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 2011
Freedom SOLO valve: early- and intermediate-term results of a single centre's first 100 cases.
The Freedom SOLO aortic valve is a bovine pericardial stentless valve, which requires only one suture line. The aim of our single-centre retrospective study was to assess postoperative and intermediate-term haemodynamic results of the first 100 consecutively implanted valves. ⋯ Freedom SOLO valve has very good early- and intermediate-term results. Short implantation times and its haemodynamic performances, particularly in small diameters, allow us to use it by first intention in older and often sicker patients. These results must be confirmed by long-term outcomes.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2011
Time-resolved three-dimensional magnetic resonance velocity mapping of cardiovascular flow paths in volunteers and patients with Fontan circulation.
To apply flow-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of whole-heart flow characteristics in healthy volunteers and patients with Fontan circulation. ⋯ This feasibility study demonstrated the potential of whole-heart three-dimensional magnetic resonance velocity mapping to reveal overt haemodynamic differences in surgically palliated congenital heart with similar extracardiac cavopulmonary connection geometry. Future studies are warranted to evaluate its diagnostic impact for improved evaluation of the pre- and postoperative status in the individual patient.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2011
Factors influencing blood transfusion requirements in robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting on the arrested heart.
Robotic technology enables totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) procedures. These operations can be performed on either the beating or arrested heart. One challenge of the latter version is a potentially increased need for blood transfusions. We investigated factors associated with transfusion requirements in totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass on the arrested heart (AH-TECAB). ⋯ We conclude that multiple factors are associated with increased blood transfusion requirements in AH-TECAB. However, the transfusion rate can be reduced with experience. Identification of these factors may help in avoiding the application of blood products in the next generation of AH-TECAB procedures.