Inflammation in aortic surgery: postoperative evolution of biomarkers according pathologies and segments of the aorta.

Objectives: Aortic pathologies often present with elevated inflammatory biomarkers due to the nature of the disease. Open aortic surgery causes significant trauma to the body due to often mandatory ischemic periods, long cardiopulmonary bypass times and polytransfusion. We aim to determine postoperative trends on inflammation biomarkers for different aortic pathologies and type of surgery in different segments of the aorta.

Open Repair of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome With High Intracranial Pressures Using a 'Y' Graft.

We present the case of a young patient with benign superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome resulting from a complex autoimmune disease. Initial attempts of endovascular repair were unsuccessful. Subsequently, an open bypass of both innominate veins was performed with a cryopreserved femoral arterial 'Y' graft.

Alternative and Safe Technique to Tie Down a Biologic Aortic Valve in Small Aortic Roots.

Biologic aortic valves are constructed with 3 stents corresponding to the commissures, which sit in the aortic root. When implanted using interrupted sutures, these stents may make the valve difficult to tie down safely in patients with small, calcified aortic roots. We present an easily reproducible technique to make this valve tie down safer.