Bacterial cellulose as a promising material for pulmonary valve prostheses: In vivo study in a sheep model.

Objectives: Currently, no consensus exists regarding the most durable prosthesis for pulmonary valve replacement. Bacterial cellulose is a resistant, nonbiodegradable, nonpyrogenic bioimplant with low hemolysis and clotting properties. We hypothesized that bacterial cellulose heart valve prostheses could be an attractive alternative for pulmonary valve replacement.

Ionic homeostasis, acid-base balance and the risk of citrate accumulation in patients after cardiovascular surgery treated with continuous veno-venous haemofiltration with post-dilution regional citrate anticoagulation - An observational case-control study.

Background: Patients after cardiovascular surgery, requiring renal replacement therapy, can benefit from adequate non-heparin circuit anticoagulation. Simplified regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) protocol proposes the use of citric acid dextrose formula A (ACD-A) during post-dilutional continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) with standard bicarbonate buffered calcium containing replacement solution. Citrate accumulation diagnosed upon total to ionized calcium ratio (tCa/iCa) and low ionized calcium (iCa) are considered as the biggest risks related to regional citrate accumulation.

Brain and Muscle Oxygen Saturation Combined with Kidney Injury Biomarkers Predict Cardiac Surgery Related Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Early identification of patients at risk for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) based on novel biomarkers and tissue oxygen saturation might enable intervention to reduce kidney injury.

Aims: The study aimed to ascertain whether brain and muscle oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), in addition to cystatin C and NGAL concentrations, could help with CS-AKI prediction.

Methods: This is a single-centre prospective observational study on adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

COVID-19 - Toward a comprehensive understanding of the disease.

The evidence on the pathophysiology of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection is rapidly growing. Understanding why some patients suffering from COVID-19 are getting so sick, while others are not, has become an informal imperative for researchers and clinicians around the globe. The answer to this question would allow rationalizing the fear surrounding this pandemic.

Filter life span in postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy, using a postdilution regional citrate anticoagulation continuous hemofiltration circuit.

Background: Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is the recommended standard for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study assesses its efficacy in patients admitted to critical care following cardiovascular surgery and the influence of standard antithrombotic agents routinely used in this specific group.

Methods: Consecutive cardiovascular surgery patients treated with postdilution hemofiltration with RCA were included in this prospective observational study.

Evaluation of Local Tissue Reaction After the Application of a 3D Printed Novel Holdfast Device for Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion.

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small, finger-like extension of the left atrium and its exclusion is used as a treatment strategy to prevent ischemic stroke. Existing holdfast devices may damage the tissue, are unisized and not adjustable. A novel holdfast device for LAA exclusion devoid of these shortcomings was designed and 3D-printed using the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology with polyamide powder and tested it on animal model.

Transfermoral aortic valve implantation using self-expanding New Valve Technology (NVT) Allegra bioprosthesis: A pilot prospective study.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a standard therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at high cardiac surgical risk. The aim of the NAUTILUS study was to investigate the safety and performance of the New Valve Technology (NVT) Allegra bioprosthesis in high-risk patients undergoing TAVI.

Methods: Twenty seven patients with severe, symptomatic AS at high surgical risk were prospectively enrolled, who underwent treatment using the novel self-expanding NVT Allegra bioprosthesis via transfemoral approach (TF-TAVI).

Assessment of the usefulness of bacterial cellulose produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus E as a new biological implant.

Bionanocellulose (BNC) is a clear polymer produced by the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus. In our current study, "Research on the use of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) in regenerative medicine as a function of the biological implants in cardiac and vascular surgery", we carried out material analysis, biochemical analysis, in vitro tests and in vivo animal model testing. In stage 1 of the project, we carried out physical and biological tests of BNC.

Health-related quality of life following transcatheter aortic valve implantation using transaortic, transfemoral approaches and surgical aortic valve replacement-a single-center study.

Objective: To evaluate short- and long-term changes in quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to assess differences in patient QoL when using the TAVI transaortic (TAVI TAo) approach compared with the transfemoral approach (TAVI TF) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: Ninety-seven patients were assessed. Thirty-two patients underwent TAVI TAo, 31 underwent TAVI TF and 34 patients underwent SAVR.

Clinical, biochemical and genetic risk factors for 30-day and 5-year mortality in 518 adult patients subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass during cardiac surgery - the INFLACOR study.

There is increasing evidence that genetic variability influences patients' early morbidity after cardiac surgery performed using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The use of mortality as an outcome measure in cardiac surgical genetic association studies is rare. We publish the 30-day and 5-year survival analyses with focus on pre-, intra-, postoperative variables, biochemical parameters, and genetic variants in the INFLACOR (INFLAmmation in Cardiac OpeRations) cohort.

First uses of HAART 300 rings for aortic valve repair in Poland - 4 case studies.

Introduction: Aortic valve reconstructions using geometric annuloplasty rings HAART 300/200 open new era in aortic valve surgery. The HAART technology resizes, reshapes, stabilizes and simplifies aortic valve repair. The HAART aortic repair rings are designed to be implanted directly into aortic annulus (under aortic valve leaflets).

