Critical Preoperative Hemoglobin Value to Predict Anemia-Related Complications After Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: Preoperative anemia is frequent in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and is associated with increased postoperative complications. The purpose of this observational study was to estimate the critical preoperative hemoglobin threshold associated with the occurrence of complications after cardiac surgery.

Design: A retrospective observational cohort study.

Surgery of acute type A dissection: what have we learned during the past 25 years?

Every acute dissection involving the ascending aorta (Stanford type A) must undergo emergency surgical repair. However, the surgical techniques must vary according to the clinical presentation of the patients or the anatomical patterns observed. Furthermore, surgery is generally difficult because of the poor condition of the aortic tissues.

Surgery of acute type A dissection: what have we learned during the past 25 years?

Every acute dissection involving the ascending aorta (Stanford type A) must undergo emergency sugical repair. However, the surgical techniques must vary according to the clinical presentation of the patients or the anatomical patterns observed. Furthermore, surgery is generally difficult because of the poor condition of the aortic tissues.

Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection: the Hopital Foch experience (1977-1998).

Background: In 1977, we proposed the use of gelatin-resorcinol-formol (GRF) biological glue during surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Methods: From January 1977 to March 1998, 204 patients (146 men and 58 women) aged from 15 to 79 years (mean 54 +/- 11) underwent emergency operation for type A aortic dissection in our institution. One hundred sixty-five patients (84%) were operated on within 48 h after the onset of symptoms.

Antegrade cerebral perfusion with cold blood: a 13-year experience.

Background: In 1986 we introduced the technique of antegrade selective perfusion of the brain with cold blood during surgery of the aortic arch.

Methods: Between January 1984 and March 1998, 171 patients (118 males and 53 females) aged 25 to 83 years (mean 56.5 +/- 17), underwent replacement of the transverse aortic arch with the aid of cold blood antegrade selective perfusion.

The proper use of glue: a 20-year experience with the GRF glue in acute aortic dissection.

Background: In 1977, the use of Gelatine-Resorcine-Formaline (GRF) biological glue during surgery of acute Type A aortic dissection was proposed. The present study retrospectively analyzes the late results obtained with this adjunct in an experience extending over a twenty-year period of time.

Patients And Methods: From January 1977 to March 1996, 171 patients (124 males and 47 females) aged from 15-79 years (mean age: 53 +/- 14 years) underwent an emergency operation for type A aortic dissection in our institution.

Current practice in Marfan's syndrome and annulo-aortic ectasia: aortic root replacement with a composite graft over a twenty-year period.

Background: From October 1973 to December 1995, 251 patients (204 male, 47 female) aged from 10 to 75 years (mean: 46.6 +/- 15) underwent an ascending aortic replacement with a composite graft for: dystrophic aneurysm (AN), 168 cases (66.9%); chronic dissection (CD), 36 cases (14%); and type A acute dissection (AD), 48 cases (19.

Aortic root replacement with a composite graft. Factors influencing immediate and long-term results.

From April 73 to June 94, 203 patients (167 men, 36 women) aged from 10 to 74 years (mean: 44.8 +/- 15) underwent ascending aortic replacement with composite graft for: dystrophic aneurysm (AN) (130 cases, 64.5%), chronic dissection (CD) (35 cases, 17.

Late reoperations in patients with aortic dissection.

Aortic dissection is an evolving process that may require one or several reoperations after the initial emergency repair. From January 1977 to September 1993, 148 patients underwent emergency surgery for type A acute aortic dissection. The replacement of the ascending aorta was extended to include the transverse arch in 43 patients (29%).

Aortic dissection. Prevalence, cause, and results of late reoperations.

From January 1977 to September 1992, 143 patients underwent an emergency operation for type A acute aortic dissection. Because of the location of the intimal tear, the replacement of the ascending aorta was extended to the transverse arch in 42 patients (29.3%).

Cold cerebroplegia. A new technique of cerebral protection during operations on the transverse aortic arch.

Profound hypothermia associated with circulatory arrest is the commonest method of cerebral protection during operations on the aortic arch. This technique allows a limited time to perform the aortic repair, however. It also necessitates prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass to rewarm the patient.

Surgery of aortic stenosis and lesions of the ascending aorta.

Between 1978 and 1986, 442 aortic valvular replacements were performed for chronic calcified aortic stenosis. In 11 patients (2.5%, seven men and four women) replacement of the ascending aorta was associated with the valvular replacement, because of: seven supra-coronary aneurysms, two aneurysms involving the Valsalva sinuses, and two acute dissections of the ascending aorta.

[Clinical experience with the Saint Jude prosthesis. Results over a period of 7 years].

Between January, 1979 and December, 1985, 193 Saint Jude medical valves (SJM) were implanted in 165 patients (74 male, 91 female) aged from 14 to 78 years (mean age: 49 years). 101 patients underwent aortic valve replacement, 36 had mitral valve replacement and 21 had multiple valve replacement. Fitting with an SJM prosthesis was a primary emergency operation for 15 patients (9%) and a reoperation for 49 patients (31%).