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 2013
Preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Impaired cardiopulmonary reserve is the main cause of inoperability in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aims to evaluate the role of a preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation (PPR) programme in the improvement of functional parameters, which can enable an increase in the number of patients eligible for surgery. ⋯ A 4 to 6-week PPR programme prepares the NSCLC and COPD patients properly for the surgical approach, reducing the functional limitations of inoperability.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2013
Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast ameliorates acute lung injury following haemorrhagic shock in rats.
The aim of this study was to assess the possible protective effect of montelukast against haemorrhagic shock-induced acute lung injury by interfering with inflammatory and oxidative pathways. Acute lung injury following haemorrhagic shock/resuscitation is an important contributor to late morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. Haemorrhagic shock (HS), followed by resuscitation, is considered to be an insult that frequently induces systemic inflammatory response syndrome and oxidative stress, resulting in multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome, including microvascular changes and microscopic damage termed acute lung paraynchymal injury. Montelukast is a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist that exerts an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant influence. ⋯ The results of the present study reveal that montelukast may ameliorate lung injury in shocked rats by interfering with inflammatory and oxidative pathways, implicating the role of leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of haemorrhagic shock-induced lung inflammation.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2013
ReviewThe future of cardiothoracic surgery: a view from North America.
Cardiothoracic surgery is undergoing major changes related to evolving technology, changes in the educational paradigm and evolution of health care policy. Many see these changes as a threat to the stature and viability of cardiothoracic surgery. However, these changes create tremendous opportunity to broaden our skills and scope of practice, as well as to better prepare the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons for a successful career in helping patients with cardiothoracic disease.