The authors tested a group of 176 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for dysphagia both preoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperatively, 8.5% of patients failed the swallow test. Postoperatively, 21.6% failed the test. All patients who failed preoperatively also failed postoperatively.
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Critical Care
November 16, 2015
Data from a large multicenter registry were evaluated to determine whether there is a sex difference in susceptibility to acute kidney injury after CBP related to nadir hematocrit levels. Based on a 21% hematocrit threshold, 9.5% of men and 31.9% of women were affected. Rates of AKI were similar between the sexes. There was a strong interaction be
September 4, 2015
This study from the Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Quality Collaborative evaluated outcomes of CABG in 33 hospitals 2011-2013, assessing the association of blood transfusion (39.9% of pts) and the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (3.6% of pts). Blood transfusion was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (OR 3.
July 23, 2015
The paper presents the guidelines for authors on statistical and data reporting for the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) and the Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS). It focusses on issues which are most frequently commented on by the statistical reviewers.
July 14, 2015
This small randomized trial evaluated the potential benefits of ghrelin, an anti-inflammatory agent, in reducing the SIRS response after esophagectomy. The ghrelin group had a reduced SIRS duration, lower CRP levels, and lower IL-6 levels compared to controls. Pulmonary complications were reduced in the ghrelin group, but other complication inciden
July 6, 2015
This is a provocative study questioning the current practice of using blood pressure targets perioperatively to ensure adequate perfusion. Plasma levels of a brain-specific injury biomarker (GFAP) were measured in 121 patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
April 8, 2015
This thought provoking article by Drew et al., utilized state-of-the art monitoring technology to document the problem of "alarm fatigue" by recording an astounding number of alarm events; 2,558,760 unique alarms were triggered for 461 patients over a 31-day period.
April 8, 2015
The authors describe a simplified method of providing regional citrate anticoagulation for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) to patients.
April 4, 2015
This multicenter randomized trial examined restrictive versus liberal threshold in red-cell transfusion in patients after cardiac surgery. The results were provocative, with more deaths in the restrictiv group compared to the liberal transfusion group. Posoperative complications were also slightly higher in the restrictive group.
March 30, 2015
The authors describe a kinetic modeling tool to safely regulate the osmotic changes that can occur when treating severe metabolic alkalosis and concurent hypernatremia. The authors discuss disequilibrium syndrome and brain edema, a potential occurence when intermittant dialisis is used versus a longer, slower, and potentially more easily regulable t