European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialSignificant reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia with the Venner-PneuX System in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery: the Low Ventilator-Associated-Pneumonia study.
This study assessed whether the Venner-PneuX endotracheal tube (ET) system, which has sub-glottic suction as well as irrigation ports and continuous cuff-pressure monitoring, is associated with a reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) when compared with the standard ET in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ The Venner-PneuX VAP prevention system is associated with a significant reduction in VAP. This can potentially lead to significant cost reductions and should be implemented as part of the VAP reduction bundle.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2015
Multicenter StudyPalliative Potts shunt for the treatment of children with drug-refractory pulmonary arterial hypertension: updated data from the first 24 patients.
Palliative Potts shunt has been proposed in children with suprasystemic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ⋯ Palliative Potts shunt allows prolonged survival and dramatic, long-lasting improvement in functional capacities in children with severe, drug-refractory PAH. The Potts shunt might be considered as a first surgical or interventional step in the management of children with severe, drug-refractory PAH, leaving the door open for further lung transplantation, if needed.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialComparison between off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe lesions at the circumflex artery territory: 5-year follow-up of the MASS III trial.
The technical difficulty in the revascularization of the circumflex artery territory with off-pump surgery may compromise the outcome of this method in clinical follow-up. We aimed to evaluate cardiac events in patients with stable coronary artery disease and severe obstruction of the circumflex system, undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. ⋯ ISRCTN59539154 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2015
An expansible aortic ring to preserve aortic root dynamics after aortic valve repair.
Aortic annuloplasty and preservation of root dynamics have been described as factors for durability of aortic valve repair. The objective of this study is to document the first clinical analysis of root dynamics after a standardized valve-sparing procedure for root aneurysms associating a calibrated expansible external aortic ring annuloplasty with a physiological remodelling of the aortic root (CAVIAAR technique: Conservative Aortic Valve surgery for aortic Insufficiency and Aneurysm of the Aortic Root). ⋯ The expansible aortic ring achieved a complete calibrated external annuloplasty and maintained dynamics of the aortic root at mid-term follow-up. Whether this could be a factor for durability of aortic valve repair is currently under evaluation through the CAVIAAR study 10-year follow-up.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Mar 2015
BRG1 expression is increased in thoracic aortic aneurysms and regulates proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through the long non-coding RNA HIF1A-AS1 in vitro.
Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in cellular processes. However, little is known regarding their roles in thoracic aortic aneurysms. We investigated BRG1 expression in thoracic aortic aneurysms and the roles of BRG1 and the lncRNA HIF 1 alpha-antisense RNA 1 in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro. ⋯ BRG1 is overexpressed in the aortic media of thoracic aortic aneurysms and the interaction between BRG1 and HIF 1 alpha-antisense RNA 1 plays a key role in the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysms.