Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in operations on the proximal thoracic aorta.

Background: To determine the factors that influence hospital death and neurologic complications after surgery on the thoracic aorta using circulatory arrest and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion.

Methods: From May 1989 through April 1997, 106 patients underwent surgery on the thoracic aorta using circulatory arrest and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion. Mean age was 64.

A randomized multicenter double-blind comparison of urapidil and ketanserin in hypertensive patients after coronary artery surgery.

Objectives: To compare the hemodynamic responses, safety, and efficacy of urapidil and ketanserin in hypertensive patients after coronary artery surgery.

Design: Randomized double-blind study.

Setting: Multi-institutional.

The myth of the second prophylactic antibiotic dose in aortoiliac reconstructions.

Objectives: To determine whether a prophylactic second dose of antibiotics is justified when severe blood loss and/or prolonged operation time occurs during aortoiliac reconstructions.

Methods: We measured the cefuroxime concentration in venous blood serum and subcutaneous fat tissue of 30 patients who underwent elective aortoiliac reconstruction after a single intravenous dose of 1500 mg cefuroxime.

Results: The mean blood loss was 1912 ml (range 200-7000).

[Effective preoperative studies in outpatient anesthesiology].

Objective: To determine the effect of preoperative patient evaluation by the anaesthesist instead of the surgeon on the requests for additional specialist consultation and investigation and on the costs involved.

Setting: St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.