[Prediction of myocardial contractility after coronary bypass surgery according to preoperative contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography]. / Prognozirovanie dinamiki sokratitel'noi funktsii miokarda u patsientov posle koronarnogo shuntirovaniya po dannym predoperatsionnykh magnitno-rezonansnoi tomografii serdtsa s kontrastnym usileniem i ekhokardiografii.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the criteria for reversibility of myocardial contractility in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronary artery bypass grafting considering data of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the results of coronary artery bypass grafting in 186 patients with CAD complicated by reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<30%). All patients underwent cardiac MRI and echocardiography before surgery. Immediate and long-term results were evaluated according to echocardiography and MRI data. RESULTS: We confirmed the previously established predictors of improvement in left ventricular contractility: diastolic IVST ≥10.5 mm and PWT ≥9.5 mm, score of LV myocardium damage according to MRI with delayed contrast enhancement (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis makes it possible to calculate prognostic index and obtain information about further myocardial contractility after revascularization with an error of 6%. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography and contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI are valuable to assess morphological and functional state of the left ventricle in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and preoperatively determine functional reserve of the myocardium.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing for treatment effect assessment in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients.

Aim      To determine possibilities of the cardiopulmonary stress test (CPST) as an unbiassed, noninvasive method for evaluation of the effect of managing patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Material and methods  This study included 37 patients with CTEPH, 24 men (mean age, 53±15 years) and 13 women (mean age, 58±8.5 years). The diagnosis was verified and theCoperability was assessed according to 2015 European Society of Cardiology Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). The surgical treatment was used in 65 % (n=24) of CTEPH patients: the group with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy constituted 35 % (n=13); the group with balloon pulmonary angioplasty 30% (n=11); and the conservative tactics was used in 27 % (n=10) of patients.Results Baseline CPST parameters significantly correlated with parameters of right heart catheterization (RHC): mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) significantly positively correlated with V´O2peak (r=0.640, p<0.05), V´O2 / heart rate (HR) (r=0.557; p<0.001), PETCO2 peak (r=0.598, p<0.05), and V´E / V´CO2 (r=0.587; p<0.001); cardiac output (CO) correlated with V´O2 / HR (r=0.555, p<0.001), PETCO2peak (r= -0.476; p<0.05 and r=0.555, p<0.001 for ´E / V´CO2). In repeated testing, the physical working capacity (V´O2peak) increased only in patients after the surgical treatment of CTEPH. Importantly in this process, significant correlations remained between a number of CPST and RHC parameters: SvO2 correlated with V´O2peak (r=0.743; p<0.05), V´O2 /HR (r=0.627; p<0.001), PETCO2peak (r=0.538; p<0.05), and V´E / V´CO2 (r=0.597; p<0.001); V´O2 / HR, PETCO2peak, and V´E / V´CO2 significantly correlated with CO (r=0.645, p<0.001; r= -0.516, p<0.001, and r=0.555, p<0.001, respectively.Conclusion      CPST can be used as a noninvasive instrument for evaluation of the effect of CTEPH treatment, particularly in the absence of echocardiographic data for residual PH.

[Endovascular and hybrid treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections]. / Éndovaskuliarnoe i gibridnoe lechenie anevrizm i rassloenii grudnoi i torakoabdominal'noi aorty.

The article deals with immediate and medium-term results of hybrid and endovascular treatment of 74 patients with various pathologies of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta (31 with aneurysms, 43 with thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic dissections). Elective and emergency interventions were performed in 49 and 25 patients, respectively. Endoprosthetic repair of the arch, descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta was performed in 25 patients, hybrid operations in 47 subjects (open switch of brachiocephalic, visceral and renal arteries followed by aortic endoprosthetic repair - 37, endovascular methods of making a landing zone - 12). The duration of the follow-up period after discharge from hospital amounted to 24.9±16.3 months. The technical success level was 98.6%. The overall hospital mortality rate was 11% (n=8), elective - 4% (n=2), emergency - 24% (n=6). Eight patients underwent repeat interventions on the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 82.3%, with freedom from repeat interventions amounting to 51.3%. Hybrid operations on the arch and descending thoracic aorta are considered to be a relatively safe and effective method of treatment. Follow-up and timely treatment of remote complications after hybrid or endovascular operations are obligatory for improving the results.

