The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive technique that allows continuous monitoring of regional hemoglobin oxygen saturation (rSo2). We evaluated its application to survey oxygenation of the spinal cord region during open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair and postoperatively in the intensive care unit (ICU). We also validated its association with motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring during the operation. ⋯ NIRS is an easily applicable noninvasive tool for continuous surveillance of oxygenation of the spinal cord region during TAAA repair and postoperatively in the intensive care unit. The rSo2 curves provide useful information concerning hemodynamic changes in oxygenation of the spinal cord region and might contribute to early detection of spinal cord ischemia. Further investigation is needed before broad clinical implementation.
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Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is characterized by accumulation of lipoproteinaceous material in the terminal airways. Whole lung lavage (WLL) remains the gold standard treatment but may be particularly challenging in cases of severe hypoxemia. We present a 3-step strategy that was used in a patient with PAP-associated refractory hypoxemia and that combined venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vvECMO), double-lumen orotracheal intubation, and bilateral multisegmental sequential lavage (MSL). The procedure was well tolerated and permitted weaning from the ventilator.
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Comparative Study
Propensity adjusted analysis of open and endovascular thoracic aortic repair for chronic type B dissection: a twenty-year evaluation.
Optimal treatment of chronic type B aortic dissection (CBAD), whether open (open descending aortic repair, OAR) or endovascular (thoracic endovascular aortic repair, TEVAR), is controversial, suggesting a comparative analysis is warranted. ⋯ Intervention for CBAD can be performed with excellent results, either by an open or endovascular approach. The higher rate of treatment failure after TEVAR warrants modification of current device design or endovascular approach before broad application of this treatment strategy.
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Comparative Study
Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy versus stereotactic radiotherapy for stage I lung cancer.
Previous comparative reports of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suffered from short follow-up, mixed extents of resection and inclusion of benign lesion. We aimed to make comparisons of long-term outcomes between a pure series of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and SBRT for biopsy-proven clinical stage I NSCLC. ⋯ Our results suggest VATS lobectomy may offer significantly more favorable long-term outcomes than SBRT in potentially operable patients with biopsy-proven clinical stage I NSCLC.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Elevated procalcitonin in patients after cardiac surgery: a hint to nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia.
Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) can occur after cardiac surgery, commonly in conjunction with use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Some evidence suggests that serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels are increased in patients with mesenteric ischemia; however, an association between PCT and NOMI has not yet been studied. The current study investigates whether elevated serum PCT levels are found in patients exhibiting NOMI. ⋯ Postoperative measurement of PCT seems useful to improve the clinical and noninvasive identification of patients with NOMI after cardiac surgery.