Myocardial Protection in Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Del Nido versus Blood Cardioplegia.

INTRODUCTION: Our study aimed to examine the impacts of blood cardioplegia (BC) and del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) solutions - which we used in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) - on early mortality and major adverse events (MAE). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 329 consecutive patients who underwent CABG in our clinic between January 2016 and January 2020. Myocardial infarction, reoperation, cardiac tamponade, stroke, renal failure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation requirement, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were defined as MAE. The group in which DNC was used was Group D (181 [55%] patients), and the group in which BC was used was Group B (141 [45%] patients). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups regarding age, weight, body surface area, gender, or European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score (P=0.615, P=0.560, P=0.934, P=0.365, P=0.955, respectively). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of aortic cross-clamping time (P=0.712), cardiopulmonary bypass duration was longer in Group B (P=0.001). Even though the incidence of stroke was higher in Group B (P=0.030), no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups regarding total incidence of MAE, mortality, mechanical ventilation time, length of stay in the intensive care unit, or length of hospital stay (P=0.153, P=0.130, P=0.689, P=0.710, P=0.613, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found no significant difference in MAE, mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, or hospital stay between the DNC and BC groups. We believe that both solutions can be used safely for cardiac protection in the adult patient population.

The role of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the etiopathogenesis of chronic venous disease: A prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine whether alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), an inhibitor of leukocyte esterase(LE), which damages the venous vessel wall, has a protective effect against chronic venous disease(CVD), and to examine the relationship between AAT levels and disease severity. METHODS: Patients admitted with varicose vein disease and having reflux flow lasting longer than 0.5 s as determined by Doppler ultrasound were included. The informed consents were taken, and blood samples were obtained for complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and AAT level following anamnesis and physical examination. Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathologic (CEAP) classification was used to assess disease severity, and patients were divided into CEAP 1-5 groups accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included in the study. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in body weight, red blood cell counts, platelet counts, or neutrophil counts (p = 0.117, p = 0.932, p = 0.177, and p = 0.177, respectively).CRP and AAT levels were higher in patients with a CEAP clinical score of 5 compared to the other groups (p = 0.018, and p = 0.020, respectively). AAT levels were similar in the CEAP 1-3 group and decreased in the CEAP-4 group but increased again in the CEAP-5 group. The AAT level was 1.62 ± 0.3 g/L in the CEAP-1 group, 1.61 ± 0.21 g/L in the CEAP-2 group, 1.61 ± 0.27 g/L in the CEAP-3 group, 1.48 ± 0.28 g/L in the CEAP-4 group, and 1.94 ± 0.39 g/L in the CEAP-5 group. CRP levels and platelet counts were observed to affect AAT levels (p = 0.10, p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: We believe that our hypothesis that low AAT levels play a role in the etiopathogenesis of CVD has been partially validated, at least in the CEAP-4 group. However, we believe that increased AAT levels in the CEAP-5 group may be a reactive increase in increased LE levels due to higher CRP levels of this group.

Clinical evaluation of two adult oxygenator systems in terms of mortality and major adverse events.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of two oxygenator systems on major adverse events and mortality. METHODS: A total of 181 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the oxygenator used: Group M, in which a Medtronic Affinity (Medtronic Operational Headquarters, Minneapolis, MN, USA) oxygenator was used, and Group S, in which a Sorin Inspire (Sorin Group Italia, Mirandola, Italy) oxygenator was used. RESULTS: Group S consisted of 89 patients, whereas Group M included 92 patients. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of age (p = .112), weight (p = .465), body surface area (p = .956), or gender (p = .484). There was no statistically significant difference in hemorrhage on the first or second postoperative day (p = .318 and p = .455, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of red blood cell (p = .468), fresh frozen plasma (p = .116), or platelet concentrate transfusion (p = .212). Infections, wound complications, and delayed sternal closure were significantly more common in Group M (p = .006, p = .023, and p = .019, respectively). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenators and intra-aortic balloon pumps were required significantly more frequently in Group S (p = .025 and p = .013, respectively). Major adverse events occurred in 16 (18%) patients in Group S and 14 (15.2%) patients in Group M (p = .382). Mortality was observed in six (6.7%) patients in Group S and three (3.3%) patients in Group M (p = .232). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of length of hospital stay (p = .451). CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of the two oxygenator systems, including mortality, major adverse events, hemorrhage, erythrocyte and platelet transfusions, and length of hospital stay, were similar.

