Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Mar 2014
Percutaneous extracorporeal life support for patients in therapy refractory cardiogenic shock: initial results of an interdisciplinary team.
Therapy refractory cardiogenic shock is associated with dismal outcome. Percutaneous implantation of an extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system achieves immediate cardiopulmonary stabilization, sufficient end-organ perfusion and reduction of subsequent multiorgan failure (MOF). ⋯ Due to the evolution of transportable ECLS systems and percutaneous techniques implantation on scene is feasible. Extracorporeal life support may serve as a bridge-to-decision and bridge-to-treatment device. Neurological evaluation before ventricular assist device implantation and PCI under stable conditions are possible. Despite substantial mortality, ECLS implantation in selected patients by an experienced team offers additional support to conventional therapy as well as CPR and allows survival in patients that otherwise most likely would have died. This concept has to be implemented in cardiac survival networks in the future.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Mar 2014
Long-term outcomes of common atrioventricular valve plasty in patients with functional single ventricle.
Common atrioventricular valve (CAVV) regurgitation is widely known as a risk factor for mortality and Fontan completion in patients with functional single ventricle. Hence, we reviewed our surgical experience with CAVV plasty in Fontan candidates. ⋯ CAVV plasty for patients with functional single ventricle is still challenging; however, the aggressive and repeated surgical intervention may contribute to provide better life-prognosis. The ventricular volume unloading effect of BDG without additional pulmonary blood flow or Fontan operation did not contribute to maintain CAVV function. Therefore, there would not be any hesitation for CAVV replacement to control CAVVR in the setting of systemic ventricular failure. Although the statistically significant therapeutic superiority of the modified Alfieri technique was not shown so far, further follow-up may reveal the advantage of this easy and simple technique.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Mar 2014
Review Meta AnalysisThe effects of pre- and postoperative fibrinogen levels on blood loss after cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Fibrinogen concentrate is increasingly used in cardiac surgery when bleeding is anticipated or ongoing. Since randomized clinical studies to support this are lacking, it is relevant to know whether lower fibrinogen levels are associated with excessive bleeding. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to define the association between fibrinogen levels and blood loss after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Our meta-analysis indicated a significant but weak-to-moderate correlation between pre- and postoperative fibrinogen levels and postoperative blood loss in cardiac surgery. This moderate association calls for appropriate clinical studies on whether fibrinogen supplementation will decrease postoperative blood loss.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Mar 2014
Review Meta AnalysisComparing coronary artery bypass grafting with drug-eluting stenting in patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis.
Although drug-eluting stents (DESs) reduce the rate of target vessel revascularization compared with bare-metal stents, the results of DESs for patients with diabetes and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) in the DES era are inconsistent. This meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared with drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease. ⋯ Percutaneous coronary intervention with DES in patients with diabetes and multivessel CAD is safe, but has a high risk of long-term repeat revascularization. CABG should remain the standard procedure for diabetic patients with multivessel CAD.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Mar 2014
Case ReportsExplantation of a CircuLite left ventricular assist device without removal of the inflow cannula: how to do it?
As the incidence of heart failure rises and given the shortage of donor organs, left ventricular assist device implantation offers a viable therapy in patients with end-stage heart disease. The CircuLite Synergy™ device is a less invasive support device for Intermacs class 4 heart failure patients. We report the first case of successful weaning from the CircuLite Synergy™ pump and propose our surgical technique to explant the device while leaving the inflow cannula in situ.