No abstract

A Indo-Caribbean patient undergoing cardiac surgery developed Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) with massive endobronchial secretion of clear fluid mimicking severe pulmonary edema. Hypoxemia and lung stiffness were so severe that didn’t allow closure of the sternum on completion of surgery. The patient was treated with invasive ventilation, high positive pressure and % FiO2 and aggressive endotracheal suction. After several hours, secretions reduced spontaneously and the patient made an uneventful recovery.

a 66-year old woman, Jehovah's Witness, diabetic Type 2 and hypertensive with a history of triple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in 2007 was submitted to a redo CABG for failure of all previous grafts. She had a myocardial infarct in April 2013 and had post myocardial infarction angina on exertion (CCS 2). The preoperative ejection fraction was 53%. The preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) was 14.1 g/dL. After freeing the heart from epicardial and pericardial adhesions due to previous surgery, a triple venous CABG was performed on-pump: on left anterior descending (LAD) artery, postero-lateral (PL) artery and posterior descending (PD) artery. At the end of the operation, the Hb value was 10.7 g/dL. The postoperative bleeding at the drain removal was 230 ml. The patient was discharged home on the seventh postoperative day with no complications. The Hb value was 9.5 g/dL. At present, she is alive, well and asymptomatic.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the best treatment for advanced knee osteoarthritis and it has proven to be durable and effective. Anterior knee pain (AKP) is still one of the most frequent complications after TKA, but sometimes no recognized macroscopic causes can be found. The correct treatment of patella is considered the key for a proper management of AKP. The inclusion of patellar resurfacing during TKA has been described as a potential method for the reduction of AKP. After surgeons started to resurface the patella, new complications emerged, such as component failure, instability, fracture, tendon rupture, and soft tissue impingement. Patelloplasty has been proposed as a good alternative to resurfacing but whether or not to resurface the patella is still a controversial topic in the literature. Therefore, patellofemoral joint is a complex critical aspect in TKA and choosing between the several options of treatment of patella could not be sufficient. In this review, evidence-based studies do not succeed in resolving this difficult argument. The accurate management of the so-called “third space” should include an accurate assessment of cartilage layers, balance of soft tissue, preoperative anterior tracking, and positioning of the femoral and tibial components. In fact, the selection of suitable implants and adherence to proper surgical technique are the fundamental principles for the success of TKA.

The role of ankle arthroscopy in managing the consequences of ankle fractures is yet to be fully established. This study aims to assess this procedure in terms of the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis, re-operation rate and patientreported outcomes. Methods: We compared two homogeneous groups of 16 patients (32 in total, average age 40.6 years) operated for a fracture of the distal tibia and/or fibula treated with ORIF. For all fractures the AO classification was used. The baseline was 6 months after surgery. Inclusion criteria were: patients aged between 19 and 50 a pre-trauma Tegner score >3, FAOS score <75 at the baseline, R.O.M. <20° vs contralateral; we included patients with well-aligned osteosynthesis and with radiographic union. Patients with open fractures, with osteochondral lesions and with previous were excluded. In the first group we planned an arthroscopy of the ankle from 6 to 12 months after trauma, in the second group, we continued with conservative rehabilitation treatment. All patients were then re-evaluated at 3,6 and 12 months with questionnaires (Tegner activity level, and FAOS). The mean follow-up was 18.2 months. For all data statistical analysis was performed. Results: The results of our case-series showed excellent patient satisfaction (12/14) with a FAOS Score and an improved R.O.M. statistically significant (p <.001) in patients treated with ankle arthroscopy. Eighty percent was able to return to previous activity. The average time until return to sport was 5.3 ± 2.4 months. Seventy percent of the athletes still had occasional pain with sport. Conclusion: The literature on arthroscopic treatment after fracture is still poor but results obtained, even with a limited number of cases, and with a short follow-up, are positive, especially in those patients where the functional demand is highest.