The 30-Year Influence of a Regional Consortium on Quality Improvement in Cardiac Surgery
By using collaborative quality improvement initiatives, the NNECDSG has succeeded in significant, sustained improvements in quality and cost for CABG during the past 30 years. These data support the utility of a regional consortium in improving quality.
Prospective Evaluation of a Blood Transfusion Protocol for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Operations
During a prospective evaluation of blood transfusion protocols, a risk-adjusted analysis demonstrated a reduction in transfusions despite poor protocol compliance.
Development of Persistent Opioid Use After Cardiac Surgery
Centers must adopt protocols to increase patient education and limit opioid prescriptions after discharge.
Supplemental Cardioplegia During Donor Heart Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Administration of supplemental cardioplegia may be associated with a reduction in organ ischemic injury and shorter intensive care stay as well as improvement in early survival after transplantation.
Thrombosis and Coagulopathy in COVID‐19: An Illustrated Review
There appear to be high rates of venous thromboembolism and also, what has been poorly described before in acute lung injury, a high rate of pulmonary immunothrombosis (thrombosis secondary to inflammation).
Is a “Cytokine Storm” Relevant to COVID-19?
A critical evaluation of the term cytokine storm and its relevance to COVID-19 is warranted.
The role of ECMO in COVID-19: Can it Provide Rescue Therapy in Those Who Are Critically Ill?
Our understanding of COVID‐19 is ever‐changing and the need for intensive care beds is rising, which means that ECMO will surely play a key role in the near future.
Severe Impairment of Microcirculatory Perfused Vessel Density Is Associated With Postoperative Lactate and Acute Organ Injury After Cardiac Surgery
In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, there was a significant decrease in postoperative microcirculatory convective blood flow and diffusive capacity during early postoperative resuscitation.
Hyperlactatemia of Dialysis-Dependent Patients After Cardiac Surgery Impacts on In-Hospital Mortality: A Two-Center Retrospective Study
In dialysis-dependent patients after cardiac surgery, the early-onset of a maximum arterial lactate concentration of > 4.5 mmol/L was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality.
Toll-like Receptor 9 and the Inflammatory Response to Surgical Trauma and Cardiopulmonary Bypass
CPB, surgical trauma and ischemic perfusion injury trigger the release of circulating mtDNA that activates TLR-9, in turn stimulating a release of IL-6. Therefore, TLR-9 antagonists may attenuate this response and may provide a future therapeutic target whereby the systemic inflammatory response to cardiac surgery may be manipulated to improve clinical outcomes.
Effect of Pulsatile Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Adult Heart Surgery
Findings of this study do not support the superiority of pulsatile flow pattern during CPB, in terms of cerebral oxygen saturation or postoperative mortality/morbidity.