The Effect of Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement on Arterial Stiffness: Does the Valve Type Matter?

Despite the increasing use of transcatheter aortic valve procedures, many patients still require surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Assessing arterial properties in patients undergoing SAVR for aortic valve stenosis can be challenging, and the existing evidence is inconclusive. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of SAVR on vascular stiffness and the quality of life, as well as the different effects of valve type on arterial properties.

Does minimal invasive cardiac surgery reduce the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common post-operative complication and tends to be the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. The etiology and risk factors for post-operative AF are poorly understood, but older age, large left atrium, diffuse coronary artery disease, a history of AF paroxysms and in general, pre-existing cardiac conditions that cause restricting and susceptibility towards inflammation have been consistently linked with post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF). It has been traditionally thought that post-operative AF is transient, well-tolerated, benign to the patient and self-limiting complication of cardiac surgery that was temporary and easily treated.

Critical evaluation on proper antithrombotic treatment in different groups of patients undergoing vascular surgery.

Antithrombotic treatment including anticoagulants and antiplatelets has evolved during the last decades, and several recommendations have been included in the latest guidelines regarding the proper management of patients undergoing vascular surgery. However, there are significant differences compared to older recommendations, and indications vary among patients with peripheral artery disease, carotid disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. In this mini review, we critically evaluate all these data to produce useful conclusions for everyday clinical practice.

Stage-II thymoma and emergency coronary artery bypass. To irradiate or not to irradiate to avoid radiation induced vascular injury? Case report and literature review.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the controversial role of adjuvant radiotherapy to a 72-year-old male patient with Masaoka stage II thymoma and coronary artery bypass and to review the relevant literature.

Methods: The data were collected by relevant studies on PubMed and EMBASE. Articles up to March 2017 were included.

Proper Distal Placement of Tibial Nail Improves Rate of Malalignment for Distal Tibia Fractures.

Objectives: We hypothesize that the anatomic center of the distal tibia is just lateral and anterior to the center of the distal tibia articular surface in the coronal and sagittal planes, respectively, and that placement of the nail along this axis results in improved rates of malalignment when treating distal tibia fractures.

Design: Retrospective study.

Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV.

Urine NGAL as a biomarker of kidney damage after on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective pilot study.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a relatively frequent complication after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We compared the off- and on-pump CABG procedures with respect to changes in renal function as reflected by levels of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (UrNGAL).

Methods: In a prospective design, we studied patients who underwent CABG, off- or on-pump, with respect to changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and UrNGAL pre- and postoperatively.

Degenerative disease of the cervical spine and its relationship to athletes.

Each sport presents with unique risk factors and different mechanisms of injury, and therefore extrapolation of the data from one sport to another makes comparison difficult. The current evidence exploring the relationship of athletes and degenerative changes of the cervical spine leaves much to be debated, and future prospective longitudinal studies will be needed to clarify our understanding further. Such research will help structure clinical recommendations and improve sports safety and the care of athletes of all ages.

Microalbuminuria: a strong predictor of 3-year adverse prognosis in nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of microalbuminuria (MA) as a 3-year prognostic index in nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: One hundred seventy-five patients with AMI were followed prospectively for 3 years. The study end point was cardiac death or rehospitalization for an acute coronary event.

A prospective, double-blind study on the efficacy of the bioline surface-heparinized extracorporeal perfusion circuit.

Background: We evaluated the newly introduced Bioline heparin coating and tested the hypothesis that surface heparinization limited to the oxygenator and the arterial filter will ameliorate systemic inflammation and preserve platelets during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: In a prospective double-blind study, 159 patients underwent coronary revascularization using closed-system CPB with systemic heparinization, mild hypothermia (33 degrees C), a hollow-fiber oxygenator, and an arterial filter. The patients were randomly divided in three groups.