Single-center Study Comparing Short and Mid-Term Results of EVAR in Old and Young Populations.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the operative mortality rate and outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) between young and geriatric people in a single center. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent EVAR between January 2012 and September 2016 were included. Outcomes were compared between two groups: the young (aged < 65 years) and the geriatric (aged ≥ 65 years). The primary study outcome was technical success; the secondary endpoints were mortality and secondary interventions. The mean follow-up time was 36 months (3-60 months). RESULTS: The study included 72 males and 13 females with a mean age of 71.08±8.6 years (range 49-85 years). Of the 85 patients analyzed, 18 (21.2%) were under 65 years old and 67 patients (78.8%) were over 65 years old. There was no statistically significant correlation between chronic disease and age. We found no statistically significant difference between aneurysm diameter, neck angle, neck length, or right and left iliac angles. The secondary intervention rate was 7% (six patients). The conversion to open surgery was necessary for only one patient and only three deaths were reported (3.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in the mortality and reintervention rates between the age groups. The three deaths occurred only in the geriatric group and two died secondary to rupture. Kidney failure was observed in three patients in the geriatric group (4.5%). CONCLUSION: Our single-center experience shows that EVAR can be used safely in both young and geriatric patients.

Single-center study comparing short and mid-term results of evar in old and young populations

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the operative mortality rate and outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) between young and geriatric people in a single center. Methods: Eighty-five patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent EVAR between January 2012 and September 2016 were included. Outcomes were compared between two groups: the young (aged < 65 years) and the geriatric (aged ≥ 65 years). The primary study outcome was technical success; the secondary endpoints were mortality and secondary interventions. The mean follow-up time was 36 months (3-60 months). Results: The study included 72 males and 13 females with a mean age of 71.08±8.6 years (range 49-85 years). Of the 85 patients analyzed, 18 (21.2%) were under 65 years old and 67 patients (78.8%) were over 65 years old. There was no statistically significant correlation between chronic disease and age. We found no statistically significant difference between aneurysm diameter, neck angle, neck length, or right and left iliac angles. The secondary intervention rate was 7% (six patients). The conversion to open surgery was necessary for only one patient and only three deaths were reported (3.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in the mortality and reintervention rates between the age groups. The three deaths occurred only in the geriatric group and two died secondary to rupture. Kidney failure was observed in three patients in the geriatric group (4.5%). Conclusion: Our single-center experience shows that EVAR can be used safely in both young and geriatric patients.

Assessment of the Utility of the Septal E/(E' × S') Ratio and Tissue Doppler Index in Predicting Left Ventricular Remodeling after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background. The aim of this study is to show whether the septal E/(E' × S') ratio assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography can predict left ventricular remodeling after first ST segment elevation myocardial infarction treated successfully with primary percutaneous intervention. Methods. Consecutive patients (n = 111) presenting with acute anterior myocardial infarction for the first time in their life were enrolled. All patients underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Standard and tissue Doppler echocardiography were performed in the first 24-36 hours of admission. Echocardiographic examination was repeated after 6 months to reassess left ventricular volumes. Septal E/(E' × S') ratio was assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Results. Group 1 consisted of 33 patients with left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and Group 2 had 78 patients without LV remodeling. E/(E' × S') was significantly higher in Group 1 (4.1 ± 1.9 versus 1.65 ± 1.32, p = 0.001). The optimal cutoff value for E/(E' × S') ratio was 2.34 with 87.0% sensitivity and 82.1% specificity. Conclusion. Septal E/(E' × S') values measured after the acute anterior myocardial infarction can strongly predict LV remodeling in the 6-month follow-up. In the risk assessment, the septal E/(E' × S') can be evaluated together with the conventional echocardiographic techniques.

Left Main Coronary Artery Hypoplasia in Elderly.

Congenital anomalies of the coronary artery causing coronary occlusive disease may be of many different types. A 67-year-old woman with no coronary risk factors was referred for coronary angiography with few months' history of angina. The patient underwent coronary angiography due to ischemic cardiac symptoms with nondiagnostic exercising test. In coronary angiography, the left main coronary artery was arising from normal anatomical position; however, left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery were hypoplastic. The treatment of patient was discussed in cardiology-cardiovascular surgery council and coronary surgery was found inappropriate due to the hypoplasia of the left coronary system entirely.

