The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialRetraction Speed and Chronic Post-Sternotomy Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Approximately 30% of patients develop chronic poststernotomy pain (CPSP) following cardiac surgery with sternal retraction. Risk factors have been described but no causal determinants identified. Investigators hypothesized that opening the sternum slowly would impart less force (and thereby less nerve/tissue damage) and translate to a reduced incidence of CPSP. The main objectives were to determine whether or not slower sternal retraction would reduce the incidence of CPSP and improve health-related quality of life. ⋯ All outcomes were consistent with previous reports, but no clinically significant differences were observed with retraction speed.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 2024
Right Ventricular Sizing and Pulmonary Vascular Resistance: How Much Mass Do You Need?
Right ventricular (RV) donor-recipient sizing has been demonstrated to be a sensitive predictor for mortality after heart transplantation. We sought to understand the relationship between donor-recipient RV mass (RVM) ratio and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) on outcomes after heart transplantation. ⋯ RVM ratio and recipient PVR are independent predictors of 1-year mortality. Still, a larger RV mass may be utilized to mediate the effects of an elevated PVR.