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 2006
Frequency, characteristics, and predictors of microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery.
Nosocomial infections still remain a serious problem in patients undergoing open heart surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate frequency, characteristics, and predictors of nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Postoperative nosocomial infections are a considerable problem in cardiac surgery patients. The identified independent predictors of nosocomial infection may be useful in identifying those at high risk for development of such infection in cardiac surgery patients.
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The present study was aimed to assess the results of newly developed aortic valve repair technique. ⋯ The results showed this technique to be safe and effective. Thus far broad application of this repair technique has been demonstrated to be highly feasible.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2006
Estimated creatinine clearance instead of plasma creatinine level as prognostic test for postoperative renal function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.
Preoperative renal failure is a risk factor for adverse events in cardiac surgery. Serum creatinine (SCr) is the most used test for renal failure. However, patients can have significantly decreased glomerular filtration rates with normal SCr levels. More accurate approximation of renal function can be obtained using the Cockroft-Gault equation to calculate an estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) rate from SCr. ⋯ This study documents that the association between preoperative renal failure and adverse outcomes after CABG is stronger with the estimated CrCl than with the routinely used SCr. Routine estimation or measurement of glomerular filtration rate should be preferred to SCr as screening method for the detection of higher risk patients undergoing CABG.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2006
Relation of inflammatory cytokines to atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
It has been observed that a systemic inflammatory response after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) participates in the pathogenesis of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). In patients undergoing off-pump CABG, it is plausible that inflammation is associated with the development of postoperative AF. The present study examined relation of proinflammatory cytokines, which play an important role in the upstream of inflammatory cascade, to the development of AF after off-pump CABG. ⋯ Advanced age was a major risk factor for postoperative AF. Furthermore, inflammatory response induced by surgical trauma was also associated with the development of AF after off-pump CABG.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2006
Incidence and management of complications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
To investigate the incidence and management of postoperative complications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. ⋯ Extrapleural pneumonectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be performed with mortality rates comparable to standard pneumonectomies. Complications are frequent but can be successfully managed; the EORTC-score seems to be a predictor for postoperative complications.