European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Case ReportsUnusual left atrial mass following cardiac surgery in an infant.
An unexpected left atrial mass was found during routine postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram in an infant following surgical closure of ventricular septal defect. Thrombus could not be excluded. At reoperation it was found to be an inverted left atrial appendage. This case demonstrates the echocardiographic appearance of an inverted left atrial appendage.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of epidural analgesia and cryoanalgesia in thoracic surgery.
A prospective study was carried out in 120 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy for parenchymal disease. Patients were randomized into three groups: A (control group), B (epidural analgesia), C (freezing of intercostal nerves). Subjective pain relief was assessed on a linear visual analog scale. ⋯ Cryoanalgesia led to a slight but not significant increase in VC and FEV1. Epidural analgesia led to a significant increase when compared with controls in FEV1 during the first 3 POD, and in FVC on the 7th POD (P < 0.05). It is concluded that epidural analgesia led to the best pain relief and restoration of pulmonary function after thoracotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
-
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.
-
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.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1994
Cerebral blood volume response to changes in carbon dioxide tension before and during cardiopulmonary bypass in children, investigated by near infrared spectroscopy.
Neurological impairment may occur following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the effect of CPB on cerebrovascular control may be important in the mechanism of cerebral injury. We have used near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to observe cerebral haemodynamics non-invasively before and during CPB. We measured the change in cerebral blood volume (CBV) associated with changing PaCO2 (CBVR). ⋯ There was not statistically significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.35). These results, indicating preservation of CBVR during the conditions of anaesthesia and bypass used, are consistent with the observations of previous authors who measured cerebral blood flow response to carbon dioxide by a variety of other methods. Near infrared spectroscopy is proving to be a reliable, non-invasive technique for the investigation of cerebral haemodynamics during CPB.