Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Serum lactate level has prognostic significance after pediatric cardiac surgery.
The determination of postoperative course after cardiac surgery has always been a challenging issue. It is more sophisticated in the pediatric age group. The aim of this investigation was to identify whether increased concentrations of lactate in arterial blood has a predictive value for postoperative morbidity and mortality after heart surgery. ⋯ Blood lactate concentration of 4.8 mmol/L or higher during the early postoperative hours identifies a group of patients with increased risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Perioperative outcome in adults undergoing elective deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion in proximal aortic arch repair: evaluation of protocol-based care.
The purpose of this study was to describe perioperative outcome in adults undergoing elective proximal aortic arch repair with protocol-based deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP). ⋯ The above parameters establish a baseline incidence for major perioperative complications in adults undergoing elective DHCA with RCP for elective proximal aortic arch repair. In approaching the open aortic arch for short periods of circulatory arrest, deep hypothermia with adjunctive RCP is safe and effective.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Comparative StudyDirect versus guidewire-assisted pediatric radial artery cannulation technique.
Radial artery cannulation is a more difficult procedure in pediatric patients. Direct technique commonly fails in these patients, and several techniques have been developed for successful arterial cannulation. The purpose of this study was to compare direct radial artery cannulation with guidewire-assisted cannulation in children undergoing cardiac or aortic surgery. The hypothesis was that the guidewire-assisted technique would lead to fewer attempts and provide better long-term blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling. ⋯ The authors recommend the use of a guidewire-assisted radial artery cannulation technique rather than a direct technique. The guidewire-assisted technique provided easy, safe, and quick cannulation and allowed for long-term satisfactory blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling because of the longer length of the Teflon catheter advanced into the artery over the guidewire, and a low rate of dissection of the radial artery.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2006
Postoperative white blood cell count predicts atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in as many as 50% of cardiac surgery patients and represents the most common postoperative rhythm complication. The cause of AF after cardiac surgery is incompletely understood, and its prevention remains suboptimal. Currently the role of inflammation and oxidative stress on electrical remodeling is under investigation, and recent studies have demonstrated that C-reactive protein levels are elevated in AF. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the postoperative white blood cell (WBC) count as a marker of inflammation and the development of postoperative AF after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Cardiac surgery is associated with an elevated postoperative WBC count that represents a common marker of inflammation. A more pronounced increase in postoperative WBC count independently predicts development of postoperative AF. These data provide additional evidence to support the association between the inflammatory response and postoperative AF.