Hospital infections and health-related quality of life after cardiac surgery: a multicenter survey.

Background: Recent research suggested that hospital infections are a predictive marker for physical non-recovery one year after cardiothoracic surgery. The purpose of this study was to explore whether this risk factor is etiologic. Additional, the influence of a potential effect modifying factor, diabetes mellitus, was investigated.

Outcome of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients over 85 years of age versus patients aged 85 and younger.

Introduction: The Dutch general population is aging rapidly. Many of these patient are fit and eligible for TAVR. However, studies on outcome in older versus younger patients are scant.

Preoperative anaemia and outcome after elective cardiac surgery: a Dutch national registry analysis.

Background: Previous studies have shown that preoperative anaemia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is associated with adverse outcomes. However, most of these studies were retrospective, had a relatively small sample size, and were from a single centre. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the severity of preoperative anaemia and short- and long-term mortality and morbidity in a large multicentre national cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Determinants of non-recovery in physical health-related quality of life one year after cardiac surgery: a prospective single Centre observational study.

Background: Recent studies show that substantial percentage of patients experienced worsening of health related quality of life (HRQoL) 1 year after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors that interfere with improvement of HRQoL.

Methods: From December 2015 till July 2017 a prospective single centre observational study was carried out in 1920 patients participated who underwent non-salvage cardiac surgery.

Impaired right ventricular ejection fraction after cardiac surgery is associated with a complicated ICU stay.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a known risk factor for increased mortality in cardiac surgery. However, the association between RV performance and ICU morbidity is largely unknown.

Methods: We performed a single-centre, retrospective study including cardiac surgery patients equipped with a pulmonary artery catheter, enabling continuous right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) measurements.

Activation versus inhibition of microsomal glutathione S-transferase activity by acrolein. Dependence on the concentration and time of acrolein exposure.

The toxicity of acrolein, an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, is due to its soft electrophilic nature and primarily involves the adduction of protein thiols. The thiol glutathione (GSH) forms the first line of defense against acrolein. The present study confirms that acrolein added to isolated rat liver microsomes can increase microsomal GSH transferase (MGST) activity 2-3 fold, which can be seen as a direct adaptive increase in the protection against acrolein.

Right Ventricular Function After Cardiac Surgery Is a Strong Independent Predictor for Long-Term Mortality.

Objective: To establish the all-cause mortality of right ventricular dysfunction after cardiac surgery in a heterogeneous group of cardiac surgery patients.

Design: Retrospective analysis of a heterogeneous group of 1,109 cardiac surgery patients in a 4-year period.

Setting: Single-center study in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Effects of cell-saving devices and filters on transfusion in cardiac surgery: a multicenter randomized study.

Background: Cell-saving devices (CS) are frequently used in cardiac surgery to reduce transfusion requirements, but convincing evidence from randomized clinical trials is missing. Filtration of salvaged blood in combination with the CS is widely used to improve the quality of retransfused blood, but there are no data to justify this approach.

Methods: To determine the contribution of CS and filters on transfusion requirements, we performed a multicenter factorial randomized clinical trial in two academic and four nonacademic hospitals.

Emergency operation on the dissected ascending aorta of an adolescent with aortic coarctation.

This case report describes the successful repair of an acute dissection of the ascending aorta in a 16-year-old girl. The dissection appeared to be related to the presence of an aortic coarctation. Furthermore, a bicuspid aortic valve was found.

Gait and calf muscle endurance in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

Objective: To gain insight in gait and calf muscle endurance in patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency.

Methods: Fifteen patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency (healed or active ulcers) and 19 healthy controls were selected for this study. Subjects had to perform eight trials at preferred walking speed and eight trials at instructed walking speed (1.

The development of postthrombotic syndrome in relationship to venous reflux and calf muscle pump dysfunction at 2 years after the onset of deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) develops in 40% to 60% of patients with deep venous thrombosis. Factors that are important in the development of PTS include venous reflux, deep vein obstruction, and calf muscle pump dysfunction (CMD).

