J Cardiovasc Surg
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The aim of this paper was to describe the current status of endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. This is a comparative review of current device designs and implantation techniques. A literature review of all reported results of endovascular TAAA repair has also been carried out, together with a comparison of clinical outcomes achieved with endovascular TAAA repair and those achieved in current series of standard open TAAA repair. ⋯ It is effective in eliminating aneurysm flow and in preserving visceral branch perfusion. These early outcomes are better than the results achieved with open TAAA repair in population-based studies and are at least equal to the results of open TAAA repair reported from centers of focused expertise. These results support expanding the indications for endovascular TAAA repair to include standard risk patients.
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Case Reports
Recombinant activated factor VII for treatment of refractory hemorrhage after surgery for acute aortic dissection.
Despite appropriate treatment, surgery for aortic dissection is frequently associated with bleeding problems. In these series we report on the employment of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) for refractory hemorrhage after emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection, used to face the problems of postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements. Despite the good results of the therapy, a patient presented with thrombosis of the left cavernous sinus. Although a risk of thromboembolic complications has to be considered, rFVIIa is a reasonable rescue option in life-threatening hemorrhage and enlarges our hemostatic armamentarium in surgery for acute aortic dissection.
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A direct association between intraoperative use of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and perioperative mortality in patients undergoing aortic aneurysm surgery has not been studied before. ⋯ Intraoperative use of RBC transfusion in patients with acute or elective aortic aneurysm surgery is independently associated with an increased incidence of perioperative mortality.
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Perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is associated with long-term morbidity and mortality. CKMB cut-off level and importance of Q-wave MI have not been specifically studied after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. The aim of this paper was to study the impact of PMI (CKMB >/= 20 times the upper normal limit [UNL] 100 mg/L) and CKMB rise (5-20 UNL) on survival and recurrent major adverse cardiac event (MACE) after OPCAB surgery. ⋯ PMI (CKMB > 20 UNL) was a strong predictor of operative mortality. QMI and EMI were predictors of long-term mortality and cardiac morbidity after OPCAB surgery. CKMB 10-20 UNL affected long-term cardiac survival but not overall survival.
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Diabetic foot ulcers are a major health care problem. Complications of foot ulcers are a leading cause of hospitalization and amputation in diabetic patients. Diabetic ulcers result from neuropathy or ischemia. ⋯ Indeed, improvement in ulcer healing has been observed with primary healing rates of 65-85% in mixed series. Even when healed, diabetic foot should be regarded as a life-long condition and treated accordingly to prevent recurrence. Long-term efforts have reduced amputation 37-75% in different European countries over 10-15 years.