Effectiveness of brain natriuretic peptide in predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing non-cardiac thoracic surgery.

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels could effectively predict the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing non-cardiac thoracic surgery. A total of 14 papers were identified using the reported search, of which 5 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.

Perioperative microdialysis in meningioma surgery: correlation of cerebral metabolites with clinical outcome.

Background: Brain tumour resection requires surgical manoeuvres that may cause an ischaemic injury to peritumoral tissue. The aim of the present study was to examine whether putative alterations in peritumoral tissue biochemistry, monitored by microdialysis, correlate with clinical outcome in patients undergoing craniotomy for meningioma resection.

Methods: In 34 patients undergoing meningioma resection (35 % male; mean age ± SD: 54.

Simultaneous off-pump coronary artery bypass graft and nephrectomy.

We report the one-stage surgical management of a 68-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma and serious hematuria combined with coronary artery disease and unstable angina. After the accomplishment of coronary revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass, we proceeded to nephrectomy and resection of the renal tumor at the same time. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and at 17 months of follow-up, the patient showed no signs of recurrence.

Left atrial giant thrombus infected by Escherichia Coli. Case report.

Background: Left atrial thrombi are mostly related to mitral valve disease. The differential diagnosis of clots and myxomas in the left atrium is mostly based on echocardiography. Infection of intracardiac thrombi is extremely rare and mostly reported in ventricular clots or aneurysms following myocardial infarction.

What does impact factor depend upon?

Nobody doubts the importance of the scientific performance's evaluation. The journal impact factor is increasingly employed to evaluate the quality of scientific research. The use of term "impact factor" has gradually evolved, especially in Europe, to include both journal and author impact.