European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2002
Comparative StudyEvaluation of clinical treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease by radiofrequency ablation.
The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness and advantages of the radiofrequency ablation maze procedure in the treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease. ⋯ The addition of the radiofrequency ablation maze procedure to mitral valve replacement is safe and effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2002
Clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage cell phenotype analyses in the postoperative monitoring of lung transplant recipients.
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid provides a crucial tool for investigation of the cellular component of the deep lung spaces and hence to approach the alloreactive response following lung transplantation. This study investigated whether BAL cell profiles can assist for the diagnosis of certain postoperative complications. ⋯ These findings suggest that BAL cell analysis could give complementary information of histological data and further insight into immunologic events after lung allograft. A longitudinal surveillance of BAL cell profiles in an individual patient may be suggestive for a preclinical state of posttransplant acute rejection, bacterial infection and obliterative bronchiolitis.
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Chest trauma in childhood is uncommon in clinical practice. The management and treatment principles of children with thoracic trauma were discussed with the data reported in the literature. ⋯ The prevalence of chest trauma in children due to blunt injuries is high in Turkey. Extremity injury is thought to be the most commonly associated extra-thoracic injury. However, thoracic trauma in children can be managed conservatively in most of the cases.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2002
Minimally invasive video-endoscopic sympathectomy by use of a transaxillary single port approach.
This is a prospective study to evaluate the long-term outcome and the value of a transaxillary single port thoracic sympathectomy by use of a modified paediatric cystoresectoscope in a consecutive series of patients with facial blushing and/or hyperhidrosis. ⋯ Single port thoracoscopic sympathectomy by use of a modified paediatric cystoresectoscope and transsection from T2 to T5 gives an excellent cosmetic and functional outcome, with better results in patients with hyperhidrosis.