Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 1998
Comparative StudyIncidence of arrhythmias after thoracic surgery: thoracotomy versus video-assisted thoracoscopy.
Atrial arrhythmias, especially supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial fibrillation, are common after thoracotomy and lung surgery. There are few existing data on the incidence of postoperative arrhythmias after video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT). The purpose of the present investigation was to retrospectively determine the incidence of postoperative arrhythmias in patients who underwent VAT compared with those who underwent thoracotomy, and which factors are associated with an increased risk for arrhythmias in both groups. ⋯ Patients receiving digoxin were at higher risk for postoperative arrhythmias. Patients older than 65 years were at risk for arrhythmias after thoracotomy and patients older than 80 years were at risk for arrhythmias after VAT. Patients who had postoperative arrhythmias had prolonged hospital stays compared with patients who did not have arrhythmias.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 1998
ReviewImpact of early tracheal extubation on hospital discharge.
Economic realities of the continuing increased utilization of cardiac surgery in the 1990s have led to the practice of early tracheal extubation and shortening of the length of intensive care unit and hospital stays. In this era of cost-containment and physician report cards, we are held accountable for patients' outcome in terms of mortality, morbidity, quality of life, length of stay, and cost of care. This report outlines the factors that influence costs of cardiac surgery. ⋯ The current literature on outcome, utilization, and cost implications of early tracheal extubation in cardiac surgery is summarized and discussed. It has been demonstrated that early extubation anesthesia is safe and cost-effective and can improve resource utilization in cardiac surgery, but to achieve a maximum cost benefit from fast-track or early extubation anesthesia in cardiac patients, team organization of a fast-track cardiac surgery program must be implemented. A perioperative clinical pathway management in fast-track cardiac surgery is presented.
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Excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery is an important factor that can prevent early extubation. Hemostatic derangement is well recognized to be associated with cardiopulmonary bypass, with many possible contributing factors resulting in coagulation defects and fibrinolytic pathway activation. Measures to optimize hemostasis are critical when managing patients for whom early extubation and hospital discharge are goals. The intraoperative evaluation of the hemostatic system with tests like the thrombelastogram and the use of therapeutic agents such as aprotinin are simple, safe, and effective methods of achieving these goals.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 1998
Real-time intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography--how useful? Experience of 5,016 cases.
To evaluate transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as an intraoperative monitoring modality and to assess its safety, reliability, and overall utility in real-time use during cardiac surgery. ⋯ Intraoperative TEE is useful in formulating the surgical plan, guiding various hemodynamic interventions, and assessing the immediate results of surgery. It is safe and the results are reliable in the hands of trained anesthesiologists.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 1998
Fibrinolysis in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.
Thromboelastographic evaluation of the influence of fibrinolysis on blood loss and blood product transfusions in children during cardiac surgery. ⋯ A group of children at risk for fibrinolysis during CPB was identified. However, fibrinolysis during CPB did not influence blood loss or the total volume of blood products transfused.