Results show that minimally invasive surgical procedures of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch may be performed safely, with an excellent clinical outcomes and superior cosmesis. Short ICU and hospital stay indicate the beneficial effects of reduced surgical trauma for patient recovery.

Presented data propose that advanced age is correlated with a higher mortality, but not with prolonged ICU treatment or higher costs after cardiac surgery. Considering the encouraging functional status and QOL of the survivors, the financial burden caused by octogenarians is justified.

The intention of minimal extracorporeal circulation (MECC) is to reduce priming volume and minimize contact of blood with polymers and air in a closed system. In contrast to conventional extracorporeal circulation (ECC), a venous reservoir is missing. Thus, air trapping is limited and avoidance of bubble embolism is a major concern. This study investigates microbubbles (MBB) number and size in the venous and arterial lines of ECC and MECC compared to the number of microembolic signals (MES) in the right and left middle cerebral artery (MCA). Twenty patients undergoing coronary surgery were operated either with conventional ECC (cardiotomy reservoir, Rotaflow pump, Quadrox oxygenator, Quart filter) or MECC (Quart filter, Rotaflow pump, Quadrox oxygenator). Number and size of MBB were monitored in the venous and arterial lines with an ultrasound Doppler system. MES in right and left MCAs were measured by transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring. Patients undergoing MECC had additional sealing of the venous cannula by a ligature at the site of its insertion into the right atrium. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to age, X-clamping, bypass time and number of distal anastomoses. The number of MES and MBB in the arterial line was comparable between the groups. On the venous side, MECC-perfusion shows a significantly lower number of MBB. This could be explained with the additional sealing of the venous cannula. Furthermore, our data indicate that the MBB-volume reaching the pump will also appear in the arterial outflow and into the patient's MCA. For this reason, the avoidance of air contamination is a major concern for surgeons, anaesthesiologists and perfusionists.

We conclude that bileaflet mechanical valve prostheses produce HITS even in their optimum orientation. HITS following bileaflet valve replacement have an unstable nature and might be composed of nitrogen and platelets. Tilting disc valves in their optimum orientation provide almost physiological conditions with HITS measured in the same range as bioprosthesis.

Despite omental wrap and avoidance of prophylactic administration of corticosteroids in the early postoperative phase, ischemic bronchial complications still represent an important source of early morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation. In a retrospective analysis, the effect of pharmacological enhancement of pulmonary collateral flow on bronchial healing was investigated. Thirty-nine consecutive unilateral or bilateral transplant procedures (Tx) were analyzed. Immunosuppression consisted of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG), cyclosporine A, and azathioprine. In group 1 (10 Tx, 12 anastomoses) routine immunosuppression was employed and the anastomoses wrapped with an omental or pericardial pedicle. In group 2 (29 Tx, 41 anastomoses) PGI2 (4 ng/kg per min x 48 h), heparin (200 U/kg per day), and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg per day) were added to the therapeutic regimen. The 2 groups were comparable with respect to age and sex of the patients, primary diagnosis, type of transplant, intraoperative use of extracorporeal circulation, graft ischemia, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Bronchoscopic evidence of a significant bronchial ischemia (extending more than 1 cartilaginous ring beyond the anastomosis) was seen in 8 of 12 anastomoses in group 1 vs 14 of 53 anastomoses in group 2 (P = NS). In group 1, significant bronchial stenosis required implantation of an endobronchial silicone stent in 6 of 12 anastomoses, whereas in group 2, no significant bronchial stenosis occurred (P less than 0.01). No negative effects possibly related to the prophylactic administration of corticosteroids could be observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)