European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Nov 2011
Bronchial resection margin length and clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer.
Complete surgical resection with pathologic negative margin is associated with the best prognosis in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the impact of the length of the bronchial margin remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether an increased bronchial resection margin length is correlated with an improved disease-free and overall survival rate. ⋯ When complete surgical resection is achieved, the extent of the bronchial margin has no clinically relevant impact on disease-free and overall survival in NSCLC.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Nov 2011
Re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta: results and predictors of short- and long-term mortality in a series of 174 patients.
The aim of this study was to report results and to identify predictors of hospital and long-term mortality in patients undergoing re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta. ⋯ Short- and long-term survival was satisfactory being excellent in patients with degenerative aneurysms and dismal in those with active endocarditis. Extensive aortic resections did not increase hospital mortality and were associated with a reduced need for aortic re-interventions. CPB time remains the most important risk factor for reduced survival in aortic surgery.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Nov 2011
Open chest management after cardiac operations: outcome and timing of delayed sternal closure.
Open chest management (OCM) after cardiac surgery is a therapeutic option in the treatment of the severely impaired heart. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the incidence, survival and predictors of poor outcome for OCM with delayed sternal closure (DSC), particularly with regard to parameters to determine the time of closure. ⋯ With our results, we could demonstrate OCM to be a beneficial, therapeutic option in patients with postoperative LCOS, massive hemorrhage or significant arrhythmias with hemodynamic compromise. However, patients with re-operation for bleeding, need for VAD and particularly a prolonged delay before sternal closure continued to have a poor outcome.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Oct 2011
Case ReportsCongenital left circumflex artery fistula drainage into left ventricle.
Congenital communication between left coronary artery to left ventricle is a rare anomaly. A 52-year-old male patient visited our institution complaining of paroxysmal palpitation and echocardiography revealed a large fistula draining into the left ventricle. Coronary angiography and computed tomography (CT) scanning confirmed the fistula located between the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) and left ventricle (LV). A simple fistula ligation was performed, and postoperative three-dimensional coronary CT scanning confirmed the patient got a complete cure.