Impact of endoscopic versus open saphenous vein harvest technique on late coronary artery bypass grafting patient outcomes in the ROOBY (Randomized On/Off Bypass) Trial

ObjectiveIn the Randomized On/Off Bypass (ROOBY) Trial, the efficacy of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was evaluated. This ROOBY Trial planned subanalysis compared the effects on postbypass patient clinical outcomes and graft patency of endoscopic vein harvesting and open vein harvesting.MethodsFrom April 2003 to April 2007, the technique used for saphenous vein graft harvesting was recorded in 1471 cases. Of these, 894 patients (341 endoscopic harvest and 553 open harvest) also underwent coronary angiography 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to compare patient outcomes in the endoscopic and open groups.ResultsPreoperative patient characteristics were statistically similar between the endoscopic and open groups. Endoscopic vein harvest was used in 38% of the cases. There were no significant differences in both short-term and 1-year composite outcomes between the endoscopic and open groups. For patients with 1-year catheterization follow-up (n = 894), the saphenous vein graft patency rate for the endoscopic group was lower than that in the open harvest group (74.5% vs 85.2%, P < .0001), and the repeat revascularization rate was significantly higher (6.7% vs 3.4%, P < .05). Multivariable regression documented no interaction effect between endoscopic approach and off-pump treatment.ConclusionsIn the ROOBY Trial, endoscopic vein harvest was associated with lower 1-year saphenous vein graft patency and higher 1-year revascularization rates, independent of the use of off-pump or on-pump cardiac surgical approach

Pathophysiological effects of brain death on potential donor organs, and the introduction of a new method of donor management

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references

Hormone resuscitation therapy for brain-dead donors - is insulin beneficial or detrimental?

Hormonal replacement therapy to brain-dead potential organ donors remains controversial. A retrospective study was carried out of hormonal therapy on procurement of organs in 63 593 donors in whom information on thyroid hormone therapy (triiodothyronine or levothyroxine [T-3/T-4]) was available. In 40 124 donors, T-3/T-4 and all other hormonal therapy were recorded. The percentage of all organs procured, except livers, was greater when T-3/T-4 had been administered. An independent beneficial effect of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was also clear. Corticosteroids were less consistently beneficial (most frequently when T-3/T-4 had not been administered), although never detrimental. Insulin was almost never beneficial and at times was associated with a reduced yield of organs, particularly of the pancreas and intestine, an observation that does not appear to have been reported previously. In addition, there was reduced survival at 12 months of recipients of pancreases from T-3/T-4-treated donors, but not of pancreas grafts. The possibly detrimental effect observed following insulin therapy is discussed

