The heart surgery forum
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The heart surgery forum · Dec 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialGlutamine is cardioprotective in patients with ischemic heart disease following cardiopulmonary bypass.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of the perioperative use of N(2)-L-alanyl-L-glutamine (GLN) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who undergo their operations under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). ⋯ Perioperative administration of GLN during the first 24 hours has cardioprotective effects in IHD patients following CPB. This technique enhances the troponin concentration at 24 hours after surgery and is associated with improved myocardial function.
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The heart surgery forum · Dec 2011
A clinical and economic evaluation of fast-track recovery after cardiac surgery.
In the last 5 decades, the care of cardiac surgical patients has improved with the aid of strategies aimed at facilitating patient recovery. One of the innovations in this context is "fast-tracking" or "rapid recovery." This process refers to all interventions that aim to shorten a patient's stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) through accelerating the patient's transfer to a step-down or telemetry unit and to the general ward. ⋯ Fast-track recovery after cardiac surgery decreases the intensive care LOS and the total duration of intubation. It is a cost-effective strategy compared with conventional recovery protocols; however, it does not reduce the total hospital LOS or the incidence of complications.
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The heart surgery forum · Oct 2011
Case ReportsHigh-volume hemofiltration as adjuvant therapy for refractory shock after pericardiocentesis.
Pericardiocentesis for the treatment of chronic cardiac tamponade can occasionally result in acute pulmonary edema or biventricular failure. A sudden increase in heart filling pressures and right-to-left ventricular-output mismatch have been proposed underlying mechanisms. ⋯ We conclude that high-volume hemofiltration can be helpful as an adjuvant treatment for refractory shock after pericardiocentesis for chronic cardiac tamponade. The mechanism of the observed hemodynamic improvement remains to be investigated.
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The heart surgery forum · Oct 2011
Left anterior descending artery revascularization in low-risk patients: early outcomes after off-pump versus on-pump surgery.
This study aimed to compare the early outcomes of off-pump and on-pump myocardial revascularization in patients with stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (alone or with diagonal artery disease). ⋯ Among low-risk patients (defined according to EuroSCORE criteria) who underwent left anterior descending coronary artery bypass, the results obtained with the on-pump and off-pump methods showed no significant differences with respect to morbidity or mortality.
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The heart surgery forum · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyImpact of race on mitral procedure selection and short-term outcomes of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.
Racial disparity with respect to mitral valve (MV) surgery has been documented; however, previous reports have been limited by small numbers, focus on patients undergoing MV replacement only, or comparison of African-American patients to white patients. Using more recent data from the largest all-payer database in the United States, we examined whether type of mitral procedure performed was influenced by race and whether racial differences exist in baseline characteristics and short-term outcomes of patients undergoing mitral repair or replacement for MV disease. ⋯ African-Americans and Hispanics present for MV surgery with worse preoperative profiles and undergo mitral repair less often compared to whites. Although in-hospital mortality was not influenced by race, African-Americans and Hispanics had a more protracted hospital course even following adjustment. The disparity in mitral procedure selection among racial groups was present only prior to adjustment for important baseline characteristics. Nevertheless, this racial difference reflects current reality in surgical practice and identifies an important area for future improvement in the care of patients with valvular heart disease.