Clinical features and patency rates of Remedy® biodegradable peripheral stents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the midterm results of Remedy® biodegradable stents, which have recently come into use for lower-extremity arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: Sixty-five patients, who underwent surgical intervention in various cardiovascular surgery clinics throughout Turkey, were included in the study. The total number of stents used was 92. The mean age of the patients was 64.11 ± 24.13 years (20-82), and 16 (24.6%) were female. The mean number of stents per patient was 1.42, and 70.7% of the lesions were TASC type A. Patients were followed for a mean of 32 months. Sixty-five patients underwent a control examination using either digital subtraction angiography or colour Doppler ultrasonography. In-stent restenosis was defined as ≥ 50% stenosis in the stent area in asymptomatic patients. The procedure was repeated if the degree of stenosis was ≥ 70%. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, restenosis (≥50% stenosis) was observed in seven patients (10.7%). The patency rate after secondary intervention was 100%, and there was no loss of limbs in any patient. Restenosis was observed in six patients with superficial femoral artery stents, and in one patient with a popliteal arterial stent. CONCLUSION: Our experience shows that Remedy® biodegradable peripheral stents were safe and effective in our cohort of patients, with acceptable patency rates.

The effect of iloprost and N-acetylcysteine on skeletal muscle injury in an acute aortic ischemia-reperfusion model: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of iloprost and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injuries to the gastrocnemius muscle, following the occlusion-reperfusion period in the abdominal aorta of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group 1: control group. Group 2 (IR): aorta was occluded. The clamp was removed after 1 hour of ischemia. Blood samples and muscle tissue specimens were collected following a 2-hour reperfusion period. Group 3 (IR + iloprost): during a 1-hour ischemia period, iloprost infusion was initiated from the jugular catheter. During a 2-hour reperfusion period, the iloprost infusion continued. Group 4 (IR + NAC): similar to the iloprost group. FINDINGS: The mean total oxidant status, CK, and LDH levels were highest in Group 2 and lowest in Group 1. The levels of these parameters in Group 3 and Group 4 were lower compared to Group 2 and higher compared to Group 1 (P < 0.05). The histopathological examination showed that Group 3 and Group 4, compared to Group 2, had preserved appearance with respect to hemorrhage, necrosis, loss of nuclei, infiltration, and similar parameters. CONCLUSION: Iloprost and NAC are effective against ischemia-reperfusion injury and decrease ischemia-related tissue injury.

Agenesis of the mitral posterior leaflet in elderly.

Congenital mitral valve regurgitation is a rare disease that is found in infancy and childhood, and sometimes in elderly people. In the case presented, mitral regurgitation that was tolerated well until the sixth decade of life is reported. A 62-year-old male suffering from dyspnea was referred to our hospital. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination demonstrated severe mitral regurgitation with suspicion of agenesis of the posterior leaflet with a long, mobile anterior leaflet. A transesophageal echocardiogram and surgical evaluation verified agenesis of the posterior mitral valve. The patient was successfully treated using mitral valve replacement, and no complications occurred.

Comparing the effectiveness of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a mortality predictor on middle and advanced age coronary artery bypass graft patients.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effect of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is a recently developed inflammatory parameter, as an early stage mortality predictive marker on coronary artery bypass (CABG) patients of various age groups was examined. METHODS: Seventy eight patients under the age of 45 (Group 1) and 80 patients who were older than 45 (Group 2) randomly chosen from the patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery, were examined. The preoperative characteristics and NLRs were noted. The primary end point of the study was determined as all-cause in- hospital mortality. RESULTS: Mortality was observed in 2 patients in Group 1 and 11 patients in Group 2. The threshold value of NLR was 2,47 in the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve in Group 1 and there wasn't any significant correlation between preoperative NLR and mortality rates in the patients whose NLRs were above this curve. The threshold value was determined as 4.07 in Group 2 and there was a significant relation between preoperative NLR and mortality (p<0,01). No relation was found between NLR and mortality when all the examined patients were considered (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: NLR that can be easily calculated, can be used as a mortality predictor in the patients of advanced age who will undergo isolated CABG procedure.

The place of carotico-subclavian bypass surgery in angina treatment.

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome results from atherosclerotic disease of the proximal subclavian artery, causing reversal of flow in an internal mammary artery used as conduit for coronary artery bypass. In the present case, we discussed the diagnosis and the treatment of coronary steal syndrome in a patient hospitalized due to decompensated cardiac insufficiency.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a biomarker for acute kidney injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The development of acute renal injury (ARI) is an important indicator of clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been certified as a predictive biomarker of hypoxic ARI. The present study aimed to determine the predictive role of NGAL in coronary bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHOD: A total of 72 consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG were enrolled in the study. NGAL levels were determined preoperatively and postoperatively after 6 h, 24 h and 72 h for all participants. The participants were then divided into two groups according to their preoperative creatinine levels (group I, creatinine 111.38 µmol/L to 361.55 µmol/L; group II, creatinine <111.38 µmol/L). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups according to their NGAL values (P>0.05), except at 6 h (P=0.045). Three patients required continuous hemodialysis. Comparison of the NGAL levels of these three patients with those of the other participants did not reveal any correlation with serum creatinine levels. In contrast, the NGAL levels were significantly lower in the continuous hemodialysis patients (1.9±1 ng/mL) compared with those of the other participants (22.6±12.8 ng/mL; P=0.001). CONCLUSION: NGAL is one of the most frequently used biomarkers for ARI after cardiac operations, especially in younger patients. The participants in the present study were coronary artery disease patients and were, therefore, older than patients in previous reports. These results support the view that NGAL is not a relevant predictive factor for ARI in patients with CABG, including older patients.

