European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2008
Case ReportsThoracoscopic stapled resection of multiple esophageal duplication cysts with different pathological findings.
Esophageal duplication cyst is a rare congenital esophageal anomaly of the foregut. This cyst usually occurs in isolation, and thus far, was treated by enucleation through thoracoscopic or thoracotomic surgery. Here we report a case of multiple esophageal duplication cysts that showed different pathological findings, i.e., the cysts were lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar and stratified squamous epithelium. ⋯ We resected the esophageal cysts with endo-staplers under thoracoscopic surgery. No postoperative complications, including esophageal mucosal injury, occurred. A follow-up chest computed tomography revealed the complete resection of the cysts.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2008
Incidence, associated factors and evolution of non-severe functional mitral regurgitation in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement.
In order to improve the prognosis, repair of severe mitral regurgitation should be undertaken at the same time as aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. However, mitral regurgitation may be secondary to pressure overload or ventricular dysfunction and improve after surgery. ⋯ The presence of intermediate degree mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement increases morbidity and mortality. However, a high percentage of those who do survive experience disappearance or improvement of the mitral regurgitation.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2008
Effect of clopidogrel on bleeding and transfusions after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: impact of discontinuation prior to surgery.
The use of antiplatelet drugs to treat acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, acute coronary syndrome and secondary prevention following percutaneous coronary interventions is well accepted. However, it constitutes a serious risk of bleeding for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). We evaluated the effect of aspirin and clopidogrel (CPDG), both irreversible platelet aggregation inhibitors, on operative bleeding and determined the optimal timing for their discontinuation before surgery. ⋯ Blood loss is higher in OPCAB patients receiving clopidogrel before surgery. However, discontinuation of clopidogrel three days (72 h) prior to the operation demonstrated a similar blood loss pattern compared to a control group. Clopidogrel is associated with more platelets, but not red blood cell transfusions following OPCAB surgery.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2008
Flow-sensitive four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging: flow patterns in ascending aortic aneurysms.
Pathological aortic flow patterns differ significantly from haemodynamics within the healthy aorta. Development and impact of pathological flow is largely unknown and might affect pathogenesis and the progression of thoracic aortic diseases. This study presents pathological blood-flow patterns within a series of six patients suffering from ascending aortic aneurysms investigated with high-detail flow-sensitive, four-dimensional (4D)-MRI and three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided flow-visualisation strategies. ⋯ Patients with ascending aortic aneurysms reveal considerable differences in local flow patterns among themselves and compared to healthy individuals. Further investigations are necessary to identify flow patterns predisposing to aortic aneurysm development or adverse events in the course of aortic disease.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2008
Cerebral regional oxygenation during aortic coarctation repair in pediatric population.
During repair of aortic coarctation, clamping of the transverse aortic arch proximal to the left common carotid artery occludes blood flow to the left carotid and vertebral arteries. The objective of the present study is to determine whether blood flow through the right carotid and vertebral arteries provides adequate cerebral blood flow during aortic cross-clamping, as assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy. ⋯ During aortic coarctation repair, aortic cross-clamping proximal, as compared to distal, to the left carotid artery is associated with significantly decreased regional cerebral oxygen saturation, as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Although no short-term clinical impairments were identified, long-term follow-up in a larger cohort is needed to study the effects of unbalanced cerebral oxygenation during clamping of the transverse arch. These data suggest that cerebral saturation monitoring is warranted, and may be indicative of cerebral hypoperfusion.