Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Neurocognitive outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery using minimal versus conventional extracorporeal circulation: a randomised controlled pilot study.
Neurocognitive impairment can be a debilitating complication after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of minimal extracorporeal circulation (MECC) versus conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC) on neurocognitive function after elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and whether this can be attributed to improved cerebral perfusion intraoperatively. ⋯ The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01213511.
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In addition to N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), red cell distribution width (RDW), growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, interleukin (IL)-6 and creatinine are all potential circulating prognostic biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ⋯ Circulating RDW, GDF-15, IL-6, creatinine and NT-proBNP levels are all related to disease severity and may be used to predict survival in patients with IPAH. RDW added significant prognostic value to measurements of NT-proBNP and exercise capacity and may prove valuable in a multiple biomarker approach to disease stratification.
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The right ventricle is multicompartmental in orientation. ⋯ The right ventricle has distinct features for the inflow, apical and outflow tract compartments, with different extent of contribution to the overall systolic function. In PAH, the right ventricle becomes one dyssynchronous compartment, which itself may have perpetual effect on overall cardiac dysfunction.
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Review Meta Analysis
Surgical management of aortic root disease in Marfan syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Surgical treatment of aortic root aneurysm in Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients. ⋯ VSRR may represent a valuable option for patients with MFS with aortic aneurysm. However, this technique should be used with caution in patients with valve characteristics at risk for decreased durability.