Does COVID-19 infection increase the risk of pulmonary embolism in ambulatory patients with deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to systemic coagulation activation and thrombotic complications including venous thromboembolism. This study compares the development of pulmonary embolism, post-thrombotic syndrome, and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: One hundred and eight patients diagnosed with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) between June 2020 and February 2021 in our institution were included in this retrospective study. Thirty-nine patients had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 and specified as the COVID-19 group. Sixty-nine patients did not have COVID-19 and specified as the non-COVID-19 group. Mean ages of both groups were 64.3 ± 15.8 and 60.1 ± 19.7 years, respectively (p = .37). RESULTS: The median duration from the onset of the COVID-19 to diagnosis of DVT was 22 (2-120) days in the COVID-19 group. The patients of two groups were mostly treated outpatient at rates of 94.9% vs 94.2%, respectively (p = .88). Pulmonary embolism was seen in six patients (15.4%) in the COVID-19 group and in three patients (4.3%) in the non-COVID-19 group (p = .04). Kaplan-Meir curves showed that patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher pulmonary embolism than those without COVID-19 (p = .015). The recurrence rate of DVT was 2.6% in the COVID-19 group (n = 1), and 4.3% in the non-COVID-19 group (n = 3), indicating no statistically significant difference (p = .63). Mortality was seen in six patients (15.4%) in the COVID-19 group, and in seven patients (10.1%) in the non-COVID-19 group. According to the Kaplan-Meir method, 10 months survival rates were 73.9 ± 10% in the COVID-19 group, and 66.3 ± 12.8% in the non-COVID-19 group with no statistical significance (p = .218). CONCLUSIONS: Our data draw attention to the fact that deep vein thrombosis should not be considered a safe and self-limited condition. Efficient preventive measures such as mobilization and prophylactic drug use should be considered to prevent DVT during the management of COVID-19.

The Relationship between the Use of Cold and Isothermic Blood Cardioplegia Solution for Myocardial Protection during Cardiopulmonary Bypass and the Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to assess myocardial protection and ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing open heart surgery with isothermic blood cardioplegia (IBC) or hypothermic blood cardioplegia (HBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or isolated mitral valve surgery between March 2017 and October 2017 were evaluated as randomized prospective study. Study groups (HBC: Group 1, IBC: Group 2) were compared in terms of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, and complement factor 3a (C3a) levels, metabolic parameters, creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB) and high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTn-I), and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Comparison of the markers of ischemia-reperfusion injury showed significantly higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the early postoperative period as well as IL-8, in Group 2 (p <0.001), whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly higher during the X1 time period (p = 0.11) in Group 2, and subsequently it was higher in Group 1. Using myocardial temperature probes, the target myocardial temperatures were measured in the patients undergoing open heart surgery with different routes of cardioplegia, and significant differences were noted (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: HBC for open heart surgery is associated with less myocardial injury and intraoperative and postoperative morbidity, indicating superior myocardial protection versus IBC.

The Effects of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy on the Neurocognitive Functions in the Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease: A Randomized Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to research the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on the neurocognitive functions in the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with asymptomatic carotid artery disease. METHODS: The study design was carried out with the participation of 79 patients in a prospective, randomized and double blind control method. The patients were separated into two groups as NIRS (n = 43) and no NIRS (n = 36). A neurocognitive test was applied preoperatively and postoperatively to all patients before discharge. Cognitive functions were evaluated by applying the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA). RESULTS: The decrease in the postoperative score of mean MoCA in no NIRS group was statistically significant when compared to preoperatively (p <0.001). Postoperative mean MoCA score was found to be significantly higher in NIRS group (NIRS: 26.8 ± 1.9 vs. no NIRS: 23.6 ± 2.5, p <0.001). It has been determined that there was a moderately positive significant correlation between the increase in the NIRS used patients (%) and increase in the MoCA score of the patients (r = 0.59, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative NIRS usage in the patients undergoing CABG with carotid artery disease might be useful due to its postoperative positive effects on the cognitive functions.

Outcomes of Mild to Moderate Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Operations: A Meta-Analysis of 2,488 Patients.

This meta-analysis examined the prognosis of patients who were found to have mild to moderate functional tricuspid regurgitation during mitral valve operations. Overall, this meta-analysis included 2,488 patients in 10 studies. Compared with the group without tricuspid valve annuloplasty, the probability of not progressing to moderate to severe functional tricuspid regurgitation was significantly higher in the tricuspid valve annuloplasty group. A more aggressive surgical approach involving concomitant tricuspid repair with mitral valve operations may be considered to avoid the development of moderate to severe functional tricuspid regurgitation in the follow-up.