The American journal of medicine
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To determine whether there is an independent association of acute renal failure requiring dialysis with operative mortality after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Acute renal failure was independently associated with early mortality following cardiac surgery, even after adjustment for comorbidity and postoperative complications. Interventions to prevent or improve treatment of this condition are urgently needed.
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To study the impact of chronic prearrest health conditions on mortality and neurological recovery in patients after witnessed cardiac arrest and primary successful resuscitation. ⋯ A large proportion of patients with cardiac arrest had chronic diseases before the event. The presence of impaired functional performance in patients with structural heart disease increased unfavorable outcome within 6 months in primary cardiac arrest survivors. However, the impact of chronic prearrest conditions on outcome seems to be very small, and should not influence decisions whether to withhold or withdraw therapy.
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May-Hegglin anomaly is a rare hereditary condition characterized by the triad of thrombocytopenia, giant platelets, and inclusion bodies in leukocytes. Clinical features and the pathogenesis of bleeding in this disease are poorly defined. ⋯ The diagnosis of May-Hegglin is easily missed, and its frequency is probably underestimated. A qualitative defect of platelets may be responsible for mild bleeding diathesis even in the absence of thrombocytopenia, while severe bleeding results from both qualitative and quantitative platelet defects. May-Hegglin anomaly should be suspected whenever a patient has a low platelet count or a bleeding diathesis of unknown origin.