Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2008
ReviewDoes the administration of mannitol prevent renal failure in open abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery?
A best evidence topic in cardiovascular surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether mannitol might prevent renal failure in patients undergoing open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Altogether more than 25 papers were found using the reported search, of which eight represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ Of note also is that the earlier studies used urine output as their main indicator of renal failure in reaching their conclusions. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. We conclude that no clinical trials to date have demonstrated any clinical reduction in the incidence of renal failure in patients undergoing repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm who have been given mannitol.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2008
ReviewIf a patient arrests after cardiac surgery is it acceptable to delay cardiopulmonary resuscitation until you have attempted either defibrillation or pacing?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether it is acceptable to delay cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient arrests after cardiac surgery in order to attempt defibrillation or pacing, prior to performing external cardiac massage. Altogether 550 papers were found in Medline and 990 in Embase using the reported search, of which 22 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ We recommend that guidelines for immediate external massage should be adhered to currently as the evidence that these guidelines may do harm is not yet strong enough to recommend a change in practice. However, we acknowledge that there are no in-hospital data to support very short periods of external massage prior to defibrillation and there have been examples of damage to the myocardium due to external massage. This should be borne in mind when external massage is being performed on a patient after cardiac surgery.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2008
ReviewIs steroid therapy ever of benefit to patients in the intensive care unit going into septic shock.
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was, is steroid therapy ever of benefit to patients in the intensive care unit going into septic shock? Using the reported search 1505 papers were identified. Fourteen papers represented the best evidence on the subject. ⋯ Haemodynamically, they increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and reduced heart rate (HR) and glomerular permeability. We conclude that steroids have no effect on mortality but shorten time to shock reversal, therefore they have a limited capacity in septic shock patients. Their immunological and haemodynamic effects cannot be discounted and could benefit patients in severe septic shock with adrenal insufficiency.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2008
ReviewIs manipulation of mediastinal chest drains useful or harmful after cardiac surgery?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: in patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery does manipulation of drainage tubes affect drainage volumes or post-surgical outcome? Altogether 681 papers were found using the reported search, of which four represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. Duncan and Erickson in 1982 found that chest tube stripping can lead to very low negative intrathoracic pressures. ⋯ In our paper the authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. We conclude that due to possible tissue damage and lack of demonstrable benefit, in most patients drainage tube manipulation should not be performed. No differences in either safety or efficacy have been demonstrated between the milking and stripping methods of manipulation.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2008
Utilization and outcome of coronary revascularization and valve procedures in acute heart failure--an evaluation based on the classification from the European Society of Cardiology.
Early invasive treatments in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) are critical components to improve outcome. We aimed to establish if such treatments were applied according to existing guidelines and also to assess the subsequent mortality in the complete AHF population. All patients with AHF admitted to the intensive care unit/coronary care unit during the years 2003-2004 (n=302) were retrospectively reviewed and classified according to the European Society of Cardiology. ⋯ Invasively treated patients had lower in-hospital mortality in both cardiogenic shock (35% vs. 70%, P=0.006) and less severe AHF (6% vs.17%, P=0.042). The study revealed an appropriate use of invasive revascularization. The high mortality in patients with severe AHF indicates that more effective treatment options are needed in eligible patients.