This is a provocative study questioning the current practice of using blood pressure targets perioperatively to ensure adequate perfusion. Plasma levels of a brain-specific injury biomarker (GFAP) were measured in 121 patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
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Basic science
July 6, 2015
April 13, 2015
This retrospective case-control study involving 1852 Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year survivors found that radiation to the heart valves tend to increase the risk for clinically significant valvular heart disease. The rate increased 3.1-fold in patients receiving 31-35 Gy and 11.8-fold in those who received > 40 Gy.
March 30, 2015
The authors describe a kinetic modeling tool to safely regulate the osmotic changes that can occur when treating severe metabolic alkalosis and concurent hypernatremia. The authors discuss disequilibrium syndrome and brain edema, a potential occurence when intermittant dialisis is used versus a longer, slower, and potentially more easily regulable t
March 21, 2015
Concerns remain about the definition of a high risk population who can benefit from low-dose computed tomography screening programs.
March 12, 2015
Samples from tissue microarrays of 552 NSCLC patients were analyzed to measure the levels of 3 different tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs): CD3, CD8, and CD20. An elevated level of CD3 or CD8 was associated with longer survival.
March 1, 2015
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/XDR-TB) in some countries is alarming. When few therapeutic options remain, old procedures need to be re-evaluated based on evidence, specially, surgery.
December 10, 2014
This interesting article summarizes the evidence from clinical, radiologic and pathologic investigations that lung cancer, specifically adenocarcinoma, may metastasize through the airways, defined as discontinuous spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor through the airways to adjacent or distant lung parenchyma.
December 2, 2014
This is an interesting historical vignette describing the discovery of transfer factor (TLCO, DLCO) and its subsequent importance in pulmonary physiology and cardiorthoracic risk assessment.
August 18, 2014
Bioprinting, the production of tissue by 3D printing, is a rapidly emerging technology with high potential for tissue engineering also in cardiac surgery. The paper provides insight in currently available techniques, opportunities for application and perspectives of this revolution in medicine.
June 20, 2014
This registry study which links Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) data with Medicare data examined the rates and predictors of readmission within 30-days of coronary artery surgery. The median readmission rate across 846 hospitals was 16.8%.