Aortic cross-clamping phase of cardiopulmonary bypass is related to decreased microvascular reactivity after short-term ischaemia of the thenar muscle both under intravenous and volatile anaesthesia: a randomized trial.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to assess, by near-infrared spectroscopy with an INVOS oximeter during the vascular occlusion test (VOT), the influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on tissue saturation in the thenar muscle. The secondary aim was to compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia on tissue saturation.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label study.

Accelerated heart function recovery after therapeutic plasma exchange in patient treated with biventricular mechanical circulatory support for severe peripartum cardiomyopathy.

We describe a case of severe peripartum cardiomyopathy treated with biventricular mechanical circulatory support, where rapid haemodynamic recovery was observed after therapeutic plasma exchange, used as an adjunct to the inhibition of prolactin release. The patient recovered and after 2 months was discharged from the hospital without clinical symptoms of heart disease.

Comparison of haemodynamics and myocardial injury markers under desflurane vs. propofol anaesthesia for off-pump coronary surgery. A prospective randomised trial.

Background: Several studies have highlighted that volatile anaesthetics improve myocardial protection in cardiopulmonary bypass coronary surgery. However, the haemodynamic effect of desflurane in off-pump coronary surgery has not been clarified yet. Our study hypothesis was that desflurane-fentanyl anaesthesia could decrease myocardial injury markers and improve haemodynamics compared to propofol-fentanyl in patients undergoing off-pump coronary surgery.

High-volume hemofiltration as adjuvant therapy for refractory shock after pericardiocentesis.

Background: Pericardiocentesis for the treatment of chronic cardiac tamponade can occasionally result in acute pulmonary edema or biventricular failure. A sudden increase in heart filling pressures and right-to-left ventricular-output mismatch have been proposed underlying mechanisms.

Case Report: We report the case of 16-year-old patient who underwent pericardiocentesis for chronic cardiac tamponade 6 weeks after undergoing a Bentall procedure.

Incidence- and mortality-related risk factors of acute kidney injury requiring hemofiltration treatment in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a single-center 6-year experience.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and mortality risk factors of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring hemofiltration treatment after cardiac surgery.

Design: A single-center, retrospective, case-control study.

Setting: A post-cardiac-surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital.

Anaesthesia for ophthalmologic surgical procedures in a patient with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case report.

Introduction: Anaesthesia procedures for surgical interventions in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not commonly found in clinical practice, and often have special considerations that must be taken into account in treatment planning. As a result, these procedures are rarely subject to publication, rendering it difficult for the anaesthesiologists to find useful and reliable information on this topic. ALS also presents a contraindication to the use of nondepolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs during general anaesthesia.

Circulatory support with right ventricular assist device and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in patient with right ventricle failure after pulmonary embolectomy.

Severe pulmonary embolism may lead to acute right ventricular failure despite immediate surgical embolectomy, which is regarded as the treatment of choice after recent CABG surgery. We report a case of a patient with massive pulmonary thromboembolism which resulted in acute right ventricular failure following early surgical embolectomy. Pulmonary embolism developed two days after an elective off-pump CABG surgery.

[Relationship between inflammatory changes revealed in cerebrospinal fluid and prognosis in acute viral encephalitis].

Objective: To assess the relationship between inflammatory changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and prognosis in patients with acute viral encephalitis (AVE).

Patients And Methods: retrospective medical records analysis of 99 cases of AVE, 37 females and 62 males, age 4-71. Patients were assigned to 2 subgroups: group I--without inflammatory changes in CSF (cytosis < or = 10/mm3 - 40 cases) and group II--with detectable abnormalities in CSF (cytosis >10/mm3 - 59 cases).

Coagulation, coma, and outcome in bacterial meningitis--an observational study of 38 adult cases.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of intravascular coagulation in bacterial meningitis and to recognise the associations with disease severity and outcome.

Methods: Thirty-eight consecutively admitted adult patients with microbiologically proven bacterial meningitis were observed prospectively for platelets count (PLT), platelets-decline (dPLT), prothrombin ratio (PTr), INR, and D-dimer levels during the first three days in relation to disease severity (Glasgow Coma Scale--GCS, APACHE-III) and outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale--GOS).

Results: The prevalence of activated coagulation measured by abnormal laboratory results varied respectively: PTr--30%, INR--36%, PLT--38%, dPLT--50%, and D-dimer--88%.

[Occurrence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in purulent meningitis and influence on mortality in 118 patients].

Unlabelled: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an important, but not satisfactory explained risk factor of death in purulent meningitis (PM).

Objective: Evaluation of: 1) acute thrombocytopenia (ATP) in patients with PM, 2) dynamics in changes of peripheral blood platelet (PLT) count and serum coagulation factors, 3) correlation between acute DIC and mortality in PM.

Methods: Analysis ofATP (platelets < or = 150 K/microL and/or decrease in PLT > or = 100 K/microL/24 hours) and prothrombin ratio, fibrinogen, d-dimmer and antithrombin III in survivors and nonsurvivors in 118 adult patients with PM.