European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2002
Comparative StudyInaccuracy of four coronary surgery risk-adjusted models to predict mortality in individual patients.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of four different risk-adjusted models in predicting mortality in individual patients who are undergoing coronary artery by-pass graft surgery. In the last decade several models to stratify patients before open heart surgery, according to factors affecting mortality, were developed with the aim of retrospectively comparing outcomes of open heart surgery, based on reliable stratification of case-mix, and of prospectively identifying high risk patients as a basis for a meaningful informed consent for patients counseling. ⋯ The four pre-surgical predictive models were similarly able to discriminate favorable vs. unfavorable outcomes and highly accurate to predict overall mortality, but very inaccurate to predict mortality in individual patients.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2002
Comparative StudyEvaluation of clinical treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease by radiofrequency ablation.
The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness and advantages of the radiofrequency ablation maze procedure in the treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease. ⋯ The addition of the radiofrequency ablation maze procedure to mitral valve replacement is safe and effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease.