Myocardial infarction due to coronary embolism after mechanical aortic valve replacement: a case report.

Prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) in aortic valve and its complication coronary embolism is a very rare condition. Diagnosis and treatment process is challenging. We present a young patient with acute myocardial infarction who underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) operation one month earlier. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed and it was succesful. Transeasophageal ecocardiography (TEE) was performed. Thrombus was seen on the mechanical aortic valve and thrombolytic therapy was initiated. Control TEE was performed and there was no signs of thrombi. The patient was discharged healthfully with anticoagulant and antiaggregan.

A New Surgical Approach for Aortic Root Aneurysm and Small Aortic Annulus.

Reconstruction of the aortic root in patients with aortic root aneurysm and small aortic annulus is an intricate surgical procedure. Here, we describe our technique performed in 2 patients, that involved aortic root enlargement with grafting in conjunction with annular implantation of the composite graft with a prosthetic mechanical valve, which allowed us to avoid incompatibility. This novel method offers an alternative combined surgical approach for patients with small aortic annulus and aortic root aneurysm that preserves the structure of the valved conduit at the level of the aortic annulus.

A New Arterial Cannulation Technique: Arterial Cannulation through Aortic Anastomosis ("Kaplan" Technique).

We performed Bentall procedure on a 65-year-old male patient. Cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated via cannulation of the aneurysmatic segment of the aorta. Distal anastomosis was performed with the open technique under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest at 18°C. We performed arterial recannulation through the anastomosis with a new technique, and cardiopulmonary bypass was reestablished. Cardiopulmonary bypass was terminated after rewarming and de-airing phases, and decannulation was performed without any problems. By this technique, the patient had no additional incisions for arterial cannulation, and there were no additional cannulation sutures left on the patient's arterial tree or the valved conduit.

Open Heart Surgery at Patient's Own Temperature Without Active Cooling.

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia is a method of myocardial protection in cardiac surgery. This protection occurs by decreasing the metabolic demands, however, it creates susceptibility to various problems. In this study, we investigated patients operated on under normothermia (at the patient's own temperature) and hypothermia for postoperative differences. METHODS: The study was conducted between June 2015 and September 2016 with 167 patients. The patients were divided into two groups in accordance with our routine clinical practice: the normothermic group (native temperature goup; intraoperative body temperature ≥ 34°C), and the hypothermic group intraoperative body temperature  < 34°C - ≥ 28°C). Preoperative and postoperative data of patients were recorded and the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of cross clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, awakening and extubation times, intensive care unit and hospital stay, drainage, mean serum lactate levels, arrhytmia, all causes infection, renal insufficiency, neurologic complications, myocardial infarction, or mortality (P > .05). Inotrope and transfusion requirements were found to be statistically significantly lower in the normothermic group than the hypothermic group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Although hypothermia is commonly used in cardiac surgery, it has harmful effects. We believe that cardiac surgery can safely be performed at a patient's own temperature without active cooling to avoid these dangers.

An aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma: A case report.

Papillary fibroelastomas are rare tumors of the heart, mostly involving the valves. They can be asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally or they can cause life-threatening clinic scenarios including cerebrovascular accidents, coronary arterial occlusions, or peripheral embolisms. Papillary fibroelastomas can be easily excised surgically using valve sparing techniques with low complication rates and without recurrence. In this report, we present a case of papillary fibroelastoma which was found incidentally before coronary artery bypass grafting operation and successful removal of the lesion with a valve sparing approach.

Open Cardiac Surgery without Blood and Blood Products Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusions are the most common type of tissue and organ transplantation. Perioperative and postoperative transfusions may cause morbidity and mortality and transfusion should based on only hematocrit values but also on hemodynamic and clinical parameters of the patient, which cannot be ignored. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between January 2015 and October 2016 with adult patients undergoing elective open heart surgery. In these patients, a protocol was established, and patients were divided into two groups as transfusion (-) and transfusion (+). In the first 24 hours in the intensive care unit, patients' drainage, 24-hours urine output, awakening and extubation times, and lactate and bilirubin levels in arterial blood gases were recorded. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity, and hemodynamic and clinical data were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: We have performed a total of 138 cases; no blood and blood products were transfused in 71% (n = 98), and in 29.0% (n = 40) blood and blood products were transfused. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity (arrhythmia, infectious and pulmonary morbidity, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, renal dysfunction, sternal revision) were compared between these two groups and no statistically significant difference was observed. Patients' awakening, extubation time, cardiopulmonary bypass period, cross-clamp time, and days in intensive care unit and hospital were compared, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: In this study, we conclude that open heart surgery without blood transfusion may be accomplished with decent peri/postoperative management. The patients who did not receive any blood or blood products were not compromised clinically or hemodynamically. No extra morbidity and mortality were seen in the non-transfusion group. Transfusion decision was based on clinical and hemodynamic parameters such as persistent hypotension or tachycardia, hyperlactatemia, low urine output, and anemic symptoms.

Stent Embolism after Coronary Angiography: Case Report.

Endovascular interventions are widely performed of late; complications including stent embolism of arteries and veins, dislocation, or malposition of medical devices are frequently seen. Peripheral stent embolisms are generally asymptomatic, but when they cause acute ischemia or severe symptoms like claudication they must be removed. Stents can be removed not only with surgical techniques but also with endovascular maneuvers. In this case report, we state that in symptomatic peripheral arterial embolization cases, surgical intervention is the first choice for treatment due to the complexity and high risk of complications when using endovascular maneuvers.