Magnitude and Time Course of Changes Induced by Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Unloading in Chronic Heart Failure: Insights into Cardiac Recovery
Continuous-flow LVAD unloading induced in a subset of patients, both ischemic and nonischemic, early improvement in myocardial structure and systolic and diastolic function that was largely completed within 6 months, with no evidence of subsequent regression.
Death on an LVAD-Two Sides of a Coin
We present two contrasting cases of death on LVAD support and present some ethical issues surrounding the end of life on LVAD support.
Modification of Self-Concept in Patients with a Left-Ventricular Assist Device: An Initial Exploration
We explored how patients with left-ventricular assist devices (LVAD) met the health-deviation requisite of modifying self-concept to accept this form of treatment and restore normalcy.
Risk Analysis and Improvement of Strategies in Patients Who Have Acute Type A Aortic Dissection with Coronary Artery Dissection
The risk factors were identified for mortality and established to improve treatment strategies in patients who have acute type A aortic dissection with coronary artery dissection.
The CentriMag Ventricular Assist Device in Acute Heart Failure Refractory to Medical Management
The CentriMag ventricular assist device (VAD) has gained popularity in the last several years as rescue support for patients with decompensated heart failure. We have used the CentriMag VAD as a bridge to decision device. We describe our experience with device placement, use and outcomes.
From Bloodless Surgery to Patient Blood Management
Safety and efficacy concerns of allogeneic blood transfusions and their impact on patient outcomes and associated staggering costs and restricted supply have fueled the quest for other modalities and strategies to reduce use of blood components.
Operating One-Handed: Emergency Treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses
An elderly woman was brought to the emergency room (ER) hypotensive in a confused mental state from what turned out at exploration to be a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. You are in the operating room, and the anesthesiologist has just hung the first unit of blood but has not started infusion when the ER calls.
The Approach to Patients with Bleeding Disorders Who Do Not Accept Blood-Derived Products
Despite the widespread use of allogeneic blood components in clinical practice, there are patients in whom transfusion cannot be carried out for various reasons, including refusal of transfusions because of religious beliefs.
Long-Term Outcome of High-Urgency Heart Transplant Patients With and Without Temporary Ventricular Assist Device Support
The use of short-term ventricular assist devices (VAD) in patients awaiting high-urgency (HU) heart transplantation (HTx) in Spain has steadily increased due to longer waiting times and the new heart allocation system.
Aortic Valve Replacement in a Jehovah’s Witness: a Case of Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Management for Bloodless Surgery
This case highlights the importance of carefully navigating through the most recent clinical and ethical protocol involved in the surgical management of JW's.
Old Faithful: A Great Customized Pediatric/Adult Recirculating Cardioplegia System Never Dies
Customization in pediatrics is very common. Early in my career since the early 80’s, there has been a lot of improvements in perfusion.
Open Cardiac Surgery in the First Hours of Life Using Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood
This article describes the first clinical experience of complete repair of complex critical congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the first hours of life using autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB).