Outcome after heart transplantation from donation after circulatory-determined death donors.

Background: The requirement for heart transplantation is increasing, vastly outgrowing the supply of hearts available from donation after brain death (DBD) donors. Transplanting hearts after donation after circulatory-determined death (DCD) may be a viable additive alternative to DBD donors. This study compared outcomes from the largest single-center experience of DCD heart transplantation against matched DBD heart transplants.

Microwave surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation during off-pump coronary artery surgery using total arterial-Y-grafts: an early experience.

This study demonstrates the efficacy and eligibility of concomitant epicardial microwave AF (MWAF) ablation during off-pump arterial revascularisation using the left internal mammary to radial 'Y' graft (OPCABy) in patients with permanent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. From June 2004 to December 2005, sixteen consecutive patients were offered MWAF ablation and OPCABy. AF was permanent in 11 cases and paroxysmal in five.

Factors influencing the outcome of paediatric cardiac surgical patients during extracorporeal circulatory support.

Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a common modality of circulatory assist device used in children. We assessed the outcome of children who had ECMO following repair of congenital cardiac defects (CCD) and identified the risk factors associated with hospital mortality.

Methods: From April 1990 to December 2003, 53 patients required ECMO following surgical correction of CCD.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with lepirudin anticoagulation for Wegener's granulomatosis with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with lepirudin anticoagulation was successfully used for a complicated case of Wegener's granulomatosis and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Interestingly, a linear correlation was found between activated partial thromboplastin time and activated clotting time during lepirudin anticoagulation.

Predictors of mortality in early surgical intervention for active native valve endocarditis and significance of antimicrobial therapy: a single-center experience.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Cardiac surgery for active infective endocarditis remains a challenging and high-risk procedure. The outcome from early surgical intervention for active native valve endocarditis (ANVE) was studied, the aim being to identify significant predictors of mortality and the relationship between duration of preoperative antibiotics and outcome.

Methods: Between January 1996 and February 2002, 61 patients with ANVE underwent surgery within four weeks of diagnosis.

Preoperative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition can cause severe post CPB vasodilation--current UK opinion.

Preoperative use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in cardiac surgery patients is thought to cause extreme vasodilatation in post cardiopulmonary bypass period. Opinions are divided as to whether it is beneficial or not to stop it prior to operation. A national survey in the UK was carried out on this issue.

Aortic pseudoaneurysm complicating sternal wound infection following CABG.

Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta following coronary artery bypass grafting is a rare complication. In this report we present two such cases. We were successful in repairing the false aneurysm and sternal dehiscence in one case.