European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Esophageal lipomas are benign tumors representing less than 0.5% of all gastrointestinal lipomas. They are typically detected incidentally but occasionally present with local symptoms and rarely with life-threatening complications. ⋯ Preoperative investigations included a barium meal, esophagoscopy and computerized tomography. The pedunculated lipoma was excised via a cervical approach and found, at final pathology, to be a spindle cell lipoma, a rare variant not previously described in relation to the esophagus.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2009
Review Meta AnalysisUse of N-acetylcysteine to reduce post-cardiothoracic surgery complications: a meta-analysis.
Post-cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) complications (e.g. myocardial injury, renal dysfunction, atrial fibrillation) may occur as a result of enhanced systemic inflammation, perhaps provoked by an oxidative stress response. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a free radical scavenger antioxidant agent that may attenuate this physiologic response and reduce post-CTS complications. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to help characterize the potential beneficial effects of perioperative NAC administration in patients undergoing CTS. ⋯ The exclusion of the study utilizing only oral NAC therapy and the study with lower internal validity did not affect the overall conclusions of our meta-analysis. Currently, the most compelling data for using NAC in CTS patients is in post-CTS AF prevention. However, additional, larger randomized controlled trials evaluating this and other postoperative complication endpoints are needed.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2009
Computed tomography with volume rendering for the evaluation of parenchymal hyperinflation after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.
To assess computed tomography with volume rendering (CT-VR) as a tool to evaluate parenchymal hyperinflation before and after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) in patients with advanced stage emphysema. ⋯ CT-VR is an excellent tool to confirm the efficacy of BLVR in reducing parenchymal hyperinflation. Functional advantages are proportional to the volume reduction as measured by CT-VR.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2009
Exercise capacity assessment in patients undergoing lung resection.
The value is examined of preoperative functional assessment, including exercise capacity measurement by a cycloergometric maximal exercise test, in the prediction of postoperative cardio-pulmonary complication after lobar resection. ⋯ Preoperative exercise capacity assessment helps in stratifying patients at risk for postoperative pulmonary complication. However, it does not appear to be an independent prognostic factor for postoperative outcome.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2009
Association of IL6 and IL10 with renal dysfunction and the use of haemofiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass.
Assessment of the effects of haemofiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the renal function and correlation with interleukin 6 (IL6) and interleukin 10 (IL10) levels. ⋯ Haemofilter use during cardiopulmonary bypass does not have a protective effect on postoperative kidney function. Haemofilter has no effect on the level of IL6 and IL10.