Timing of chest tube removal after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Aim: Assessing the impact of chest tube removal timing following a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery on the clinical outcome.

Methods: Eighty-three consecutive patients were randomly assigned to either have the chest tube removed 24 hours (Group A) or 48 hours (Group B) postoperatively. Chest tubes were removed on the condition that drainage was less than 100 cc for the last 8 hours.

Should we give prophylactic renal-dose dopamine after coronary artery bypass surgery?

Objective: A prospective double-blind randomized study undertaken to assess the effect of postoperative prophylactic "renal-dose" dopamine on post-coronary artery bypass grafting surgery's clinical outcome.

Methods: Eighty-five consecutive patients undergoing CABG operation were randomized to receive either 3-5 microg/kg/min dopamine (group D, n = 41) or saline as placebo (group P, n = 45) for 48 postoperative hours. Clinical outcome parameters were collected for four postoperative days.