Canım

Selami İzzet'in Akşam'da tefrika edilen Canım adlı romanıTelif hakları nedeniyle romanın tam metni verilememiştir

Use of cytokine filters in cardiopulmonary bypass machines. Modification of postoperative inflammatory responses

Background. Cardiac surgical interventions using a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine induce a systemic inflammatory reaction due to activation of multiple inflammatory cascades. In the postoperative phase this can result in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The activation of various mediators of inflammation, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) can lead to postoperative complications, organ dysfunction, morbidity andmortality. Aim. The effect of adsorption of cytokines using CytoSorb (R) with a CPB machine during cardiac surgery is evaluated. Material and methods. This study is being conducted as a prospective, observational pilot study to determine the clinical impact of the use of an adsorption filter (CytoSorb (R)) on the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha using a CPB machine. This pilot study includes 300 patients planned for elective surgical myocardial revascularization, partitioned into 3 groups each with 100 patients with on-pump myocardial revascularization with CytoSorb (R), on-pump myocardial revascularization without CytoSorb (R) and off-pump myocardial revascularization. Primary outcome measures are the inflammatory response serum parameters IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha, complement C3/C4, leucocyte counts and C-reactive protein. Secondary outcome measures are length of intensive care unit (ICU) and total hospital stay, duration of ventilation, duration of catecholamine therapy, kidney injury as well as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, mortality, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular events). Results. An interimanalysis after concluding 60% of the planned patients revealed a well-balanced group allocation of patients. In the group with CytoSorb (R) the IL-6 values are decreased, whereas TNF-alpha values are comparable between the three groups. There seems to be a tendency for less infections in this group. Conclusion. The use of the CytoSorb (R) filter during CPB is safe compared with the standard procedure and applicable without technical difficulties. CytoSorb (R) reduces the cytokine load and seems to attenuate the inflammatory response. Initial positive tendencies in improved clinical endpoints need to subsequently be confirmed in continuing studies

Surgical treatment of aortic valve stenosis

Surgical aortic valve replacement still represents the gold standard in patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. In addition to conventional aortic valve replacement by mechanical or biological prostheses via a median sternotomy, novel approaches including minimally invasive strategies and new devices, such as so-called rapid deployment prostheses, are becoming increasingly more established. Autologous replacement strategies including the Ross and the Ozaki procedures have evolved into reliable options at selected centers of excellence. These novel treatment approaches in aortic valve surgery result in excellent short and long-term outcomes with a reduction of procedure-related complications. Taken together, these modern surgical replacement strategies enable a personalized surgical treatment in patients with aortic valve stenosis, which are tailored to the individual patient

[Unilateral vs. bilateral lung transplantation in obstructive pulmonary disease]

BACKGROUND: The question whether patients suffering from end-stage emphysema who are candidates for lung transplantation should be treated with a single lung or with a double lung transplantation is still unanswered. METHODS: We reviewed 24 consecutive lung transplant procedures, comparing the results of 6 patients with an unilateral and 17 with a bilateral transplantation. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: After bilateral transplantation the patients showed a trend towards better blood gas exchange with shorter time on ventilator and intensive care compared patients after unilateral procedure. Three-year-actuarial survival was higher in the group after bilateral transplantation (83% versus 67%). There was a continuous improvement in pulmonary function in both groups during the first months after transplantation. Vital capacity and forced exspiratory ventilation therapies during the first second were significantly higher in the bilateral transplant group. CONCLUSION: Both unilateral and bilateral transplantation are feasible for patients with end-stage emphysema. Bilateral transplantation results in better pulmonary reserve capacity and faster rehabilitation

Intravascular oxygenation for advanced respiratory failure

Severe acute respiratory failure of varying etiology may require the temporary use of artificial gas exchange devices. So far, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal have been used successfully for this purpose. A totally implantable intravascular oxygenator (IVOX) recently became available. The authors have used IVOX in three patients who presented with severe respiratory failure secondary to pneumonia (n = 2) and post-traumatic adult respiratory distress syndrome (n = 1). At the time of implantation, all patients had hypoxemia (PaO2 less than 60) despite a 100% inspired oxygen concentration and forced mechanical ventilation. The duration of IVOX therapy ranged from 12 to 71 hr. All patients initially showed improvement in arterial oxygenation, allowing for moderate reduction of ventilator therapy after several hours. In one patient the pulmonary status deteriorated further, and she died from multiple organ failure despite IVOX therapy. One patient could be stabilized but died from other causes. The third patient is a long-term survivor 18 months after IVOX therapy. Gas transfer capabilities of IVOX are limited when compared to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and this may restrict its clinical applicability in cases of severe adult respiratory distress syndrome. However, IVOX may be used successfully in selected patients with less severe respiratory failure

Emergency lung transplantation after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

In some patients with acute respiratory failure, the native lungs do not recover during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or complications occur that preclude the meaningful continuation of ECMO therapy. In such cases, emergency lung transplantation (LTx) represents the only therapeutic alternative. Between May 1988 and April 1993, the authors have performed LTx after ECMO support in five of 111 lung or heart-lung transplantations (4.5%). Two patients presented with early graft failure after unilateral LTx. In these patients, ECMO was used as a bridging device to unilateral re-LTx for 1, resp. 11 days. One patient died 6 months post-operatively from chronic rejection; the other underwent a third LTx and is doing well after 42 months. In three further patients already treated with ECMO for 5 to 12 days for ARDS (n = 2) or acute respiratory failure after liver and kidney transplantation, the native lungs did not recover (n = 2) or pulmonary hemorrhage developed. The last patient (unilateral LTx) and one of the former (bilateral LTx for ARDS) are long-term survivors (12, 30 months). The remaining patient (unilateral LTx for ARDS) had severe multiorgan failure at the time of his operation and died intraoperatively. The authors conclude that ECMO no longer represents a contraindication to subsequent LTx. Their results also support the continued investigation of this combined therapeutic approach