Electron Microscopic Comparison of Radial Artery Grafts in Non-Diabetic and Diabetic Coronary Bypass Patients.

Objective: We compared electron microscopic histologic changes of the radial artery grafts in non-diabetic and diabetic patients.

Methods: Thirty-six patients were divided into three groups according to their diabetic status (Group I had no diabetes mellitus [DM], Group II had type two DM and HbA1c levels were <7.5%, and Group III had type 2 DM but HbA1c levels were >7.

Inflammation and congenital heart disease associated pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Increased blood flow may trigger pulmonary arterial wall inflammation, which may influence progression of pulmonary artery hypertension in patients with congenital heart disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative inflammation markers and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods: A total of 201 patients with pulmonary hypertension were enrolled in this study retrospectively; they had undergone open heart surgery between January 2012 and December 2013.

A giant dissecting aneurysm of ascending aorta following aortic valve replacement.

Ascending aortic dissection and aneurysm are rare but life-threatening complications after aortic valve replacement. Preoperative evaluation of risk factors such as aortic diameter, structural features of aortic wall, and associated diseases may decrease complication rate. We herein present analysis of risk factors of proximal aortic events following aortic valve replacement based on patient with giant dissecting aneurysm who underwent modified Bentall procedure.

Direct innominate artery cannulation in surgery for annuloaortic ectasia.

Introduction: The selection of the ideal cannulation site is still one of the major concerns in ascending aortic surgery. In the last decade, many surgeons have chosen to utilize antegrade cerebral perfusion in hypothermic circulatory arrest. In this study, we aimed to evaluate arterial cannulation techniques in patients who underwent root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia.

Prolidase activity in patients with coronary artery aneurysm.

Decreased collagen biosynthesis and increased collagenolysis may induce aneurysmal progress in arterial walls. Prolidase plays a role in collagen synthesis. In this study, we sought to evaluate whether there is a correlation between nonatherosclerotic coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) and prolidase activity.

A new proximal anastomosis technique in two patients with severely calcified aorta.

A severely calcified aorta carries a high risk of atheroemboli and bleeding for cardiac surgery with an incidence range of 14% to 29%. Various techniques were described avoiding cannulation and clamping of the aorta. Nowadays, the no-touch beating heart technique seems to be the best alternative in patients with calcific aorta.

Patency and venous pressure of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis.

The early patency of arteriovenous fistulas created for hemodialysis is affected by various factors, including venous stenosis. We conducted a study to investigate the effect of venous stenosis on early patency by examining perioperative arterial and venous pressures of the fistula. Among the 15 patients selected for the study, 11 had snuff-box fistulas, 3 Brescia-Cimino, and 1 brachial.