Tulin Durgun Yetim

A novel electrospun nano-fabric graft allows early cannulation access and reduces exposure to central venous catheters.

Purpose The use of tunneled central venous catheters (CVC) as vascular access for hemodialysis treatment is increasing worldwide. We present a novel polycarbonate urethane nano-fabric graft, produced by electrospinning technology, which has self-sealing features that avoid seroma formation and allow puncturing within 48 hours. The aim of this study was to assess its advantages in a setting where late referral is common. Methods A retrospective single center study assessed 24 implanted grafts in 24 patients with maximal follow-up of 18 months; patency rates, time to first cannulation and post-operative complications were assessed. Results Successful access was achieved in all 24 patients within 48 hours. In 50% of the patients cannulation was performed within 24 hours without increasing the complication rate. Twelve month primary and secondary patencies were 50% and 70.8%, respectively. Excluding early failures (within 30 days) because of surgical problems, 12 month primary and secondary patencies were 75% and 81.2% respectively. Complication and infection rates were 10.94 and 0.49/1000 dialysis procedures, respectively. No pseudoaneurysms or seromas were documented at 18 months. Conclusions Early cannulation was successful in all patients with good 12-month primary and secondary patency rates, compared to data reported by others on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. The infection rate was substantially lower than in tunneled CVCs. Therefore, the AVflo graft may improve the clinical status of dialysis patients by decreasing the exposure to CVCs.

Pure Yolk-Sac Tumor of the Lung

Primary germ cell tumors of the chest often localize in the anterior mediastinal compartment. Such tumors originating from lungs and pleura are rare. Chest tomography revealed a mass in the middle lobe of the right lung in a 25-year-old man. A middle lobe medial segmentectomy was performed, and chemotherapy was applied postoperatively.

Liver hydatid cyst leading to bilateral pulmonary artery embolism and bilateral multiple pulmonar echinococcosis via inferior vena cava: report of a case

Hydatid disease (HD) is a worldwide parasitic disease. Echinococcosis may involve many organs but affect most commonly liver and lungs. The location of echinococcal cysts inside pulmonary artery is extremely rare. Radiologic findings range from purely cystic lesions to a completely solid appearance. Hydatid cysts (HC) can be solitary or multiple and varies size. Pulmonary artery embolism of HC can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. When symptomatic, we see the chest pain, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis and sometimes acute cor pulmonale or sudden death secondary to massive giant pulmonary artery embolism of HC.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma on cartilage regeneration after costal cartilage resection: a stereological and histopathological study

Abstract Background: In cases of congenital chest wall deformities, it is important to maintain the flexibility of the chest wall after rib cartilage resection. In this study, we aimed to determine the regeneration capability of cartilage and the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration process. Methods: A total of 16 four-week-old New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. In the 4th–5th right costal cartilages, the perichondrial sheaths were dissected and costal cartilages were excised. Then, the perichondrial sheaths were closed with absorbable material in the sham group (n = 8), and this was done after replacing PRP in the PRP group (n = 8). The left costal cartilages of the animals were used as controls. The volumes of the costal cartilages and their perichondrial sheaths were estimated using Cavalieri’s principle. In addition, the mean numerical densities of the chondroblasts and chondrocytes per square millimetre were estimated using unbiased counting frames. Results: In the PRP and sham groups, the volumes of the cartilages and perichondrial sheaths were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The numerical densities of the chondroblasts and chondrocytes increased more in the PRP group than in the sham group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Applying PRP after resection may provide better healing and faster regeneration of cartilage.

Simultaneous Subcutaneous and Lung Hydatid Disease

Hydatid disease is still endemic in Turkey. The most common site is the liver, followed by the lungs; it is rarely observed in the other parts of the body. In this case, right lung and subclavicular subcutaneous hydatid cysts were simultaneously observed. Cystotomy and capitonnage via minithoracotomy were applied for the cyst in the lung, and the subclavicular subcutaneous hydatid cyst was completely excised. Histopathological diagnosis was confirmed. Cystic lesions localized in the body except the liver and lung hydatid disease should always assessing kept in mind. It should not be forgotten that the cyst in the lung and liver may be detected simultaneously in other parts of the body.

Bilateral pulmonary sequestration in the elderly adult

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare malformation consisting of aberrant lung tissue which is not affiliated with the normal bronchial system and is fed by an aberrant artery that derives from systemic arteries. However, PS is usually seen unilaterally but, only rarely, it is bilateral. Most patients with PS are diagnosed because of symptoms due to pulmonary infection or cardiac disease, while a small portion of patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. In this report, we present an extremely rare case of asymptomatic bilateral PS which was diagnosed at advanced age. To our knowledge, this case represents the oldest patient in the literature, and the second case that was diagnosed in a patient over the age of 50.