Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2002
Thoracic epidurals in heart valve surgery: neurologic risk evaluation.
To evaluate the risk of neurologic complications resulting from epidural hematoma in a series of patients who had surgery for repair or replacement of heart valves under combined general and thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA). ⋯ TEA can provide effective postoperative analgesia and assist in early tracheal extubation in cardiac valve surgery. In this series, there were no neurologic deficits detected. When certain safety measures are taken, routine TEA is feasible and helpful in cardiac valve surgery.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2002
Hemodynamic changes during displacement of the beating heart using epicardial stabilization for off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
To evaluate the hemodynamic alterations during off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery to determine the degree of impairment caused and the techniques to rectify them. ⋯ Most patients had hemodynamic changes easily correctable by fluids and inotropes. Monitoring of left ventricular and right ventricular function by transesophageal echocardiography enhances safety of the procedure and is recommended. The use of the Octopus II tissue stabilizer proved to be a safe and versatile means to stabilize the heart during off-pump coronary artery bypass procedures, especially in high-risk patients.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2002
Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on refractory angina pectoris: long-term home self-treatment.
To evaluate the effects of long-term home self-treatment with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) on angina, quality of life, and safety. ⋯ Long-term self-administered home treatment with TEA seems to be an effective and safe adjuvant treatment for patients with refractory angina. It produces symptomatic relief of angina and improves the quality of life.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2002
Validation of continuous thermodilution cardiac output in patients implanted with a left ventricular assist device.
To assess the accuracy of a continuous cardiac output (CCO) monitor against an independent, intravascular measurement of flow as can be performed in patients fitted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). ⋯ The data indicate that the CCO system tends to overestimate cardiac output by approximately 500 mL/min when compared with LVAD flow. Nevertheless, this bias is within the range found by other less-invasive studies done to assess the accuracy of this system and further serves to confirm its relative accuracy.