Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2010
ReviewIn elderly patients with lung cancer is resection justified in terms of morbidity, mortality and residual quality of life?
A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: In [patients over 70 years of age with lung cancer] is [lung resection] when compared with [non-surgical treatment] justified in terms of [postoperative morbidity, mortality and quality of life]? Altogether more than 297 papers were found using the reported search, of which 12 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. ⋯ Residual QoL following lobectomy (evaluated by patient self-assessment) showed decreased social (P<0.001) and role (P<0.001) functioning but less pain at discharge (P<0.001) in those over 70 years. Global QoL, however, was not influenced by age (global QoL; <70 years 22.2+/-25.3 vs. >70 years 17.6+/-22.9). Pneumonectomy showed statistically significant decreases in physical functioning [six months postoperatively (MPO) P=0.045], role functioning (3 MPO P=0.035), social functioning (6 MPO P=0.006, 12 MPO P=0.001) and general pain (6 MPO P=0.037), but showed no age related differences (<70 years; 81.9+/-19.1, >70 years; 78.0+/-22.8).
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2010
Comparative StudyAortic root distensibility and cross-sectional areas in stented and subcoronary stentless bioprostheses in pigs.
A flexible aortic root is essential for natural leaflet stress distribution. It is suggested that stentless bioprosthetic valves retain the flexibility of native valves. We investigated aortic root distensibility and cross-sectional area (CSA) in stentless (Solo, n=4; Toronto SPV, n=7), stented (Mitroflow, n=8) and in native valves (n=8) in pigs. ⋯ In conclusion, the Solo valve had a larger CSA at the annulus than both the Mitroflow and the Toronto SPV. However, the stentless valves had a smaller CSA at the sino-tubular junction than the Mitroflow. We, furthermore, found that implantation of stentless heart valves preserves aortic root distensibility at the annular level in pigs.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2010
Physical stress testing of bovine jugular veins using magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography and electrical velocimetry.
Bovine jugular veins (BJVs) (Contegra) are valve-bearing pulmonary artery substitutes. Their valves have higher profiles than human pulmonary valves; this might result in less optimal performance. Therefore, we investigated the impact of stress and undersizing on conduit performance with ergometry, echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ Data was evaluated as follows: comparison of stress related maximal individual valve performance changes (magnetic resonance: exercise induced average stroke volume changes by 61+/-49%; mean insufficiency increased by 2% in patients with <1% rest insufficiency and by 8% after rest insufficiency of >10%; the average rest gradient of 24+/-11 mmHg rose to 40+/-20 mmHg), and stratification of pooled observations by regurgitation fraction, insufficiency grades and z-values (insufficiency rose with increasing heart rate and decreasing stroke volume; undersizing increased gradients during recovery by 7+/-0.7 mmHg/z-value). Contegras high-profile valves tolerate stress without performance drop. Stress induced changes of insufficiency and gradient were clinically not significant, but sufficient to distort examination results; therefore, constant examination conditions are indispensable for a correct follow-up.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2010
ReviewDo patients undergoing lung biopsy need a postoperative chest drain at all?
A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed whether insertion of an intercostal chest drain prolongs the length of stay of patients undergoing lung biopsy. Altogether 210 papers were found using the reported search, of which 10 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ Four studies advocate early chest tube removal, allowing discharge of 95% within 24 h in one study, reduced hospital stay from 3.9+/-2.1 days to 2+/-1 days (P=0.001) in another, and a median stay of 1.2 days (range 0-7 days) in a third. Removal of chest drain within 1 h of the operation was possible in 92% of patients (one study), significantly reducing pain (P=0.03, P=0.005; two studies) and postoperative complications (P=0.01; one study) compared with conventional treatment. Five studies in which patients were managed without chest drain following intraoperative air leak checks, reduced hospital stay vs. conventional management (two studies; 2 vs. 3, P<0.001, 1 vs. 3, P<0.01) but results in no difference in complication rates (three studies: pneumothoraces requiring chest drain; 2 vs. 2, P=non-significant; 0 vs. 0; 0 vs. 0) or pain score (two studies; 0.77 vs. 0.76, P=0.894; 5 vs. 5, P=0.81).
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor on acute lung injury after cardiopulmonary bypass.
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been implicated as a cause of acute lung injury (ALI) in cardiac surgical patients. We used a bronchoscopic microsampling (BMS) probe to examine alveolar biochemical constituents and evaluated the effect of sivelestat sodium hydrate, a novel synthesized polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophil elastase inhibitor, on ALI induced by CPB. Twelve patients undergoing aortic valve replacement were treated with either sivelestat 0.2 mg/kg/h (sivelestat group, n=6) or 0.9% saline (control group, n=6) from the start of surgery. ⋯ Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference markedly increased, and a worsening of the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio indicated severe impairment after CPB. However, sivelestat attenuated the pattern of physiological deterioration of gas exchange. Sivelestat may attenuate neutrophil elastase or proinflammatory cytokines, and improve pulmonary dysfunction in patients undergoing CPB.