The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Case Reports
Aberrant right subclavian artery and axillary artery cannulation in type a aortic dissection repair.
Currently, right axillary artery cannulation and unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion through the same cannula are preferred choices for acute type A aortic dissection repair. However, the existence of an aberrant right subclavian artery can jeopardize cerebral perfusion through the right axillary artery cannula. In this study, we intended to explain the repair of acute type A aortic dissection using right axillary artery cannulation in a patient with aberrant right subclavian artery.
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Review Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Blood transfusion and infection after cardiac surgery.
Cardiac surgery is the largest consumer of blood products in medicine; although believed life saving, transfusion carries substantial adverse risks. This study characterizes the relationship between transfusion and risk of major infection after cardiac surgery. In all, 5,158 adults were prospectively enrolled to assess infections after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Risk factors for infection included postoperative RBC units transfused, longer duration of surgery, and transplant or ventricular assist device implantation, in addition to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and elevated preoperative creatinine. Platelet transfusion decreased the risk of infection (p = 0.02). Greater attention to management practices that limit RBC use, including cell salvage, small priming volumes, vacuum-assisted venous return with rapid autologous priming, and ultrafiltration, and preoperative and intraoperative measures to elevate hematocrit could potentially reduce occurrence of major postoperative infections.
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Comparative Study
Arterial switch for transposition with left outflow tract obstruction: outcomes and risk analysis.
The long-term results and indications of the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and anatomic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) remain undetermined. The aims of this study were to determine long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in this specific population. ⋯ Long-term outcomes of ASO for patients with TGA and anatomic LVOTO are satisfactory in selected patients. A lower preoperative pulmonary valve z-score and complex multilevel atrioventricular valve-related LVOTO are independent predictors of recurrent LVOTO and LVOT reoperation. TGA/LVOTO patients with pulmonary valve z-score exceeding -1.8 and resectable valvular or subvalvular LVOTO, or both, should be candidates for ASO, regardless of the severity of the LVOT peak gradient.