Posttraumatic true aneurysm of the axillary artery following blunt trauma.

The majority of the axillary artery aneurysm cases arise as pseudoaneurysms secondary to blunt or iatrogenic trauma. Isolated traumatic true axillary artery aneurysm is a relatively unusual disorder and generally occurs with repetitive blunt trauma. A 22-year-old female patient with distal axillary artery true aneurysm due to simple blunt axillothoracic trauma is presented. The aneurysm was excised with subpectoral-axillary approach and saphenous vein graft interposition was applied. Long-term follow-up with the patient was uneventful.

Left ventricular longitudinal myocardial function in overt hypothyroidism: a tissue Doppler echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) myocardial regional function in overt hypothyroidism by use of tissue Doppler imaging and to compare the results to the hormonal profile and standard Doppler echocardiographic examination. METHODS: Hypothyroidic (Group 1, n = 25) and euthyroidic patients (Group 2, n = 25) underwent transthorasic echocardiography, strain and strain rate imaging. RESULTS: Standard echocardiography showed that patients with overt hypothyroidism had significantly longer isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) (P < 0.05), deceleration time (DT) (P = 0.014) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) (P = 0.022). Tissue Doppler imaging showed that the mean peak systolic strain (SI) (16.47 + or - 1.45 vs. 20.63 + or - 1.51, P < 0.001), the mean peak systolic strain rate (SSR) (1.05 + or - 0.13 vs. 1.47 + or - 0.11, P < 0.001), the mean peak early diastolic strain rate (ESr) (1.72 + or - 0.38 vs. 2.03 + or - 0.25, P < 0.05) and the mean peak late diastolic strain rate (ASr) (1.22 + or - 0.31 vs. 1.46 + or - 0.32, P < 0.05) were significantly lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2. For all patients, the systolic strain and systolic strain rate parameters negatively correlated with thyroid stimulating hormone levels and positively correlated with the levels of free triiodothyronine (fT(3)) and free tetraiodothyronine (fT(4)). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that overt hypothyroidism is associated with early impairment in LV longitudinal myocardial function, and that tissue Doppler echocardiography is useful for the grading of disease and detection of early impairment. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY 2010;27:505-511).

Inhibitory effects of ticlopidine and clopidogrel on the intimal hyperplastic response after arterial injury.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ticlopidine and clopidogrel on the development of neointimal hyperplasia after experimental arterial injury. METHODS: This experimental, prospective, randomized controlled study was performed on twenty-seven rabbits, which were divided into three groups, each of which contained nine subjects. Following the development of a balloon catheter injury in the iliac artery, no drugs were administered to Group 1 (control). Group 2 was given ticlopidine, while Group 3 was given clopidogrel. At the end of the 21-day experimental period, arterial sections were evaluated histomorphologically and immunohistochemically with staining using antibodies against platelet derived growth factor beta and basic fibroblast growth factor. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-Square, Mann Whitney U and one-way ANOVA tests. RESULTS: At the end of study period, ticlopidine and clopidogrel strongly reduced the development of intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury (54.1%, p<0.001, 53.2%, p<0.001, respectively). No significant difference was observed in terms of intimal and medial areas between the drug-treated groups. Expressions of the basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet derived growth factor beta were significantly lower in the intima of drug treated groups with respect to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that ticlopidine and clopidogrel, which are widely used in antiplatelet treatment in clinics, can similarly prevent the development of intimal hyperplasia after experimental arterial injury.

A novel predictor of restenosis and adverse cardiac events: asymmetric dimethylarginine.

