Comparison of different approaches to small saphenous vein reflux treatment: a retrospective study in two centers.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and treatment of small saphenous vein (SSV) insufficiency is of utmost importance for relieving chronic venous insufficiency symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and safety of five different treatment approaches among patients with SSV insufficiency. DESIGN AND SETTING: Two-center retrospective clinical study, conducted at cardiovascular surgery clinics in a local training and research hospital and a state hospital. METHODS: A total of 282 extremities of 268 patients with SSV insufficiency alone who were treated for symptomatic varicose veins between January 2012 and January 2017 were included in the study. All extremities included in the study were divided into five groups as follows: high ligation + stripping; radiofrequency ablation (RFA); cyanoacrylate closure (CAC); and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) at the wavelengths 980 nm and 1,470 nm. RESULTS: Although the recurrence rate at six months was similar among the treatment groups, we found significant differences in recurrence rates at one year, with lower rates in the CAC, RFA and 1,470 nm EVLA groups, compared with the other treatments (P = 0.005). No sural neuritis was observed in the CAC group. The pigmentation rate was higher in the two EVLA groups (980 nm and 1,470 nm). CONCLUSIONS: Our study results showed that although CAC, RFA and EVLA at 1,470 nm seemed to be effective methods for treating SSV insufficiency alone, CAC and RFA had better aesthetic results than EVLA at 1,470 nm. We consider that endovenous non-thermal techniques for treating SSV insufficiency may be preferable because of relatively low risk of nerve injury.

Brachial index does not reflect upper extremity functionality following surgery for vascular trauma / O índice tornozelo-braço não reflete a funcionalidade da extremidade superior após cirurgia para o trauma vascular

OBJECTIVES: Vascular injuries to the upper extremities requiring surgical repair are common after accidents. However, neither postoperative functionality nor hemodynamic status of the extremity are routinely described. We evaluated the postoperative functional and hemodynamic status of patients with vascular traumas in the upper extremities. METHODS: 26 patients who suffered penetrating vascular traumas in the upper extremities from November 2008 to December 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. Data on first approach, surgical technique employed and early postoperative outcomes were recorded. Further data on the post-discharge period, including clinical functional status of the arm, Doppler ultrasonography and brachial-brachial index were also evaluated. RESULTS: Average follow up was 33.5±10.8 months. Right (1.05±0.09) and left (1.04±0.08) brachial indexes were measured during follow up,. Doppler ultrasonography showed arterial occlusion in 4 patients (15%). Near-normal brachial-brachial indexes was observed in all four of these patients with occlusion of one of the upper extremity arteries, even though they exhibited limited arm function for daily work. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of the postoperative outcomes of this small series of patients with penetrating vascular traumas in the upper extremity revealed that 15% of them suffered occlusion of one artery of the upper extremity. Artery occlusion did not correlate with brachial-brachial Doppler index, probably due to rich collateral circulation, but occlusion was associated with an extremity that was dysfunctional for the purposes of daily work. The result of the brachial-brachial index does not therefore correlate with functionality...

OBJETIVOS: Os vasos das extremidades superiores são frequentemente lesados em razão de acidentes. Nós pesquisamos a funcionalidade dos membros superiores com base nos resultados cirúrgicos, além do acompanhamento de lesões de outros órgãos e tecidos. MÉTODOS: Entre novembro de 2008 e dezembro de 2011, 26 pacientes foram encaminhados ao nosso serviço de emergência em razão de lesões vasculares traumáticas da extremidade superior, sendo avaliados retrospectivamente. O atendimento inicial aos pacientes, assim como os diagnósticos e as variedades de tratamento, foram avaliados. Após a alta hospitalar, os pacientes foram acompanhados pelo eco-Doppler e pelo índice tornozelo-braço. RESULTADOS: O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 33,5±10,8 meses. Durante o seguimento, os índices braquiais direito (1,05±0,09) e esquerdo (1,04±0,08) foram medidos. Na ultrassonografia Doppler, foi observada obstrução arterial em quatro pacientes. Devido à circulação colateral, o índice tornozelo-braço foi próximo do normal nesses pacientes; entretanto, eles apresentavam limitações funcionais dos membros superiores acometidos, para o trabalho diário. CONCLUSÕES: Traumas penetrantes são frequentemente observados em adultos jovens. Esses pacientes devem ser rapidamente tratados para que retornem ao seu trabalho. O planejamento do tratamento deve ser multidisciplinar, para abranger também as lesões de outros órgãos e tecidos. Nosso estudo mostrou que não há correlação entre o índice tornozelo-braço e a funcionalidade da extremidade superior, após cirurgia para o trauma vascular...

Effects of albumin and synthetic polypeptide-coated oxygenators on IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in open heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we have tried to demonstrate the effects of coating style used in oxygenators on various hematologic and clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients were included in the study, who had undergone operations because of elective coronary artery disease. Albumin-coated oxygenator was used in Group I. In Group II, a synthetic polypeptide-coated oxygenator was used. C1-inhib (complement), C3c, C4, interleukins (IL-1ß, IL2, IL-6, IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were examined at four different time intervals. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte and platelet counts, drainage, and transfused blood volumes were analyzed. RESULTS: Albumin levels were significantly lower in Group I than those in Group II 5 minutes after the removal of the cross-clamp. Twenty-four hours after the surgery, Group I patients also had a significantly higher white blood cell count compared to Group II patients. TNF-α levels in Group I were always expressed in considerably higher amounts than those in Group II. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in Group I, but IL-10 levels were observed to be higher in Group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Synthetic polypeptide-coated advanced technology, which employed oxygenators, had an important attenuator effect on acute phase reactants and also on the inflammatory response.

Cystic and hemorrhagic giant left atrial myxoma in a patient presenting with exertional angina and dyspnea.

Myxomas are the most common type of primary cardiac tumors and are usually localized in the atrium. The clinical features of the disease depend on the size, location, mobility, and fragility of the mass. In our case report, we present a 38-year-old female patient admitted to our hospital with typical exertional angina and dyspnea. Diagnosis of giant cystic/hemorrhagic atrial myxoma was established after imaging modalities including echocardiography, angiography, and radiology and the pathological evaluation of the mass. On the coronary angiography, a significant feeding artery of the tumor originating from the right coronary artery and the cystic/hemorrhagic appearance all raised the suspicion for the presence of other cardiac masses. However, the pathological evaluation of the mass was reported as consistent with myxoma, with many prominent cystic and hemorrhagic fields and no evidence of malignancy. Since large intratumoral hemorrhagic fields and the presence of a significant feeding artery secondary to tumor neovascularization were observed, we hypothesized that the remarkable amount of blood flow from the coronary artery to the giant myxoma may result in a kind of coronary steal phenomenon and typical anginal symptoms of the patient.