Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2013
Case ReportsPartial sternotomy coronary surgery with triple-vessel disease in dextrocardia and situs inversus totalis.
Dextrocardia associated with situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital condition. A small number of cases with these conditions have been reported who underwent myocardial revascularization via the on-pump or off-pump techniques. ⋯ We describe the case of a 65-year old female patient with triple-vessel obstructive coronary diseases who was successfully revascularized with three grafts using a minimally invasive technique. This was achieved via partial sternotomy and employing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2013
ReviewDoes video-assisted thoracic surgery provide a safe alternative to conventional techniques in patients with limited pulmonary function who are otherwise suitable for lung resection?
A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: does video-assisted thoracic surgery provide a safe alternative to conventional techniques in patients with limited pulmonary function who are otherwise suitable for lung resection? Altogether, more than 280 papers were found using the reported search, of which 7 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. ⋯ Analysis suggested that VATS lobectomy was the principal driver of survival benefit in the study group. We conclude that patients with limited pulmonary function have better outcomes when surgery is performed via VATS compared with traditional open techniques. The literature also suggests that patients in whom pulmonary function is poor have similar perioperative outcomes to those with normal function when a VATS approach to resection is adopted.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized trial of early versus delayed mediastinal drain removal after cardiac surgery using silastic and conventional tubes.
Mediastinal drainage following cardiac surgery with traditional large-bore plastic tubes can be painful and cumbersome. This study was designed to determine whether prolonged drainage (5 days) with a silastic tube decreased the incidence of significant pericardial effusion and tamponade following aortic or valvular surgery. ⋯ In patients undergoing ascending aortic or valvular surgery, prolonged drainage with silastic tubes is safe and does not increase postoperative pain. There was no difference between the Blake and conventional drains with regard to significant pericardial effusion or tamponade in this cohort; however, this conclusion is limited by the low overall incidence of the primary outcome in this cohort.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2013
ReviewCan lungs be taken for transplantation from donors with a significant smoking history?
A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Can lungs be taken for transplantation from donors with a significant smoking history?’. Five papers were found using the reported search that represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ Despite the difference in long-term results and outcome reported by these authors, all of these studies unanimously indicate that lungs from smokers should not be rejected, as survival in these patients receiving smoker lungs is still significantly higher in 3 and 5 years compared with that in those who remain on the transplant waiting list. In conclusion, the current evidence in the literature suggests that lungs from smokers can be used for transplantation. Patients should, however, be fully informed of the risks involved with these lungs and the worse outcome compared with those receiving non-smoker lungs.