European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Case ReportsSuccessful extracorporeal circulatory support after aortic reimplantation of anomalous left coronary artery.
The development of severe heart failure is the main cause of postoperative mortality after the surgical treatment of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Two patients with ALCAPA who developed low cardiac output and could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) after aortic reimplantation of the anomalous left coronary artery were successfully treated with a centrifugal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ⋯ Both patients survived and, 4 and 9 months after surgery, are asymptomatic and have normal ventricular function. If CPB (up to 3 h) is not effective in improving ventricular function after surgery for ALCAPA, ECMO or LVAD must be used since myocardial recovery in these patients can occur only after prolonged extracorporeal circulatory support.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPre-operative aspirin decreases platelet aggregation and increases post-operative blood loss--a prospective, randomised, placebo controlled, double-blind clinical trial in 100 patients with chronic stable angina.
Aspirin has an established benefit in reducing the incidence of coronary events and vein graft occlusion. We have now assessed the risk of pre-operative aspirin in a prospective, randomised, double-blind clinical trial in 100 patients scheduled for elective coronary artery surgery. Any prescribed aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were discontinued 2 weeks pre-operatively and these were replaced by a randomly assigned tablet of either aspirin 300 mg daily or placebo taken until the day of surgery. ⋯ All patients survived to be discharged home (see Table). Aspirin decreases platelet aggregation to arachidonic acid and to collagen both pre- and post-operatively. The benefit of pre-operative aspirin has to be balanced against the risk of increasing post-operative blood loss, re-exploration for excessive bleeding and transfusion requirements.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Case ReportsOmentoplasty for postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas.
Postpneumonectomy fistula is one of the most serious complications in general thoracic surgery and remains difficult to manage. From 1984 to 1991, we successfully used pedicled omentum for the treatment of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas (omentoplasty) in five patients, four of whom had thoracic empyema. For bronchopleural fistulas without early postoperative infection, single-stage closure was performed which was then covered with pedicled omentum. ⋯ Even after open thoracotomy, closure of the wound was achieved. All five patients could be discharged. Omentoplasty was useful in the therapy of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula even in the presence of thoracic empyema.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Comparative StudyComparison of single- and multi-dose crystalloid cardioplegia to protect the immature myocardium.
The primary objective of this study was to compare the protective effects of single-dose and multi-dose St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution number 1 in the ischemic and reperfused neonatal rabbit heart. In addition, the effect of including bicarbonate (a component of St. ⋯ At the end of the reperfusion period, the hearts were freeze clamped and taken for metabolic analysis. With multi-dose cardioplegia (without bicarbonate) the postischemic recovery of cardiac output was 67.0 +/- 6.5% and with single-dose the value was 39.3 +/- 10.0% (NS). The same pattern of postischemic recovery (that varied between 30% and 60%) for aortic flow, stroke volume and stroke work was observed with both multi-dose and single-dose infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Major pulmonary resection by video assisted mini-thoracotomy. Initial experience in 35 patients.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery is emerging as a viable approach to increasingly complex intrathoracic therapeutic procedures. From February to July 1993, 35 patients (25 male, 10 female; mean age = 60 years, range: 17-74) underwent a major pulmonary resection using a video-assisted technique: lobectomy (n = 30) or pneumonectomy (n = 5). Pathology disclosed bronchogenic carcinomas (n = 26), metastases (n = 3), and miscellaneous disorders (n = 6). ⋯ The mean hospital stay was 11 days (SD: +/- 3). All the patients experienced minor postoperative chest pain. We conclude that video-assisted lung resections are technically feasible without an increased risk.