Efficacy of atrial fibrillation predictors including MVP ECG risk score compared between single or bilateral internal thoracic artery use.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG). Despite advanced treatment methods, primary prevention is crucial. Many factors have been investigated as markers for AF, but further research is required. CABG is currently superior to Primary Coronary Intervention (PCI) in some cases due to Left Anterior Descending Artery (LAD)- Internal Thoracic Artery (ITA) anastomosis. However, graft choice for non-LAD vessels is still controversial. Our study compared the incidence of arrhythmia between patients with single ITA or bilateral ITA (BITA). METHODS: The study included 84 isolated CABG patients. The patients were divided into two groups: single ITA and BITA. Patients who developed AF were recorded and compared. RESULTS: 73.8%(n = 62) of the patients were male and 26.2%(n = 22) were female. While single ITA was used in 48.8%(n = 41) of the patients, BITA was used in 51.2%(n = 43). AF was detected in 15.5%(n = 13) of the patients. AF was observed in 5(12.2%) patients in the single ITA group and 8(18.6%) in the BITA group. 76.9%(n = 10) of the patients with AF rhythm had Diabetes Mellitus (DM)(p = 0.011). Biphasic P wave, length of P wave duration, and total Morpholog-Voltage-P Wave ECG (MVP ECG) score height were statistically significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The development of AF was similar in both groups. The presence of DM, high blood glucose levels, and ECG findings can detect a predisposition to postoperative AF. MVP ECG risk score is effective as an AF marker and can be used in surgical patient groups.

A New Surgical Approach for Aortic Root Aneurysm and Small Aortic Annulus.

Reconstruction of the aortic root in patients with aortic root aneurysm and small aortic annulus is an intricate surgical procedure. Here, we describe our technique performed in 2 patients, that involved aortic root enlargement with grafting in conjunction with annular implantation of the composite graft with a prosthetic mechanical valve, which allowed us to avoid incompatibility. This novel method offers an alternative combined surgical approach for patients with small aortic annulus and aortic root aneurysm that preserves the structure of the valved conduit at the level of the aortic annulus.

Open Heart Surgery at Patient's Own Temperature Without Active Cooling.

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia is a method of myocardial protection in cardiac surgery. This protection occurs by decreasing the metabolic demands, however, it creates susceptibility to various problems. In this study, we investigated patients operated on under normothermia (at the patient's own temperature) and hypothermia for postoperative differences. METHODS: The study was conducted between June 2015 and September 2016 with 167 patients. The patients were divided into two groups in accordance with our routine clinical practice: the normothermic group (native temperature goup; intraoperative body temperature ≥ 34°C), and the hypothermic group intraoperative body temperature  < 34°C - ≥ 28°C). Preoperative and postoperative data of patients were recorded and the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of cross clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, awakening and extubation times, intensive care unit and hospital stay, drainage, mean serum lactate levels, arrhytmia, all causes infection, renal insufficiency, neurologic complications, myocardial infarction, or mortality (P > .05). Inotrope and transfusion requirements were found to be statistically significantly lower in the normothermic group than the hypothermic group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Although hypothermia is commonly used in cardiac surgery, it has harmful effects. We believe that cardiac surgery can safely be performed at a patient's own temperature without active cooling to avoid these dangers.

Open Cardiac Surgery without Blood and Blood Products Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusions are the most common type of tissue and organ transplantation. Perioperative and postoperative transfusions may cause morbidity and mortality and transfusion should based on only hematocrit values but also on hemodynamic and clinical parameters of the patient, which cannot be ignored. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between January 2015 and October 2016 with adult patients undergoing elective open heart surgery. In these patients, a protocol was established, and patients were divided into two groups as transfusion (-) and transfusion (+). In the first 24 hours in the intensive care unit, patients' drainage, 24-hours urine output, awakening and extubation times, and lactate and bilirubin levels in arterial blood gases were recorded. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity, and hemodynamic and clinical data were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: We have performed a total of 138 cases; no blood and blood products were transfused in 71% (n = 98), and in 29.0% (n = 40) blood and blood products were transfused. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity (arrhythmia, infectious and pulmonary morbidity, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, renal dysfunction, sternal revision) were compared between these two groups and no statistically significant difference was observed. Patients' awakening, extubation time, cardiopulmonary bypass period, cross-clamp time, and days in intensive care unit and hospital were compared, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: In this study, we conclude that open heart surgery without blood transfusion may be accomplished with decent peri/postoperative management. The patients who did not receive any blood or blood products were not compromised clinically or hemodynamically. No extra morbidity and mortality were seen in the non-transfusion group. Transfusion decision was based on clinical and hemodynamic parameters such as persistent hypotension or tachycardia, hyperlactatemia, low urine output, and anemic symptoms.

