracture was 77.2 years (SD 11.7), and 27 of 32 patients were female. Of these 32 patients (64 bilateral hip fractures), 32 fractures were intracapsular (1 femoral neck, 31 subcapital) and 32 were extracapsular fractures (6 subtrochanteric, 26 transtrochanteric). Although 24 of the 32 patients had identical first and second hip fractures, only eight out of 32 hips were treated with the same implants. There was a significant difference in Singh index between both hips at the time of the first fracture. There was also a significant difference in Singh index between the hip which was not fractured compared with its subsequent index when it was broken. All other studied patient and fracture characteristics were not significantly different. In this population the percentage of second hip fractures was relatively low compared to other studies. The choice of implants in this study shows that implants were chosen randomly. Because there is a significant difference in the Singh index during first and second hip fracture, osteoporosis medication might help reduce the incidence of second hip fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical Impact: Ultrasound visualization of vascular closure devices during endovascular access closure leads to a significant decrease in overall and major post interventional access site complications. This non-invasive and often readily available imaging technique could therefore lead to an important decrease in morbidity and subsequent overall health care costs when added to the standard intervention protocol. With the increasing use of endovascular techniques to treat peripheral artery disease, the addition of ultrasound-techniques in closure of endovascular access sites could potentially have a large clinical impact, both on patient outcomes as well as financial outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

In recent years nitrous oxide has become a popular party drug. Large cylinders filled with nitrous oxide are used to fill balloons for recreational use. We present two patients with severe third-degree cold burns on their thighs after clamping a large cylinder between their legs while filling balloons. During filling, large amounts of nitrous oxide are inhaled, which causes the pain to be numbed. As nitrous oxide is discharged from the cylinder, the cylinder becomes ice cold. Due to direct contact with the icecold cylinder and numbness, third-degree frostbite wounds occur. In both cases presented, the burn wounds had to be debrided and treated with split-thickness skin transplants. Awareness is needed as at first presentation as the burns look superficial, but can rapidly develop into third-degree burn wounds. Close follow-up and aggressive treatment is necessary to prevent infections and to regain a good functional outcome of the affected limb.

Objective: The new 2019 guideline of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) recommends consideration for elective iliac artery aneurysm (eIAA) repair when the iliac diameter exceeds 3.5 cm, as opposed to 3.0 cm previously. The current study assessed diameters at time of eIAA repair and ruptured IAA (rIAA) repair and compared clinical outcomes after open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)., Methods: This retrospective observational study used the nationwide Dutch Surgical Aneurysm Audit (DSAA) registry that includes all patients who undergo aorto-iliac aneurysm repair in the Netherlands. All patients who underwent primary IAA repair between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2018 were included. Diameters at time of eIAA and rIAA repair were compared in a descriptive fashion. The anatomical location of the IAA was not registered in the registry. Patient characteristics and outcomes of OSR and EVAR were compared with appropriate statistical tests., Results: The DSAA registry comprised 974 patients who underwent IAA repair. A total of 851 patients were included after exclusion of patients undergoing revision surgery and patients with missing essential variables. eIAA repair was carried out in 713 patients, rIAA repair in 102, and symptomatic IAA repair in 36. OSR was performed in 205, EVAR in 618, and hybrid repairs and conversions in 28. The median maximum IAA diameter at the time of eIAA and rIAA repair was 43 (IQR 38-50) mm and 68 (IQR 58-85) mm, respectively. Mortality was 1.3% (95% CI 0.7-2.4) after eIAA repair and 25.5% (95% CI 18.0-34.7) after rIAA repair. Mortality was not significantly different between the OSR and EVAR subgroups. Elective OSR was associated with significantly more complications than EVAR (intra-operative: 9.8% vs. 3.6%, post-operative: 34.0% vs. 13.8%, respectively)., Conclusion: In the Netherlands, most eIAA repairs are performed at diameters larger than recommended by the ESVS guideline. These findings appear to support the recent increase in the threshold diameter for eIAA repair., (Copyright © 2020 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine patient and hip fracture characteristics, early postoperative complication rate, and need for institutionalization at the time of discharge from the hospital in patients treated for a second contralateral hip fracture., Methods: During a 6-year period (2003-2009), 71 patients (60 women and 11 men; age range, 54-94 years) underwent first hip fracture surgery and subsequent contralateral hip fracture surgery at our hospital. Variables, including age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (ASA), AO fracture classification, time between both hip fractures, rate and severity