OBJECTIVES Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has been developed to offer patients the benefits of open heart operations with decreased pain and limited skin incision. A limited superior median sternotomy has been shown to provide a good exposure for aortic valve replacement (AVR) and good results. In this study we report the results of minimally invasive AVR compared to standard sternotomy AVR...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and analgesic effects of ketamine by comparing it with propofol starting at the induction of anesthesia until the end of sternotomy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. INTRODUCTION Anesthetic induction and maintenance may induce myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary arte...

HYPOTHESIS Complications associated with thyroidectomy for intrathoracic goiters have been underestimated because of the lack of a precise definition of high-risk patients. DESIGN Retrospective multicenter multinational review of medical records and radiographic images of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for intrathoracic goiters reaching the carina tracheae. Demographic, clinical, operat...

STUDY OBJECTIVES The diaphragm adapts to its shortened state in experimental emphysema primarily by losing sarcomeres in series, thus reducing its optimal operating length. One would expect improved diaphragmatic function after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) only if the muscle can readapt to its elevated, lengthened postoperative position by either adding back sarcomeres or lengthening sa...

OBJECTIVE In a prospective study, the effect of thymectomy on the pulmonary status of 50 consecutive patients with myasthenia gravis was evaluated over a time range of 4 years in the Chest and Chest surgery departments in the Cairo University Clinics and Thoracic Surgery Department of the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Duisburg-Nord. METHODS The patients were divided into two groups: Group I inclu...

BACKGROUND Mitral valve repair is the standard therapy for patients with severe mitral regurgitation. Currently, robotic mitral valve repair is the least invasive surgical approach and an alternative to the traditional sternotomy. Recent studies and newer guidelines on mitral valve repair advocate for earlier referral to surgery, resulting in better long-term outcomes of valve function and decr...

BACKGROUND Mediastinitis resulting from surgical site infection may occur in 1% of patients undergoing median sternotomy. METHODS Case report and review of the pertinent English-language literature. RESULTS We report a case of mediastinitis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, in a patient with multiple comorbidities who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. Successful treatment consisted of surg...

Results The mean age was 41.4 years (ranging from 19 to 74 years). 58 patients were male. Mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time was (82 ± 23) minutes and (53 ± 16) minutes, respectively. 2 patients required conversion to median sternotomy. The mean hospital stay was 4 ± 1 day. Follow-up was performed in all patients for a period of 15 ± 6 months postoperativel...