The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyTemporary epicardial pacemaker wires: significance of position and electrode type.
To determine the pacing and sensing properties of different temporary epicardial pacemaker electrodes after cardiac surgery depending on position at the heart and time after surgery. ⋯ 1. Up to postoperative day 10, adequate pacing and sensing performance was achieved by both electrode types in each position. 2. Medtronic electrodes had better pacing thresholds in atrium and ventricle after day 5. 3. Positioning of pacemaker electrodes does not alter functionality. 4. Handling of Osypka electrodes was easier than that of Medtronic electrodes.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2014
Case ReportsUse of extracellular matrix materials in patients with endocarditis.
Tissue replacement is sometimes necessary during surgery for endocarditis. Commonly used materials are Dacron, expanded polytetrafluoroethlyene, or bovine pericardium. Those materials have no potential for bioresorption and cannot restore regional functionality. ⋯ Here we present two cases of patients with endocarditis. CorMatrix ECM (CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, United States) was used to repair intracardiac structures with good results in follow-up up to 3 months. CorMatrix ECM may be an adequate alternative to foreign material for patients with endocarditis.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2014
Case ReportsCompletely epicardial implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator using a minimal invasive approach.
We report the case of a successful completely epicardial implantation of a cardiac resynchronization defibrillator using a minimal invasive approach in a 55-year-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and a history of three cardiac surgical procedures of the aortic root, the ascending aorta and the aortic arch. Due to a chronic Q fever the patient was regarded unsuitable for a transvenous implantation.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2014
Review Case ReportsSurgery for fulminant prosthetic valve endocarditis after transapical transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation.
We report the clinical course of a patient with a history of transapical aortic "valve-in-valve" transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), actually suffering from prosthetic valve endocarditis. The patient now underwent cardiac surgery as a salvage procedure. ⋯ The present case raises the question, how to deal with high-risk patients, once considered unsuitable for cardiac surgery in presence of prosthetic valve infection? Up to now, there exists only insufficient knowledge about incidence, clinical course, and effectiveness of treatment strategies for prosthetic valve endocarditis after TAVI. A review of the available literature is given.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2014
Comparative StudyImpact of smoking status on outcomes after concomitant aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
There is a paucity of data on the impact of smoking status on outcomes after concomitant aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft (AVR-CABG) surgery. ⋯ Smoking is not associated with adverse outcomes after concomitant AVR-CABG surgery. Smoking status should not, therefore, preclude these patients from undergoing this procedure. Given the adverse effect of smoking on overall cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and late postoperative mortality, patients should be encouraged to quit smoking.