of early postoperative complications, and destination of discharge were obtained from the electronic medical records. Data from both hospitalization periods were compared., Results: Forty-six percent of second hip fractures occurred within 2 years after the first hip fracture. After the first hip fracture surgery, 13 patients had 1 or multiple complications compared with 23 patients after a second hip fracture surgery (P = 0.02). The mean time (±SD) between the first and second hip fractures in patients without complications after the second injury was 4.3 (±4.2) years, compared with 2.6 (±2.1) years in patients with complications after the second injury (P = 0.03). The mean ASA classification of patients without complications after the second hip fracture surgery was 2.6 (±0.6) versus 3.0 (±0.6) in patients with complications (P = 0.04). After the first hip fracture surgery, 27 patients (38%) were discharged to an institutional care facility, whereas 72% of patients resided at an institutional care facility after a second hip fracture., Conclusions: Early complication rate in patients sustaining a second contralateral hip fracture was almost twice that documented after the first hip fracture. After the second hip fracture surgery, most patients resided in an institutional care facility., Level of Evidence: Prognostic level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: In vitro cadaveric studies showed that elastomer femoroplasty prevents displacement of fracture parts after proximal hip fracture allowing for conservative treatment. In the event that secondary displacement does occur, the purpose of this present study was to determine the feasibility of performing osteosynthesis of a fractured hip after preventive treatment with elastomer femoroplasty., Methods: Ten pairs of human cadaveric femurs were fractured in a simulated fall configuration. From each pair, one femur was randomly selected for elastomer femoroplasty prior to fracture generation and the contralateral femur was used as control. Following hip fracture generation, osteosynthesis was performed in all femurs. The operative time per case, technical difficulties during the procedure, and postoperative energy-to-failure load were recorded., Results: The mean (SD) time to perform osteosynthesis was 20 (6) minutes in the control-group and 19 (5) minutes in the elastomer femoroplasty-group (P=0.69). During osteosynthesis of the fractured hip in the elastomer femoroplasty-group, no difficulties including the need for additional instruments to remove elastomer from the proximal femur were recorded. Postoperative energy-to-failure load was similar in the control-group and the elastomer femoroplasty-group., Conclusion: Fixation with routine osteosynthesis of displaced cadaveric hip fractures is not hindered by the presence of previously injected elastomer., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Elastomer femoroplasty is a novel and experimental approach in the prevention of hip fracture surgery. Previously, we published the results of an in vitro cadaveric experiment in which we showed a significant reduction of fracture displacement in treated femurs. The aim of the present study was to establish the failure loads and inter-fragmentary movement of fractured, elastomer femoroplasty treated femurs during cyclic loading., Methods: 16 cadaveric femurs were treated with elastomer femoroplasty and fractured in a simulated fall configuration. Each specimen underwent 10 cycles with a preload of 50 N, starting with a peak load of 250 N followed by 10 cycles of 500 N and continued with 500 N increments. The crosshead speed was 2 mm/s. The failure load, the number of completed cycles, and crosshead extensions were recorded., Findings: The mean failure load was 2709 N (SD 1094). The number of completed cycles until failure was 60 (SD 22). The mean translation during maximum loading was 5.25 mm (SD 0.9). At 1500 N (two times the bodyweight of a 75 kg individual) the extension was 3.16 mm., Interpretation: Preventive elastomer femoroplasty leads to the stabilization of the proximal femur after fracture. In a single leg stance configuration, cyclic loading with mean failure loads that well exceed the peak loads during normal gait is feasible., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the influence of aneurysm wall stiffness and of the presence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) on aneurysm wall movement. Three latex aneurysms were used with different wall stiffness. The aneurysms, equipped with 20 tantalum markers, were attached to an in vitro circulation model. Fluoroscopic roentgenographic stereo photogrammetric analysis was used to measure marker movement during six cardiac cycles at three different systemic pressures. To investigate the influence of ILT on wall movement, we repeated the same experiment with one of the aneurysms. The aneurysm sac was then filled with one of two E-moduli differing thrombus analogues (Novalyse 8 and 20) or with perfusate as a control. It was noted that the amplitude of the wall movement (mm) increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the compliance of the wall increased. The mean amplitude of the wall movement decreased (P < 0.05) as the stiffness (E-modulus) of the ILT increased. In conclusion, ILT has a 'cushioning effect'. Wall movement (and theoretically wall stress) diminishes when the stiffness of the ILT increases. Compliance of the aneurysm wall influences wall movement. When the stiffness of the wall increases, the wall movement diminishes.

