European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2004
Hypothermic circulatory arrest with and without cold selective antegrade cerebral perfusion: impact on neurological recovery and tissue metabolism in an acute porcine model.
Clinically, selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) seems to be associated with a better neurological outcome compared to hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) alone, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are not well understood. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the effects of HCA with and without SACP on the cerebral integrity using multimodal neurophysiological monitoring. ⋯ Cold SACP is associated with better neurophysiological recovery and less cerebral edema, indicated by lower intracranial pressures during reperfusion. Neurophysiological recovery correlated well with the rise in ICP. HCA alone causes prolonged acidosis in the brain tissue during reperfusion. From these data, SACP appears to be superior to HCA alone, but further studies have to elucidate the optimal regimes for SACP.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2004
Multicenter StudyLessons learned from the data analysis of the second harvest (1998-2001) of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database.
The analysis of the second harvest of the STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database produced meaningful outcome data and several critical lessons relevant to congenital heart surgery outcomes analysis worldwide. ⋯ Lessons from this data harvest should improve congenital heart surgery outcome analysis.
-
Clopidogrel has become the standard of care to prevent thrombotic complications following cardiological interventions, in particular intracoronary stenting. In addition, patients with aspirin intolerance and those with carotid and peripheral vascular disease are also increasingly treated with clopidogrel. Platelet inhibition may become a concern for hemostasis in patients treated with clopidogrel who need emergency and undelayed surgery. ⋯ Clopidogrel exposure 3 days or less prior to CABG surgery significantly increases the risk of postoperative bleeding, the need for perioperative transfusion and the incidence of re-exploration. Surgery should be performed using standard heparinization and anti-fibrinolytic strategies but aggressive correction of platelets dysfunction is required before chest closure.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jul 2004
Factors excercising an influence on recovery of hibernating myocardium after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with endstage coronary disease (CAD) significantly improves symptoms and prolongs life expectancy. Left ventricular function is also improved in some patients, but not in others. Factors which influence functional recovery of hibernating myocardium after revascularization are at present under investigation. ⋯ We conclude that in patients with endstage CAD myocardial recovery after coronary revascularization can be predicted using DE and MRI preoperatively. Myocardial regions without any potential of functional recovery show less adaptation (less pronounced myocardial cell hypertrophy), a more severe degree of myocardial architecture destruction and a higher degree of anti-apoptotic gene expression. We recommend a myocardial biopsy when DE and MRI are not favorable in a patient with end stage coronary artery disease referred to us with the option of heart transplantation or coronary bypass.
-
The aims of this study were to identify independent risk factors for mortality following paediatric open-heart surgery and to develop risk models for use in clinical audit based on identified risk factors. The study also tests the validity of the recently proposed Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) method of risk stratification as applied to open-heart operations. ⋯ This study identifies age at operation, RACHS-1 risk category and bypass time as highly significant risk factors for mortality after paediatric open-heart surgery. It validates the RACHS-1 risk stratification method as applied to the subset of open-heart surgery, whilst accepting the limitations of such a system. The risk models formulated permit risk prediction and allow for analysis of surgical results. Such risk-adjustment is important when assessing performance and comparing outcomes amongst individuals or institutions.