The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cytokine release and neutrophil activation are not prevented by heparin-coated circuits and aprotinin administration.
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) initiates a whole-body inflammatory response where complement and neutrophil activation and cytokine release play an important role. This prospective trial examined the effects of both heparin-coated circuits and aprotinin on the inflammatory processes during CPB, with respect to cytokine release and neutrophil activation. ⋯ CPB is associated with cytokine release and neutrophil activation, which are not attenuated by the use of heparin-coated circuits or by the administration of aprotinin. Aprotinin and heparin-coated circuits do not show additive effects.
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Coagulase-negative staphylococci cause 33% to 62.5% of wound infections after cardiac operations. The aim of this study was to investigate the sources of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the sternal wound. ⋯ In an ultraclean environment, bacteria in the sternal wound originated from the patients' own skin and from the surgical team.
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There has been a trend toward advocating earlier repair of tetralogy of Fallot and avoiding palliative procedures. The impact of this trend on perioperative outcomes has not been adequately documented. ⋯ Although outcomes after repair of tetralogy of Fallot in infants are good, both younger age at repair and previous palliative procedures were associated with longer duration of stay in the intensive care unit.