European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2014
Total aortic arch replacement with the elephant trunk technique: single-centre 30-year results.
The combined disease of the aortic arch and the descending aorta (aneurysms and dissection) remains a surgical challenge. Various approaches have been used to treat this complex pathology. In the two-stage operation, at the first-stage operation, the aortic arch is replaced through a median sternotomy. Later, at the second-stage operation, the descending thoracic aorta is replaced through a lateral thoracotomy. The elephant trunk (ET) technique was introduced by H.G. Borst at our centre in March 1982, greatly simplifying the second-phase operation. We present our 30-year experience. ⋯ The ET technique has greatly facilitated the two-stage approach to the surgical treatment of combined diseases of the aortic arch and descending aorta. The initial learning curve, acute dissections, re-do and concomitant procedures partially explain the higher mortality rate. Despite the development of new hybrid techniques, there is still a role for the classical ET in selected patients, particularly in the context of proven long-term results and cost effectiveness.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2014
Review Meta AnalysisIndexed effective orifice area is a significant predictor of higher mid- and long-term mortality rates following aortic valve replacement in patients with prosthesis-patient mismatch.
Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) is defined as a too-small effective orifice area (EOA) of an inserted prosthetic relative to body size, resulting in an abnormally high postoperative gradient. It is unclear, however, whether residual stenosis after aortic valve replacement (AVR) has a negative impact on mid- and long-term survivals. We searched electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Medline and the Cochrane controlled trials register, through October 2012, to identify published full-text English studies on the association between PPM and mortality rates. ⋯ Regardless of severity, however, PPM had a negative effect on survival in patients with impaired ejection fraction (adjusted HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.09-1.47). PPM (iEOA<0.85 cm2/m2) after AVR tended to be associated with increased long-term all-cause mortality in younger patients, females and patients with preoperative left ventricular dysfunction. Severe PPM (iEOA<0.65 cm2/m2) was a significant predictor of reduced long-term survival in all populations undergoing AVR.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2014
Impact of afterload reduction strategies on regional tissue oxygenation after the Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Low cerebral tissue oxygenation saturations have been observed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) after the Norwood procedure. Altered cerebral vascular resistance and pharmacological afterload reduction redirecting blood flow away from the cerebral circulation are possible mechanisms. ⋯ The postoperative decline of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation was observed with both afterload reduction strategies. The difference between cerebral and somatic NIRS values may indicate a mismatch between cerebral and splanchnic oxygenation. Other strategies to improve cerebral tissue oxygenation are warranted.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2014
Multicenter StudyPerformance of EuroSCORE II in patients who have undergone heart valve surgery: a multicentre study in a Chinese population.
The EuroSCORE II is an updated version of the EuroSCORE. This multicentre study validated the EuroSCORE II and logistic EuroSCORE in Chinese patients who underwent heart valve surgery. ⋯ EuroSCORE II was an improvement upon its original logistic model for Chinese patients who underwent heart valve surgery, particularly for a single-valve procedure. The EuroSCORE II-predicted mortality correlated with the operative complications.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2014
Left lobectomy might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation following pulmonary lobectomy.
To identify risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) following lobectomy for a pulmonary malignant tumour. ⋯ Left lobectomy is the only independent risk factor for postoperative AF. Elevated BNP is the risk factor for postoperative AF in patients undergoing left pulmonary lobectomy.