The Brain-Dead Organ Donor

Addressing all aspects of brain death and thoroughly detailing how a potential organ donor should be maintained to ensure maximum use of the organs and cells, The Brain-Dead Organ Donor: Pathophysiology and Management is a landmark addition to the literature. This first-of-its-kind, multidisciplinary volume will be of interest to a large section of the medical community. The first section of the book reviews the historical, medical, legal, and ethical aspects of brain death. That is followed by two chapters on the pathophysiology of brain death as investigated in small and large animal models. This includes a review of the many hormonal changes, including the neuroendocrine- adrenergic ‘storm’, that takes place during and following the induction of brain death, and how they impact metabolism. The next section of the book reviews various effects of brain death, namely its impact on thyroid function, the inflammatory response that develops, and those relating to innate immunity. The chapters relating to assessment and management of potential organ donors will be of interest to a very large group of transplant surgeons and physicians as well as critical care and neurocritical care physicians and nurses. Neurologists, endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, and pathologists will also be interested, especially in the more basic science sections on various aspects of brain-death and hormonal therapy. Organ procurement organizations and transplant coordinators worldwide will also be interested in this title. Other chapters will be of interest to medical historians, medico-legal experts, and ethicists.CONTENIDO: Introduction, Dimitri Novitzky, David K. C. Cooper, Pages 1-6 -- Historical Aspects of the Diagnosis of Death, Félix Bacigalupo, Daniela A. Huerta Fernández, Pages 7-11 -- The Determination of Brain Death, Curtis M. Keller, Boris Chulpayev, Michael Hoffmann, Pages 13-19 -- Legal Aspects of Brain Death and Organ Donorship, Ricky T. Munoz, Mark D. Fox, Pages 21-35 -- Ethical Issues in Organ Donation from Brain-Dead Donors, Mark D. Fox, Ricky T. Munoz, Pages 37-53 -- Pathophysiology of Brain Death in Small Animal Models, Bernhard Floerchinger, Nicholas L. Tilney, Stefan G. Tullius, Pages 55-64 -- Pathophysiology of Brain Death and Effects of Hormonal Therapy in Large Animal Models, Dimitri Novitzky, Winston N. Wicomb, David K. C. Cooper, Pages 65-90 -- The Efficacy of Thyroid Hormone Therapy in Brain-Dead Heart Donors: A Review of Thyroid Function in Health and Disease, Lawrence E. Shapiro, Tatiana Baron, Pages 91-105 -- The Inflammatory Response to Brain Death, Anne Barklin, Christine Lodberg Hvas, Else Toennesen, Pages 107-119 -- The Influence of Brain Death and Intensive Care Management on Donor Organs: Assessment of Inflammatory Markers, Wayel Jassem, Susan V. Fuggle, Pages 121-129 -- Brain Death-Induced Inflammation: Possible Role of the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway, Simone Hoeger, Benito A. Yard, Pages 131-138 -- Innate Immunity and Injury During Brain Death: Opportunities for Intervention, Marc A. Seelen, Henri G. D. Leuvenink, Rutger J. Ploeg, Pages 139-145 -- Selection of the Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donor, Kadiyala V. Ravindra, Keri E. Lunsford, Paul C. Kuo, Pages 147-154 -- Infectious Disease Aspects of the Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donor, Nicole M. Theodoropoulos, Michael G. Ison, Pages 155-176 -- Malignancy in the Brain-Dead Organ Donor, Michael A. Nalesnik, Ron Shapiro, Michael G. Ison, Pages 177-189 -- Early Clinical Experience of Hormonal Therapy in the Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donor, Dimitri Novitzky, Burcin Ekser, David K. C. Cooper, Pages 191-207 -- Assessment, Monitoring, and Management of Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donors in the USA, Demetrios Demetriades, Lydia Lam, Pages 209-216 -- Assessment, Monitoring, and Management of Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donors in Europe, Gabriel J. Echeverri, Bruno G. Gridelli, Pages 217-235 -- Assessment, Monitoring, and Management of Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donors in Australia, Peter S. Macdonald, Anders E. M. Aneman, Deepak Bhonagiri, Daryl A. Jones, Gerry O’Callaghan, Helen I. Opdam et al., Pages 237-249 -- Management of the Brain-Dead Organ Donor: Perspectives of the Transplant Coordinator, Nicole T. Farina, David K. C. Cooper, Pages 251-261 -- Surgical Aspects of Thoracic and Abdominal Organ Procurement from Brain-Dead Donors, Michael J. Anstadt, Paul C. Kuo, Kadiyala V. Ravindra, Pages 263-281 -- Impact of Brain Death on Storage of the Heart, Winston N. Wicomb, David K. C. Cooper, Pages 283-288 -- Impact of Brain Death on Abdominal Organs and Allograft Preservation Strategies, Coney Bae, Anthony Watkins, Scot D. Henry, James V. Guarrera, Pages 289-298 -- Functional Repair of Brain Death-Induced Injury, Henri G. D. Leuvenink, Marc A. Seelen, Rutger J. Ploeg, Pages 299-310 -- Functional Repair of Brain Death-Injured Donor Lungs, Jonathan C. Yeung, Marcelo Cypel, Shaf Keshavjee, Pages 311-320 -- Thyroid Hormone Therapy to the Recipient of a Heart from a Brain-Dead Donor, Dimitri Novitzky, David K. C. Cooper, Pages 321-331 -- Current and Potential Future Trends in the Management of the Brain-Dead Organ Donor, Octavio E. Pajaro, James K. Kirklin, Pages 333-341 -- Maximizing Utilization of the Potential Deceased Donor: The Challenge Continues,Eliezer Katz,Pages 343-35