Effects of N-Acetylcysteine and N-Acetylcysteine Amide on Erythrocyte Deformability and Oxidative Stress in a Rat Model of Lower Extremity Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant which works as a free radical scavenger and antiapoptotic agent. N-acetylcysteine-amide (NACA) is a modified form of NAC containing an amide group instead of a carboxyl group of NAC. Our study aims to investigate the effectiveness of these two substances on erythrocyte deformability and oxidative stress in muscle tissue.

Late onset brachial artery thrombosis and total temporary peripheral neuropathy in a child with humerus supracondylar fracture: a case report.

Pediatric supracondylar fractures of the humerus are generally associated with neurovascular complications due to the deformity and sharp nature of bone fragments. When treated inadequately, these injuries may result in catastrophic complications, such as Volkmann's contracture and amputation. To our knowledge, late onset brachial arterial thrombosis and total temporary peripheral neuropathy after surgery of pediatric supracondylar fracture in the setting of normal preoperative vascular examination has not been reported yet.

Is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a risk factor for epistaxis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery?

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has customarily been associated with increased surgical morbidity and mortality rates after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between epistaxis and COPD after CABG surgery.

Methods: There were 3 443 patients who consecutively underwent isolated CABG from January 2002 to March 2012.

Is cytoimmunological monitoring a safe follow-up method for heart transplantation patients?

The Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study is to show the effects of cytoimmunological monitoring and its role in the patient's follow-up period after heart transplantation.

Material And Methods: Between 2002 and 2009, 8 patients underwent heart transplantation at Gulhane Military Medical Academy Hospital. Seven patients were male.

Surgical repair of aneurysm of arteriovenous fistula in patients with chronic renal failure.

The Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study was to show the efficacy and results of aneurysm reconstruction that was developed for relieving the patients from pain and mass effects and to give an early hemodialysis option.

Material And Methods: Medical records were retrospectively screened over a period of 17 years to identify patients diagnosed with and surgically treated for aneurysm of an AV fistula. Twenty-eight patients were included in this study.

Minimally invasive pediatric surgery in uncomplicated congenital heart disease.

Background: We aimed to highlight the use of a minimally invasive approach in uncomplicated congenital heart surgery.

Patients And Methods: We investigated retrospectively 32 children below 10 years of age who underwent elective closure of ostium secundum type (n = 27), sinus venosus type (n = 4) and ostium primum type (n = 1) atrial septal defects through a limited skin incision and partial lower sternotomy between August 2001 and December 2008. All patients had cannulation through the same incision for cardiopulmonary bypass.

Comparison of results of autologous versus homologous blood transfusion in open-heart surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine a method to decrease the use of homologous blood during openheart surgery using a simple blood-conservation protocol. We removed autologous blood from the patient before bypass and used isovolumetric substitution. We present the results of this protocol on morbidity and mortality of surgery patients from two distinct time periods.

Acute arterial thrombosis following chemotherapy in a patient with a gastric carcinoma.

The pathogenesis of in situ thrombosis in cancer patients is not well known. Possible factors include endothelial damage, decreasing levels of anticoagulant factors and increasing levels of pro-coagulants. In the literature, the incidence of arterial thrombosis in cancer patients is reported to be 3.

Repair of a right coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery.

We present here the fourth patient in the literature, over the age of 50 years old, with an abnormal right coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery, who was successfully treated with surgery. Pre-operative computerised tomography (CT) angiography revealed an abnormal right coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery. The right coronary artery was surgically transposed from the pulmonary artery to the ascending aorta with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Iliocaval arteriovenous fistula following lumbar disc surgery: endovascular treatment with a Stent-graft.

Arteriovenous (AV) fistulae, pseudoaneurysms, and lacerations may occur during disc surgery. AV fistula after lumbar disc surgery is rare. Early diagnosis and treatment of vascular complications associated with disc surgery is essential due to their high mortality and morbidity rates.

Beta blockers for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery: carvedilol versus metoprolol.

Although all beta blockers appear to be effective in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), carvedilol was found to be much more effective than metoprolol in this respect as the current study clearly delineated. We believe that the ongoing COMPACT trial will answer the question of whether or not carvedilol is more superior than metoprolol to prevent postoperative AF in patients undergoing CABG.

Surgical challenges for urgent approach in penetrating heart injuries.

Unlabelled: The aim of this clinical study is to assess the characteristics of penetrating heart injury and its surgical challenges for urgent surgical approach.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients suffering from penetrating heart wounds were evaluated retrospectively in the department of cardiovascular surgery between 1996 and 2004. All patients were male, with ages ranging from 19 to 36 years, with a mean age of 23.

Reinsertion predictors of intraaortic balloon pumps.

The reinsertion rate of intraaortic balloon pumps (IABP) has not been clearly reported. We evaluated the use of left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), and cardiac index (CI) values to asses cardiac performance as weaning criteria for IABP in a prospective study performed in 100 patients who required IABP. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 50 patients.

A case of pneumopericardium following endomyocardial biopsy.

Pneumopericardium is a very rare condition, less common than isolated pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. Since it can occasionally cause pericardial tamponade, prompt recognition and treatment of this condition is lifesaving. Up to now only one case of isolated pneumopericardium after endomyocardial biopsy has been reported in a two-month boy with a dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown origin.

Repeated paracentesis for treatment renal failure after heart transplantation in patient with ascites.

We report a case of orthotopic heart transplantation in a 42-year-old man who had cardiomyopathy with severe biventricular heart failure, ascites, and large umbilical hernia. He successfully received an orthotopic heart transplantation. After heart transplantation, renal failure was noted.

Tissue levels of adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: There is little information available about any link between the levels of adiponectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in coronary atherosclerotic plaque specimens.

Aim: To analyse tissue levels of adiponectin, ICAM-1, TNF-alpha and H-FABP in the plaques obtained from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to evaluate whether there is any relationship between these variables and other characteristics.

Patients And Methods: Coronary artery specimens from 37 consecutive patients (28 men and nine women) at time of CABG procedure and preprocedural blood samples were obtained.

Preoperative methylene blue administration in patients at high risk for vasoplegic syndrome during cardiac surgery.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and preoperative intravenous heparin use are independent risk factors for vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery. We prospectively studied whether preoperative methylene blue administration would prevent the vasoplegic syndrome in these high-risk patients.

Methods: One hundred patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery who were at high risk for vasoplegia because they were preoperatively using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and heparin were randomly assigned to either receive preoperative methylene blue (group 1, n = 50) or not receive it (group 2, controls, n = 50).

Are discrete coronary artery fistulae different from coronary arteriovenous malformations?

Aim: To delineate whether coronary arteriovenous malformations have different properties than classical discrete coronary artery fistulae.

Methods: Group 1 included 17 patients with discrete coronary fistula that represents a coronary artery fistula draining into any cardiac chamber. Group 2 included six patients with coronary arteriovenous malformations representing extensive coronary artery malformation.

Preservation of anterior leaflet chordae with modified miki technique: how to do it.

During mitral valve replacement, total chordae preservation is very important for left ventricular functions. But leaving anterior leaflet and chordae may cause serious complications, such as left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and impairment in prosthetic valve functions. In this article, we present the anterior leaflet preservation technique by excising the central portion of the anterior leaflet.

True aneurysm formation in axillofemoral bypass with a reinforced ePTFE graft-a case report.

Since improvement in reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts, true aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm formation have become relatively rare complications after axillofemoral reconstruction. This is a case report of a true aneurysm of an axillofemoral graft. The true aneurysm occurred 29 months after insertion of a reinforced ePTFE graft for aortoiliac occlusive disease.