Mark A.J. Newman

Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema.

The adult respiratory distress syndrome seen after pneumonectomy is an uncommon but usually lethal complication. Its etiology remains unknown, although several factors such as fluid overload, endothelial damage, lymphatic interruption, and hyperinflation are thought to be involved in its pathogenesis.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac operations

This clinical trial, which was composed of 1,031 adults undergoing cardiac operations, compared the efficacy of a single dose of 1 g of ceftriaxone with a 48-our regimen consisting of flucloxacillin and gentamicin. There was no significant difference (p = 0.89) in the overall incidence of major infections: 30 of 515 patients (5.8%; 95% confidence interval, 5.4% to 6.2%) taking ceftriaxone and 29 of 516 patients (5.6%; 95% confidence interval, 5.2% to 6.0%) taking flucloxacillin and gentamicin. Subgroup analyses, with a lower statistical power, failed to show a significant difference between patients who received ceftriaxone and those who received flucloxacillin/gentamicin: major sternal wound infections arose in 2.7% of the patients taking ceftriaxone versus 1.6% in those on the 48-hour regimen (p = 0.20) and major limb wound infections arose in 4.2% and 5.4%, respectively (p = 0.44). Single-dose prophylaxis was associated with fewer intravenous administrations (864 doses versus 9,570 doses) and cost less (A

Comparison of pulsed Doppler and thermodilution methods for measuring cardiac output in critically ill patients.

17,248 versus A

Moderate exposure to allogeneic blood products is not associated with reduced long-term survival after surgery for coronary artery disease

78,510). Although the regimen that included gentamicin was associated with the greatest biochemical impairment of renal function, the overall toxicity for both groups was low. We conclude that a single dose of ceftriaxone provided cost-efficient prophylaxis for adults undergoing cardiac operations when compared with a 48-hour regimen of gentamicin and flucloxacillin. The general principle revealed by our data is that the short-term administration of an appropriate antibiotic regimen represents optimal prophylaxis for patients undergoing cardiac procedures.

Use of a single silastic chest drain following thoracotomy: initial evaluation

We obtained 145 consecutive cardiac output measurements in 38 critically ill patients, using the invasive thermodilution and the noninvasive pulsed Doppler methods. The mean thermodilution cardiac output (TDco) was 5.7 ± 1.87 L/min and the mean pulsed Doppler cardiac output (PDco) was 5.16 ± 1.66 L/min. The mean difference between the two measurements was 0.51 L/min with an SD >1.6 L/min, reflecting the scattering of results. The overall correlation coefficient was .58. The intercepts were large and the regression equation some way from the line of equal values (TDco = 2.28 + 0.66 PDco). When the results were analyzed according to diagnosis or by group experience, there were some differences in the bias of the estimate; however, the SD of the difference between methods was greater than one liter/min in all groups. Thus, the pulsed Doppler method failed to estimate accurately TDco in critically ill patients.

Remote ischaemic preconditioning down-regulates kinin receptor expression in neutrophils of patients undergoing heart surgery

Background:It has been suggested that blood transfusion has an adverse effect on long-term health, mainly through immune modulation and tumor promotion. To further assess this concern, the authors have performed a prospective observational study with the hypothesis that after taking perioperative risk factors relevant to long-term survival into account, patients undergoing coronary artery surgery who receive a perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion have worse long-term survival than those who do not. Methods:The health outcomes of 1,841 consecutive subjects who had isolated nonemergency first-time coronary artery surgery and who survived more than 60 days after surgery were determined by record linkage. The association between length of survival, blood products transfused, and risk factors for long-term survival at entry to the study were determined by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results:A total of 1,062 subjects were transfused. Of these, 266 subjects died during a mean follow-up of 8.1 yr. Of subjects who were transfused, 27% had a new malignant condition recorded on the death certificate, compared with 43% who were not transfused. Older age, cerebrovascular disease, use of a mammary graft, chronic pulmonary disease, renal dysfunction, reduced left ventricular function, and preoperative anemia were predictive of reduced long-term survival. There was no association between transfusion of blood products and long-term survival. Conclusions:Patients who have undergone coronary artery surgery and who have received moderate amounts of blood as part of responsible and conservative management should be reassured that they are unlikely to experience a reduction in long-term survival.

