Atrioventricular Disruption After Aortic Valve Surgery: Early Detection by Intraoperative Echocardiography: A Case Report.

Atrioventricular groove separation is a rare complication of mitral valve surgery. We present a case occurring during aortic valve surgery that was detected by the anesthesiologist using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). During weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass after uneventful replacement of a severely calcified aortic valve, blood flow was seen on TEE leaving the left ventricular outflow tract just below the annulus of the aortic valve.

Transfusion and hematologic variables after fibrinogen or platelet transfusion in valve replacement surgery: preliminary data of purified lyophilized human fibrinogen concentrate versus conventional transfusion.

Background: Platelet (PLT) and plasma transfusion remain the mainstay hemostatic therapy for perioperative bleeding. Several studies have indicated that acquired fibrinogen (FIB) deficiency can be the primary cause of bleeding after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to compare hematologic and transfusion profiles between the first-line FIB replacement and PLT transfusion in post-cardiac surgical bleeding.

Elevated factor VIII enhances thrombin generation in the presence of factor VIII-deficiency, factor XI-deficiency or fondaparinux.

Background: Increased levels of factor VIII occur as a response to vascular injury and/or inflammation, and may increase thrombotic risks. In contrast, factor VIII deficiency poses a major hemostatic challenge. The role of factor VIII in modulating hemostasis/thrombosis was investigated in plasma models of hypocoagulable and hypercoagulable state using thrombin generation (TG) assay.

Prophylactic use of factor IX concentrate in a Jehovah's Witness patient.

In Jehovah's Witness patients, the use of red blood cells, platelets, and fresh frozen plasma is not optional. Various blood conservation techniques are available, but complex cardiac surgery remains a major challenge. The feasibility of fractions of "primary components" has not been fully considered in published case reports.

Infectious complications after cardiac surgery: lack of association with fresh frozen plasma or platelet transfusions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perioperative transfusion of platelets and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on infection rates after cardiac surgery.

Design: Retrospective study comparing infection rates after cardiac surgery among patients receiving combinations of packed red blood cells (PRBCs), platelets, and FFP.

Setting: Tertiary care university teaching hospital.

Transcranial Doppler emboli count predicts rise in creatinine after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: To examine the correlation between transcranial Doppler ultrasonography-detected emboli during coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and renal dysfunction as determined by the postoperative change in creatinine.

Design: Retrospective review of data from the anesthesia and cardiothoracic surgery databases.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Effects of positive-pressure ventilation, pericardial effusion, and cardiac tamponade on respiratory variation in transmitral flow velocities.

Objective: To determine the effects of positive-pressure ventilation and experimentally induced pericardial effusion and tamponade on transmitral flow velocities in dogs.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: University laboratory.

Association of leukocyte-depleted blood transfusions with infectious complications after cardiac surgery.

Background: To test the hypothesis that leukocyte-mediated immunosuppression may contribute to postoperative infections after blood transfusions, we compared the incidence of postoperative infections in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery who received either leukocyte-depleted (LD-RBCC) or non-LD transfusions of red blood cell concentrates (RBCC) within 48 h of surgery.

Materials And Methods: Data for all primary elective CABG patients between 1995 and 1998 who received allogeneic RBCC transfusions in the first 48 h after surgery were collected. Patients were divided into two groups (group LD: LD-RBCC transfusions only; group non-LD: non-LD-RBCC transfusions only were excluded).