Circulation
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Conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest after open-heart surgery in children is often unsuccessful despite the ability to perform open-chest massage. The purpose of this study was to review our results with mechanical support as rescue therapy in children with sudden circulatory arrest after cardiac surgery. ⋯ We conclude that ECMO rescue in children with postcardiotomy cardiac arrest is a feasible option in selected patients even after prolonged CPR (as long as 60 minutes).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomized comparison of external and internal cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation.
Delivery of shocks within the right atrium has been reported to be more effective than conventional external shocks in converting atrial fibrillation (AF), but these two cardioversion techniques have never been compared prospectively. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies of external and internal cardioversion in patients with chronic AF unresponsive to prior attempts at electrical and/or pharmacological cardioversion. Low-dose amiodarone was used in all patients after cardioversion to suppress recurrences of AF. ⋯ Internal cardioversion is more effective than external cardioversion in restoring sinus rhythm and is as safe as external cardioversion in patients with chronic AF. The recurrence rate of AF is the same after both types of cardioversion. If conventional electrical cardioversion is ineffective, internal cardioversion should be attempted. The combination of low-dose amiodarone and external or internal cardioversion may result in maintaining sinus rhythm long-term in patients with refractory AF.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Alternative techniques of cardioplegia.
Although normothermic cardioplegia has been used with acceptable clinical results, no studies have previously been performed to determine the metabolic consequences of these various techniques of myocardial protection. Therefore, we have performed a randomized clinical trial to assess the effects of three cardioplegic techniques on myocardial metabolic recovery. ⋯ Intermittent cold cardioplegia inhibited mitochondrial function but prevented the degradation of adenine nucleotides. Warm antegrade cardioplegia had the greatest myocardial oxygen consumption, and warm retrograde cardioplegia had the greatest anaerobic lactate production. There were no differences in clinical outcomes between cardioplegic groups.
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BACKGROUND. The fenestrated Fontan operation has been applied to high-risk patients with univentricular hearts, resulting in improved survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the hemodynamic factors responsible for these improved results. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS. The fenestrated Fontan operation improves survival in high-risk patients by increasing cardiac index and maintaining oxygen delivery, despite mild arterial O2 desaturation. Subsequent transcatheter fenestration closure can be performed after hemodynamic assessment.
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Acute bacterial endocarditis continues to be a condition with high morbidity. Although the majority of patients are treated by high-dose antibiotics, a high-risk patient group requires surgical intervention, which is the subject of this article. ⋯ The morbidity and mortality after surgical treatment of acute endocarditis depend on the site, the severity, and the subject infected. Early aggressive surgical intervention is indicated to optimize surgical results, especially in patients with nonstreptococcal infection or PVE.