Efficacy of Hypothermic Compression Bandages in Cardiac Device Surgical Wounds: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Pocket hematoma is the most prevalent complication with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), especially in patients who are undergoing oral anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of hypothermic compression bandaging versus conventional compression bandaging for the prevention of surgical wound hematoma of CIEDs in patients who are undergoing chronic anticoagulant drug use and/or antiplatelet therapy.

Methods: This was a single-center randomized prospective study.

Should we pay more attention to low creatinine levels?

A review is made of the basic aspects of creatine/creatinine metabolism and the close relationship between creatinine and muscle mass, which makes the former a biochemical marker of the latter. Emphasis is placed on the current prognostic value of both the low urinary excretion of creatinine and low serum creatinine levels in different clinical settings in which sarcopenia probably plays a significant role in morbidity and mortality.

Postoperative costs associated with outcomes after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation: role of antithrombin levels.

Objective: To study the impact on postoperative costs of a patient's antithrombin levels associated with outcomes after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation.

Design: An analytic decision model was designed to estimate costs and clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery in a typical patient with low antithrombin levels (<63.7%) compared with a patient with normal antithrombin levels (≥63.

Surgery for rheumatic tricuspid valve disease: a 30-year experience.

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess factors influencing short- and long-term outcomes of surgery for rheumatic disease of the tricuspid valve.

Methods: Between 1974 and 2005, a total of 328 consecutive patients (mean age 51.3 +/- 13.