The Annals of thoracic surgery
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A Kommerell diverticulum (KD) may predispose toward aortic aneurysm, dissection, or rupture, although they are primarily asymptomatic. We report a case of an aberrant left subclavian artery arising from a KD in a right-side aortic arch. The lesions were successfully treated by an endovascular approach involving Amplatzer vascular plug embolization of the aberrant left subclavian artery and endovascular repair of the KD.
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Multicenter Study
Red blood cells and mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: an analysis of 672 operative deaths.
Prior studies have implicated transfusion as a risk factor for mortality in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). To further our understanding of the true association between transfusion and outcome, we specifically analyzed the subgroup of patients who died after undergoing CABG. ⋯ Significant differences in PROM and the postoperative course leading to death between those with and without transfusion suggest the role of transfusion may be secondary to other patient-related factors. Recognizing that the relationship between transfusion and outcome after CABG remains incompletely understood, these findings are suggestive of a complex interaction of many variables.
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Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is not only a devastating disease, but also the most expensive birth defect managed in the US. Nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBIs) are common in neonates with HLHS. We examined the effects of NBIs on in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and costs for late preterm and term infants with HLHS undergoing stage 1 palliation, at both individual patient and hospital levels. ⋯ Nosocomial bloodstream infections in neonates with HLHS are associated with large increases in lengths of stay and costs on a patient level, but not a hospital level. For hospitals without particularly high incidences, studies are needed to identify additional targets for quality improvement.
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Observational Study
Bronchoscopic management of patients with symptomatic airway stenosis and prognostic factors for survival.
Interventional bronchoscopy is effective in the management of patients with symptomatic airway obstruction for both malignant and benign conditions. The main aim of this study is to report our experience with emergency interventional bronchoscopy in patients with symptomatic airway obstruction and identify prognostic factors for survival. ⋯ Emergency interventional bronchoscopy for airway obstruction is safe, relieved symptoms, and facilitated palliative chemotherapy, which improved survival.
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Comparative Study
Moderate versus deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for elective aortic transverse hemiarch reconstruction.
Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with retrograde cerebral perfusion (DHCA group) has traditionally been the cerebral protection strategy during transverse hemiarch aortic reconstruction. Recently, we have adopted moderate hypothermic (≥ 25 °C) circulatory arrest (MHCA) with antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA group). We compared the outcomes for these two circulatory arrest management strategies. ⋯ MHCA with antegrade cerebral perfusion yields excellent and equivalent outcomes to DHCA for elective aortic hemiarch reconstruction. MHCA significantly improves intraoperative times and, importantly, reduces transfusion requirements compared with DHCA with a retrograde cerebral perfusion strategy.