Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2013
Case ReportsTuberculous ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm.
Pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta due to infective organisms are a rare but challenging entity with a risk of high morbidity and mortality. Previous cardiac surgery is an attributing factor, but they can present without previous surgical interventions. Various micro-organisms are responsible for this pathology. ⋯ We report a case of a 25-year old man who presented to us with shortness of breath and recurrent haemoptysis. After preoperative evaluation including clinical and radiological assessment and echocardiography, he underwent successful repair of a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta by excision and replacement of the diseased aorta with a Dacron tube graft using cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperatively, he was started on antituberculous chemotherapy based on histological findings.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Oct 2013
ReviewIs there a role for gabapentin in preventing or treating pain following thoracic surgery?
A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether gabapentin, a commonly prescribed neuropathic analgesic and anticonvulsant, is safe and beneficial in patients with post-thoracotomy pain following thoracic surgery. Seventeen papers were identified using the search described below, and five papers presented the best evidence to reach conclusions regarding the issues of interest for this review. ⋯ One prospective study of out-patients with chronic pain (>4 weeks since thoracotomy performed) suggested that gabapentin is effective, safe and well tolerated when used for persistent postoperative and post-traumatic pain in thoracic surgery patients. We conclude that there is no evidence to support the role of a single preoperative oral dose of gabapentin in reducing pain scores or opioid consumption following thoracic surgery. Multiple dosing regimens may be beneficial in reducing acute and chronic pain; however, more robust randomized control studies are needed.