Impact of Major Pulmonary Resections on Right Ventricular Function: Early Postoperative Changes.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after pulmonary resection in the early postoperative period is documented by reduced RV ejection fraction and increased RV end-diastolic volume index. Supraventricular arrhythmia, particularly atrial fibrillation, is common after pulmonary resection. RV assessment can be done by non-invasive methods and/or invasive approaches such as right cardiac catheterization.

Predictive factors of supraventricular arrhythmias after noncardiac thoracic surgery: a multicenter study.

Background: Supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias are the most common rhythm disturbances in patients following thoracic surgery. The purpose of our study was to determine which of the clinical parameters are the most valuable in predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) after lung surgery.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was carried out on 987 patients after noncardiac thoracic surgery to define the prevalence, associated risk factors, and clinical course of postoperative arrhythmias.

Coronary bypass using bilateral internal mammary arteries in an achondroplast.

Coronary bypass grafting for ischemic heart disease in achondroplastic dwarfs is very rare. Shortage of veins and inadequate vein quality may cause difficulties during surgery. Only 2 cases of coronary bypass surgery in an achondroplastic dwarf, in which the left internal mammary artery and vein grafts were used, have been reported.

Impact of aortic prosthesis-patient mismatch on left ventricular mass regression.

Background: Prostheses used for aortic valve replacement may be small in relation to body size, causing prosthesis-patient mismatch and delaying left ventricular mass regression. This study examined the effect of prosthesis-patient mismatch on regression of left ventricular mass after aortic valve replacement.

Methods: We prospectively studied 96 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement between 2007 and 2012.

Cytochrome P450-isoenzyme 1A1 in susceptibility to tobacco-related lung cancer.

Background: Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens that may mediate susceptibility to lung cancer. Cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 1A1 activity and expression increases several fold in lung cancer due to smoking. Finding the role of cytochrome P450 1A1 in susceptibility to tobacco-related lung cancer may be important to predict the outcome in early stage cancer, and may result in an improved survival rate.

Traumatic intrathoracic tracheobronchial injuries: a study of 78 cases.

Background: Tracheobronchial injuries are encountered with increasing frequency because of improvements in pre-hospital care. We reviewed our experience of these injuries to determine how to better recognize them and facilitate their correct management.

Methods: Patients with traumatic non-iatrogenic intrathoracic tracheobronchial injuries managed in 2 tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2012, were studied.