The Self-Expandable Impella CP (ECP) as a Mechanical Resuscitation Device.

The survival rate of cardiac arrest (CA) can be improved by utilizing percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (pLVADs) instead of conventional chest compressions. However, existing pLVADs require complex fluoroscopy-guided placement along a guidewire and suffer from limited blood flow due to their cross-sectional area. The recently developed self-expandable Impella CP (ECP) pLVAD addresses these limitations by enabling guidewire-free placement and increasing the pump cross-sectional area.

Factors Associated with Early Mortality in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection-A Single-Centre Experience.

Background: Acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) is a surgical emergency with relevant mortality and morbidity despite improvements in current management protocols. Identifying patients at risk of a fatal outcome and controlling the factors associated with mortality remain of paramount importance.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we reviewed the medical records of 117 patients with AADA, who were referred to our centre and operated on between 2005 and 2021.

In vitro evaluation of the performance of an oxygenator depending on the non-standard gas content of the inlet blood with special regard on CO2 elimination.

Introduction: The performance of an oxygenator, as found in literature, is evaluated according to protocols that define standard values of the gas content in the inlet blood. However, when dealing with simulations of lung insufficiency, a more extensive evaluation is needed. This work aims to investigate and assess the gas exchange performance of an oxygenator for different input values of gas content in blood.

Oxygenation performance assessment of an artificial lung in different central anatomic configurations.

Objectives: Aim of this work was to characterize possible central anatomical configurations in which a future artificial lung (AL) could be connected, in terms of oxygenation performance.

Methods: Pulmonary and systemic circulations were simulated using a numerical and an in vitro approach. The in vitro simulation was carried out in a mock loop in three phases: (1) normal lung, (2) pulmonary shunt (50% and 100%), and (3) oxygenator support in three anatomical configurations: right atrium-pulmonary artery (RA-PA), pulmonary artery-left atrium (PA-LA), and aorta-left atrium (Ao-LA).

Urea-Creatinine Ratio (UCR) After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Association of Protein Catabolism with Complication Rate and Outcome.

Objective: The urea-creatinine ratio (UCR) has been proposed as potential biomarker for critical illness-associated catabolism. Its role in the context of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains to be elucidated, which was the aim of the present study.

Methods: We enrolled 66 patients with aSAH with normal renal function and 36 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery as a control group for the effects of surgery.

A New Percutaneous Approach to Treat Combined Right Ventricular and Respiratory Failure: The "Aachen Cannula".

Introduction: Right ventricular failure (RVF) on its own is a life-threatening condition. Often it manifests as a two-organ failure in the final phase of several lung diseases. Mechanical circulatory support is a proven treatment of RVF but remains challenging.

The flutter-by effect: a comprehensive study of the fluttering cusps of the Perceval heart valve prosthesis.

Objectives: Sutureless aortic valve prostheses are gaining popularity due to the substantial reduction in cross-clamp time. In this study, we report our observations on the cusp-fluttering phenomenon of the Perceval bioprosthesis (LivaNova, London, UK) using a combination of technical and medical perspectives.

Methods: Between August 2014 and December 2016, a total of 108 patients (69% women) with a mean age of 78 years had aortic valve replacement using the Perceval bioprosthesis (34 combined procedures).

Does percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy increase the incidence of sternal wound infection - a single center retrospective of 4100 cases.

Background: The impact of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) on the development of post-median sternotomy wound infection (SWI) and mediastinitis is still controversial. We aimed to investigate the frequency of cross-infection and incidence of SWI after PDT.

Methods: In a retrospective design, out of a total of 4100 procedures, all patients who had undergone median sternotomy and postoperative PDT were included from January 2010 to May 2013.