a cosmetic prosthesis in 11 otherwise healthy individuals with recent unilateral, traumatic upper-extremity amputation. Subjects were evaluated within 6 months and at 1-3 years after amputation. Processing of tactile sensory information from the stump remained stable over the study time period. PL awareness was frequent, stable over time, intense, and occurred with or without PL sensations. Functional prosthetic use correlated with stable NF-��B inhibitor vividness of PL awareness whereas subjects who used a cosmetic prosthesis had less

vivid PL awareness at follow-up. Initial SP correlated with follow-up SP, the initial PL pain correlated with follow-up PL pain but neither initial nor follow-up SP appear to be related to follow-up PL pain after accounting for initial PL pain intensity. Neither limb temperature nor prosthesis-use correlated with the initial vs. follow-up change in PL pain intensity. These data provide evidence that PL pain described 1-3 years after an amputation is not related in any simple way to peripheral sensory function, SP, or limb temperature; and PL awareness but not PL pain may be influenced by the frequent use of a functional prosthesis. (C)

2008 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives: Cardiac reoperations are challenging and time-consuming, and have a high risk for reentry ARS-1620 manufacturer injuries. We discuss the indications, advantages, and technologic features of cardiopulmonary bypass by peripheral cannulation before resternotomy.

Methods: Of 610 redo cardiac interventions from 2000 to 2006, 158 (25.9%) were performed with peripheral

cannulation and ongoing cardiopulmonary bypass before resternotomy. This was indicated in the following: close adhesions between the sternum and the anterior cardiac surface; ascending aorta or bypass grafts (computed tomography scan); and patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation, hemodynamic/electric instability, Etofibrate previous mediastinitis, or depressed ejection fraction. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was always performed.

Results: Venous drainage was obtained by cannulation of the common femoral vein (Seldinger technique) and right internal jugular vein (percutaneously). Arterial nonocclusive cannula was placed in the femoral artery (Seldinger technique). Cardiopulmonary bypass time before cardiotomy was 35 +/- 14.7 minutes. There were 5 perioperative deaths, none due to reentry injury. Damage to mediastinal structures at resternotomy occurred in 4 cases. In all cases, peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass allowed adequate and comfortable repair. The operative time was 296 6 60 minutes. The average total postoperative bleeding was 264 +/- 38 mL/m(2).