'Early' and 'late' timing for renal replacement therapy in acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a prospective, interventional, controlled, single-centre trial.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery (CS-AKI) is strongly associated with in-hospital mortality and morbidity. We aimed to investigate whether 'early' or 'late' initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with CS-AKI is associated with a survival benefit or more favourable outcomes.

Methods: All patients who had undergone cardiac surgery at 'Ospedali Riuniti' of Ancona from July 2011 to February 2013 were prospectively enrolled and divided into two treatment groups: the 'early' approach was used during the first 10 months, and the 'late' approach during the next 10 months.

Epidural anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia on postoperative N-terminal pro B-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release in elderly patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Design: A case-matched, nonrandomized study.

Setting: A university hospital, single institution.

Management and decision-making strategy for systolic anterior motion after mitral valve repair.

Objective: Systolic anterior motion can complicate mitral valve repair. It can have no clinical consequence or cause low cardiac output syndrome and hypotension. The management of systolic anterior motion in the operating room remains controversial: some groups advocate nonsurgical management, and others propose immediate surgical correction.

N-terminal B-natriuretic Peptide after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: To investigate N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the B-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release and its prognostic characteristics after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Teaching hospital.

Temperature management during off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of a circulating water system versus a forced-air system.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a new temperature management system specifically designed for cardiac surgery (Allon ThermoWrapping Thermoregulation System; MTRE Advanced Technologies Ltd, Or Akiva, Israel) using a circulating-water garment and to compare it with a conventional forced-air cover system in order to determine whether it could reduce the incidence of perioperative hypothermia during off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery.

Design: Prospective, randomized.

Setting: University, tertiary care hospital.

The incidence and risk of acute renal failure after cardiac surgery.

Objective: To evaluate outcome and risk factors of acute renal failure in a surgical population with or without preoperative renal dysfunction.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Intensive care unit at a University Hospital.