A U.S.-made TA-30 model stapling device was utilized to close the bronchial stump in 146 patients, while conventional manual suturing with chromic catgut was performed for the same purpose in 152 patients. The two groups were comparable in respect of pre-operative status and operative diagnosis. Patients, in whom the stapler was utilized, showed a decreased incidence of bronchial fistula (1% vs. 3%) and empyema without fistula (1% vs. 3%). The stapler, compared with conventional manual sutures, allows a simpler and swifter suture of the bronchial stump, reduces the contamination of the operative field, achieves uniform and tighter closure of the bronchus, leaves a better preserved terminal blood perfusion of the stump and utilizes a more tolerated sewing material with less resultant tissue inflammation.

No abstract

A case of coarctation of the abdominal aorta associated with multiple stenotic renal arteries is reported. The patient was operated upon with successful thoraco-abdominal aortic bypass and direct reimplantation of 3 renal arteries on the graft. Surgical techniques for treatment of coarctation are discussed.

No abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is often related to atherosclerosis, is the most common cause of death in European countries [1].