Preliminary balloon dilation of both saphenous fascia and the saphenous vein increases the below-knee fistula patency, but not maturation.

OBJECTIVE: There is no reliable secondary site for fistula creation in patients with preclusions for further use of upper extremity vessels as viable hemodialysis access. Below-knee vessels resemble the forearm vascular anatomy and, therefore, methods to improve the outcomes of fistula creation at this level would also help to improve the quality of life for those patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the efforts to improve the functionality of below-knee fistulas in a sample of dialysis patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the results of ankle fistulas created following preliminary balloon dilatation of both the saphenous fascia and the saphenous vein in 11 patients who were considered eligible if they did not have concomitant venous or arterial lower extremity disease. We assessed the changes in fistula flow within 6 months as well as patency and maturation rates. RESULTS: Though the patency rate at 6 months was 63.6% (seven patients), only three fistulas (27.3%) were used for routine dialysis. All mature fistulas were observed in patients with a preoperative posterior tibial artery flow of more than 35 mL/min. CONCLUSION: Saphenous vein dilation throughout the below-knee promotes fistula patency, but the posterior tibial artery shows inadequate response as an inflow supplier at the ankle level. More proximal connection of saphenous vein after balloon dilation may be used in the future to achieve adequate flow from leg arteries.

Ultrastructural Investigations of Arterial Bypass Conduits after the Use of Different Harvesting Techniques Using an Electron Microscope.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to perform morphometric analysis of arterial conduits harvested by harmonic scalpel in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients. METHODS: From 100 CABG patients, 200 arterial conduits-100 radial arteries (RAs) and 100 left internal thoracic artery (LITAs)-were harvested. The patients had similar characteristics (mean age, sex ratio, comorbidities, etc.). We divided the patients into 2 groups according to harvesting technique. In group 1, a harmonic scalpel was used in 50 patients for harvesting arterial conduits (50 LITA and 50 RA). In group 2, conduits were harvested using low-voltage electrocautery. To prevent side effects of clipping, all conduits in both groups remained in perfused condition until anastomosis. A 10-mm length of conduit was cut for transmission electron microscopy investigation. We calculated duration of harvesting, blood flow changes, and histopathologic changes of the conduits according to a vessel scoring system. RESULTS: In the harmonic scalpel group, we detected pathologic findings-corruption of endothelial integrity, subendothelial damage, and endothelial pathology-in 5 specimens (10%) (3 LITA  [6%] and 2 RA [4%]). In group 2, pathologic findings were detected in 16 conduits (32%; 11 LITA, 22%, and 5 RA, 10%). Endothelial dissection, subendothelial disarrangement, cellular separation due to intercellular edema, and subadventitial hematoma were the main pathologic changes in the classic harvesting method. There was a significant difference between the groups (P = .001). Harvesting time of LITA was nearly similar in both groups: 26.9 ± 11.1 min (range 25-38) in group 1 and 21.3 ± 8.6 min (range 21-25) in group 2 (P = .049). RA harvesting time was significantly shorter with the harmonic scalpel technique (20.3 ± 3.9 versus 27.6 ± 5.4 min, P = .022). The blood flow of the conduits was similar, with no statistical difference for the 2 arterial conduits (LITA, P = .76; RA, P = .55). CONCLUSION: In the learning curve period, the use of a harmonic scalpel is time consuming and presents some difficulties during the harvesting of conduits. According to our study results, however, the harmonic scalpel technique may be useful because of decreased pathology, including spasm. In our opinion, graft occlusion or thrombus as a life-threatening condition and endothelial dysfunction may decrease with the use of this alternative harvesting technique.

