Does sodium nitroprusside decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation after myocardial revascularization?: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often occurs after coronary artery bypass grafting and can result in increased morbidity and mortality. In the present pilot study, our aim was to investigate whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a nitric oxide donor, can reduce the frequency of post-coronary artery bypass grafting AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the effectiveness of SNP in the prophylaxis of AF, we conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study on 100 consecutive patients in whom we performed elective and initial CABG operations. A control group of 50 patients were treated with placebo (dextrose 5% in water), whereas the SNP group (n=50 patients) was treated with SNP (0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) during the rewarming period. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured before surgery and 5 days postoperatively. All patients were monitored postoperatively with telemetry. Baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment groups. AF occurred in 12% of the SNP group and 27% of the control group. The occurrence of AF was significantly lower in the SNP group (P=0.005). The duration of AF in the SNP group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (5.33+/-1.86 and 7.55+/-1.94 hours, respectively; P=0.023). C-reactive protein levels were higher postoperatively in the control group than in the SNP group (P<0.05). Postoperative AF significantly prolonged postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative AF in the SNP group was reduced significantly. Further studies are needed to better delineate the anti-AF profile of SNP.

Vacuum-assisted closure and bilateral pectoralis muscle flaps for different stages of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the results of bilateral pectoralis major muscle flaps (BPMMF) and vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) at different stages of postcardiac surgery mediastinitis. METHODS: Of 65 patients with a deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after cardiac surgery, 33 with a stable sternum were treated with VAC (59.3 +/- 11.7 years of age) and 32 with an unstable sternum or osteomyelitis (63.3 +/- 9.8 years of age) were treated with early BPMMF and continuous irrigation. Delayed BPMMF reconstruction was necessary in six VAC patients. RESULTS: The overall incidence of DSWI was 1.04% within the study period. Deep sternal wound infection was diagnosed 15.9 +/- 10.8 days (range 5-62 days) after surgery. Diabetes was more common in the BPMMF group than in the VAC group (P = 0.046). Hospital mortality after treatment was 4.6% (n = 3) overall. Causes of death were septic multiorgan failure and respiratory failure. The infective pathogens were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; n = 2) and Acinetobacter species (n = 1). The median hospital stay was 29 days (range 15-110 days). After 6 months, only one recurrent sternal infection had occurred in the VAC group. CONCLUSIONS: Early BPMMF is an effective surgical treatment for DSWI in patients with an unstable sternum and osteomyelitis. VAC may be considered for patients without osteomyelitis but a stable sternum, or as adjuvant therapy in patients with comorbidity.

Coexistence of left-sided inferior vena cava, deep vein thrombosis of the upper and lower extremities and prothrombotic polymorphisms in a young patient: a case report.

A literature review suggests an interaction between an anomaly of the inferior vena cava and thrombophilia in the pathogenesis of deep vein thrombosis. Genetic thrombotic abnormalities have been found in some of the subjects having venous thromboembolic diseases. We report a case of a young man presenting with venous thrombosis of the upper and lower extremities, left-sided vena cava inferior and with combination of heterozygosity of the mutation of the genes Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 and Factor V 1691.

The effect of sodium nitroprusside infusion on renal function during reperfusion period in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Acute renal failure remains a common and serious complication of cardiac surgery. In this randomized trial, we aimed to assess whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) could prevent renal dysfunction after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. METHODS: Between October 2004 and May 2006, 240 consecutive patients with stable angina undergoing elective CABG for multi-vessel coronary artery disease were prospectively randomized into control (n=116, 72 men, mean age 61.3+/-9.7 years) or SNP groups (n=124, 81 men, 60.8+/-10.8 years). SNP group received SNP after initiation of rewarming period during CPB at a dose of 0.1mg/kg/h and the infusion was concluded by weaning from CPB. The anesthetic and CPB regimes were standardized. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), creatinine clearance (C(Cr)), urine output, serum cardiac specific troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase cardiac isoenzyme (CKMB), and CPK were measured preoperatively and daily until day 5 after surgery. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline levels of BUN, SCr, eGFR, C(Cr), cTnI, CKMB, CPK levels and EuroSCORES between the groups. Although the durations of cross clamp, CPB times, and postoperative cardiac enzymes were similar in both groups; in the control group, there was a significantly lower urine excretion during CPB (p=0.002) and the operation (p=0.041). Peak postoperative SCr levels were significantly (p=0.001) lower in the SNP group than in the control group (1.29+/-0.28 vs 1.42+/-0.34mg/dl). The incidence of >or=50%DeltaSCr was significantly higher in the control group when compared with the SNP group (35.3 vs 13.7%, p<0.001). Development of new C(Cr) less than 50ml/min postoperatively was significantly higher in the control group compared with the SNP group (14 vs 38%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SNP administration during rewarming period of non-pulsatile CPB in patients undergoing CABG surgery is associated with improved renal function compared with conventional medical treatment providing adequate preload and mean arterial pressures.

