[Surgical treatment of diffuse coronary disease].

In order to obtain an idea on contemporary opportunities of surgical treatment of diffuse coronary disease the authors compared the results of surgery in 103 patients whose finding called for endarterectomy and bridging of at least one coronary artery (KEA) with the results in 220 patients where it was possible to overcome all significant changes by coronary bypasses only (KBP). Patients in group KEA had more infarctions before operation than patients in group KBP. Diffuse changes of the coronary arteries were found only in patients in group KEA.

A technique of myocardial protection during aorto-coronary bypass in high-risk patients.

In the authors' opinion, profound myocardial hypothermia is imperative in myocardial protection while the aorta is cross-clamped. They based their own protection method, beside using a single dose of crystalloid cardioplegic solution, on very efficient topical cooling, by which myocardial temperature is reduced to below 15 degrees C. Very efficient topical cooling is achieved by a high flow (2 l/min) of continuously cooled fluid (0 degrees C- +2 degrees C).

[Cytomegalovirus transmission by fresh blood].

Investigations included blood donors for extracorporeal circulation, as well as patients (12) before and after cardiopulmonary by-pass. CMV infection is a frequent consequence of multiple fresh blood transfusions in persons with aortocoronary "by-pass" in 25% operated patients. If a patient receives more than 10 transfusions of fresh blood, frequency of serologically positive reactions to CMV is found in approximately 40-60% operated patients.