Clinical evaluation of heparin-coated circuits for routine coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a prospective randomized study.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the clinical and biological benefits of heparin-coated circuits in routine coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 80 patients undergoing routine CABG. Patients were randomized to either noncoated circuits (Group 1) or heparin-coated circuits (Group 2).

Centrifugal pumps and heparin-coated circuits in surgical treatment of giant cerebral aneurysms.

Giant cerebral aneurysms may be untreatable by conventional neurosurgical techniques. Early attempts to use circulatory assistance and deep hypothermia were abandoned due to hemorrhagic complications. More recently, interest in circulatory support for complex neurosurgical procedures has been renewed.

Circulatory assist techniques after cardiomyoplasty. Determinants for clinical outcome and later consequences.

Cardiomyoplasty, in spite of recent improvements, remains a high risk operation. The early postoperative period is sometimes very critical, even for patients selected from preoperative New York Heart Association functional class IV. During the surgical period, poor hemodynamics may be responsible for early death, as well as influence latissimus dorsi muscle long-term viability.

Clinical situations and results of cardiopulmonary support by peripheral access for resuscitation and recovery.

Use of cardiopulmonary support (CPS) by peripheral access with a membrane oxygenator has made considerable progress as a result of the development of centrifugal pumps, percutaneous cannulation, and preheparinized circuits. We have used CPS for resuscitation in 3 cases, for recovery after cardiotomy in 6 cases (myocardial insufficiency, 4; pulmonary arterial hypertension, 1; respiratory insufficiency, 1), and after heart transplantation in 1 case. Of these 10 patients, 3 died during CPS, 5 were successfully weaned, and 2 underwent heart transplantation.