The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2008
Surgical aortic valvuloplasty in children and adolescents with aortic regurgitation: acute and intermediate effects on aortic valve function and left ventricular dimensions.
Surgical aortic valvuloplasty is increasingly employed in the management of children and adolescents with aortic regurgitation, but the durability of this approach and factors associated with outcome are not well defined. ⋯ Surgical aortic valvuloplasty is a valid option with good intermediate results for children and adolescents with aortic regurgitation from a variety of causes, particularly for patients with less than moderate aortic stenosis.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2008
Comparative Study Clinical TrialOn-pump beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting after acute myocardial infarction has lower mortality and morbidity.
The mortality of conventional coronary artery bypass grafting after acute myocardial infarction remains high. This study compared the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing conventional and on-pump beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting and evaluated the efficacy of an on-pump beating-heart technique for the surgical treatment of these critically ill patients. ⋯ On-pump beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting is the preferred method of emergency myocardial revascularization for patients with acute myocardial infarction who might tolerate cardioplegic arrest poorly. It has lower postoperative mortality and morbidity than conventional coronary artery bypass grafting.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2008
Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with Fontan circulation using transient elastography and biochemical fibrosis markers.
Studies have shown that patients with failing Fontan circulation may develop liver cirrhosis with its sequelae. Therefore, early detection of fibrosis is essential to identify patients at risk. Transient elastography has been evaluated for noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis in a multitude of studies. ⋯ The present study shows that patients who undergo the Fontan procedure are at increased risk of developing liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. The risk increases with the age of the patient and the time interval since the Fontan procedure. The noninvasive measurement of liver fibrosis using transient elastography and fibrosis marker scores can be a useful tool to identify patients at risk and for noninvasive surveillance.