The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 1980
Neurologic dysfunction following cardiac operation with low-flow, low-pressure cardiopulmonary bypass.
A prospective 6 month study of all patients undergoing cardiac operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was undertaken to determine the incidence of neurologic and neuropsychological dysfunction following low-flow, low-pressure CPB. Among 204 patients who underwent cardiac operation with CPB, there were seven deaths (3.4%), six who developed new motor deficits (2.9%), and 35 (17.2%) who exhibited some neurologic or neuropsychological dysfunction at discharge. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative neurologic and neuropsychological complications appears comparable to that in reports from institutions employing high CPB flow and maintaining high CPB MAP. Our results suggest that CPB pressure, per se, is not the major determinant of postoperative neurologic and neuropsychological dysfunction.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 1980
Concomitant resection of ascending aortic aneurysm and replacement of the aortic valve: operative and long-term results with "conventional" techniques in ninety patients.
We reviewed a consecutive series of 90 patients undergoing concomitant resection of ascending aortic anerysm and aortic valve replacement (AVR) utilizing noncomposite "conventional" techniques in order to assess the early and late results, to define limitations of this operative approach, and thereby to clarify the indications for composite reconstruction of the aortic root. Mean age was 55 years. Twenty percent had Marfan's syndrome, and 13% had aortic dissections. ⋯ Only one late death could be attributed to complications arising in the reconstructed aortic root. These results confirm that such simple, noncomposite techniques are safe, portend minimal risk of late complications and the attendant necessity for reoperation, and provide satisfactory long-term survival. We believe that composite techniques should be primarily reserved for selected cases of advanced necrotizing prosthetic or natural endocarditis.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 1980
Ultrastructural and cytochemical correlates of myocardial protection by cardiac hypothermia in man.
We report observations on ultrastructural and cytochemical changes in the myocardium after hypothermic protection in 21 patients who underwent cardiac operation. Two general categories of hypothermic protection were studied. (1) topical cooling during anoxic arrest and moderate general hypothermia (10 patients with aortic valve replacement, Group 1) and (2) intermittent perfusion during moderate general hypothermia combined with topical cooling (11 patients with multiple valve replacement, Group II). Transmural left ventricular biopsies were taken at the start of the cardiopulmonary bypass and shortly after the end of aortic cross-clamping. ⋯ Cytochrome-c-oxidase activities decreased in these samples. It is concluded that: (1) no significant subcellular injury was found in hearts cooled topically during 1 hour of anoxic arrest; and (2) in hearts protected by intermittent perfusion during moderate general hypothermia and additional external cooling, the subendocardium was well preserved for anoxic periods of up to 106 minutes. However, after 60 minutes of aortic cross-clamping subcellular damage increased progressively in the subepicardium.