The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Tranexamic acid reduces bleeding and the need for blood transfusion in primary myocardial revascularization.
The objective of this study was to study the effect of low-dose tranexamic acid (TA) on postoperative bleeding and coagulation variables after coronary artery bypass grafting operation. ⋯ The use of low-dose TA during coronary artery bypass grafting significantly reduced the coagulopathy-induced postoperative bleeding and allogeneic blood products requirement. The low levels of fibrinogen split products during bypass in the study group reflect the inhibiting effect of TA in fibrinolysis. Tranexamic acid had no effect on platelet function during cardiopulmonary bypass.
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This study analyzes a single institutional experience with minimally invasive mitral valve operations of 6 years, reviewing short-term morbidity and mortality and long-term echocardiographic follow-up data. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the minimally invasive port access approach to mitral valve operations is reproducible with low perioperative morbidity and mortality and with late outcomes that are equivalent to conventional operations.
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Traumatic extrathoracic lung herniation is an exceptional complication of blunt chest trauma. We report the case of a 46-year-old man who was involved in a motorcycle accident and who suffered a left clavicle fracture-dislocation associated with multiple rib fractures and massive herniation of the left upper lobe through an upper anterior chest wall defect. Immediate surgical repair through an atypical transcostal vertical thoracotomy resulted in full recovery of pulmonary function at 1 year.