The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Small series have identified a relationship between preoperative hematocrit (HCT) and outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) began collecting preoperative HCT data in 2008. In this study, analyses were performed to determine the impact of preoperative HCT on perioperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing isolated CABG. ⋯ Preoperative HCT is a powerful independent predictor of perioperative mortality as well as renal failure and deep sternal wound infection in patients undergoing isolated primary CABG operations. These findings should prompt investigation of strategies to increase preoperative HCT.
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Reconstruction of anomalous left pulmonary veins (ALPV) requires an anastomosis at a nonanatomic position, posing the potential risk of pulmonary vein obstruction (PVO). ⋯ Total ALPV carries a high risk of early PVO. Thus, the optimal surgical approach remains elusive. Untreated partial ALPV remained unobstructed during midterm follow-up. Therefore, surgical treatment may not be necessary in patients with partial ALPV.
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Stingray injuries to the heart are rare, and survivors of this injury are even rarer. To date, there are only three reported survivors of this mode of penetrating cardiac injury, all inflicted by the living animal itself. The following is a report of a stingray injury, inflicted by a human, causing coronary complications 17 years after the injury was sustained.
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Minimally invasive approaches to mitral valve repair have demonstrated equivalent technical outcomes and more rapid recovery when compared with traditional sternotomy. These techniques have been widely accepted for mitral insufficiency and stenosis. The utilization of minimally invasive techniques in the presence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction has been controversial. We hypothesized that minimally invasive mitral valve surgery could be safely performed in the presence of compromised myocardial function, thereby minimizing recovery time. ⋯ Minimally invasive, port-access, mitral valve surgery can be safely performed with minimal morbidity and mortality in the presence of cardiomyopathy. This approach may be considered in patients with isolated mitral valve pathology and LV dysfunction in an experienced center.
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A 16-year-old adolescent boy sustained traumatic bronchopleural fistula, refractory to conventional management, which was treated successfully with differential lung ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. This case highlights a novel approach for managing traumatic bronchopleural fistula in children.