Medical Device Safety Alert: Edwards Lifesciences Femoral Arterial and Venous Cannula
Edwards Lifesciences has identified an increase in the use of our Femoral Arterial and Venous Cannula in adult and pediatric populations in a manner that is not intended
Introspection into Institutional Database Allows for Focused Quality Improvement Plan in Cardiac Surgery: Example for a New Global Healthcare System
Reducing readmission rates is vital to improving quality of care and reducing healthcare costs. In accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicare will cut payments to hospitals with high 30-day readmission rates. We retrospectively reviewed an institutional database to identify risk factors predisposing adult cardiac surgery patients to rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge.
Association Between Value-Based Purchasing Score and Hospital Characteristics
Medicare hospital Value-based purchasing (VBP) program that links Medicare payments to quality of care will become effective from 2013. It is unclear whether specific hospital characteristics are associated with a hospital's VBP score, and consequently incentive payments.The objective of the study was to assess the association of hospital characteristics with (i) the mean VBP score, and (ii) specific percentiles of the VBP score distribution.
Comparison of Two Tranexamic Acid Dose Regimens in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Valve Surgery
Tranexamic acid (TA), a synthetic antifibrinolytic drug, has been shown to reduce postoperative bleeding and the need for allogeneic blood transfusion in cardiac surgery. However, the optimal dose regimen of TA is still under debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a lower-dose TA regimen produced equivalent efficacy to its higher-dose counterpart in reducing postoperative bleeding and transfusion needs.
The Effect of Tranexamic Acid in Blood Loss and Transfusion Volume in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: A Single-Surgeon Experience
Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to decrease blood loss in cardiac and joint surgery. Few studies have examined its use in pediatric spine surgery, and the results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine whether TXA decreases intraoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion by a single surgeon.
Initial Experience with Internal Mammary Artery Harvesting with the da Vinci Surgical System for Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass
We evaluated the feasibility of off-pump minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) in combination with robotic harvesting of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA).
Platelet Dysfunction as Measured by a Point-of-Care Monitor is an Independent Predictor of High Blood Loss in Cardiac Surgery
Excessive bleeding carries a heavy burden of illness in cardiac surgery. Although platelet dysfunction is considered to be an important cause, it is not routinely measured. Our objective was to explore the relationship between platelet dysfunction and blood loss in cardiac surgery.
The Operating Surgeon Is an Independent Predictor of Chest Tube Drainage Following Cardiac Surgery
Bleeding into the chest is a major cause of blood transfusion and adverse outcomes following cardiac surgery. The authors investigated predictors of bleeding following cardiac surgery to identify potentially correctable factors.
Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair with the MitraClip: Early Results from the MitraClip Asia-Pacific Registry (MARS)
Percutaneous MitraClip therapy has been shown to be safe and efficacious in mitral regurgitation (MR). Our aim was to describe early outcomes in patients from the Asia-Pacific region.
Shortage: Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags
Shortage: Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection Bags
An Orthopedic Tissue Adhesive for Targeted Delivery of Intraoperative Biologics
One emerging therapeutic trend in orthopedics is the use of intraoperative biologics (IOB), such as bone marrow (BM) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), to stimulate healing. Here, we introduce the application of the biomaterial chondroitin sulfate succinimidyl succinate (CS-NHS) to deliver IOB in a hydrogel adhesive.
Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: An Updated Review
The first Cox-Maze procedure was performed in 1987, demonstrating the feasibility of a non-pharmacological treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Since then, surgery for AF has changed over time, in parallel with technological advances.