A 79-year-old man underwent trans-catheter aortic valve replacement for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis with a 26-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT valve. Immediately after valve deployment there was moderate amount of paravalvular leak. Post-dilation was performed with an additional 2 cc of volume, and the paravalvular leak was reduced to trace. Nine months later, trans-thoracic echocardiography reveale...

BACKGROUND During invasive mechanical ventilation, secretions accumulate in the subglottic space; consequently, there is a risk of aspiration of these secretions into the airway during cuff deflation and extubation. To minimize this risk, 2 extubation methods are used. The first consists of introducing a suction catheter into the endotracheal tube (ETT) and the trachea. After initiating suction...

A production leak test system using digital holography, Optical Leak Testing (OLT), has been developed for simultaneous gross and fine leak testing of hermetic semiconductor, MEMS and Optoelectronic devices. The technique has also shown the unique capability to leak test ceramic SMC’s on PCBs, even if conformal coated. Many devices are manufactured using welded, brazed or soldered metal lids wi...

Background: Chest drain management is a variable aspect of postoperative care in thoracic surgery, with different opinion for air and volume output. We aim to study if acceptable safety was maintained using leak criteria alone.

INTRODUCTION The effect of leaks on volume-targeted pressure support noninvasive ventilation mode has only been tested with continuous simulated leaks. The objective of the study was to assess the influence of random leaks occurring either during inspiration or expiration. METHODS Analysis of the volume-targeted pressure support mode in 6 commercial ventilators with single-limb circuits and i...

BACKGROUND The use of supraglottic airway devices (SADs) in surgeries with laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg (LPT) positioning is controversial due to concerns about insufficient pulmonary ventilation and aspiration. In this prospective, randomized-controlled trial, we evaluated whether the i-gel, a new second generation SAD, provides an effective alternative to an endotracheal tu...

BACKGROUND Protracted hospitalizations due to air leaks following lung resections are a significant source of morbidity and prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS), with potentially significant impact on hospital margins. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between air leaks, LOS, and financial outcomes among discharges following lung resections. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Medicare P...

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of an adjustable inspiratory occlusion valve in experimental bronchopleural fistula during mechanical ventilation. METHODS We studied six mechanically ventilated pigs in a surgically created, reproducible model of bronchopleural fistula managed with mechanical ventilation and water-sealed thoracic drainage. An adjustable inspiratory occlusion valve was placed be...

1 published an original article on the efficacy of the endoscopic management of bile leak after cholecystectomy. Endoscopic management , which involved biliary stent placement with or without biliary sphincterotomy, was successful in 30 of 32 cases (93.8%). Complications of endoscopic management occurred in four of 32 cases (1.3%), but were managed conservatively without se-quelae. 1 Results fr...