European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Oct 2003
Orthotopic heart transplantation for failing single ventricle physiology.
Evaluation of incremental risk factors for early mortality in children undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) for failing single ventricle physiology. ⋯ OHT for structural CHD with single ventricle physiology entails substantial early mortality while BDG enables the best transition to heart transplant. OHT should be considered in the decision-making process as an alternative to Fontan completion in high-risk candidates, since rescue-OHT after failing Fontan seems unwarranted.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Oct 2003
Free triiodothyronine: a novel predictor of postoperative atrial fibrillation.
Despite improved perioperative management, atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a relevant clinical problem, whose pathogenetic mechanisms remain incompletely explained. A reduced incidence of postoperative AF has been described in CABG patients receiving IV tri-iodothyronine (T3). This study was designed to define the role of thyroid metabolism on the genesis of postoperative AF. ⋯ Low basal fT3 concentration can reliably predict the occurrence of postoperative AF in CABG patients.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Sep 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEarly postoperative pain management after thoracic surgery; pre- and postoperative versus postoperative epidural analgesia: a randomised study.
Effective analgesia and blockade of the perioperative stress response may improve outcome and epidural analgesia plays a role in the reduction of pulmonary complications following thoracic surgery. In this study, we assessed preoperative and postoperative thoracic epidural analgesia (Preop-TEA and Postop-TEA) techniques on post-thoracotomy pain in 61 patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy. ⋯ In conclusion, preoperative epidural analgesia is an appropriate method for post-thoracotomy pain and is more effective in preventing acute postoperative pain.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Sep 2003
Practice Guideline GuidelineOptimal structure of a congenital heart surgery department in Europe.