The Annals of thoracic surgery
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This study evaluated the feasibility of performing thoracoscopy without lung isolation employing single lumen endotracheal tube (SLET) intubation and carbon dioxide insufflation. ⋯ Single lumen endotracheal tube intubation is a feasible and safe airway management alternative for thoracoscopic procedures. This method resulted in shorter operative times, no aberrant hemodynamic shifts, low complication rates, and similar hospital stays as compared with traditional DLET intubation.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Hospital variation in postoperative infection and outcome after congenital heart surgery.
Several initiatives aim to reduce postoperative infection across a variety of surgical patients as a means to improve overall quality of care and reduce variation across centers. However, the association of infection rates with hospital-level outcomes and resource utilization has not been well described. We evaluated this association across a multicenter cohort undergoing congenital heart surgery. ⋯ Infection after congenital heart surgery contributes to prolonged LOS and increased costs on a hospital level. However, given that infection rates alone explained relatively little of the variation in these outcomes across hospitals, further study is needed to identify additional factors that may be targeted in initiatives to reduce variation and improve outcomes across centers.
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Chronic kidney disease is a significant risk factor for mortality as well as acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery. The impact of contrast agent application on outcome is not well described in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. ⋯ Preoperative chronic kidney disease does not increase the risk of mortality and acute kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Acute kidney injury after TAVI is associated with an elevated risk of mortality. The amount of contrast agent applied intra-procedurally does not affect the risk of acute kidney injury.
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Postoperative bleeding is common after cardiac surgery. Major bleeding (MB) is a determinant of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, especially in patients with preoperative anemia. Preoperative anemia and RBC transfusions are recognized risk factors for operative mortality. The present study investigates the role of MB as an independent determinant of operative mortality in cardiac surgery. ⋯ Major bleeding is per se a risk factor for operative mortality. However, its deleterious effects are strongly enhanced by RBC transfusions and, to a lesser extent, preoperative anemia. Major bleeding is a partially modifiable risk factor, and adequate preemptive and treatment strategies should be applied to limit this event.
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Incidence of thrombosis in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery is as high as 20%, and single ventricle physiology (SVP) may present an even higher risk. We hypothesize that SVP is a risk factor for thrombosis in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery, and hypercoagulability biomarkers are predictive of postoperative thrombosis. ⋯ Single ventricle physiology patients are at higher risk for thrombosis compared with other neonates after cardiac surgery. Hypercoagulable panel testing may help risk stratify patients and guide patient specific anticoagulation management in the postoperative period.