Reliability of three-dimensional color flow Doppler and two-dimensional pulse wave Doppler transthoracic echocardiography for estimating cardiac output after cardiac surgery.

Background: Three-dimensional color flow Doppler (3DCF) is a new convenient technique for cardiac output (CO) measurement. However, to date, no one has evaluated the accuracy of 3DCF echocardiography for CO measurement after cardiac surgery. Therefore, this single-center, prospective study was designed to evaluate the reliability of three-dimensional color flow and two-dimensional pulse wave Doppler (2D-PWD) transthoracic echocardiography for estimating cardiac output after cardiac surgery.

Reversible preoperative renal dysfunction does not add to the risk of postoperative acute kidney injury after cardiac valve surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the renal dysfunction (RD) type and change of postoperative cardiac function on the risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients who underwent cardiac valve surgery.

Method: Reversible renal dysfunction (RRD) was defined as preoperative RD in patients who had not been initially diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cardiac function improvement (CFI) was defined as postoperative left ventricular ejection function - preoperative left ventricular ejection function (ΔEF) >0%, and cardiac function not improved (CFNI) as ΔEF ≤0%.

Early Kinetics of Procalcitonin in Predicting Surgical Outcomes in Type A Aortic Dissection Patients.

Background: In cardiac surgery, elevation of procalcitonin (PCT) could be observed postoperatively in the absence of any evidence of infection and also seems to be a prognostic marker. PCT levels measured in patients undergoing Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) were used to determine prognostic values for complications and surgical outcomes.

Methods: Measurements of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and leukocyte count were observed in TAAD surgery patients (n = 251; average age: 49.

[Predictors and reasons for readmission into cardiac intensive care unit].

Objective: To evaluate the predictors and reasons for readmission into cardiac intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A total of 4978 patients underwent cardiac surgery between January 2008 and August 2010. The perioperative risk factors for readmission were analyzed by multivariate regression.