A comparison of two different management plans for patients requiring both carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a prophylactic operation that is used to mitigate the risk of stroke caused by embolism of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid bifurcation. Previously, the large, multicentre, randomised, controlled GALA study found no significant differences in clinical outcomes between patients treated using general or local anaesthesia. While this study provided important insights into disease outcomes based on treatment modalities, it did not answer questions regarding the safety of CEA under local anaesthesia in patients at high risk for cardiovascular complications.

Midterm results of salvage surgery for autogenous dialysis access in aneurysmal arteriovenous fistulas.

Autologous arteriovenous fistulas are commonly constructed in patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease. However, they are associated with a high rate of aneurysm formation, and aneurysmal arteriovenous fistulas that have become symptomatic require surgical intervention. This study was performed to evaluate the midterm results of salvage surgery for autogenous dialysis access in patients with aneurysmal arteriovenous fistulas.

Carotid patch and cerebrovascular event relation after carotid endarterectomy procedure.

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis. In literature there are papers advocating patch plasty for better results. But there is controversy about which patch material is optimal for use.

Effects of N-acetyl cysteine on renal functions evaluated by blood neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in geriatric patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Recent conflicting studies on the renal effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) after cardiac surgery have been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal effects of NAC using neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) blood levels in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted among geriatric patients (>65 years) scheduled to undergo CABG.

Radiobasilic Versus Brachiobasilic Transposition on the Upper Arm to Avoid Steal Syndrome.

Background: Although the proximal radial artery has been reported as an alternative inflow to prevent steal syndrome, brachiobasilic fistula has been reported to be associated with steal syndrome in 10-20% of cases. We aimed to compare proximal radiobasilic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with brachiobasilic AVFs on the upper arm in terms of steal syndrome and outcomes.

Material And Methods: We used our institutional operative record database to identify 94 patients in whom brachiobasilic AVF (n=40) and radiobasilic AVF (n=54) were placed between January 2009 and December 2013.

Nebivolol compared with metoprolol for erectile function in males undergoing coronary artery bypass graft.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate erectile function in males undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) while on two different adrenoceptor beta-blocker regimens, namely nebivolol and metoprolol. We hypothesize that the negative effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on erectile function may be possibly attenuated by preferring a vasodilating selective β1-blocker, nebivolol, to metoprolol as an anti-ischemic and antiarrhythmic agent in males undergoing CABG.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, prospective clinical study was conducted in patients scheduled for CABG surgery between February 2012 and June 2014.

Regional cervical plexus blockage for carotid endarterectomy in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Carotid artery disease is not rare in cardiac patients. Patients with cardiac risk factors and carotid stenosis are prone to neurological and cardiovascular complications. With cardiac risk factors, carotid endarterectomy operation becomes challenging.

L-Carnitine Supplementation Reduces Short-Term Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

This study aims to investigate whether preoperative L-carnitine supplementation affects the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an inflammatory marker that has proven usefulness for predicting postoperative complications in coronary artery bypass surgery. A lot of studies concerning the role of L-carnitine in the immune system have been performed, contradictory results have been reported on its effects on absolute numbers of WBC subtypes.

A rare para-anastomotic femoral artery aneurysm in a patient with history of femoro-popliteal bypass graft occlusion.

Introduction: Para-anastomotic aneurysms may develop as a late complication of arterial reconstructions. They are mostly seen after abdominal aortic procedures and also are mostly encountered as pseudoaneurysms.

Presentation Of Case: We report a true para-anastomotic aneurysm in the common femoral artery of a 57 year old man with an occluded femoro-popliteal bypass graft.

Hybrid endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aorta: early results.

Background: Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) present a significant clinical challenge, as they are complex and require invasive surgery. In an attempt to prevent considerably high mortality and morbidity in open repair, hybrid endovascular repair has been developed by many authors. In this study, we evaluated the early-term results obtained from this procedure.

Behcet's disease and cardiovascular involvement: our experience of asymptomatic Behcet's patients.

Behcet's syndrome is a systemic inflammatory disease associated with vasculitis, and arterial, venous and cardiac disorders. Thirty-eight Behcet's disease patients were examined prospectively with echocardiography, ultrasonography and computed tomography, and coagulation parameters were determined. Deep venous insufficiency was found in 16 patients, venous thrombosis in seven, one patient had iliac artery stenosis, three had carotid arterial intimal proliferation, two patients had aortic annulus dilatation, six had aortic valve insufficiency, and three had mitral valve insufficiency.

Single-stage repair of the anterior chest wall following sternal destruction complicated by mediastinitis.

Purpose: Although various techniques have been described, the ideal reconstructive procedure for treating massive sternal fragmentation and necrosis is still a matter of debate. Sometimes, reconstruction is so challenging that repetitive operations are required, particularly when complicated by mediastinitis and sternal osteomyelitis.

