The heart surgery forum
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The heart surgery forum · Feb 2015
Is long-term warfarin therapy necessary in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation after bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement and left atrial appendage obliteration?
Long-term warfarin therapy has been used to decrease thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (BMVR) and left atrial appendage obliteration (LAAO). A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of long-term warfarin or aspirin therapy in patients with AF after BMVR and LAAO. ⋯ At the current time in China, long-term warfarin or aspirin therapy may have no significantly different impact on long-term prognosis after 3 months anticoagulation with warfarin in patients with AF undergoing BMVR and LAAO.
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The heart surgery forum · Feb 2015
Case ReportsInsertion of the Avalon cannula for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a patient with an implanted ASD occlusion device.
Use of the Avalon Elite bicaval dual lumen catheter (Maquet Cardiopulmonary AG, Rastatt, Germany) can be effective in patients requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Proper placement of the cannula is important in providing adequate therapy and avoiding life-threatening complications. We report a case of successful cannulation in a patient with an implanted atrial septal defect (ASD) occlusion device who developed severe refractory ARDS.