Extended left pneumonectomy and left atrial reconstruction with autogenous graft in patient with T lung cancer.

In selective patients with T4 non-small cell lung cancer with the primary tumor invading the mediastinal organs, extended lung resection may contribute to long-term survival. Adequate patients should be given a chance for surgery if complete resection and required reconstruction can be achieved. In this article, we report a 63-year-old male patient with T4 non-small cell lung cancer invading the left atrium.

Comparison of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass and off-pump coronary artery bypass in single-vessel disease.

Background: Off-pump coronary surgery is an established method of less invasive cardiac surgery. We compared our early results in patents with I-vessel disease who underwent surgery with full sternotomy with off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) or a left anterior minithoracotomy with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: From July 2003 to June 2006, 54 patients with single-vessel disease of the left anterior descending artery who underwent surgery performed by the same surgical team were included in this prospective study.

Hydatid cyst in the wall of the ascending aorta.

Hydatid disease rarely involves the aortic wall. We report a case of hydatidosis involving the ascending aorta and the left atrium. The patient underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with a prosthetic Dacron graft and left atrial cystectomy.

Sternal wound complications in bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting: a comparison of the off-pump technique and conventional cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Sternal wound complication is a major concern in bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting. The purpose of this study was to assess whether avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass has beneficial effects with fewer wound complications in patients receiving bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting.

Methods: Retrospective review was performed using prospectively gathered data of 69 patients who had undergone elective coronary artery bypass grafting and received conventional pedicled bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting from December 2002 through April 2004 by the same surgical team.

Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori in atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery by polymerase chain reaction.

Objectives: A possible role of some microorganisms has been proposed in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but it is still an unresolved issue. We investigated the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori DNA in carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques by using PCR.

Methods: One hundred and four patients with atherosclerotic diseases were included.

Treatment of Brucella endocarditis: our surgical experience with 6 patients.

Background: Endocarditis is a rare but life-threatening complication of brucellosis. Its mortality rate has recently been reduced with the use of combined medical and surgical treatment.

Methods: Between March 2002 and April 2004, 6 patients with Brucella endocarditis underwent surgery at the Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Effect of timing of chest tube removal on development of pericardial effusion following cardiac surgery.

Background: There are no standard criteria for the timing of drain removal. The objective of this study was to determine whether the macroscopic appearance of chest tube drainage fluid to serosanguineous may be used as a criteria for drain removal.

Methods: 2,359 patients were assessed retrospectively and 80 randomized patients were followed prospectively who underwent cardiac surgery.

Endotoxemia in coronary artery bypass surgery: a comparison of the off-pump technique and conventional cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objectives: The endotoxemia associated with cardiac surgery is thought to be dominantly influenced by the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The objectives of this study were to assess the relative contribution of cardiopulmonary bypass on endotoxemia apart from cardiac surgical access and to improve our understanding of the potential benefits of off-pump procedures.

Methods: Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were followed up prospectively.

Daily comparison of respiratory functions between on-pump and off-pump patients undergoing CABG.

Objective: Widespread application of on-pump revascularization procedures is increasing due to the thought of elimination of untoward effects of cardiopulmonary circuit. Thus, whether off-pump coronary artery surgery eliminates side effects especially related to respiratory functions is still controversial. Although many previous studies have evaluated these respiratory functions, daily comparison of 12 parameters was not included in any of the studies.

Long-term prognostic value of stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 imaging in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the long-term prognostic significance of stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 imaging in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Preoperative stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 imaging detects viable but asynergic segments which show functional improvement postoperatively and is considered as a valuable noninvasive method in selection of patients with severe LV dysfunction for revascularization. The long-term prognostic value of the reinjection technique remains unclear.