Endoscopic radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting. A single center evolving experience.

Aim: We sought to evaluate our experience with endoscopic radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: From October 2005 to June 2010, 50 patients who underwent endoscopic radial artery harvesting for an elective CABG were prospectively assessed for harvesting characteristics, complications, postoperative and mid-term outcomes.

Results: There were 34 (68%) males and 16 (32%) females, average age 60.

Predictors of failure following restrictive annuloplasty for chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Aim Of The Study: We sought to determine the results of restrictive annuloplasty for chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Hospital outcome and serial clinical and echocardiographic (preoperative, discharge, 3 months, 12 months, 24 months) follow-up assessments were analyzed in 87 consecutive patients with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation having coronary artery bypass grafting. Persistent/recurrent mitral regurgitation was defined by grade ≥2 at discharge/during follow-up.

Persistent and recurrent ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Background: Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a consequence of coronary artery disease and the main underlying mechanism is augmented leaflet tethering due to outward displacement of the papillary muscles. Although mitral annuloplasty combined with coronary revascularization is usually effective in the treatment of IMR, occasionally the regurgitation can persist or recur and this can affect patient prognosis.

Methods: We searched Medline and Google scholar database for articles published since 1996 to June 2009.

The choice of on- or off-pump coronary bypass grafting--a surgeon's dilemma.

Background: Off-pump coronary bypass grafting (OPCAB) is a routine method of heart revascularization. This study was designed to compare the results of OPCAB and ONCAB performed by a single surgeon at our institution over a 3-year period.

Methods: The study enrolled 345 patients undergoing elective myocardial revascularization procedures, of which 173 (50.

Mistakes in dealing with aortic dissection. Lessons from three warning cases.

Background: Aortic dissection is a dangerous condition with a high mortality in the acute stage. Aortic dissection requires early diagnosis and treatment.

Methods And Results: This short review discusses and focuses on known complications of aortic dissection and its natural mortality applying data from already published reports and from cohorts and registers, especially IRAD.

Re-operations for bleeding in cardiac surgery: treatment strategy.

Aims: Cardiac surgery patients are prone to bleeding postoperatively owing to the extensive sternotomy wound, multiple vessel and heart sutures, and disorders of hemostasis. In this study we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes for all patients in our department who were re-operated for bleeding, over a 5 year period.

Methods: A total of 4297 patients underwent heart surgery between February 2002 and January 2007, of which 98 (2.

Left internal thoracic artery harvesting: measurement of the length required for coronary bypass surgery.

The left internal thoracic artery (LITA) is used routinely for coronary bypass surgery. A simple technique for assessing, prior to harvesting, the length of LITA required for an individual bypass of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is described.

Simultaneous endoscopic radial artery and great saphenous vein harvesting for redo coronary artery bypass grafting. A report of two cases.

Aim: An ageing population and increase in patient co-morbidities are forcing cardiac surgeons to meticulously consider the benefits and risks of respective conduits and their harvesting techniques.

Case Reports: Two cases of simultaneous endoscopic radial artery and great saphenous vein harvesting, for redo coronary artery bypass grafting, are presented. A shortage of venous conduits after previous bypass grafting, as well as the presentation of several risk factors of wound-healing complications, favoured simultaneous utilisation of both endoscopic techniques.

Sequential bypass grafting on the beating heart: blood flow characteristics.

Background: The sequential bypass technique is a routine method of myocardial revascularization. The aim of this study was to determine flow characteristics of individual and sequential bypass grafts created on the beating heart.

Methods: Between January 2003 and February 2004, a consecutive series of 50 patients underwent off-pump coronary bypass surgery with at least one venous sequential coronary graft.

Unusual cause of femorofemoral cardiopulmonary bypass failure.

A case of femorofemoral cardiopulmonary bypass failure in a patient undergoing an emergent operation because of acute aortic dissection is described. The importance of the accurate deduction of preoperative transesophageal echocardiography findings is emphasized.

Cardiomed coronary flow meter for prevention of early occlusion in aortocoronary bypass grafting.

Introduction: The number of patients undergoing technically demanding off-pump myocardial revascularization is increasing, these days. Some researchers question the quality of the aortocoronary bypasses done on the beating heart and consequently their good patency.

Material And Methods: 50 consecutive patients underwent off pump coronary surgery using sequential bypass technique, at our department.