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 1995
The Edinburgh Cardiac Surgery Score survival prediction in the long-stay ICU cardiac surgical patient.
Predictors of outcome in long-stay patients following cardiac surgery have hitherto been ill defined. The aims of this study were to test the Parsonnet pre-operative scoring system and to define a scoring system for inhospital mortality applicable post-operatively to strengthen the clinical decision-making process. Following case note review of 262 consecutive patients who stayed 7 days or more in intensive care, a total of 110 pre-, intra- and post-operative factors were documented. ⋯ Univariate analysis identified significant association between mortality in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the following: inotrope days, (defined as number of inotropes times number of days) ventilation, units of platelets (P = < 0.00001), chest reopening, fresh frozen plasma units (P < 0.002), total parenteral nutrition, noradrenaline, Parsonnet score (P = 0.005), dopamine, bypass time, vasodilators, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, enteral nutrition and other major surgery (P < 0.05). Stepwise logistic regression on these significant factors was used to produce the Edinburgh Cardiac Surgery Score (ECS) applicable from Day 10 onwards in the intensive care unit: ECS Score = (Inotrope days) +2 (Ventilation) + (Platelets) + (Parsonnet) -3. The ECS score may be a useful predictor of ICU mortality probability for cardiac surgical patients requiring 10 days or more intensive care and is presently undergoing prospective evaluation in our centre.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1995
Case ReportsExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation with heparin-coated systems in a 13-month-old infant with acute hypoxic respiratory failure after correction of tetralogy of Fallot.
Hemorrhagic disorders due to systemic heparinization are frequent during extracorporeal lung support (veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: vv-ECMO). The development of heparin-coated systems has reduced the need for high-dose heparinization. Whereas the use of these heparin-coated membrane lungs and tubings has been described in former studies in adults, only few reports exist in children. ⋯ Only moderately elevated levels of activated clotting time (ACT, 120-160 s) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT, 40-60 s) were necessary to avoid thrombotic events in the extracorporeal system. Thoracotomies were performed twice without bleeding complications by discontinuation of the systemic heparinization. We conclude that the use of heparin-coated membrane lungs in infants may improve the safety of extracorporeal lung support and permits surgical intervention without major risk of bleeding.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1995
Case ReportsOutflow tract obstruction after mitral valve repair without an annuloplasty ring.
We report that systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve with significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction can occur after mitral valve reconstruction without using an annuloplasty ring. A 69-year-old male patient with mitral regurgitation and ischemic heart disease underwent combined mitral valve reconstruction without an annuloplasty ring, and coronary artery bypass grafting. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography performed at the end of the operation revealed systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve with significant outflow tract obstruction requiring a second pump run with return to cardiopulmonary bypass and additional mitral valve replacement during the same thoracotomy.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1995
Case ReportsLeg ischaemia following bilateral internal thoracic artery and inferior epigastric artery harvesting.
There is increasing evidence that the use of arterial conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting provides superior long-term results when compared to using saphenous veins alone. Major complications of using internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) and inferior epigastric arteries (IEAs) are uncommon. ⋯ The enormous size of these conduits found at operation suggested their role. Management strategies to avoid such a serious complication are discussed.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1995
Case ReportsMechanical ventricular assistance for the failing right ventricle after cardiac transplantation.
Right ventricular failure secondary to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) following orthotopic cardiac transplant is a complication with a high mortality; and patients with high resistance are often not accepted on transplant waiting lists. We describe six cases of right ventricular failure after cardiac transplant managed by right ventricular assist device (RVAD), four of whom died and two patients who survived following life-threatening complications.