Radiological diagnosis and classification of antegrade and retrograde Stanford type A intimal intussusception.

Background:  It is standard practice to use multiple large bore semi‐rigid chest tubes to drain the pleural cavity following thoracic procedures. These can cause pain and discomfort at the insertion site.

Surgical Pulmonary Embolectomy: Experience in a Series of 37 Consecutive Cases

OBJECTIVES Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) may protect distant organs against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We investigated the impact of RIPC on kinin receptor expression in neutrophils following RIPC in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS Patients undergoing elective CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomized to RIPC (n = 15) or control (n = 15) groups. The study group underwent RIPC by inflation of a blood pressure cuff on the arm. Expression of kinin receptors, plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and neutrophil elastase were determined at baseline (before RIPC/sham), immediately before surgery (after RIPC/sham) and 30 min and 24 h after surgery. Plasma bradykinin levels were assessed before and after RIPC/sham, and at 30 min, 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery. Serum creatine kinase (CK), troponin I, C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate levels were measured immediately prior to surgery and 30 min, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery. RESULTS Kinin B2 receptor expression did not differ between the groups at baseline (pre-RIPC), but was significantly lower in the RIPC group than in the control group after RIPC/sham (P < 0.05). Expressions of both kinin B1 and B2 receptors were significantly down-regulated in the RIPC group, and this persisted to 24 h after surgery (P < 0.001). Neutrophil elastase levels were significantly increased after surgery. There were no differences in CK, CRP, cytokine, lactate or troponin I levels between the groups. CONCLUSIONS RIPC down-regulated the expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in neutrophils of patients undergoing CABG.

Evaluation of long-term clinical and health service outcomes following coronary artery revascularisation in Western Australia (WACARP): a population-based cohort study protocol

Intimal intussusception is an uncommon variation of aortic dissection, resulting from circumferential detachment and stripping of the intima in the setting of a Stanford type A dissection. The resultant tube of detached intima may prolapse either antegrade into the aortic lumen or retrograde into the left ventricular cavity. We classify these forms of dissection as antegrade and retrograde Stanford type A intimal intussusception. We present two cases with intimal intussusception and a review of the current literature. The majority of previous cases have been reported in the cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical literature, with few previous radiological reports.

Impact of the introduction of drug eluting stents on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous and surgical coronary artery revascularisation procedures in Western Australia

BACKGROUND Massive pulmonary embolism is a poorly tolerated condition. Treatment options in this condition include anticoagulation and primary reperfusion therapy - systemic thrombolysis, catheter based treatments or surgical embolectomy. There is little data on the relative efficacy of each treatment. METHODS The preoperative characteristics and outcomes of patients referred for surgical embolectomy between 2000-2014 was reviewed. Echocardiography was performed in the majority of patients before and after surgery. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients underwent pulmonary embolectomy between 2000-2014. One patient died within 30 days, another before leaving hospital. All other patients were alive at the time of follow-up (survival 94.6% at median 36 months). Median ventilation time was 24hours. Median hospital length of stay was 10.5 days. There was echocardiographic evidence of severe right ventricular strain (increased size and decreased function) before surgery, which was significantly improved to within the normal range by discharge, and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Surgical embolectomy is a safe procedure, with low mortality, improved postoperative right ventricular function and pulmonary pressure, and good long-term outcome. Early relief of a large proportion of the clot burden can be life-saving. There should be consideration for its use as an initial treatment strategy in patients with massive or submassive pulmonary embolus with a large burden of proximal clot. A multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of these patients is required.