The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Over a 12-year period, 40 patients underwent repair of partial anomalous pulmonary veins (PAPV) draining to the superior vena cava (SVC) proximal to the sinus node. Mean age was 6 +/- 2 years. In all patients, the SVC was cannulated superior to the PAPV, which were baffled with pericardium to left atrium. ⋯ Obstruction of the SVC and PAPV developed in 1 patient in group II with high drainage. Intermittent complete heart block developed in 1 patient in group III who also had ventricular septal defect repair. We conclude that atriocavoplasty is effective for rerouting of the PAPV and enlarging the SVC, but may predispose to sinus node disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of low-dose aprotinin on coagulation and fibrinolysis in cardiopulmonary bypass.
To study the effect of low-dose aprotinin on hemostasis in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for coronary artery bypass operations and to elucidate the mechanism of aprotinin action, we randomized 14 of 27 patients to receive 30,000 KIU/kg aprotinin in the CPB priming volume and 7,500 KIU/kg aprotinin intravenously each hour during CPB (1 patient was excluded from the aprotinin group because of protamine shock). Intraoperative and postoperative blood loss was significantly reduced in the aprotinin group. Antithrombin III level was significantly decreased, and the levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes were significantly increased during CPB in both groups, indicating activation of the clotting system. ⋯ A marked decrease in the platelet count was observed during CPB similarly in both groups. These findings demonstrated that low-dose aprotinin administration was effective in reducing intraoperative and postoperative blood loss and that activation of the clotting system during CPB was not followed by hyperfibrinolysis in aprotinin-treated patients. The improved hemostasis is mainly attributable to the prevention of hyperfibrinolysis during CPB.
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Rupture of cardiac chambers after nonpenetrating blunt thoracic trauma is being recognized with increasing frequency. Despite a high mortality rate, survival after repair of a single-chamber rupture is widely reported. Bichamber cardiac rupture is less frequent, and we report a patient who survived this injury.
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Between 1990 and 1992, 346 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass procedures. Ninety-eight patients (group A) from 1990 served as historical controls, and 248 patients (group B) from 1991 to 1992 served as a prospective, consecutive cohort for statistical comparison. The two groups varied in the type of myocardial protection used: intermittent cold crystalloid cardioplegia was used in group A and continuous warm blood cardioplegia in group B. (Two patients in group A received intermittent cold blood cardioplegia, and these 2 patients are grouped with the crystalloid group for the sake of convenience. ⋯ Group B patients were less likely to have development of complex postoperative arrhythmias. Ventricular fibrillation at unclamping was noticeably rare (2.0% in group B versus 84% in group A; p < 0.05). The average group B heart resumed sinus rhythm 72 seconds after declamping.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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To summarize this rather wide-ranging study, let us review the high points. The future practice of thoracic surgery will be increasingly affected by governmental factors and will have even greater technological dimensions. To do this work, we must continue to attract high-caliber individuals, and this is best accomplished by the early and continuing involvement in the educational process of strong role models from our field. ⋯ Likewise, although the accreditation process must protect the resident from exploitation, it must not be so restrictive that it does not allow for educational innovation and justifiable differences among programs. These are the thoughtful opinions of our colleagues. They deserve serious consideration.