European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2011
ReviewInformed consent for interventions in stable coronary artery disease: problems, etiologies, and solutions.
The objective of this review was to determine whether patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (1) understand the aims of the proposed intervention, and (2) whether they are offered alternative and potentially more effective therapies, as required for the process of informed consent. We performed a systematic review of Medline for observational studies of patient understanding and perceptions of coronary revascularization and of the consent process. Data extraction was of patient perceptions of expected symptomatic and prognostic benefits of PCI and CABG, and the proportion of patients offered potential alternative treatments. ⋯ Moreover, patients are frequently not offered potentially more effective alternative therapies. This raises important questions about the adequacy of the current informed consent process. We recommend a multidisciplinary team approach as the most obvious way to remedy current practice.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyTranexamic acid versus ɛ-aminocaproic acid: efficacy and safety in paediatric cardiac surgery.
Tranexamic acid (TXA) and ɛ-aminocaproic acid (EACA) are used for antifibrinolytic therapy in cardiac surgery, although data directly comparing their blood sparing effect and their side effects, especially in paediatric cardiac surgical patients, are still missing. ⋯ TXA and EACA are well comparable in their effect on perioperative blood loss as well as in major clinical outcome criteria. Although the fourfold risk for seizures using TXA was not significant, we currently use EACA in paediatric cardiac surgery.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyShort-term effects of inhalative tiotropium/formoterol/budenoside versus tiotropium/formoterol in patients with newly diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring surgery for lung cancer: a prospective randomized trial.
A new diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often made during the evaluation of patients requiring a surgical intervention for lung cancer. Based on initial impaired lung function, these untreated patients are often considered not fit for lung surgery. There is limited information on the short-term effectiveness of preoperative pharmacologic treatment strategies in patients with newly diagnosed COPD before lung surgery. ⋯ Both therapies resulted in an improvement of lung function. There is benefit from adding inhalative budenoside to tiotropium and formoterol in terms of an improvement in FEV1 and the severity of COPD. These beneficial results might lead to less pulmonary complications in the postoperative period.
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Despite the efficacy of cardiac surgery, less invasive interventions with more uncertain long-term outcomes are increasingly challenging surgery as first-line treatment for several congenital, degenerative and ischemic cardiac diseases. The specialty must evolve if it is to ensure its future relevance. More importantly, it must evolve to ensure that future patients have access to treatments with proven long-term effectiveness. ⋯ The demands of a modern surgical career and the importance of the task at hand are such that the serendipitous emergence of traditional charismatic leadership cannot be relied upon to deliver necessary change. We advocate systematic analysis and strategic leadership at a local, national and international level in four key areas: Clinical Care, Research, Education and Training, and Stakeholder Engagement. While we anticipate that exceptional individuals will continue to shape the future of our specialty, the creation of robust structures to deliver collective leadership in these key areas is of paramount importance.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2011
ReviewRepeat mediastinoscopy in all its indications: experience with 96 patients and 101 procedures.
To evaluate the accuracy of repeat mediastinoscopy (reMS) in all its indications, and to analyse survival in the group of patients who underwent induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for pathologically proven stage III-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ ReMS is feasible in all the indications described. After induction therapy, it is a useful procedure to select patients for lung resection with high accuracy, independently of the induction treatment used or the intensity of the first mediastinoscopy. The persistence of lymph node involvement after induction therapy has a poor prognosis. Therefore, techniques providing cytohistological evidence of nodal downstaging are advisable to avoid unnecessary thoracotomies.