Heart, lung & circulation
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Heart, lung & circulation · Feb 2008
Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: immediate and short-term follow-up results in neonates.
The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) is the most commonly created systemic-pulmonary shunt in neonates with cyanotic heart disease. Morbidity and mortality after MBTS is associated with several factors including age, pulmonary artery diameter and the baseline cardiac anatomy. The objective of this research was to describe the immediate and short-term follow-up results of MBTS in Pakistani neonates. ⋯ The mortality rate in neonates is highest during the first post-operative month. Shunt thrombosis and occlusion can be sudden and fatal therefore coagulation profile should be carefully monitored especially in the peri-operative period. PA-IVS was the most common anatomical variant in our limited experience and had high morbidity and mortality rate after surgery.
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Heart, lung & circulation · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomised study of three different informational AIDS prior to coronary angiography, measuring patient recall, satisfaction and anxiety.
Informed consent is a basic standard of care for all patients undergoing medical procedures, but recall of information has been shown to be poor. We sought to compare verbal, written and animated audiovisual information delivery, during consent for coronary angiography, by measuring improvement in recall. ⋯ Despite careful design of an innovative audiovisual delivery technique aimed at optimising comprehension and aiding memory, recall of information was poor and informational aids showed no improvement. Modes of information delivery are not the key to patient assimilation of complex medical information.
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Heart, lung & circulation · Feb 2008
Case ReportsPulmonary alveolar proteinosis in extremis: the case for aggressive whole lung lavage with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder in which lipoproteinaceous material is deposited in the alveoli, compromising gaseous exchange. We report the case of a 29-year-old female patient presenting with the most extreme case of PAP yet reported. ⋯ Despite critical hypercarbia and ventilator-dependence for 12 days before lavage, the patient experienced rapid recovery of pulmonary function after WLL and ECMO could be discontinued on-table. Aggressive WLL with ECMO support can be safe and effective even in the most severe cases of PAP.