Report of the anatomic variation of the brachial artery in a patient undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization.

The arterial pattern of the upper limb is one of the systems that shows a large number of variations in the adult human body. Most of these variations occur in either the radial or ulnar artery; brachial artery variations are less common. In this case report we describe the anomaly in the formation of the brachial artery system. Appreciation of variations in the upper extremity vasculature is essential to prevent injury, particularly in patients undergoing arteriography.

Effect of carbon dioxide insufflation on free internal thoracic artery flows: is it a vasodilator?

BACKGROUND: This study was conceived to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide insufflation on free internal thoracic artery flows. METHODS: We studied 56 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in which the left internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery. The first 26 consecutive internal thoracic arteries were harvested as a pedicled graft (group 1), and the next 30 consecutive internal thoracic arteries were dissected by using the carbon dioxide insufflation technique (group 2). The internal thoracic artery harvesting was performed by 2 experienced surgeons by using the same instrumentation and technique. First, free flows of the internal thoracic arteries were registered after distal cutting of the vessel in both groups. After the first measurements, diluted papaverine was sprayed on the internal thoracic artery pedicle only in group 1, and then second measurements were registered after 15 minutes in both groups. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded with each measurement. RESULTS: The first free flow measurement was significantly higher in the carbon dioxide-insufflated internal thoracic arteries (group 2, 60 +/- 32 mL/min; group 1, 28 +/- 19 mL/min; P <.05). Although the second free flow measurement of the carbon dioxide-insufflated group was higher than in group 1, the difference was not statistically significant (68 +/- 46 mL/min vs 53 +/- 32 mL/min; P =.53). CONCLUSIONS: Carbon dioxide insufflation of the internal thoracic artery is an efficient technique to increase the flow and seems to be safe, simple, and reliable. When the internal thoracic artery is harvested in a carbon dioxide-insufflated fashion, arterial spasm and reduced early flow may be avoided, even without vasodilator agents such as papaverine.

Primary benign schwannoma of the heart.

We report herein a case of a 61-year-old woman who was found to have a mass adjacent to the left atrium. The tumor was resected giving least damage to the left atrium on cardiopulmonary bypass with a subsequent histological diagnosis of a schwannoma. Neurogenic tumors comprise 10% to 34% of mediastinal tumors. Nerve sheath tumors are more common in adults than in children, and these are equally malignant in children and adults. Nerve sheath tumors of the heart are extremely rare. Although there are many malignant cardiac neurilemomas reported, only a few cases of benign schwannomas have been reported. We describe a rare primary benign schwannoma of the left atrium.

