Expanding the EVAR Pool with Non-IFU Patients: How Important is Subjective Physician Assessment?

In order to reduce the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)-related complication rate in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures, manufacturers recommend following the instructions for use (IFU). However, IFU is considered too conservative in many centers. In this context, we present our experience and patient follow-up data with 248 consecutive patients with or without IFU eligibility.

What Is the Efficacy of Bilateral Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion in Cerebral Protection?

Acute type A aortic dissection is among the many types of catastrophic cardiovascular emergencies. The development of serious morbidity, especially neurological complications after the operation, remains a huge threat. We aimed to present comparatively the results of using unilateral or bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion to minimize these threats and to demonstrate the postoperative effects of antegrade cerebral perfusion choices.

Cartoid Near Occlusion: Time to Re-think Endarectomy?

Objectives: Carotid near occlusion (CNO) treatment is still controversial. In the discussion of surgical revascularization of these patients, periprocedural complications and technical failure should be considered in addition to the long-term results. We examined the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment in CNO and non-CNO patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Comparison of Bretschneider HTK cardioplegia solution and blood cardioplegia in terms of postoperative results in patients who underwent isolated supracoronary ascending aortic replacement.

Introduction: Cardiac arrest with cardioplegia is the most common and reliable method of myocardial protection in cardiac surgery, but there is no definite consensus on the use of different types of cardioplegia. Two of the commonly used types of cardioplegia are Bretschneider histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution (Custodiol) and conventional blood cardioplegia. In this study, Custodiol solution and conventional blood cardioplegia used in patients with type A aortic dissection who underwent supracoronary ascending aortic replacement were aimed to be compared in terms of postoperative results.

Impact of Preoperative Embolization on Carotid Body Tumor Surgery.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of preoperative carotid body tumor embolization (CBTE) on the amount of bleeding, and vascular and neurological complications in carotid body tumors.

Methods: Fifty patients treated for 51 carotid body tumors in 2 clinics, between 2005 and 2020, were evaluated. Polyvinyl alcohol embolization of the carotid body tumor was performed in 23 patients before the surgical excision.

The effect of bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and polyethylene glycol polymer on local tissue reaction and inflammation in rabbit carotid artery anastomosis.

Objectives: In addition to the hemostatic properties of hemostatic agents, the investigation of their immunogenic properties, their local effects on application area has been the subject of many experimental studies. There are limited data on the inflammatory effects of Bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and Polyethylene glycol polymer. Therefore, we investigated the effects of these agents on tissue reactions and inflammation in rabbit carotid artery anastomosis in our experimental study.

Histopathologic Evaluation of COVID-19 Patients With Peripheral Arterial Thromboembolism: Does Clot Composition Make Any Sense?

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes thromboembolic complications during or post-infection period despite a lack of conventional risk factors. The study aims to learn fundamental changes in COVID-19 patients who underwent embolectomy in terms of clinical characteristics and clot composition.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study design, we evaluated 21 patients who underwent embolectomy in our clinic between March 12, 2020, and December 31, 2020.

Direct kidney injury or lower extremity ischemia induced indirect kidney injury: Which one is more harmful for kidneys?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the severity of kidney damage following lower limb ischemia-reperfusion and direct kidney ischemia-reperfusion.

Methods: Thirty Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups; lower extremity ischemia-reperfusion group (Group 2), renal ischemia-reperfusion group (Group 3) and control (anesthesia and median laparotomy only) (Group 1). In group 3, 1-h ischemia was performed on the kidney and in group 2, 1-h ischemia was performed on the left lower extremity.

Comparison of Femoral and Axillary Artery Cannulation in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery.

Introduction: One of the most important points of the acute type A aortic dissection surgery is how to perform cannulation regarding cerebral protection concerns and the conditions of arterial structures as a pathophysiological consequence of the disease.

Objective: In this study, femoral and axillary cannulation methods were compared in acute type A aortic dissection operations.

Methods: The study retrospectively evaluated 52 patients who underwent emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Mini-thoracotomy versus median sternotomy for atrial septal defect closure: Should mini-thoracotomy be applied as a standard technique?

Background: This study aims to compare outcomes of minithoracotomy versus median sternotomy for atrial septal defect closure.

Methods: Between January 2012 and May 2017, a total of 44 patients (8 males, 36 females; mean age 33.86 years; range, 14 to 63 years) who underwent atrial septal defect repair through mini-thoracotomy or median sternotomy in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed.

Which Distant Organ is Most Affected by Lower Extremity Ischemia-Reperfusion?

Background: It has been experimentally shown that reperfusion injury occurs in many remote organs after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) of the lower extremity. However, which distant organ is affected more after I/R of the lower extremity has not been investigated. In this study, we investigate which remote organ is predominantly affected after lower extremity I/R.

"Overtime Hours Effect" on Emergency Surgery of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Objective: Treatment of acute diseases of the aorta is still associated with high mortality and morbidity. It is believed that interventions for these diseases on overtime hours (night shifts or weekend shifts) may increase mortality. In this study, we investigated the effect of performing acute type A aortic dissection surgery on overtime hours in terms of postoperative outcomes.

Approach to An Unusual Cardiac Mass: Mitral Annulus Caseoma.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is known to be a rare variant of mitral annulus calcification, a chronic and degenerative process of the mitral valve fibrous ring. It usually carries a benign prognosis. The following case demonstrates a huge mitral annulus caseoma that complicated with severe mitral regurgitation and was treated with a successful surgery.