Circulation
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Review Comparative Study
Mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Risk factors and long-term survival.
Mediastinitis is a severe complication of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The purpose of the present study was to determine preoperative and intraoperative variables that predict mediastinitis and to determine the impact of this complication on long-term survival. ⋯ The present study and a review of the literature suggest that obesity and duration of surgery are the most important predictors of mediastinitis. Furthermore, although the early increase in mortality has been well described, the present study documents for the first time that mediastinitis has a significant negative influence on long-term survival independent of the patient's preoperative condition.
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Review Practice Guideline Guideline
Recommended guidelines for uniform reporting of pediatric advanced life support: the pediatric Utstein Style. A statement for healthcare professionals from a task force of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council. Writing Group.
This consensus document is an attempt to provide an organized method of reporting pediatric ALS data in out-of-hospital, emergency department, and in-hospital settings. For this methodology to gain wide acceptance, the task force encourages development of a common data set for both adult and pediatric ALS interventions. In addition, every effort should be made to ensure that consistent definitions are used in all age groups. ⋯ For these reasons, and to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes, it is the hope of the task force that clinical researchers will follow the recommendations in this document. It is recognized that further refinements of this statement will be needed; these recommendations will improve only when researchers, clinicians, and EMS personnel use them, work with them, and modify them. Suggestions, emendations, and other comments aimed at improving the reporting of pediatric resuscitation should be sent to Arno Zaritsky, MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter, Division of Critical Care Medicine, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507.