Acta Angiologica 2008, tom 14, nr 2

Blunt chest trauma can lead to massive retrosternal haematoma due to injury to blood vessels. A 25-year-old male showed a plain chest x-ray two hours after he had experienced a blunt impact to his sternum. The result was normal. Twelve hours later a second x-ray revealed massive effusion in his right pleural cavity...

The duplex scan is the main tool used to diagnose carotid artery stenosis, and there is agreement that it might be the single preoperative diagnostic test. All limitations of carotid duplex scanning should be taken into consideration during qualification to surgical or endovascular treatment..

Nosocomial infections are an unwanted complication present in almost every hospital. Among patients of highly specialized departments, including vascular surgery wards, the most prevalent form of clinical infection are Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). SSIs significantly extend the patient's stay in the hospital, increase costs and above all can be the direct cause of death after vascular procedures...

The treatment of diabetic foot lesions is performed by any member of an interdisciplinary team of physicians including diabetes specialists, podiatricians, nurses and surgeons. Lucilia sericata blowfly maggots effectively help the surgeon. The aim of the study was to evaluate treatment results in cases of patients at risk of diabetic foot amputation following larval therapy using sterile Lucilia sericata maggots...

The potential advantages of arterial conduits compared with venous graft in coronary operations resulted in their increased use, with the aim of achieving complete myocardial revascularization. The biological characteristics of the vascular wall account for the better patency observed in arterial conduits compared with the patency of the saphenous vein...