Our study indicates that TAVI under LAPS is as effective and safe as TAVI under GA. Furthermore, total procedure time, intervention time and labor costs could be reduced by LAPS. Mobilization of patients could be achieved earlier. We therefore consider LAPS to be favorable in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI.

LVOT and LVOT calcium load, baseline right bundle branch block, and implantation depth were identified as independent predictors of the need for PPMI post-TAVR. Patient groups with different PPMI risk could be stratified using these 4 predictors. A slightly higher valve implantation site may prevent excessive PPMI rates.

Quick encouragement of ECMO for the temporary management of gas exchange may increase survival rates in trauma patients with ARDS.

No abstract

Albeit a similar safety profile with low clinical event rates, transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the ACURATE neo valve resulted in lower transvalvular gradients and consequently less prosthesis-patient mismatch compared with the SAPIEN 3 in patients with small annulus. These results emphasize the need of careful prosthesis selection in each individual patient.

Our meta-analysis provides evidence that preoperative statin therapy is associated with a reduction in the incidence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

No abstract

The optimal timing of exogenous surfactant application to reduce pulmonary injury and dysfunction was investigated in a rat lung ischaemia and reperfusion injury model.Lungs were subjected to flush perfusion, surfactant instillation, cold ischaemia (4uC, 4 h) and reperfusion (60 min). Animals received surfactant before (group 1) or at the end (2) of ischaemia, or during reperfusion (3) or not at all (4). Control groups included ''worst case'' without Perfadex and surfactant (5), ''no injury'' without (6) or with surfactant (7), and ischaemia with pre-ischaemic surfactant (8). Intra-alveolar oedema and blood-air barrier injury were estimated by light and electron microscopic stereology. Perfusate oxygenation and pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) were determined during reperfusion in groups 1 to 4.Intra-alveolar oedema was almost absent in groups 1, 6, 7 and 8, pronounced in 2, 3 and 4, and severe in 5. Blood-air barrier injury was moderate in groups 1 and 8, slightly pronounced in 2, 3 and 4, extensive in 5 and almost absent in 6 and 7. Perfusate oxygenation was significantly higher in group 1 compared with groups 2 to 4. Ppa did not differ between the groups.In conclusion, exogenous surfactant attenuates intra-alveolar oedema formation and blood-air barrier damage and improves perfusate oxygenation in the rat lung, especially when applied before ischaemic storage.