[Visceral debranching in hybrid surgery of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms]. / Vistseral'nyi debranching v gibridnoi khirurgii torakoabdominal'nykh anevrizm aorty.

Presented herein is a review of the literature dedicated to the method of visceral debranching, i. e., switching of the visceral and renal branches of the abdominal aorta to its intact portion, using synthetic vascular prostheses as the first stage of hybrid surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms prior to endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. This is accompanied and followed by describing the history of the problem, operative technique, results of studies, as well as the data from registries and meta-analyses. Also discussed are the main complications of the method and measures of their prevention. We conclude that hybrid surgery of the thoracoabdominal portion of the aorta is a promising method in a particular cohort of patients, especially those at high surgical risk of 'open' aortic surgery.

[Removal of ascending aortic dissection and residual blood flow after transcatheter isolation of descending aortic dissection]. / Ustranenie rassloeniia voskhodiashchei aorty i rezidual'nogo krovotoka posle transkateternoi izoliatsii rassloeniia niskhodiashchei aorty.

Presented herein is a clinical case report concerning successful simultaneous surgical treatment of a female patient with a complication after transcatheter treatment for chronic dissection of the descending portion of the thoracic aorta. The woman was subjected to elective transcatheter isolation of chronic dissection of the descending thoracic aorta using a stent graft with complete coverage of the zone of the origin of the left subclavian artery. Repeat control imaging studies several months after the intervention revealed residual blood flow through the false channel, directed retrogradely from the distal edge of the stent graft to the left subclavian artery. Besides, the patient was also found to have local dissection of the distal part of the ascending aorta (zone 0). An operative intervention was performed: sternotomy, prosthetic repair of the ascending portion of the aorta and part of the aortic arch, as well as transposition of the left subclavian artery to the left common carotid artery. The control imaging studies confirmed radical removal of the false aneurysm of the ascending aorta and the presence of total thrombosis of the false channel at the level of the stent graft.

COVID-19 management in heart transplanted recipients: registry of Almazov National Medical Research Centre.

Aim      This study presents the experience of managing patients with COVID-19 after cardiac transplantation (CT).Material and methods  Infectious complications (IC) following CT are a leading cause for morbidity and mortality. A prolonged incubation period, atypical IC symptoms, and originally altered results of laboratory and instrumental diagnosis are characteristic of recipients due to immunosuppression. In 2020, the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide, and timely diagnosis and searching for effective treatments for this disease became a major challenge. From January 2010 through July 2020, 148 patients received orthotopic heart transplants at the V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Center; 34 of these patients died by the present time and were excluded from this analysis. 114 patients were included into the retrospective evaluation of results. These patients had been a part of the group followed up at the Center for more than a month.Results From March through July 2020, 12 (10.5 %) of 114 CT recipients were infected with the virus SARS-CoV-2. In 75 % (n=9) of the sick patients, the COVID-19 infection developed after more than one year after CT. From the first day of clinical symptoms, mycophenolic acid/everolimus were temporarily suspended. The outpatient treatment was started on the first day and included an antiviral therapy (oseltamivir), mucolytics (bromhexine), vitamin C, and anticoagulants. If the disease onset was associated with pyretic fever the empiric antibacterial levofloxacin treatment was administered due to a high risk of mixed infection. Hospitalized patients with moderately severe COVID-19 (n=3) were treated with oxygen inhalation through nasal cannula and prone position with a positive effect.Conclusion      Remote counseling of patients after CT and consistency of the outpatient treatment with recommendations of managing transplant physicians provided timely diagnosis of IC, early administration of treatment, and the absence of COVID-19 complications. Reducing the regimen of immunosuppressive therapy (antiproliferative agents) for up to 14 days facilitated infection control and was not associated with acute rejection crisis and/or impairment of the transplant function.

[Arterial hypertension after heart transplantation].

