Muscle and myocutaneous flaps in reconstructive surgery of thoracic defects.

Reconstructive surgery of thoracic defects presents a challenge for the surgeon. With defects of different aetiology and the need for precise localisation of the area to be treated, a broad range of experience is required. We present our interdisciplinary experience in dealing with full thickness thoracic wall defects and intrathoracic cavities.

Repair of a postinfarct ventricular septal defect on the beating heart. Surgical considerations.

Postinfarct ventricular septal defect (VSD) still remains associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Despite the development of modern surgical techniques and medical care it continues to be a difficult therapeutic challenge. This report describes a case of a 70-year-old female patient, who presented with a postinfarct VSD after having anterior wall infarction.

[The extracorporeal circulation in the treatment of pulmonary diseases].

The extracorporeal circulation is seldom used in pulmonary surgery. In this paper, we present some clinical cases and discuss the different indications for extracorporeal circulation in pulmonary diseases. Pulmonary embolectomy and lung transplantation are the main indications for the use of heart-lung-machine.

The impact of hypertension on the operative and early postoperative outcome of aortic valve surgery.

Hypertension is a known risk factor in heart disease. It can lead to pressure overload and hypertrophy of the left ventricle. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of hypertension on the operative and early postoperative outcome after aortic valve surgery using the retrograde cardioplegia.

The impact of normothermia on the outcome of aortic valve surgery.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of systemic perfusion temperature on the clinical outcome after aortic valve surgery. In this study, we examined 323 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery between January 1994 and April 1996. Forty-six patients were perfused in moderate hypothermia (28 degrees C) and 277 patients in normothermia.