European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2005
Thoracic epidural anesthesia does not improve the incidence of arrhythmias after transthoracic esophagectomy.
The incidence of arrhythmias related to an esophagectomy is high, and its clinical significance has been well accepted. Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) can modulate the sympathetic tone and neuroendocrine responses associated with major operation. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of TEA on the incidence of arrhythmias in transthoracic esophagectomy patients. ⋯ This result shows that TEA was not beneficial to reduce the incidence of arrhythmias in the transthoracic esophagectomy patients.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2005
Can chest ultrasonography assess pleurodesis after VATS for spontaneous pneumothorax?
Thoracic echography easily detects the sign of 'pleural sliding', due to the movement of the visceral pleura on the parietal pleura. This sign is absent when pleurodesis is present. This study was designed to test thoracic echography in the assessment of difference in pleurodesis obtained after abrasion or pleurectomy performed for spontaneous pneumothorax, mainly based on the presence or absence of the 'pleural sliding' sign. ⋯ Thoracic echography for the postoperative evaluation of pleurodesis is feasible and simple. An ideal pleurodesis is more likely after pleurectomy than after pleural abrasion. Areas of persisting pleural sliding are probably at risk of recurrence.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2005
Case ReportsUse of the Arndt wire-guided endobronchial blocker via nasal for one-lung ventilation in patient with anticipated restricted mouth opening for esophagectomy.
Functional separation of the lungs may be accomplished by several methods. Patient with restricted mouth opening has limited options for one-lung ventilation. We report the use of wire-guided endobronchial blockade, a new tool for achieving one-lung ventilation in a patient with restricted mouth opening requiring nasotracheal, fiberoptic intubation for esophagectomy and reconstruction with gastric tube substitution.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2005
Prognostic factors in surgically resected N2 non-small cell lung cancer: the importance of patterns of mediastinal lymph nodes metastases.
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with metastases to ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes (N2) are an heterogeneous group of patients as regard to prognosis and treatment. Indication and timing of surgery remain controversial. The present study investigates the prognostic factors, in order to identify homogenous subgroups of patients. ⋯ Clinical N2 status, number of lymph nodes levels involved and specific patterns of lymphatic spread identify homogenous subgroups of patients that can be proposed for different therapeutic strategies.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2005
Homograft reconstruction of the aortic root for endocarditis with periannular abscess: a 17-year study.
The study was conducted to evaluate the long-term results of homograft reconstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract with a cryopreserved aortic homograft in the presence of aortic root abscess associated with a biofilm bacterial infection. ⋯ Radical debridement of the infected aortic root and homograft ARR offer a low recurrent infection rate and an overall low valve-related morbidity and mortality for up to 17 years. The antibiotic permeable cryopreserved homograft has proven to be resistant to biofilm bacterial infection.