European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1996
Pharyngo-oesophageal dysphagia: surgery based on clinical and manometric data.
High or pharyngo-oesophageal dysphagia (PD) is defined as difficulty in initiating the act of swallowing within 1s. It involves the mechanisms controlling the tongue, pharynx and upper oesophageal sphincter (UOS) and is associated with a wide variety of local, neurologic and muscular disorders, and can also occur after surgery in the area and in response to gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR). Our study aims at defining the criteria for surgery in PD and to evaluate the clinical results of such treatment. ⋯ In conclusion, pharyngo-oesophageal motility measurement is mandatory in PD, especially when a diverticulum is absent. Cricopharyngeal myotomy with or without diverticulectomy as indicated produces excellent results. Associated oesophageal problems have to be dealt with appropriately.
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Open chest (OC) and subsequent delayed sternal closure (DSC) has been described as a useful method in the treatment of the severely impaired heart after cardiac surgery. ⋯ This study shows that OC with DSC is a beneficial adjunct in the treatment of postoperatively impaired cardiac function, profuse hemorrhage and persistent arrhythmias. It can be performed without increased sternal morbidity. Long-term results are also encouraging.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of inhaled nitric oxide with intravenous vasodilators in the assessment of pulmonary haemodynamics prior to cardiac transplantation.
Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and transpulmonary gradient are predictors of increased perioperative mortality in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation. Sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin PGI2 are routinely used to assess the reversibility of pulmonary vascular resistance and transpulmonary gradient in heart transplant candidates, but their use is limited by their systemic vasodilatory effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic and pulmonary haemodynamic effects of low concentration (10 and 20 parts per million) inhaled nitric oxide in patients with severe heart failure with elevated transpulmonary gradient and pulmonary vascular resistance undergoing assessment for cardiac transplantation, and to compare the haemodynamic effects of inhaled nitric oxide with those of sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin PGI2. ⋯ Low-concentration inhaled nitric oxide is as effective as sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin in reducing transpulmonary gradient and pulmonary vascular resistance, and is highly pulmonary vasoselective.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1996
Comparative StudyValve repair for traumatic tricuspid regurgitation.
The review of six cases of valve repair for traumatic tricuspid regurgitation in our institution and 74 in the literature in order to assess effective methods of treating this lesion. ⋯ Since post-traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is effectively correctable with reparative techniques, early operation is recommended to relieve symptoms and to prevent right ventricular dysfunction.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1996
Upper and lower extremity somatosensory evoked potential recording during surgery for aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta.
Since tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) recording is influenced by hemodynamic changes and anesthetics, alterations cannot always be attributed to spinal cord ischemia, so causing false positive results. Additional recording of median nerve SEPs facilitates interpretation. From January 1988 to July 1993, 60 consecutive patients (44 men, 16 women, mean age 66 years, ranging from 26 to 83 years) underwent surgery for an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta using a non-heparinized left heart bypass (Biomedicus pump). ⋯ In two patients (5%) isolated loss of the tibial nerve SEP was due to ischemia in the spinal pathway of the tibial nerve. The tibial nerve SEP signal returned to normal: in one patient after reperfusion of intercostal arteries localized within the aneurysm, in the other patient after drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Continuous recording of both tibial and median nerve SEPs gives consistent information on spinal cord ischemia, reducing the false positive rate of the lower extremity SEP to 7.5%.