Ten-Year Clinical Experience on Chylothorax after Cardiovascular Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Chylothorax or pseudo-chylothorax is a serious complication after adult and pediatric cardiac surgery. This study presents our 10-year clinical experience of chylothorax after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Between January 2008 and February 2019, 4896 cardiovascular surgeries were performed in 2 tertiary clinics, with 416 patients in the pediatric age group (8.4%). Chylothorax and pseudo-chylothorax were detected in 47 patients (22 adult and 20 pediatric patients, 4.8%). Pseudo-chylothorax was seen in 5 adult patients. In 27 patients, a pleural effusion developed on the left side (64.2%). Quantities of chylomicron in pleural effusion were significant in all patients. In addition, protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels were >2.9 g/dL. The cholesterol level in the pleural effusion was >2.49 mmol/L in all patients. The mean latency period was 8 days (range 3.1 to 63.1). For the management of chylothorax, somatostatin or octreotide as a somatostatin analog was administered in 23 patients (15 adult and 8 pediatric) in the intensive care unit. Somatostatin or octreotide was administered intravenously or subcutaneously at a dose of 0.3 to 4 µg/(kg · h-1). We used dexamethasone as a steroid combined with somatostatin in patients who were resistant to medical treatment before pleurodesis or ductus closure. Classic chemical pleurodesis combined with fibrin glue was performed in 11 patients (8 adult and 3 pediatric). Surgical duct ligation, as the last option, was performed in 7 patients. RESULTS: No mortality or morbidity was observed. Chylothorax improved with the medical approach in 23 patients within 24.2 ± 11.3 days (48.9%). We successfully performed the pleurodesis procedure using fibrin glue in addition to the classic method. The mean duration of conservative treatment was 27.1 days (range 11 to 39). After discharge from the hospital, 2 children had recurrence of chylothorax, and the ductus thoracicus was surgically ligated. No complication was seen during or after ductus ligation. CONCLUSIONS: According to our clinical experience, chylothorax is not an extremely rare complication after cardiac surgery in pediatric cardiovascular surgery. A number of patients with chylothorax may be treated medically and with diet adjustment. Medical treatment including steroid administration may be the first treatment strategy immediately after diagnosis. Classic chemical pleurodesis combined with fibrin glue may be applied in the early stages. Surgical ligation of the ductus thoracicus should be considered the last treatment option.

Clinical Outcomes of Synchronous Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Coronary Artery Revascularization.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data about the results of simultaneous coronary revascularization, either with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and cholecystectomy operations. Here we present clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and coronary revascularization at the same session. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included a total of 19 patients who underwent simultaneous LC and CABG or PCI. Thirteen of them had been hospitalized because of acute cholecystitis prior to coronary angiography. Simultaneous CABG and LC were performed in 10 patients (group I). LC was performed immediately after CABG surgery at the same session. PCI (group II) was performed in 9 patients. In the PCI group, LC was performed under general anesthesia 2 or 3 days after PCI. RESULTS: No mortality was seen after the procedures. In the CABG group, the mean number of bypass grafts was 3.4 ± 1.9. The mean extracorporeal circulation and the total operation times were 95 ± 13.5 minutes and 259 ± 18.9 minutes, respectively; the mean intubation duration was 17 ± 4.8 hours. In the PCI group, the mean number of stents per patient was 2.1 ± 0.7; LC was performed 2 or 3 days after the PCI without the cessation of clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid. The mean operation times for LC were 56.5 ± 15.6 minutes and 51.3 ± 17.6 minutes in the CABG and PCI groups, respectively (P = .86). In the CABG group, the mean durations of ICU and hospital stays were 3.1 ± 1.4 and 14.2 ± 3.7 days, respectively. In the PCI group, the mean durations of ICU stay and hospitalization were 1.7 ± 0.4 and 7.4 ± 2.2 days, respectively. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of the intubation time, duration of ICU stay, and hospitalization periods (P =.001, P =.0001, and P =.001, respectively). No intra-abdominal complications or bleeding was encountered in any group. Postoperative complications of the abdominal wall or mediastinitis were not seen in the setting of concomitant procedures in the CABG group. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous CABG or PCI with LC may be performed safely in patients with cholecystitis. The durations of postcholecystectomy ICU stay and the intubation time were significantly lower in the PCI group. According to our results, PCI may be the first choice of revascularization procedure in selected patients requiring cholecystectomy prior to discharge.

Trileaflet reconstruction of pulmonary valve for acute pulmonary valve insufficiency.

Iatrogenic pulmonary valve insufficiency is a life-threatening complication and its treatment options pose another challenge. Easily accessible mechanical valves have high complication rates. Xenografts and homografts are expensive materials and are not readily accessible in case of emergency. Although monoand bileaflet reconstructions with autologous pericardium in the pediatric population has been reported frequently, trileaflet reconstruction of the pulmonary valve has not been reported in the literature, yet. Herein, we, for the first time, present a case of acute pulmonary valve insufficiency which was treated with the trileaflet reconstruction of the pulmonary valve.

