The Annals of thoracic surgery
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The transcranial Doppler technique enabled the detection of cerebral air emboli in 10 of 10 patients during open-heart valve operations despite standard deairing procedures. With this technique, the occurrence of emboli in the right middle cerebral artery was followed continuously in patients undergoing aortic or mitral valve replacement. Membrane oxygenators were used. ⋯ Meticulous deairing before declamping the aorta is strongly advocated. In addition, a short period of filling of the beating heart before final closure of the aortic incision or vent may decrease the incidence of cerebral emboli. A concomitant reduction in cerebral blood flow by hyperventilation or anesthetics or both during filling of the empty beating heart may also be beneficial.
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Myocardial hypothermia is an essential component of myocardial preservation for most cardiac operations. Because of multiple causes of rewarming, it is necessary to monitor temperatures at specific sites (right and left ventricular epicardium and endocardium or cavity). ⋯ Consequently, metallic probes do not have sufficient accuracy to detect transmural temperature gradients because of "stem effect." Using the plastic probes to evaluate temperature changes in porcine hearts after cardioplegia-induced hypothermia revealed a temperature rise of 1 degree C/min at all sites if control of systemic and venous return and local myocardial cooling are not provided. The use of temperature monitoring at multiple sites permits identification and prevention of various causes of myocardial rewarming and is facilitated by the use of plastic probes described herein which contain dual thermocouples.
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During a 5-year period, we treated 14 cases of traumatic asphyxia. There were 12 male and 2 female patients ranging in age from 2 to 32 years. Most suffered crushing injuries at work or were run over by motor vehicles. ⋯ The hospital stay ranged from 4 to 28 days (mean, 14 days) and follow-up from 10 to 60 months (mean, 32 months). Treatment for traumatic asphyxia included measurement of arterial blood gases, oxygen supplementation, and intubation with mechanical ventilation. The patients' recovery conditions were relative to the severity of injury and the associated injuries.
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We report successful repair of an aneurysmal aorta-right atrial fistula causing intractable ascites. The clamped "ascending aorta" was drained for mixed return after perfusion through the femoral vessels and opened during hypothermic arrest. Return cannulation through the fistula permitted definitive repair.