Technical implementation of percutaneous thrombus aspiration using the AngioVac system.

Objectives: The AngioVac system (AngioDynamics, Latham, NY, USA) provides a method for the minimally invasive, percutaneous aspiration of thrombus formations originating from the central venous system as well as solid matter such as lead vegetations and right atrial thrombi.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study describes the initial experience in 52 adult patients with the AngioVac system, focusing mainly on the development of the extracorporeal circuit to improve usability and safety.

Results: The mean patient age was 62.

Simulation-based training of critical events during cardiopulmonary bypass: importance of a critical events checklist.

Objectives: Evaluation of critical events training for clinical perfusionists is necessary to improve this educational approach. Critical events checklists are effective in reducing clinical complications, but should be tested in a simulation environment first. Individual behavior and stress response of clinical perfusionists during simulated critical events on cardiopulmonary bypass have not been evaluated yet.

Aortic valve replacement with or without myocardial revascularization in octogenarians. Can minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits improve the outcome?

Objective: The positive impact of minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits (MiECC) on patient outcome is expected to be most evident in patients with limited physiologic reserves. Nevertheless, most studies have limited their use to low-risk patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. As such, there is little evidence to their benefit outside this patient population.

Managing large lead vegetations in transvenous lead extractions using a percutaneous aspiration technique.

Background: Treatment of patients with systemic infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices and large lead vegetations are a clinical challenge. In such situations patients potentially had to undergo open surgical extraction in the past. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of a concomitant percutaneous, minimal-invasive aspiration procedure with the use of an extracorporeal circulation in transvenous lead extraction procedures in patients with large lead vegetations.

Impact of minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits on octogenarians undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Have we been looking in the wrong direction?

Objectives: Minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits (MiECCs) aim at the preservation of physiologic reserves, the impact of which is expected to be most evident in patients in whom these are depleted. In this context, octogenarians present a subpopulation of specific interest.

Methods: Based on the type of the utilized ECC, we performed a retrospective comparison between all octogenarians (n = 324) who received a primary coronary artery bypass in our institution from 2003 until 2010.