Immune and inflammatory role of hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 and fluid gelatin in patients undergoing coronary surgery.

Objectives: Compare the effects on inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10) and immunologic (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD11b(+), CD16(+)/56(+) T cells and total lymphocyte concentration) variables of hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4, 4% modified fluid gelatin, or crystalloid when used as volume replacement fluids for acute normovolemic hemodilution (a blood conservation technique) in coronary artery bypass graft patients.

Methods: Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomized to receive Isolyte S® (Group ISO), 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.

Superior mesenteric artery branch--jejunal artery aneurysm.

Visceral artery aneurysm (VAA) is a relatively uncommon disorder and it shows some vague symptoms. Therefore, the clinical diagnosis is difficult and these aneurysms are discovered and diagnosed only after rupture in many cases. This case report describes the history of a woman who had a superior mesenteric artery (SMA) branch aneurysm.

Sleep disturbances after cardiac surgery with or without elevated S100B levels.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate sleep disturbances of cardiac surgery patients with or without elevated S100B levels.

Methods And Results: Twenty-two patients with serum S100B > 0.3 microg/l (study group) 12 hours after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and 23 patients with serum S100B < 0.

Trimetazidine may protect the myocardium during cardiac surgery.

Background: Trimetazidine is an anti-ischemic agent with cardioprotective effects. The purpose of this double-blind, controlled, prospective randomized study was to investigate the possible effects of the preoperative use of trimetazidine on the biochemical markers of myocardial injury during open heart surgery and to determine if it has any myocardial protective effects.

Methods: Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, received either trimetazidine (study group, n = 15) or not (control group, n = 15).

Preoperative oral pentoxifylline for management of cytokine reactions in cardiac surgery.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass may lead to many inflammatory responses that may cause myocardial dysfunction after open heart surgery. We aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative pentoxifylline treatment to reduce the occurrence of cardiopulmonary bypass-induced inflammatory response.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized study, 40 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery received either pentoxifylline (study group, n = 21) or not (control group, n = 19).

The effect of piroxicam on the prevention of postoperative retrosternal and pericardial adhesions.

Background: The presence of adhesions after heart operations increases the risk of life-threatening damage to the heart and extracardiac grafts. Infections, tissue injury and inflammations are suspected aetiologic agents. The main purpose of our study is to evaluate the effect of an antiinflammatory agent piroxicam on the formation of retrosternal and pericardial adhesions in a rabbit model.

N-terminal ProBNP levels can predict cardiac failure after cardiac surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the preoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and the need for the inotropic support in the early postoperative period of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods And Results: The patients were divided into 2 groups: NT-proBNP level<220 pg/ml (group A, n=26) or >220 pg/ml (group B, n=26). The normal value for NT-proBNP level was accepted as <220 pg/ml.

Pentoxifylline affects cytokine reaction in cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Cardiac surgery is associated with an inflammatory response that may cause myocardial dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass. We examined the efficacy of pentoxifylline to attenuate the cardiopulmonary bypass-induced inflammatory response during heart operations.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized study, 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery received either pentoxifylline (group P, n = 15) (continuous infusion of 1.

Trimetazidine reduces oxidative stress in cardiac surgery.

Background: Trimetazidine is an anti-ischemic agent that is used to treat angina and it has cardioprotective effects without inducing any significant hemodynamic changes. It inhibits the long-chain mitochondrial 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A thiolase enzyme in the myocyte and can improve cardiac mitochondrial metabolism, as well as scavenge free radicals. The aim of this double-blind prospective randomized study was to investigate the effect of preoperative use of trimetazidine on the reduction of oxidative stress during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Cardioprotective effect of calcium dobesilate during open-heart surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this double-blind, controlled, prospective randomized study was to investigate the possible effects of the preoperative use of calcium dobesilate (CLS2210) on the biochemical markers of myocardial injury during open-heart surgery, and to determine if it has any myocardial protective effects.

Methods: Twenty-four patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included in this study and randomized into two groups. CLS2210 was given orally to 12 patients for 14 days before the operation (CD group), but not to the other 12 patients (control group).

Ischaemic preconditioning reduces spinal cord injury in transient ischaemia.

Objective: Paraplegia remains a devastating complication after thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery for coarctations, dissections or aneurysms. Since the advent of ischaemic preconditioning of the myocardium, attention has been directed to the nervous system. This study was designed to evaluate the acute protective effect of ischaemic preconditioning on the spinal cord.