Objectives: Customized aortic repair (CAR) is a new concept for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in which a non-polymerised elastomer is injected to fill the aneurysm sac around a balloon catheter. Amongst other variables, the thrombogenicity of the elastomer should be tested, before further clinical experiments can take place. The aim of this human ex vivo study was to measure the thrombogenicity of the elastomer and to compare it to expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)., Design and Materials: In a validated ex vivo model, non-anticoagulated blood was drawn from the antecubital veins of 10 healthy donors with a 19-gauge needle. It was drawn through elastomer tubes and through ePTFE Gore-Tex vascular grafts, both 60 cm long and with an inner diameter of 3 mm., Methods: Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and P-selectin expression was measured in blood samples, collected at the end of the grafts. After the experiments, the deposition of platelets and fibrin onto the grafts was visualised by scanning electron microscopy., Results: For these graft types, a progressive increase in FPA production was observed in time. No significant difference was observed between the elastomer and ePTFE grafts (p > 0.05). No increase in P-selectin expression, and thereby no platelet activation, was observed in the perfusate of either grafts (p > 0.05). By scanning electron microscopy, numerous platelet aggregates were observed on the ePTFE grafts, whereas just a few adhered platelets and no aggregates were observed in the elastomer grafts., Conclusions: The elastomer in its current formulation has a low thrombogenicity, comparable to ePTFE, making it an ideal substance for endovascular aneurysm sac filling. Further research should clarify the feasibility of CAR in vivo., (Copyright © 2012 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to test femur strength and the ability to prevent fracture displacement of two minimal invasive Elastomer femoroplasty techniques., Methods: A total of sixteen fixed human cadaveric femur pairs were used. From each pair one femur was randomly assigned for Elastomer femoroplasty. In these femora we drilled a 3.5mm entrance in the lateral cortex. Cavities for the Elastomer were created by: group A, balloon and group B an excentric drill. All femora were fractured by simulating a fall on the greater trochanter. Neck-shaft-angles on plain anterior posterior radiographs were measured to determine fracture displacement., Findings: There was no significant difference in fracture load between controls and treated femora for group A, 2904N (SD 1091) versus 2803N (SD 627) and group B, 2773N (SD 747) versus 2597N (SD 834). In group A the mean displacement was 35° (SD 14) for the control femora and 3° (SD 2) for the treated femora (P<0.001). In group B the mean displacement was 38° (SD 10) for the controls and 8° (SD 13) for the treated femora (P<0.001)., Interpretation: The results of this study show that minimal invasive Elastomer femoroplasty prevents fracture displacement of the proximal femur. We found no significant compromise in load-to-fracture after minimal invasive balloon or excentric drill femoroplasty., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Endovascular techniques, including branched devices to preserve the internal iliac artery are evolving rapidly, but in cases in which the diameter of the proximal sealing zone is larger than that of the distal sealing zone, a reversed tapered device is needed. We describe the off label use of the Gore Excluder contralateral leg endoprosthesis in an upside down configuration to accommodate this diameter mismatch. The preinsertion technical steps of stent graft preparation, which do not require extracorporeal predeployment, are described in detail. As such, an aneurysm of the internal iliac artery and a saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm were successfully excluded., (Copyright © 2011 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients, who underwent spiral vein reconstruction of the abdominal aorta to repair infected aneurysms or replace infected aortic grafts., Methods: All spiral vein reconstructions between March 2005 and May 2010 because of vascular infections of the abdominal aorta were retrospectively included. Diagnosis was determined by clinical examination, laboratory results, computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scan, and microbiological tests. Spiral vein reconstruction consisted of harvesting the greater saphenous vein (GSV) and construction into a spiral graft, aortic reconstruction and a transmesenteric omentumplasty. Primary outcomes were survival and limb salvage. Secondary outcomes included technical, clinical and ongoing success, re-infection, ongoing infection and patency., Results: All five patients survived surgery, and there were no in-hospital deaths. Survival and limb salvage were 100% after median follow-up of 13 months (6-67 months). Further, technical, clinical and continuing success was 100%. There were no re-infections or ongoing infections., Conclusions: Spiral vein reconstruction using the GSV showed good short-term survival and limb salvage. It, therefore, might be considered as an attractive