Incidence of anti-heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in medical patients.

Objective: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life threatening complication of heparin therapy, causing thrombosis. The aim of our study was to find out the frequencies of HIT antibody seroconversion and clinical HIT in Turkish medical patients on different forms of heparins.

Methods: Our study included 61 patients who were on unfractionated heparin (UFH) (n: 37) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (n: 24) therapies.

Incidence of antiheparin-platelet factor 4 antibodies and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in Turkish patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The frequency of antiheparin-platelet factor 4 antibodies by means of antigenic and functional assays ((14) C-serotonin release assay and citrated plasma platelet aggregation) was determined in 115 Turkish patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Blood samples were taken immediately before surgery and on days 5 and 10 +/- 2. Platelet counts were recorded and thrombotic events were determined by clinical methods.

Analysis of C-reactive protein and biochemical parameters in pericardial fluid.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between pericardial fluid and plasma CRP levels, and to alterations in other biochemical parameters in patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The study group consisted of 96 Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients who were referred to our clinic for a CABG procedure and from whom sufficient amount of pericardial fluid could be collected. The patients were classified into 3 groups: Stable Angina Pectoris (SAP) (n=27), Unstable Angina Pectoris (USAP) (n=36), and Post-Myocardial Infarction (PMI) (n=33).

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome associated with polydactyly.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) manifests cutaneous vascular nevus, superficial venous varicosities, and hypertrophy of the affected limb. KTS may be associated with other developmental anomalies such as polydactyly, syndactyly, and macrocephaly. We present a case with KTS associated with polydactyly.

The importance of intrapericardial drain selection in cardiac surgery.

Introduction: To explore the impact of intrapericardial and infracardiac drains on pericardial effusions in cardiac surgery.

Materials And Methods: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized into two groups. At the end of the intervention, an intrapericardial and infracardiac Blake drain was placed in patients in group 1 (n = 97), and an intrapericardial and infracardiac semirigid drain was placed in patients in group 2 (n = 105).

Surgical management of combined stab injury of the spinal cord and the aorta--case report.

A 32-year-old man presented with a combined penetrating stab injury of the spinal cord and the aorta caused by a knife wound in his back at the low thoracic level. The knife had broken, and part of the blade had been retained in the wound, passing through the spinal canal and into the aortic lumen. The patient was treated in two steps: the aorta was repaired by a thoracotomy, then spinal exploration was carried out through a laminectomy.

Assessment of digital ischaemia and evaluation of response to therapy by 99mTc sestamibi limb scintigraphy after local cooling of the hands in patients with vasospastic Raynaud's syndrome.

Aim: Cold induced arteriolar constriction in patients with vasospastic Raynaud's syndrome (VRS) produces temporary digital ischaemia. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether 99mTc sestamibi scintigraphy is useful in the diagnosis and the monitoring of treatment in VRS.

Methods: Fifteen patients with VRS and 20 matched normal controls underwent examination.

Importance of pulmonary artery perfusion in cardiac surgery.

Objective: To investigate the importance of pulmonary artery perfusion in cardiac surgery.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: University hospital.

Electrophysiological evaluation of phrenic nerve injury during cardiac surgery--a prospective, controlled, clinical study.

Background: According to some reports, left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis due to phrenic nerve injury may occur following cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to document the effects on phrenic nerve injury of whole body hypothermia, use of ice-slush around the heart and mammary artery harvesting.

Methods: Electrophysiology of phrenic nerves was studied bilaterally in 78 subjects before and three weeks after cardiac or peripheral vascular surgery.

Importance of internal mammary artery perfusion in cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.

Purpose: Our purpose was to investigate the changes in antioxidant defense systems due to internal mammary artery (IMA) perfusion during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations in which proximal anastomoses were completed under partial bypass with the aid of a side-biting clamp.

Material And Method: Twenty-five patients to be studied were divided into two groups according to the criterion of whether during proximal anastomoses left internal mammary artery (LIMA) perfusion was applied (n = 15, LIMA group) or not (n = 10, non-LIMA group). The erythrocyte catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum lipid peroxidation (LPO) products and whole blood reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the blood samples taken from the coronary sinus before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (t1), before declamping (t2), at the 5th min after declamping (t3), at the 5th (t4) and 15th (t5) min after removing the side-biting clamp.

The effect of nadroparine on coagulation mechanisms: ultrastructural analysis.

Low molecular weight heparins are widely used in the prophylaxis and treatment of thrombotic disorders. The effect of low molecular weight heparins on coagulation was examined ultrastructurally in an animal model. A test and a control group was formed, each consisting of five rabbits.

Autogenous arterial radial-basilic forearm looped transposition.

We describe the use of radial artery as a conduit for arteriovenous hemodialysis access in the forearm. The advantages of this type of fistula are use of autogenous material and its localization because forearm fistula is easily cannulated and is more convenient for the patient. This fistula may be an alternative solution in selected hemodialysis patients for the difficult access in whom superficial arm veins are exhausted and lower extremity access is unsuitable.

Effect of pericardial fluid pro-inflammatory cytokines on hemodynamic parameters.

We investigated the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines of pericardial fluid on hemodynamic parameters in patients undergoing coronary artery surgery. Seventy-eight patients were included in the study and they were allocated to three groups: group 1, stable angina pectoris (SAP, n = 15); group 2, unstable angina pectoris (USAP, n = 34); group 3, post-myocardial infarction (PMI, n = 29). Pericardial fluid and arterial blood samples were obtained from all patients and interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2 receptor, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were measured.

Bilateral popliteal artery aneurysms with rupture and pseudoaneurysm formation on the left.

The rupture of a popliteal artery aneurysm is very rare, and can lead to serious complications if untreated. Any reports of a huge pseudoaneurysm, following rupture of the popliteal artery aneurysm could not be found in a review of the literature. A pulsatile huge mass leading to a deep venous thrombosis, was observed in a 74 years old male patient who for 2 months had had a progressively swollen and painful left leg.

[Proximal anastomotic marker use in coronary artery bypass operations].

Detection and evaluation of aorto-to-saphenous vein anastomosis sites (proximal anastomoses) in patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery are comparatively harder than native coronary orifices during follow-up re-angiography procedures. Placement of a radioopaque proximal anastomotic graft marker during coronary artery bypass procedure poses medical and economical advantages in case of postoperative re-angiography during follow-up of these patients. Indication of whether or not to use a proximal anastomotic marker is in general decide on by the operating surgeon.