Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
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Myocardial contusion after chest trauma remains one of the major complexities of trauma care today. Diagnostic methods such as 12-lead electrocardiography and echocardiography, as well as activity of the biochemical marker creatine kinase and the MB subfraction, have not been shown to be sensitive or specific indicators. We report a case of an intraoperatively proved myocardial contusion without creatinine kinase or creatine kinase MB elevation.
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Case Reports
Recovery from coma that results as a complication of cardiac arrest followed by cardiopulmonary bypass.
Many possible complications are associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. They are similar to the risks accompanying most surgical procedures and include stroke, renal failure, and death. This potential for complication increases when bypass exceeds 2 hours and rises sharply when pump time is prolonged more than 3 to 4 hours. ⋯ The risk of significant cerebral dysfunction, that is, severe focal stroke or coma, is about 1%, and this risk increases with age and coexistent cardiovascular disease. This article focuses on the complication of coma and the possible role cardiopulmonary bypass plays in improving survival rates. A case study is presented illustrating the potential role of cardiopulmonary bypass in the unexpected neurologic recovery from coma.