Aim To evaluate incidence of arterial hypertension (AH) in the posttransplantation period and to identify risk factors for this complication.Materials and methods From January, 2010 through December, 2017, 96 heart transplantations (HT) (70 men and 26 women aged 46.5±13.9 years) were performed. During the first month following HT, 8 recipients died and were excluded from the analysis. The retrospective evaluation of results included 88 patients followed up for more than one year.Results For the entire post-HT period (maximum 92 months), AH was observed in 75 of 88 (85%) recipients. Post-HT AH was correlated with male gender (r=0.24; p=0.031), history of smoking before HT (r=0.45; p<0.001), history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) (r=0.28; p=0.01), older age (r=0.35; p=0.001), higher body weight index (r=0.37; p=0.0005), creatinine level (r=0.37; p=0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (r=0.27; p=0.04). Interrelations with other AH risk factors were not found. Most patients developed AH within the first two years after HT. During the first year, AH was diagnosed in 60% (53 of 88) of patients (relapse, 85% (n=29); newly diagnosed, 45% (n=24), p=0.0003). At two years, AH was detected in 79% (46 of 58) of patients (relapse, 53% (n=18); newly diagnosed, 53% (n=28), p=0.9). All recipients received an adequate antihypertensive therapy. 40-63% of patients required a single-drug therapy at different points of follow-up; from 29 to 45% of patients required a two-drug therapy, and 5-15% of patients required three or more drugs. During all 5 years of treatment, most patients used angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (70-87%) and slow calcium channel blockers (SCCB) (48-53%). The presence of AH following HT was associated with development of all cardiovascular events (CVE; r=0.31; p=0.012) whereas persistent AH, which required a combination antihypertensive treatment, was associated with a high mortality (r=0.61; p=0.015).Conclusion AH is a frequent complication of HT (85%), which is newly diagnosed in most patients during the first two years. AH incidence was higher for male recipients with a history of IHD, hypertension, and smoking. Approximately half of patients required only a single-drug antihypertensive therapy. After HT, the most frequently prescribed drugs included ACE inhibitors or ARBs and SCCBs (70-87% and 48-53%, respectively, depending on the time elapsed after HT). Persistent AH requiring a treatment with two or more antihypertensive drugs was associated with development of all CVEs and a higher long-term mortality.

[Clinical significance of different assesment methods of myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.]

Objective To evaluate prospects for clinical use of circulating biomarkers for characterizing fibrotic changes in the myocardium of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) with left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction.Materials and Methods This was a prospective study with a 12-month follow-up period. The study included 47 patients (29 females and 18 males) with obstructive HCMP who were selected for septal reduction. Echocardiography (EchoCG), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and measurements of serum C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and relevant circulating markers of fibrosis (TGF-ß1, MMP-2,-9, TIMP-1, galectin-3, sST2, CITP, PICP, and PIIINP) were performed for all patients. All patients were evaluated at baseline and at 7 days, 6 and 12 months following surgical treatment. Morphometrical analysis of intraoperative biopsy samples was performed for evaluation of the degree of fibrotic changes. Patients received beta-blockers (95.7%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (34%), loop diuretics (68.1%), aldosterone antagonists (34%), and statins (66%).Results Women with HCMP were older and more frequently had additional risk factors (arterial hypertension). Men had a higher risk of sudden cardiac death. Histological study of intraoperative myocardial biopsy samples showed that the area of fibrotic changes was 13.9±6.9%. According to cardiac MRI mean area of delayed contrast enhancement was 8.7±3.3% of LV myocardial mass. No association was established between traditional cardiovascular risk factors and severity of myocardial fibrotic changes or levels of circulating fibrosis markers. Perhaps that was due to the modifying effect of the drug therapy received by HCMP patients. According to EchoCG maximum pressure gradient in the LV outflow tract before the surgical treatment was 88 (55; 192) mm Hg, and interventricular septal thickness was 22 (16; 32) mm. A considerable decrease (p=0.0002) in the LV outflow tract gradient was observed after myectomy in all patients. At the same time, the left ventricular dimension, which tended to decrease in the early postoperative period, returned to baseline values by the 6th month of follow-up.Conclusion The study confirmed the increase in relevant circulating markers of fibrosis in patients with obstructive HCMP. At the same time, no correlation was observed between levels of circulating biomarkers and severity of fibrosis according to data of histology and cardiac MRI, which was probably due to the modifying effect of drug therapy and limited sampling.

[Open surgical treatment of aneurysms and dissection of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta]. / Otkrytoe khirurgicheskoe lechenie anevrizm i rassloeniia grudnoi i torakoabdominal'noi aorty.

