J Cardiovasc Surg
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Thirty four children with blunt thoracic trauma were treated at the university hospital, Trabzon. Eighteen of them were sustained in motor vehicle accidents, 14 were falls and two were a result of miscellaneous causes. Rib fracture developed in 16 patients and pulmonary contusion occurred in 18 patients. ⋯ Complications developed in five patients. Four patients were lost due to multiple system injuries. In this study, the injury patterns, complications and mortality of blunt thoracic injuries were discussed.
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Venous thromboembolism has been recognized as a potentially life-threatening complication following major thoracic trauma. Little or no attention has been directed at the difference in rates of venous thromboembolism in subjects with penetrating and nonpenetrating chest trauma. ⋯ Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is rarely a cause of death within the initial 96 hours of hospitalization in individuals sustaining penetrating chest trauma.
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To investigate the utility of the arterial-venous PCO2 gradient (P(a-v)CO2) as a marker of the increased risk of postoperative complications in the early postoperative hours following myocardial revascularization. ⋯ P(a-v)CO2 represents a useful even if aspecific parameter to monitor patients during the early postoperative period after myocardial revascularization.
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Much routine cardiovascular surgery can be performed without blood transfusion. Complex cardiac surgical procedures, however, especially reoperations, are often associated with heavy blood loss and large transfusion requirements. ⋯ Three of the patients described had been refused surgery, on their terms, at other centres. We believe that no patient should be denied potentially life saving surgery on the grounds of excessive risk without blood transfusion.