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 2005
Does EuroSCORE predict length of stay and specific postoperative complications after cardiac surgery?
To evaluate the performance of EuroSCORE in the prediction of in-hospital postoperative length of stay and specific major postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. ⋯ EuroSCORE can be used to predict not only in-hospital mortality, for which it was originally designed, but also 3-month mortality, prolonged length of stay and specific postoperative complications such as renal failure, sepsis and/or endocarditis and respiratory failure in the whole context of cardiac surgery. These outcomes can be predicted accurately using the standard EuroSCORE which is very simple and easy in its calculation.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe use of flexible spiral drains after non-cardiac thoracic surgery. A clinical study.
After an observational study on 50 patients determined the efficacy and safety of a small calibre (19F), flexible, fluted spiral drains with round cross-section after non-cardiac thoracic surgery we undertook a prospective study to compare these drains to standard chest drains also in terms of pain using a Visual Analog Score. ⋯ Spiral drains proved to be at least as safe and effective as conventional tubes after lung surgery; they allowed for evacuation of large amounts of blood/fluid as well as air, and were associated with minimal discomfort.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2005
Cooling to 10 degrees C and treatment with Cyclosporine A improve cerebral recovery following prolonged hypothermic circulatory arrest in a chronic porcine model.
This study was undertaken to assess whether cooling to 10 degrees C and/or treatment with Cyclosporine A (CsA) can reduce neurological injury during prolonged hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) in a chronic animal model. ⋯ The data suggest that cooling to 10 degrees C and CsA treatment are both of benefit in improving cerebral recovery after HCA when compared with untreated 20 degrees C controls, and may be synergistic.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2005
Incidence and treatment of diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery in children.
Diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) caused by phrenic nerve injury is potentially life-threatening in infants. Phrenic nerve injury due to thoracic surgery is the most common cause of DP in children. We retrospectively analyzed incidence, surgical details, management and follow-up of our patients with DP after cardiac surgery to develop an algorithm for the management and follow-up. ⋯ DP is an occasional complication of cardiac surgery. High incidences of DP were seen after arterial switch operation, Fontan procedure and Blalock-Taussig shunt (BT). Respiratory insufficiency requires diaphragmatic plication in most infants with DP whereas older children may tolerate DP. Transthoracic diaphragmatic plication is an effective treatment of DP and achieves relief of respiratory insufficiency in most patients. Spontaneous recovery from postsurgical DP is rare.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2005
Total arterial revascularisation: effect of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass on in-hospital mortality and morbidity in a propensity-matched cohort.
The combination of total arterial revascularisation and avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass may provide additional benefits to patients receiving complete arterial grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. We performed a propensity-matched cohort study of complete arterial off-pump and on-pump coronary surgery and examined differences in in-hospital mortality and morbidity. ⋯ Off-pump coronary surgery with complete arterial revascularisation can significantly reduce in-hospital morbidity and lengths of stay compared to conventional on-pump coronary surgery.