The Annals of thoracic surgery
-
Clinical Trial
Feasibility and safety of nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy for geriatric lung cancer patients.
The feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic lobectomy using anesthesia without tracheal intubation for treatment of geriatric non-small cell lung cancer patients is unclear, although it has been used with success in younger populations. ⋯ Nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy is technically feasible and was as safe as thoracoscopic lobectomy performed with tracheal intubation in the geriatric lung cancer patients. Thoracoscopic lobectomy without tracheal intubation during anesthesia is a valid alternative for managing selected geriatric patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
-
β-Blockers are known to improve survival of patients with cardiovascular disease, but their administration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of β-blocker administration in patients with COPD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. ⋯ This study showed that in patients with COPD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting the administration of β-blockers is safe and significantly improves survival at mid-term follow-up. Further randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.
-
Computed tomography (CT) scans of the head without contrast are routinely obtained to evaluate neurologic deficits after cardiac surgery, but their utility is unknown. We evaluated our experience with this imaging modality to determine its value. ⋯ This study reviewed the utility of early postoperative noncontrast head CT in cardiac surgery patients. With focal neurologic deficits, this imaging modality was positive for approximately one third of patients, but rarely positive for NFD. Its use in this setting has limited utility.