Randomized Controlled Trial: Does the Use of Occlusive Hydrocolloid Silver-Containing Wound Dressing after Sternotomy Reduce Surgical Site Infection after Cardiac Surgery?

(1) Background: To reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) following median sternotomy in cardiac surgery, we compared an occlusive hydrocolloid silver-containing wound dressing (OHSCWD) with a standard wound dressing. (2) Methods: This study was designed as a single-center randomized controlled trial. The primary endpoint was the overall rate of incidence of any kind of SSI.

Surgery for Infective Endocarditis after Primary Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement-A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis.

Unlabelled: Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly being used for the treatment of aortic-valve stenosis. Therefore, the total number of patients with an aortic-valve prosthesis is increasing, causing the incidence of prosthetic-valve endocarditis to increase.

Methods: Between March 2016 and July 2019, ten patients underwent surgery due to prosthetic-valve endocarditis after TAVR.

Training Cardiac Surgeons: Safety and Requirements.

To analyze whether cardiac surgical residents can perform their first surgeries without compromising patients' safety or outcomes, by comparing their performance and results to those of senior surgeons. All documented CABGs conducted between 2002 and 2020 were included. Surgeries were divided according to the experience level of the main surgeon (defined by the number of CABG conducted by him/her) using the following thresholds: 1000; 150; 80 and 35.

Negative effect of high-level infrasound on human myocardial contractility: In-vitro controlled experiment.

Background: Human exposure to infrasound is increasing due to man-made factors, such as occupational conditions, wind farms and transportation. The concern among the public regarding the safety of infrasound exposure is growing.

Aims: To evaluate whether exposure to infrasound interferes directly with human cardiac function and contributes to pathological processes.

Ovine Biosynthetic Grafts for Aortoiliac Reconstructions in Nonsterile Operative Fields.

Background: Prosthetic vascular grafts placed surgically or via endovascular techniques can be subject to the risk of life-threatening graft infections. The Omniflow II vascular prosthesis is a biosynthetic graft that was reported to have favorable properties in resisting infections.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our 3 years' experience of using the Omniflow II prostheses for aortoiliac reconstructions in patients considered to carry a substantial risk of subsequent prosthetic graft infections (prevention group) as well as in patients with actively infected prosthetic vascular grafts (treatment group).

Direct true lumen cannulation in type A acute aortic dissection: A review of an 11 years' experience.

Objectives: Direct true lumen cannulation (DTLC) of the aorta is an alternative cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation technique in the context of type A acute aortic dissection (A-AAD). DTLC has been reported to be effective in restoring adequate perfusion to jeopardized organs. This study reports and compares operative outcomes with DTLC or alternative cannulation techniques in a large cohort of patients with A-AAD.

Body Mass Index (BMI) and Its Influence on the Cardiovascular and Operative Risk Profile in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients: Impact of Inflammation and Leptin.

Background: Obesity is related to coronary artery disease (CAD) and worse outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. Adipose tissue itself is an endocrine organ that secretes many humoral mediators, such as adipokines, which can induce or reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

Objectives: We investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI), inflammation, and oxidative stress by measuring serum levels of leptin, interleukin-6, and 3-nitrotyrosine in CABG patients and correlate their levels to the cardiovascular and operative risk profiles.

Non-Pharmacologic Multicomponent Interventions Preventing Delirium in Hospitalized People.

Background/objectives: Delirium is a common neurobehavioral complication in hospitalized patients with a high prevalence in various clinical settings. Prevention of delirium is critical due to its common occurrence and associated poor outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of multicomponent interventions in preventing incident delirium in hospitalized patients at risk.

T-shaped Transseptal Approach for Mitral Valve Surgery.

We present a T-shaped transseptal approach for mitral valve surgery that makes adequate exposure possible under challenging anatomic and surgical circumstances, hence eliminating the need for forceful retraction on potentially fragile tissues. Particularly suited for patients with complex mitral pathology, it also facilitates juxta-annular transseptal right atrial anchoring, especially in cases of endocarditic anterior mitral annular destruction.

Effect of Rewarming on Leukocyte-Endothelial Interaction After Deep Hypothermic Preservation.

BACKGROUND The preservation of harvested organs plays an essential role in transplantation. Cold hypothermia is frequently applied but may lead to graft compromise resulting from reperfusion and rewarming injury. This study investigates the effect of deep hypothermia and posterior rewarming on leukocyte-endothelial interactions and junctional adhesion molecules.

Contemporary results with the biosynthetic glutaraldehyde denatured ovine collagen graft (Omniflow II) in femoropopliteal position.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of a contemporary series of femoropopliteal bypass operations with the glutaraldehyde denatured polyester mesh-reinforced ovine collagen prosthesis (OCP; Omniflow II [LeMaitre Vascular, Inc, Burlington, Mass]). The experience of two tertiary centers regarding long-term graft function, secondary reinterventions, and biodegeneration of the OCP prosthesis is presented.

