Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2014
Intrathecal injection of human umbilical cord blood stem cells attenuates spinal cord ischaemic compromise in rats.
Spinal cord ischaemia with resulting paraplegia remains a devastating and unpredictable complication after thoraco-abdominal aortic surgery. With the advent of stem cell therapy and its potential to induce nervous tissue regeneration processes, the interest in the use of these cells as a treatment for neurological disorders has increased. Human stem cells, derived from the umbilical cord, are one of the strong candidates used in cell therapy for spinal cord injury because of weak immunogenicity and ready availability. We sought to evaluate the use of human umbilical cord blood stem cells (HUCBSCs) to attenuate the neurological effects of spinal cord ischaemia induced by high thoracic aorta occlusion. ⋯ Intrathecal transplantation of HUCBSCs is feasible, and it improved spinal cord function, when they were delivered 30 min after spinal cord ischaemia, in a model of endovascular descending thoracic aorta occlusion in rats. Human umbilical cord blood is one of the potentially useful sources of stem cells for therapy of spinal cord ischaemia.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2014
Review Meta AnalysisA review with meta-analysis of observational studies for survival following off-pump coronary artery bypass versus drug-eluting stent implantation.
To determine whether off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) improves survival over drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, we performed a review with meta-analysis of exclusive OPCAB versus DES. Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched through October 2013 using Web-based search engines (PubMed and OVID). Studies that met the following criteria were considered for inclusion: the design was a randomized controlled trial or observational comparative study; the study population was patients with any coronary artery disease; patients were assigned to OPCAB versus DES and outcomes included all-cause mortality at ≥1 years. ⋯ In general, exclusion of any single study from the analysis did not substantially alter the overall result of our analysis. There was no evidence of significant publication bias. In conclusion, OPCAB may not improve survival over DES despite greater number of treated vessels in OPCAB than in DES or greater number of distal anastomosis in OPCAB than that of implanted stents in DES.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2014
ReviewHow does elective laparoscopic abdominal aortic aneurysm repair compare to endovascular aneurysm repair?
A best evidence topic in surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was how elective laparoscopic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair compared to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in terms of survival. There were 229 papers found using the reported search, with 8 papers (5 prospective studies, 1 retrospective study, 1 randomized trial and 1 systematic review) representing the best evidence to answer the question proposed. ⋯ While the evidence suggests that EVAR is less invasive, it does not always significantly alter the postoperative course or length of hospital stay for patients. We conclude from the evidence available that elective laparoscopic AAA repair may have a role in those patients who are unsuitable for EVAR. Unfortunately, few studies exist directly comparing these two techniques, and those that do are subject to limitations, for example, study population bias, small sample sizes and a lack of comparison in the literature between the common AAA repair techniques.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2014
ReviewDoes ambroxol confer a protective effect on the lungs in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or having lung resection?
A best evidence topic in perioperative care was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Does ambroxol confer a protective effect on the lung in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or having lung resection?' A total of 247 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 were tabulated. ⋯ We conclude that perioperative application of ambroxol, a versatile mucoactive drug, particularly in high doses, is associated with lower PPCs, especially in high-risk patients with fundamental lung disease such as COPD. Large doses of ambroxol are correlated with even lower PPCs after lung resection. We recommend that routine intravenous ambroxol should be used in large doses in high-risk patients in the perioperative period to reduce the risk of PPCs.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialThe influence of selective pulmonary perfusion on the inflammatory response and clinical outcome of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.
Patients undergoing cardiac surgery presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a higher 30-day mortality risk. In these patients, pulmonary dysfunction linked to an inflammatory response is frequent after cardiac operations using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which causes pulmonary hypoperfusion. We hypothesize that selective pulmonary perfusion (sPP) of the lungs leads to a reduction of pulmonary inflammation and a better clinical outcome. ⋯ These results indicate a non-significant trend that repeated hypothermic lung perfusion with venous blood during CPB may have a protective effect on the lungs. A multicentre study design and larger cohort seem necessary to demonstrate the benefits of sPP more clearly.