European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2013
Rapid clinical evaluation: an early warning cardiac surgical scoring system for hand-held digital devices.
The purpose of this study was to develop a new scoring system for the prompt recognition of clinical deterioration and early treatment in postoperative cardiac surgical patients. ⋯ The new score is a simple and reliable scoring system to assess organ dysfunction in cardiac intensive care patients. It is designed especially for personal digital assistants to simplify and accelerate the process of risk stratification in cardiac surgical ICUs.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2013
Modified Blalock Taussig shunt: a not-so-simple palliative procedure.
Thirty-two consecutive isolated modified Blalock Taussig (BT) shunts performed in infancy since 2004 were reviewed and analysed to identify the risk factors for shunt intervention and mortality. ⋯ Palliation with a modified BT shunt continues to be indicated despite increased thrust on primary corrective surgery. Though seemingly simple, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Effective over-shunting and acute shunt thrombosis are the lingering problems of shunt therapy.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2013
Anatomical factors determining surgical decision-making in patients with transposition of the great arteries with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) with or without ventricular septal defect have multiple surgical treatment options. We sought to identify pre- and intraoperative factors that determine the timing of repair, procedure type and subsequent LVOT outcome. ⋯ A newly developed scoring system, the LVOT complexity score, helped to quantify the LVOT complexity and was correlated with our choice of the surgical procedure of TGA with LVOTO. The current strategy achieved reasonable survival and LVOT outcome with three quarters of the patients having an anatomically aligned LVOT. The coronary anatomy pattern was the primary determinant in the decision-making between the Nikaidoh procedure and the Rastelli operation.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2013
Constrictive pericarditis: risks, aetiologies and outcomes after total pericardiectomy: 24 years of experience.
Constrictive pericarditis is the result of a spectrum of primary cardiac and non-cardiac conditions. Few data exist on the preoperative risk specific to survival after pericardiectomy. This study was designed to compare the association of aetiology of constrictive pericarditis and other clinical variables, with long-term survival after total pericardiectomy. ⋯ Long-term survival after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis is related to underlying aetiology and overall clinical condition. The relatively good survival with idiopathic constrictive pericarditis emphasizes the safety of pericardiectomy in this subgroup.