Sodium nitroprusside infusion prevents hypothyroidism in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The level of thyroid hormones is an important factor in determining the outcome of coronary artery bypass patients. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a natural donor of nitric oxide which has been shown to interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis. Whether clinical use of sodium nitroprusside has any effect on thyroid function has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SNP administration on circulating levels of thyroid hormones. METHODS: One hundred and six consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting operation were prospectively randomized to receive continuous infusions of either SNP or saline limited to the rewarming time of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Free triiodothyronine (T3), total T3, free thyroxine (T4), total T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Free T3, TSH and albumin changes of SNP and control groups were statistically different from each other. In the SNP group, free T3 values stayed in the euthyroid range between CPB and post-CPB periods, the period when SNP was infused, whereas it continued to decline to hypothyroidic levels in the control group. In addition, in the SNP group, an elevation in TSH levels was observed during the CPB period. Postoperatively, an earlier restoration of free T3 and TSH levels was observed in the SNP group when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: In this study, administration of SNP during cardiopulmonary bypass is shown to regulate free T3 and TSH levels positively.

Mid-segment harvesting of right internal thoracic artery decreases sternal ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to preserve sternal vascularity better by harvesting only midsegment of the right internal thoracic artery (RITA) than using conventional bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) harvesting method, and we evaluated the sternal vascularity with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: In this prospective clinical randomized investigation, 135 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) were divided into three groups: Full-RITA group who had a full length of both ITA as a graft for CABG (n=45); mid-RITA group - a midsegment of RITA and left internal thoracic artery (LITA) (n=45); and non-RITA group who had only LITA (n=45). Before and after surgery, all patients underwent a bone scan with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to evaluate the sternal vascular activity. Comparisons of variables were performed by Chi-square, ANOVA, Tukey HSD and paired t test as appropriate. The Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Postoperative early scans (6.9+/- 0.9 days) showed a reduction of blood flow in the both sides of the sternum compared with the preoperative scans (p<0.001). In full-RITA group, there was no significant difference between left and right hemi-sternum (0.56+/- 0.04 and 0.55+/- 0.02 respectively). However, in mid-RITA and non-RITA groups, right hemi-sternum showed significantly better vascularity than left hemi-sternum in the early postoperative period (p<0.001). Three patients (6.6%) with diabetes mellitus in full-RITA group had sternal infection; one of them was deep sternal infection with dehiscence. In mid-RITA group, there was only two patients who had superficial infection (4.4%) and in non-RITA group there was no infection (p=0.234). CONCLUSION: Mid-RITA harvesting technique can be preferred to preserve sternal vascularity better than conventional technique. By improving new techniques and methods, more acceptable sternal complications could be achieved than full-RITA technique.

Coronary artery bypass grafting ameliorates the decreased plasma adiponectin level in atherosclerotic patients.

Adiponectin functions as an anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic factor, and the decreased plasma adiponectin is a risk factor for coronary disease. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in plasma levels of adiponectin, a potential parameter for atherosclerosis, in patients underwent surgical revascularization. We included forty patients with atherosclerosis (age, 58 +/- 9 years; body mass index [BMI] 26.93 +/- 2.3 kg/m(2)) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Control group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers, matched for age, gender and BMI (age, 56 +/- 6 years; BMI, 26.78 +/- 2.3 kg/m(2)). We measured various parameters, including high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indexes, and adiponectin. The baseline profile of the patients before CABG showed higher levels of serum hsCRP (13.15 +/- 2.40 mg/l vs 3.97 +/- 1.07 mg/l) and HOMA-IR (1.86 +/- 0.30 vs 1.26 +/- 0.33) and lower plasma adiponectin levels (7.02 +/- 2.01 microg/ml vs 25.46 +/- 3.9 microg/ml), compared to controls (p < 0.001 for each parameter). Plasma adiponectin level was increased one month after CABG from the baseline level to 8.67 +/- 2.05 microg/ml(p < 0.001), although the level was still lower than the control value. Thus, postoperative adiponectin level might be helpful for evaluating the progression of atherosclerosis. Moreover, CABG significantly decreased hsCRP to 7.25 +/- 1.89 mg/l and HOMA-IR to 1.59 +/- 0.33, although these levels were higher than the controls. These results suggest that CABG decreases the cardiac risk factors in atherosclerotic patients.