[Late results of coronary revascularization with saphenous vein and internal thoracic artery grafts].

Objective: To evaluate the patency of saphenous vein and internal thoracic artery grafts by coronary system using angiographies performed in symptomatic patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Material And Methods: From 1999 to 2006, 685 patients (mean age, 59.1+/-11.

[Aortic root surgery: early postoperative results of different surgical techniques].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to evaluate early postoperative results of different surgical techniques of aortic root surgery.

Material And Methods: Between January 2004 and November 2007, a cohort of 83 patients underwent aortic root surgery in the Heart Center, Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine. Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 (18 patients) - reimplantation of the aortic valve within a vascular graft (David operation), Group 2 (48 patients) - replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve using a valved conduit (Bentall de Bono operation), and Group 3 (17 patients) - biological aortic root replacement.

[Surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection].

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term results of surgical treatment in patients with acute aortic dissection.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 38 patients with acute type A aortic dissection who were surgically treated at the Clinic of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine, from January 2004 to December 2007 was conducted. The diagnosis of aortic dissection was confirmed by employing special techniques.

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene polymorphism and dilatative pathology of ascending thoracic aorta.

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) degrades extracellular matrix and may lead to development of dilatative pathology of ascending thoracic aorta. Expression of MMP-3 depends upon the 5A/6A polymorphism in the promoter region. An increased number of 5A alleles leads to high expression of MMP-3.

[Myocardial revascularization and mitral insufficiency correction in case of acute myocardial infarction].

Unlabelled: The aim of our study was to evaluate patients survival, changes of functional status after repair of ischemic mitral insufficiency and coronary artery bypass grafting in acute period of myocardial infarction. In the Clinic of Cardiosurgery of Kaunas University of Medicine (since January 2001 till July 2003) 82 patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent surgery. Patients were operated on the 1(st)-21(st) day after myocardial infarction.

[Myocardial revascularization of acute coronary syndromes in Clinic of Cardiac Surgery at Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital (experience of 5 years)].

Unlabelled: A retrospective study of patients undergoing emergent and urgent coronary artery bypass grafting for acute coronary insufficiency was performed to identify the risk factors for hospital death specifically associated with the clinical severity of the acute coronary insufficiency syndrome.

Material And Methods: The 104 patients were divided into three groups - emergent, urgent A, urgent B - on the basis of the evaluation of the clinical pattern of the acute coronary insufficiency syndrome on full medical treatment. The three groups were defined as follows: emergent (26 patients), prompt myocardial revascularization was required because medical treatment achieved only transient regression of myocardial ischemia; urgent A (29 patients), myocardial revascularization could be delayed for 24 to 72 hours after beginning of chest pain because of adequate control of ischemia; urgent B (49 patients), these patients had operation after 72 hours after beginning of chest pain because mild episodes of recurrent ischemia not required urgent revascularization.