Presented herein is experience in treating a total of 56 patients with pathology of the arch, descending and thoracoabdominal aorta from 1997 to 2017. Of these, 6 (11%) patients were diagnosed with a Crawford type I-II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA), 20 (35%) patients with Crawford type III-IV TAAA, 18 (32%) were diagnosed as having an aortic arch aneurysm (AAA) and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (DTAA), 12 (22%) had DeBakey type I and IIIb aortic dissection. To protect the visceral organs and spinal cord from ischaemia in 28 (50%) cases we used a temporal bypass from a synthetic vascular graft with zero porosity and measuring from 15 to 20 cm in diameter. RESULTS: Mortality within 30 days amounted to 14.3% (n=8), that after 30 days amounted to 10.7% (n=6): in elective operations - 12% (n=5) and 5.4% (n=3), in emergency operations - 21% (n=3) and 21.4% (n=3), respectively. The total in-hospital mortality amounted to 25% (n=14), equalling 19% (n=8) and 43% (n=6) for elective and emergency operations, respectively. Mortality in using temporal bypass in elective operation amounted to 9.5% (n=2) during 30 days and that without using this method to 14.3% (n=3), after 30 days being 9.5% (n=2) and 4.7% (n=1), respectively. Mortality for emergency cases with a temporal shunt during 30 days was 28.6% (n=2), without - 14.3% (n=1), after 30 days - 28.6% (n=2), without - 14.3% (n=1). In type I-II TAAA mortality within 30 days was 16.6% (n=1), after 30 days - 50% (n=2); type III-IV TAAA - 10% (n=2) and 15% (n=1); DTAA - 22.2% (n=4) and 33.3% (n=2); aortic dissection - 8.3% (n=1) and 16.6% (n=1). Acute renal failure (ARF) occurred in 6 (10.7%) patients and was more often observed in the group without temporal shunting. Events of spinal cord ischaemia with the development of spinal stroke occurred in 6 (10.7%) cases. Five-year survival amounted to 61%. CONCLUSION: Temporal bypass in surgery of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta may be used for prevention of ischaemia of visceral organs, kidneys and spinal cord in operations accompanied by cross-clamping of the descending thoracic aorta.

[Expression of osteoprotegerin and soluble ligand of receptor of kappa-B transcription factor activator in the calcification of aortic valve]. / Ékspressiia osteoprotegerina i rastvorimogo liganda retseptora aktivatora faktora transkriptsii kappa-B pri kal'tsifikatsii aortal'nogo klapana.

The mechanism of valve calcification that is the main cause of aortic stenosis formation and progression is not yet clear. In recent years, the role of the OPG/RANKL/RANK system is considered as one of possible variants of pathogenesis of valve calcification. In presented work the differences in OPG and sRANKL levels involved in the calcification processes in tissues of patients with severe aortic stenosis have been examined. The study was performed using three groups of patients: group 1 - patients with aortic stenosis, group 2 - patients with aortic aneurysm, and group 3 - patients with aortic stenosis and aortic dilatation. In patients with aortic stenosis, the level of RANKL was significantly higher, and the level of RANKL was higher in valve than in tissue. The negative correlation between aortic dilatation and RANKL level indicated the lack of RANKL influence on pathogenesis of aortic dilatation. The obtained data confirm the increased expression of RANKL in patients with aortic valve calcification. The results of this study confirm importance of the OPG/RANKL/RANK system in calcification in patients with aortic stenosis. Athough patients of all groups had comparable values of OPG (including patients with aortic dilatation), the RANKL level increased only in patients with aortic stenosis. This suggest involvement of some additional mechanisms influencing the increase of RANKL expression.

[Experience of general surgical procedures in patients after heart transplantation].

PURPOSE: To study the frequency of general surgical diseases development snd their features in patients after heart transplantation (HTx). METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2018 it was performed 112 HTx (mean age - 46.7±14.0 years old; 82 - male, 30 - female). During 30 days after HTx 9 patients died. After discharge all recipients (n=98) were included in dispensary observation list. We retrospectively analyzed patients (n=35) who underwent general surgery manipulations in more than 30 days after HTx. All surgical interventions have been done under the reduction of immunosuppression therapy. RESULTS: During 9 years of post-heart transplant follow-up 45 surgical interventions were performed, 7% (n=3) of them due to infectious complications, 31% (n=14) - oncology and others (62%, n=28). Most of manipulations were planned (39 from 45, 87%), the following general surgery interven- tions prevailed: laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n=13) and those to remove inguinal and umbilical hernia (n=12). During the 1st year the frequency of diseases required surgical treatment was 26% (n=11), infectious causes took place in 5 patients, non-infectious - in 6. Subsequently the incidence of infectious complications decreased that could be associated with the minimization of immunosuppressive therapy. Oncology was more frequent long-term after HTx - more than 3 years: among them the development of colon polyps prevailed and all recipients underwent polypectomy. There was no impact of age, gender, causes of chronic heart failure, obesity, immunosuppressive regimen (including the induction) on the frequency of general surgery diseases development (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, we proposed an algorithm of examination, the features of surgical tactics and preparation for it in heart transplanted recipients are described. The important role of post-heart transplant follow-up in the timely detection of diseases requiring general surgical care is given.

