A Fluorescent Glycolipid-Binding Peptide Probe Traces Cholesterol Dependent Microdomain-Derived Trafficking Pathways

10.1371/journal.pone.0002933PLoS ONE38

Comparison of two technics of extracorporeal circulation (Conventional and Mini ECC), in the trans and post-operative periods of cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of two different perfusion techniques: conventional cardiopulmonary bypass and miniature cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the University Hospital of Santa Maria - RS. Methods: We perform a retrospective, cross-sectional study, based on data collected from the patients operated between 2010 and 2013. We analyzed the records of 242 patients divided into two groups: Group I: 149 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and Group II - 93 patients undergoing the miniature cardiopulmonary bypass. Results: The clinical profile of patients in the preoperative period was similar in the cardiopulmonary bypass and miniature cardiopulmonary bypass groups without significant differences, except in age, which was greater in the miniature cardiopulmonary bypass group. The perioperative data were significant of blood collected for autotransfusion, which were higher in the group with miniature cardiopulmonary bypass than the cardiopulmonary bypass and in transfusion of packed red blood cells, which was higher in cardiopulmonary bypass than in miniature cardiopulmonary bypass. In the immediate, first and second postoperative period the values of hematocrit and hemoglobin were higher and significant in miniature cardiopulmonary bypass than in the cardiopulmonary bypass, although the bleeding in the first and second postoperative days was higher and significant in miniature cardiopulmonary bypass than in the cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusion: The present results suggest that the miniature cardiopulmonary bypass was beneficial in reducing the red blood cell transfusion during surgery and showed slight but significant increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin in the postoperative period

Impact of autologous blood transfusion on the use of pack of red blood cells in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of Cell Saver autologous blood transfusion system (CS) on the use of packed red blood cells (pRBC) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cross-sectional study in 87 patients undergoing primary elective CABG with miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass (miniCPB), divided in two groups: 44 without-CS and 43 with-CS. We investigated the necessity of absolute use and the volume of packed red blood cells (pRBC) in each group, as well as cardiovascular risk factors, presurgical variables and intraoperative surgical parameters. All data were collected from medical records and there was no randomization or intervention on group selection. Statistical analysis was performed with Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and χ² test, with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of cardiovascular risk factors and pre and intraoperative variables. Evaluating the absolute use of pRBC during surgery, there was a statistically significant difference (P=0.00008) between the groups without-CS (21/44 cases; 47.7%) and with-CS (4/43 cases; 9.3%). There was also a statistically significant difference (P=0.000117) in the volumes of pRBC between the groups without-CS (198.651258.65ml) and with-CS (35.061125.67ml). On the other hand, in the early postoperative period (up to 24h) there was no difference regarding either the absolute use or the volumes of pRBC between both studied groups. CONCLUSION: Autologous erythrocyte transfusion with CS use reduces the use of intraoperative homologous pRBC in coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries associated with miniCPB

Postoperative necrotizing fasciitis of the thorax in cardiac surgery

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare soft tissue infection and a life-threatening emergency, often fatal. Its incidence and management are described plentifully in the medical literature regarding the most common anatomical sites involved like the abdomen, lower and upper limbs, and perineum. However, available data and case reports of chest wall necrotizing fasciitis after thoracic procedures are scarce, mainly after major cardiac operations. We report and discuss a case of necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall occurring in the immediate postoperative period of a cardiac procedure, and include a brief review of the concepts, pathophysiology, and treatment reported in the medical literature. We emphasize the need for early diagnosis and urgent and effective surgical debridement. Of importance is the fact that we have not found any references in the literature to cases similar or equal to the one we describe here, which occurred in the postoperative period of a cardiac procedure