Outcomes of surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation: a 10-year experience.

Aim: Surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation has been performed at Wellington hospital for 10 years. This audit aims to evaluate the outcomes from surgical intervention for atrial fibrillation and identify variables affecting clinical results.

Method: A retrospective audit of clinical outcomes was performed including all patients who had received surgical intervention for atrial fibrillation from 2004 to 2013.

Desmopressin for reducing postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements following cardiac surgery in adults.

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was, in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), does administration of desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) reduce postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements? Altogether 38 papers were found using the reported search, of which 19 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated.