Journal of cardiac surgery
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Severe lung injury with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious complication of cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and mortality of ARDS following cardiac surgery. ⋯ ARDS remains a serious, but very rare complication associated with significant mortality. In our study, previous cardiac surgery, complex cardiac surgery, and more than three transfusions of PRBC were independent predictors for the development of ARDS.
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Herein, we present a patient who underwent successful repair of failed mitral valve repair in whom intraoperative 3D transesophageal echocardiography provided accurate assessment of the mechanism of mitral regurgitation. In addition, we review the potential advantages and limitations of 3D echocardiography and its role in cardiac surgery.
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Lower gastrointestinal complications are rare after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, if they occur, they are associated with a high mortality. Endothelin (ET) expression and microcirculatory dysfunction have been shown to be involved in a variety of diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to analyze whether CPB with or without additional vasopressin administration affects the rectosigmoidal mucosal microcirculation and whether this involves the ET system. ⋯ CPB does not significantly affect rectosigmoidal mucosal microcirculation; however, it upregulates ET-1, ETA , and ETB . Vasopressin blunts the CPB-induced elevation of ET-1, ETA , and ETB and induces rectosigmoidal mucosal ischemia during CPB.