The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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From 1975 through 1992, we reoperated on 146 patients for the treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Prosthetic valve endocarditis was considered to be early (< 1 year after operation) in 46 cases and active in 103 cases. The extent of the infection was prosthesis only in 66 patients, anulus in 46, and cardiac invasion in 34. ⋯ Fever in the immediate preoperative period was the only factor associated with decreased late reoperation-free survival (p = 0.032). Prosthetic valve endocarditis remains a serious complication of valve replacement, but the in-hospital mortality of reoperations for prosthetic valve endocarditis has declined. With extensive débridement of infected tissue and postoperative antibiotic therapy, the extent and activity of prosthetic valve endocarditis does not appear to have a major impact on late outcome, and the majority of patients with this complication survive for 10 years after the operation.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSurface-bound heparin fails to reduce thrombin formation during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass.
The hypothesis that heparin-coated perfusion circuits reduce thrombin formation and activity; fibrinolysis; and platelet, complement, and neutrophil activation was tested in 20 consecutive, randomized adults who had cardiopulmonary bypass. Twenty identical perfusion systems were used; in 10, all blood-contacting surfaces were coated with partially degraded heparin (Carmeda process; Medtronic Cardiopulmonary, Anaheim, Calif.). All patients received a 300 U/kg dose of heparin. ⋯ Radioimmunoassay showed a significant increase in surface-adsorbed antithrombin on coated circuits but no significant differences between groups for other proteins. We conclude that heparin-coated circuits used with standard doses of systemic heparin reduce platelet adhesion and improve platelet function but do not produce a meaningful anticoagulant effect during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass. The data do not support the practice of reducing systemic heparin doses during cardiac operations with heparin-coated extracorporeal perfusion circuitry.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialLeukocyte and platelet depletion with a blood cell separator: effects on lung injury after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
This study was undertaken to assess the effects of leukocyte and platelet depletion on postoperative lung injury in 42 patients who underwent heart operations. Blood was serially sampled before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass, and leukocyte count, platelet count, and thromboxane B2 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, leukocyte elastase, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, and D-dimer levels were determined. Postoperative respiratory function was assessed based on analyses of oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination. ⋯ The elimination of carbon dioxide was lower in the experimental group. Depletion of leukocytes and platelets reduced respiratory dysfunction after heart operations with cardiopulmonary bypass. It was particularly effective in patients with a low preoperative oxygenation capacity and in those for whom an extended period of cardiopulmonary bypass was required.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 1996
Comparative StudyIncreased levels of endothelin-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with lung allografts.
The aim of the present study was to determine levels of endothelin-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in plasma in patients with lung and heart-lung allografts. The aim was based on the hypothesis that levels of endothelin-1 are elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with lung allografts. Patients (n = 23) undergoing heart-lung (n = 8), single-lung (n = 10), or bilateral lung (n = 5) transplantation were included in the study. ⋯ These results indicate that endothelin-1 is released into bronchi of transplanted human lungs. The release is not associated with rejection or infection. Because of its potent mitogenic properties, endothelin-1 may have a potential impact in the development of posttransplant complications such as bronchiolitis obliterans.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 1996
Aortoventriculoplasty with the pulmonary autograft: the "Ross-Konno" procedure.
For patients with complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, including hypoplastic aortic anulus with or without severe diffuse subaortic stenosis, various aortoventriculoplasty procedures (e.g., Konno procedure and its modifications; extended aortic allograft root replacement) are important management options. In younger patients, however, reoperation for valve replacement is inevitably required, and anticoagulation issues pose additional problems. The pulmonary autograft provides a promising option for aortic valve replacement as part of the aortoventriculoplasty procedure in children. Long-term follow up shows that the pulmonary autograft functions well as the systemic arterial (neoaortic) valve and that valve growth occurs. ⋯ Initial experience suggests that aortoventriculoplasty with the pulmonary autograft is an excellent alternative for young patients with complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Because the pulmonary autograft has been shown to grow after implantation, reoperation on the left ventricular outflow tract is likely to be avoided.