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Charl J De Wet

Publications and source records attributed to Charl J De Wet.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Case report: inferior vena-cava right atrial anastomotic stenosis after bicaval orthotopic heart transplantation.

PURPOSE: This case report describes the occurrence of acute postoperative liver and renal failure after bicaval orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) due to stenosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC)-right atrial (RA) anastomosis. We also discuss the role of measuring femoral venous pressure and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in establishing the diagnosis. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 42-yr-old female patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent an OHT, using the bicaval anastomotic technique. During the first 12 hr postoperatively she developed unexplained kidney and liver failure. Her left and right ventricular functions were excellent and the right and left sided filling pressures were normal. The femoral pressure was elevated while the RA pressure was normal. An emergent TEE showed colour-flow and Doppler characteristics consistent with IVC-RA anastomotic stenosis. Emergent surgical re-exploration was undertaken; a hemostatic suture was found at the RA cannulation site that had caused the constriction of the IVC-RA anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: Acute liver and renal failure after OHT can have multiple causes including ischemia due to a low flow state. This case demonstrates the importance of doing a detailed intraoperative TEE after OHT, and the importance of repeating the intraoperative examination after any hemostatic sutures are placed. Femoral venous pressure monitoring can be a useful diagnostic tool in detecting IVC-RA stenosis.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2005

Progress in postoperative ICU management.

The clinical case presented in this article illustrates how many of the more recent advances in the management of critically ill patients apply to current clinical practice. Simple cost-effective general measures (eg, optimal sterile precautions during procedures; hand washing; early goal-directed resuscitation with appropriate fluids, inotropes, and antibiotics; and surgical source control of infected foci) still should form the basis of clinical practice, however. There has been renewed interest in blood transfusion therapy and its associated risks. Lower tidal volume ventilation now is practiced almost universally in patients with ARDS, and several new selective pulmonary vasodilators have extended the armamentarium when taking care of these patients. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation and ECMO remain challenging options in patients with refractory hypoxemia. Appropriate patient selection is important when corticosteroid therapy is considered. Tight blood glucose control and monitoring improve outcome and should be part of ICU care of septic patients. The role of the PAC is controversial. Other techniques to measure cardiac output, hemodynamics, and perfusion are available and should be considered. Sedation and analgesia form an integral part of critical care. Because of its immediate and long-term risks, neuromuscular blockade should be used sparingly and only when all other options have been exhausted. Ongoing education regarding sedation protocols and the effect of sedation on outcome is needed among physicians and nurses caring for these patients.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2004

Inhaled prostacyclin is safe, effective, and affordable in patients with pulmonary hypertension, right heart dysfunction, and refractory hypoxemia after cardiothoracic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe our institutional experience in using inhaled prostacyclin as a selective pulmonary vasodilator in patients with pulmonary hypertension, refractory hypoxemia, and right heart dysfunction after cardiothoracic surgery. METHODS: Between February 2001 and March 2003, cardiothoracic surgical patients with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure >30 mm Hg or systolic pulmonary artery pressure >40 mm Hg), hypoxemia (PaO(2)/fraction of inspired oxygen <150 mm Hg), or right heart dysfunction (central venous pressure >16 mm Hg and cardiac index <2.2 L.min(-1).m(-2)) were prospectively administered inhaled prostacyclin at an initial concentration of 20,000 ng/mL and then weaned per protocol. Hemodynamic variables were measured before the initiation of inhaled prostacyclin, 30 to 60 minutes after initiation, and again 4 to 6 hours later. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six patients were enrolled during the study period. At both time points, inhaled prostacyclin significantly decreased the mean pulmonary artery pressure without altering the mean arterial pressure. The average length of time on inhaled prostacyclin was 45.6 hours. There were no adverse events attributable to inhaled prostacyclin. The average cost for inhaled prostacyclin was 150 US dollars per day. Compared with nitric oxide, which costs 3000 US dollars per day, the potential cost savings over this period were 681,686 US dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled prostacyclin seems to be a safe and effective pulmonary vasodilator for cardiothoracic surgical patients with pulmonary hypertension, refractory hypoxemia, or right heart dysfunction. Overall, inhaled prostacyclin significantly decreases mean pulmonary artery pressures without altering the mean arterial pressure. Compared with nitric oxide, there is no special equipment required for administration or toxicity monitoring, and the cost savings are substantial.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2003

The importance of prior stroke for the adjusted risk of neurologic injury after cardiac surgery for women and men.

BACKGROUND: Women are at higher risk for stroke after cardiac surgery than men. Prior analysis of risk profiles for perioperative stroke that have mostly combined data from women and men may fail to identify gender-specific risks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether patient gender impacts adjusted risk for stroke after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Demographic and perioperative data were prospectively collected from 2,972 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Carotid artery ultrasound examination was performed before surgery for patients aged 65 yr or older or when there was a history of transient ischemic attacks or prior stroke. Epiaortic ultrasound was performed at the time of surgery in all patients to assess for atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta. RESULTS: Strokes occurred after surgery in 30 women and 18 men (P < 0.0001). Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, a history of a stroke was the strongest predictor of new stroke for both women and men. Low cardiac output syndrome, atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta, and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with stroke for women but not for men. Analysis on the data from all patients using a gender-interaction term found that the risk for stroke associated with patient age, atherosclerosis of the aorta, diabetes, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was not affected by gender. The prior stroke-gender interaction, however, was significant (P = 0.017), suggesting that a prior cerebrovascular event was a more important predictor of stroke for men than women. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that prior stroke before surgery is strongly and independently associated with susceptibility for stroke after cardiac surgery, particularly for men. Other risk factors for perioperative stroke, though, do not appear to be influenced by patient gender.

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