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 2001
Comparative StudyThoracic epidural anesthesia for off-pump coronary artery bypass without intubation.
Thoracic epidural anesthesia without intubation was used in 10 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery reconstruction performed through median sternotomy. Considering the preoperative finding of impaired pulmonary function, all were moderate-risk patients for surgery using conventional general anesthesia with intubation. All patients had an uneventful postoperative course. In indicated cases, we regard thoracic epidural anesthesia as a suitable method again modifying the term "minimally invasive" in cardiac surgery.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Oct 2001
Case ReportsPost-pneumonectomy video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy using extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation.
We describe a case of a patient who, 14 years after a pneumonectomy, required surgery for a life-threatening air-leak following accidental intubation of an emphysematous bulla in his remaining lung. To facilitate treatment by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation was employed.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Oct 2001
Post-cardiotomy mechanical circulatory support using a conventional bypass circuit in children.
Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is increasingly used after cardiotomy in children when conventional medical treatment fails. Poor overall survival and long-term outcome have been reported. We report our experience of post-cardiotomy MCS using a conventional bypass circuit. ⋯ Overall long-term survival (70%) and quality of recovery is usually good even though initial mortality and complication rates may be high. We think that post cardiotomy mechanical circulatory bypass using a conventional bypass circuit can offer a favourable outcome to selected patients.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Oct 2001
Transposition of the great arteries associated with ventricular septal defect: surgical results and long-term outcome.
To identify potential risk factors influencing early and late outcome following the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries associated with ventricular septal defect including double-outlet right or left ventricle. ⋯ ASO associated with patch closure of ventricular septal defect can be performed early in life with a low risk of mortality (<5%), low incidence of reintervention (<15%) and promising long-term outcome.