OBJECTIVES Little is known about the performance of re-used pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in Africa. We sought to compare the risk of infection and the rate of malfunction of re-used pacemakers and ICDs with new devices implanted at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS This was a retrospective case comparison study of the performance of re...

As surgeons, we should continue to strive to do what is best for the donor without compromising graft function. The laparoscopic approach is the preferred approach in the vast majority of US transplant centers. The options for laparoscopic control of the renal vessels are staplers or clips. If clips are not used, we must rely on staplers. The vascular staplers and multiple locking clips were gi...

The syndrome of left ventricular dysfunction in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease following central nervous system injury is termed neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM). It has been described most commonly in association with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Nonspecific electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, elevated troponin I levels, and reversible regional-wall motion ab...

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy, Shunt malfunction, Hydrocephalus, Background: The efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) following cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures has been disputed and claimed as having a less favorable outcome. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the success of ETV in the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus in patients primarily treated by ...

Currently, most of the time spent caring for the patients with permanent pacemaker will be concerned with evaluating the function of the previously implanted pacing system. Pacing system malfunction can be secondary to pacemaker circuitry failure or to lead dysfunction. Various tools are available to help evaluation of the pacing system malfunction, including physical examination, standard 12-l...