The authors report the non-intuitive finding that blood from female donors who had ever been pregnant was associated with increased mortality among male recipients (HR 1.13). If validated by other studies, might this substantially complicate matching donated blood with appropriate recipients? Clearly the underlying mechanism will be interesting to
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Critical Care
October 18, 2017
October 18, 2017
The author decries what he sees as the corporatization of airline pilots, with their accompanying loss of autonomy and prestige. He speculates on whether a similar future is ahead for physicians, but does not provide specific suggestions on how to avoid this from occurring.
October 12, 2017
The Impella RP device was approved by the FDA for use as a temporary percutaneous assist for the right ventricle, as announced by Abiomed. Use is approved for up to 14 days for a variety of indications including post MI, heart transplant, open heart surgery, or right heart failure after LVAD implant.
September 26, 2017
While it is being increasingly understood that frailty in the older adult patient undergoing cardiac surgery is associated with an increased rate of postoperative mortality, it is still unclear if the addition of frailty measures to existing risk-assessment tools contributes to an improved prediction of long-term disabilty.
September 26, 2017
Within the field of Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery (ERATS and ERACS, respectively), appropriate fluid administration that avoids the detrimental effects of tissue edema on organ function and wound healing is a potentially important modifier of postoperative outcomes.
August 21, 2017
An editorial on what will be soon required from papers sent to the Circulation group of periodicals, and probably soon to all reputable biomedical journals. Bolli advances that the internal and external validity of manuscripts has space for improvement!
August 17, 2017
The Cleveland Clinic group performed a randomized clinical trial comparing transfusion triggers of 24% vs. 28% from 2007-2014. The study included 722 patients who underwent either CABG or valve surgery. While the lower trigger group received fewer transfusions, adverse outcomes did not differ between the groups.
July 12, 2017
Preoperative Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) with the Powerbreathe device was assessed with regard to whether A-a gradients and inspiratory muscle power would be improved after CABG. A group of 40 male patients were randomized to receiving (20) or not receiving (20) preop IMT.
July 6, 2017
The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 35 RCTs analyzing the use of IV Mg for the prevention or treatment of arrhythmias following cardiac surgery. The studies included had significant methodological heterogeneity.
June 19, 2017
This is a MUST read article on how predatory journals who only make money by charging authors are sidelining ethics and the usual standards of peer review in order to make a profit.