Hemodynamic differences between the awake and anesthetized conditions in normal calves.

There is insufficient information in the literature about baseline circulatory parameters in normal calves in the anesthetized versus postoperative awake conditions under which a large volume of medical research is conducted. Eleven calves (mean body weight, 78.1 ± 14.

Endoscopic versus open radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The radial artery has become the artery of choice after both internal thoracic arteries for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study compares wound healing and arm complications after endoscopic versus open radial artery harvesting.

Methods: From January 2002 to July 2004, 509 patients underwent CABG including a radial artery conduit.

Implantation technique and early echocardiographic performance of newly designed stentless mitral bioprosthesis.

This article describes the implantation techniques of two new stentless mitral bioprosthesis and their early echocardiographic performance in 12 acute sheep model. The first stentless mitral bioprosthesis (stentless bileaflet valve [SBV]) was designed as a bileaflet valve with sewing ring to suture down to the native mitral annulus. The other one (SBV with chordae) has two chordae-like structures to be attached to the head of the native papillary muscles.

The first Latin-American risk stratification system for cardiac surgery: can be used as a graphic pocket-card score.

This study aims to develop the first Latin-American risk model that can be used as a simple, pocket-card graphic score at bedside. The risk model was developed on 2903 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the Spanish Hospital of Buenos Aires, Argentina, between June 1994 and December 1999. Internal validation was performed on 708 patients between January 2000 and June 2001 at the same center.

Economic evaluation of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass: cost-effectiveness and quality-adjusted life years in a randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the costs and health benefits of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Randomized controlled clinical trial is used as the design. The setting is in a single tertiary cardiothoracic center in Middlesex, UK.

Systemic venous thrombosis after recombinant factor VIIa in the control of bleeding after cardiac surgery.

Recombinant factor VIIa has been licensed in the United Kingdom since 1996 for the control of bleeding in hemophilic patients who are actively bleeding or are about to undergo surgery. Medical practitioners are also applying recombinant factor VIIa toward the control of bleeding in patients without hemophilia. Although the efficacy of recombinant factor VIIa has been shown in many patients, concerns have arisen about the risk of thrombotic adverse events.

A three-dimensional echocardiographic comparison of a deep pericardial stitch versus an apical suction device for heart positioning during beating heart surgery.

Background: Heart positioning during beating heart surgery produces significant haemodynamic compromise either when a deep pericardial stitch (DPS) or apical suction devices (ApSDs) are used. In this study the two techniques' haemodynamic performance and effect on intracardiac structures were compared through transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) obtained volume measurements and three-dimensional ventricular and mitral valve computer reconstructions.

Methods: Sequential 0 degrees to 180 degrees TEE images of the left heart were obtained in 10 patients undergoing beating heart surgery.

Objective surgical skill assessment: the diagonal operating matrix.

There is an urgent need for structured surgical training and assessment due to the reduction in the training duration with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). We propose a model for objective skill assessment, the PAR-Diagonal Operating Matrix (PAR-DOM) which breaks down the task of vascular anastomosis into clearly defined skills. The PAR-DOM is made up of a 3x5 table and progress is made along vectors defined on the x-axis as PAR and on the y-axis as four levels.

Comparison of clinical and economic outcomes of two antibiotic prophylaxis regimens for sternal wound infection in high-risk patients following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a prospective randomised double-blind controlled trial.

Objective: Prospective studies show a 10% incidence of sternal wound infection (SWI) after 90 days of follow-up, compared with infection rates of 5% reported by the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System after only 30 days of follow-up. This incidence increases 2-3 times in high-risk patients.

Design: Prospective randomised double-blind controlled clinical trial.

Effect of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery on clinical, angiographic, neurocognitive, and quality of life outcomes: randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the clinical, angiographic, neurocognitive, and quality of life outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: Randomised controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Tertiary cardiothoracic centre in Middlesex, England.

Effect of myocardial reperfusion on the release of nitric oxide after regional ischemia: an experimental model of beating-heart surgery.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is increasing in popularity worldwide. However, very little is known about the effect of regional myocardial ischemia-reperfusion on nitric oxide release. In an animal model mimicking off-pump bypass, male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-450 g) were mechanically ventilated under general anesthesia.

A technical failure changes a Y-graft into a C-conduit causing steal syndrome.

Y-grafting is a common coronary grafting technique for performing composite coronary grafts. The outcome and efficacy of this technique have not been studied in detail in the literature. We report a case of an occlusion in the proximal limb of a Y-graft, changing it into a C-shaped conduit and causing a steal syndrome.

Clampless arterial coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of magnetic coupling devices.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the Ventrica MVP device to perform proximal anastomoses as part of the clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) arterial revascularization procedure.

Methods: We present our preliminary experience of these first nine coronary artery cases performed in the UK from April 2003 to December 2004.

Results: The device was used in eight patients for the proximal anastomosis of a radial artery (n = 8) or right internal thoracic artery (n = 1) graft as a Y-graft from the left internal thoracic artery to the circumflex territories.

Acute effect of cerivastatin on cardiac regional ischemia in a rat model mimicking off-pump coronary surgery.

Background: Although the off-pump technique is becoming widely used in coronary bypass surgery, there has been no experimental rat heart model of regional reversible ischemia. The aims of this study were to investigate the optimal duration of coronary occlusion for making reversible ischemia and to examine whether cerivastatin increases myocardial tolerance against prolonged coronary occlusion.

Methods: Study 1--Male Sprague-Dawley rats (350 to 450 g) underwent temporary occlusion of either left anterior descending artery (LAD; for 3, 5, 7.