Efficiency of L-arginine enriched cardioplegia and non-cardioplegic reperfusion in ischemic hearts.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial dysfunction with decreased nitric oxide (NO) levels has been implicated on reperfusion injury. Although L-arginine has been shown to diminish reperfusion injury in in vitro studies, clinical studies were very limited. METHODS: Forty patients with acute myocardial ischemia undergoing CABG were randomized to a study and a control group. L-Arginine was added to cardioplegia solutions in study group. A non-cardioplegic warm blood solution with 8 mmol/l L-arginine infused for controlled reperfusion. Control patients received same protocol without L-arginine. Myocardial O2, lactate, nitrite and malondialdehyde extractions were measured in addition to calculation of CK-MB/CPK ratio and hemodynamic data. RESULTS: While there was no mortality in study group, one patient in control group died. Overall and nitrite (P=0.01) and lactate extractions (P=0.04) was higher in study and control groups, respectively. Myocardial O2 uptake was higher and malondialdehyde extraction was lower in study group. CK-MB/CPK ratio at postoperative sixth hour was also significantly lower in study group. Ninety percent of the study group had spontaneous return of the sinus rhythm, while 80% of the control patients required defibrillation (P<0.0001). In addition to significantly better hemodynamics, perioperative myocardial infarction incidence was lower (P=0.037), the length of intensive care unit (P=0.009) and hospital (0.014) stays were shorter in study group. CONCLUSIONS: Use of L-arginine for protection of acutely ischemic myocardium appears to be a safe technique. L-Arginine supplementation increased NO levels and attenuated free O2 radical mediated myocardial injury. Controlled reperfusion with l-arginine enriched non-cardioplegic blood could be a new therapeutic entity to diminish ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Oral thyroid hormone pretreatment in left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine whether pretreatment with oral thyroid hormone had beneficial effects in cardiac function and morbidity and mortality after cardiac operations. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 30% scheduled for elective coronary bypass grafting agreed to participate in this prospective, randomized trial. The triiodothyronine (T(3)) (Group I) and control groups (Group II) were equally divided. Patients randomized to the T(3) group received T(3) 125 microg/day orally for 7 days preoperatively and from the first postoperative day till the discharge. Outcome variables included perioperative hemodynamic data, inotropic requirements, morbidity and mortality. Hemodynamic data were collected before induction of anesthesia and following every 4 h. The thyroid profile was determined upon admission, after the induction of anesthesia, 5 min after the start of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and after hourly intervals and after 24th hour, at 24h intervals till the 120th hour. RESULTS: There were 6 deaths, three in each group. Patients in the T(3) group demonstrated a higher cardiac index than patients in the placebo group in the entire post-CPB periods (P<0.01). Mean inotropic requirements remained lower in the T(3) group than in the placebo group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although our study stresses the benefits of oral T(3) administration on the hemodynamic and prognostic parameters in patients with impaired left ventricular function and undergoing CABG weakly, it may warrant further much larger scaled studies that can reach statistical significance.

[Alternative approaches in the end-stage heart failure]. / Ileri Dönem Kalp Yetmezliginde Alternatif Arayislar.

Cardiac transplantation has emerged as the therapeutic procedure of choice for patients with end-stage heart disease but the availability of donor organs remains major limiting factor allowing only 1% of the candidates actually become transplant recipients. New therapeutic strategies are under intensive research for patients who do not meet patient selection criteria for transplantation or who suffer from donor organ shortage. Even though there are significant developments in the medical treatment of cardiac failure, the prognosis of this condition continues to be poor. The 20-40% of the candidates for cardiac transplantation die while they are included in the waiting list. Twenty percent mortality has been reported within the first year of transplantation with additional yearly mortality of 5% following the first year. Financial constraints, complications of immunosuppression and functional failure of the transplanted hearts are other limiting factors. This has brought up the necessity to search for alternative surgical treatment methods besides increasing the waiting periods of transplant candidates. The aim of this report is to summarize other currently available therapeutic alternatives for patients with end-stage cardiac disease.

Surgery for cardiac hydatid disease: an Anatolian experience.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical/pathological features and the outcome of the surgical treatment of cardiac hydatid disease in our unit and other hospitals of Anatolia over a fifteen-years period. METHODS: Between 1984 and 2001, fifty cases of surgically treated cardiac hydatid disease were identified by systematic literature search from Anatolia. Twelve patients were operated at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara University within the same period. Overall thirty-nine patients were female (mean age 29.8+/-14 years). Sixty-three percent of patients were complaining of dyspnea at the time of referral to the hospital and 22% presented with signs of acute coronary syndrome. RESULTS: The most common cardiac location was the left ventricle (46.7%) followed by the interventricular septum, the right ventricle and atria. The most common procedure was controlled puncture and aspiration of the cyst content, its excision and closure of the resulting cavity, which were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Overall Anatolian operative mortality was 4.8% (3 patients). No late deaths but recurrence in one patient have occurred. CONCLUSION: In view of the lack of efficient alternative treatment options, we recommend surgical intervention even in asymptomatic patients in order to prevent the occurrence of lethal complications.

Therapeutic Angiogenesis by Autologous Transplantation of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells for Buerger's Patients with Retractable Limb Ischaemia: A Preliminary Report.

