Forearm and Hand Function after Radial Artery Harvest for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Subjective Patients' Assessment.

BACKGROUND: As arterial myocardial revascularization is proved to provide great results, radial artery use as a graft and its consequences remain an important issue. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate how patients assess their forearm and hand function after radial artery harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: 50 patients (mean age 52.2 ± 7.4 years) who underwent CABG at least 6 months (median follow up 11.75 months) earlier filled in a questionnaire concerning hand and forearm efficiency and discomfort. RESULTS: The global efficiency of the operated upper extremity was scored mean 8.87 ± 1.26 points on a 10-point scale and it was worse in patients who noticed at least one sort of disorder than in patients with no problems (8.6 ± 1.4 versus 9.4 ± 0.7 points; P = .04). Paresthesias were the most often reported disorders; 21 patients felt some tingling and/or numbness, but in only 14 (28%) could the symptoms be considered as related to the operation. 20 patients (40%) declared that they felt some scar-related discomfort. Reduced grip strength and excessive hand fatigue were reported by 20% and 10% of patients, respectively. None of those interviewed answered that symptoms reported affected his or her life activity on any level. CONCLUSION: The hand and forearm efficiency after radial artery harvest for CABG was highly evaluated by the majority of patients. Despite the fact that many patients reported some surgery-related problems, they did not notice extremity dysfunction that could limit their life activity.

Stage IIIa cancer of the right lung ingrowing via right lower pulmonary vein to the left heart atrium.

Computed tomography is performed in every patient before lung tumour resection. The presented case realises how important it is to perform this study with contrast. In a 75-year-old male we detected a tumour ingrowing from the right lung through the right lower pulmonary vein into the left atrium of the heart. The patient was qualified for primary sternotomy with extracorporeal circulation and resection of the intracardiac part of the tumour. In the second stage, right-sided thoracotomy was performed, and right lower lung lobectomy was done. Mixed heterogeneous lung cancer was diagnosed (squamous cell and non-small cell endocrine) in stage IIIa. The perioperative period was uncomplicated. The patient, due to renal failure, was not eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy. If the patient were qualified for lobectomy based directly on computed tomography without contrast, there would have been a high risk of perioperative death due to embolic incidents and heart failure. Effective multidisciplinary collaboration allowed us to avoid this sort of complication.

Risk factors for carotid artery disease in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery disease is thought to be a risk factor for neurological complications after cardiac surgery. Routine ultrasonographic screening is still not performed in every patient scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). AIM: To assess factors which may facilitate the selection for elective carotid artery ultrasound examination in patients undergoing CABG. METHODS: 682 patients (mean age 63.2 +/- 8.7, range: 37-85 years) scheduled for CABG underwent preoperative duplex ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries. The following factors were collected and analysed: age, sex, LVEF, history of cerebrovascular accidents (stroke and/or TIA), myocardial infarction, and presence of hypertension, diabetes, unstable angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, left main stenosis > or = 50%, lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease, and obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for carotid artery stenosis. RESULTS: Internal or common carotid artery stenosis > or = 50% was detected in 123 (18%) patients. Bilateral stenosis occurred in 35 (5.1%) patients, of whom 29 (4.5%) presented at least a monolateral vessel diameter reduction of > or= 70%. History of cerebrovascular accidents, presence of lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease, and unstable angina were independent risk factors for at least monolateral vessel diameter reduction > or = 50%. Although older age was also an independent predictor (Exp(B) = 1.035, p < 0.05), the ROC curve analysis did not reveal an age threshold above which the probability of detecting carotid disease increases significantly with satisfying sensitivity and specificity. The predictors of bilateral stenosis (at least one of them > or = 70%) were a history of stroke, presence of left main disease, and lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid disease is common in patients scheduled for CABG. Preoperative carotid artery ultrasound examination should be performed, regardless of age, in all patients with more advanced symptomatic atherosclerosis, such as a history of cerebrovascular accidents, presence of lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease, left main disease, or unstable angina.

[Unstable angina with subvalvular aortic stenosis in a 65-year-old woman]. / Niestabilna dlawica piersiowa u chorej ze wspólistniejacym podzastawkowym zwezeniem aorty.

We describe a case of 65-year-old woman with unstable angina, who was admitted to our institution. Physical examination revealed the presence of a systolic cardiac murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography showed subvalvular aortic stenosis. The patient underwent successful coronary artery by-pass surgery and myectomy surgery. Diagnosis and treatment of subvalvular stenosis coexistent with coronary artery disease are discussed.

[Infective endocarditis--still a great challenge. Two case reports]. / Infekcyjne zapalenie wsierdzia - wciaz wielkie wyzwanie. Opis dwóch przypadków.

We present two patients with aortic valve disease who developed acute infective endocarditis. In both patients the disease started with infection of the upper respiratory tract. The patients were treated with antibiotics due to pneumonia. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis was established 4 months and 9 weeks after the onset of infection. The first patient died whereas the second underwent successful aortic valve replacement.

Nuclear imaging techniques in the assessment of myocardial perfusion and function after CABG: does it correlate with CK-MB elevation?

BACKGROUND: An increase of the creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) isoenzyme after cardiac surgery suggests perioperative myocardial infarction. The interpretation is more difficult when increased enzymes are not accompanied by electrocardiographic markers of infarction. The aim of this study was to correlate the results of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) with CK-MB isoenzyme level in patients without ECG abnormalities after CABG. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 36 patients (age: 52.5 +/- 8.5 years, 33M/3F) treated with CABG were prospectively studied. CK-MB level was assessed at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours after surgery. MPI (SPECT using Tc-99m-MIBI) and RNV were performed 2 weeks before and 3-4 months after surgery. All patients had an uneventful hospitalisation. The subjects were divided into two groups: group 1 with CK-MB increase > 50 IU/ml (n = 9) and group 2 with CK-MB levels 50 IU/ml) after coronary artery surgery have a higher rate of perfusion and function deterioration. The increase of CK-MB level early after coronary bypass surgery in patients without ECG markers of perioperative infarction indicates a probable ischaemic insult during surgery.