The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Effect of routine fibrin glue use on the duration of air leaks after lobectomy.
The effectiveness of fibrin glue as a sealant to reduce postoperative air leaks after pulmonary lobectomy was evaluated in 28 consecutive patients between November 1988 and May 1989. A fibrin glue spray was used in 14 patients, and 14 patients served as controls. Assignment of either group was made before thoracotomy. ⋯ The fibrin glue-treated group had a mean air leak duration of 2.3 +/- 3.7 days, chest tube drains for 6 +/- 4.1 days, and a postoperative hospitalization of 9.8 +/- 3.1 days. The control group had a mean air leak duration of 3.3 +/- 3.3 days (p = 0.94), chest tube drains for 5.9 +/- 3.9 days (p = 0.95), and a postoperative hospitalization of 11.5 +/- 3.9 days (p = 0.21). We conclude that the routine use of a fixed quantity of fibrin glue is not effective in reducing the duration of air leaks, chest tube drainage, or hospitalization after uncomplicated pulmonary lobectomy.
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A portable cardiopulmonary bypass system that can be rapidly deployed in a nonsurgical setting using nursing staff was used in 38 patients with cardiovascular collapse refractory to ACLS protocol. Percutaneous or cutdown cannulation sites were: femoral vein-femoral artery (n = 18), right internal jugular vein-femoral artery (n = 2), right atrium-ascending aorta (n = 12), or a combination approach (n = 4). Two patients could not be cannulated. ⋯ Early deaths resulted from massive hemorrhage (n = 8), inability to cannulate (n = 2), and irreversible myocardial injury (n = 10). Sixty-six percent (24 of 36) of patients successfully cannulated underwent conversion to standard cardiopulmonary bypass with attendant operative procedure or placement of ventricular assist device or total artificial heart. Fifty percent (18 of 36) of patients cannulated were successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary support, and 17% (6/36) are long-term survivors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)