Inflammation and congenital heart disease associated pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Increased blood flow may trigger pulmonary arterial wall inflammation, which may influence progression of pulmonary artery hypertension in patients with congenital heart disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative inflammation markers and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods: A total of 201 patients with pulmonary hypertension were enrolled in this study retrospectively; they had undergone open heart surgery between January 2012 and December 2013.

Isolated right superior vena cava draining into the left atrium.

A 10-year-old male was admitted to our institution with complaints of mild cyanosis and dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography and angiography revealed a right superior vena cava (SVC) draining into the left atrium. At the time of surgery, the right SVC was connected to the right atrium.

Severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to dislodgement of the atrial loop into the right ventricle: an unusual complication of pacemaker implantation in a young adult.

Transvenous pacemaker leads may impair tricuspid valve function. Severe tricuspid regurgitation due to leaflet adhesion to the pacemaker lead has not been reported in a young adult patient in the literature. Our patient underwent a transvenous pacemaker implantation for symptoms of bradycardia.

The effect of corrective surgery on serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3 levels and growth in children with congenital heart disease.

The aim of this study is to evaluate growth and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) pre- and postoperatively over a period of a year. Anthropometric values and serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 of 40 infants with CHD (20 cyanotic and 20 acyanotic) were compared with 32 healthy controls. Acyanotic infants and infants with pulmonary hypertension (PH) presented significantly more growth failure.

A severe coarctation of aorta in a 52-year-old male: a case report.

Aortic coarctation is a congenital malformation of the aorta usually diagnosed and corrected early in life. Long-term survival is exceptional in patients with untreated aortic coarctation. In this case report, we present a late diagnosis of aortic coarctation in a 52-year-old male.

Cardiac transplant in a child with recurrent thrombosis due to congenital thrombophilic mutations.

A modified Blalock-Taussig shunt had been implanted 3 times to treat cyanosis to a patient who has uncorrectable congenital cardiac deformity. We repaired the entire pulmonary artery, from one hilus to the other, to prevent future stenosis while making cardiac transplant. Our patient was also heterozygous for 2 thrombophilic mutations: methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and Factor V A4070G.

Discrete supravalvular aortic stenosis in children: Is it necessary to reconstruct the whole aortic root?

Objective: Discrete supravalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) is known to involve the whole aortic root. Some surgeons have therefore changed their approach from relief of obstruction using a single-patch to symmetric reconstruction of the whole aortic root - three-patch technique. The advantages are said to be preserved long-term aortic valve function and allowance for growth.

Anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the azygous vein: surgical approach of a case with 3D computed tomography findings.

Echocardiographic evaluation of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC) may be difficult especially in patients with complex congenital heart diseases. Angiography may also be hazardous in sick patients. For this reason, sometimes we need noninvasive and highly demonstrative procedures for the diagnosis and management of APVC.

Pulmonary valve implantation with the new Shelhigh Injectable Stented Pulmonic Valve.

Background: Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) occurs frequently after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair, impairing long-term prognosis and necessitating reinterventions. Myocardial damage, invasiveness, and the risks of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) therefore need to be minimized. The new Shelhigh Injectable Stented Pulmonic Valve (Shelhigh Inc, Union, NJ) allows implantation without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) under direct control.

Mitral valve replacements in redo patients with previous mitral valve procedures: mid-term results and risk factors for survival.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the risk factors for hospital mortality, short (five years) and mid-term (10 years) survival in patients who underwent mitral valve replacements in redo patients with previous mitral valve procedures.

Patients And Methods: Between September 1989 and December 2003, 62 redo patients have undergone mitral valve replacements due to subsequent mitral valve problems. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were analyzed retrospectively and evaluated for risk factors affecting hospital mortality, mid- and long-term survival.

ABO-incompatible blood transfusion and invasive therapeutic approaches during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass.

Human error has been identified as a major source of ABO-incompatible blood transfusion which most often results from blood being given to the wrong patient. We present a case of inadvertent administration of ABO-incompatible blood to a 6-mo-old child who underwent congenital heart surgery and discuss the use of invasive therapeutic approaches. Invasive techniques included total circulatory arrest and large-volume exchange transfusion, along with conventional ultrafiltration and plasmapheresis, which could all be performed rapidly and effectively.

Endovascular therapy for thoracic and abdominal aortic emergencies.

Background: Emergent situations of both the thoracic and abdominal aortae are serious life-threatening situations. Endovascular stent graft repair offers an alternative to conventional operation for management of aortic diseases. Our aim was to report our experience with endovascular stent graft repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic emergencies.

Regional anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing carotid surgery: report of a case series.

Background: This study evaluates the short-term results in patients more than 75 years of age undergoing carotid endarterectomy at a single institution.

Methods: Between June 2004 and June 2007, carotid endarterectomy operations were performed in 123 patients. A total of 70 patients had regional anesthesia.

The role of antiendothelial cell antibodies in the development and follow-up of coronary and peripheral arterial diseases.

Occlusive lesions in the arterial endothelium are often caused by formation of intimal hyperplasia and fibrinoid necrosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) and the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). In this study, 94 patients with CAD or PAD and 94 healthy volunteers serving as control subjects were examined.

Coronary bypass surgery in kawasaki disease in a four-year-old patient: case report.

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis syndrome of unknown etiology that mainly affects small and medium-sized arteries, particularly the coronary arteries. This disease is rarely seen in infants and young people in Turkey. In this short report, we present a four-year-old patient who has Kawasaki disease associated with coronary artery aneurysm and underwent coronary bypass grafting.

Successful use of recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) during cardiac surgery in a pediatric patient with congenital factor XI deficiency.

We report our experience with the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) during cardiac surgery in a 4.5-year-old boy with severe congenital FXI deficiency and a congenital heart disease. After weaning the patient from cardiopulmonary bypass, the first intravenous dose of rFVIIa (90 microg/kg) was administered.

Atherosclerosis of radial and internal thoracic arteries used in coronary bypass: atherosclerosis in arterial grafts.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the degree and incidence of atherosclerosis in internal thoracic (ITA) and radial arteries (RA) harvested for coronary bypass grafting.

Materials And Methods: The association of major clinical events and etiological factors for atherosclerosis was investigated in 770 arterial segments obtained prospectively from 480 patients. Potential risk factors for atherosclerosis were age, gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal failure, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, hypertension, and a positive family history.

Successful surgical treatment of massive pulmonary embolism after coronary bypass surgery.

Acute massive pulmonary embolism after cardiac surgery is very rare. Although accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment are crucial to a successful outcome, there is no standard treatment option. Thrombolytic therapy and catheter embolectomy are the usual treatment options, but they are associated with risks, especially in patients who experience massive pulmonary embolism after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Triple-valve procedures: impact of risk factors on midterm in a rheumatic population.

Background: We aimed to determine the influence of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables on short and midterm results in patients undergoing triple-valve surgery.

Methods: Between September 1989 and December 2003, 157 patients underwent triple-valve surgery with mechanical prosthetic valves. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were retrospectively analyzed and risk factors affecting hospital mortality and short and midterm survival were evaluated.

Diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery in children: incidence, prognosis and surgical management.

Diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) after cardiac surgery is an important complication especially in infants. We analyzed the incidence, clinical course, surgical management and follow up of the patients with DP, retrospectively. Between 1996 and 2005, 3,071 patients underwent cardiac surgery.

Brain abscess associated with isolated left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium in the absence of coronary sinus and atrial septal defect.

A previously healthy 12-year-old girl presented with severe headache for 2 weeks. On physical examination, there was finger clubbing without apparent cyanosis. Neurological examination revealed only papiledema without focal neurologic signs.