The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Clinical TrialNew clinically applicable method for visualizing adjacent lung segments using an infrared thoracoscopy system.
Our objective was to attempt a clinical trial of segmentectomy using the infrared thoracoscopy system after intravenous injection of indocyanine green. ⋯ Infrared thoracoscopy with indocyanine green makes it possible to identify the target lung segment easily and quickly without the need for inflation. This method will be especially useful for cases associated with severe emphysema or when surgery offers a limited view, as is the case with video-assisted thoracic surgery.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
The trans-subclavian retrograde approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: single-center experience.
Aortic valve disease is the most common acquired valvular heart disease in adults. With the increasing elderly population, the proportion of patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who are unsuitable for conventional surgery is increasing. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has rapidly gained credibility as a valuable alternative to surgery to treat these patients; however, they often have severe iliac-femoral arteriopathy, which renders the transfemoral approach unusable. We report our experience with the trans-subclavian approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the CoreValve (Medtronic CV Luxembourg S.a.r.l.) in 6 patients. ⋯ Transcatheter aortic valve implantation via a surgical subclavian approach seems safe and feasible, offering a new option to treat select, inoperable, and high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis and peripheral vasculopathy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
The effect of regionalization on outcome in pulmonary lobectomy: a Canadian national study.
To examine the effect of regionalization of thoracic surgery services in Canada by evaluating change over time in hospital volumes of pulmonary lobectomy and its impact on length of stay and in-hospital mortality. ⋯ In-hospital mortality and length of stay for lobectomies have decreased in Canada. In multivariate analysis, volume was associated with improved in-hospital mortality, but there was no reduction in mortality when volume was increased within a given hospital. However, the proportion of patients treated in high-volume centers has increased over time, inferring the importance of high-volume centers in improved outcomes. This supports regionalization policies for pulmonary lobectomy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Predictive value of preoperative tissue Doppler echocardiographic analysis for postoperative atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection for lung cancer.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the utility of tissue Doppler imaging for predicting the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Postoperative atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection might be associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction before surgical intervention revealed by using tissue Doppler imaging. Additional studies to establish the significance of tissue Doppler imaging as a tool to predict postoperative atrial fibrillation could contribute to improvements in lung cancer treatments.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Health-related quality of life in long-term esophageal cancer survivors after potentially curative treatment.
Clinical outcomes have been investigated extensively in studies of esophageal cancer treatment. Less is known about long-term health-related quality of life outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess a range of health-related quality of life outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer treated with potentially curative intent at least 1 year earlier. ⋯ Patients who survive 1 year or more after potentially curative treatment for esophageal cancer can lead satisfactory lives. The results of this study can be used when informing patients with esophageal cancer about the long-term effects of treatment.