Objective: Although minimally invasive approaches for surgical treatment of stand-alone atrial fibrillation have gained popularity for the past decade, ablation technology and extensive lesion sets play a major role in the achievement of a successful procedure, especially in presence of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. We evaluated clinical outcomes after totally endoscopic biatrial epicardial ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation with a novel integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency device.
Methods: Forty-nine (49) consecutive patients with stand-alone atrial fibrillation underwent right-sided monolateral thoracoscopic surgical ablation with a novel integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency energy delivery and temperature-controlled technology.
Objective: We aimed to identify independent risk factors predisposing toward postoperative surgical or percutaneous pericardial drainage following cardiac surgery, and to assess late survival.
Methods: A retrospective review of preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative variables was conducted in 5818 patients, who underwent adult heart surgery in a 7-year time span (2002-2009). Pericardial drainage was performed in 117 patients (2%), of whom 52 (44%) were evacuated by surgical drainage and 65 (56%) by echocardiographic-guided pericardiocentesis.
Purpose: The aim of this article is to describe two cases of pulmonary hypertension during pregnancy to highlight the major issues associated with the obstetric and anesthesiological management of such patients who, despite the medical advice, decided to continue their pregnancy and gave birth to healthy babies.
Methods And Results: In our first case, there has been the need for a general anesthesia because of the detachment of the placenta, whereas in the second case elective surgery under spinal anesthesia was performed, thus avoiding the anesthesiological and surgical problems associated with an emergency.
Conclusions: Pregnancy is contraindicated in case of pulmonary hypertension, a highly morbid disease affecting young women of childbearing age.