Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2012
Very low survival rates after non-traumatic lower limb amputation in a consecutive series: what to do?
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate factors potentially influencing short- and long-term mortality in patients who had a non-traumatic lower limb amputation in a university hospital. A consecutive series of 93 amputations (16% toe/foot, 33% trans-tibial, 9% through knee and 42% trans-femoral) were studied. Their mean age was 75.8 years; 21 (23%) were admitted from a nursing home and 87 (92%) were amputated due to a vascular disease and/or diabetes. ⋯ Further, the risk of not surviving increased with 7% per each additional year the patient got older. Of concern, almost one-third of patients died within 1 month. This may be unavoidable, but a multidisciplinary, optimized, multimodal pre- and postoperative programme should be instituted, trying to improve the outcome.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2012
ReviewWhat are the current results of sutureless valves in high-risk aortic valve disease patients?
A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether sutureless aortic valves have a clinical and haemodynamic benefit in high-risk patients with aortic valve disease. A total of 307 papers were found using the reported searches; of which, six represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ Owing to the lack of comparative studies analysing the outcomes of sutureless and conventional aortic valves, we compared these results with the recently published PARTNER Trial (Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic-Valve Replacement in High-Risk Patients), and it can be shown that the outcomes of sutureless aortic valves compare favourably with conventional valves in terms of mortality, neurological deficit, renal failure and post-operative bleeding. However, there is increased incidence of endocarditis and PVLs, together with raised mean valve gradients, perhaps owing to the mechanical properties and deployment techniques of sutureless aortic valves.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2012
ReviewIs routine stress ulcer prophylaxis of benefit for patients undergoing cardiac surgery?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. We address whether routine pharmacological stress ulcer prophylaxis is of benefit for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. One hundred and fifty-six papers were found using the reported search, of which 10 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ Two prospective cohort studies that examined the use of PPI in conjunction with clopidogrel in patients with coronary artery disease concluded that there was no association with an increase in major adverse cardiovascular events with the use of PPIs. We conclude that the current evidence is marginally in favour of the use of prophylactic PPIs. However, this is associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2012
ReviewSniffer dogs as part of a bimodal bionic research approach to develop a lung cancer screening.
Lung cancer (LC) continues to represent a heavy burden for health care systems worldwide. Epidemiological studies predict that its role will increase in the near future. ⋯ However, three decades of research did not bring forward a clinically applicable device. Here, we propose a new research approach by involving specially trained sniffer dogs into research strategies by making use of their ability to identify LC in the breath sample of patients.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2012
Case ReportsSutureless aortic bioprosthesis in severe aortic root calcification: an innovative approach.
Aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe aortic root calcification is technically a very difficult procedure which requires a long cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, especially in patients undergoing complex procedures such as multivalve or valve and coronary surgery. We report a case of successful AVR with an innovative approach in a patient with an extensively calcified aortic root and concomitant tricuspid valve regurgitation who underwent mitral valve replacement 20 years ago.