Popis: |
Cardiac operations have traditionally been carried out through the median sternotomy approach and cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB). However, the procedures are associated with complications, such as infection, dehiscence, mediastinitis, and neurological problems, some of which have an unacceptably high mortality rate. CPB, in particular, is responsible for diverse objective problems, such as hemolysis, heparin rebound phenomena, complement activation, and deterioration of the immune system, as well as subjective factors related to the degree of surgical invasiveness, such as poor appetite, insomnia, depression, visual, memory, intellectual deficits, and loss of sexual ability. |