The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Small body size, female gender, and transfusions are traditionally considered morbidity and mortality risk factors in coronary surgery. Because these clinical conditions are interrelated, we designed a study to investigate their respective roles in determining adverse outcomes after coronary operations. ⋯ Female gender and small body surface area are associated with severe intraoperative hemodilution, and this may trigger blood transfusions, which are true determinants of adverse outcomes. A large body surface area in women is frequently associated with obesity (68%) and may prolong the intensive care unit stay, whereas it is not a risk factor in men. Conversely, a small body surface area is accompanied by a prolonged intensive care unit stay in men but not in women.
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Spasm of the left internal thoracic artery in the perioperative period represents a life-threatening complication after coronary artery bypass grafting. We present a case in which graft spasm was treated with the administration of intra-arterial nitroglycerin and verapamil. Although vasospasm is more often seen in radial artery grafts, this case demonstrates that left internal thoracic artery grafts are also prone to spasm.
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Review Comparative Study
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery thymectomy.
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It is not obvious to visualize and expose the main trunk of the pulmonary artery through a port access approach. We describe surgical and anesthesiology measures necessary to perform the removal of an atrial septal defect closure device safely and adequately.