Bombay blood and the 'Swab-Lite' method of blood conservation.

Bombay blood (hh blood) is a rare blood group (4 per million), with no expression of the H antigen present in blood group O. Bombay blood patients can only receive Bombay blood, with autodonation used for elective surgery. We present a Bombay patient (haemoglobin 12.

Enhancing early functional independence following cardiac surgery: a quality improvement programme.

Early mobility and activity programmes following cardiac surgery are vital for improved patient outcomes, as they accelerate the recovery of functional capacity and walking distance. We observed that only 5.3% of our patients achieved a Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) score of 80% or more by the third postoperative day (POD).

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) PCR cycle threshold: can it help in the timing of urgent cardiac surgery?

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant reduction in urgent cardiac surgery due to concerns about safety for both patients and care givers. The timing of safe cardiac surgery is yet to be clarified in the setting of COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods: Due to the urgency of the cardiac conditions on presentation, we have operated on four patients who exhibited the spectrum of COVID-19 disease from asymptomatic to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.