European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2012
Multicenter StudyCarcinoid heart disease: outcomes after surgical valve replacement.
To describe the early and late outcomes of carcinoid patients undergoing surgical heart valve replacement. ⋯ Despite advanced cardiac morbidity at the time of operation, early postoperative survival was 90%. Long-term survival of patients with carcinoid heart disease undergoing valve replacement is determined by carcinoid progression. The surviving patients had a persistent improvement in functional capacity without valve-related complications of the mechanical prosthesis.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyMediastinal lymph node dissection in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: totally thoracoscopic vs thoracotomy.
Although major pulmonary resections for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are more and more frequently performed through thoracoscopy, the adequacy of lymphadenectomy achieved via this approach is still questioned. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of lymph node dissection (LND) during totally thoracoscopic (TT) major pulmonary resections. ⋯ For patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy for clinical early-stage NSCLC, the quality of mediastinal LND is equivalent to that performed by thoracotomy.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2012
Does listing for heart transplant for longer than 30 days before ventricular assist device implantation influence utilization of psychotherapeutic support and outcome?
Previous studies indicate that patients with mechanical ventricular assist devices (VADs) experience high psychosocial and emotional distress. Listing for transplant may trigger psychosocial adjustment to the transplantation as an upcoming critical life-event. We hypothesized that patients could profit from this adaptation when implantation of a VAD becomes necessary. ⋯ Our data indicate that listing for HTX for >30 days before VAD implantation does not reduce the utilization of psychotherapeutic support by VAD patients. We assume that structured emotional and psychosocial support by the interdisciplinary VAD team, including professional supportive psychotherapy, is indispensable for successful coping of VAD patients and their families.