[Results of a single-centre study of open and endovascular operations of prosthetic repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms]. / Rezul'taty odnotsentrovogo issledovaniia otkrytykh i éndovaskuliarnykh operatsii protezirovaniia anevrizm briushnogo otdela aorty.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess surgical outcomes in patients suffering from an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and treated at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery #2 of the National Medical Research Centre named after V.A. Almazov. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a non-randomized retrospective study including a total of 209 patients presenting with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Of these, 160 (76%) patients were subjected to open surgical interventions (Group One) and 49 (24%) patients underwent endovascular isolation of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (Group Two). The check examination was performed in the early postoperative period and at 30 postoperative days. The mean age of the patients amounted to 65±3.4 and 69±6.2 years in Group One and Two, respectively, with the mean diameter of the infrarenal portion of the aorta amounting to 6.5±0.8 and 6.7±0.9 cm, respectively. RESULTS: 30-day mortality amounted to 2.5 and 2.05% in Group One and Two, respectively (OR 1.231; 95% CI 0.134-11.277). Repeat interventions were more often performed in Group One patients compared with Group Two patients (13.7 vs 2.05%) (OR 6.085; 95% CI 0.791-46.799). Postoperative complications were observed more often in Group One patients than in Group Two patients (OR 9.916; 95% CI 2.143-39.457). Complications encountered in Group One and not observed in Group Two were as follows: nosocomial pneumonia - in 3.75% of cases, acute impairment of cerebral circulation (AICC) and acute myocardial infarction - in 1.25% of cases each, cardiac arrhythmia and acute renal failure - in 1.88% of cases each. Local postoperative wound-related complications were encountered in 18.11% of cases in Group One versus 4.1% in Group Two (OR 5.202; 95% CI 1.195-22.652). CONCLUSIONS: The retrospective analysis of open and endovascular methods of treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms demonstrated that, given the multifocal nature of an atherosclerotic lesion in the cohort of patients involved, it is appropriate in the preoperative period to perform coronarography in all patients in order to rule out significant damage of the coronary bed. It is also appropriate to regard a cohort over 60 years and patients found to have significant concomitant pathology as candidates for endovascular treatment. A differentiated approach to careful selection will make it possible to improve the results of treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

[Staged treatment of a multilevel lesion of brachiocephalic arteries in combination with coronary and valvular pathology of the heart]. / Étapnoe lechenie mnogourovnevogo porazheniia brakhiotsefal'nykh arterii v sochetanii s koronarnoi i klapannoi patologiei serdtsa.

Prevention of neurological complications in cardiosurgical and reconstructive vascular surgery is one of the priority tasks of preserving ability to work and decreasing invalidization of patients in the postoperative period. Presented in the article is a clinical case report regarding multiple-stage treatment of a female patient with a combined aortic defect, coronary pathology, and a multilevel bilateral lesion of the brachiocephalic arteries. The first stage consisted in performing a hybrid operation, i. e., carotid endarterectomy from the right internal carotid artery and stenting of the ostium of the right common carotid artery (CCA). The second stage involved balloon angioplasty with stenting of the left CCA, and the third stage was prosthetic repair of the aortic valve by a mechanical prosthesis with simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting. The woman was discharged in a satisfactory condition. Described in details is the technique of performing the hybrid vascular operation, followed by substantiating the stagewise nature of surgical interventions. The policy chosen demonstrates effective and safe correction of haemodynamically significant tandem stenoses of brachiocephalic arteries, without neurological complications during treatment of patients with cardiological pathology.

Cellular Mechanisms of Aortic Valve Calcification.

