Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2013
Routine postoperative chest X-ray is unnecessary following the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.
Pneumothorax is the most common complication after the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. The majority of pneumothoraces are small, and the patients have no symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the necessity for routine chest X-ray immediately after surgery. ⋯ Only patients with respiratory symptoms after the Nuss procedure need a chest X-ray. A routine chest X-ray can be limited to the time of discharge where the position of the bar(s) is also checked.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jun 2013
The effect of retrograde autologous priming volume on haemodilution and transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery.
Many cardiac procedures using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) still require intraoperative transfusion. Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) has been introduced to decrease haemodilution and the blood transfusion rate. This study is designed to determine the influence or RAP on intraoperative haematocrit, transfusion and its clinical consequences. ⋯ Retrograde autologous priming is an effective adjunct to decrease the blood transfusion rate, coping with the CPB-related haemodilution and its adverse clinical effects. A RAP volume individualized to each patient offers most benefit as part of a multidisciplinary blood conservation approach.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffectiveness of biatrial pacing in reducing early postoperative atrial fibrillation after the maze procedure.
Interatrial conduction abnormalities have an important role in the initiation of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after the maze procedure. Biatrial pacing or single atrial pacing alters the site and timing of atrial depolarization and may improve restoration of sinus rhythm after the maze procedure. To further evaluate whether biatrial pacing is superior to single atrial or no pacing, we performed a randomized prospective study on 240 patients with a full maze procedure to compare the effectiveness with different pacing approaches in the postoperative period. ⋯ Biatrial overdrive pacing is well tolerated and more effective in preventing the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation after the maze procedure. The impacts of the long-term results with the maze procedure require further study.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · May 2013
Comparative StudyHaemostasis alterations in coronary artery bypass grafting: comparison between the off-pump technique and a closed coated cardiopulmonary bypass system.
To compare coagulation and fibrinolysis activation in off-pump coronary artery bypass operation and in patients in whom a closed phosphorylcholine-coated cardiopulmonary bypass system was applied. Cardiopulmonary bypass induces activation of coagulative and fibrinolytic systems, which together with intraoperative haemodilution augment the risk of postoperative bleeding and transfusion of blood products. ⋯ The Physio cardiopulmonary bypass approach does not significantly alter haemostasis during the operation compared with off-pump coronary artery bypass providing a reduced activation in the postoperative period reducing also chest tube drainage. However, further priming volume reduction is required to decrease intraoperative red blood cell transfusion.