treatment method for vascular infections of the abdominal aorta. Still, more follow-up is needed to evaluate long-term results., (Copyright © 2011 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate if an elastomer [polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)] can be used to effectively treat endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair., Methods: A latex aneurysm (36-mm inner diameter sac, 15-mm inner diameter neck) was attached to an in vitro circulation model. The aneurysm was excluded from the circulation by placing an unstented polyester graft. Endoleak types II-IV were created using different setups. While the circulation setup running, the aneurysm was filled with contrast medium and then the biocompatible PDMS elastomer was injected to exclude the endoleaks and the perigraft area. The sac was considered full when all contrast was pushed out of the sac and the elastomer flowed into the proximal efferent lumbar artery. Treatment was successful when the aneurysm was free of endoleak after control angiography., Results: The endoleaks were created successfully in the latex aneurysm models, with contrast present in the sac before "treatment." After elastomer sac filling, all endoleaks were successfully excluded on angiography; there was no leakage of contrast outside the graft lumen in any of the setups. With the type III endoleak, the disruption in the graft material was sealed by the elastomer, while the entire porous graft was encased in elastomer in the type IV endoleak setup. There was no elastomer within the graft lumen in either case., Conclusions: This concept of filling the aneurysm sac with PDMS may lead to a percutaneous treatment for endoleaks. While the results of this study show that PDMS may be used to treat endoleaks in vitro, further tests are required to determine if this approach is suitable in vivo.

The use of Souter-Strathclyde total elbow prostheses is a well-studied replacement therapy for reconstruction of the elbow, but loosening of the humeral component is still of concern at long-term follow-up. In this study we looked at the effect of humeral component size and bone mineral density with respect to the bone size, torsional stiffness and torque to failure in cadaveric bones. Fourteen cadaveric humeri were available for testing purposes and four different humeral component size categories were used. First, we calculated the bone quality using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The torsional stiffness of the prosthetic humeri was measured during two mechanical tests: Firstly, the applied torque was recorded during a torsion fatigue test. The change of torsional stiffness between the tenth and last cycle was calculated. Secondly, a simple torsion test was performed and the torque to failure was recorded. No significant differences in outcome were seen between sizes of humeral components, even after correction for the bone size. Torsional stiffness and torque to failure were significantly correlated with bone mineral density and not with component size. In conclusion, bone quality seems to be a major eminent factor in the fixation of the humeral component in elbow replacement surgery.

Objective: This study aimed to test a percutaneous technique for aneurysm-sac filling by means of in situ polymerisation in an in vivo model., Design: Aortic Customize is a new endovascular treatment concept for aortic aneurysms: a non-cross-linked liquid elastomer is injected to fill the aneurysm sac around a balloon-catheter. With this method, a compliant elastomer mould with a patent lumen is created., Material: The formulation used in the experiments consisted of a two-component addition-cure liquid-silicone formulation, based on vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)., Methods: The concept of aneurysm-sac filling was tested in vivo in porcine experiments (n = 3)., Results: In vivo porcine experiments with the sac-filling application showed successful exclusion of the created aneurysms with patent lumens and absence of endoleaks. The aneurysms were excluded successfully in the in vivo model, injecting elastomer through a 7-French catheter, filling up the entire aneurysm sac., Conclusions: These in vivo experiments demonstrate that the principle of aneurysm-sac filling by means of in situ curing is feasible, excluding the aneurysm and creating a new lumen. Further long-term animal experiments must be done prior to consideration of clinical application., (Copyright 2010 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: One of the major concerns in the long-term success of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is stent graft migration, which can cause type I endoleak and even aneurysm rupture. Fixation depends on the mechanical forces between the graft and both the aortic neck and the blood flow. Therefore, there are anatomical restrictions for EVAR, such as short and angulated necks. To improve the fixation of EVAR grafts, elastomer (PDMS) can be injected in the aneurysm sac. The support given by the elastomer might prevent dislocation and migration of the graft. The aim of this study was to measure the influence of an injectable biocompatible elastomer on the fixation strength of different EVAR grafts in