Pleural Effusion Trajectories and Clinical Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background: Pleural effusion (PE) commonly occurs in cardiac surgery patients, often requiring tube drainage. This study aimed to investigate associations between PE drainage trajectories and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery and subsequent tube drainage during hospitalization in the intensive care unit, due to substantial PE, were enrolled.

A higher preoperative total protein to albumin ratio independently predicted more severe postoperative acute kidney injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection: a retrospective cohort study of 224 cases.

Objectives: In this retrospective study, we investigated the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and determined the predictors associated with AKI in patients underwent surgeries for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with ATAAD and received operation. AKI was defined based on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria.

NRF1 coordinates mitochondrial adaptations to dampen intracellular ROS and inflammatory responses during ischemia reperfusion.

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is commonly seen in surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass and post-shock reperfusion. Sudden restoration of blood flow after a period of ischemia triggers a rapid accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress that promote pathological injury. Macrophage-derived inflammatory responses are also thought to contribute to such injury, but how ROS influences tissue macrophages and their elaboration of inflammatory cytokines in IRI remains poorly understood.

Brain Computed Tomography Perfusion Facilitates Early Prediction of Neurological Outcomes in Patients Suspected of Ischemic Cerebral Conditions after Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the value of brain computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging in predicting neurological outcomes early in patients with suspected ischemic cerebral events after cardiac surgery.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: A university teaching hospital.

Effects of postoperative glucocorticoids on mitigation of organ dysfunction in patients with type A aortic dissection: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the organ-protective efficacy of postoperative glucocorticoid in patients with type A aortic dissection.

Methods: Postoperative type A aortic dissection patients were randomly allocated to receive either postoperative glucocorticoid or standard-of-care treatment. Intravenous methylprednisolone was administered for 3 days.

Macrophage in Sporadic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: Potential Therapeutic and Preventing Target.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disorder lacking effective clinical pharmacological therapies. The underlying molecular mechanisms of TAAD still remain elusive with participation of versatile cell types and components including endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), fibroblasts, immune cells, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The main pathological features of TAAD include SMC dysfunction, phenotypic switching, and ECM degradation, which is closely associated with inflammation and immune cell infiltration.

AKI-Pro score for predicting progression to severe acute kidney injury or death in patients with early acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

Background: No reliable clinical tools exist to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) progression. We aim to explore a scoring system for predicting the composite outcome of progression to severe AKI or death within seven days among early AKI patients after cardiac surgery.

Methods: In this study, we used two independent cohorts, and patients who experienced mild/moderate AKI within 48 h after cardiac surgery were enrolled.

Skin mottling score assesses peripheral tissue hypoperfusion in critically ill patients following cardiac surgery.

Background: Skin mottling is a common manifestation of peripheral tissue hypoperfusion, and its severity can be described using the skin mottling score (SMS). This study aims to evaluate the value of the SMS in detecting peripheral tissue hypoperfusion in critically ill patients following cardiac surgery.

Methods: Critically ill patients following cardiac surgery with risk factors for tissue hypoperfusion were enrolled (n = 373).

Impact of body mass index on perioperative mortality of acute stanford type A aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Obesity may increase perioperative mortality of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). However, the available evidence was limited. This study aimed to systematically review published literatures about body mass index (BMI) and perioperative mortality of ATAAD.

Effect of glucocorticoid for patients with type A aortic dissection undergoing surgical repair with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: A single-center, retrospective study.

Background: Postoperative patients with Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) often experience severe inflammatory responses caused by multiple factors perioperatively. However, the effect of postoperative glucocorticoid (GC) use, which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, on complications or all-cause mortality is unclear.

Methods: Patients with TAAD who underwent surgical repair requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest between January 2020 and December 2021 were included in the study.

Furosemide Responsiveness Predicts Acute Kidney Injury Progression After Cardiac Surgery.

Background: As patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) progress to a higher stage, the risk for poor outcomes dramatically rises. Early identification of patients at high risk for AKI progression remains a major challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the value of furosemide responsiveness (FR) for predicting AKI progression in patients with initial mild and moderate AKI after cardiac surgery.

Postoperative glucocorticoids in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (GLAD): study protocol for a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients receiving surgical treatment of acute type A Aortic Dissection (aTAAD) are common to suffer organ dysfunction in the intensive care unit due to overwhelming inflammation. Previous studies have revealed that glucocorticoids may reduce complications in certain patient groups, but evidence between postoperative glucocorticoids administration and improvement in organ dysfunction after aTAAD surgery are lacking.

Methods: This study will be an investigator-initiated, prospective, single-blind, randomized, single-center study.

2022 CMICS Expert Consensus on the Management of Isolated Tricuspid Regurgitation after Left-Sided Valve Surgery.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) may occur late after left-sided valve surgery (LSVS). Isolated tricuspid regurgitation after left-sided valve surgery (iTR-LSVS) refers to isolated TR without significant lesions in the mitral and/or aortic position late after mitral and/or aortic replacement or repair. Severe TR has a negative impact on long-term prognosis and requires surgical or transcatheter treatment.

Extracellular vesicles derived from CD4 T cells carry DGKK to promote sepsis-induced lung injury by regulating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Background: Sepsis is an abnormal immune response after infection, wherein the lung is the most susceptible organ to fail, leading to acute lung injury. To overcome the limitations of current therapeutic strategies and develop more specific treatment, the inflammatory process, in which T cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a central role, should be explored deeply.

Methods: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed for serum EV protein profiling.

Interpreting Infrared Thermography with Deep Learning to Assess the Mortality Risk of Critically Ill Patients at Risk of Hypoperfusion.

Background: Hypoperfusion, a common manifestation of many critical illnesses, could lead to abnormalities in body surface thermal distribution. However, the interpretation of thermal images is difficult. Our aim was to assess the mortality risk of critically ill patients at risk of hypoperfusion in a prospective cohort by infrared thermography combined with deep learning methods.