86,669 research outputs found
Expanding the higher education experience: international summer schools in tourism
No full textSummer schools are a relatively recent form of higher education provision, especially in Italy. However, they shows interesting potentials both as integrative study to undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD students curricula as well as continuing education opportunities for professionals and for young researcher. Being short, intensive, focused and often located in heritage or tourist town or city, summer schools are often multipurpose and match education objectives with social and leisure ones. This paper, firstly, investigate the dimension of the phenomenon, providing elements on the historical evolution of the “summer school” concept in the world. Secondly, it provides an overview of the Summer School experiences carried out within the University of Bologna. Finally, the focus will be given to the experiences in the international summer schools in Geography of Tourism held at the Faculty of Economics in Rimini
Left extralobar pulmonary sequestration and a right aorto-topulmonary vein fistula in a newborn : a 3-mm thoracoscopic monolateral approach
No full textAn extralobar pulmonary sequestration (EPS) associated with a contralateral aorto-to-pulmonary vein fistula is rare. We report the case of a female newborn with left EPS fed by an artery originating from the distal thoracic aorta and, symmetrically on the controlateral side, an artery shunting in the inferior right pulmonary vein. Echocardiography showed dilatation of the left atrium. On the 34th day since birth (weight 4500 g), the patient was operated on thoracoscopically. The EPS was closed with a 3-mm sealing system, divided and removed. A window in the mediastinal pleura was created, and the origin of the fistula was identified and sealed. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged on Day 4 with no echocardiographic signs of persistence of the fistula and of the congestive heart failure. This is the first case report of a thoracic large systemic circulation-to-pulmonary vein fistula causing heart failure associated with EPS. The thoracoscopic monolateral approach and the availability of 3-mm instruments guaranteed a maximum level of minimal invasiveness
Thoracoscopic Surgery for Congenital Lung Malformation Using Miniaturized 3-mm Vessel Sealing and 5-mm Stapling Devices : Single-Center Experience
No full textAim: To evaluate the outcomes of thoracoscopic resection of congenital lung malformations (CLM) by using JustRight® (Bolder Surgical) 3-mm vessel sealing system and 5-mm stapler. Methods: Patients who underwent thoracoscopic resection of CLM in our Center from January 2016 to July 2019 were selected and divided into two groups: G1 (2018-2019), treated with the new JustRight instruments, and G2 (2016-2017), treated with Ligasure® and Hem-o-lok. Surgical outcomes in term of length of surgery and complications were compared between groups, stratifying the groups for type of resection (lobectomy, extralobar sequestration [ES] resection, and bronchogenic cyst [BC] resection). Results: Thirteen patients were included in G1, and 16 patients were included in G2. Seven lobectomies, 5 ES resections, and 1 BC resection were performed in G1; whereas 12 lobectomies, 3 ES resections, and 1 BC resection were performed in G2. Mean age at the time of surgery was 7.8 ± 6 months (G1) and 6.8 ± 3.3 months (G2) (P = .57). The average length of surgery was shorter for G1 (lobectomies: 120.7 ± 28.2 versus 171.7 ± 37.5, P = .006; ES resection: 63 ± 21.4 versus 91.7 ± 29.3, P = .15; BC 40 minutes versus 100 minutes). No significant difference was found for length of stay (4 ± 1 days versus 5 ± 2 days, P = .18). Neither the need for conversion nor major complications were observed in either group. Conclusion: In our experience, thoracoscopic resections of CLM with the new JustRight instruments were revealed to be safe and effective. On account of having adequate dimensions for small cavities, these instruments can facilitate the procedure and help to reduce the length of surgery
Treating acid reflux disease in patients with Down syndrome: pharmacological and physiological approaches
No full textDown syndrome (DS) is often accompanied by gastrointestinal disease, occurring mainly in early infancy and frequently requiring therapy. Among motility disorders, the most frequent is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may often be misdiagnosed because of its atypical manifestations. Early diagnosis of esophageal functional disorders is essential to prevent respiratory problems, growth retardation in children, weight loss in adults, and to establish the correct type of surgery if needed. Furthermore, the involvement of the enteric nervous system in the pathophysiology of GERD in DS is not yet completely understood but seems supported by much evidence. In fact DS is often associated with motor disorders and this evidence must be considered in the choice of therapy: in particular all options available to improve motility seem to be effective in these patients. The effectiveness of therapy is strictly related to the rate of mental impairment, so that modulating therapy is essential, especially in view of the severity of the neurological status
