Prevention of neointimal proliferation by immunosuppression in synthetic vascular grafts.

Objective: Immunosuppressive agents have been proposed to reduce neointimal hyperplasia in synthetic vascular grafts. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rapamycins (systemic vs. local vs.

Transit time flow measurement: experimental validation and comparison of three different systems.

Background: Bloodflow measurements are of major clinical importance for quality control in vascular surgery. They allow detection of low-flow situations which may influence outcome adversely. The purpose of the present study was to validate three different flow systems for measuring absolute blood flow.

Outcome of thoracoabdominal aortic operations using deep hypothermia and distal exsanguination.

Background: Operation of the descending and thoracoabdominal aorta may be affected by a significant perioperative morbidity, mainly because of ischemic damage of the spinal cord and malperfusion of the abdominal organs.

Methods: A comparative analysis was performed on two consecutive series of patients operated between 1982 and 1998. Group 1 consisted of 90 patients operated with moderate hypothermic left heart bypass.

Effects of unprocessed and processed cardiopulmonary bypass blood retransfused into patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the effect of autologous unprocessed to processed residual cardiopulmonary bypass blood (CPB) on patients' laboratory and clinical parameters and outcome.

Methods: 20 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery were randomized to receive either unprocessed CPB blood (control group) or processed CPB blood employing the Continuous AutoTransfusion System (CATS; Fresenius, Bad Homburg, Germany). We have shown that this method eliminated >93% of activated mediators.

Perioperative bleeding and thromboembolic risk during non-cardiac surgery in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves: an institutional review.

Background And Aims Of The Study: The study aim was to determine the risk of thromboembolic and bleeding complications in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses who underwent non-cardiac surgery under different regimens of perioperative anticoagulation. Data were analyzed on the basis of surgery type and underlying disease.

Methods: A series of 235 patients (mean age 63 +/- 4.