Determinants of early discharge from the intensive care unit after cardiac operations.

Background: The length of stay in the intensive care unit is one of the factors limiting operating room utilization in cardiac surgery. We investigated the impact of a goal-oriented program aimed at discharging the patients from the intensive care unit the morning after the operation within a comprehensive model including other explanatory variables.

Methods: A multivariable predictive model for early discharge from the intensive care unit was established using a stepwise forward logistic regression.

Spontaneous left atrial echocardiographic contrast in mitral stenosis: early disappearance after valve replacement.

We describe a patient with mitral stenosis and severely enlarged left atrium. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a false image of intraatrial thrombus, whereas transesophageal echocardiography showed massive spontaneous left atrial contrast. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was performed.

[Bipolar thoracic electrocardiographic derivations in non-Q myocardial infarct. Study using echocardiography and myocardial scintigraphy].

The Authors investigated the sensitivity of the ecg thoracic derivations of Condorelli in detecting non-Q myocardial infarction demonstrated by 2-D echocardiography and 201-TL scintigraphy. This technique showed a good reliability, allowing a useful diagnostic approach.

[Echocardiokimography and scintigraphy with Tc-MIBI in left ventricular asynergy in chronic myocardial infarct. Comparison of these methods].

The study compared echocardiography, specially echocardiokimography, and myocardial scintigraphy in the evaluation of the extent of chronic myocardial infarction. Eighteen subjects were enrolled and the following examinations performed: ECG, M- and B-mode echocardiography, echocardiokimography and myocardial scintigraphy with Tc-MIBI, a new perfusion radionuclide agent. We concluded: 1) accordance between the two kinds of methods; 2) specificity of echocardiokimography; 3) advantage in using both methods, specially with MIBI scintigraphy.