Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2014
Comparative StudyEstablishment of right ventricle-pulmonary artery continuity as the first-stage palliation in older infants with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect may be preferable to use of an arterial shunt.
Right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit and systemic-to-pulmonary artery (S-PA) shunt in younger infants for the first-stage palliation with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PAVSD) obtained good results. However, the pulmonary arteries (PA) grow slow in older infants undergoing an S-PA shunt. We compared the clinical outcomes of the two procedures in older infants with PAVSD. ⋯ In older infants with PAVSD who underwent the first-stage palliative procedure, early outcomes showed no difference between the RV-PA conduit group and the S-PA shunt group. The RV-PA conduits were associated with better growth of the PA and higher rates of second-stage biventricular repair. Autologous pericardium is a good choice for RV-PA conduits, and there is a correlation between body weight and size of conduit.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2014
Observational StudyHoles in the heart: an atlas of intracardiac injuries following penetrating trauma.
The extraordinarily high rate of penetrating heart injuries in South Africa provides a substantial denominator from which we derive a subset of patients with intracardiac lesions as a result of these injuries. The surgical literature, which consists largely of case reports and case series, describing various patterns of injury is dated and a review of management in the era of modern imaging and surgical techniques is warranted. ⋯ The referral of patients for the repair of intracardiac injuries following penetrating cardiac trauma is often delayed. Symptoms of cardiac failure should be optimized medically prior to undertaking definitive surgical repair, thereby also allowing for detailed preoperative imaging to guide appropriate intervention. Utilizing standard principles of intracardiac shunt repair, as well as contemporary valve repair techniques, favourable surgical outcomes may be reproduced. Percutaneous catheter device techniques may prove useful in patients deemed unsuitable for surgical repair, such as patients with sternal wound sepsis.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2014
Case ReportsSimultaneous cusp-sparing aortic root replacement and coarctectomy with total arch replacement from the midline incision.
Four cases of simultaneous surgery for aortic root aneurysm with aortic regurgitation and coarctation of the aorta were presented. Age at surgery ranged from 18 to 37 years and all were male. All had annuloaortic ectasia and dilatation of the ascending aorta, 3 had bicuspid aortic valve and 1 had acute localized aortic dissection. ⋯ Antegrade cerebral perfusion was used for brain protection. All patients survived and postoperative pressure difference between the upper and lower extremities disappeared. Postoperative aortogram was satisfactory.
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jul 2014
Impact of vacuum-assisted closure therapy on outcomes of sternal wound dehiscence†.
Sternal wound dehiscence (SWD) after cardiac surgery is a rare but serious condition associated with considerable costs and morbidity. We sought to evaluate the results of the introduction of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy in the management of sternal wound dehiscence, compared with those of previous conventional treatments. ⋯ In our experience, the use of VAC therapy for the management of SWD was considerably effective in decreasing mortality (SWD related), incidence of complications and need for surgical procedures; thus, leading to a significant reduction of costs.