Comparative in vitro study examined the osteogenic potential of interstitial cells of aortic valve obtained from the patients with aortic stenosis and from control recipients of orthotopic heart transplantation with intact aortic valve. The osteogenic inductors augmented mineralization of aortic valve interstitial cells (AVIC) in patients with aortic stenosis in comparison with the control level. Native AVIC culture of aortic stenosis patients demonstrated overexpression of osteopontin gene (OPN) and underexpression of osteoprotegerin gene (OPG) in comparison with control levels. In both groups, AVIC differentiation was associated with overexpression of RUNX2 and SPRY1 genes. In AVIC of aortic stenosis patients, expression of BMP2 gene was significantly greater than the control level. The study revealed an enhanced sensitivity of AVIC to osteogenic inductors in aortic stenosis patients, which indicates probable implication of OPN, OPG, and BMP2 genes in pathogenesis of aortic valve calcification.

[Hybrid treatment of patients with aneurysms and dissections of the aortic arch and descending portion of the thoracic aorta]. / Gibridnoe lechenie bol'nykh s anevrizmami i rassloeniiami dugi i niskhodiashchego otdela grudnoi aorty.

The authors share herein their experience with hybrid surgical treatment of 21 patients presenting with lesions of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta. Aortic pathology included dissection of the thoracoabdominal aorta (n=15), a sacciform aneurysm of the aortic arch (n=5), and a spindle-shaped aneurysm of the distal portions of the aortic arch (n=1). The first stage consisted of the following operations: transposition of the left subclavian artery into the left common carotid artery (n=9; 42.8%), partial debranching (n=11; 52.5%), and total debranching (n=1; 4.7%). The second stage consisted in implantation of a stent graft: to the thoracic aorta in 18 (85.8%) cases, and to the thoracic and abdominal portions of the aorta in 3 (14.2%) cases. The most significant complications of the immediate postoperative period included acute cerebral circulation impairment (n=1) and local dissection of the ascending aorta (n=1). Type I endoleaks were observed in 4 (19%) patients, type II endoleaks in 1 (4.7%), and type III endoleaks in 1 (4.7%). The mean duration of the follow up after discharge from hospital amounted to 11.6±7.9 months. In 4 patients after 6 months the findings of the control MSCT angiography showed no significant changes of the endoleaks. 1-year patency of the shunted branches of the aortic arch amounted to 95.2%. The cumulative survival rate amounted to 95.2%.

[Cognitive dysfunction and content of inflammatory markers in patients after coronary artery bypass graft]. / Kognitivnaia disfunktsiia i soderzhanie v krovi markerov vospalitel'nogo otveta u patsientov, perenesshikh aortokoronarnoe shuntirovanie.

AIM: To study the relationship between the content of inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive function in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) performed in condition of artificial blood circulation (ABC) or open-heart surgery (OHS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with ischemic heart disease who survived CABG, mean age 62.4±6.2 years, were studied. The ABC group (n=18) and OHS group (n=11) were matched for age and sex. Patients underwent standard clinical examination as well as neurological examination and neuropsychological testing. Concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-1RA, IFN-γ, IP-10; MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, RANTES, TNF) were determined in blood plasma obtained 24 h before and 2h after surgery using multiplex immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: In both groups, an increase in concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1ß and RANTES was observed at point T1. Concentration of IL-1RA was significantly higher only in the ABC group but not in the OHS group. After CABG, an increase in concentrations of IL-8, IP-10, MIP-1ß, IL-1RA was significantly higher in the ABC group. The Montreal scale was the most sensitive test for assessment of cognitive functions in post CABG patients. A significant decrease in scores (>3) was noted in 8 out of 18 patients in the ABC group and in one patient of the OHS group. The correlations between the decrease in cognitive functioning in the 7th day after surgery and plasma cytokine concentration 2 h after surgery were identified for IL-6 (r=0.472; p=0.01); IL-8 (r=0.403; p=0.03); IP-10 (r=0.372; p=0.047); MCP-1 (r=0.470; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: CABG is accompanied by the systemic inflammatory reaction, with the more marked inflammatory effect in patients operated under condition of extracorporeal circulation. CABG with ABC causes an impairment of cognitive functions during the first week in many patients. Impaired cognitive status was associated with the increase in concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in blood plasma.

[Successful two-stage surgical treatment of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report]. / Sluchai uspeshnogo dvukhétapnogo khirurgicheskogo lecheniia torakoabdominal'noi anevrizmy aorty.

