European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRandomized double-blind comparison of phrenic nerve infiltration and suprascapular nerve block for ipsilateral shoulder pain after thoracic surgery.
Despite the use of thoracic epidural analgesia, a constant severe ache occurs in the ipsilateral shoulder of almost 75% of patients after thoracotomy. The aim of this prospective-randomized study was to investigate the effect of phrenic nerve infiltration (PNI) compared with suprascapular nerve block (SNB) on ipsilateral shoulder pain after thoracic surgery. ⋯ Phrenic nerve block with 2% lidocaine should be performed in all patients undergoing a major thoracic surgery procedure. These results strongly support the hypothesis that irritation of the pericardium and/or mediastinal-diaphragmatic pleural surfaces results in pain that is referred to the shoulder via the phrenic nerve.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2011
Multicenter StudyValidation of a modified EuroSCORE risk stratification model for cardiac surgery: the Swedish experience.
The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) is used to identify patients at high risk for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in whom alternative procedures, such as trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), may be appropriate. The aim of the present study was to calibrate and validate the EuroSCORE for different cardiac surgery procedures to improve patient selection for valve surgery. ⋯ A calibration of EuroSCORE resulted in an acceptable predictive capacity for 30-day mortality, and improved discrimination and calibration for MVS and miscellaneous procedures. However, the poor discriminatory for the AVR procedure suggests that the EuroSCORE may not be satisfying for assessing risk prior to TAVI and that more optimized risk stratification models may be needed.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialIncreased systemic perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with less early postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium.
Patients undergoing cardiac surgery procedures are thought to be at risk of early neuropsychological deficits and delirium. Regional cerebral hypoperfusion may play a role in the etiology of this complication. We hypothesized that low systemic perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) would correlate with early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in on-pump patients. ⋯ Maintaining perfusion pressure at physiologic levels during normothermic CPB (80-90 mm Hg) is associated with less early postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium. This perfusion strategy neither increases morbidity, nor does it impair organ function.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2011
Case ReportsA rare constellation of empyema, lung abscess, and mediastinal abscess as a complication of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.
The introduction of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) brought about significant advancement in the field of bronchoscopy. The major indications for EBUS-TBNA are lung cancer staging and diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. This procedure is minimally invasive and cost saving, and no complications have been described in large-scale studies. In this report, we present a case of empyema, lung abscess, and mediastinal abscess that developed in a patient undergoing EBUS-TBNA; the patient subsequently recovered uneventfully after aggressive surgical debridement and antimicrobial therapy.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2011
Outcomes, risks and complications of cardiac surgery for carcinoid heart disease.
The development of carcinoid heart disease causes significant valvular dysfunction, eventually leading to symptomatic right heart failure and impaired survival. Data regarding cardiovascular surgery are limited. We sought to identify outcomes, risks and complications of valve surgery for carcinoid heart disease. ⋯ Valve surgery for carcinoid heart disease is of higher risk compared with most other forms of valvular surgery. However, in those that survive the operation significant improvement in functional class occurs. Most long-term complications were related to the tumour itself rather than cardiac complications.