Can we predict a delirium after cardiac surgery? A validation study of a delirium risk checklist.

Background: Delirium is a common temporary mental disorder that often occurs in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. It is important to prevent the negative side effects of delirium by identifying high-risk patients before surgery. Koster and colleagues designed a risk model to identify patients with an increased risk of postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery.

A European Multicenter Study of 616 Patients Receiving the Freedom Solo Stentless Bioprosthesis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and performance of the Freedom Solo valve in aortic valve replacement by clinical and hemodynamic outcomes.

Methods: Six hundred sixteen patients underwent aortic valve replacement in 18 European centers; mean age was 74.5 ± 5.

Development and validation of a 'universal' HPLC method for pyrethroid quantification in long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets for malaria control and prevention.

Objectives: To outline the development and validation of a universal method for quantifying deltamethrin, permethrin and alpha-cypermethrin levels in a variety of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets.

Methods: Using the HPLC conditions found in the CIPAC method for deltamethrin quantification, the method is based on a simple extraction technique for sample preparation (heating in isooctane at approximately 100 °C for 15 min). The method was validated for linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision, insecticide stability to extraction conditions and required extraction time for insecticide removal.

Prediction of delirium after cardiac surgery and the use of a risk checklist.

Background: Delirium is a temporary mental disorder, which occurs frequently among patients who undergo cardiac surgery. Delirium prediction and its associated prevention is essential. In a previous study, a risk checklist for delirium was developed.

Consequences of delirium after cardiac operations.

Background: Delirium is a transient mental syndrome characterized by disturbances in consciousness, cognition, and perception. The risk that delirium will develop is increased in patients who undergo cardiac operations, especially the elderly. Generally, delirium during hospital admission is independently associated with many negative consequences, such as higher mortality, increased length of hospital stay, nursing home placement after admission, and cognitive and functional decline.

Risk factors of delirium after cardiac surgery: a systematic review.

Background: Delirium or acute confusion is a temporary mental disorder that occurs frequently among hospitalized elderly patients, but also in younger patients a delirium can develop. Patients who undergo cardiac surgery have an increased risk of developing delirium that is associated with many negative consequences. Therefore, prevention of delirium is essential.

Extending surgery for pulmonary metastasectomy: what are the limits?

Introduction: The purpose of pulmonary metastasectomy is to remove all known remaining cancer with the purpose of cure or to lengthen survival. Little information is available on the extent of surgery that is justified and or on reasonable evidence based limits to the extent of surgery.

Methods: A systematic review was designed to evaluate the role of extended surgery in the treatment of lung metastasis.

The long-term cognitive and functional outcomes of postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery.

Background: Delirium or acute confusion is a temporary mental disorder, which occurs frequently among hospitalized elderly patients. Patients who undergo cardiac surgery have an increased risk of developing delirium. This is associated with many negative consequences such as prolonged hospital stay, nursing home placement, and reduced cognitive and functional recovery.

The delirium observation screening scale recognizes delirium early after cardiac surgery.

Background: Delirium or acute confusion is a temporary mental disorder which occurs frequently among hospitalized elderly patients. Patients who undergo cardiac surgery have an increased risk of developing delirium. Prevention or early recognition of delirium is essential.

Delirium after cardiac surgery and predictive validity of a risk checklist.

Background: Delirium or acute confusion is a temporary mental disorder that occurs frequently among hospitalized elderly patients. Patients who undergo cardiac surgery have an increased risk of delirium, which is associated with many negative consequences. Therefore, prevention or early recognition of delirium is essential.

Concomitant coronary artery revascularization and right pneumonectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and pneumonectomy has a high morbidity and mortality rate, especially when the right lung has to be removed. A patient is described who underwent a CABG operation through a midline sternotomy without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and a right pneumonectomy through a right lateral thoracotomy in one operative session. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which this operative strategy was employed.

Isolated pericardial rupture with left-sided haematothorax after blunt chest trauma.

Pericardial rupture after blunt chest trauma is described in the literature. The rupture is mostly caused by high velocity trauma with associated injuries. As a result the patients are often critically ill.

Surgical repair of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture.

Background: The natural course of subacute ventricular free wall rupture (FWR) as a complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) is usually lethal. The aim of this study was to investigate the curability of this entity and to report on five patients successfully treated by rapid diagnosis, hemodynamic stabilization, and emergency surgical repair.

Methods: Five patients with subacute FWR of the left ventricle after previous MI were operated on.

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum: indication for surgery?

A fortuitous finding during open heart surgery of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is described in a 65-year old man with ischaemic heart complaints due to coronary artery disease and with premature ventricular contractions. An incision biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The choice of treatment of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is controversial.

Asymptomatic right atrial aneurysm: fortuitous finding and resection.

A rare right atrial aneurysm is described in a 36-year-old man. After median sternotomy for coronary bypass, a thin-walled aneurysmal dilatation of the right atrium was seen by chance. The patient was in sinus rhythm.

In vitro evaluation of the influence of pulsatile intraventricular pumping on ventricular pressure patterns.

The Pulsatile catheter (PUCA) pump consists of a single port membrane pump connected to an indwelling valved catheter. This so-called transarterial blood pump was originally designed to be introduced through a superficial artery into the left ventricular cavity to pump blood from the left ventricle into the ascending aorta. By introducing the catheter directly into the thoracic aorta or the pulmonary artery, the possibility is created of applying large-diameter catheter PUCA pumps as left, right, or biventricular assist devices (LVAD, RVAD, or BIVAD) without damaging any of the structures of the heart.

In-vivo evaluation of the "HIA-VAD": a new German ventricular assist device.

Helmholtz Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) are pneumatically driven polyurethane membrane pumps with various volumes. The pumps are placed paracorporeally and connected with commercially available cannulas between the left atrium and aorta (left ventricular assist device) and/or right atrium and pulmonary artery (right ventricular assist device, bi-ventricular assist device). The pumps can be driven with a stand-alone driving system or with a Helmholtz IABP-console interface.