ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of delayed sternal closure (DSC) on sternal wound debridement after pediatric cardiac surgery. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 491 pediatric patients underwent DSC in Guangdong General Hospital between June 2009 and June 2014. There were 333 males and 158 females with age of 1 day to 153.37 (5.68±17.24) months. The rate of sternal wound debridement between the DSC patients and the non-DSC patients was compared. ResultsA total of 454 pediatric patients with DSC initiated in the operation room. And 37 patients with DSC initiated in intensive care unit after emergency sternotomy. A total of 392 patients with delayed sternal closure were discharged. Eight patients gave up treatment for family reasons and 91 patients died. Patients with DSC had higher incidence of sternal wound debridement than the patients with non-DSC did (χ2=6.693, P=0.010). ConclusionDSC is an effective treatment for children with severe cardiac surgery, while it causes higher incidence of sternal wound debridement.
Objective To analyze the risk factors for delirium of the Stanford A aortic dissection patients after surgery. Method We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 335 patients with type A aortic dissection in Guangdong Cardiac Institution from January 2012 through December 2014. There were 280 males and 55 females. The average of age was 48.5±10.3 years. Delirium status of the patients were evaluated based on confusion assessment method for intensive care unit (CAM-ICU). The patients were divided into two groups including a delirium group and a control group. We tried to find the risk factors for postoperative delirium. Results There were 169 patients of delirium with a incident rate of 50.4%. One-way analysis of variance and multivariate analysis indicated that pre-operative D-dimer level (OR=2.480, 95% CI 1.347-4.564, P<0.01), the minimum mean arterial pressure during operation (OR=0.667, 95% CI 0.612-0.727, P<0.01), the postoperative ventilation time (OR=2.771, 95% CI 1.506-5.101, P<0.01) and the postoperative acute kidney failure (OR=1.911, 95% CI 1.065-3.430, P<0.05) were the independent risk factors for delirium of the Stanford A aortic dissection patient after surgery. Conclusion The incident rate of postoperative delirium of the Standford A aortic dissection patient is relatively high. Patients in this study with elevated pre-operative D-dimer level, lower intraoperative mean arterial pressure, longer postoperative ventilation and combination of acute kidney failure have a higher rate of postoperative delirium. Better understanding and intervention of these factors are meaningful to reduce the occurrence of postoperative delirium.
ObjectiveTo study the effectiveness of simplified blood management in cardiovascular surgery, minimize the need for blood transfusions and decrease the medical care costs. MethodsFrom March 2010 to May 2013, the simplified blood management was applied in 655 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery in the department of cardiac surgery, Guangdong General Hospital. There were 316 males and 339 females with their age of 13-78 (45.0±13.8) years. The techniques of simplified blood management consisted of preoperative strategies, intraoperative strategies, and postoperative strategies. ResultsThere were 437 patients (66.7%) avoiding red cell transfusion in cardiac surgery. Of the 437 patients, 403 (61.5%) without any blood products transfusion, 29 had transfusion of plasma transfusion, 3 of plasma and cryoprecipitation, one of plasma and platelet, and one of platelet only. Two patients died within 30 days postoperative with 0.5% mortality rate:one died of multiple organ failure, one died of cardiac arrest. The procedures and special etiologies of 437 patients avoiding red cell transfusion included mitral valve replacement in 86 patients, double valve (aortic and mitral) replacement in 75 patients, aortic valve replacement in 51 patients, mitral valve replacement plus modified Maze procedure in 41 patients, atrial septal defect repair in 41 patients, mitral valve repair in 38 patients, double valve replacement plus modified Maze procedure in 25 patients, re-do operation in 23 patients, ventricular septal defect repair in 18 patients, coronary artery bypass grafting plus valve replacement in 10 patients, myxoma excision in 8 patients, subacute bacterial endocarditis in 8 patients, pericardium dissection in 5 patients, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in 4 patients, Bentall procedure in 4 patients. Of 65 patients with cardiac surgery history, 23 (35.4%) were free from red cell transfusion in the second operation. ConclusionSimplified blood management is of benefit to reduce the blood transfusion safely and effectively, no using additional expensive medication and medical devices and therefore without increasing hospital costs. The technique is suitable to any institute and patient. It is worthwhile to be used widely in clinical practice. Cell salvage system is not necessary.