Stent Embolism after Coronary Angiography: Case Report.

Endovascular interventions are widely performed of late; complications including stent embolism of arteries and veins, dislocation, or malposition of medical devices are frequently seen. Peripheral stent embolisms are generally asymptomatic, but when they cause acute ischemia or severe symptoms like claudication they must be removed. Stents can be removed not only with surgical techniques but also with endovascular maneuvers. In this case report, we state that in symptomatic peripheral arterial embolization cases, surgical intervention is the first choice for treatment due to the complexity and high risk of complications when using endovascular maneuvers.

Open distal anastomosis technique for ascending aortic aneurysm repair without cerebral perfusion.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to report the outcomes of patients who underwent proximal thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery with open distal anastomosis technique but without cerebral perfusion, instead under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. METHODS: Thirty patients (21 male, 9 female) who underwent ascending aortic aneurysm repair with open distal anastomosis technique were included. The average age was 60.2±11.7 years. Operations were performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and the cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass was first done over the aneurysmatic segment and then moved over the graft. Intraoperative and early postoperative mortality and morbidity outcomes were reported. RESULTS: Average duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamps were 210.8±43 and 154.9±35.4 minutes, respectively. Average duration of total circulatory arrest was 25.2±2.4 minutes. There was one hospital death (3.3%) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at postoperative day 22. No neurological dysfunction was observed during the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that open distal anastomosis under less than 30 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest without antegrade or retrograde cerebral perfusion and cannulation of the aneurysmatic segment is a safe and reliable procedure in patients undergoing proximal thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery.

[Endovascular repair for an acute traumatic aortic transection: a case report]. / Akut travmatik aort transeksiyonunda endovasküler onarim: olgu sunumu.

A thirty-eight-year-old male patient who suffered from 10th and 11th thoracal vertebrae fractures, paraplegia and acute traumatic aortic transection because of accidental fall was referred to our hospital. Open surgical repair carried a very high risk due to severe coexisting injuries. Transection was treated with 30x100 mm Valiant thoracic endograft, which was deployed just distal to the ostium of the left carotid artery. The patient was transferred to the neurosurgery clinic for treatment of paraplegia after an uneventful recovery. Endovascular repair of acute transection confers substantial advantages in mortality and morbidity compared to surgical repair. However, the long-term durability of thoracic endografts remains unknown. If the long-term results are as satisfactory as the promising mid-term results, this technique may become the gold standard approach for the treatment of acute transection.

Mortality predictors in ST-elevated myocardial infarction patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

The use of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in primary treatment of acute myocardial infarction is still debated. We evaluated the predictors of mortality in patients undergoing primary CABG for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Between January 2003 and January 2008, all patients referred to our institution with STEMI who did not qualify for primary angioplasty and required CABG were included in this study. Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared retrospectively in terms of demo-graphics, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics. Preoperatively confirmed cases of STEMI (n = 150) were included in the analysis. There were 114 survivors and 36 nonsurvivors. In-hospital mortality rate was 22%. In Cox regression analysis age, cardiogenic shock (Killip ≥3), preoperative cardiac troponin levels, preoperative use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP), previous myocardial infarction, and percutaneous coronary intervention were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. After multivariate analysis, factors predicting in-hospital mortality were age, preoperative cardiac troponin levels, and preoperative IABP. Age, preoperative cardiac troponin levels, and preoperative IABP use were predictive factors of in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing primary CABG for STEMI.

Left ventricular giant pseudoaneurysm.

Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of myocardial infarction. It may also occur as a complication of mitral valve surgery, chest trauma, and bacterial endocarditis. It forms when a cardiac rupture contains adherent pericardium or scar tissue and is typically located on the posterior or inferior LV wall. Pseudoaneurysms have a propensity to spontaneous rupture; hence, immediate surgical intervention is the treatment of choice for LV pseudoaneurysms diagnosed in the first months after myocardial infarction. The management of chronic LV pseudoaneurysms is still a subject of debate.

O polimorfismo VNTR no gene codificador do antagonista do receptor da interleucina-1 está associado com a doença arterial coronariana / Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene VNTR polymorphism is associated with coronary artery disease

FUNDAMENTO: A Doença Arterial Coronariana (DAC) é a aterosclerose das artérias coronárias que transportam o sangue para o coração. A aterosclerose é uma doença inflamatória. As variações gênicas das citocinas - como as associadas à família IL1 - fazem parte da patogênese da aterosclerose. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a relação entre os polimorfismos da família IL1 (VNTR do IL1RN, posições -511 e +3953 do IL1B) e a DAC na população turca. MÉTODOS: Um total de 427 indivíduos foram submetidos à angiografia coronariana e em seguida divididos da seguinte forma: 170 no grupo controle e 257 no grupo de pacientes com DAC. Os sujeitos com DAC foram divididos em dois subgrupos: 91 no grupo de Doença Coronariana em um único vaso (Single Vessel Disease - SVD) e 166 no grupo Doença Coronariana em múltiplos vasos (Multiple Vessel Disease - MVD). Os genótipos de IL1RN e IL1B (-511, +3953) foram determinados por reação em cadeia da polimerase (RCP), seguida de análise da digestão por enzima de restrição. RESULTADOS: Não foram observadas diferenças significantes nas distribuições de genótipos de IL1RN e IL1B (-511 e +3953) entre os sujeitos com DAC e os controles, ou entre sujeitos com MVD e controles. No entanto, observou-se uma relação significante no genótipo IL1RN 2/2 entre sujeitos portadores de SVD e controles (P= 0,016, x2: 10,289, OR: 2,94IC 95 por cento 1,183 - 7,229). Tampouco foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante nas freqüências dos alelos de IL1RN e IL1B (-511 e +3953) entre os sujeitos com DAC e controles, os sujeitos com MVD e controles, ou ainda os sujeitos SVD e controles. CONCLUSÃO: Não foi observada nenhuma relação na freqüência alélica e nem na distribuição genotípica dos polimorfismos de IL1RN e IL1B entre sujeitos com DAC e grupos controle. No entanto, o genótipo IL1RN 2/2 pode representar um fator de risco para sujeitos com SVD na população turca.

BACKGROUND: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Cytokine gene variations such as those associated with the IL1 family are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between IL1 family polymorphisms (IL1RN VNTR, IL1B positions -511 and +3953) and CAD in Turkish population. METHODS: 427 individuals were submitted to coronary angiography and were grouped as 170 control subjects and 257 CAD patients. The CAD subjects were divided into two subgroups: 91 Single Vessel Disease (SVD) and 166 Multiple Vessel Disease (MVD) subjects. The genotypes of IL1RN and of IL1B (-511, +3953) were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digestion analysis. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in IL1RN and IL1B (-511 and +3953) genotype distributions between CAD and control subjects or MVD and control subjects. However, significant association was seen in IL1RN 2/2 genotype between SVD and control subjects (P= 0.016, x2: 10.289, OR: 2.94, 95 percent CI: 1.183-7.229). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was found in IL1RN and IL1B (-511 and +3953) allele frequencies between CAD and control subjects, MVD and control subjects or SVD and control subjects. CONCLUSION: No association was found in either allele frequency or genotype distribution of IL1RN and IL1B polymorphisms between CAD and the control groups. However; IL1RN 2/2 genotype may be a risk factor for SVD in the Turkish population.

Carotid body tumors.

Carotid body paragangliomas were diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound, carotid artery angiography, and cranial computed tomography in a 35-year-old man with a mass in the neck and hearing loss, and in a 42-year-old man with headache, syncope, and a mass in the neck. They underwent successful surgical excision.