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 2012
Assessment of a right-ventricular infundibulum-sparing approach in transatrial-transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot.
The study aimed to evaluate the outcome of transatrial-transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot in relation to a right-ventricular outflow tract (RVOT)-sparing surgery. ⋯ In a 15-year's experience with transatrial-transpulmonary correction of tetralogy of Fallot, a valve- and infundibulum-sparing approach has been advanced by lowering the age for elective repair. This change has been performed without compromising immediate clinical outcome, despite an increased early re-operation rate for residual obstruction. However, longer follow-up will disclose whether this approach is protective against progressive and late RV dysfunction.
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Anti-platelet therapy with aspirin is the cornerstone of treatment after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Aspirin resistance describes the clinical observation of the inability of aspirin to prevent thrombotic complications or the laboratory phenomenon of absence of the effect of aspirin on platelet inhibition tests. Off-pump CABG (OPCAB) is associated with reduced platelet activation and turnover compared to on-pump surgery which may indicate that aspirin is more effective after OPCAB. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of aspirin and incidence of aspirin resistance in patients undergoing OPCAB. ⋯ Aspirin resistance is a transient phenomenon during the early postoperative period in approximately 30% of patients undergoing OPCAB.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2012
Fibrosis of pulmonary vascular remodeling in carotid artery-jugular vein shunt pulmonary artery hypertension model of rats.
The aim of the present study was to observe the changes of hemodynamics, stereology in pulmonary vascular remodeling and messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1, and receptors in carotid artery-jugular vein (CA-JV) shunt pulmonary artery hypertension model of rats. ⋯ CA-JV shunt model of rats was a well-established PAH animal model simulating congenital heart disease with systemic-pulmonary shunt.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison between intermittent intravenous analgesia and intermittent paravertebral subpleural analgesia for pain relief after thoracotomy.
In the present prospective double-blind randomized trial, the effects of intermittent paravertebral subpleural bupivacaine and morphine on pain management in patients undergoing thoracotomy were evaluated and compared with intermittent systemic analgesia. ⋯ The patients undergoing lung resection through a thoracotomy were observed with reduced postoperative pain and better surgical outcomes with respect to the length of hospital stay, postoperative forced expiratory volume in the first second, pulmonary complications, and need for bronchoscopic management, when paravertebral subpleural analgesia was induced by morphine.