The Annals of thoracic surgery
-
Four experimental protocols were carried out to assess the ability of esmolol to induce and maintain reversible cardiac arrest under continuous normothermic (37 degrees C) perfusion. ⋯ Esmolol hydrochloride can be used as effectively as potassium for inducing and maintaining predictable and reversible cardiac arrest during normothermic cardiac operations.
-
Patients with hypoplasia of the right ventricle and tricuspid valve have historically undergone a total cavopulmonary connection or a two-ventricle repair with atrial fenestration. ⋯ Bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis with intracardiac repair may avoid the long-term complications associated with the Fontan modifications and eliminates the need of atrial fenestration in most instances. This operation should be considered for select patients with hypoplasia of the right ventricle and tricuspid valve.