Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
Multi-modality blood conservation strategy in open-heart surgery: an audit.
The objective of this study was to perform an audit of the use of homologous blood and blood products in patients undergoing open-heart surgery by a single surgical team that follows an in-house protocol for blood conservation. The hospital records of 310 consecutive patients (age >15 years) undergoing open-heart surgery over a period of 8 months were retrospectively reviewed to assess the comprehensive blood conservation protocol. Homologous blood and blood product usage during and after surgery, in the intensive care unit and up to hospital discharge was analyzed. ⋯ Only 54 patients (17.4%) received one or more units of allogenic transfusion either intraoperatively or postoperatively until discharge. Mean hemoglobin at discharge was 9.8 Grams% (8.9-12 Grams%). A standardized multidisciplinary approach to blood conservation in cardiac surgery decreases bleeding and transfusion requirements in a safe and cost effective manner.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
Review Meta AnalysisCirculating matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations and abdominal aortic aneurysm presence: a meta-analysis.
To summarize the present evidence for an association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) presence, we performed a meta-analysis of case-control studies that compared circulating MMP-9 concentrations between patients with AAA and subjects without AAA. MEDLINE database was searched to identify all case-control studies. For each study, data regarding serum or plasma MMP-9 concentrations in both the AAA and control groups were used to generate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). ⋯ There was significant study heterogeneity of results (P<0.00001) but no evidence of significant publication bias (P=0.1376). We found that, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis, circulating MMP-9 concentrations are higher in patients with AAA than those in subjects without AAA. Higher circulating MMP-9 concentrations are associated with AAA presence.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
ReviewDoes pulmonary valve replacement post repair of tetralogy of Fallot improve right ventricular function?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot improved outcomes including right ventricular (RV) function. Altogether 730 relevant papers were identified using the below mentioned search, 19 papers represented the best evidence to answer the question. ⋯ We conclude that PVR after tetralogy of Fallot repair has been shown to improve RV function and to offer symptomatic benefit. Several retrospective reviews report consistent reductions in RV end diastolic and systolic volumes and improvement in RV stroke volume, with one study also finding improvement in left ventricular stroke volume. PVR in this population appears to result in improved clinical outcome and can be performed with low mortality.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
ReviewIs patient-prosthesis mismatch an independent risk factor for early and mid-term overall mortality in adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: is patient-prosthesis mismatch an independent risk factor for 30-day and mid-term overall mortality in adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR)? Altogether, almost 400 papers were found using the reported search, of which 22 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. ⋯ An exception could be represented by patients with poor ejection fraction, a condition that can make moderate mismatch a predictor of overall mortality after AVR. On the other hand, severe mismatch is a predictor of overall 30-day or mid-term mortality for patients undergoing AVR independently from the presence of poor ejection fraction. In conclusion, our review suggests that the condition of severe PPM should be always avoided, while the presence of moderate mismatch could be tolerated in patients with normal ejection fraction without any impact on overall survival.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
Case ReportsSurgical treatment of right atrial myxoma complicated with pulmonary embolism.
Myxomas are the most common type of cardiac benign tumors and most of them are located in the left atrium, followed by the right atrium. Myxomas in the right atrium may rarely embolize to the pulmonary arterial vasculature. Here, we present a case report of a patient with right atrial myxoma and massive embolism to the pulmonary arteries treated surgically with right atrial mass removal and pulmonary embolectomy. ⋯ The left pulmonary artery was completed occluded and the right pulmonary artery was partially obstructed. Surgical tactics included a brief hypothermic circulatory arrest. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was asymptomatic after 6 months of follow-up.