Cost-Effectiveness and Clinical Outcome of Transcatheter Versus Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are becoming increasingly common. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of the two methods. METHODS: In this study, cross-sectional retrospective data were collected on 327 patients who underwent SU-AVR (n = 168) and TAVI (n = 159). Homogeneous groups were provided by the "propensity score matching" method, and 61 patients from the SU-AVR group and 53 patients from the TAVI group were included in the study sample. RESULTS: The two groups did not have statistically different death rates, complications after surgery, lengths of hospital stays, or visits to the intensive care unit. It is stated that the SU-AVR method provides an additional 1.14 Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) compared to the TAVI method. The TAVI was more expensive than the SU-AVR in our study, but the difference was not statistically significant ($40,520.62 vs. $38,405.62, p > 0.05). For SU-AVR, the most expensive factor was the length of stay in the intensive care unit; for TAVI, it was arrhythmia, bleeding, and renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: These bioprostheses are safe and effective treatments for valve stenosis. Clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. Therefore, clinicians may find it difficult to determine an effective treatment strategy. According to the evaluation made in terms of cost-effectiveness, it was found that the SU-AVR method gave a higher QALY at a lower cost compared to the TAVI method. However, this result is not statistically significant.

Creating blood conservation for a cardiothoracic surgical hospital: when you have to start from scratch!

BACKGROUND: This improvement report presents a hospital blood-management programme, a hospital-specific model that differs from patient blood managment and was aimed at improving operational standards of transfusion. We identified the challenges of the transfusion process and suggest practical strategies for improving them. The aim of this article was to investigate the effect of the programme on the transfusion of blood components. METHODS: In January 2019, the programme was started to improve the transfusion process. The data before and after the start of the programme were compared. Frequency distribution was obtained for each variable for statistical analysis and the chi-squared test with continuity correction was used to compare these variables for the years 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: Transfusion of total blood components decreased by 23.2%, fresh whole blood by 46.7%, fresh frozen plasma by 38.4%, pooled platelets by 14.0% and red blood cells by 9.66%. Autologous transfusion increased 11.7-fold. The emergency department (76.0%) and intensive care unit transfusion rate (9.26%) decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: This programme is an example for hospitals where patient blood management cannot be applied. The programme can be considered the first step for blood management and may be applied to blood management in institutions worldwide. The difficulty of blood supply and increased cost will increase the importance of hospital blood-management programmes in the coming years.

The cost of one unit blood transfusion components and cost-effectiveness analysis results of transfusion improvement program.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to analyze the cost of the entire transfusion process in Turkey including evaluation of the cost of transfusion from the perspective of hospital management and determination of savings achieved with the transfusion improvement program. METHODS: Invoices, labor, material costs were calculated with micro-costing method, while general production expenses were calculated with gross costing method between January 2018 and December 2019. Unit costs for each blood product were calculated separately by collecting unit acquisition costs, material costs, labor costs, and general production expenses and, then, distributed into six different blood products as follows: erythrocyte suspension, fresh frozen plasma, pooled platelet, apheresis platelet, cryoprecipitate, fresh whole blood. The total costs for 2018 and 2019 were calculated and the savings achieved were estimated. The Turkish Lira was converted into the United States Dollar ($) currency using the purchasing power parity. RESULTS: In 2018/2019, the blood component transfusion cost was $240.90/251.18 for erythrocyte suspension, $120.00/128.67 for fresh frozen plasma, $313.50/322.19 for pooled platelet, $314.24/325.73 for apheresis platelet, $104.95/113.99 for cryoprecipitate, and $189.91/209.09 for fresh whole blood. The total transfusion cost was $6,224,208.33 in 2108 and $5,308,148.43 in 2019. As a result of the transfusion improvement program launched in 2019, the amount of blood components decreased by 23.24%, compared to the previous year, and a saving of $916,059.9 was achieved. CONCLUSION: The transfusion is a burden for both the hospital management systems and the country's economy. To accurately calculate and manage this economic burden is important for sustainable healthcare services.

Unilateral leg edema: Is it always vascular?

Unilateral lower extremity edema below the knee commonly results from deep venous thrombosis, venous insufficiency, or lymphedema. The patient history, a physical examination, and lower extremity venous duplex ultrasound often reveal the underlying etiology, which is frequently of vascular origin. Presently described is the case of a 23-year-old patient who underwent a diagnostic workup for unilateral leg swelling and was found to have a relatively uncommon cause of edema: lipedema. Lipedema is a disease characterized by subcutaneous adipose tissue deposition, and although diagnosed very rarely in general cardiology outpatient clinics, it has been demonstrated to be a cause of lower extremity edema in approximately one-fifth of cases in specialized clinics.

Coronary artery bypass grafting and concomitant descending aorta-to-bifemoral artery bypass via sternotomy.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated a new approach of combined coronary and aorto-bifemoral artery bypass grafting performed through median sternotomy using the descending aorta as the inflow source. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with advanced coronary and aorto-iliac disease were operated on in the same session. Following the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), we performed a proximal anastomosis of a bifurcated Dacron graft to the descending aorta through the posterior pericardium. The limbs of the graft were passed through the diaphragm into the retroperitoneal space. They were then passed through tunnels in the groins, and distal anastomoses in the groins were performed. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful in all four patients. In the second year, follow-up multi-slice computerised tomographies (CT) and magnetic resonance angiographies were done and all grafts were patent. DISCUSSION: We believe this technique is a reliable alternative procedure to consider in CABG patients who are not suitable candidates for standard aorto-femoral operations. It has a reasonable rate of morbidity and perfect patency.

Posterior pericardial annuloplasty in ischemic mitral regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is an important risk factor in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations. The decision to perform concomitant mitral annuloplasty along with the CABG depends on the surgeon's choice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of posterior annuloplasty procedures with autologous pericardium performed in patients with midadvanced and advanced functional ischemic mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Study participants were 36 patients with IMR (mean age 59 +/- 10 years) who underwent posterior pericardial annuloplasty and CABG operations between 2002 and 2007. Preoperative and postoperative (mean follow-up 18 +/- 1 months) MR grade, left atrium diameter, left ventricle end systolic diameter, left ventricle end diastolic diameter, left ventricle ejection fraction, and mitral valve gradients were measured with transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: There was one late mortality (2, 8%) but none of the patients required reoperation for residual MR. We did not observe thromboembolism, bleeding, or infective endocarditis. The mean MR grade decreased from 3.4 +/- 0.5 to 0.5 +/- 0.6 (P < .01), left atrium diameter decreased from 45.3 +/- 5.5 mm to 43.2 +/- 3.8 mm (P < .01), left ventricle end diastolic diameter decreased from 53.2 +/- 5.6 mm to 50.9 +/- 5.5 mm (P < .01), and left ventricle end systolic diameter decreased from 39.7 +/- 5.8 mm to 34.6 +/- 6.5 mm (P < .01), whereas mean left ventricle ejection fraction increased from 37.9% +/- 6.1% to 43.7% +/- 7.3% (P < .01). In the late postoperative term, the functional capacity of the patients increased from mean New York Heart Association class 2.6 +/- 0.9 to 1.1 +/- 0.5. We did not observe any gradient in the mitral valve preoperatively in any patient, but in the follow-up, the mean gradient increased to 1.3 +/- 2.1 mmHg (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Posterior pericardial annuloplasty with CABG in the treatment of IMR provides efficient mitral repair and significant decrease in the left atrium and left ventricle diameters, and provides a significant increase in left ventricular function. These results show IMR to be as effective as the other annuloplasty techniques. IMR is performed with autologous material and therefore does not entail any risk of complications from prosthetic material and is highly cost-effective.

Revascularization of left anterior descending (LAD) artery with in situ left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and coronary-coronary free LITA grafts: 12-year patency.

BACKGROUND: We aim to present a patient with coronary-coronary bypass grafting (CCBG), left anterior descending-left anterior descending (LAD-LAD) coronary artery bypass with left internal thoracic artery (LITA), and provide the 12-year follow-up angiogram to confirm the longest reported patency. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 57-year-old man with three vessel disease where LAD had multiple lesions was operated on. LITA with pedicle was grafted in situ onto the proximal LAD, and the distal residual segment was used as a free LITA graft to bypass the distal stenosis. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has been recently readmitted to our clinic with atypical chest pain. In angiography, all of the bypasses, including the free LITA graft, were patent. CONCLUSIONS: We used free LITA graft to bypass the distal lesions of LAD in selected patients as a valid alternative to sequential bypass grafting. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only angiographic view of a CCBG in LAD with LITA graft confirming the long-term patency.

An alternative reinforced closure technique with external Kirschner wires in sternal dehiscence.

OBJECTIVE: We present an alternative closure technique that is effective in length stabilization of the dehisced sternum, technically easy, and less time consuming. METHODS: Between June 2000 and June 2003, 850 patients underwent open heart surgery in the participating clinics. In all of the patients, the sternotomies were primarily closed with No. 5 steel wires in a figure 8 manner or with single sutures. Eleven patients with sterile sternal dehiscence underwent operations with Kirschner wires. RESULTS: During the postoperative period, no complications related to the implants were observed in any of the patients in the early and late follow-ups. CONCLUSION: With this technique, the fragile sternum is easily and effectively stabilized by reinforcing with suprasternal Kirschner wires without applying complicated manipulations.

Pericardial patch augmentation of both anterior and septal leaflets in Ebstein's anomaly.

In Ebstein's anomaly, the aim of surgical intervention is the restoration of tricuspid valve competence. In some circumstances, however, paucity of the leaflet tissue precludes successful repair and negatively influences the long-term durability of the valvuloplasty procedure. We report a modified technique that provides satisfactory results for right atrioventricular valve function.