Impact of haemoglobin A1c on wound infection in patients with diabetes with implanted synthetic graft.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values and operative wound infection.

Method: During the period from 2013-2016, consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes were prospectively evaluated. Data were retrospectively analysed.

Pathophysiology of spontaneous coronary artery dissection: hematoma, not thrombus.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) accounts for 1.7%-4% of all acute coronary syndrome presentations, particularly among young women with an emerging awareness of its importance. The demarcation of acute SCAD from coronary atherothrombosis and the proper therapeutic approach still represents a major clinical challenge.

Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Atherosclerotic Plaques on Carotid Arteries in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: The Role of MDCT Angiography.

Introduction: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterised by arterious and venous thrombosis, miscarriage, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the blood. As we know, APS is also characterised by accelerated atherosclerotic degeneration with an increased risk of thrombosis in all blood vessels, including the carotid arteries. Carotid artery stenosis can manifest in many different ways.

Direct Ischemic Postconditioning After Carotid Endarterectomy in the Prevention of Postoperative Cerebral Ischemic Complications-Observational Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Ischemic postconditioning (IPCT) represents one of the several therapeutic strategies to attenuate ischemic reperfusion injury (IR) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We here present the first in-human study of IPCT in carotid surgery.

Methods: The study represents an observational case-control study, with the data collected in our Institution carotid database.

Analysis of Serbian Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome Patients Confirmed a Strong Association Between Livedo Reticularis and Arterial Thrombosis: A National Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) associated with thrombosis (arterial and/or venous) and/or obstetrical manifestations. However, various manifestations, which are considered to be noncriteria manifestations, are frequently found in APS.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether noncriteria manifestations may be found more frequently in subjects with thrombotic and/or obstetrical APS ("criteria" manifestations) in a population of patients with primary APS (PAPS).

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome as a cause of impaired left ventricular diastolic function: experience from a Serbian cohort.

Objectives: Cardiovascular manifestations, encountered in antiphospholipid syndrome, may develop as a consequence of acquired thrombophilia mediated by antiphospholipid antibodies and accelerated atherosclerosis as well. Our study aims to assess the impairment of the left ventricular diastolic performance, as early evidence of myocardial involvement in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS).

Methods: We analysed 101 PAPS patients, with the average age of 47.

Carotid Restenosis Rate After Stenting for Primary Lesions Versus Restenosis After Endarterectomy With Creation of Risk Index.

Purpose: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an option for carotid restenosis (CR) treatment with favorable outcomes. However, CAS has also emerged as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the management of patients with primary carotid stenosis. This study aimed to report CR rates after CAS was performed in patients with primary lesions versus restenosis after CEA, to identify predictors of CR, and to report both neurological and overall outcomes.

Cardiac manifestations in primary antiphospholipid syndrome and their association to antiphospholipid antibodies' types and titers-cross-sectional study of Serbian cohort.

Objectives: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is multisystem autoimmune coagulopathy with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in its ground, manifested as a primary disease (PAPS) or in the setting of other conditions, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate various cardiac manifestations and their possible relation to aPL type and titer in a Serbian cohort of PAPS patients.

Methods: A total of 360 PAPS patients were analyzed and aPL analysis included detection of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL: IgG/IgM), anti-ß2glycoprotein I (ß2GPI: IgG/IgM), and lupus anticoagulant (LA).

Post-Market Clinical Follow-Up With the Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Device IrisFIT (Lifetech) in Patients With Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack, or Other Thromboembolic Events.

Background: A patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with embolic strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Catheter closure of PFO is effective in preventing recurrent events. Residual shunts and procedure or device related complications can occur, including atrial fibrillation and thrombus formation.

The IrisFIT Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Device in Patients With History of Cryptogenic Embolization.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess safety, efficacy, and clinical outcome of the IrisFIT PFO Closure System (Lifetech Scientific) for transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with a history of cryptogenic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or peripheral embolization.

Patients And Methods: We report the results of 60 consecutive patients undergoing PFO closure with the IrisFIT occluder for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolization. All cases were analyzed for periprocedural and device-related adverse events up to 12 months after implantation.

Surgical Treatment of Proximal Segmental Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery.

Purpose: To present the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of carotid endarterectomy in patients with type II internal carotid artery occlusions, including the long-term outcomes.

Methods: From March 2008 to August 2015, 74 consecutive patients (48 men with a mean age of 65.1 ± 8.

A case of mislabeled textbooks: misnomer of the traditional "bicaval" view.

