Attenuation of receptor-dependent and -independent vasoconstriction in the human radial artery.

Background: Vasodilator strategies used to treat bypass grafts in the operating theatre, such as nitrates, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and calcium channel antagonists have a broad but short-lived effect against a variety of vasoconstrictor stimuli. Treatments that react irreversibly with proteins modulating vasoconstriction have the advantage that their effects can last well into the postoperative period. In addition systemic effects are avoided as the treatment is localised to the treated graft.

Cardiac surgery in patients with previous pneumonectomy.

Severe pulmonary dysfunction is a commonly occurring postoperative complication following cardiac surgery. Resection of a lung causes major anatomical and physiological changes. Shift of the mediastinum and reduction in respiratory function following pneumonectomy makes cardiac surgery challenging not only for the surgeon but also for the anaesthetist.

Pleural inflammatory myofibroblastoma: a locally aggressive intra-thoracic tumour.

A 41-year old non-smoking woman presented with persistent pleural effusion. Pleural fluid was hemorrhagic and fluid cytology was negative for malignant cells. A working diagnosis of chronic haemothorax was made and standard right thoracotomy was performed to identify the source of bleeding.

Edge-to-edge technique for mitral valve repair: medium-term results with echocardiographic follow-up.

Background: The follow-up data for the Alfieri edge-to-edge technique of mitral valve repair is still a matter of interest. We describe the medium-term results of a single surgeon's practice with clinical and echocardiographic follow-up.

Methods: Between October 1998 and July 2003, 41 patients underwent the Alfieri repair.

Unusual structural valve degeneration in a cloth-covered Starr-Edwards valve.

Structural valve degeneration in a mechanical ball and cage prosthesis is a well-described entity. Here we describe an unusual case of structural valve degeneration of a cloth-covered composite-seat Starr-Edwards ball and cage valve prosthesis in the mitral position, where degeneration of the cloth covering of the seat of the valve led to significant intravalvular mitral regurgitation.

Preoperative calculation of risk for prolonged intensive care unit stay following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Patients who have prolonged stay in intensive care unit (ICU) are associated with adverse outcomes. Such patients have cost implications and can lead to shortage of ICU beds. We aimed to develop a preoperative risk prediction tool for prolonged ICU stay following coronary artery surgery (CABG).

Effect of prolonged intensive care stay on survival following coronary surgery.

The aim of the study was to examine midterm survival in patients who required prolonged recovery in the intensive care unit. The 5,186 consecutive patients who underwent isolated coronary surgery between April 1997 and March 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified as having prolonged (>3 days) or normal ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF