A New Artificial Chordae Implantation Method in Mitral Valve Surgery.

A novel method is described for artificial chordae replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene suture in mitral valve repair procedures. The technique does not involve knots over or beneath the free edge of the mitral valve leaflets. Artificial chords suspend the exact free margin of leaflets as if it were a continuation of the free margin, such that the smooth zone of the coapting area can be preserved. This technique is simple, reproducible, and applicable to both anterior and posterior leaflets. Moreover, the length of the artificial chords can be adjusted rapidly and accurately at the first attempt.

Left atrial appendage mass: is it always a thrombus?

Myxoma is the most common benign tumor of the heart, but it is very rare for it to originate from the left atrial appendage. Distinguishing between a mass, a thrombus, and a tumor in the body of the left atrium with preoperative transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography is very difficult, even more so in patients with mitral valve disease and chronic atrial fibrillation. A 50-year-old male patient was admitted for surgery with the diagnosis of mitral stenosis and chronic atrial fibrillation. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a mass attached to the wall of the left atrial appendage. Histopathological examination of the mass showed an image compatible with a myxoma. We hereby describe a case of a left atrial appendage myxoma mimicking a left atrial appendage thrombus.

Purple, stiff lesions resembling varicose veins on lower limb: certainly consider Kaposi sarcoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) typically presents multiple cutaneous lesions of the lower extremities. Lesions can rarely mimic varicose veins without venous insufficiency, vascular or stasis ulcers. As the initial diagnosis of KS is generally determined clinically, a high index of suspicion and palpation of lesions are necessary for all patients with atypical presentations of varicose-like lesions of lower extremities. Tissue biopsy with histological analysis is essential for all uncertain lesions. This is a case of KS occurring in a 79-year-old man who presented with indurated vascular plaques resembling varicose veins on the right foot.

Novel variant of dual left anterior descending artery arising from single right coronary artery anomaly presenting with angina inversa.

A 55-year-old female without a history of coronary artery disease, hypertensive for the past 17 years, was admitted with resting chest pain. Electrocardiography revealed a negative T-wave in anterior chest leads. Coronary angiography visualised anomalous coronary anatomy, with a common origin of the right coronary artery and the left main coronary artery in the right sinus of Valsalva serving as a common coronary trunk. It should be emphasised that T-wave abnormalities and chest angina may be related to this congenital coronary anomaly.

Epicardial dissection may solve the problem of saphenous vein graft length.

Saphenous vein graft length may be not enough in some cases in aortocoronary bypass surgery. If the graft length is not enough, cardiac surgeons can use epicardial and fatty dissection to release tightening saphenous vein graft, especially in the right coronary artery fashion.

Coronary artery spontaneous dissection in a young male heavy smoker during bed rest.

Spontaneous dissection of coronary artery (SDCA) is an extremely infrequent cause of acute cardiac ischaemic manifestations or sudden cardiac death with complex pathophysiology. This condition mostly affects young women in association with peripartum or postpartum status with no known risk factors for cardiovascular disease although some correlations have been noted with connective tissue disorders contraceptive use or intense physical activity. Herein, we report a case of spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending artery during bed rest in a 24-year-old young man who had no risk factors except smoking or family history of coronary artery diseases.

Hypothyroidism complicates bradyarrhythmic episodes in a heart-transplanted patient: Can it be treated with low-dose dopamine?

Extracorporeal circulation decreases thyroid hormone levels in peripheral blood. This clinical entity may complicate the postoperative period after heart transplantation if the recipient has taken thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Cardiac transplantation was performed on a patient in whom thyroid hormone levels decreased after surgery. Sinus bradycardia was seen after surgery (30-40 bpm). Thyroid hormones were replaced in the patient. Due to the fact that temporary pacing decreased blood pressure, dopamine was safely given in very low doses. This case was discussed under the literature knowledge.

Is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a risk factor for epistaxis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery?

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has customarily been associated with increased surgical morbidity and mortality rates after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between epistaxis and COPD after CABG surgery. METHODS: There were 3 443 patients who consecutively underwent isolated CABG from January 2002 to March 2012. We retrospectively analysed the data of 27 patients (0.8%) with newly developed and serious spontaneous epistaxis, which required consultation with the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department. The patients were divided into three groups according to severity of nasal bleeding. Twenty-one (77.7%) patients in the three groups had COPD. RESULTS: There were 19 males (70%) and eight females (30%). Their ages ranged between 52 and 72 years (mean 61 ± 5). Fifty-five per cent of the patients had hypertension and 78% had COPD. The overall duration of hospital stay was six to 11 days (mean 7.9 ± 1.1). Epistaxis was seen particularly on the fourth and seventh days postoperatively and 17 patients (63%) were treated with anterior, posterior, or anterior and posterior nasal packing (group 1). Nasal bleeding was controlled with electrocautery in six patients (22%) (group 2), and four (15%) were treated with surgical excision and blood transfusions (group 3). All patients (100%) had a good recovery with no mortality. CONCLUSION: The high coincidence between epistaxis and COPD made us wonder whether COPD may be a risk factor for epistaxis after CABG surgery. However, we could not find any direct causative link between COPD and epistaxis in patients who had undergone CABG. Epistaxis was more common in patients with COPD and it was more serious clinically in patients who had both COPD and hypertension.

Surgical repair of aneurysm of arteriovenous fistula in patients with chronic renal failure.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to show the efficacy and results of aneurysm reconstruction that was developed for relieving the patients from pain and mass effects and to give an early hemodialysis option. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively screened over a period of 17 years to identify patients diagnosed with and surgically treated for aneurysm of an AV fistula. Twenty-eight patients were included in this study. The mean average age was 44 ± 3 years (31-60). Seventeen (60.7%) patients were female. Twenty-two (78.5%) patients had hypertension and 9 (32.1%) patients had diabetes mellitus. Aneurysm was examined by using ultrasonography to reveal the flow dynamics. The aneurysm was resected and an appropriate sized graft was interposed under local anesthesia. The same vein was dissected and anastomosed over the graft in an end-to-side fashion. RESULTS: Mean aneurysm diameter was 40 ± 12 mm. All aneurysm tissues and thrombotic materials were removed from the surgical field. Mean graft length was 37 ± 11 mm. Three (10.7%) patients need surgical revision because of postoperative bleeding. Dermal necrosis occurred in 1 (3.5%) patient. Infection was noted in 1 (3.5%) patient. Vascular access was started from the reconstructed venous area 2 or 4 days later in all patients. The patency rate was 100% in three years. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical reconstruction of the arteriovenous fistula aneurysm can be safely performed in hemodialysis patients with low complication rates. It gives early vascular access with high patency rates. All patients are relieved from pain and distended mass effect.

Is cytoimmunological monitoring a safe follow-up method for heart transplantation patients?

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to show the effects of cytoimmunological monitoring and its role in the patient's follow-up period after heart transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2002 and 2009, 8 patients underwent heart transplantation at Gulhane Military Medical Academy Hospital. Seven patients were male. The average age was 43 ± 12 years. Donor hearts were implanted orthotopically in all patients. The patients were then subjected to cytoimmunological monitoring and endomyocardial biopsy. 431 laboratory blood tests were carried out for all patients to analyze their cytoimmunological profiles and diagnose a possible infection or rejection. RESULTS: The total and average follow-up periods were 17.5 patient years and 30 ± 36 months (1-120 months), respectively. The first patient had two rejection episodes in 3 months. A viral infection was diagnosed in the third patient, who had painful muscle spasms in both lower limbs and the CD4/CD8 ratio was below 0.4. In the fourth patient, the CD4/CD8 ratio suddenly increased and a urinary infection was diagnosed. Only one patient passed away in the early period (less than 30 days). Four patients died because of an infection or hemodynamic deterioration within three months. CONCLUSIONS: Cytoimmunological monitoring is a simple and effective technique of evaluating the patient's immunological profile. It may provide an adjunctive laboratory test and may decrease the number of endomyocardial biopsies.

Carotid intima-media thickness in patients with slow coronary flow and its association with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: The slow coronary flow (SCF) is characterized by angiographically normal or near-normal coronary arteries with delayed progression of the contrast agent into distal vasculature. We aimed to investigate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio and the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) value in patients with SCF compared to patients with newly diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 60 consecutive patients with SCF, 68 patients with CAD, and 72 normal patients. The association between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count, CIMT, and N/L ratio and other clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: The N/L ratio was significantly higher not only in patients with SCF but also in patients with CAD, compared to those of controls. The N/L ratio was positively and moderately correlated with CIMT in the whole study population. CONCLUSIONS: The NL ratio is significantly associated with reduced coronary blood flow, and elevated N/L ratio might be an independent predictor for the presence of SCF.

Comparison of results of autologous versus homologous blood transfusion in open-heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine a method to decrease the use of homologous blood during openheart surgery using a simple blood-conservation protocol. We removed autologous blood from the patient before bypass and used isovolumetric substitution. We present the results of this protocol on morbidity and mortality of surgery patients from two distinct time periods. METHODS: Patients from the two surgical phases were enrolled in this retrospective study in order to compare the outcomes using autologous or homologous blood in open-heart surgery. A total of 323 patients were included in the study. The autologous transfusion group (group 1) comprised 163 patients and the homologous transfusion group (group 2) 160 patients. In group 1, autologous bloods were prepared via a central venous catheter that was inserted into the right internal jugular vein in all patients, using the isovolumetric replacement technique. The primary outcome was postoperative In-hospital mortality and mortality at 30 days. Secondary outcomes included the length of stay in hospital and in intensive care unit (ICU), time for extubation, re-intubations, pulmonary infections, pneumothorax, pleural effusions, atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias, renal disease, allergic reactions, mediastinitis and sternal dehiscence, need for inotropic support, and low cardiac-output syndrome (LCOS). RESULTS: The mean ages of patients in groups 1 and 2 were 64.2 ± 10.3 and 61.5 ± 11.6 years, respectively. Thirty-eight of the patients in group 1 and 30 in group 2 were female. There was no in-hospital or 30-day mortality in either group. The mean extubation time, and ICU and hospital stays were significantly shorter in group 1. Furthermore, postoperative drainage amounts were less in group 1. There were significantly fewer patients with postoperative pulmonary complications, pneumonia, atrial fibrillation and renal disease. The number of patients who needed postoperative inotropic support and those with low cardiac output was also significantly less in group 1. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood transfusion is a safe and effective method in carefully selected patients undergoing cardiac surgery. It not only prevents transfusion-related co-morbidities and complications but also enables early extubation time and shorter ICU and hospital stay. Furthermore, it reduces the cost of surgery.

Delayed chylopericardium as a rare complication after combined mitral valve and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Chylopericardium is a rare complication of cardiac surgery that is performed from a midline sternotomy. Here we present a case of a 61-year-old male patient with late-onset postoperative chylopericardium following combined coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve surgery, and the applied treatment modality.

Pre-treatment before coronary artery bypass surgery improves post-operative outcomes in moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has traditionally been recognised as a predictor of poorer early outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of different COPD stages, as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) spirometric criteria, on the early surgical outcomes in patients undergoing primary isolated non-emergency CABG. METHOD: Between January 2008 and April 2012, 1 737 consecutive patients underwent isolated CABG in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Gulhane Military Academy of Medicine; 127 patients with the diagnosis of moderate-risk COPD were operated on. Only 104 patients with available pulmonary function tests and no missing data were included in the study. Two different treatment protocols had been used before and after 2010. Before 2010, no treatment was applied to patients with moderate COPD before the CABG procedure. After 2010, a pre-treatment protocol was initiated. Patients who had undergone surgery between 2008 and 2010 were placed in group 1 (no pre-treatment, n = 51) and patients who had undergone surgery between 2010 and 2012 comprised group 2 (pre-treatment group, n = 53). These two groups were compared according to the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates retrospectively, from medical reports. RESULTS: The mean ages of the patients in both groups were 62.1 ± 7.6 and 64.5 ± 6.4 years, respectively. Thirty-nine of the patients in group 1 and 38 in group 2 were male. There were similar numbers of risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, renal disease (two patients in each group), previous stroke and myocardial infarction in both groups. The mean ejection fractions of the patients were 53.3 ± 11.5% and 50.2 ± 10.8%, respectively. Mean EuroSCOREs of the patients were 5.5 ± 2.3 and 5.9 ± 2.5, respectively in the groups. The average numbers of the grafts were 3.1 ± 1.0 and 2.9 ± 0.9. Mean extubation times were 8.52 ± 1.3 hours in group 1 and 6.34 ± 1.0 hours in group 2. The numbers of patients who needed pharmacological inotropic support were 12 in group 1 and five in group 2. Duration of hospital stay of the patients was shorter in group 2. While there were 14 patients with post-operative atrial fibrillation (PAF) in group 1, the number of patients with PAF in group 2 was five. Whereas there were seven patients who had pleural effusions requiring drainage in group 1, there were only two in group 2. There were three mortalities in group 1, and one in group 2. There were no sternal infections and sternal dehiscences in either group. CONCLUSION: Pre-treatment in moderate-risk COPD patients improved post-operative outcomes while decreasing adverse events and complications. Therefore for patients undergoing elective CABG, we recommend the use of medical treatment.