Methods: Reflux and CMD in relationship to the severity of PTS were evaluated in a 2-year follow-up study of patients with acute deep venous thrombosis.

Evolution of deep venous thrombosis: a 2-year follow-up using duplex ultrasound scan and strain-gauge plethysmography.

Objective: The development of the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and recurrence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) are not yet fully understood. The aim of the study was to identify factors that lead to the long-term complications of DVT.

Methods: In a 2-year prospective follow-up study, duplex scanning and strain-gauge plethysmography were used to evaluate DVT in relation to the development of long-term complications.

Maintaining sevoflurane anesthesia during low-flow anesthesia using a single vaporizer setting change after overpressure induction.

Study Objective: A sevoflurane vaporizer dial setting of 1.9% was previously found to maintain the end-expired sevoflurane concentration (Et(sevo)) at 1.3% during maintenance of anesthesia for procedures up to one hour with an O(2) FGF of 1 L/min.

Venous reflux has a limited effect on calf muscle pump dysfunction in post-thrombotic patients.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between calf muscle pump dysfunction (CMD) and the presence and location of valvular incompetence. Deep vein obstruction might influence CMD, and so venous outflow resistance (VOR) was measured. VOR and calf muscle pump function were measured in 81 patients, 7-13 years after venographically confirmed lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis.

The postthrombotic syndrome in relation to venous hemodynamics, as measured by means of duplex scanning and strain-gauge plethysmography.

Purpose: Venous hemodynamics were evaluated in relation to the postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) 7 to 13 years after deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Methods: The presence of flow, reflux, and compressibility of 1394 vein segments in 82 patients was assessed by means of duplex scanning. The venous outflow resistance was measured by means of strain-gauge plethysmography.

Venous duplex scanning of the leg: range, variability and reproducibility.

Despite the many studies on venous haemodynamics using duplex, only a few evaluated the normal values, variability and reproducibility. Therefore, the range and variability of venous diameter, compressibility, flow and reflux were measured. To obtain normal values, 42 healthy individuals (42 limbs, 714 vein segments) with no history of venous disease were scanned by duplex.

Deep venous thrombosis: a prospective 3-month follow-up using duplex scanning and strain-gauge plethysmography.

1. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the degree of thrombus regression, development of valvular insufficiency, impaired calf muscle pump function and clinical symptoms after a period of acute deep venous thrombosis. 2.

Duplex ultrasound in the hemodynamic evaluation of the late sequelae of deep venous thrombosis.

Purpose: The use of duplex ultrasound scanning to evaluate the hemodynamic outcome of deep venous thrombosis 7 to 13 years after the original diagnosis.

Methods: Duplex ultrasound was used to re-examine 1212 segments of vein from 72 patients (49 men, 23 women) with deep venous thrombosis previously diagnosed by means of phlebography to detect reflux and obstruction and evaluate flow; 611 segments were initially thrombosed and 601 segments were open. To define reflux, reversed flow in 31 healthy persons was measured.

Doppler spectrum analysis versus direct femoral artery pressure measurement for rapid assessment of aortoiliac obstruction.

Adequate patient selection is required to limit the clinical workload and improve the cost-effectiveness of noninvasive hemodynamic evaluation of the aortoiliac system. In a prospective blinded fashion the traditional invasive technique of direct femoral artery pressure measurements and the computerized Doppler spectrum analysis of blood flow velocities in the common femoral artery were studied. Both tests for rapid assessment of aortoiliac obstruction were compared with duplex ultrasonographic imaging, using a peak systolic velocity ratio of 2.

Clinical and haemodynamic sequelae of deep venous thrombosis: retrospective evaluation after 7-13 years.

1. In contrast to the extensive documentation on diagnosis and treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), information about long-term complications, like the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), is scarce. Most studies report on clinical examination only, whereas adequate haemodynamic investigation is lacking.