Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation with spontaneous breathing as a bridge to lung transplantation.
A large number of transplantation centres consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as an inappropriate option for bridging critical patients to lung transplantation. Technical improvements such as the introduction of a polymethylpentene membrane, new centrifugal pumps and heparin-coated circuits have led to a safer application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and an increasing number of centres are reporting their positive experiences. The aim of this study was to review our practice in bridging critical candidates to lung transplantation with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, by comparing patients with invasive mechanical ventilation with patients with spontaneous breathing. ⋯ Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in spontaneously breathing patients is a feasible, effective and safe bridge to lung transplantation.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jan 2013
Root replacement with stentless Freestyle bioprostheses for active endocarditis: a single centre experience.
Few studies have examined the use of stentless Freestyle bioprostheses in patients with active valve endocarditis (VE). The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of stentless Freestyle bioprostheses in patients undergoing full-root replacement. ⋯ Our experience shows that root replacement with Freestyle stentless bioprostheses in patient with VE, is associated with low rates of early and mid-term mortality, good haemodynamic performance and low rates of valve-related morbidity as well as low recurrence of infection.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jan 2013
ReviewDoes muscle-sparing thoracotomy as opposed to posterolateral thoracotomy result in better recovery?
A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether muscle-sparing thoracotomy (MST), as opposed to posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT), results in better recovery. A total of 108 papers were found using the reported searches of which eight represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ There is little evidence to suggest a difference in pulmonary function or pain dependent on the thoracotomy type. Moreover, analgesic consumption is similar. However, there is an inverse relationship between the incision length and the post-thoracotomy syndrome.