Since the early beginning of the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) era, standardized tomographic views describing cardiac key structures have been provided. They have become the basis of TEE and have not been modified for decades. During our recent structural interventional cases, it has come to our attention that the structure frequently labeled "inferior vena cava" in textbooks and journal articles illustrating the bicaval TEE view is, in fact, the coronary sinus.

Scoring system to predict early carotid restenosis after eversion endarterectomy by analysis of inflammatory markers.

Background: Inflammation is one of the mechanisms that leads to carotid restenosis (CR). The aim of this study was to examine the influence of increased values of inflammation markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], C3 complement, and fibrinogen) on CR development after eversion carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods: A consecutive 300 patients were included in the study, in which eversion CEA was performed between March 1 and August 1, 2010.

A Novel Antegrade Approach for Simultaneous Carotid Endarterectomy and Angioplasty of Proximal Lesions in Patients with Tandem Stenosis of Supraaortic Arch Vessels.

Background: To date, all published studies analyzing simultaneous treatment of carotid and proximal atherosclerotic lesions are describing retrograde approach and several technical variations. In the presented study, for the first time, antegrade approach is described for simultaneous carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and associated brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) or common carotid artery (CCA) angioplasty in the hybrid operating room.

Methods: From January 2012 till January 2016, antegrade hybrid procedures were performed in 18 patients.

Negative-pressure wound therapy for deep groin vascular infections.

Introduction: Infection of synthetic graft in the groin is a rare but devastating complication. When it occurs, several possibilities of treatment are available. Extra-anatomic reconstruction and in-situ implantation of new, infection resistant grafts are associated with high mortality and morbidity.

Benign cystic teratoma of the mesosigmoid – Report of a case.

Introduction: Extragonadal intraperitoneal teratomas are very rare, especially those arising from mesentery and mesocolon. In the contemporary literature only 22 cases of such tumors have been published and described.

Case Outline: We report a case of a 52-year-old woman with a benign cystic teratoma of the mesosigmoid.

Treatment of stump complications after above-knee amputation using negative-pressure wound therapy.

Introduction: The stump wound complications after above-knee amputation lead to other problems, such as prolonged rehabilitation, delayed prosthetic restoration, the increase in total treatment cost and high mortality rates.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and outcomes of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) using Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC®) therapy in patients with stump complication after above-knee amputation (AKA).

Methods: From January 2011 to July 2014, AKA was performed in 137 patients at the University Cardiovascular Clinic.

Is It Possible That This Patient is Asymptomatic? The Role of Multidetector CT Angiography in Detection of Ulcerated Plaques in Patients with Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Case Report.

Introduction: Although intervention in patients with symptomatic carotid disease is generally accepted as beneficial, the management of asymptomatic disease is still controversial. We wanted to introduce and discuss treatment options in a patient with asymptomatic carotid stenosis and high embolic potential lesions of common and internal carotid artery detected by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Case Outline: A 78-year-old female patient was admitted to our institution for diagnostics and surgical treatment of asymptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis.

True First-Line Local-Anesthesia Only Protocol for Transfemoral TAVI.

Aims: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) via femoral access under local anesthesia only (without concomitant sedation) as the initial strategy.

Methods And Results: Patients undergoing planned transfemoral TAVI without routine general anesthesia between May 2005 and December 2013 were identified. Baseline characteristics, procedural outcomes, and a 30-day clinical follow-up were obtained.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair with the MitraClip(®) can be performed without general anesthesia and without conscious sedation.

Background: General anesthesia is known to be associated with an increased risk for complications, especially in elderly and multi-morbid patients, the primary target population of the MitraClip(®) technique. The aim is to assess whether general anesthesia and even conscious sedation can be avoided during the MitraClip(®) procedure.

Methods: A total of 91 consecutive patients who underwent MitraClip(®) implantation [median 77 years, (IQR 72-83), 40 % female] were retrospectively analyzed.

Predictors of blood pressure response: Obesity is associated with a less pronounced treatment response after renal denervation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of BP response.

Background: Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) causes significant blood pressure (BP) reductions in a large number of patients with resistant hypertension.

Methods: One hundred one consecutive patients with resistant hypertension who underwent RDN with the Symplicity™ catheter were included in this retrospective study.

"A bend in time": Shaping the sheath facilitates left atrial appendage closure.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the "shape-the-sheath" method in left atrial appendage closure.

Background: LAA occlusion is often a difficult procedure, due to not just the learning curve but also the three-dimensional variable nature of the left atrial appendage. Multiple sheaths have been created for various takeoffs.

A Quick Guide to Paravalvular Leak Closure.

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a seldomly covered aspect of structural heart disease. However, this is a condition that frequently presents after valvular replacement. This article will cover the diagnosising and treating PVL (i.