Blisstree » cardiac-surgery http://www.blisstree.com Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:57:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Newer blood will yield better results in heart surgery http://www.blisstree.com/articles/newer-blood-will-yield-better-results-in-heart-surgery-50/ http://www.blisstree.com/articles/newer-blood-will-yield-better-results-in-heart-surgery-50/#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:32:43 +0000 Kendra James, RN http://www.aheartylife.com/2008/03/22/newer-blood-will-yield-better-results-in-heart-surgery/ Post from: Blisstree

Newer blood will yield better results in heart surgery

]]> So you have done everything on your checklist prior to your open heart surgery. Pre-op physical… check… labs… check… packed the bag… check… donated your blood… check- but this is where the question comes into play.

A new US study found that cardiac surgery patients who received blood transfusions of blood that had been stored for 2 weeks or less had lower rates of complications and death than those who received blood that was older.

Were you instructed on when to donate? Did the nurse or case manager that prepared you for surgery advise you that the fresher your blood the better?

Why would this be the case you ask? Older blood loses nitric oxide, an important agent in the delivery of oxygen to tissue cells. Another reason is that red blood cells become more rigid and sticky as they age, making it difficult for them to squeeze through narrow blood vessels and raising the risk of a clot.

via Medical News today

Post from: Blisstree

Newer blood will yield better results in heart surgery

]]> http://www.blisstree.com/articles/newer-blood-will-yield-better-results-in-heart-surgery-50/feed/ 0 HeartLander Robot for Cardiac Surgery http://www.blisstree.com/articles/heartlander-robot-for-cardiac-surgery-50/ http://www.blisstree.com/articles/heartlander-robot-for-cardiac-surgery-50/#comments Sat, 21 Apr 2007 03:01:21 +0000 Lei http://www.aheartylife.com/2007/04/21/heartlander-robot-for-cardiac-surgery/ Post from: Blisstree

HeartLander Robot for Cardiac Surgery

]]> heartlanderThe future of heart surgery may involve this little caterpillar-like robot called HeartLander. It inches along on the surface of your heart and is capable of performing:

  • ablation for atrial fibrillation
  • lead placement for biventricular pacing
  • delivery of myocardial regenerative treatments

Watch the videos and learn more at Guardian Unlimited. Is it just me or does it look really huge and awkward stomping on the pig heart?!

Post from: Blisstree

HeartLander Robot for Cardiac Surgery

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