The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Air leaks (ALs) are a common complication after pulmonary resection, yet there is no consensus on their management. ⋯ Most ALs after pulmonary resection are expiratory only. A low FEV1/FVC ratio, increased age, increased RV/TLC ratio, increased RV, and an increased FRC were predictors of having an ALs on postoperative day 1. Conversion from suction to water seal is an effective way of sealing expiratory AL, and pneumothorax is rare. If an expiratory AL does not stop by postoperative day 4 it will probably persist until postoperative day 7, and talc slurry may be an effective treatment.
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Closure of a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertensive episodes continue to be a major cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. We designed a fenestrated flap valve double VSD patch in an effort to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with the closure of a large VSD with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. ⋯ Closure of a large VSD in children with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance can be performed with low morbidity and mortality when a flap valve double VSD patch is used.
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Historically, porcine bioprosthetic valves have poor durability in pediatric patients; nearly half will require replacement within 5 years. However, our early experience with patients having Ebstein's anomaly suggests that tricuspid bioprostheses in this anomaly might have better durability. ⋯ Bioprosthesis durability in the tricuspid position in patients with Ebstein's anomaly compares very favorably with bioprosthesis durability in other cardiac valve positions, especially for pediatric patients, and also compares favorably with tricuspid bioprosthesis durability in patients with other diagnoses.
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The need for permanent cardiac pacing after cardiac operations is infrequent but associated with increased morbidity and resource utilization. We identified patient risk factors for pacemaker insertion to enable development of a predictive model. ⋯ The proposed predictive model correlated highly with actual pacemaker use, which suggests that the requirement for pacing results from either operative trauma or increased ischemic burden. Preoperative identification of patients at increased risk of conduction disturbances may allow for earlier detection and improved treatment. Patients requiring postoperative pacing had increased morbidity and length of stay.
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Successful surgical repair of an unusual case of blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen is presented. The injury resulted in rupture of the pericardium, avulsion and rupture of the right coronary artery into the right atrium, complete disruption of the tricuspid valve, and acute right heart failure with complete heart block.