Diagnostic Value of Cholinesterase Activity for the Development of Postoperative Delirium after Cardiac Surgery.

Background:  Depression of cholinesterase (CHE) activity has been reported to lead to an amplified neuroinflammatory response, which clinically manifests as postoperative delirium (PD). This observational study investigates the association between CHE activity and the development of PD following elective cardiac surgery.

Methods:  Patients with preexisting neurologic deficits or carotid artery disease as well as patients undergoing reoperations or procedures under circulatory arrest have been excluded from this study.

Safety and efficacy of digital chest drainage units compared to conventional chest drainage units in cardiac surgery.

Objectives: The use of digital chest drainage units (CDUs) has become increasingly common in thoracic surgery due to several advantages. However, in cardiac surgery, its use is still limited in favour of conventional analogue CDUs. In order to investigate the potential benefit of digital CDUs in cardiac surgery, we compared the safety and efficacy of both systems in patients undergoing cardiac surgery at our centre.

Design and training effects of a physical reality simulator for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Objectives: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) through an endoscopic right minithoracotomy is a well-established yet complex procedure that has a challenging learning curve. We have developed a simulator for MIMVS and evaluated its short- and long-term training effects.

Methods: Trainees without simulator experience or training in MIMVS were divided into 2 groups (10 students and 10 residents) and participated in a 5-day training course after initial instruction.

Viabahn stent graft compared with prosthetic surgical above-knee bypass in treatment of superficial femoral artery disease: Long-term results of a retrospective analysis.

The prosthetic surgical above-knee bypass (pAKB) is a standard therapy in superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease in absence of suitable vein. Viabahn graft has been established as a promising alternative. Since limited comparative data are available, we conducted a retrospective study to compare long-term outcomes of these 2 therapies in a real-world setting.

Complex Valve Surgery in Elderly Patients: Increasingly Necessary and Surprisingly Feasible.

Objectives: The increasing proportion of elderly patients in cardiac surgery poses additional challenges for the clinical management and leads to a higher operative risk due to multiple comorbidities of these patients. We reviewed the outcome of patients who were 75 years and older and underwent complex multiple valve surgery at our institution.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who were 75 years and older and underwent multiple valve surgery between January 2011 and May 2016 at our institution.