European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2011
Digital measurements of air leak flow and intrapleural pressures in the immediate postoperative period predict risk of prolonged air leak after pulmonary lobectomy.
The objective of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the association between the airflow and intrapleural pressures digitally recorded during the immediate postoperative period after lobectomy and their ability to predict the risk of subsequent prolonged air leak (PAL). ⋯ The levels of both air leak flow and pleural pressure measured at the 6th postoperative hour are associated to a different extent with the duration of air leak. Interpretation of the data measured at an early time point by digital chest drainage systems allows estimation of the risk of subsequent PAL. In this way, digital devices may help to plan postoperative management to allow both safe and more accurate implementation of fast-tracking strategies.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2011
Apnoeic oxygenation on one-lung ventilation in functionally impaired patients during sleeve lobectomy.
We describe a useful salvage method for hypoxaemia during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in functionally impaired patients during a sleeve bronchial reconstruction. When dependent-lung OLV strategies for hypoxaemia fail during bronchial anastomosis (increasing the oxygen administration to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) 1 and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), recruitment strategy and perfusion modulation), a very simple and efficient method for oxygen administration to the non-dependent lung can be easily employed. Oxygen flow of 5-10 l min(-1) administered by a paediatric intra-field catheter placed in the distal bronchi during bronchial anastomosis of the spared lobe(s), following the principles of apnoeic (hyper)oxygenated ventilation, successfully improves oxygenation without significant impairment of the operation field.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2011
Comparative StudyTranexamic acid: an alternative to aprotinin as antifibrinolytic therapy in pediatric congenital heart surgery.
There has been concern about the usage of aprotinin, an antifibrinolytic drug that was often used in pediatric cardiac surgery until 2006. At our center, these concerns led to the replacement of aprotinin with tranexamic acid for antifibrinolytic treatment. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that tranexamic acid represents an adequate alternative to aprotinin in congenital cardiac surgery.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2011
Prevalence and clinical significance of elevated preoperative glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic patients scheduled for coronary artery surgery.
To establish what is the prevalence of elevated HbA1c among diabetic patients scheduled for coronary surgery and whether this may influence their postoperative outcome. ⋯ Elevated HbA1c levels are common among diabetic patients scheduled for coronary surgery, particularly in patients receiving insulin, and are associated with more frequent occurrence of perioperative MI.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2011
Impact of lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer on respiratory function in octogenarian patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To assess the long-term impact of standard lobectomy on respiratory function in octogenarian patients with mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Octogenarians with lower preoperative FEV1% have a better late preservation of pulmonary function after lobectomy. Upper lobectomy seems to produce a lung-volume reduction effect, leading to an improvement in the expiratory volume in patients with higher airflow obstruction.