Lancet
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Although mechanical circulatory support might not increase the number of adults surviving to transplantation, because of the shortage of donor organs, the situation might be different for children. Our aim was to assess the effect of mechanical assist devices to bridge children with end-stage cardiomyopathy to heart transplantation. ⋯ Our findings lend support to the hypothesis that a national mechanical assist programme to bridge children to transplantation can minimise the number dying while on the heart transplant waiting list. In the context of urgent listing and a short waiting time, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation seems to provide the safest form of support.
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Surgical injury can be followed by pain, nausea, vomiting and ileus, stress-induced catabolism, impaired pulmonary function, increased cardiac demands, and risk of thromboembolism. These problems can lead to complications, need for treatment in hospital, postoperative fatigue, and delayed convalescence. ⋯ When these techniques are combined with a change in perioperative care a pronounced enhancement of recovery and decrease in hospital stay can be achieved, even in major operations. The anaesthetist has an important role in facilitating early postoperative recovery by provision of minimally-invasive anaesthesia and pain relief, and by collaborating with surgeons, surgical nurses, and physiotherapists to reduce risk and pain.
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Comparative Study
Cardiac catheterisation guided by MRI in children and adults with congenital heart disease.
Fluoroscopically guided cardiac catheterisation is an essential tool for diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease. Drawbacks include poor soft tissue visualisation and exposure to radiation. We describe the first 16 cases of a novel method of cardiac catheterisation guided by MRI with radiographic support. ⋯ We have shown that cardiac catheterisation guided by MRI is safe and practical in a clinical setting, allows better soft tissue visualisation, provides more pertinent physiological information, and results in lower radiation exposure than do fluoroscopically guided procedures. MRI guidance could become the method of choice for diagnostic cardiac catheterisation in patients with congenital heart disease, and an important tool in interventional cardiac catheterisation and radiofrequency ablation.