Validation of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Score for Prediction of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury
The CSA-NGAL score has a high sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value that can translate into improved outcomes and resource allocation. It is believed that adding it to the existing clinical scoring systems for AKI prediction will be productive.
European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection (ERTAAD) – Rationale, Design and Definition Criteria
The analysis of this multicentre registry will allow conclusive results on the prognostic importance of critical preoperative conditions and the value of different treatment strategies to reduce the risk of early adverse events after surgery for acute TAAD. This registry is expected to provide insights into the long-term durability of different strategies of surgical repair for TAAD.
Improving Formative Feedback in the Operating Room Setting: Developing and Implementing an Initiative to Improve Feedback Quality and Culture
Formative feedback, which is given in an ongoing fashion during the learning process, is fundamental to clinical education. However, dissatisfaction with formative feedback among residents is common. Difficulties with formative feedback are intensified in the operating room (OR) setting due to fast pace, space limitations, and frequent rotation of residents and attendings.
Heparin Beyond Anti-coagulation
Herein this article presents a comprehensive update on the expanded applications of heparin agents, covering the pregnant clinic, respiratory inflammation, renal disease, sepsis, pancreatitis, among others. It aims to maximize the beneficial profile of a pharmaceutical product through medical re-purposing development, exemplified by heparin, to address the unmet clinical needs of severe illness including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Pulsatility Protects the Endothelial Glycocalyx During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
The maintenance of the PWSS by pulsatility during ECMO possesses beneficial effects on glycocalyx integrity. Moreover, pulsatility prevents EndMT in endothelial cells, and low pulsatility exhibits the best protective effects. The augmentation of pulsatility may be a plausible future direction to improve the clinical outcome in ECMO.
Novel Brain Protection Method for Zone 0 Endovascular Aortic Repair with Selective Cerebral Perfusion
This brain protection method using selective cerebral perfusion under ECMO is a safe method for Zone 0 TEVAR.
Thrombin: A Pivotal Player in Hemostasis and Beyond
This review provides a description of structure and mechanisms of action of thrombin both in physiological and pathological processes. Furthermore, it summarizes laboratory tests that measure in vivo or ex vivo thrombin generation, and presents knowledge on the value of these biomarkers in bleeding disorders, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, and thromboembolic risk assessment in different patient populations. Finally, this review outlines further perspectives on using thrombin generation biomarkers for research purposes and in clinical practice.
Procalcitonin and Early Postoperative Infection After Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery
In light of this preliminary result, the clinical relevance and predictive accuracy of PCT are promising in patients with increasing values of PCT but need to be confirmed in a larger sample.
Epidemiology of Acute Kidney Injury After Neonatal Cardiac Surgery: A Report From the Multicenter Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network
Cardiac surgery–associated acute kidney injury occurs frequently after neonatal cardiac surgery in both cardiopulmonary bypass and noncardiopulmonary bypass patients. Rates vary significantly across hospitals. Only stage 3 cardiac surgery–associated acute kidney injury is associated with mortality. Cardiac surgery–associated acute kidney injury was not associated with any other outcomes. Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria may not precisely define a clinically meaningful renal injury phenotype in this population.
Pro-Con Debate: Fibrinogen Concentrate or Cryoprecipitate for Treatment of Acquired Hypofibrinogenemia in Cardiac Surgical Patients
In this Pro-Con commentary article, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using fibrinogen concentrate and cryoprecipitate to treat acquired hypofibrinogenemia in cardiac surgical patients.
Biomarkers of Cerebral Injury for Prediction of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
Postoperative serum levels of tau and GFAP were significantly elevated in cardiac surgery patients with POCD at discharge, however, the biomarkers achieved only modest predictive abilities for POCD at discharge. Postoperative levels of NSE were not associated with POCD at discharge.
The Use of Thromboelastography (TEG) and Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in Neonates: A Systematic Review
TEG and ROTEM need to become part of the standard coagulation assessment in clinical settings in which hemostatic abnormalities are involved, as they seem to provide more rapid and accurate information regarding the hemostatic profile of the neonates. Their predictive value for bleeding events in critically ill neonates could lead to a more targeted therapy optimizing utilization of blood products.