The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2010
Comparative StudyQuality of mitral valve repair: median sternotomy versus port-access approach.
We sought to compare early and late clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair by means of the port-access and median sternotomy approaches. ⋯ In isolated posterior mitral valve pathology, quality of mitral valve repair with the port-access approach can compare with that with the conventional median sternotomy approach.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2010
Effect of beta-blocker use on outcomes after discharge in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.
Beta-blockers improve outcomes in patients with heart failure or a history of myocardial infarction, but it remains uncertain whether they are beneficial after the perioperative period in cardiac surgery patients without these conditions. This study was designed to examine whether discharge use of beta-blockers was associated with outcomes after hospitalization in patients who had undergone nontransplant cardiac surgery. ⋯ Patients discharged with beta-blockers after cardiac surgery exhibit a substantially lower mortality rate during long-term follow-up, even among those without a history of myocardial infarction or heart failure.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2010
Patent ductus arteriosus ligation is associated with impaired left ventricular systolic performance in premature infants weighing less than 1000 g.
Patent ductus arteriosus ligation is often complicated by systemic hypotension and oxygenation failure. The ability of the immature myocardium to compensate for altered afterload is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of patent ductus arteriosus ligation on myocardial performance in preterm infants. ⋯ Patent ductus arteriosus ligation is sometimes associated with impaired left ventricular systolic performance, which is most likely attributable to altered loading conditions. Neonates weighing 1000 g or less are at increased risk of impaired left ventricular systolic performance, which might relate to maturational differences and decreased tolerance to altered loading conditions.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2010
The impact of bridge-to-transplant ventricular assist device support on survival after cardiac transplantation.
To determine the impact of bridge-to-transplant ventricular assist device support on survival after cardiac transplantation. ⋯ In patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, placement of a Heartmate I ventricular assist device as a bridge to a cardiac transplant is associated with an elevation in the pretransplant panel-reactive antibody and a decrease in 1- and 5-year survivals after cardiac transplantation.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 2010
Long-term (5- to 20-year) patency of the radial artery for coronary bypass grafting.
The aim of this study was to assess the angiographic results of the radial artery as a coronary bypass conduit at long term (>5 years). ⋯ The radial artery-to-coronary bypass conduit provided a low coronary reoperation rate with an excellent patency (83%) up to 20 years postoperatively.