Bone marrow implantation into ischaemic limbs could enhance angiogenesis by supplying endothelialprogeniter cells and angiogenic cytokinesot factors. We investigated efficacy and safety of autologousimplantation of bonemarrow-mononuclearcells (BMMC)in patients with ischaemic limbs due to Buerger's disease. We commence daciinical study to test cell therapy with autologous BMMC in patients with ischaemic limbs at the University of Ankara School of Medicine. In order for the patients to qualify for BMMC implantation, they should have critical limb ischaemia define das ischaemic rest painin a limb with or without non healing ulcers, should not respond to previous iloprost infusions and smoking cessation six months prior to evaluation and should not be candidates for nonsurgicalor surgical revascularisation. Primaryend points were safety andfeasibility of the treatmentand total healing of the most importantlesion. Secondary endpoints were total relief of rest pain without the need for analgesies,change in peak walkingtime (PWT)at 12 weeks, improvements in ankle-brachial pressure index(ABI), transcutaneous oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry(SaO2),angiographic evidence of newcollatera lvesselformation, tissue perfusion in the affected extremity using Thallium perfusions cintigraphyW. hilepatients(meanage46.7: !: 10.3years)were undergeneraal naesthesiaw, eharvested bonemarrow(519: t 45.5mUfromtheposteridilriacspineA. fterredbloodcell(RBCd) epletiaannd volumereduction using a continuous flow cell separator,we achieved 91% RBC depletian and concentrated /~MMC to a final volume and concentration of 51.5: t io.1 mLand7.04: t 1.9 x ioe7/mL total nucleated cells, respectively W.eimplantedBMMC (mean12.16: t 4.3 x ioe8) within three hours after marrow aspiration by intramuscular injection into the gastrocnemiusmuscle of ischaemic legs. Isotonic saline were injected into the other extremityin as similar fashion as control. 13 Unilateral intramuscular administration of BMMC was not associated with any complications. The primary efficacy end point, total healing of the most importantlesion, was achieved in three patients. All patients were followed up for at least four weeks. The secondary measures; change in PWT(LlPWT)at 12 weeks, total relief of rest pain without the need of analgesics improved in three patjents. These improvements were sustained for 24 weeks in the first two patients. Digital subtraction angiographic studies before and 3 months after the BMMC implantation showed the presence of a new vascular collateral network across the affected arteries in three patients. Preliminary results of the presentedstudy are promising. Thus, bone marrow maybe a potential source of cells for Buerger'spatients with end-stage Iimbischaemia refractory to other medical treatment modalities.

Giant posterolateral left ventricular aneurysm diagnosed 6 weeks after incomplete surgical revascularization.

We report the surgical repair of a true left ventricular aneurysm diagnosed 6 weeks after incomplete surgical revascularization.

A rare complication of radial artery catheterization.

An arterial pseudoaneurysm is a cavity which does not consist of three layers of arterial wall and is generally seen at femoral and radial artery sites due to bone fractures, arterial injuries and iatrogenic reasons such as catheterization. The treatment choice may be either surgical or conservative. Patients with pseudoaneurysm should be carefully followed and the treatment choice should be immediately decided to avoid possible complications. We report a case of pseudoaneurysm formation in the radial artery that occurred one week after arterial catheterization for coronary angiography. The treatment choice for this patient was surgical and he was discharged without any complications.

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.

Thrombotic gene polymorphisms and postoperative outcome after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: Emerging perioperative genomics may influence the direction of risk assessment and surgical strategies in cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) affect the clinical presentation and predispose to increased risk for postoperative adverse events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). METHODS: A total of 220 patients undergoing first-time CABG between January 2005 and May 2008 were screened for factor V gene G1691A (FVL), prothrombin/factor II G20210A (PT G20210A), angiotensin I-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE-ins/del) polymorphisms by PCR and Real Time PCR. End points were defined as death, myocardial infarction, stroke, postoperative bleeding, respiratory and renal insufficiency and event-free survival. Patients were compared to assess for any independent association between genotypes for thrombosis and postoperative phenotypes. RESULTS: Among 220 patients, the prevalence of the heterozygous FVL mutation was 10.9% (n = 24), and 3.6% (n = 8) were heterozygous carriers of the PT G20210A mutation. Genotype distribution of ACE-ins/del was 16.6%, 51.9%, and 31.5% in genotypes I/I, I/D, and D/D, respectively. FVL and PT G20210A mutations were associated with higher prevalence of totally occluded coronary arteries (p < 0.001). Furthermore the risk of left ventricular aneurysm formation was significantly higher in FVL heterozygote group compared to FVL G1691G (p = 0.002). ACE D/D genotype was associated with hypertension (p = 0.004), peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.006), and previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: FVL and PT G20210A genotypes had a higher prevalence of totally occluded vessels potentially as a result of atherothrombotic events. However, none of the genotypes investigated were independently associated with mortality.