an in vitro model., Methods: The proximal part of three different stent grafts was inserted in a bovine artery with an attached latex aneurysm. The graft was connected to a tensile testing machine, applying force to the proximal fixation, while the artery with the aneurysm was fixated to the setup. The force to obtain graft dislodgement (DF) from the aorta was recorded in Newtons (N). Three different proximal seal lengths (5, 10, and 15 mm) were evaluated. The experiments were repeated after the space between the graft and the latex aneurysm was filled with the elastomer. Independent sample ttests were used for the comparison between the DF before and after elastomer treatment for each seal length., Results: The mean DF (mean +/- SD) of all grafts without elastomer sac filling for a proximal seal length of 5, 10, and 15 mm were respectively, 4.4 +/- 3.1 N, 12.2 +/- 10.6 N, and 15.1 +/- 6.9 N. After elastomer sac filling, the dislodgement forces increased significantly (P < .001) to 20.9 +/- 3.8 N, 31.8 +/- 9.8 N, and 36.0 +/- 14.1 N, respectively., Conclusions: The present study shows that aneurysm sac filling may have a role as an adjuvant procedure to the present EVAR technique. The strength of the proximal fixation of three different stent grafts increases significantly in this in vitro setting. Further in vivo research must be done to see if this could facilitate the treatment of aneurysms with short infrarenal necks., (Copyright (c) 2010 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Aortic Customize is a new concept for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in which a non polymerized elastomer is injected to fill the aneurysm sac around a balloon catheter. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the extent of aneurysm wall stress reduction by the presence of a noncompliant elastomer cuff., Methods: A thin-walled latex aneurysm (inner radius sac 18 mm, inner radius neck 8 mm), equipped with 12 tantalum markers, was attached to an in vitro circulation model. Fluoroscopic roentgenographic stereo photogrammetric analysis (FRSA) was used to measure marker movement during six cardiac cycles. The radius of three circles drawn through the markers was measured before and after sac filling. Wall movement was measured at different systemic pressures. Wall stress was calculated from the measured radius (sigma = pr/2t)., Results: The calculated wall stress was 7.5-15.6 N/cm(2) before sac filling and was diminished to 0.43-1.1 N/cm(2) after sac filling. Before sac filling, there was a clear increase (P < .001) in radius of the proximal (range, 7.9%-33.5%), middle (range, 3.3%-25.2%), and distal (range, 10.5%-184.3%) rings with increasing systemic pressure. After sac filling with the elastomer, there remained a small, significant (P < .001) increase in the radius of the circles (ranges: 6.8%-8.8%; 0.7%-1.1%; 5.3%-6.7%). The sac filling reduced the extent of radius increase. The treated aneurysm withstood systemic pressures up to 220/140 mm Hg without noticeable wall movement. After the sac filling, there was no pulsation visible in the aneurysm wall., Conclusions: Filling the aneurysm sac of a simplified in vitro latex model with a biocompatible elastomer leads to successful exclusion of the aneurysm sac from the circulation. Wall movement and calculated wall stress are diminished noticeably by the injection of biocompatible elastomer., (Copyright (c) 2010 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prevention of hip fracture surgery in the elderly imposes great benefit for patient care as well as for society. The incidence of contra-lateral, second hip fractures after hip fracture surgery is as high as 20%. Augmentation of the contra-lateral proximal femur with silicone femoroplasty during hip fracture surgery of the ipsilateral hip could be a new preventive strategy. This study compared the degree of dislocation after a controlled induced fracture between treated and control cadaver femora., Methods: Ten paired cadaver femora were randomly assigned for silicone femoroplasty and biomechanically tested for fracture load and dislocation against their native contra-lateral control. A load testing machine was used for fracture induction. All femurs were first fractured in a simulated fall configuration followed by dislocation in a "single leg stance" configuration. Dislocation was accessed using the AO-classification and measuring the Caput-Collum-Diaphysis angle., Findings: Fracture loads were approximately 10% lower in the treated group (P=0.304). Forces needed to dislocate the proximal femur fractures did not significantly differ in both groups nor did the fracture type and AO-classification. All treated femurs showed complete reposition according to Caput-Collum-Diaphysis angle after dislocation versus only two of the controls (P<0.001)., Interpretation: From the results of this study we conclude silicone femoroplasty stabilizes the proximal femur by restoring hip geometry according to the Caput-Collum-Diaphysis angle after fracture. Future improvements in minimal invasive excavation and injection could make silicone femoroplasty an attractive alternative strategy in the prevention of hip fracture surgery in the growing population of low-demand, elderly patients.

