The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Sep 2007
Intercostal bundle-splitting thoracotomy reduces chronic post-thoracotomy pain.
Intercostal nerve damage is the probable cause of chronic post-thoracotomy pain, but the precise mechanism is not known. To reduce this pain, we devised a simple method of rib spreading and closure (intercostal bundle-splitting thoracotomy), which avoids the intercostal nerve during thoracotomy, and then verified its effectiveness. The devised method appears to result in less chronic pain than the conventional method.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Sep 2007
Echocardiographic evaluation of the left atrium and left atrial appendage function in patients with atrial septum aneurysm: implications for thromboembolic complications.
Our study aimed to assess left atrium (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) function in patients with atrial septum aneurysm (ASA) and to relate it to thromboembolic complications. ⋯ (1) Atrial septum aneurysm impairs left atrium systolic function. (2) In patients with atrial septum aneurysm, left atrium appendage function changes; its systolic as well as a reservoir function improve. (3) The enhancement of LAA function in ASA may be a compensatory mechanism for LA systolic function deterioration. (4) As LAA systolic function is enhanced, it is rather unlikely that LAA is the place of origin of thrombi, which occur relatively frequently (according to the literature) in patients with ASA. The thrombi seem to be formed in the bulging sack of ASA, i.e., in the part of the LA whose systolic function is depressed.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Aug 2007
Initial clinical experience with a novel biodegradable ring in patients with functional tricuspid insufficiency: Kalangos Biodegradable Tricuspid Ring.
Tricuspid annuloplasty procedures have been widely performed in clinics for many years. The Kalangos Biodegradable Tricuspid Ring (Kalangos Biodegradable Tricuspid Ring, Bioring SA, Lonay, Switzerland) is a novel prosthesis for the treatment of tricuspid insufficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic results of this novel prosthesis for functional tricuspid insufficiency. ⋯ Kalangos Biodegradable Ring is a promising prosthesis in patients with functional tricuspid insufficiency, with encouraging initial results.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Aug 2007
Should minimally invasive aortic valve replacement be restricted to primary interventions?
The role of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement in cardiac reoperations has not yet been defined. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with this technique. ⋯ Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is feasible as a reoperative procedure. Its major advantage is avoidance of cardiac reexposure with potential damage to coronary grafts. We think this technique deserves more widespread application.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Aug 2007
One or two drains after lobectomy? A comparison of both methods in the immediate postoperative period.
The conventional method of double chest tube drainage after lobectomy is well established. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the two-drain versus the single-drain approach after this procedure. ⋯ A single-drain method is effective, reduces hospitalization times and the cost of treatment in patients who undergo lobectomy.