Increased Intraoperative Fluid Administration Is Associated with Severe Primary Graft Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation.

Background: Severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a major cause of early morbidity and mortality in patients after lung transplantation. The etiology and pathophysiology of PGD is not fully characterized and whether intraoperative fluid administration increases the risk for PGD remains unclear from previous studies. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that increased total intraoperative fluid volume during lung transplantation is associated with the development of grade-3 PGD.

Dissecting intramyocardial hematoma after robotic mitral valve repair.

We report the first case of a dissecting intramyocardial hematoma discovered intraoperatively after robotic mitral valve repair, potential etiologies relevant to robotic surgery, and its successful management.

Superior vena cava syndrome post minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

We describe an unusual presentation of cardiac tamponade as superior vena cava syndrome post minimally invasive mitral valve repair. The tamponade was caused by local compression of junction between the right atrium and superior vena cava. This case illustrates the importance of using transesophageal echocardiogram in postoperative management of cardiac surgery patients.

Platelet transfusion in cardiac surgery does not confer increased risk for adverse morbid outcomes.

Background: Platelet transfusion has been reported to confer increased morbidity after cardiac surgery but prior studies were limited by confounding variables including red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Our objective was to examine the impact of platelet transfusion on outcomes in cardiac surgery controlling perioperative risk factors.

Methods: A total of 32,298 patients underwent on-pump isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), an isolated valve, or a combined CABG and valve procedure between January 1, 1993 and January 1, 2006.