Blood cell adhesion to arterial filters analysis by scanning electron microscopy and real-time PCR assay: observational clinical study in cardiac surgery patients.

Introduction: Arterial filter is the part of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit where blood cells are exposed to high mechanical stress and where cellular aggregates may fasten in large quantities. The aim of this study was to analyse blood cell adhesiveness in the arterial filter through scanning electron microscopy and real-time PCR assay.

Methods: Prospective, clinical and observational study performed on 28 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Vasopressin versus Norepinephrine in Patients with Vasoplegic Shock after Cardiac Surgery: The VANCS Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Vasoplegic syndrome is a common complication after cardiac surgery and impacts negatively on patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether vasopressin is superior to norepinephrine in reducing postoperative complications in patients with vasoplegic syndrome.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted at the Heart Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, between January 2012 and March 2014.

Effect of Perioperative Goal-Directed Hemodynamic Resuscitation Therapy on Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial and Systematic Review.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of goal-directed therapy on outcomes in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: A prospective randomized controlled trial and an updated metaanalysis of randomized trials published from inception up to May 1, 2015.

Setting: Surgical ICU within a tertiary referral university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Intensive perioperative glucose control does not improve outcomes of patients submitted to open-heart surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between different target levels of glucose and the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: We designed a prospective study in a university hospital where 109 consecutive patients were enrolled during a six-month period. All patients were scheduled for open-heart surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass.

The reduction in hospital stay and costs in the care of patients with congenital heart diseases undergoing fast-track cardiac surgery.

Objective: To assess the care provided to patients with congenital heart diseases and ischemic heart diseases undergoing cardiac surgery according to the fast-track recovery protocol compared with those undergoing the conventional procedure.

Methods: The transfer of patients from one hospital unit to another was assessed for 175 patients, 107 (61%) men and 68 (39%) women, with ages ranging from 0.3 to 81 years.

Comparison of pH-stat versus Alpha-stat during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in the prevention and control of acidosis in cardiac surgery.

Objectives: To compare the effects of blood-gas management using either alpha-stat (temperature-uncorrected blood-gas management) or pH-stat (temperature-corrected blood-gas management) strategies, 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery allocated randomly to either one of the approaches were studied. Acid-base balance, tissue oxygenation, and biochemical parameters were measured at distinct times: before bypass, after 15 min of hypothermia at 32 degrees C, after 45 min of hypothermia at 32 degrees C, after 15 min of rewarming at 37 degrees C, and 45 min after the end of bypass in normothermic conditions.

Results: The groups were similar with regard to physical characteristics, physiological parameters, and bypass time.

Decreased 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration in low cardiac output patients and its influence on the determination of in vivo p50.

We investigated whether 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) is altered in patients with low cardiac output and the influence of its concentration on the calculation of in vivo P(50). Biochemical and blood gas analysis were performed along with the measurement of cardiac output and body temperature in 13 patients submitted to cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries without the use of donor blood. In vivo P(50) was calculated using the measured (P(50m)) and the estimated 2,3-DPG (P(50e)).