Comparison of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass and off-pump coronary artery bypass in single-vessel disease.

Background: Off-pump coronary surgery is an established method of less invasive cardiac surgery. We compared our early results in patents with I-vessel disease who underwent surgery with full sternotomy with off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) or a left anterior minithoracotomy with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: From July 2003 to June 2006, 54 patients with single-vessel disease of the left anterior descending artery who underwent surgery performed by the same surgical team were included in this prospective study.

Does aortic crossclamping during the cooling phase affect the early clinical outcome of acute type A aortic dissection?

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of crossclamping the ascending aorta in acute type A aortic dissection during the cooling phase for deep hypothermic arrest on early clinical outcome.

Methods: The records of 275 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection were reviewed. Ten patients have been excluded.

Hydatid cyst in the wall of the ascending aorta.

Hydatid disease rarely involves the aortic wall. We report a case of hydatidosis involving the ascending aorta and the left atrium. The patient underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with a prosthetic Dacron graft and left atrial cystectomy.

Sternal wound complications in bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting: a comparison of the off-pump technique and conventional cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Sternal wound complication is a major concern in bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting. The purpose of this study was to assess whether avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass has beneficial effects with fewer wound complications in patients receiving bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting.

Methods: Retrospective review was performed using prospectively gathered data of 69 patients who had undergone elective coronary artery bypass grafting and received conventional pedicled bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting from December 2002 through April 2004 by the same surgical team.

Effect of timing of chest tube removal on development of pericardial effusion following cardiac surgery.

Background: There are no standard criteria for the timing of drain removal. The objective of this study was to determine whether the macroscopic appearance of chest tube drainage fluid to serosanguineous may be used as a criteria for drain removal.

Methods: 2,359 patients were assessed retrospectively and 80 randomized patients were followed prospectively who underwent cardiac surgery.

Endotoxemia in coronary artery bypass surgery: a comparison of the off-pump technique and conventional cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objectives: The endotoxemia associated with cardiac surgery is thought to be dominantly influenced by the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The objectives of this study were to assess the relative contribution of cardiopulmonary bypass on endotoxemia apart from cardiac surgical access and to improve our understanding of the potential benefits of off-pump procedures.

Methods: Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were followed up prospectively.