Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2012
Case ReportsA video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy for a lung tumour with a rare anomalous pulmonary artery.
A detailed knowledge of anomalies of the anatomical course of the pulmonary vessels is extremely important for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Inadvertent vascular ligation and dissection are catastrophic for patients undergoing lobectomy. We describe a case with a rare anomaly of the left pulmonary artery and highlight the importance of identifying the courses of pulmonary vessels for VATS lobectomy.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2012
ReviewDoes perioperative furosemide usage reduce the need for renal replacement therapy in cardiac surgery patients?
A best evidence topic was constructed according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Does perioperative furosemide usage reduce the need for renal replacement therapy in cardiac surgery patients?' Forty-seven papers were found using the reported search, of which 10 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. ⋯ We conclude that continuous furosemide infusion in the perioperative period promotes a gentle and sustained diuresis in cardiac surgery patients. The evidence supporting the benefit of this strategy in terms of reducing the need for RRT is weak. At the same time, current best available evidence, albeit from small RCTs, suggests that the timely introduction of continuous furosemide infusion does not increase the incidence of renal impairment after cardiac surgery.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2012
ReviewIs recombinant activated factor VII effective in the treatment of excessive bleeding after paediatric cardiac surgery?
A best evidence topic in paediatric cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether recombinant activated factor VII was effective for the treatment of excessive bleeding after paediatric cardiac surgery. Altogether 150 papers were found using the reported search; 13 papers were identified that provided the best evidence to answer the question. ⋯ However, the rFVIIa was used prophylactically. The other observed that there were no increase in thromboembolic events rather rFVIIa was effective in decreasing excessive bleeding that may complicate cardiac surgery in children. In conclusion, the studies were in support of the notion that the use of rFVIIa was effective in decreasing excessive bleeding which may complicate paediatric cardiac surgery, and care should be exercised when using it in the children on ECMO circuit.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2012
ReviewIs there benefit in smoking cessation prior to cardiac surgery?
A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether smoking cessation prior to cardiac surgery would result in a greater freedom from postoperative complications. A total of 564 papers were found using the reported searches, of which five represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. ⋯ There were also reductions in duration of intubation (P < 0.0001), intensive care unit stay (P < 0.0001) and hospital stay (P < 0.0013). Another small cohort study reporting outcomes of heart transplantation demonstrated significant improvement in non-smokers in terms of survival (P = 0.031), duration of intubation (P = 0.05) and intensive care unit stay (P = 0.021). We conclude that there is strong evidence demonstrating superior outcomes in non-smokers following cardiac surgery and advocate the necessity of smoking cessation as soon as possible prior to cardiac surgery.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2012
ReviewIs it worth packing the head with ice in patients undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: Is it worth packing the head with ice in patients undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA)? Altogether more than 34 papers were found using the reported search, of which 7 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question, 5 of which were animal studies, 1 was a theoretical laboratory study and 1 study looked at the ability to cool using circulating water 'jackets' in humans. There were no available human studies looking at the neurological outcome with or without topical head cooling with ice without further adjunct methods of cerebral protection. ⋯ The final study discussed here demonstrated the use of circulating water to the head in humans undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy. They found that tympanic membrane temperatures could be maintained significantly lower than bladder or rectal temperatures when using circulating water to cool the head. We conclude that topical head cooling with ice is of use during DHCA but not during rewarming following DHCA and that it may be possible to advance topical head cooling techniques using circulating water rather than packed ice.