[Clinical outcome and factors affecting surgical decision for repair versus replacement in patients with mitral regurgitation]. / Mitral kapak yetmezliginin cerrahi tedavisinde onarim veya replasman seçimini etkileyen faktörler ve klinik sonuçlar.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify characteristics differentiating patients undergoing mitral valve replacement versus valve repair for mitral regurgitation (MR) and to investigate retrospectively mid-term clinical and functional outcomes. METHODS: From January, 2004 to January, 2009 146 patients underwent mitral valve surgery (62 male / 84 female; age: 55.9+/-13.6 [18-80] years) by one surgical team. Mitral valve replacement was performed in 101 patients (69.2 %) and valve repair was performed in 45 patients (30.8%). Mean follow-up time was 586+/-413 days. Life tables were constructed for the analysis of 5-year complication free survival and comparisons were performed between the groups using Log-rank test within 95%CI. RESULTS: The choice of surgical technique depended on the etiology of MR. Degenerative (p=0.001) and ischemic (p=0.014) MR were more common in patients undergoing repair whereas patients with complex rheumatic mitral valve disease (p=0.001) with subvalvular involvement commonly underwent replacement. Overall 30-day mortality was 3.2% (replacement, 3.96%vs repair, 2.22%, p=0.59). Although there was no significant difference between the groups regarding baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (ischemic p=0.61; non-ischemic p=0.34), improvement was more pronounced in the repair group for both etiologies (ischemic MR, p=0.001; non- ischemic MR p=0.002). Survival at 5-years was 91.7+/-4.7% after repair and 83.5+/-9.2% after replacement, respectively (p=0.83). Freedom from grade 2 or more mitral regurgitation, reoperation, endocarditis, and thromboembolism were 95+/-5% vs 97+/-3% (p=0.71); 95+/-4% vs 98+/-2% (p=0.98); 94+/-4% vs 100% (p=0.16); and 85+/-8% vs 100% (p=0.095) in replacement and repair groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that mitral valve repair is associated with an acceptable operative mortality, satisfactory mid-term survival and better preservation of left ventricular function. Significant differences in favor of repair are expected in long-term follow-up particularly regarding freedom from thromboembolism and endocarditis.

Micronized purified flavonoid fraction in pretreating CABG patients.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether oral pretreatment with micronized purified flavonoid fraction (Daflon) has beneficial effects on cardiac function and outcome after cardiac operations. This prospective, randomized trial enrolled 43 patients who had an impaired preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 0.50 (mean, 0.45 +/- 0.04) and a mean New York Heart Association functional class status of 2.30 +/- 0.74; all were scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients who were randomized to the Daflon group (n=21) received oral Daflon 500 mg (6 tablets daily for 4 days, followed by 2 tablets for 3 days) preoperatively. Outcome variables included perioperative hemodynamic data, inotropic requirements, morbidity, and death, as well as cardiac ischemia and various outcome markers. Hemodynamic and biochemical data were collected before induction of anesthesia, perioperatively before starting cardiopulmonary bypass, immediately after bypass, and at the 24th postoperative hour. There was only 1 death (in the Daflon group). During the post-cardiopulmonary bypass period, troponin I and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in the Daflon group. Also, the New York Heart Association status of the patients in the Daflon group was significantly lower postoperatively. Differences between the 2 groups in lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, inotropic requirements, and left ventricular ejection fraction levels did not reach statistical significance. Orally administered Daflon might provide better outcomes for patients who have impaired cardiac function before undergoing cardiac operations that require cardiopulmonary bypass.