Methods: Five patients (three males, two females, median age 66) with severe osteomyelitis and sternal destruction after receiving myocardial revascularization underwent partial or radical sternal resection, omental flap transposition, titanium mesh implantation and rectus abdominis muscle flap transposition.

Effect of iloprost on renal function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a clinical study.

Purpose: Renal dysfunction remains a serious complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. To date, a number of different strategies, including new pharmacologic agents, off-pump and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques have been used to avoid it, but none of them proves the excellent result.

Methods: Between April 2009 to September 2011, 185 consecutive patients with multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing elective CABG were included the study.

Coronary artery bypass surgery in high-risk patients.

Background: In high-risk coronary artery bypass patients; off-pump versus on-pump surgical strategies still remain a matter of debate, regarding which method results in a lower incidence of perioperative mortality and morbidity. We describe our experience in the treatment of high-risk coronary artery patients and compare patients assigned to on-pump and off-pump surgery.

Methods: From March 2002 to July 2004, 86 patients with EuroSCOREs > 5 underwent myocardial revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Mini-dose pump-prime aprotinin inhibited enhanced fibrinolytic activity and reduced blood loss and transfusion requirements after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: Low-dose aprotinin in the pump during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been shown to improve postoperative hemostasis and platelet preservation. This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of mini-dose pump prime only aprotinin (70 mg) on the hemostatic parameters and blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).

Materials And Methods: We studied 86 patients who underwent CABG.

Coronary endarterectomy with beating heart in patients with diffuse atheromatous coronary artery disease and poor ventricular function: early and midterm results.

Background: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed our experience with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery endarterectomy in patients with severely reduced left ventricular function and diffuse atheromatous coronary artery disease to evaluate the early and midterm results.

Methods: Between July 1998 and March 2004, 42 patients underwent off-pump myocardial revascularization with coronary artery endarterectomy. The mean age (+/-SD) for the 28 male and 14 female patients was 59 +/- 10.

Closure of secundum atrial septal defect with autologous right atrial patch: case report.

Background: Although various synthetic materials and pericardium have been used for atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, investigators are continuing to search for an ideal material for this procedure. We report and evaluate a case in which autologous right atrial wall tissue was used for ASD closure.

Case: In this case, we closed a secundum ASD of a 22-year-old woman who also had right atrial enlargement due to the defect.

Prevention of postischemic spinal cord injury by means of regional infusion of adenosine and L-carnitine dissolved in normothermic saline.

Spinal cord ischemia still remains an unsolved problem in modern aortic surgery. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of combined agents such as adenosine and L-carnitine infused to the isolated segment of abdominal aorta in a rabbit model. Twenty-eight rabbits divided into four groups underwent 40 min of isolated infrarenal aortic occlusion.

Pressure-controlled vascular clamp: a novel device for atraumatic vessel occlusion.

Morphological vessel injury after clamping has been an important problem in vascular surgery. Although various techniques have been employed to occlude a vessel during a surgical procedure, a complete, atraumatic occlusion method has not yet been developed. In the present study, we describe use of a novel pressure-controlled and balloon-jawed vessel clamp to provide atraumatic vessel occlusion.

Discrete subaortic stenosis: surgical outcomes and follow-up results.

Discrete subaortic stenosis, which is an obstructing lesion of the left ventricular outflow tract, remains a surgical challenge. The recurrence rate is high despite sufficient conventional resection. We retrospectively reviewed the results of surgery for discrete subaortic stenosis at our institution from September 1995 through March 2001.

Surgery on varicose veins in the early Ottoman period performed by Serefeddin Sabuncuoğlu.

Serefeddin Sabuncuoğlu, a pioneer of surgery, is known to be the author of first illustrated surgery textbook, Cerrahiyyetu'l Haniyye (Imperial Surgery), which was written in Turkish in 1465 AD at the age of 80 years. The purpose of this article is to describe his contributions to varicose vein surgery. In addition to vascular surgery, Serefeddin Sabuncuoğlu was interested in a wide range of surgical specialities including thoracic surgery, general surgery, pediatric surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, urologic surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Hydatid disease of the interventricular septum causing pulmonary dissemination.

Pulmonary dissemination of a cardiac cyst is a rare condition. In the present study, we report a case of a 20-year-old patient with cardiac hydatosis located in the interventricular septum, which was previously diagnosed and treated as pulmonary hydatid disease. Diagnosis was made by spiral computed tomography and treated surgically with median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass.

How I do it: a novel method that provides simultaneous coronary artery occlusion and retraction for beating heart bypass surgery.

Background: Coronary artery stabilization and retraction have been a crucial problem in beating heart bypass surgery. Conventional methods such as looping and suspension of the target artery carry risk of coronary artery damage. Above all, these methods do not aid in retraction in coronary arteriotomy.