The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Comparative Study
Thoracic endografting reduces morbidity and remodels the thoracic aorta in DeBakey III aneurysms.
The efficacy of endovascular treatment of aneurysms secondary to chronic DeBakey type III aortic dissection (CD3) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes from open and endovascular treatment of CD3 aneurysms, and to determine the efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in remodeling the chronically dissected thoracoabdominal aorta. ⋯ In these early results, TEVAR reduces operative morbidity and mortality compared with open aortic replacement in the treatment of CD3 aneurysms. The TEVAR is effective in remodeling the chronically dissected thoracic aorta. Abdominal false lumen patency is maintained in patients with thoracoabdominal dissection-related aneurysms.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A new method to predict postoperative lung function: quantitative breath sound measurements.
Currently, predicted postoperative (PPO) lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [PPO-FEV(1)] and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide [PPO-Dlco]) estimated from spirometry and regional perfusion is used to select patients for lung resection. Vibration response imaging (VRI) analyzes lung sounds and quantifies regional acoustic energy. Single-center studies suggest that this noninvasive, radiation-free method of quantifying lung function is comparable to the reference standard. ⋯ VRI may offer a simple, noninvasive, and radiation-free alternative to lung scintigraphy for predicting postoperative lung function in patients with lung malignancies.
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As many as 20% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery will have acute respiratory distress syndrome during the perioperative period, with a mortality as high as 80%. If patients at risk can be identified, preventative measures can be taken and may improve outcomes. ⋯ Careful fluid management, minimization of blood product transfusion, appropriate nutrition, and early physical rehabilitation may improve outcomes. In cases of refractory hypoxemia, rescue therapies such as recruitment maneuvers, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may preserve life.
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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an emerging alternative for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis unsuitable for surgical intervention. We report the case of a 26-mm Edwards Sapien valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) implanted into an insufficient 29-mm CoreValve prosthesis (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, MN) 1 year after implantation using the transapical approach in a 59-year-old man. ⋯ The balloon-expandable Sapien system caused a better expansion of the underdeployed CoreValve and the pericardial skirt adequately covered the leakage. The paravalvular regurgitation disappeared and the patient recovered.
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Comparative Study
Modified nuss procedure in concurrent repair of pectus excavatum and open heart surgery.
Pectus excavatum (PE) can be associated with congenital and acquired cardiac disorders that also require surgical repair. The timing and specific surgical technique for repair of PE remains controversial. The present study reports the experience of combined repair of PE and open heart surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. ⋯ Simultaneous repair of PE and open heart surgery is safe and effective. We recommend that the decision to perform a single-stage versus a multistage procedure should be reserved until after the cardiac procedure has been completed. In such cases, the Nuss technique allows for correction of the pectus deformity with good long-term cosmetic and functional results.