Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialRemote ischaemic preconditioning down-regulates kinin receptor expression in neutrophils of patients undergoing heart surgery.
Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) may protect distant organs against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We investigated the impact of RIPC on kinin receptor expression in neutrophils following RIPC in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ⋯ RIPC down-regulated the expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in neutrophils of patients undergoing CABG.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2013
ReviewIs there a role for gabapentin in preventing or treating pain following thoracic surgery?
A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether gabapentin, a commonly prescribed neuropathic analgesic and anticonvulsant, is safe and beneficial in patients with post-thoracotomy pain following thoracic surgery. Seventeen papers were identified using the search described below, and five papers presented the best evidence to reach conclusions regarding the issues of interest for this review. ⋯ One prospective study of out-patients with chronic pain (>4 weeks since thoracotomy performed) suggested that gabapentin is effective, safe and well tolerated when used for persistent postoperative and post-traumatic pain in thoracic surgery patients. We conclude that there is no evidence to support the role of a single preoperative oral dose of gabapentin in reducing pain scores or opioid consumption following thoracic surgery. Multiple dosing regimens may be beneficial in reducing acute and chronic pain; however, more robust randomized control studies are needed.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2013
Down syndrome and postoperative complications after paediatric cardiac surgery: a propensity-matched analysis.
The incidence of congenital heart disease is ~50%, mostly related to endocardial cushion defects. The aim of our study was to investigate the postoperative complications that occur after paediatric cardiac surgery. ⋯ After propensity matching Down syndrome was not associated with increased mortality or complication rate following congenital cardiac surgery.