Lung transplantation outcome in cystic fibrosis patients with previous pneumothorax.

Background: High perioperative mortality that results from hemorrhage from pleural adhesions was reported in the early experience of heart-lung transplantation. This led to previous pleural procedures becoming a relative/absolute contraindication to transplantation in some centers, despite the advent of bilateral lung transplantation. Has this lead to a more conservative approach to pneumothorax management in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF)? And what is the effect of previous pleural procedures on surgical outcome of lung transplantation?

Methods: We reviewed 3 groups of patients transplanted at this center from 1989 to 2002, matched for year of lung transplantation.

Characterization of Escherichia coli strains causing urinary tract infections in patients with transposed intestinal segments.

Purpose: Transposition of intestinal segments into the urinary tract predisposes to urinary tract infections. We characterized bacterial infections in these patients and examined the virulence genotype and persistence of Escherichia coli isolates.

Materials And Methods: We followed 26 patients who underwent bladder reconstructive surgery using transposed intestinal segments.

Postoperative arrhythmias and the role for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Arrhythmias are seen frequently in the early postoperative phase of coronary artery surgery. Ventricular ectopic beats and atrial fibrillation are the most common rhythm disturbances and they offer the greatest management challenges. Yet despite the lack of good clinical trial data, few new studies have been initiated and reported in recent years.