Background: In previous studies we have shown that pre-transplant hamster blood transfusion (HBT) can induce non-responsiveness in the T cell independent immunecompartment and result in tolerance towards hamster cardiac xenografts (Xgs) in T cell deficient athymic nude rats. In this study we test the combination of pre-transplant HBT with cyclosporin A (CSA) in immunocompetent Lewis rats., Methods: Before transplantation of a hamster cardiac Xg, 1 ml hamster blood was administered to nude rats or Lewis rats. CSA dissolved in olive oil was given orally at varying doses. Anti-hamster antibodies were measured by flowcytometry., Results: In nude rats HBT 3 days before transplantation resulted in 100% long-term survival >100 days (n=9). In Lewis rats, HBT resulted in hyperacute rejection (HAR) (n=6). Treatment of nude rats with CSA at doses varying from five to 20 mg/kg/day and treatment of Lewis rats with CSA five or 10 mg/kg/day did not effect Xg survival. However, treatment of Lewis rats with CSA 20 mg/kg/day led to long-term survival of five of nine Xgs (p <0.01). Combination of HBT with CSA 10 mg/kg/day in Lewis rats resulted in long-term survival of four of seven Xgs. HBT and CSA 20 mg/kg/day resulted in 100% long-term survival (n=9). Immunoglobulin M (IgM) increased after HBT and CSA in these Lewis rats, but decreased after transplantation and remained low over time. When CSA was discontinued, IgM increased and Xgs were rejected (n=3)., Conclusions: This study confirms that pre-transplant HBT results in long-term survival of hamster cardiac Xgs in nude rats. HBT and CSA have strong synergistic effects in immunocompetent Lewis rats. Combination of HBT with CSA treatment leads to long-term Xg survival in Lewis rats, whereas HBT alone results in HAR. The presence of T cells has a dominant influence on Xg survival after pre-transplant blood transfusion.

The objective of this study was to determine the role of a mortality registration in the quality control of patients who died after peripheral bypass surgery. We developed a mortality registration to classify causes of death, to evaluate shortcomings in treatment, and to determine the extent of agreement between pre- and postmortem findings. In a 10-year period, 28 of the 1,022 patients (2.7%) who underwent peripheral arterial reconstruction died. Fifty-three percent of the patients died owing to postoperative complications, most frequently a myocardial infarction. A shortcoming in the medical treatment was observed in only one patient. Forty-three percent of the relatives gave permission for an autopsy. In only two cases, the autopsy report revealed a myocardial infarction that had remained unnoticed during the clinical course. In this selected group of patients undergoing a peripheral bypass operation, the causes of death and the shortcomings in medical care could usually be identified without the help of autopsy data.

Background: Zinc (Zn) blocks caspase-3 activation in cardiac allografts and therefore may synergistically decrease apoptosis along with cyclosporine (CsA), which inhibits mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. Simultaneous treatment of rat recipients of heterotopic heart transplants with zinc chloride (ZnCl(2)) thus may allow lower doses of CsA for immunosuppression., Methods: PVG (RT1(c)) rat hearts were transplanted heterotopically into the abdomen of ACI (RT1(a)) rats. Group 1 (n = 15) rats received no treatment. Group 2 rats (n = 8) received 2 mg/kg/day CsA (sub-therapeutic dose) by oral gavage. Group 3 rats (n = 9) received 2 mg/kg/day oral CsA in addition to 1 mg/kg/day sub-cutaneous ZnCl(2) delivered by osmotic pump. All rats were imaged using Annexin V-bound (99m)Technetium ((99m)Tc-Annexin V) on post-operative Day 4 and subsequently killed. Annexin V avidly binds apoptotic cells in vivo. Region of interest per whole body (WB) data were calculated using the images. The allograft survival study was conducted with n = 11, 6, and 5 in control, CsA, and CsA+Zn groups, respectively. Finally, percentages of allografts that reached tolerance were measured in both CsA-only and CsA+Zn groups (n = 8 each)., Results: Zinc chloride had an additive effect with CsA on apoptotic blockade and graft survival. The regions of interest per WB uptake of (99m)Tc-Annexin V were 2.43% +/- 0.37%, 2.08% +/- 0.52%, and 1.49% +/- 0.29%*, and acute survivals were 6.4 +/- 1.7, 7.2 +/- 2.1, and 11.2 +/- 2.5* days for control, CsA, and CsA+Zn groups, respectively (*p < 0.001 vs controls). In addition, 87.5% of allografts became tolerant and survived for 90 days in the CsA+Zn group compared with only 37.5% in the CsA-only group (p = 0.049)., Conclusion: Zinc-mediated reduction of apoptosis served as an effective adjunct immunosuppressive therapy to CsA in a rat model of cardiac transplantation.