Centrifugal pumps are considered to be less destructive to blood elements (1) when compared to roller pumps. However, their large prime volumes render them unsuitable as arterial pumps in heart lung machine (HLM) circuitry for children. In November of 2014, the circuit at Arnold Palmer Hospital, a Biomedicus BP-50 with kinetic assist venous drainage (KAVD) and 1/4″ tubing was converted to a rol...

The Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Cardiothoracic SurgeryyInteractive CardioVascular Thoracic Surgery (EJCTSyICVTS) can be appointed for a maximum of two terms of five years each. The former Editor-in-Chief, Ludwig von Segesser, has served these two terms and I am proud to be chosen as the new Editor-in-Chief of these prestigious journals (Fig. 1). This change in the incumbent of th...

In 2011, co-workers and colleagues, mostly from Berlin, and around the world, formulated the idea of establishing the “Roland Hetzer International Cardiothoracic and Vacsular Surgical Society (RHICS)”. Despite the fact that unlike in the United States or Japan scientific societies named after highly-recognized and respected individuals are uncommon in Europe, this idea quickly gained support fr...

INTRODUCTION The cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) and the transverse cardiac diameter (TCD) on Plain chest radiography are the two parameters commonly used to diagnose cardiomegaly and heart disease. A CTR of greater than 50% on a PA film is abnormal and normally indicates cardiac or pericardial disease condition, whiles an increase of TCD from 1.5 to 2cm on two consecutive radiographs, taken at sho...

The concentrations of teicoplanin in serum, pericardium, pericardial fluid and thoracic wall fat were measured in patients undergoing cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) after the administration of a single i.v. 12 mg/kg dose. Five minutes after the start of CPB, teicoplanin serum concentrations decreased by, on average, 35% (95% confidence interval (CI): 28-42%) and remained significantly lower than...

Thoracic force-deflection characteristics have been measured in the living subhuman primate as a step towards the analysis of cardio-thoracic injuries. Mechanisms of injury were investigated by subjecting Rhesus monkeys seated on a sled to static and dynamic chest displacements (24 tests) by means of a charge fired projectile equipped with a 3 in. dia. impact plate and compensated strain gauges...

Abstract Cryptogenic cerebro-vascular stroke is defined as ischemic without definite etiology in spite of complete work up. It differs from embolic undetermined source (ESUS) which a subgroup including the cardio-embolic sources.We aimed to evaluate left atrial function using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) possible cause for cryptogenic or predictor subclinical AF.TE...

BACKGROUND There is little knowledge around the world about training and certification for general thoracic surgeons, and the relationship between thoracic surgery and cardiac surgery. Examination of the membership of European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) can clarify the training, practice and academic activity of European thor...