European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 1997
Spinal cord protection using hypothermic cardiocirculatory arrest in extended repair of recoarctation and persistent hypoplastic aortic arch.
In recurrent coarctation collateral circulation may not be sufficient to maintain adequate perfusion of the lower body during the period of surgical repair. Different techniques such as interposition of a Gott-shunt, use of left heart bypass or hypothermic cardiocirculatory arrest are used to prevent spinal cord injury. ⋯ The use of hypothermic cardiocirculatory arrest in this special indication is a safe method which allows open reconstruction of the coarctation site and the aortic arch and protection of the spinal cord. The need for early reoperation because of inadequate repair may be reduced.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 1997
Re-mediastinoscopy in the assessment of resectability of lung cancer.
Thirty-one patients underwent re-mediastinoscopy in the diagnostic assessment of lung cancer. The reason for a repeat mediastinoscopy was either a negative result at the first operation in spite of CT indication of enlarged nodes or an incomplete first mediastinoscopy. ⋯ This study has demonstrated the value of re-mediastinoscopy in assessment of resectability of lung cancer.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 1997
Plasma levels of immunoinhibitory cytokines interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
Cardiovascular surgery with extracorporeal circulation causes a systemic inflammatory response, which can lead to organ failure and increased postoperative morbidity. Advances in knowledge about the interactions between markers of cellular and humoral immunity involved in the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may reduce the deleterious effects and improve the outcome for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ Both cytokines are major immunoregulatory factors with negative influence on T cell-mediated immunologic response. The significantly elevated levels at the end of CPB indicate that IL-10 and TGF-beta may be important factors of immunologic dysregulation following CPB.