The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Apr 2010
Efficacy of neutrophil elastase inhibitor on type A acute aortic dissection.
Surgery for type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) is associated with a high mortality and incidence of postoperative complications, including acute respiratory failure and coagulopathy. Aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sivelestat on pulmonary function and coagulopathy in patients undergoing surgery for AAD. ⋯ Sivelestat significantly reduced the postoperative decreases in AT III and platelet count in patients undergoing emergency surgery for AAD.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Apr 2010
Comparative StudyOctogenarians undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization: perioperative mortality and medium-term survival.
Aim of the study was to answer the question whether the mortality and morbidity of octogenarians undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization (AVR + CABG) is higher than that of younger patients. ⋯ Octogenarians undergoing AVR + CABG have a relatively high perioperative complication rate and mortality, but show a stable medium-term survival. The perioperative complication rate is higher in older than in younger patients, and the postoperative quality of life with regard to bodily functions is acceptable but significantly worse than that of younger patients.