Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support improves survival of patients with severe Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.

Objective: The purposes of this study are to evaluate the outcome of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a subgroup of patients with Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome who had a predicted mortality of 100% and to assess the complications associated with this treatment modality and with different cannulation techniques.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with severe Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome were supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between April 1994 and June 2006. Cannulation of the femoral vessels was performed on an emergency basis by a percutaneous approach in 15 (39.

Off-pump coronary artery grafting in patients with left main coronary artery disease.

Background: Left main coronary artery disease (LMCD) is considered a relative contraindication to off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting. This study evaluates the safety and feasibility of OPCAB in these patients compared to an on-pump group (cardiopulmonary bypass, CPB) with LMCD.

Methods: Between January 2000 and July 2002, 95 patients with left main coronary artery stenosis >50% underwent coronary revascularization.

Redo-OPCAB via left thoracotomy using symmetry aortic connector system: a report of two cases.

Left thoracotomy is an established approach for redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This approach has also been successfully used in off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB). Traditionally, the grafts have been anastomosed proximally to the descending thoracic aorta or the left subclavian artery.

Beating-heart valve surgery in patients with renal failure requiring hemodialysis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The safety and efficacy of beating-heart valve surgery as a myocardial protection strategy was evaluated in patients with renal failure requiring hemodialysis.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of nine patients (four males, five females; mean age 46.7 years; mean duration of hemodialysis 47 +/- 49 months) who underwent beating-heart valve surgery at the present authors' institution between April 2000 and September 2002.

Initial experience with sutureless proximal anastomoses performed with a mechanical connector leading to clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: We report our early experience with the Symmetry Aortic Connector (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN) used for sutureless proximal aortosaphenous vein graft anastomoses without any cross clamp during coronary bypass procedures.