Incidental Coronary Artery Calcium on Breast Radiation Therapy Planning Scans Identifies Patients for Cardiac Preventive Therapy.

Purpose/objective(s): The presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC>0) is associated with increased cardiac-related mortality and is a common indication to initiate statin therapy to prevent future long-term cardiac-related adverse events. CAC is also well visualized on noncontrast chest computed tomography simulation (CT sim) scans used for breast radiation planning. We hypothesize that by screening for incidental CAC on CT sims, radiation oncologists could help identify patients who may benefit from additional preventive medical interventions with their primary care physician or cardiologist.

Perioperative management of aspirin resistance after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: possible role for aprotinin.

Background: Aspirin is the only drug proven to reduce saphenous vein graft (SVG) failure, but aspirin resistance (ASA-R) frequently occurs after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). The factors, mechanism, and best means for preventing and/or treating ASA-R have not been established. This study hypothesizes that thrombin production during OPCAB stimulates this acquired ASA-R.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Leads to a Regional Hypercoagulable State Not Detectable Using Systemic Markers.

OBJECTIVE: It is believed that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) leads to hypercoagulability, but efforts to document such a state have been unrevealing. We hypothesized that OPCAB increases the risk of developing a regional hypercoagulable state. METHODS: Blood was obtained from the aorta and coronary sinus (CS) after CABG performed off- (N=69) or on-pump (N=35) to determine the transcardiac gradients of F1.

A multi-institutional experience with the CryoMaze procedure.

Background: The Cox Maze III operation remains the gold standard for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We report our experience using a flexible argon-powered metal cryoprobe for creation of the complete Cox-Maze III lesion set in patients with AF (the CryoMaze operation).

Methods: Beginning July 2002, 38 patients underwent the CryoMaze operation.

Disruption of graft endothelium correlates with early failure after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Saphenous vein graft failure after coronary artery bypass surgery may be as high as 5% to 10% in the first postoperative week. We hypothesized that identifying damage sustained by saphenous vein endothelium before grafting predicts early graft attrition after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods: Intraoperative graft flow, platelet function, and endothelial integrity were analyzed in 125 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.