Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · Jul 2017
Comparative StudyEmboli and cognitive state in surgical vs. transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
Background Neurologic complications and neurocognitive impairment due to cerebral emboli are common following heart surgery. This study aimed to compare the number of emboli detected in the middle cerebral artery in open aortic valve replacement, apical and femoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and also to test for an association between the number of emboli captured in each procedure and changes in the patient's cognitive state. Methods Forty-four patients were enrolled in the study, 36 of whom were included in the final analyses: 14 underwent open aortic valve replacement, 2 had femoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and 10 had apical transcatheter aortic valve replacement. ⋯ Both transcatheter approaches yielded a comparable amount of emboli ( p = 0.798). No significant association was observed between the change in Mini-Mental State Examination score and the mean number of emboli ( r = 0.026; p = 0.907). Conclusions Compared to transcatheter aortic valve replacement, more cerebral emboli are detected during surgical aortic valve replacement; however, this does not appear to adversely affect a patient's cognitive state.
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · Jun 2017
Case ReportsCardiac resynchronization therapy for ischemic myopathy.
We performed coronary artery grafting, mitral valve plasty, and tricuspid plasty in a 75-year-old man who had double-vessel coronary disease and moderate mitral and tricuspid insufficiency. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed an ejection fraction of 34% and dyssynchronous wall motion of the septum and free wall. We placed pacing leads on the right ventricular outlet and posterior left ventricular wall for cardiac resynchronization therapy. The dyssynchrony disappeared postoperatively and the New York Heart Association functional class improved from IV to I.
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · Jun 2017
Observational StudyAdjuvant chemotherapy for elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
Background Adjuvant chemotherapy after complete surgical resection is currently the standard of care for patients with stage IB, II, or IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. However, the generalizability of this treatment to elderly patients is controversial. We investigated the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients aged over 75 years with stage IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. ⋯ In multivariable analyses, adjuvant chemotherapy was found to be an independent prognostic factor for relapse-free survival and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.594, 95% confidence interval: 0.396-0.893, p = 0.012; and hazard ratio = 0.616, 95% confidence interval: 0.397-0.957, p = 0.031, respectively). After inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting adjustment using the propensity score for baseline characteristics, chemotherapy almost improved relapse-free survival and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.652, 95% confidence interval: 0.433-0.981, p = 0.040; and hazard ratio = 0.657, 95% confidence interval: 0.429-1.004, p = 0.052, respectively). Conclusions Adjuvant chemotherapy improved the prognosis after standard lung cancer surgery in patients aged over 75 years with stage IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · May 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation effect on postoperative complications.
Objectives Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation has been used to control post-thoracotomy pain, with conflicting results. We aimed to assess its efficacy on post-thoracotomy pain and early complications. Methods Between January 2012 and December 2014, 87 patients underwent a standard posterolateral thoracotomy and were randomized in 2 groups: group T was 43 patients who had transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and group C was 44 patients who had placebo stimulation with an inoperative device. ⋯ There were no significant differences in early complications or surgical technique. Conclusion We concluded that electrical stimulation is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for acute post-thoracotomy pain control. However, it does not affect the duration of hospitalization or early pulmonary complications.
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · May 2017
Comparative StudyRapid-deployment or transcatheter aortic valves in intermediate-risk patients?
Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation and rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement represent two emerging therapies for patients with intermediate surgical risk and severe aortic stenosis. However, head-to-head comparisons between such novel therapies are lacking. Methods Severe aortic stenosis patients with intermediate surgical risk treated with rapid-deployment valve replacement at our institution were identified and compared with a propensity-matched population of patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement. ⋯ Conclusions Transcatheter and rapid-deployment valve replacement are promising treatment options for patients with intermediate surgical risk. These two techniques are associated with specific patterns of prosthesis function and postoperative complications. Further evaluation of the clinical impact of these therapies in this patient population is needed.