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Objective We hypothesized that ultrasound (US)-guided technique of the supra- and infraclavicular and axillary approaches of brachial plexus block (BPB) will produce a high quality of surgical anesthesia for operations below the shoulder independently of the approach and body mass index (BMI). Intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerves will be blocked separately because they are not a part of the brachial plexus. Methods This is a prospective randomized observer-blinded study. The three approaches of the US-guided BPB without neurostimulation were compared for quality, performance time, and correlation between performance time and BMI. Intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerve blocks were used in all patients. Results A total of 101 patients were randomized into three groups: SCL (supraclavicular), ICL (infraclavicular), and AX (axillary). Seven patients were excluded due to various factors. All three groups were similar in demographic data, M:F proportion, preoperative diagnosis and type of surgery, anesthesiologists who performed the block, and surgical staff that performed the surgical intervention. The time between the end of the block performance and the start of the operation was also similar. The quality of the surgical anesthesia and discomfort during the operation were identical following comparison between groups. No direct positive correlation was observed between BMI and the block performance time. The time for the axillary block was slightly longer than the time for the supra- and infraclavicular approaches, but it had no practical clinical significance. Transient Horner syndrome was observed in three patients in the SCL group. No other adverse effects or complications were observed. Conclusions All three approaches can be used for US-guided BPB with similar quality of surgical anesthesia for operations of below the shoulder. A block of the intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerves is recommended. Obesity is not a significant factor in relation to the time of US-guided BPB performance, or the quality of surgical anesthesia. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01442558.).

An acute occlusion of the tibio-peroneal trunk, due to gunshot wound injury in a young woman is presented. Delineation of the injury was determined during wound exploration. The wounded vessel was resected and arterial reconstruction was achieved by contralateral non-reversed greater saphenous vein graft interposition pretreated with blind valvulotomy. A large venous tributary allowed a bifurcated graft to be constructed. This case describes the technique of bifurcated non-reversed venous grafting, which has not been reported in an acute trauma scenario. The advantages of the method are discussed.

Combined cervicothoracical vascular traumas are very uncommon, mostly resulting from penetrating injuries. These injuries are accompanied with very high morbidity and mortality rates. In this manuscript we present a case of hemodinamycally unstable trauma patient whose major injury was penetrating trauma of both cervical and mediastinal major vessels. The standard surgical approach of median sternotomy and neck incision was insufficient, and the patient's instability forced the authors to improvise previously not described right-sided trap-door thoracomy. Incorporation of such incision in the surgical arsenal may be very effective in selective cases

The ischemic "steal" syndrome complicates angio-access in a growing number of hemodialysed patients. Until now, operative attempts (fistula ligation or banding) to treat this problem have met with only limited success.To assess the results of DRIL (distal revascularization-interval ligation) procedure in treating the "steal" syndrome.A retrospective review (1996-2002) was conducted of all 11 patients who underwent the DRIL procedure in two tertiary care hemodialysis units.Two patients were excluded because of inadequate medical documentation. All of the nine patients remaining suffered from overt atherosclerotic disease, six had diabetic nephropathy and four were smokers. The arteriovenous access, which led to the "steal" syndrome, was proximally located in all (antecubital in 8, thigh area in 1). "Steal" symptoms included hand pain, paraesthesia, neurologic deficits and gangrenous ulcers. DRIL was technically successful in all patients. There were no perioperative deaths. Immediate and complete relief of pain was achieved in eight of the nine patients. One patient with gangrene later required a transmetacarpal amputation. No patient required hand amputation. During follow-up (range 1-26 months) hemodialysis was continued uninterruptedly using the problematic AVA in all patients. Thrombosis occurred in the AVA in only two patients after the DRIL procedure at 9 and 24 months postoperatively, respectively. Three patient deaths were unrelated to the DRIL.In selected patients the DRIL procedure is a safe and effective way to treat the "steal" syndrome. AVA patency is not compromised by this operation. Preoperative angiography, before and after manual compression of the AVA, is crucial for the proper selection of patients who will benefit most from the DRIL procedure.