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
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 StudyClinical experience with minimally invasive reoperative coronary bypass surgery.
To minimize the risk of standard and reoperative coronary artery bypass, we developed a minimally invasive approach. In this study we have evaluated the effectiveness of this technique. ⋯ In selected patients reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed with this minimally invasive approach with a low perioperative morbidity and mortality rate and satisfactory early graft patency rate with good symptomatic improvement.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEffects of thoracic epidural analgesia on pulmonary function after coronary artery bypass surgery.
A substantial reduction in lung volumes and pulmonary function follows cardiac surgery. Pain may prevent effective breathing and coughing, and as thoracic epidural analgesia may reduce postoperative pain, we investigated the effect of epidural analgesia on pulmonary function. ⋯ Thoracic epidural analgesia yields a slight, but significant, improvement in pulmonary function, most likely due to a more profound postoperative analgesia.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComplete heparin-coated (CBAS) cardiopulmonary bypass and reduced systemic heparin dose; effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis.
Heparin-coated extracorporeal circuits allow reduced amounts of systemic heparin and protamine. However, the effects on the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems when reducing systemic anticoagulation, have partly remained unknown. ⋯ Completely heparin-coated CPB can safely be performed in combination with reduced systemic heparinization. The heparin and protamine amounts could be lowered to 35% of normal doses. Indications of more thrombin generation on CPB compared to the uncoated controls were seen, but the levels remained within low ranges in both groups. There was no evidence of thromboembolic episodes or clot formation in the extracorporeal circuits.
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This review discusses the phenomenon of ischaemic preconditioning and its potential application to cardiac surgery. The biology of ischaemic preconditioning is explained and the more limited evidence suggesting that the human heart can be preconditioned is discussed. ⋯ Preconditioning is a powerful and reproducible method of protecting the myocardium from irreversible ischaemic injury. There is now evidence indicating that the human heart can be preconditioned. However, more trials are necessary in patients undergoing cardiac surgery before the role of preconditioning as a means of myocardial protection can be assessed.