Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Nov 2014
Evaluation of bilateral pulmonary artery banding for initial palliation in single-ventricle neonates and infants: risk factors for mortality before the bidirectional Glenn procedure.
Bilateral pulmonary artery banding is considered as 'first-stage' palliation for neonates who have hypoplastic left heart syndrome. This study aimed to identify risk factors that influence outcome before the bidirectional Glenn operation. ⋯ Postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation, cardiac function and mean pulmonary venous wedge pressure are closely correlated with mortality after bilateral pulmonary artery banding. Additional treatments, including operations, are considered to maintain cardiac function and not to raise pulmonary venous wedge pressure before the bidirectional Glenn procedure.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Nov 2014
Case ReportsFatal air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass: analysis of an incident and prevention measures.
Air embolism is a life-threatening complication during cardiopulmonary bypass. We present a case of a patient who suffered an air embolism during coronary bypass surgery, despite standard safety features and procedures. The patient died 3 days after surgery due to massive cerebral oedema. This case report gives a reconstruction of the event and the countermeasures undertaken to minimize the risk of recurrence.