Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2011
ReviewIs video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery the best treatment for paediatric pleural empyema?
A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the best treatment for paediatric pleural empyema. Altogether 274 papers were found using the reported search, of which 15 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ Ninety-five children (52%) received antibiotics alone, and 87 (45%) underwent drainage procedures (21 chest tube alone, 57 VATS/thoracotomy, and eight chest tube followed by VATS/thoracotomy); only four received fibrinolytics. Mean (standard deviation) length of stay was significantly shorter in the antibiotics alone group, 7.0 (3.5) days vs. 11 (4.0) days. The strongest predictors of undergoing pleural drainage were admission to the intensive care unit and large effusion size (>1/2 thorax filled).
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialResults of coronary artery bypass grafting alone and combined with surgical ventricular reconstruction for ischemic heart failure.
In this study, we included 236 patients with ischemic heart failure and ejection fraction (EF) <35% who underwent surgical treatment. Patients were randomized in two groups. There were 116 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) and 120 patients who underwent CABG alone. ⋯ However, after isolated CABG EF did not increase significantly (32±7 preoperatively and 34±11 postoperatively). One- and three-year rates were 95% and 78% after SVR with CABG and 83% and 78% after CABG alone. Despite the more aggressive surgical strategy, left ventricular reconstruction did not increase operative mortality and early results were significantly effective compared with coronary artery bypass grafting alone.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2011
ReviewShould all patients who have mesothelioma diagnosed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery have their intervention sites irradiated?
A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether patients diagnosed with mesothelioma by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery should have their intervention sites irradiated to prevent metastatic seeding. Altogether 334 papers were found using the reported search, of which nine represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ One reported that median survival between patients with and without local metastases was not significantly different (P=0.64) while another article described no local metastases in PIT sites. None of the studies reported significant skin or side reactions and treatment was generally well tolerated. Based on the available evidence, we conclude that PIT is not currently justified.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2011
Case ReportsCardiogenic shock due to pheochromocytoma rescued by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
This is the case of a 49-year-old female presenting in sustained cardiogenic shock due to an adrenal pheochromocytoma. She was rescued by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ Successful open adrenalectomy was performed under protective extracorporeal life support and full anticoagulation early after cardiogenic shock. The patient could be weaned off mechanical support rapidly and made a full cardiopulmonary recovery.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2011
Acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias after surgical resection of lung cancer.
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are diffuse lung diseases of unknown cause. Morbidity and mortality are high in patients with IIPs who have undergone lung resection. Postoperative acute exacerbation (PAE) of IIPs is one of the fatal complications after lung resection. ⋯ PAE of IIPs causes high mortality. It is very difficult to predict the occurrence of PAE of IIPs. More efforts are required to develop strategies to prevent PAE of IIPs.