European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2014
The indication for perioperative red blood cell transfusions is a predictive risk factor for severe postoperative morbidity and mortality in children undergoing cardiac surgery.
In paediatric cardiac surgery, red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are given to treat haemorrhage or to increase oxygen delivery (therapeutic transfusion). Sometimes, RBCs are added to the prime solution to avoid a too low haematocrit on bypass (CPB-driven transfusion). Our study investigated whether the reason for RBC transfusion might affect severe postoperative morbidity or mortality. ⋯ The indication group for transfusion has an impact on the occurrence of severe postoperative morbidity or mortality in children undergoing cardiac surgery.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2014
Valve surgery in active endocarditis patients complicated by intracranial haemorrhage: the influence of the timing of surgery on neurological outcomes.
The risk of neurological deterioration during valve surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass under systemic heparinization in infective endocarditis (IE) patients with intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the stratified risk related to the timing of valve surgery on neurological outcomes in patients with active IE and preoperative ICH. ⋯ The risk of postoperative neurological deterioration resulting from the exacerbation of haemorrhagic lesions seemed relatively low, even in IE patients who underwent valve surgery within 2 weeks of ICH onset. However, further evaluation of the sizes and aetiologies of haemorrhagic lesions is vital to establish a safe interval between the ICH onset and surgery.
-
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax has long been explained as being without apparent cause. This paper deals with the effect of chest wall shape and explains how this may lead to the pathogenesis of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. ⋯ The FEA model demonstrates a 20-fold increase in pleural stress in the apex of chests with low thoracic index typical of spontaneous pneumothorax patients. Mild changes in thoracic index, as occurring in females or with aging, reduce pleural stress. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurring in young male adults may have a biomechanical cause.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jun 2014
Incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes for acute kidney injury after aortic arch repair in paediatric patients.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after paediatric cardiac surgery and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Aortic arch surgery may be an independent risk factor for AKI because of circulatory arrest below the descending thoracic artery during anastomosis. We investigated the surgical outcomes associated with AKI after aortic arch repair in paediatric patients. ⋯ AKI is common in low-birth-weight patients after aortic arch repair surgery. However, patients recover from AKI after conservative management. Requiring PD increases the morbidity associated with AKI.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · May 2014
Practice GuidelineEuropean guidelines on structure and qualification of general thoracic surgery.
To update the recommendations for the structural characteristics of general thoracic surgery (GTS) in Europe in order to provide a document that can be used as a guide for harmonizing the general thoracic surgical practice in Europe. ⋯ This document will hopefully represent the first step of a process of revision of the modern thoracic surgeons' curricula, which need to be qualitatively rethought in the setting of the qualification process. The structural criteria highlighted in the present document are meant to help and tackle the challenge of cultural and language barriers as well as of widely varying national training programmes.