European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2011
Support time-dependent outcome analysis for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
The majority of patients suffering from pulmonary failure refractory to mechanical ventilation require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support between 1 and 2 weeks. This study was designed to evaluate differences in outcome depending on ECMO duration. ⋯ VV ECMO in patients suffering from severe lung failure is effective in improving gas exchange with an overall survival of higher than 50%. Prolonged need of ECMO support does not have an impact on survival.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2011
Changing trends in the management of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum: the Melbourne experience.
Management of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) can be directed to either biventricular repair or univentricular palliation. The optimal management strategy has yet to be defined. ⋯ A simple three-tiered classification based on RV size may allow initial stratification into biventricular or univentricular repair for patients with normal RV size and severe RV hypoplasia. In patients with moderate RV hypoplasia, the presence of RV-to-coronary-artery connections or a TV Z-score<-2 should caution one against attempting biventricular repair.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2011
Comparative StudyThe impact of deep and moderate body temperatures on end-organ function during hypothermic circulatory arrest.
Hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) at different temperatures is a protection technique for operations involving the aortic arch. In combination with selective cerebral perfusion, higher arrest temperatures for the remaining body may be permitted. However, the ischaemic/reperfusion injury (I/R) in various organ systems, other than the brain, related to the specific HCA temperature has so far not been evaluated. ⋯ Higher levels of circulating lactate levels during reperfusion indicate less effective organ protection at 30 than at 20 °C after 60 min of HCA. This is further substantiated by histological evidence for a more pronounced oedema inflammatory response within the bowel wall.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2011
Post-cardiotomy extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in neonates with complex single ventricle: analysis of outcomes.
Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in children with cardiac arrest refractory to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been reported with encouraging results. We sought to review outcomes of neonates with functional single ventricle (FSV) receiving post-cardiotomy ECPR. ⋯ ECMO support in neonates with FSV requiring ECPR can result in favorable outcome in more than half of patients at hospital discharge. Aggressive strategy toward timely application of ECPR is justified. Expeditious ECPR deployment after proper patients' selection, refinement of CPR quality and use of adjunctive neuroprotective interventions, such as induced hypothermia, might further improve outcomes.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Dec 2011
Clinical feasibility and surgical benefits of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of resectable lung cancer.
This study was performed to assess the clinical feasibility and surgical outcomes of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of resectable lung cancer. ⋯ Video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy is a clinically feasible procedure with acceptable complication rate and provides more accurate staging of mediastinal node in lung cancer patients. It may be also an excellent supplementary technique used for complete mediastinal node dissection at minimal invasive surgery for cancer resection, especially with left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.