European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 1999
Comparative StudyTwenty-four year experience with reoperations after ascending aortic or aortic root replacement.
A retrospective analysis of early and late outcome for late (>4 weeks) reoperations on the ascending aorta or aortic root. ⋯ False aneurysm formation and progression of aneurysmatic disease are the predominant causes for late reoperations after aortic root or ascending aortic replacement. Reoperations can be performed with low hospital mortality and good late results.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 1999
Comparative StudyMesothelioma--VATS biopsy and lung mobilization improves diagnosis and palliation.
Mesothelioma is an increasingly frequent malignancy in which diagnosis is often delayed and disease diagnosed at an advanced stage. Earlier diagnosis and therapeutic intervention that can control recurrent pleural effusion may improve outlook and survival. ⋯ VATs provides adequate tissue for histological diagnosis where other methods fail. At the same operative sitting it provides a therapeutic intervention that allows drainage of effusion cytoreductive pleurectomy and lung mobilization in a significant number of cases. Where the pleural space can be closed this results in significantly fewer hospital admissions and appears to improve quality of life and length of survival. The price is a longer hospital stay due to prolonged air leak.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 1999
Comparative StudyThe fate of antibiotic sterilized aortic allografts in Fontan circulation: results of the long-term follow-up.
Between 1977 and 1988, 27 patients, mean age 8.9 (range 4-22) received an antibiotic sterilised aortic allograft in the setting of the Fontan procedure. This study describes the long-term follow-up of these patients. ⋯ Although there is a significant attrition rate allograft inclusion in the Fontan circulation does not change survival, but results in an increased reoperation rate. Inclusion of a valved conduit between the right atrium and ventricle does not usually enhance the growth potential of the rudimentary ventricle. All patients are in a good functional class which may represent the strict original selection criteria. The inclusion of a valve in the Fontan circulation is not recommended.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 1999
Comparative StudyMinimally-invasive versus conventional aortic valve replacement--perioperative course and mid-term results.
We performed a case-control-study to compare perioperative and mid-term results of minimally invasive with conventional aortic valve replacement. ⋯ Both surgical techniques may be performed with comparable perioperative and mid-term results, but the better cosmetic result in the minimally invasive group is paid by a longer duration of surgery.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 1999
Comparative StudySurgery for infective valve endocarditis in children.
Surgery for endocarditis in children is relatively uncommon. Our aim is to assess operative mortality, recurrent infection, re-operation and long-term survival rates following surgery for infective valve endocarditis in children. ⋯ Surgery in children with infective valve endocarditis can be performed with low operative mortality. Although some patients may require re-operation, freedom from recurrent infection and long-term survival are satisfactory.