Myocardial Protection in Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Del Nido versus Blood Cardioplegia

ABSTRACT Introduction: Our study aimed to examine the impacts of blood cardioplegia (BC) and del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) solutions - which we used in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) - on early mortality and major adverse events (MAE). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 329 consecutive patients who underwent CABG in our clinic between January 2016 and January 2020. Myocardial infarction, reoperation, cardiac tamponade, stroke, renal failure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation requirement, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were defined as MAE. The group in which DNC was used was Group D (181 [55%] patients), and the group in which BC was used was Group B (141 [45%] patients). Results: No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups regarding age, weight, body surface area, gender, or European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score (P=0.615, P=0.560, P=0.934, P=0.365, P=0.955, respectively). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of aortic cross-clamping time (P=0.712), cardiopulmonary bypass duration was longer in Group B (P=0.001). Even though the incidence of stroke was higher in Group B (P=0.030), no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups regarding total incidence of MAE, mortality, mechanical ventilation time, length of stay in the intensive care unit, or length of hospital stay (P=0.153, P=0.130, P=0.689, P=0.710, P=0.613, respectively). Conclusion: We found no significant difference in MAE, mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, or hospital stay between the DNC and BC groups. We believe that both solutions can be used safely for cardiac protection in the adult patient population.

The Relationship between the Use of Cold and Isothermic Blood Cardioplegia Solution for Myocardial Protection during Cardiopulmonary Bypass and the Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to assess myocardial protection and ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing open heart surgery with isothermic blood cardioplegia (IBC) or hypothermic blood cardioplegia (HBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or isolated mitral valve surgery between March 2017 and October 2017 were evaluated as randomized prospective study. Study groups (HBC: Group 1, IBC: Group 2) were compared in terms of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, and complement factor 3a (C3a) levels, metabolic parameters, creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB) and high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTn-I), and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Comparison of the markers of ischemia-reperfusion injury showed significantly higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the early postoperative period as well as IL-8, in Group 2 (p <0.001), whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly higher during the X1 time period (p = 0.11) in Group 2, and subsequently it was higher in Group 1. Using myocardial temperature probes, the target myocardial temperatures were measured in the patients undergoing open heart surgery with different routes of cardioplegia, and significant differences were noted (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: HBC for open heart surgery is associated with less myocardial injury and intraoperative and postoperative morbidity, indicating superior myocardial protection versus IBC.

Outcomes of Mild to Moderate Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Operations: A Meta-Analysis of 2,488 Patients.

This meta-analysis examined the prognosis of patients who were found to have mild to moderate functional tricuspid regurgitation during mitral valve operations. Overall, this meta-analysis included 2,488 patients in 10 studies. Compared with the group without tricuspid valve annuloplasty, the probability of not progressing to moderate to severe functional tricuspid regurgitation was significantly higher in the tricuspid valve annuloplasty group. A more aggressive surgical approach involving concomitant tricuspid repair with mitral valve operations may be considered to avoid the development of moderate to severe functional tricuspid regurgitation in the follow-up.

The Effects of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy on the Neurocognitive Functions in the Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease: A Randomized Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to research the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on the neurocognitive functions in the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with asymptomatic carotid artery disease. METHODS: The study design was carried out with the participation of 79 patients in a prospective, randomized and double blind control method. The patients were separated into two groups as NIRS (n = 43) and no NIRS (n = 36). A neurocognitive test was applied preoperatively and postoperatively to all patients before discharge. Cognitive functions were evaluated by applying the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA). RESULTS: The decrease in the postoperative score of mean MoCA in no NIRS group was statistically significant when compared to preoperatively (p <0.001). Postoperative mean MoCA score was found to be significantly higher in NIRS group (NIRS: 26.8 ± 1.9 vs. no NIRS: 23.6 ± 2.5, p <0.001). It has been determined that there was a moderately positive significant correlation between the increase in the NIRS used patients (%) and increase in the MoCA score of the patients (r = 0.59, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative NIRS usage in the patients undergoing CABG with carotid artery disease might be useful due to its postoperative positive effects on the cognitive functions.