The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Pulmonary arterial anastomotic stenosis is an unusual complication after single-lung transplantation. Intravascular ultrasound, performed at the bedside with an introducer sheath and guidewire, is a new technique that provides high-resolution tomographic images of the anastomotic site. This modality was used early in the postoperative course of a 58-year-old man to exclude significant pulmonary arterial anastomotic narrowing after right single-lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion temperature does not influence perioperative renal function.
The recent introduction of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) perfusion has raised concerns regarding the associated risk of renal dysfunction through its potential to exacerbate the systemic inflammatory response and end-organ injury. This study was designed to investigate the influence of CPB perfusion temperature on renal function. ⋯ These data suggest that cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion temperature does not influence renal function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
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With emphasis today on cost containment in health care, the results and costs of cardiac operations in elderly patients are being scrutinized. ⋯ Although mortality, length of stay, and hospital charge are increased in patients 70 years of age and over, they are not excessively so. The results support the continued performance of cardiac surgical procedures in select elderly patients.
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Hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with intervals of circulatory arrest is a useful adjunct during operations on the descending thoracic aorta and distal aortic arch when severe aortic disease precludes placement of clamps on the aorta. Hypothermia also has a marked protective effect on spinal cord function during periods of aortic occlusion. ⋯ Hypothermic circulatory arrest is a valuable adjunct for the treatment of complex aortic disease involving the aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aorta. In patients with thoracoabdominal aneurysms, its use has been associated with a low incidence of renal failure and an incidence of paraplegia/paraparesis in traditionally high-risk subsets (type I and II aneurysms, aortic dissection), which may be less than that observed with other surgical techniques.
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The purpose of this retrospective study is to determine the possible predictors of successful cardiac recovery using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the practical limits of ECMO support. ⋯ Postcardiotomy residual defects are a contraindication to ECMO. If children with residual defects are excluded, successful weaning from ECMO can be achieved in almost 70%, with almost all recovery occurring with the first 6 days of ECMO.