Is cardioplegia system pressure the optimal measure of coronary perfusion during antegrade cardioplegia delivery? A critical review of pressure measurements for optimal antegrade delivery.

Antegrade cardioplegia is routinely given during cardiac surgery. The delivery of antegrade cardioplegia from the cardiopulmonary bypass machine has many variables. Many perfusionists rely exclusively on cardioplegia system pressure to ensure safe antegrade delivery.

Delayed Cardiac Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma Caused by Mutation.

Cardiac metastasis caused by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) without vena caval involvement is rare. No mutation has been associated with this unique phenotype. A 77-year-old male presented to our clinic with a symptomatic right ventricular mass after nephrectomy for clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

SARC-F Is Inaccurate to Identify Geriatric Rehabilitation Inpatients at Risk for Sarcopenia: RESORT.

Introduction: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients; screening using the Strength, Assistance in walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, Falls history questionnaire (SARC-F) has been recommended. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the SARC-F in identifying sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP), EWGSOP2, and Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) definitions in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.

Methods: REStOring health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT) is an observational, longitudinal cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.

Balance and mobility outcomes for stroke patients: a comprehensive audit.

This paper reports the in-patient rehabilitation admission and discharge scores on a comprehensive series of balance and mobility measures for 109 stroke patients (49.5 per cent female) with a mean (SD) age of 72.9 (10.

Portable chest radiology in intensive care: a comparison of a new dual characteristic film-screen system (Insight) incorporating a flexible grid with a standard film-screen system.

Insight (Insight, Kodak, UK) is a new dual image receptor system which utilizes an asymmetric film screen combination. Conventional radiography was compared with the Insight system, in combination with a cassette incorporating a flexible grid, in fifty patients on the intensive care unit. Radiographs were analysed by intensive care junior medical staff, nursing staff and two groups of radiologists.

Prothrombin fragment F1 + 2: correlations with cardiovascular risk factors.

Plasma prothrombin fragment F 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), fibrinogen and factor VII were related to variables associated with increased cardiovascular risk in 86 plasma donors (49 male and 37 female). F1 + 2 had a log-normal distribution and increased significantly with age and body mass index (BMI). Significantly, higher F1 + 2 levels were found in smoking compared with non-smoking males and in indolent males compared with males taking regular exercise.

Neoadjuvant treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Long-term results.

The multimodality approach to locally advanced Stage III non-small cell lung cancer is continuing to evolve. In this trial, 54 patients with surgically staged IIIA disease were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resection, and chest radiotherapy. Response to four cycles of CAP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin) was 39% (8% complete responses).

Misplaced caval filter and subsequent pericardial tamponade.

Use of the Greenfield filter for partial caval interruption is generally accepted as the most reliable mechanical method of pulmonary embolus prophylaxis. However, there have been reports of a variety of (usually nonfatal) complications. We report here the near-fatal complication of acute pericardial tamponade after misplacement of a Greenfield filter.

Review of coronary-subclavian steal following internal mammary artery-coronary artery bypass surgery.

The syndrome of coronary-subclavian steal through an internal mammary artery graft following coronary artery bypass grafting is rare. We are aware of only eight cases reported in the world literature. The cases of these 8 patients are reviewed, and the case of the ninth patient is described.

Fatal hypoxemia following mitral valve replacement.

Patency of the foramen ovale is a common condition. In certain clinical settings it permits the development of right-to-left intracardiac shunting. A case is described of sudden, fatal hypoxemia due to shunting through a patent foramen ovale immediately following mitral valve replacement.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare event that occurs most commonly in young, otherwise healthy women. Approximately 85 cases have been reported in the world literature. Dissection of the left main coronary artery is even less common; only 18 cases have been reported.

Intraaortic balloon pump morbidity: a comparative analysis of risk factors between percutaneous and surgical techniques.

We reviewed our concurrent experience with percutaneous insertion versus surgical placement of the intraaortic balloon pump over a two-year period both to compare morbidity and to provide guidelines for the choice of method in particular patient groups and clinical settings. The effects on morbidity of sex, age, emergency placement, coexisting peripheral vascular disease, and duration of counterpulsation were determined. Sex was a highly significant factor, with low complication rates (3/29 or 10.

Effect of left ventricular akinesis on cardiac performance. Experimental study using a new model.

The understanding of left ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction has been facilitated by a two-component model proposed by Swan et al. which views the left ventricle as consisting of a clearly defined infarcted portion and a normally functioning remainder. Although appealing, this model is difficult to substantiate experimentally.

Coronary artery aneurysm.

The case is presented of a 28-year-old woman with systemic vasculitis, aortic insufficiency, and an aneurysm of the proximal right coronary artery. More than 100 patients with coronary artery aneurysm have been reported, and this represents the twenty-first case treated surgically. Coronary artery aneurysms occur more frequently than previously realized and are seen in approximately 1.

Fatal bilateral pneumothoraces complicating subclavian vein catheterization.

Bilateral pneumothoraces complicating attempted bilateral subclavian vein catheterization culminated in the iatrogenic death of the patient. Complications of subclavian vein catheterization are reviewed briefly. This procedure should be limited to patients in whom its use is clearly indicated and should be performed only by individuals who are experienced in the anatomy of the region, who are trained in the technique of subclavian puncture, and who have the means and ability to perform immediate tube thoracostomy should pneumothorax occur.