The heart surgery forum
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The heart surgery forum · Jan 2002
Cardiac surgery in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia using preoperatively determined dosages of iloprost.
Patients with preoperatively diagnosed type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) scheduled for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) present a challenge in their intraoperative anticoagulation management because re-exposure to heparin may result in profound thrombocytopenia, intravascular thromboses, bleeding, and even death. Iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue that reversibly inhibits platelet aggregation, has been suggested as a management approach in such cases. The purpose of this study was to assess and confirm the efficacy of a perioperative intravenous iloprost infusion in preventing thromboembolic complications in patients with type II HIT undergoing cardiac surgery and requiring the use of heparin and CPB. ⋯ Although a number of alternative anticoagulation methods, such as the use of another anticoagulant (danaparoid sodium and recombinant hirudin) or the preoperative use of a defibrinogenating agent (ancorod), have been suggested for patients with type II HIT requiring anticoagulation during CPB, the use of heparin associated with a potent platelet inhibitor such as the prostacyclin analog iloprost is, as this study confirmed, the only to-date safe and effective choice.
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The heart surgery forum · Jan 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of phospholipid-coated extracorporeal circuits on clinical outcome parameters and systemic inflammatory response in coronary artery bypass graft patients.
The use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is associated with a systemic inflammatory response due to the contact of blood with artificial surfaces. The clinical relevance of ECC-related systemic inflammation varies with the patient, and such inflammation may be accompanied by intermittent organ dysfunction and an increased catecholamine requirement. We investigated the effects of a new phospholipid coating system of ECC on systemic inflammatory response and clinical outcome following CABG. ⋯ Phospholipid coating significantly reduces the systemic increase in proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and P-selectin. Despite the comparable clinical outcomes in this study, the observed significant reduction in systemic inflammatory parameter values suggests an improved biocompatibility of ECC materials when they are coated with phospholipids.
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The heart surgery forum · Jan 2002
Total arterial off-pump coronary revascularization with only internal thoracic artery and composite radial artery grafts.
Total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting with only internal thoracic artery (ITA) and composite radial artery (RA) grafts has been applied extensively to avoid cerebral complications and late vein graft failure. We evaluated the initial experience with this method by clinical and angiographic study. ⋯ OPCAB grafting with ITAs and composite RAs provides excellent early and intermediate clinical results and graft patency.
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The heart surgery forum · Jan 2002
Review Case ReportsMitral valve aneurysm associated with aortic valve endocarditis and regurgitation.
Mitral valve aneurysms are rare complications occurring most commonly in association with aortic valve infective endocarditis. [Decroly 1989, Chua 1990, Northridge 1991, Karalis 1992, Roguin 1996, Mollod 1997, Vilacosta 1997, Cai 1999, Vilacosta 1999, Teskey 1999, Chan 2000, Goh 2000, Marcos- Alberca 2000] While the mechanism of the development of this lesion is unclear, complications such as perforation can occur and lead to significant mitral regurgitation. [Decroly 1989, Karalis 1992, Teskey 1999, Vilacosta 1999]; The case of a 69-year-old male with Streptococcus Sanguis aortic valve endocarditis and associated anterior mitral leaflet aneurysm is presented. Following surgery, tissue pathology of the excised lesion revealed myxomatous degeneration and no active endocarditis or inflammatory cells. This may add support to the hypothesis that physical stress due to severe aortic insufficiency and structural weakening, without infection of the anterior mitral leaflet, can lead to the development of this lesion.
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The heart surgery forum · Jan 2002
Thoracic epidural anesthesia for cardiac surgery via left anterior thoracotomy in the conscious patient.
Cardiac surgery is perceived to be maximally invasive and fraught with complications. In response to this perception, cardiothoracic surgeons have been refining traditional techniques to minimize their invasive nature. Epidural anesthesia has been used safely and effectively for numerous surgical procedures to reduce morbidity associated with general anesthesia. In hopes of achieving a similar result, we set out to determine the feasibility of using thoracic epidural anesthesia for limited cardiac surgery through a left anterior thoracotomy for patients who were awake and spontaneously breathing. ⋯ Thoracic epidural anesthesia for limited cardiac surgical procedures by means of a left anterior thoracotomy is feasible, even in patients with diminished pulmonary function. Furthermore, this method offered no significant technical hurdles. Nevertheless, the applicability of this technique to other procedures remains unclear. We believe that these results warrant controlled comparison of regional versus general anesthesia for limited cardiac surgery.