Optimizing CO₂ Levels in Acute Brain Injury: Balancing Cerebral Blood Flow and Intracranial Pressure
The article “Carbon dioxide pathophysiology and targets following acute brain injury” by Shaurya Taran et al., published in Intensive Care Medicine, highlights the crucial role of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂) in the management of acute brain injury (ABI). PaCO₂ strongly influences cerebral blood flow (CBF): higher levels cause vasodilation and increased CBF, while lower…
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Can a Simple Index Predict Kidney Injury After Heart Surgery in Diabetic Patients?
A recent study published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery by Chen Li et al. investigates the role of the triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). TyG-BMI, a marker of insulin resistance, has previously been linked to various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases,…
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Physiologic Complexities of ECMO in Pregnancy: A Modern Clinical Review
Dr. Carmen S. Hrymak from the University of Manitoba’s Department of Emergency Medicine and Section of Critical Care, along with her multidisciplinary colleagues, recently published an in-depth review examining the use of ECMO in pregnant and peripartum patients. Their work illustrates that pregnancy can make drastic changes in cardiovascular, respiratory, and haematologic physiology, which specifically…
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Preoperative Sarcopenia as a Predictor of Complications and Mortality After Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass in the Elderly
A recent study published in BMC Geriatrics by Xiaoqian Wang and colleagues explored the effects of sarcopenia on postoperative recovery in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The researchers focused on sarcopenia assessed through the erector spinae muscle (ESM) area measured by preoperative thoracic computed tomography (CT). This approach has not been…
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A New Method for Complex Endocarditis Cases
A recent case report published in General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Cases presents a straightforward and effective surgical technique for the explantation of the EDWARDS INTUITY rapid deployment valve in the setting of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Rapid deployment valves, such as the INTUITY model, are designed to reduce operative times and improve hemodynamic performance. However,…
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Delayed Awakening: Key Predictors After Cardiac Surgery with Bypass
A retrospective study: “Factors Affecting the Time to Postoperative Recovery of Consciousness in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Retrospective Study,” published in the Cureus Journal by Mikiko Tomino and colleagues, investigated the factors influencing the time to recovery of consciousness in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Conducted at Tokyo Medical…
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Nutritional Care in Pediatric ECMO: Toward a Personalized and Evidence-Based Approach
A recent comprehensive review published in Nutrients by Marwa Mansour and colleagues explores the essential yet often overlooked role of nutritional support in pediatric patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This population is particularly vulnerable to malnutrition, which is frequently observed and strongly linked to increased morbidity and mortality. Despite its critical importance, nutritional management…
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The Influence of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Duration on Mortality and Mid-Term Survival in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Repair.
A recent study conducted by Mikko Uimonen and colleagues, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease by MDPI, investigated the relationship between cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The study retrospectively analyzed data from 1122 patients who underwent surgical treatment across…
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Targeting Cell Death and DAMPs During Normothermic Perfusion to Improve Graft Outcomes
In Part two of his review published in Frontiers in Transplantation, Dr. Walter G. Land explores innovative strategies to improve transplant outcomes by targeting regulated cell death (RCD) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) during normothermic perfusion of donor organs. The review presents a conceptual framework in which injury-induced RCD leads to the release of DAMPs…
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Dual-Circulation EVLP Enhances Airway Preservation in Lung Transplantation
Aravind Krishnan and his team conducted a pioneering study to investigate the benefits of preserving bronchial artery perfusion during ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), a process typically used to assess and rehabilitate donor lungs before transplantation. In standard lung transplants, bronchial arteries are often sacrificed, leaving airways vulnerable to ischemic injury. The researchers developed a…
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Mitochondrial DNA Signals Linked to Aortic Valve Replacement Complications
A recent pilot study, led by Kieran Hyslop et al. and published in Scientific Reports, explored the potential role of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) as a predictor of postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Although AVR remains the standard and highly effective treatment for severe aortic valve disease, managing post-surgical…
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ECPELLA as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation in Post-MI VSD with Refractory Arrhythmias: A Novel Case Application
Dr. Max Frenkel and colleagues presented a unique case of using ECPELLA—a combination of Impella 5.5 and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO)—as a bridge to heart transplantation in a patient with a large post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal defect (VSD) and refractory ventricular arrhythmias. A 59-year-old male arrived with cardiogenic shock and was initially supported…
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