Introduction: Primary extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms are sporadic in the general population. They are uncommon in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1. During pregnancy or in the puerperium, the risk of aneurysm rupture in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 and extracranial aneurysms is elevated. Rupture of a vertebral artery aneurysm is an emergency condition and can be fatal. Case presentation: We present the case of a 33-year-old woman in the puerperium with neurofibromatosis type 1 who had a vertebral symptomatic artery aneurysm. During a previous hospitalization, two months before the treatment of the vertebral aneurysm, a same-sided aneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk was successfully treated with endovascular coiling because of aneurysm rupture. In this case report, the vertebral artery aneurysm was successfully managed using a flow diverter stent graft. Conclusions: This is the first reported case of a successfully treated symptomatic vertebral artery aneurysm with a flow diverter stent graft in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 during the early puerperium. Endovascular treatment with a stent graft is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment for patients with vertebral artery aneurysms. Early diagnosis of non-ruptured vertebral artery aneurysms is a crucial as well as appropriate treatment, which should be undertaken in a timely manner to prevent serious complications or a fatal outcome.
The study included 40 patients of both genders who underwent skin transplantation after a hand injury. The study aims to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters in patients’ blood and serum levels of galectin-3 in order to investigate gender differences pre- and post- skin transplantation. The results of the study suggest a significant increase in superoxide anion radical levels, catalase activity, and reduced glutathione levels in females before skin transplantation. The surgical treatment caused significant increase in superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide levels as prooxidants in males, while superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were also increased 7 days after the procedure. In females, superoxide anion radical and TBARS levels increased after surgical procedure as well as the activity of catalase. Regarding galectin-3 levels, a significant interaction between gender and time was observed (gender×time; p=0.000). Correlation analysis of different oxidative stress markers with gal-3 revealed the existence of a significant negative correlation of superoxide anion radical, catalase, and reduced glutathione with gal-3, but only in female patients. It can be concluded that OS as well as galectin-3 play important roles at least in the first 7 days of the postoperative period.
Background: The optimal route of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration remains one of the most debated topics in total knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to compare the effects of intravenous (IV), intra-articular (IA), and combined TXA protocols on total blood loss (TBL) and hidden blood loss (HBL), while identifying independent predictors of perioperative bleeding. Methods: In a prospective cohort study of 245 patients undergoing primary TKA, participants were assigned into four groups: IV TXA (15 mg/kg), IA TXA (1 g), combined (IV + IA), and a control group. TBL and HBL were calculated using the Gross formula. A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess independent associations of each protocol. Results: The IV group demonstrated significantly lower TBL (mean 898 mL) and HBL (mean 568 mL) compared with both the control (1329 mL and 894 mL; p = 0.002) and IA groups (1129 mL and 748 mL; p = 0.008). While IA TXA reduced 24 h drain output (p < 0.001), it did not significantly reduce TBL (p = 0.539) or HBL (p = 0.875). No significant differences were found between the IV-only and combined groups (p > 0.05). Multivariate regression identified the IV route as an independent predictor of reduced TBL (B = −383.7, p = 0.001). Conclusions: A single intravenous dose of TXA was associated with lower total and hidden blood loss compared with intra-articular administration. The lack of additional benefit in the combined group suggests a possible plateau effect of systemic administration, which is hypothesis-generating and limited by the study design for blood conservation in TKA. Level of Evidence: Level II, Prospective Cohort Study.