Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery
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The Hepcon/HMS system automatically provides the activated clotting time and a whole blood heparin concentration. It also provides the adequate protamine dose by titration of protamine to heparin. 45 patients undergoing congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were studied by the Hepcon/HMS device. We measured the heparin dose response before heparin administration, and the ration between the dose of protamine (ml) which was necessary for heparin neutralization at the termination of CPB and the dose of total heparin (ml) in each patient. ⋯ There was a statistically significant correlation between the duration of CPB and this ratio (r = -0.51, n = 45, p = 0.0005). From the standpoint of variances in the value of heparin dose response, conventional way of the heparin administration according to the patient's body weight alone may cause inadequacy of anticoagulation during CPB. A dose of protamine determined by Hepcon device that is smaller than a conventional dose of protamine prevents inadvertent overdose and, therefore, can reduce the adverse effects excessive protamine has.
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The practice of minimally invasive valve surgery remains controversial. From May 1998, we began minimal invasive aortic valve replacement through the limited upper sternotomy. This technique is simple and provides and easy approach for the aortic valve. ⋯ No patient required blood transfusions. All patients but one walked the very next day after the operation. We believe this new method brings not only cosmetic benefits, but also results in excellent post-operative course.
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Recent progress in cardiovascular surgery has promoted less non-invasive surgery. We reoperated in a forty-two year old female for aortic valve regurgitation using the J-sternotomy approach and experienced good results. The patient was operated on with AVR 12 years after her first cardiac operation. ⋯ A conventional Two-stage cannula was placed in the auricle of the right atrium. A venting tube was also cannulated through the right upper pulmonary vein. J-sternotomy and minimal adhesionectomy made for a good operative field to establish cardiopulmonary bypass and to perform aortic valve re-operation.
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We evaluated right and left ventricular function by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for the patients with left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < or = 40) who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We divided these patients into two groups; group 1 who had difficulty of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass due to hypotension (n = 8) and group 2 who did not have any difficulty of it (n = 17). Basement characteristics (age, gender, history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, LVEF, severity of the right coronary artery disease) of both groups were not different significantly. ⋯ On the other hand, right ventricular systolic function was severely impaired, particularly postoperatively, in group 1 compared with group 2. Right and left ventricular systolic function of group 2 was fairly improved postoperatively. These results may indicate that right ventricular dysfunction is a potent predictor of postoperative morbidity and mortality for the patients with left ventricular dysfunction who undergo isolated CABG.