The aim of this study is to investigate if serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels can predict restenosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary interventions. The most important cause of restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention is neointimal hyperplasia. Nitric oxide (NO) prevents the neointimal hyperplasia growing. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is a competitive inhibitor of NO synthesis. The effect of ADMA on the restenosis has not yet been investigated. A total of 105 (80 male and 25 female) patients were included in our study. All patients underwent elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with bare metal stent implantation or direct stenting for one coronary artery between September 2004 and January 2006. All patients were clinically followed for a period of 6 months, and a control angiography was performed at the end of this period. The probrain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP), and ADMA levels of the patients were evaluated before the procedure and 6 months afterwards. Biochemical parameters and angiographic features were evaluated in order to determine if they could predict the development of restenosis and MACE by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The 65 (61.9%) patients (50 males and 15 females) who had not developed restenosis were designated as Group 1. The 27 (25.7%) patients (21 males and 6 females) who had developed restenosis were designated as Group 2. In terms of predicting the development of restenosis, the presence of diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.78; confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-6.20; P = 0.01), type of lesion (HR: 1.89; CI: 1.01-3.55; P = 0.04), form of procedure (HR: 0.30; CI: 0.11-0.81; P = 0.01), and ADMA (HR: 4.08; CI: 1.73-9.62; P = 0.001) were found to be significant in univariate Cox regression analysis. In contrast, only the levels of ADMA were found to be a significant predictor of restenosis in the multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR: 3.02; CI: 1.16-7.84; P = 0.02). The restenosis prediction of ADMA levels continued after excluding the patients with diabetes mellitus in the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR: 5.23; CI: 1.99-13.76; P = 0.001 and HR: 5.61; CI: 1.79-17.62; P = 0.003, respectively). Regarding the development of cardiac events, hs-CRP (HR: 1.03; CI: 1.00-1.06; P = 0.01) and ADMA (HR: 17.1; CI: 3.06-95.8; P = 0.001) were found to be significantly correlated with adverse cardiac events in univariate Cox regression analysis, whereas only ADMA levels were significant in the multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR: 2.83; CI: 1.27-6.31; P = 0.01). The levels of ADMA obtained before the procedure predict the development of restenosis and MACE in patients who underwent elective PTCA and bare metal stent procedures.

The effects of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation on slow coronary flow.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effects of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation on slow coronary flow (SCF). STUDY DESIGN: The study included 26 patients (group 1; 13 females, 13 males; mean age 58.8 years) who had normal coronary arteries but SCF in three coronary vessels and 25 subjects (group 2, 14 females, 11 males; mean age 62.7 years) with normal coronary arteries and normal flow. Coronary flow was quantified according to the TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) frame count method for the left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (Cx), and right coronary (RCA) arteries. Endothelial function was assessed by plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels, brachial artery endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation (NMD). Inflammation was assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. RESULTS: TIMI frame count was significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 for each artery (p<0.001). In group 1, the mean FMD was significantly lower (6.6±1.6% vs. 11.2±1.6%, p<0.001) and the mean ADMA level was significantly higher (0.8±0.2 µmol/l vs. 0.5±0.1 µmol/l, p=0.002), whereas NMD and hs-CRP levels did not differ significantly between the two groups (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between plasma ADMA level and TIMI frame count (RCA: r=0.50, p=0.001; cLAD: r=0.46, p=0.004; Cx: r=0.32, p=0.04) and a significant negative correlation between FMD and TIMI frame count (cLAD: r=-0.68, p=0.0003; Cx: r=-0.54, p=0.0004; RCA: r=-0.46, p=0.004), but hs-CRP level was not correlated with TIMI frame count. In multivariate analysis, only ADMA (p=0.009) and FMD (p=0.02) were significant parameters to predict SCF. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that endothelial dysfunction as determined by increased ADMA level and impaired FMD, rather than inflammation, plays a role in the etiopathogenesis of SCF.

Unilayer Closure of Saphenous Vein Incision Lines is Better than Bilayer Closure.

OBJECTIVE: To examine early results in patients with incision lines closed only along the skin and subcutaneous tissue after removal of the great saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 82 patients who underwent elective operations in our clinic between December 2008 and April 2009. The patients had similar demographic characteristics, and the method of incision closure was chosen randomly. Three patients were excluded due to in-hospital mortality. The saphenous incision lines were closed using continuous skin sutures in 41 patients (Group 1) or using continuous subcutaneous sutures followed by continuous skin sutures in 38 patients (Group 2). Patients were followed every day that they were in the hospital, in the first week after being discharged, and at the end of the second month after discharge. The incision lines were evaluated for hematomas, infection, edema, pain and numbness. RESULTS: During the follow-up performed in-hospital and in the first week after discharge, infection, edema and numbness were observed significantly more often in Group 2 than in Group 1. Hematoma was observed more often in Group 1, and pain was observed more often in Group 2, but neither of these findings reached statistical significance. During the follow-up at the end of the second month after discharge, infection, edema, and numbness were observed significantly more frequently in Group 2. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing saphenous removal using standard procedures, it is sufficient to close the incision line using only skin sutures.

Aortic dissection due to sildenafil abuse.

This report deals with a 28-year-old male patient, admitted with a type A aortic dissection, potentially related to the use of sildenafil. In the literature, we found only two other potentially sildenafil-related cases of aortic dissections, one type A and one type B. In our patient, a bicuspid aortic valve and an ascending aortic aneurysm were other underlying anomalies that could have led to the aortic dissection.