Thoracoscopic removal of retained thoracoamniotic shunt catheters in newborns
No full textFetal hydrothorax is associated with significant mortality. However, the development of fetal thoracoamniotic shunting has reduced the mortality rate. Fetal thoracoamniotic shunting can be characterized by significant complications, such as intrathoracic dislodgement of the catheter. The ideal management of dislodged catheters postnatally is not known. We report two newborns with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal hydrothorax who underwent thoracoamniotic shunting complicated by intrathoracic dislodgement of the catheters requiring thoracoscopic removal of the shunts in the neonatal period
Cervical/thoracotomic/thoracoscopic approaches for H-type congenital tracheo-esophageal fistula: A systematic review
No full textPurpose: Aim of this systematic review is to investigate the thoracic and cervical surgical approaches of H-type tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) according to the position of the fistula. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for original studies on H-type TEF treatment published between 1977 and 2012. Manuscripts finally included were divided into open and thoracoscopic surgery groups. Results: Seventeen studies were selected for open surgery group, and most of them agree on the importance of pre-operative diagnosis of the fistula by preliminary tracheoscopy. Right cervicotomy was used in 70 cases (76.9%), left cervicotomy in 12 (13.2%), and thoracotomy only in 9 (9.9%). Five studies were included in thoracoscopic group (6 patients). Indications for the surgical approach (cervical vs thoracic) according to the position of the TEF were clearly described in 10 manuscripts, and all stated differences in surgical technique details. Complications and mortality rates were not statistically correlated to the different surgical approaches. Conclusions: The evidence base in regard to the treatment of H-type fistula in children is poor and the skills and preferences of the surgeons guide the choice of the procedure. Surgical division of the fistula is curative, and the key to a successful repair is the pre-operatively identification of the level of the fistula with tracheoscopy. Right cervicotomy seems to be the approach of choice in the majority of case, with the thoracic approach appropriate only for fistulae opening below T2. Further well-designed prospective studies which take into account of selection and performance bias are strongly required
Esophageal atresia with proximal tracheoesophageal fistula: A missed diagnosis
No full textAim of the Study This retrospective study was performed to compare the relative incidence of esophageal atresia (EA) with proximal tracheoesophageal fistula (PTEF) at our institution with those reported in literature and to test the hypothesis that our higher relative incidence is caused by the routine use of tracheoscopy. Methods A total of 204 children with EA were managed at our institution from 1981 to 2012. The type of EA and the diagnostic assessment were noted, and the relative incidence of PTEF was calculated. For patients managed from 1981 to 2003 (Group 1), the PTEF was diagnosed by contrast esophagogram or during surgical repair. For those born after 2004 (Group 2), the final diagnosis was made by routine rigid tracheoscopy performed preoperatively. The relative incidence of PTEF was compared between these two groups and with those reported in 15 selected published large series, encompassing 4197 patients with EA. Main Results Of 204 patients with EA, 10 had PTEF, with a relative incidence of 4.9%, statistically higher than those reported in reference group (1.14%, P < 0.001). The routine employ of tracheoscopy involved a higher relative incidence of PTEF (Group 2 = 11.11%, Group 1 = 3.14%, P = 0.038). The age of diagnosis of PTEF was 2.8 days for children of Group 2 and 4.2 days for Group 1 (P = 0.038). Conclusion The presence of the proximal TEF should be always ruled out before surgery. Routine employ of rigid tracheoscopy avoids delay of the diagnosis, improves diagnostic accuracy, and involves a higher relative incidence of proximal fistul. This procedure should be recommended in children undergoing EA repair. © 2013 Elsevier Inc
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