Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study II (LAAOS II).

Background: Occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a potential alternative to anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, evidence of its safety and efficacy is lacking. The Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study II (LAAOS II) explored the feasibility of a definitive trial of LAA occlusion for stroke prevention in AF.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1889 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery was performed to determine the prevalence of AF and risk factors for stroke.

Warfarin cessation before cardiopulmonary bypass: lessons learned from a randomized controlled trial of oral vitamin K.

Background: No standard protocol of warfarin cessation and bridging for cardiac surgery exists. This study examined a single institution's protocol with respect to timing of cessation and low molecular weight heparin bridging. The recovery of vitamin K-dependent factors and the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on coagulation factors were explored.

Can extra protamine eliminate heparin rebound following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery?

Objectives: Heparin rebound, the reappearance of anticoagulant activity after adequate neutralization with protamine, is thought to contribute to excessive postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. We have previously demonstrated that a significant amount of heparin is bound nonspecifically to plasma proteins and is incompletely neutralized by protamine. The aim of this study was to investigate whether clinically important bleeding attributable to heparin rebound can be eliminated by infusion of small amounts of additional protamine for 6 hours postoperatively and whether this treatment can reduce mediastinal blood loss.