The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Aug 1982
Thromboxane and prostacyclin changes during cardiopulmonary bypass with and without pulsatile flow.
Nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass, in patients with coronary artery disease, produces a significant increase in thromboxane, a potent platelet aggregant and putative coronary vasoconstrictor. Pulsatile flow may decrease the incidence of perioperative infarction and the hormonal stress response to bypass. This study assessed the effect of pulsatile blood flow on plasma thromboxane and prostacyclin profiles during cardiopulmonary bypass by serial measurement of their stable metabolites, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha). ⋯ There were no intragroup differences of plasma hemoglobin, hematocrit, or platelet count. These data demonstrate that pulsatile flow significantly alters prostacyclin and thromboxane profiles during cardiopulmonary bypass and favors production of the coronary vasodilator and platelet disaggregant prostacyclin. This may be an important factor in some of the clinical advantages previously reported with this modality.
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Twenty-three patients with spontaneous rupture of a pulmonary cavity with a pyopneumothorax resulting from coccidioidomycosis are presented. Clinical and laboratory findings, medical and surgical treatment, and complications are detailed. Skin tests are not helpful in making a diagnosis. ⋯ The extent of surgical resection may have to be limited because of the extensive contamination of the pleural space. Amphotericin B was administered in 10 patients. The drug should be administered when the cavity ruptures in the acute phase of the disease, in all patients with diabetes, in delayed operations, in patients with concomitant medical problems, and when the extent of resection is limited to obtain immediate obliteration of the pleural space.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 1982
Hydroxyethyl starch in priming fluid for cardiopulmonary bypass.
The physiochemical characteristics of hydroxyethyl starch make it suitable for use as a colloidal blood plasma substitute. In high doses, this drug may interfere with blood coagulation. Because of its effectiveness and low cost, we have used hydroxyethyl starch rather than albumin in the priming fluid for cardiopulmonary bypass: 500 ml of 6% hydroxyethyl starch and 2,000 ml of lactated Ringer's solution. ⋯ These results compare favorably with other recently published series in which hydroxyethyl starch was not used in the pump prime. Thus the dose of hydroxyethyl starch in our priming fluid does not appear to be associated with excessive bleeding. In view of its safety and low cost, hydroxyethyl starch is a suitable colloidal blood plasma substitute for use during cardiopulmonary bypass.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jul 1982
Classic shunting operations for congenital cyanotic heart defects.
A total of 297 consecutive classic systemic artery-pulmonary artery shunts were performed in 281 patients over the past 9 years. This experience includes 200 Blalock-Taussig shunts (67.3%), 84 Waterston shunts (28.2%), and 13 Potts shunts (4.3%). The overall early mortality after the Blalock-Taussig shunt (5.5%) was significantly lower (p less than 0.02) than for the Waterston shunt (13%). ⋯ However, the Blalock-Taussig shunt had a significantly lower (p less than 0.04) probability of early postoperative death than the Waterston shunt among patients with complex lesions. The Blalock-Taussig shunt also revealed a lower incidence of important late postoperative complications and did not affect adversely the hemodynamic result after intracardiac correction, as evidenced by late postoperative cardiac catheterization. This study also confirms the feasibility of the Blalock-Taussig shunt during the neonatal period without significantly increased age-related risk of postoperative death (p = 0.13) and with good early and late long-term patency rates.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · May 1982
Aneurysms of the ascending aorta and transverse arch: surgical experience in 80 patients.
Aneurysms of the ascending aorta and transverse arch constitute formidable surgical challenges. To assess the impact of surgical techniques on operative morbidity and mortality and late results, we reviewed 80 consecutive patients operated from 1976 through 1980. Average age was 52 years and 81% were male. ⋯ Aortic valve resuspension was done in six patients, with three undergoing subsequent aortic valve replacement for insufficiency. Aneurysms of the transverse arch treated with profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest were associated with fewer neurologic complications, and the operations were more expeditiously completed. Eleven of 80 patients (14%) had or subsequently needed additional surgical procedures on the aortic valve (insufficiency) or the distal aorta.