Routine early postoperative computed tomography angiography after coronary artery bypass surgery: clinical value and management implications.

Objectives: Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is broadly used for long-term follow-up of graft patency after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, its clinical value in the early postoperative setting has not been established yet. We evaluated the benefit of adding CTA to the routine clinical work-up after CABG on patient management.

Computed Tomography Angiography of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts: Low Contrast Media Volume Protocols Adapted to Tube Voltage.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of contrast media (CM) reduction in computed tomography angiography (CTA) of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs) when adapting CM volume to automatically selected tube voltages.

Material And Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (mean age, 71 ± 14.5 years) with a total of 176 CABGs (692 bypass segments) underwent contrast-enhanced prospectively electrocardiography-gated high-pitch CTA with automated, attenuation-based tube voltage selection (100 ref.

Negative microbiological results are not mandatory in deep sternal wound infections before wound closure.

Objectives: To define the outcome of treatment for deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) using direct wound closure (DC) or vacuum-assisted therapy (VAT) based on negative vs. positive microbiological results.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2008, 7746 patients underwent median sternotomy for cardiac surgery at our institution.

Aneurysm of coronary sinus of Valsalva can rupture anytime!

An aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva ruptures in about 35% of all cases and only leads to acute symptoms in 25% of all patients. This paper illustrates a case of a patient who was scheduled for an elective operation due to an aneurysm of the right coronary sinus of Valsalva, which ruptured and led to the necessity of an emergency surgery.

Left ventricular and left atrial dimensions and volumes: comparison between dual-source CT and echocardiography.

Objectives: We sought to determine the agreement for the quantification of cardiac chamber dimensions, volumes, and myocardial mass between dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) and echocardiography.

Material And Methods: One-hundred patients underwent DSCT and transthoracal echocardiography within 1 week. Measurements of dimensions were obtained in standardized planes in end-systole and end-diastole and included the anterior-posterior diameter of the left atrium, septal and posterior wall thickness, and inner diameter of the left ventricle.