Evaluation of the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: There is no study in the literature evaluating the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Thus, we designed this study to evaluate the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis as a novel indicator of oxidative stress in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study performed at the department of cardiovascular surgery of a tertiary referral hospital in Turkey. A total of 80 (CEAP C3-C6) patients with lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency (as the study group) and 80 healthy subjects (as the control group) were enrolled to the study. The participants' basic demographic and clinical characteristics as well as serum levels of some laboratory parameters including albumin, ferroxidase, myeloperoxidase, native thiol, total thiol, disulphide, native thiol/total thiol, disulphide/native thiol, and disulphide/total thiol were determined, and then compared between the groups. RESULTS: In terms of basic demographic and clinical characteristics, both groups were statistically similar, and there were no significant differences between the groups. When the laboratory parameters were considered, serum ferroxidase and myeloperoxidase levels were detected to be significantly higher, whereas albumin, native thiol, total thiol, and disulphide levels were detected to be significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis could be considered as an indicator reflecting the oxidative stress status in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

Plasma Calcium Level and C-Reactive Protein Albumin Ratio Affect Severe Bleeding After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to determine whether plasma calcium level and C-reactive protein albumin ratio (CAR) as well as other demographic and hematological markers are related in predicting severe bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: A total of 227 adult patients who underwent CABG at our hospital between December 2021 and June 2022 were prospectively studied. Total amount of chest tube drainage was evaluated within the first 24 hours postoperatively or until the patient was re-explored for bleeding. The patients were divided into two groups - Group 1, patients with low amount of bleeding (n=174), and Group 2, patients with severe bleeding (n=53). Univariate and multivariate regression analyzes were performed to determine independent parameters related to severe bleeding within the first 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: When the groups were compared in terms of demographic, clinical, and preoperative blood parameters; cardiopulmonary bypass time and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were found to be significantly higher in Group 2 compared to the low bleeding group. In addition, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, calcium, albumin, and CAR were found to be significantly lower in Group 2. In multivariate analysis, calcium, albumin, CRP, and CAR were found to be independent predictors of significant association with excessive bleeding. A cut-off value of 8.7 (94.3% sensitivity and 94.8% specificity) for calcium and 0.155 (75.4% sensitivity and 80.4% specificity) for CAR predicted excessive bleeding. CONCLUSION: Plasma calcium level, CRP, albumin, and CAR can be used to predict severe bleeding after CABG.

Plasma Calcium Level and C-Reactive Protein Albumin Ratio Affect Severe Bleeding After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

ABSTRACT Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine whether plasma calcium level and C-reactive protein albumin ratio (CAR) as well as other demographic and hematological markers are related in predicting severe bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: A total of 227 adult patients who underwent CABG at our hospital between December 2021 and June 2022 were prospectively studied. Total amount of chest tube drainage was evaluated within the first 24 hours postoperatively or until the patient was re-explored for bleeding. The patients were divided into two groups - Group 1, patients with low amount of bleeding (n=174), and Group 2, patients with severe bleeding (n=53). Univariate and multivariate regression analyzes were performed to determine independent parameters related to severe bleeding within the first 24 hours after surgery. Results: When the groups were compared in terms of demographic, clinical, and preoperative blood parameters; cardiopulmonary bypass time and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were found to be significantly higher in Group 2 compared to the low bleeding group. In addition, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, calcium, albumin, and CAR were found to be significantly lower in Group 2. In multivariate analysis, calcium, albumin, CRP, and CAR were found to be independent predictors of significant association with excessive bleeding. A cut-off value of 8.7 (94.3% sensitivity and 94.8% specificity) for calcium and 0.155 (75.4% sensitivity and 80.4% specificity) for CAR predicted excessive bleeding. Conclusion: Plasma calcium level, CRP, albumin, and CAR can be used to predict severe bleeding after CABG.

The efficacies of modified mechanical post conditioning on myocardial protection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardioplegic cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a modified mechanical post-conditioning (MMPOC) technique has a myocardial protective effect by enhancing early metabolic recovery of the heart following revascularization. METHODS: A prospective, randomized trial was conducted at a single-center university hospital performing adult cardiac surgery. Seventy-nine adult patients undergoing first-time elective isolated multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively randomized to MMPOC or control group. Anesthetic, cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection, and surgical techniques were standardized. The post reperfusion cardiac indices, inotrope use and biochemical-electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial injury were recorded. The incidence of postoperative complications was recorded prospectively. RESULTS: Operative characteristics, including CPB and aortic cross-clamp time, were similar between the two groups (p>0.05). The MMPOC group had lower troponin I and other cardiac biomarkers level post CPB and postoperatively, with greater improvement in cardiac indices (p<0.001). MMPOC shortened post surgery hospitalization from 9.1 ± 2.1 to 7.5 ± 1.6 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MMPOC technique promotes early metabolic recovery of the heart during elective CABG, leading to better myocardial protection and functional recovery.

Effects of prophylactic indomethacin treatment on postoperative pericardial effusion after aortic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective, randomized study assessed the prophylactic effects of indomethacin treatment on pericardial effusion after aortic surgery. METHODS: Eighty-five patients were found eligible to participate in this double-blind study. Patients were assigned to a control group receiving oral placebo or to an indomethacin group receiving 25 mg oral indomethacin 3 times daily for 7 days preoperatively. After aortic surgery, patients were followed up clinically and evaluated for pericardial effusion with transthoracic echocardiography on the first and seventh postoperative days during hospitalization and at the second and sixth weeks after discharge. RESULTS: The demographic and the operative data were similar between groups. The surgical interventions included Bentall procedure in 63 patients, valve-sparing procedures in 7 patients, and supracoronary ascending aorta replacement in 15 patients. Hemiarch replacement was performed in 16 patients. No patient in either group had pericardial effusion after the first postoperative day. At the end of the first week, however, 2 patients had pericardial effusion, at the end of the second week after discharge, 3 patients had pericardial effusion, and at the end of the sixth week after discharge, 4 patients had PEs. One of the patients who had PE at the end of the sixth week received indomethacin; the others were all in the control group, a significant difference (P=.019). Five patients underwent transthoracic echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis; 4 underwent surgical pericardiocentesis. CONCLUSIONS: Indomethacin may have beneficial effects on the outcomes and incidence of postoperative pericardial effusion after aortic surgery.