Use of CytoSorb® hemoadsorption column during prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass in complex cardiac surgery patient.

Background: Complex cardiac surgery and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass are associated with significant activation of the systemic inflammatory response system. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxygen free radicals and complement activation products contribute to postoperative complications and multiorgan injury. CytoSorb® hemoadsorption therapy has been suggested to alleviate the hyperinflammatory response triggered by cardiopulmonary bypass during cardiac surgery.

Surgical Removal of Migrated Broken Sternal Wire Using Endoscopic Assistance.

Patients undergoing sternotomy routinely undergo sternal closure with stainless steel wires. Occasionally these wires can fracture, although normally this presents no concern as the broken wire remains fixed and is not problematic. We report a case of a segment of a broken sternal wire that migrated through the pericardium onto the right ventricular.

Right Anterior Minithoracotomy for Aortic Valve Replacement: A Widely Applicable, Simple, and Stepwise Approach.

Objective: A stepwise approach for right anterior minithoracotomy aortic valve replacement (RAT-AVR), without sutureless valves, special instruments, or preoperative imaging, was developed. We report our experience with this widely applicable, simplified approach.

Methods: Patients with a history of previous chest surgery, documented PVD, severe COPD, LVOT size <2.

Development of a high fidelity pressurized porcine beating heart simulator for cardiac surgery training.

Background: Development of a high-fidelity cardiac surgery simulator (CSS) requires integration of a heart model with a mock cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit that can provide feedback to mimic the pathophysiology of cardiac surgery. However, the cost of commercially available simulators precludes regular use. We describe steps in the construction of a high-fidelity CSS that integrates a pulsatile paracorporeal ventricular-assist device (Pulse-VAD) and a commercially available CPB simulator.