The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jun 2001
Case ReportsParaplegia as an unusual manifestation of aortic coarctation.
In this report, we present an unusual case of a 20-year-old man whose first symptom of aortic coarctation was sudden paraplegia due to spinal epidural hemorrhage caused by rupture of an aneurysmal collateral vessel. Now, one year after surgical correction of coarctation, the patient has had no cardiac or neurological problems. To our knowledge, this is the only clearly documented case of such an aortic coarctation complication.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Apr 2001
Long-term results after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.
Operative strategies and early results concerning repair of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC) are relatively well known. Less well defined data are available to evaluate the long-term outcome. We would therefore like to contribute our long-term data in this presentation. ⋯ A normal hemodynamic state can be achieved in most cases. Significant arrhythmias may exist in asymptomatic patients late after surgical correction of TAPVC, and therefore, long-term follow-up of these patients, including 24 h ECG monitoring, is recommended, even if they are asymptomatic.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Apr 2001
Clinical TrialThe influence of patient strength, aerobic capacity and body composition upon outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Physical activity, physical fitness and body habitus of patients may be important predictors of outcomes after cardiac surgery. This study sought to quantify physical fitness and determine whether components of fitness enhance the prediction of outcomes in a group of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. ⋯ This study suggests: 1) An index of physical fitness can be obtained preoperatively in cardiac surgical patients; 2) This information aids in the prediction of operative risk.
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We review the cases of two women with acute aortic dissection during their last trimester of pregnancy who underwent aortic root replacement. One patient with type A dissection had to undergo surgical intervention immediately, and required extracorporal membrane oxygenation for four days. The other patient with a pre-diagnosed Marfan's disease had suffered a type B dissection and had to undergo emergency operation after developing a type A dissection nine days later.
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 2001
Does the time of resternotomy for bleeding have any influence on the incidence of sternal infections, septic courses or further complications?
Former studies on sternal wound infections indicate predisposing factors like diabetes, obesity, use of bilateral internal mammary grafts, impaired renal function and reoperation. We wanted to evaluate whether the time of resternotomy for postoperative bleeding has any influence on the development of a sternal wound infection and other complications. ⋯ Early reoperation for postoperative bleeding decreases the number of subsequent complications, e.g. sternal wound infections, septic complications and prolonged mechanical ventilation.