Decontamination of Nasopharynx and Oropharynx with
Chlorhexidine Gluconate Appears to Reduce Nosocomial
Infection After Cardiac Surgery
Nosocomial
infections after open-heart surgery are recognized as an
important cause of complications and mortality. Patrique
Segers, MD et al from the University of Amsterdam set out to
determine the efficacy of perioperative decontamination of
the nasopharynx and oropharynx with chlorhexidine gluconate
for reduction of nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery.
Their study, published in the November 22/29 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association found that
decontamination with chlorhexidine gluconate appears to be
an effective method to reduce nosocomial infection after
cardiac surgery.
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Propionyl-L-Carnitine Improves Hemodynamics and
Metabolic Markers of Cardiac Perfusion during
Cardiopulmonary Bypass Coronary Surgery in
Diabetic Patients
Unfavorable metabolic
changes and impaired endothelial function in
diabetic patients make them more susceptible to
post-operative complications in cardiopulmonary
bypass coronary surgery (CPB).
It has been shown that carnitine administration
in such patients can improve cardiac metabolism
and function in ischemic patients. Suggested
mechanisms include an increase in glucose
metabolism and reduction of toxic effects of
long-chain acyl-Co-A. Romauld Lango et al from
the Medical University Gdansk, Poland evaluated
hemodynamic changes associated with
pre-operative propionyl-L carnitine and L-carnitine
administration and its association with
biochemical markers of cardiovascular function.
Their study, published in the December 2005
issue of Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy
indicates a significant improvement of
hemodynamics following propionyl-L carnitine
administration in diabetic patients undergoing
coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG).
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Coronary-Artery Bypass Grafting is Associated with Higher Rates
of Survival than Stenting for Patients with Coronary Artery
Disease
Coronary-Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) and percutaneous
coronary intervention (PCI) have been the predominant
therapeutic procedures for coronary artery disease. Though
stenting procedures have made great advancements over the last
few years, there have been no recent studies comparing the
outcomes of stenting and CABG. Edward Hannan M.D. et al from
the University at Albany, State University of New York
used observational data from a large
registry to compare short-term and long-term outcomes among
patients with multi-vessel disease who underwent CABG or
stenting. The study was published in the
May 26, 2005
issue of The New England Journal of Medicine and found
that for patients with two or more diseased coronary arteries,
CABG is associated with higher adjusted rates of long-term
survival than stenting.
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Vascular
Surgery Patients on Statins Have Fewer Cardiac Complications
Robotic heart
surgery: making repairs without lifting the hood
Sirolimus
Reduces Acute Rejection and Coronary Artery Disease in De
Novo Heart Transplant Patients
