BACKGROUND Patients requiring an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) after cardiac surgery are critically ill and need a prolonged ICU stay. Considering limited health care resources, the early identification of patients with an extremely poor prognosis is important as a solid base for the decision whether further aggressive continuation or cessation of the therapy is recommendable. METHODS From...

INTRODUCTION Ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm is an uncommon but life-threatening condition. We describe the incidence, causes and management of VT storm among patients admitted to the coronary care unit of a large tertiary hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 1 November 2009 and 30 April 2010, 198 patients were admitted to the coronary care unit and 7 (3.5%) presented with VT storm. A r...

Objective: To determine if arterial conduit selection or more ef®cient arterial revascularization techniques in ̄uence in-hospital mortality. Methods: Data from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia, between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 1998 (n ˆ 1681) was collected prospectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Independent p...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to test whether the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) Impella LP2.5 (Abiomed Europe GmbH, Aachen, Germany) provides superior hemodynamic support compared with the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). BACKGROUND Cardiogenic shock caused by left ventricular failure is associated with high mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). An LVAD...

OBJECTIVES The optimal temperature for blood cardioplegia remains unclear. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 138 patients undergoing isolated myocardial revascularization by a single surgeon in our institution over a period of 2 years. Patients operated on early in the study period received tepid (29°C) continuous minimally diluted blood cardioplegia (minicardioplegia), delive...