General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jun 2013
ReviewIntraoperative cardiac assessment with transesophageal echocardiography for decision-making in cardiac anesthesia.
Transesophageal echocardiography is an invaluable hemodynamic monitoring modality. Extended and anatomically based evaluation of cardiac function with transesophageal echocardiography is essential to prompt and accurate decision-making in anesthetic management during cardiac surgery. Fractional shortening and fractional area changes are indices widely used to assess the global systolic performance of the left ventricle. ⋯ Transesophageal echocardiography is extremely useful not only for detecting and locating intracardiac air, but also for guiding and evaluating the procedures to remove air. Air is likely to persist in the right and left superior pulmonary vein, left ventricular apex, left atrium, right coronary sinus of Valsalva, and ascending aorta. Accurate evaluation of cardiac function depends on performing TEE examination properly and obtaining optimal images.
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jun 2013
Evaluation of long-term results and quality of life in patients who underwent rib fixation with titanium devices after trauma.
To describe the long-term results, quality of life and chronic pain after chest wall fixation for traumatic rib fracture using a quality of life (QOL) score and a numeric pain score. ⋯ Titanium devices (clips and bars; screws and plates) are effective and safe for repair of rib fractures and showed good long-term results in terms of pain and quality of life after the operation.