Comparison of fresh frozen plasma and prothrombin complex concentrate for the reversal of oral anticoagulants in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: a randomized study.

Background: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) reverse oral anticoagulants. We compared PCC and FFP intraoperative administration in patients undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Forty patients [with international normalized ratio (INR)≥ 2·1] assigned semi-urgent cardiac surgery were randomized to receive either FFP (n = 20) or PCC (n = 20).

Anaesthesia management for pulmonary endarterectomy.

Purpose Of Review: Options for the surgical treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are either lung transplantation or pulmonary endarterectomy. Pulmonary endarterectomy is considered permanently curative and the treatment of choice. The procedure dramatically improves functional status and provides an excellent immediate and long-term survival, much better than transplantation.

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is a surgical procedure which is considered the only effective and potentially curative treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). CTEPH is a rare outcome from pulmonary emboli and, when left untreated, will result in right ventricular failure and death.

Methods: From June 1999 to November 2003, 40 of these procedures were performed in our institution.

Evaluation of the neuroprotective effects of S(+)-ketamine during open-heart surgery.

Unlabelled: We compared the effect of S(+)-ketamine to remifentanil, both in combination with propofol, on the neurocognitive outcome after open-heart surgery in 106 patients. A battery of neurocognitive tests was administered before surgery and 1 and 10 wk after surgery. Fourteen patients (25%) in the control group and 10 patients (20%) in the S(+)-ketamine group had 2 or more tests with a cognitive deficit (decline by at least one preoperative SD of that test in all patients) 10 wk after surgery (P = 0.