Contralateral Snare Cannulation vs. Retrograde Gate Cannulation during Endovascular Aortic Repair in Difficult Iliac Artery Anatomy: A Single Center Experience.

Objective: Endovascular aneurysm repair is well established as the gold standard in treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Generally, endovascular repair is performed using a bi or trimodular stent graft, requiring placement of a contralateral iliac limb. Deployment of the contralateral iliac limb requires retrograde gate cannulation of the endograft main body contralateral limb.

Sex-Related Differences and Factors Associated with Peri-Procedural and 1 Year Mortality in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Patients from the CLIMATE Italian Registry.

Background: Identifying sex-related differences/variables associated with 30 day/1 year mortality in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Methods: Multicenter/retrospective/observational study. A database was sent to all the Italian vascular surgeries to collect all the patients operated on for CLTI in 2019.

Nonlinear effects of winter sea ice on the survival probabilities of Adélie penguins.

The population dynamics of Antarctic seabirds are influenced by variations in winter sea ice extent and persistence; however, the type of relationship differs according to the region and the demographic parameter considered. We used annual presence/absence data obtained from 1,138 individually marked birds to study the influence of environmental and individual characteristics on the survival of Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae at Edmonson Point (Ross Sea, Antarctica) between 1994 and 2005. About 25% of 600 birds marked as chicks were reobserved at the natal colony.

Hospital outcome analysis after different techniques of left internal mammary grafts harvesting.

Background: Although accepted worldwide as the first-choice conduit for myocardial revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft surgery), it is still questionable if left internal mammary arteries (LIMAs) do better as pedicled or skeletonized grafts. Recent reports have suggested that the skeletonized technique improves the outcomes.

Methods: In all, 516 consecutive isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients admitted between January 2003 and February 2007 were grouped according to the harvesting technique of LIMAs (387 pedicled versus 129 skeletonized).

Radial artery graft function is not affected by age.

Objective: Extensive arterial grafting with the radial artery in elderly patients is still debated, because of the reduced life expectancy and the supposedly higher periprocedural morbidity caused by an accelerated atherosclerosis of arterial grafts in elderly patients, which might hamper functional results.

Methods: We reviewed our experience with patients undergoing radial artery myocardial revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting) between January 2003 and December 2006, divided into 2 groups: elderly patients (> or =70 years, group A) and young patients (< or =60 years, group B). Hospital outcome and transit-time flowmetric maximum and mean flow, pulsatility index, and graft flow reserve were compared.

Hypertension induces compensatory arterial remodeling following arteriotomy.

Background: Hypertension has been traditionally considered a risk factor for restenosis following carotid arteriotomy. Genetic and morphological response to carotid arteriotomy in normotensive Wystar-Kyoto (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), and Milan hypertensive (MHS) rats were analyzed.

Material And Methods: C-myc, angiotensin II receptor-1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor-2 (AT2), endothelin-1 receptor A (ET(A)), endothelin-1 receptor B (ET(B)), Bcl-2 family-members (Bcl-2/Bax, Bcl-X(L/S)) were analyzed in surgically injured as well as uninjured carotids of WKY and hypertensive strains (HS).

Single versus sequential saphenous vein grafting of the circumflex system: a flowmetric study.

Objective: We sought to evaluate if patients with proximal critical circumflex (CX) lesions did better with single SV-CABG on the best obtuse marginal (OM), or with sequential SV-CABG on two OM branches.

Design: Ninety patients were prospectively randomised to single SV-CABG on the best OM (sSV-CABG-45 patients; Group A) or to sequential SV-CABG on 2 OM (seqSV-CABG 45 patients; Group B). Transit-time flowmetry (TTF), and graft flow reserve were evaluated.

A randomized trial of pulsatile perfusion using an intra-aortic balloon pump versus nonpulsatile perfusion on short-term changes in kidney function during cardiopulmonary bypass during myocardial reperfusion.

Background: Nonpulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass can induce renal damage. We evaluated whether pulsatile perfusion using an intra-aortic balloon pump preserves renal function in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial, nonmasked parallel-group design.

Surgical treatment of coronary-to-pulmonary fistula: how and when?

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVF) are rare malformations. Opinions vary on which operation should be offered to these patients, particularly those asymptomatic. We report four patients operated on for CAVF referred to our institution over the course of a year.

Intraaortic balloon pumping during cardioplegic arrest preserves lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Linear flow during cardiopulmonary bypass is considered a potential mechanism of lung damage in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated differences in lung function of patients with COPD undergoing preoperative intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP), between linear flow during cardiopulmonary bypass (IABP-off) and maintenance of pulsatile flow (IABP-on at automatic 80 bpm) during cardioplegic arrest.

Methods: Fifty patients with COPD undergoing preoperative IABP were randomized between January 2004 and July 2005 to receive nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass with IABP discontinued during cardioplegic arrest (25 patients; group A), or IABP-induced pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (25 patients; group B).

Transbrachial insertion of a 7.5-Fr intra-aortic balloon pump in a severely atherosclerotic patient.

Objective: Preoperative intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) improves the results of complex coronary surgery. However, its insertion may be harmful or contraindicated in cases of severe and diffuse atherosclerosis of the descending aorta and peripheral arteries. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transbrachial insertion of the new 7.

Determinants and prognosis of myocardial damage after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Myocardial infarction remains a devastating complication after coronary revascularization. Although electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography suggest transmural infarction, myocardial damage and the quality of myocardial protection are not recognized unless troponin I (TnI) is assessed. Determinants and prognosis of TnI elevation after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were evaluated.