Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
Microalbuminuria and short-term prognosis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
To examine if preoperative microalbuminuria (MA) is associated with in increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing elective cardiothoracic surgery, and if adding information on MA could improve the accuracy of the additive EuroSCORE. ⋯ Preoperative MA in patients undergoing elective cardiothoracic surgery was not associated with most early adverse outcomes. However, risk of septicaemia was higher and patients with MA also had a marginally longer length of ICU and hospital stay. Information on preoperative MA did not improve the accuracy of the additive EuroSCORE.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
Safe use of recombinant activated factor VIIa for recalcitrant postoperative haemorrhage in cardiac surgery.
The aim of this case series is to review the effect of recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) on refractory haemorrhage, despite aggressive treatment with conventional blood products and medications at our institution. All patients undergoing cardiac surgery who received rFVIIa as rescue therapy for persistent uncontrollable haemorrhage were studied. We examined coagulation immediately before and after rFVIIa was given; international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin (APTT) fibrinogen and platelet levels, in addition to the use of red cell and non-red cell blood products, morbidity and mortality. ⋯ There was significant reduction in red blood cell and product transfusion before and after rFVIIa administration (P<0.001). There was significant correction in coagulation parameters after rFVIIa. Recombinant FVIIa appears to be safe, and is effective in reducing red blood cell and product transfusion requirements and may impact on early and late outcomes in this small complex subgroup of patients.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2009
Multi-modality blood conservation strategy in open-heart surgery: an audit.
The objective of this study was to perform an audit of the use of homologous blood and blood products in patients undergoing open-heart surgery by a single surgical team that follows an in-house protocol for blood conservation. The hospital records of 310 consecutive patients (age >15 years) undergoing open-heart surgery over a period of 8 months were retrospectively reviewed to assess the comprehensive blood conservation protocol. Homologous blood and blood product usage during and after surgery, in the intensive care unit and up to hospital discharge was analyzed. ⋯ Only 54 patients (17.4%) received one or more units of allogenic transfusion either intraoperatively or postoperatively until discharge. Mean hemoglobin at discharge was 9.8 Grams% (8.9-12 Grams%). A standardized multidisciplinary approach to blood conservation in cardiac surgery decreases bleeding and transfusion requirements in a safe and cost effective manner.