Scandinavian journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialContinuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block and post-thoracotomy pulmonary complications.
To evaluate the effects of continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block on post-thoracotomy pain and pulmonary complications, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 80 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy for pulmonary (n = 47) or oesophageal (n = 33) procedures. In patients who received continuous bupivacaine infusion, the requirement for intramuscular opiate and rectal diclofenac was less, the score on a visual linear analogue pain scale lower and recovery of pulmonary function more rapid than in saline-infused controls. ⋯ Among the patients without COAD there was no significant intergroup difference in such complications. We conclude that continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block is effective for post-thoracotomy analgesia and reduces pulmonary complications of thoracotomy in patients with COAD.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1991
Case ReportsLeft atrial rupture following blunt thoracic injury. Case report.
A 22-year-old man presented with intermittent tachycardia and left-sided flail chest after an automobile accident. Initially his condition was stable, but 7 hours after the injury cardiac asystole appeared. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately begun and operation was performed. A rupture of the left atrium was successfully repaired without cardiopulmonary bypass.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1991
Case ReportsVeno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with a heparin-coated system in adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Three patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome were treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ECMO, using a heparin-coated system for 8, 12 and 34 days, respectively. Despite extracorporeal blood flow of 4-5 l/min, the patients were ventilator-dependent in the initial period of ECMO. ⋯ Acute pulmonary hypertensive crises, fatal systemic infection, recurrent pneumothorax and plasma leakage from the oxygenators were other main complications during ECMO. Two of the three patients survived, and follow-up showed that severely damaged lungs, if supported in the acute phase, can recover sufficiently to permit normal living.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1990
Indications for and risks in reoperation for coronary artery disease.
Seventy-one coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reoperations were performed during a 17-year period, comprising 2.7% of all CABG operations. The main indication (in 87%) was vein graft failure alone or combined with other causes. Progression of disease in native coronary arteries was the sole indication in only 4 of the 71 cases. ⋯ Because of the heightened operative mortality and morbidity risks, indications for redo CABG should be individualized. A well functioning internal mammary artery graft may be a relative contraindication. Accurate knowledge of the previous operation is essential and, especially in young patients, the possibility of reoperation should be taken into consideration at initial CABG.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1988
Case ReportsOpen mitral commissurotomy in pregnancy. A case report.
Correction of severe mitral stenosis by open commissurotomy during the second trimester of pregnancy is reported. The further course of the pregnancy was uneventful and at 34 weeks a healthy boy was vaginally delivered. Mother and child were in good health on discharge from hospital one month later.