The Results of Rigid Titanium Plate Reinforcement and Only Conventional Wire Methods in Sternal Fixation in Morbidly Obese Patients.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, it was aimed to compare the clinical results and complications of rigid titanium plate reinforcement and only conventional wire methods for sternum fixation in morbidly obese patients who underwent sternotomy for open-heart surgery. METHODS: The study was planned as a retrospective case-control study. Morbidly obese patients who underwent open-heart surgery with median sternotomy between 2011 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of characteristics of the patients (P≥0.05). Sternal dehiscence, sternum revision, wound drainage, and mediastinitis were significantly less common in the titanium plate group (P≤0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of 30-day mortality (P≥0.05). CONCLUSION: Rigid titanium plate reinforcement application produced more positive clinical results than only conventional wire application. In addition, it was determined that although the rigid titanium plate application prolonged the operation time, it did not make a significant difference in terms of mortality and morbidity compared to the conventional wire applied group.

A Scale Development Study: Brain Fog Scale.

BACKGROUND: This research was conducted to objectively evaluate the level of brain fog that may develop due to many reasons. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a methodological study. This study was conducted in Turkey. Content validity ratio, EFA, CFA, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin analysis and Bartlett's test of sphericity, Item analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Spearman-Brown, Guttman Analysis and test-retest correlations validity-reliability analysis were performed. The statistical meaningfulness level in all tests was determined as p<0.05. RESULTS: As a result of context validity, factor analysis and item analysis, a 30 item scale with 3 subscale was obtained. The variance amount explained by the 3 subscale was on a very good level (77.43%). The fact that all of the Cronbach alpha, Spearman-Brown and Guttman internal consistency coefficients of the scale and all of its subscale are above 0.70. When the test retest reliability coefficients of the scale was examined, the scale was found to present consistent results in different applications and the scale was found to be reliable with regard to the constancy coefficient. CONCLUSION: The Brain Fog Scale consists of 30 items and 3 subscales. It is a valid and reliable instrument.

The Results of Rigid Titanium Plate Reinforcement and Only Conventional Wire Methods in Sternal Fixation in Morbidly Obese Patients

ABSTRACT Introduction: In this study, it was aimed to compare the clinical results and complications of rigid titanium plate reinforcement and only conventional wire methods for sternum fixation in morbidly obese patients who underwent sternotomy for open-heart surgery. Methods: The study was planned as a retrospective case-control study. Morbidly obese patients who underwent open-heart surgery with median sternotomy between 2011 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of characteristics of the patients (P≥0.05). Sternal dehiscence, sternum revision, wound drainage, and mediastinitis were significantly less common in the titanium plate group (P≤0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of 30-day mortality (P≥0.05). Conclusion: Rigid titanium plate reinforcement application produced more positive clinical results than only conventional wire application. In addition, it was determined that although the rigid titanium plate application prolonged the operation time, it did not make a significant difference in terms of mortality and morbidity compared to the conventional wire applied group.

The Transformative Power of Suffering and the Personal Meaning of the Persons with Chronic Disease in Covid 19 Pandemia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant lifestyle changes in individuals who need to be under constant control due to chronic disease. Individuals with chronic diseases can be expected to suffer more for reasons such as fear, anxiety, stress, uncertainty during the pandemic process. Suffering can cause the meaning of life to be questioned and positive personal meaning characteristics to develop. In COVID-19 pandemic, it was aimed to evaluate the transformative power of suffering and the level of personal meaning perceived in individuals with chronic diseases and to determine the effect of suffering on personal meaning. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was planned descriptively and cross-sectionally. The data were collected online in Turkey. 407 samples were reached between May and August 2020. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form The Transformative Power of Suffering Scale and The Personal Meaning Profile - Brief. RESULTS: As a result of the study, The Transformative Power of Suffering Scale mean score was 24.65±6.30, and The Personal Meaning Profile - Brief mean score was 113.98±17.58. As a result of the correlation analysis; a positive correlation was determined between the The Transformative Power of Suffering Scale, The Personal Meaning Profile - Brief and sub-dimensions (p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: The transformative power of suffer and perception of personal meaning of the individuals in general were determined to be above the middle level according to the scale scores. It was found that as the transformative power of suffer increased, the perception of personal meaning increased in individuals. It can be said that individuals who have a high transformative power of suffer, who can adapt to changes in the pandemic process, and who have a high level of education and income have better perceptions of personal meaning.

Complementary Health Approaches Used in the Intensive Care Unit.

