Circumflex-to-bronchial artery fistula with saccular aneurysm.

We report a case of fistulous communication with two saccular aneurysms (9 mm and 7 mm) between the sinoatrial branch of the circumflex artery and the bronchial arteries.

Effects of cilostazol on oxidative stress, systemic cytokine release, and spinal cord injury in a rat model of transient aortic occlusion.

Background: Cilostazol is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that has anti-inflammatory potential in addition to vasodilator and antiplatelet effects. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of cilostazol on biochemical markers of oxidative damage, proinflammatory cytokine release, and spinal cord injury after transient aortic occlusion in rats.

Methods: Animals were randomized into 3 groups.

Obesity and open-heart surgery in a developing country.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess obesity as a risk of adverse outcomes following cardiac surgery.

Methods: The data of 324 consecutive patients who underwent elective procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass in a single cardiac center in South-Western Anatolia were retrospectively analyzed. There were 250 males and 74 females.

Does cardiopulmonary bypass change serum neuron-specific enolase levels?

Objective: The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels in patients without cognitive dysfunction and neurological deficit are not yet clarified. This study was designed to see the sole effect of extracorporeal circulation on serum NSE levels in patients without any clinically observed neurological deficit.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients undergoing first elective open-heart surgery were included in this prospective study.

Is remote preconditioning as effective as direct ischemic preconditioning in preventing spinal cord ischemic injury?

Background: Spinal cord injury remains a devastating complication of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic operations. The aim of this study was to assess the affectivity of direct ischemic preconditioning (PC) and remote PC in preventing spinal cord ischemic injury in an experimental model.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five groups: One group served as Sham group (n = 7).

Effects of cyclosporin a on neurological outcome and serum biomarkers in the same setting of spinal cord ischemia model.

Spinal cord ischemic injury is one of the feared complications during aortic cross-clamping. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cyclosporin A (CsA) has a protective effect on spinal cord during ischemia in a rabbit model. A total of 22 New Zealand white rabbits were studied in three groups.

Acute proximal aortic intramural hematoma: a case report.

The case presented here is of a 72-year-old man with an acute proximal aortic hematoma. He was hospitalized and underwent close monitoring and blood pressure control. Typical aortic dissection developed during his hospital admission.

Left atrial free-floating ball thrombus in a case of hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy.

Left atrial free-floating ball thrombus is a rarely seen pathology in the absence or presence of mitral valve disease. This pathologic condition carries high risks of embolic complications and deterioration of hemodynamics. The case reported here is a 34-year-old woman who had been followed-up by another center with the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was admitted to our emergency department in cardiogenic shock due to left atrial free-floating ball thrombus partially obstructed the left ventricular inflow.

Transpulmonary surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus with hypothermic circulatory arrest in an adult patient.

Untreated patent ductus arteriosus carries a higher risk in adults than in children, especially when the defect is large (>4.0 mm in diameter), short, or friable. Therefore, various technical precautions have been suggested for application during surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus in an adult.

Myocardium utilizes more oxygen and glucose during tepid blood cardioplegic infusion in arrested heart.

The aims of this study were to evaluate myocardial metabolic activity during tepid blood cardioplegic infusion in the arrested heart in comparison with cold blood cardioplegia and to assess the early clinical outcomes of these patients. Thirty patients undergoing first elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were included and randomized to two groups (T for tepid and C for cold), 15 patients in each. Myocardial protection was similar in both groups except for the reinfusion of blood cardioplegia, which was 6 degrees C in group C and 28 degrees C in group T (same temperature as the body perfusion).

Replacement of a Björk-Shiley Delrin aortic valve still functioning after 25 years.

We report the case of a patient who had undergone implantation of a Björk-Shiley Delrin valve in the aortic position 25 years earlier and who now presented with severe mitral stenosis. The patient underwent mitral valve replacement and aortic valve re-replacement. We review the justification for prophylactic replacement of Björk-Shiley Delrin heart valves.