European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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In children, words of caution have been raised about valve-sparing procedures especially regarding the valve-remodelling technique. This study reviewed our experience with the valve-sparing reimplantation technique in children. ⋯ Our data show that valve-sparing root surgery using the reimplantation technique can be performed safely in children. Mid-term follow-up yields stable and favourable results. When leaflet reconstruction is necessary on top of the reimplantation procedure, rate of recurrent AR seems to be higher.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Sep 2016
Giant cell aortitis: clinical presentation and outcomes in 40 patients consecutively operated on.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) may affect mid-size and large-size arteries. Although temporal arteritis is a well-characterized clinical entity, GCA of the thoracic aorta remains ill defined. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical presentation, surgical and mid-term outcomes in patients operated for GCA of the thoracic aorta. ⋯ GCA of the thoracic aorta may be suspected in less than 25% of patients preoperatively. Clinical presentation may be acute or chronic with localized or diffused aortic involvement but always involved the ascending aorta. Surgery may be performed with excellent outcomes. Follow-up imaging is mandatory to assess aortic progression.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Sep 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy versus other video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy techniques: a randomized study.
A prospective, randomized study was carried out on patients undergoing lung cancer surgery, with the aim of determining if uniportal video-assisted lobectomy has more favourable postoperative outcomes than other video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy techniques (Duke approach and Copenhagen approach). ⋯ Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy does not present better postoperative outcomes than other video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy techniques.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Sep 2016
Comparative StudyComparative study for surgical management of thymectomy for non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis from the French national database EPITHOR.
Thymectomy may be part of the therapeutic strategy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) without thymoma. Median sternotomy is still considered as the gold standard, but during the last 15 years, several groups have demonstrated the non-inferiority of cervicotomy with upper sternotomy and minimally invasive techniques. To date, there is no consensus on surgical procedure choice. The aim of our study was to compare the morbidity and mortality of three techniques [cervicotomy with upper sternotomy versus sternotomy versus video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)/robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS)] from the national database EPITHOR and to analyse French epidemiology. ⋯ In our study, we were unable to prove the superiority of minimally invasive techniques due to the important differences between the groups. However, this study shows us major changes in French surgical procedures during the last decade with an increase in minimally invasive procedures such as VATS and RATS.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Sep 2016
Comparative StudyImplanting permanent left ventricular assist devices in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: do we really need a cardiopulmonary bypass machine?
Selected patients who failed to be weaned off temporary veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support may be considered for long-term left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Activation of the systemic inflammatory response due to the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine and its associated deleterious effects on the coagulation system have been well documented. The aim of the study was to compare the outcome of patients receiving VAD on VA-ECMO with patients who were converted to CPB at the time of VAD implantation. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the CPB machine can be safely omitted when a long-term VAD is implanted on VA-ECMO support. Blood loss in the first 24 h after surgery was less and a significantly lower number of blood products were necessary in these patients compared with patients in whom the CPB machine was used. However, similar survival rates between these two groups were observed.