Association of IL6 and IL10 with renal dysfunction and the use of haemofiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: Assessment of the effects of haemofiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the renal function and correlation with interleukin 6 (IL6) and interleukin 10 (IL10) levels.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients scheduled for elective CABG were prospectively randomised into two groups. Group A with a haemofilter attached to arterial line of the CPB circuit and group B without a haemofilter.

A multi-centre additive and logistic risk model for in-hospital mortality following aortic valve replacement.

Objective: To develop a multivariate prediction model for in-hospital mortality following aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 4550 consecutive patients undergoing aortic valve replacement between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2004 at four hospitals. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken, using the forward stepwise technique, to identify independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

Has the publication of cardiac surgery outcome data been associated with changes in practice in northwest England: an analysis of 25,730 patients undergoing CABG surgery under 30 surgeons over eight years.

Objectives: To study changes in coronary artery surgery practice in the years spanning publication of cardiac surgery mortality data in the UK.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from all National Health Service centres undertaking adult cardiac surgery in northwest England was carried out. Patients undergoing coronary artery surgery for the first time between April 1997 and March 2005 were included.

Recurrent acute rheumatic fever: a forgotten diagnosis?

The incidence of acute rheumatic fever has seen a dramatic decline over the last 15 to 20 years in most developed countries and treatment of this disease has changed little since. The ease of travel and immigration and the cosmopolitan nature of many cities mean that occasionally the disease will come to the attention of clinicians not familiar with its presentation, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of recurrent acute rheumatic fever in a patient who was initially thought to be suffering from acute bacterial endocarditis on her previously diseased rheumatic aortic valve.

Surgeon specific mortality in adult cardiac surgery: comparison between crude and risk stratified data.

Objective: As a result of recent failures in clinical governance the government has made a commitment to bring individual surgeons' mortality data into the public domain. We have analysed a database to compare crude mortality after coronary artery bypass surgery with outcomes that were stratified by risk.

Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.