101 research outputs found
Surgery for severe aortic stenosis with low transvalvular gradient and poor left ventricular function – a single centre experience and review of the literature
BACKGROUND: A retrospective comparative study was designed to determine whether the transvalvular gradient has a predictive value in the assessment of operative outcome in patients with severe aortic stenosis and poor left ventricular function. METHODS: From a surgical database, a series of 30 consecutive patients, who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis with depressed left ventricular (LV) function (EF < 40%), were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups according to the mean transvalvular gradient (TVG): LG(low gradient)-Group < 40 mmHg (n = 13), and HG(high gradient)-Group > 40 mmHg (n = 17). Both groups were then comparatively assessed with respect to perioperative organ functions and mortality. RESULTS: Both groups were well matched with respect to the preoperative clinical status. LG-Group had a larger aortic valve area, higher LVEDP, larger LVESD and LVEDD, and higher mean pulmonary pressures. The immediate postoperative outcome, hospital morbidity and mortality did not differ significantly among the groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe aortic stenosis and poor LV function, the mean transvalvular gradient, although corresponds to reduced LV performance, has a limited prognostic value in the assessment of surgical outcome. Generally, operating on this select group of patients is safe
Recommended from our members
Cytokine filter application in COVID-19 patients; island of hope for crash and burn patients or future solution for all septic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients
Recommended from our members
Commentary: Should the brain be continuously monitored during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support?
Recommended from our members
ECMO in the Burn Patient: the Time Has Come
The use of extracorporeal life support in the intensive care unit has exponentially increased in the last decade. Initially, its use in the burn population lagged behind the dramatic growth in other patient populations; however, in the last 2–3 years, there has been an increase in the number of publications related to its use in this population. In this article, we review the use of contemporary ECMO in the burn patient population and discuss future trends.Level 1 evidence for the use of ECMO in any patient population is scarce, and there is no level 1 evidence for the use of ECMO in burn patients. Recently, there has been an increase in case series and case reports describing the use of contemporary ECMO in burn patients. In addition, there are two large retrospective reviews of large registries utilizing ECMO in burn patients.The results from these studies all indicate that outcomes using ECMO in this critically ill patient population has survival rates at least comparable to the survival found in other patient populations. There are still many unanswered questions, and future focus needs to address patient selection, timing of initiation, management, and the duration of ECMO therapy
Coronary Artery Occlusion after Cardiac Transplantation
Five months after undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation,<br />a 62-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with<br />chest pain and shortness of breath. A well-demarcated foreign<br />body was apparent in the chest radiograph, on the left side of<br />the chest. An examination revealed no abnormal findings and<br />no signs of chest trauma.</jats:p
Recommended from our members
Recurrent embolism in the course of marantic endocarditis
Marantic or nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) associated with systemic embolism is usually a complication of advanced or terminal malignancies. We report on the case of a 46-year-old woman in whom nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE)-related cerebral embolism was the first clinical sign of ovarian neoplasm, which was diagnosed after cardiac surgery. Marantic endocarditis should alert the physician to make every effort to diagnose the possible background of this clinical phenomenon. Early identification of NBTE, treatment of the underlying disease, and the associated coagulopathy could possibly prevent cardiac surgery
Coronary artery disease progression in patients who need repeat surgical revascularisation: the surgeon's point of view
Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in native coronary arteries in patients undergoing repeat myocardial revascularisation late (>3 years) after primary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods The angiographic images of 30 patients obtained at first and redo CABG were assessed for significant (>75%), short (1 cm) stenosis or total occlusion in native coronary arteries. Bypass grafts were also evaluated for significant stenosis (>50%) or occlusion.
Results At first CABG, a mean number of 3.3 grafts/patient (range 1-5) were implanted. The mean time interval from first CABG to reoperation was 11.4 years (range 3-21 years). All patients showed disease progression in the native coronary arteries. At redo CABG, 3 (3.5%) grafts were non-stenotic, 27 (31%) stenotic, and 57 (65.5%) occluded. In native coronary vessels, five patients developed a new left main coronary artery stenosis, and there was a four-to-sixfold increase in total occlusions. Indications for redo CABG were disease progression in non-bypassed vessels (n = 3), bypass lesions (n = 19), and both bypass lesions and disease progression in the distal segments of native coronary arteries (n = 8).
Conclusions Late after CABG, coronary artery disease is highly progressive, mainly affecting the proximal segments of native coronary arteries, with a high incidence of coronary occlusion. Conversely, a low incidence of disease progression is observed in the distal segments of native coronary arteries, except in diabetic patients. Total arterial revascularisation as a primary strategy for CABG should be highly recommended, and more aggressive risk factor management is desirable
- …