REPEAT STERNOTOMY: AN IMPROVED SURGICAL TECHNIQUE.

An improved method of opening the sternum for intracardiac or extracardiac procedures following one or more previous midline sternotomies is described. In our institution, the Stryker(R) pneumatically-driven(*) Sagittal Saw with right-angled blade is used. During the past two years, approximately 75 repeat sternotomies have been performed, and in no instance has a cardiac chamber or great vessel been injured.

AN INTRACORPOREAL (ABDOMINAL) LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE [ALVAD], XXX: CLINICAL READINESS AND INITIAL TRIALS IN MAN.

The purpose of this report is to present documenting evidence of the clinical readiness of an abdominal left ventricular assist device (ALVAD) according to NHLI criteria,( double dagger ) and the initiation of clinical trials of this device in otherwise irretrievable adult post-cardiotomy patients at the Texas Heart Institute of St. Luke's Episcopal and Texas Children's Hospitals. The ALVAD system has been developed, modified, and improved under NHLI auspices over the last eight years,( double dagger double dagger ) with annual reviews.

BIOCHEMICAL, HEMATOLOGIC AND COAGULATION VALUES IN THE HEREFORD CALF.

Biochemical, hematologic and coagulation values have been determined in normal Hereford calves of both sexes, two to six months of age. These data generally agree with those of others and indicate a similarity in calves irrespective of their age, sex or breed. Prothrombin times are markedly longer in the calf than in man.