European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · May 1999
Clinical TrialAngiographic results after minimally invasive coronary bypass grafting using the minimally invasive direct coronary bypass grafting (MIDCAB) approach.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the early and mid-term angiographic results after minimally invasive coronary bypass grafting using an 'off-pump' technique via a lateral minithoracotomy. ⋯ Since stenosis of the anastomosis may occur after minimally invasive, beating heart coronary bypass grafting, postoperative angiography should be performed to provide quality control and to guide appropriate further treatment. The latter is necessary if the stenosis is accompanied by reduced run-off and evidence of myocardial ischemia during stress test. An improvement of early stenosis at the anastomosis may be expected in more than 25%.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · May 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIschemic preconditioning improves preservation with cold blood cardioplegia in valve replacement patients.
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ischemic preconditioning improves myocardial protection in valve replacement patients undergoing cold-blood cardioplegic arrest and to study the mechanisms of human myocardial ischemic preconditioning initially. ⋯ Ischemic preconditioning enhance cardioplegic protection in valve replacement patients. The possible protective mechanism was that ischemic preconditioning decreased the production of oxygen free radicals.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · May 1999
Comparative Study Clinical TrialImprovement of pulmonary function after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer in emphysematous patients.
Pulmonary emphysema is frequently associated with lung cancer and, because of the impaired pulmonary function involved, it may contraindicate surgical treatment. However, improvement of pulmonary function has been observed after surgical resection in patients with advanced emphysema. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pulmonary emphysema, as assessed by pulmonary function tests and radiological evaluation, can influence postoperative respiratory function after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ Pulmonary function may remain unchanged or even increase after lobectomy in patients with a pronounced emphysematous component of airway obstruction. The identification of preoperative parameters that identify this group of patients could extend the indications for the treatment of lung cancer in patients with pulmonary emphysema.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · May 1999
Comparative Study Clinical TrialConservative treatment of the aortic root in acute type A dissection.
In acute type A dissection long-term results of conservative aortic root surgery were compared with the outcome of primary valve and/or root replacement. ⋯ Surgery for acute type A dissection still carries a considerable early risk. Preservation of the aortic root is safe in the absence of Marfan or annuloaortic ectasia, but a certain incidence of reoperations on the aortic valve and the aortic root has to be accepted. Root reconstruction using GRF-glue is the method of choice and is superior to suture resuspension, with a significantly better reoperation-free and event-free survival.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · May 1999
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Few reports exist on the results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ CABG in SLE patients can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Our data so far reveals no evidence to preclude the use of ITA and vein grafts in SLE patients.