Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Nov 2009
Postoperative administration of landiolol hydrochloride for patients with supraventricular arrhythmia: the efficacy of sustained intravenous infusion at a low dose.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of landiolol hydrochloride, a short-acting beta(1) blocker, by initiating its administration at a low dose (5 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) in patients with postoperative supraventricular arrhythmia. The efficacy of landiolol was evaluated in 38 patients who, after developing postoperative atrial flutter or fibrillation, with sinus tachycardia and two patients who had a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with frequent atrial extrasystole. The heart rate and blood pressure before and 2 h after the administration of landiolol were compared. ⋯ The heart rate was reduced from 137+/-26 bpm (before landiolol administration) to 93+/-18 bpm (2 h after the start of the medication, P<0.01). As an agent to correct an arrhythmic condition, landiolol successfully raised the systolic blood pressure from 108+/-24 mmHg (before medication) to 120+/-19 mmHg (2 h after the medication was started, P<0.05). Continuous intravenous infusion of landiolol at a low dose was found to be effective for postoperative supraventricular arrhythmia.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Nov 2009
Temporary cardiac support with a mini-circuit system consisting of a centrifugal pump and a membrane ventilator.
Commonly used extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems for cardiac support are limited by bleeding complications, especially after surgery in the adult patient. Recently, we have switched from the use of a conventional ECMO system to a miniature-circuit including a centrifugal pump and the Novalung membrane ventilator (iLA). This system allows us to administer less heparin compared to the conventional system. ⋯ The 30-day survival was 44% with a hospital mortality of 61%. Re-thoracotomy for bleeding was necessary in six patients (33%) under ECMO system support. In summary, the miniature ECMO system circuit seems to be suitable for middle-term cardiac support and is associated with a low rate of bleeding complications.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Nov 2009
ReviewIn patients with acute aortic intramural haematoma is open surgical repair superior to conservative management?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: in patients with acute aortic intramural haematoma (IMH) is open surgical repair superior to conservative management. IMH is defined as a clinical condition related to but pathologically distinct from aortic dissection. ⋯ We conclude that surgical treatment of aortic IMH involving the ascending aorta with open distal replacement of ascending aorta results in lower mortality and longer survival compared to conservative management. IMH affecting the descending aorta can be managed with medical or endovascular interventional approach. In this latter group, serial imaging of the aorta is recommended, as aneurysm formation is not uncommon.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Nov 2009
ReviewMinisternotomy approach for surgery of the aortic root and ascending aorta.
Different minimally invasive approaches have been proposed for cardiac surgery. Between those, the ministernotomy finds wide consensus for the treatment of the aortic disease, being both the upper reversed T and the upper J the mostly used type of incisions. The authors review the literature on the use of ministernotomy in the treatment of the ascending aorta and arch pathology. ⋯ Those advantages include: reduced postoperative bleeding and pain, lower risk of mediastinitis, better aesthetic results, and faster respiratory function recovery. This is true not only for first time surgery, but also, and especially, for redo cases, where the limited exposure will reduce risks correlated to the surgical dissection of redo surgery. The ministernotomy approach for aortic root and ascending aorta surgery could in the future be more extensively used, offering greater benefits to cardiac surgical patients.