Intensive care units are care centers where, in order to provide the maximum benefit to individuals whose life is in danger, many lifesaving technological tools and devices are present, and morbidity and mortality rates are high. In the intensive care unit, when classic treatments fail or become unbearable because of side effects, complementary methods have been suggested to be the best alternative. Complementary health approaches are methods that are used both for the continuation and the improvement of the well-being of an individual and as additions to medical treatments that are based on a holistic approach. These applications are especially helpful in the treatment of the stresses, anxieties, and other symptoms of unstable patients in the intensive care unit who do not tolerate traditional treatment methods well, increasing their psychological and physiological well-being, helping them sleep and rest. In intensive care patients, in order to decrease the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation, antiemetic and medicine needs, mechanical ventilation duration, and the intensity of the disease as well as to cope with symptoms such as pain, anxiety, physiological parameters, dyspnea, and sleep problems, body-mind interventions such as massage, reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy, music therapy, energy therapies (healing touch, therapeutic touch, the Yakson method), and prayer are used as complementary health approaches.

The Effect of External Apple Vinegar Application on Varicosity Symptoms, Pain, and Social Appearance Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim. We aimed to determine the effect of external apple vinegar application on the symptoms and social appearance anxiety of varicosity patients who were suggested conservative treatment. Method. The study was planned as an experimental, randomized, and controlled study. 120 patients were randomly selected and then were randomly allocated to either experimental or control group by simple blind random sampling method. In the collection of research data, a questionnaire questioning sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) were used. The patients in the study group were suggested to apply apple vinegar to the area of the leg with varicosity alongside the treatment suggested by the doctor. The patients in the control group received no intervention during the study. Results. The sociodemographic and clinic characteristics of both groups were found to be similar (p > 0.05). The patients were evaluated with regard to cramps, pain, leg fatigue perception, edema, itching, pigmentation, and weight feelings in the leg, VAS, and SAAS averages in the second evaluation; the control group had a decrease in such symptoms (p > 0.05) although the decrease in the application group was higher and statistically meaningful (p < 0.05). Conclusion. We determined that the external application of apple vinegar on varicosity patients, which is a very easy application, increased the positive effects of conservative treatment.

The significance of gender in patients administered coronary angiography with respect to smoking, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes mellitus and the procedure used.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This descriptive study was planned and conducted to determine whether or not gender is significant in patients administered coronary angiography with respect to smoking, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes mellitus and the procedure used. METHODS: Based on the hospital records that were scanned retrospectively, the study included patients aged 18 and over who were diagnosed with coronary arterial disease and were administered for the first time a coronary angiography procedure in the Cardiology Clinic of Osmaniye Private New Life Hospital between 1 September 2012 and 31 December 2013. The data was evaluated on the SPSS 21.0 software. Percentages, averages, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, chi-square independence test were used as our analysis method. RESULTS: 40.2% of the patients who took part in the study were female and 59.8% male; the mean age was 58.18 ± 11.73. It was observed that approximately 41% of the patients smoked, 5% of them had peripheral arterial disease, 23.9% were administered percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty + stent and a surgical treatment was planned for 16.1% of them. Gender was considered statistically significant in terms of smoking, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes mellitus and the procedure used (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We see that gender is important in the patient group consisting of patients with coronary arterial disease. We think that the information herein will provide a guideline for evaluating treatment strategies and prognoses as well as for the training and consultancy to be provided to patient groups.

Metabolic syndrome in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is basically a cluster of cardiovascular risks that involve changes in metabolic and hemodynamic indicators; various organizations have defined it with small differences. Metabolic syndrome is a lethal endocrinopathy starting with insulin resistance and inviting a chain of systemic disorders such as abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance or diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, hypertension (HT) and coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective and descriptive study was conducted at the Cardiology Clinic of a Private Hospital in Osmaniye between January 2014 and May 2014. The study population included all patients who were administered a CA procedure at the Cardiology Clinic of Private New Life Hospital in Osmaniye in 2014. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were male (63.3%), the mean age was 59.09±10.98, vast majority of them had social security (98.5%), 32.8% of them smoked, 7.2% had peripheral arterial disease (PAD), 52.5% were diagnosed with DM, 24.8% with HT, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or stent was administered to 40.3% of the patients who underwent CA and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was decided for 15.5% of them. 41.8% of the patients met the MetS diagnosis criteria. The mean BMI was found to be 28.61±4.68, the mean FBS to be 143.20±74.83, the mean triglyceride value to be 168.73±96.94 and the mean HDL value to be 37.04±9.20. Although male gender came first among the patients who underwent CA, the prevalence of MetS did not show a statistically significant correlation with gender, mean age or smoking. The prevalence of HT, PAD and DM was significantly higher in the patients who met the MetS criteria. The mean values of FBS, HDL, CK-MB, triglyceride and cholesterol were also significantly higher in the patients who met the MetS criteria. As BMI increased, the rate at which MetS criteria are met also increased. CONCLUSION: The objective is to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Weight loss achieved with proper nutrition and an exercise program will have a reversing effect on all the disorders seen in metabolic syndrome.