The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Paraplegia prevention by oral pretreatment with memantine in a rabbit model.
To evaluate the role of memantine (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist) pretreatment for the prevention of spinal cord ischemia after infrarenal aortic clamping in a rabbit model. ⋯ Oral memantine pretreatment is protective against spinal cord ischemia, and can be an additional strategy for the prevention of paraplegia during thoracoabdominal aortic surgeries.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Intermediate-term oncologic outcomes after video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for early-stage thymoma.
To evaluate the impact on patient survival of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy for the treatment of early-stage thymoma, by comparing the intermediate-term oncologic outcomes with outcomes after open thymectomy. ⋯ Our findings indicate that the intermediate-term oncologic outcomes after VATS thymectomy for early-stage thymoma are as favorable as outcomes after open thymectomy. Further follow-up is still required to evaluate the long-term outcomes after VATS thymectomy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Finding the ideal biomaterial for aortic valve repair with ex vivo porcine left heart simulator and finite element modeling.
Aortic valve (AV) repair (AVr) has become an attractive alternative to AV replacement for the correction of aortic insufficiency; however, little clinical evidence exists in determining which biomaterial at AVr would be optimal. Cusp replacement in AVr has been associated with increased long-term AVr failure. We measured the hemodynamic and biomaterial properties using an ex vivo porcine AVr model with clinically relevant biomaterials and generated a finite element model to ascertain which materials would be best suited for valve repair. ⋯ The present study has shown that postrepair left ventricular work did not increase despite a decrease in geometric orifice areas in the Hemashield and CorMatrix groups. The autologous porcine pericardium and St Jude Medical pericardial patch had the closest profile to normal AVs; therefore, either biomaterial might be best suited. Finally, the increased stresses found in the bovine pericardial patch, Hemashield, and CorMatrix groups might, after prolonged tensile exposure, be associated with late repair failure.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Real-time monitoring of spinal cord blood flow with a novel sensor mounted on a cerebrospinal fluid drainage catheter in an animal model.
The aim of our study was to develop a novel monitoring system for spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) to test the efficacy of the SCBF sensor in an animal model. ⋯ We have developed a novel SCBF sensor that could detect real-time changes in spinal cord perfusion in a swine model. The device holds promise to detect imminent ischemia or ensure acceptable blood perfusion in the spinal cord and could further enhance our understanding of spinal cord circulation.