Coronary artery bypass graft operations can be performed safely in obese patients.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a major public health problem with an increasing prevalence. Although coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations are now performed with low morbidity and mortality rates, obesity is still assumed to be an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality at these operations but there is no precise approach to define it as a risk factor. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of obesity on the clinical outcome of the CABG operations. METHODS: A total of 1206 patients, who underwent isolated CABG operation under cardiopulmonary bypass were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I was normal weight, with body mass index (BMI) of 18-24.9 kg/m(2), group II was overweight, with a BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m(2), and group III was obese, with a BMI of >30 kg/m(2). The clinical data of three groups were evaluated in aspects of postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Except for the superficial wound infections, there were no differences in postoperative mortality and morbidity rates between the three groups. Obesity was not found to be an important risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the perception that obesity increases the risk of mortality and morbidity in CABG operations, the clinical outcome of these patients are not so different from other patients. We may say that obese patients can be safely operated.

Functional results in aortic root enlargement.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamically efficient valves with effective orifice areas that are used in aortic valve replacement have been positively determined to affect postoperative exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional effects of aortic root enlargement in the late postoperative period for patients with a small effective orifice area. METHODS: Nineteen patients with a small effective orifice area were included in the study. The study group comprised 9 patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with 23-mm St. Jude Medical prosthetic valves and posterior aortic root enlargement. The control group comprised 10 patients in whom 19-mm and 21-mm St. Jude Medical prosthetic valves were implanted without aortic root enlargement. The patients were evaluated in the late postoperative period with echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: The 2 groups were similar in anthropometric parameter values, follow-up periods, echocardiographic findings, and the gradients at the prosthetic aortic valve at rest; however, the anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation volume, and walk time were significantly higher in the study group ( P <.05). CONCLUSION: The choice of aortic root enlargement for the implantation of a valve with a larger effective orifice area is preferred by most of the surgeons over the implantation of a valve with a smaller effective orifice area. The late postoperative functional capacity of the patient is significantly improved with root enlargement. Surgeons should be encouraged to perform root enlargement in patients with a small effective orifice area, and such surgery may even be performed routinely in these patients.

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.