Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Left ventricular free wall rupture and acute ischaemic mitral regurgitation are nowadays rare, but still potentially lethal mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction. We report a case of a sequential left ventricular free wall rupture, anterolateral papillary muscle disruption, secondary severe mitral regurgitation and subsequent posteromedial papillary muscle head rupture in a single patient during the same ischaemic episode after myocardial infarction, and their related successful surgical procedures and management until discharge. Prompt bedside diagnosis and emergent consecutive surgical procedures, as well as temporary left ventricular assistance, were crucial in the survival of this patient.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2014
Characterization of dysfunctional remote myocardium in left ventricular anterior aneurysms and improvements following surgical ventricular restoration using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: preliminary results.
In patients with previous myocardial infarction, the remote uninfarcted regions, although contractile, demonstrate dysfunctional wall kinetics because of increased afterload, which improves after surgical ventricular restoration (SVR). We characterized left ventricular (LV) mean myocardial velocity (MMV) through an analysis of endocardial motion and wall thickening (WT) over the cardiac cycle using standard cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR). ⋯ In patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease with LV aneurysms/large areas of scar, improvements in the remote myocardial MMV and WT underline LV systolic function improvements after SVR. The persistence of myocardial WT in early diastole is the likely mechanism for incomplete or absence of relief of LV diastolic dysfunction by SVR.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2014
Effect of oral tamoxifen on the healing of corrosive oesophageal burns in an experimental rat model.
Corrosive oesophagitis is a common health problem in children. Scar tissue can develop during the recovery period, and as a result, serious narrowing of the oesophagus can develop, in turn causing morbidity and mortality. In previous studies, it was argued that tamoxifen (TAM) may have antifibrotic effects beyond its oestrogen antagonist or agonist properties. We aimed to examine the possible effects of TAM on fibrosis and stricture formation, which are complications of corrosive oesophagitis. ⋯ According to the data obtained, TAM use prevents inflammation, collagenization and stricture development. TAM may be a useful medicine in the treatment of corrosive oesophagitis.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2014
Review Meta AnalysisAdjunct coronary endarterectomy increases myocardial infarction and early mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting: a meta-analysis.
Coronary endarterectomy (CE) may provide a useful adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with extensive, diffuse coronary atheroma. However, concerns regarding its morbidity and mortality have created uncertainty as to the role of CE in the current era. The aim of this study was therefore to quantitatively summarize the short- and long-term outcomes of CE. ⋯ Increased 30-day morbidity and mortality continues to raise concerns over the safety of adjunct CE. Furthermore, the procedure can be associated with worse long-term graft patency. To better determine whether CE should remain a viable adjunct to CABG, novel studies must focus on collecting prospective data with homogeneous inclusion criteria for CE as well as isolating outcomes for different coronary vessels and standardizing postoperative anticoagulation.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Sep 2014
ReviewIs it possible to predict the risk of ischaemic bowel after cardiac surgery?
A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Is it possible to predict the risk of ischaemic bowel after cardiac surgery?' Altogether 80 papers were found as a result of the reported search, of which 7 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. ⋯ Thus, careful intraoperative management to minimize cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp time and optimal care of patients' postoperative haemodynamic status, particularly in elderly patients with severe atherosclerotic disease, are useful in preventing this rare but lethal postoperative complication. Besides that, a heightened clinical suspicion in patients with these risk factors may lead to prompt diagnosis of bowel ischaemia, allowing intervention to prevent mortality. The variability of the study design and risk factors studied in each paper impose limitation to summarize the predicting risk factors.