Methods: Between January 2006 and January 2014, a series of 205 consecutive operations with the OCP in the femoropopliteal position (54 above knee and 151 below knee) were performed in 194 patients in 202 limbs for disabling claudication (72), chronic critical ischemia (105), acute ischemia (18), popliteal artery aneurysm (4), degeneration of a venous or prosthetic graft (5), and infection of a synthetic bypass graft (1).

The Effect of Ivabradine on the Human Atrial Myocardial Contractility in an Study.

Purpose: Ivabradine has emerged as a new antiarrhythmic agent that could compete with the traditional ones, such as -blockers. This experimental study aims to ascertain whether ivabradine directly interferes with the myocardial contractility in an environment.

Methods: Myocardial tissues from the right atrial appendages of patients undergoing cardiac surgery were dissected to obtain 40 specimens from 20 patients (length: 3 mm), which were exposed to electrical impulses at a frequency of 75 bpm for 30 min to reach a steady state.

[The Future of Vascular Medicine - Role of 3D Printing].

Digitalisation is one of the key challenges in current surgery and will impact the future of surgical care as well as upcoming generations of surgeons. 3D printing is a technology that has recently been transferred from industrial prototyping into cardiovascular medicine. The digital model of the anatomical structure which needs to be engineered represents the inherent link of 3D printing to digital medicine.

Acute heart failure due to giant left atrium: remote ECLS implantation for interhospital transfer and bridging to decision.

Background: Remote extracorporeal life support (ECLS) implantation and mobile ECLS are increasingly applied to enable the treatment of patients with refractory heart failure at specialized care centers. Giant left atrium (GLA) is a rare cause but may lead to acute and devastating heart failure.

Case Report: Acute heart failure that gave rise to a prolonged period of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a patient who underwent remote ECLS implantation was found to have resulted from a GLA of impressive dimensions.

Short- and long-term outcomes for the surgical treatment of acute pulmonary embolism.

Objectives: Acute pulmonary embolism can be a life-threatening condition with a high mortality. The treatment choice is a matter of debate. The early and late outcomes of patients treated with surgical pulmonary embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism in a single center were analyzed.

Giant right atrial myxoma: A rare cause of cardiovascular collapse.

We report the case of a patient with a giant right atrial myxoma that remained clinically silent until it almost completely obliterated the right atrium, prolapsed into the right ventricle and obstructed the tricuspid valve inflow. This case illustrates the importance of rapid surgical intervention in the setting of acute heart failure caused by tumor masses obliterating heart valves or cardiac chambers.

effect of leptin on human cardiac contractility.

Leptin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, has been linked to many regulatory pathways. Its role in the complex relationship between obesity and CVD is not yet clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether leptin interferes directly with cardiac function regulation, altering its contractile force character, and hence contributing to different pathological processes.

Lactococcus garvieae Endocarditis in a Prosthetic Aortic Valve: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Lactococcus garvieae (LG) is a gram-positive coccus known to be a major pathogen in aqua farming, which is responsible for severe outbreaks. Its incidence in humans is extremely rare. Prior to 1985, all bacteria in the genus Lactococcus were included in the Streptococcus genus.

Levosimendan as rescue therapy in low output syndrome after cardiac surgery: effects and predictors of outcome.

Objectives: Calcium sensitizers have been shown to improve outcomes in patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after cardiac surgery. We assessed the effects of levosimendan on LCOS in cardiac surgical patients to identify outcome predictors.

Methods: A total of 106 patients in whom LCOS persisted despite conventional therapy additionally received 0.

Survival and reinterventions after isolated proximal aortic repair in acute type A aortic dissection.

Objectives: Conventional treatment for acute type A dissection is the replacement of the ascending aorta. This study demonstrates the results of a conventional approach with isolated proximal repair combined with concomitant endovascular procedures.

Methods: Replacement of the ascending aorta with or without an open distal anastomosis was defined as isolated proximal repair and was performed in 562/588 patients between January 2004 and June 2017.

Juxta-annular right atrial anchoring of prosthetic mitral valves in endocarditis with anterior annulus destruction†.

Destruction of the mitral annulus is associated with poor outcomes. We present the treatment of endocarditis using a technique that enables secure anchoring of prosthetic valves where the anterior part of the mitral annulus is severely disrupted. It was used in 5 patients.

Oxidative Stress in Cardiac Tissue of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: The Effects of Overweight and Obesity.

Background: Obesity is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with oxidative stress and myocardial dysfunction. We hypothesized that obesity affects cardiac function and morbidity by causing alterations in enzymatic redox patterns.

Methods: Sixty-one patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were included in the study.