The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Apr 2016
One-Year Patency of Valvulotomized Vein Grafts Is Similar to That of Arterial Grafts.
Inferior vein graft patency after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is attributed to various factors. Venous valves may limit flow, cause thrombus formation, and diminish diastolic backflow. The aim of our study was to compare clinical outcome and midterm patency rate of valvulotomized vein grafts and arterial grafts in patients undergoing CABG. ⋯ Patients with valvulotomized venous grafts had good clinical outcome. The one-year patency rate of those grafts is comparable to that of arterial grafts. However, long-term results and angiography studies will be needed to strengthen these findings.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Mar 2016
Stepwise Tactile Localization and Wedge Resections for Deep Pulmonary Nodules during Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.
This article details a modified method of tactile localization for deep pulmonary nodules of less than 20 mm size and at a distance of more than 15 mm from the visceral pleura. Sixteen patients with deep nodules were successfully located and underwent subsequent thoracoscopic wedge resection. This technique is a continuance of the traditional finger-tough method, which can be an effective complementary technique.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Mar 2016
Comparative StudySurvival Following Lung Metastasectomy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas.
The most common site of metastasis for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) is the lung. In patients who are candidates for resection, metastasectomy improves survival. Debate remains, however, on approach and patient selection for surgery. ⋯ Patients diagnosed at a younger age with low-grade tumors and those with a longer DFI prior to metastasis diagnosis gain the greatest survival advantage with surgery.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Mar 2016
Observational StudySurvival following Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Sarcoma.
The aim of this study is to report the overall survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with metastatic sarcoma and prognostic factors for survival. ⋯ In selected patients, pulmonary metastasectomy for sarcoma is safe and may confer a good medium-term survival. Recurrent metastasis after resection confers a poor prognosis.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 2016
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyChest Wall Constriction after the Nuss Procedure Identified from Chest Radiograph and Multislice Computed Tomography Shortly after Removal of the Bar.
This study radiographically examined the changes in the chest walls of patients with pectus excavatum (PE) after Nuss bar removal, to define the deformation caused by the bar and stabilizer. In the first part of the study, we compared the changes in chest radiographs of patients with PE to a preoperation PE control group. In the second part, we used multislice computed tomography (CT) scans to provide three-dimensional reconstructions with which to evaluate the changes to the thoracic wall. ⋯ The growth of the chest wall was restricted after placement of the Nuss bar for PE correction. Long-term follow-up of chest wall growth is needed to clarify whether such constriction resolves with time.