Clarifying Complex Relationships to Improve Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery

Two Minutes to Improve Cardiac Surgery Outcomes.

How to improve prevention of hospital infection after cardiac surgery?

Background Hospital (nosocomial) infections are associated with higher morbidity and are one of the leading cause of death after cardiac surgery. The increased hospital length of stay, large use of antimicrobial drugs and the need for isolation significantly contribute to higher costs, as well.The aim of the study: to identify independent risk factors significantly contributing to development o...

Neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in infancy.

BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disability is the most common complication for survivors of surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS We analyzed individual participant data from studies of children evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition, after cardiac surgery between 1996 and 2009. The primary outcome was Psychomotor Development Index (PDI), and the se...

Outcomes for difficult-to-wean subjects after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND The need for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) after cardiac surgery is still a common problem. We hypothesized that subjects who required PMV after a single surgery (either coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery) would have better outcomes than those who had experienced both revascularization and valve surgery. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics...

Cerebral monitoring to optimize outcomes after cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Although significant achievements have been made in the perioperative care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, adverse cerebral outcomes remain an ongoing concern. Multiple approaches have been utilized to address neurologic complications, though definitive therapeutic strategies are lacking. This review focuses on the various cerebral monitoring options that can be used i...