The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 2018
Reduced proximal aortic compliance and elevated wall shear stress after early repair of tetralogy of Fallot.
Patients with tetralogy of Fallot are at risk for late aortic complications due to progressive aortic root dilation and decreased aortic compliance. Early repair normalizes aortic dimensions by preadolescence. It is not known if early repair normalizes aortic wall histology and compliance or reduces late aortic complications. We used 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging to determine if children with tetralogy of Fallot repaired in infancy had normal aortic dimensions and to characterize the aortic wall hemodynamic state and luminal flow parameters in these patients. ⋯ Despite early repair and normal aortic dimensions, preadolescents and adolescents with tetralogy of Fallot had elevated wall shear stress, increased stiffness, and pathologic systolic flow formations in the proximal aorta. Although early repair normalizes aortic dimensions in childhood, our findings suggest that patients with tetralogy of Fallot remain at risk for late aortic complications.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 2018
Observational StudyMarkers of peripheral perfusion during high-flow regional cerebral perfusion for aortic arch repair.
High-flow regional cerebral perfusion (HFRCP) provides cerebral and somatic oxygen delivery through collateral vessels during aortic arch repair in small children; however, optimal flow conditions during HFRCP have not been established. We sought to identify markers of peripheral perfusion during HFRCP. ⋯ For aortic arch repair in small children, rSo2T and Do2R during HFRCP are useful markers for predicting peripheral perfusion. Maintaining higher Do2R during HFRCP minimizes postoperative increases in lactate and creatinine kinase concentrations.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 2018
Surgical pulmonary embolectomy and catheter-based therapies for acute pulmonary embolism: A contemporary systematic review.
Mortality in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is believed to be principally due to the subgroup of PEs that are massive. Systemic thrombolysis is the therapeutic mainstay for acute massive PE, despite evidence suggesting limited survival benefits. Both catheter-based therapies (CBT) and surgical pulmonary embolectomy (SE) are well-accepted alternatives to treat acute PE. However, the comparative effectiveness of these approaches is difficult to study. We conducted a systematic review of CBT and SE for acute PE. ⋯ Both CBT and SE were associated with satisfactory published outcomes. SE is associated with greater absolute postprocedure mortality than CBT, but has been undertaken in more critically ill populations. The markedly higher incidence of CPR in SE accounts for the differential mortality between the patients undergoing SE and those undergoing CBT. Decision making with respect to best therapy must take into account potential needs for periprocedure artificial mechanical right ventricle and lung support, institutional experience and outcomes, anticipated therapeutic efficacy and benefit, and approach-specific risks.