Incidence and predictors of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in cardiac surgery in the era of aggressive thromboprophylaxis.

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a well-known complication of surgery but its significance in cardiac surgery is not well defined. We reviewed the results of a prospective observational protocol for repeated postoperative lower extremity duplex venous scans (DVS) screening starting on postoperative day 3-4 through hospital discharge.

Methods: A total of 1,070 (88%) of the 1,219 overall unique adult cardiac surgery patients at our institution (August 2005 to December 2007) underwent DVS screening.

Myocardial protection of insulin and potassium in a porcine ischemia-reperfusion model.

Background: We previously evaluated cardioprotective effects of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) in a porcine ischemia-reperfusion model; our results showed less myocardial pH decrease during ischemia and reperfusion and faster normalization of ATP and glucose during reperfusion. The proposed protective mechanism was facilitation of glucose transport for myocardial metabolism. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of insulin-potassium (IK) alone on myocardial metabolism.