Presented herein is a clinical case report regarding hybrid or two-stage surgical treatment of a Crawford type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in an 87-year-old woman. For the first stage operation we performed open resection of the abdominal aortic aneurysm with aortofemoral bifurcation prosthetic repair and debranching of visceral and renal arteries. Several months thereafter, the second stage operation was performed, consisting in transcatheter exclusion of the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with the help of two stent grafts. The postoperative period turned out uneventful, with no complications. The check-up contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) carried out 8 months later showed neither endoleaks nor migration of the stent grafts, with the bypass shunts' patency preserved.

[Rosuvastatin in Coronary Bypass Surgery: Whether Only Secondary Prevention?]

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The increasing number of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with a need for active introduction of methods improving immediate and long-term results of these interventions. Results of a number of studies conducted during recent years allow to consider high dose statin therapy one of such methods. In this article we present results of rosuvastatin administration to patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to surgery. METHODS: Rosuvastatin (40 mg/day) was given for 4 weeks before CABG to patients who had previously taken simvastatin (20 mg/day). RESULTS: This regimen was assocaed with reduction of desquamation of endothelium of the intima, reduction of the number of smooth muscle cells in the media, as well as the proliferation index according to the immunohistochemical analysis in sections of the great saphenous vein selected for the coronary anastomosis. CONCLUSION: It is assumed that the antiproliferative effects of high-dose rosuvastatin therapy may have a positive impact in relation to the viability of a remote arterio-venous grafts.

[PROTEIN KINASE C EXPRESSION FOLLOWING REMOTE ISCHEMIC PRECONDITIONING IN CARDIAC SURGERY].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cardioprotective effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) in cardiac surgery patients undergoing aortic valve replacement depending on the type of anesthesia and investigate the level of myocardial protein kinase C epsilon (PKC-ε) expression after RIPC. METHODS: In prospective randomized trial, forty eight patients aging from 50 to 75 years old (64 (56 ;69)) were included All patients were scheduled for aortic valve replacement using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The patients were randomized into 4 groups: 1) RIPC applied during propofol anesthesia (RIPC prop, n = 12), 2) RIPC applied during sevoflurane anesthesia (RIPC sev, n = 12), 3) propofol anesthesia without RIPC (CONTROL prop, n = 12), 4) sevoflurane anesthesia without RIPC (CONTROL sev, n = 12). There was no difference found between the groups as to the baseline patient's data. RIPC protocol consisted of 3 simultaneous ischemic episodes of both lower limbs (5 minutes) with 5-min reperfusion intervals. PKC-ε expression in right atrial myocardium was assessed using Western blotting. Troponin I (cTnI) was estimated before anesthesia induction, after 30 min, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours after CPB completion. Also we calculated area under curve of cTnI (cTnI AUC). According to nonparametric distribution, data were assessed by the Mann-Whitney U-test and Newman-Keuls methodfor multigroup comparison. p < 0.05 was considered signifcant. The data are presented as median (25th; 75th percentile). RESULTS: Cardioprotective effects of RIPC were observed only after sevoflurane anesthesia: cTnI AUC was 134,8 (122,3; 232.4) ng/ml/48 h in CONTROL sev group and only 74.3 (64.7; 85.0) ng/ml/48 h in RIPC sev group (p < 0.05). RIPC applied during propofol anesthesia was not associated with cTnIAUC decrease: 93.8 (74.1; 246.8) ng/ml/48 h in CONTROL prop group and 122.5 (74.1; 185.0) ng/ml/48 h in RIPC prop group (p = 0.37). RIPC applied during sevoflurane anesthesia significantly increased PKC-ε expression: 1221 (921; 1438) U in CONTROL sev group vs 1882 (1564; 2131) U in RIPC sev group 6 (p < 0.05). RIPC implication during propofol anesthesia was not associated with any significant difference in PKC-ε expression in comparison with control group: 620 (436; 782) U in CONTROL prop group versus 788 (574;1063) U in RIPC prop group. In control groups, PKC-ε expression was significantly higher in sevoflurane anesthesia in comparison with propofol anesthesia. CONCLUSION: RIPC was only effective when it was applied during sevofiurane anesthesia. This was confirmed by PKC-ε expression increase and lower value of cTnI. There were no evidence of preconditioning and cardioprotection when MPG was initiated during propofol anesthesia.