Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
Case ReportsThe Many Faces of the Interatrial Septum: A Diagnostic Dilemma and Considerations for Defect Closure Device Selection.
PATENT FORAMEN ovales (PFOs) and atrial septal defects (ASDs) are 2 examples of interatrial septal pathology.1 The presence of a PFO is a well-known risk factor for cryptogenic stroke.1,2 Newer evidence over the course of the last decade suggests percutaneous device closure of PFOs significantly reduces the subsequent risk of recurrent stroke.2 Among ASDs, the ostium secundum type is the most common pathology and, due to its anatomy, is most amenable to transcatheter closure.1 The tools that are available to percutaneously close these different pathologies vary, and choosing the correct device for the procedure can have significant impact on the clinical outcome. The authors here present a case that highlights how the differentiation of an ASD from a PFO using 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography can affect the clinical decision-making and outcome in a challenging structural heart disease case.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewProne Positioning in Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Narrative Review.
Limited data are available on the use of the prone position in cardiac surgery. Concerns in performing this maneuver in open cardiac surgery due to the risk of post-sternotomy wound infections and hemodynamic instability do not seem to be supported by existing evidence. ⋯ As a result, whether prone positioning also may be effective in reducing mortality in patients with postoperative acute respiratory failure, particularly in those who underwent surgery under extracorporeal circulation, remains to be clearly elucidated. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of available literature, which seems to suggest the efficacy of prone positioning, and to make an in-depth analysis of the studies on this topic by evaluating the efficacy of this maneuver on hard endpoints.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewMechanical Circulatory Support Options in Patients With Aortic Valve Pathology.
Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is used in cardiogenic shock for periprocedural hemodynamic stability in high-risk patients and to support patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease. Depending on the MCS type, oxygenation and ventilation, in addition to increasing blood pressure by augmenting blood flow, can be achieved. MCS typically follows a failure of less invasive maneuvers or intolerance to them, such as significant ventricular arrhythmia burden from inotropic support. ⋯ MCS decision-making is complex, even in patients without valvular pathology. The presence of aortic valve (AV) abnormalities, such as aortic stenosis, aortic insufficiency, replaced AVs, or AV masses, adds even further to the challenge of selecting the appropriate support strategy. In this narrative review, a concise review of MCS options and the special considerations for various AV pathologies are presented.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 2022
ReviewThree-Dimensional Printing of Patient-Specific Heart Valves: Separating Facts From Fiction and Myth From Reality.
The development of prosthetic heart valves by Dr. Charles Hufnagel in 1952 was a major clinical innovation; however, it was not an ideal solution. Mechanical prosthetic heart valves are rigid, immunogenic, require anticoagulation, do not grow with the patient, and have a finite life.1 An ideal prosthetic valve should overcome all these limitations. ⋯ However, due to the disruptive nature of this technology, often there are commercially-motivated claims of originality and overstatement of the scope and applicability of 3D printing. It often is difficult to separate fact from fiction and myth from reality. In this manuscript, the authors have reviewed the historic perspective, status of the basic techniques of organogenesis with specific reference to heart valves, and their potential.