Eighteen-year follow up after Hancock II bioprosthesis insertion.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The long-term (18 years) results after aortic (AVR), mitral (MVR) and double (aortic/mitral, DVR) valve replacement with Hancock II bioprosthesis were investigated.

Methods: Between 1978 and 1996, 279 Hancock II bioprostheses were implanted in 269 patients (166 males, 113 females; mean age 61.8+/-13.

Surgical approach for cardiac surgery in a patient with tracheostoma.

The thoracic approach for cardiac surgery in a patient with a tracheostoma can result in difficult problems, such as mediastinitis, stoma necrosis or inadequate operative exposure. We present a distinct approach consisting of an incision at the second intercostal space, transverse sternum transection and longitudinal median sternotomy to the xiphoid process, performed for coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement, in a patient with previous tracheotomy. This approach permitted adequate surgical exposure for cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization procedures.

Does desmopressin acetate reduce blood loss after surgery in patients on cardiopulmonary bypass?

It has been suggested that desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) administration reduces blood loss after cardiac surgery. We have investigated the effect of DDAVP administration in a double-blind, randomized, prospective trial including 100 patients placed on cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery. Fifty patients received 0.