Perfusion education and training in Europe anno 2023.

In the absence of uniform European regulations, there have been many differences in the training of perfusionists across Europe. Furthermore, there has been no uniform or single European accreditation of the profession. One of the objectives of The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP) is to standardise and monitor training of perfusionists across Europe whilst offering support in accordance with national regulations.

Effect of body mass index and age on in vitro fertilization in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate age-related variations in the effect of body mass index (BMI) on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.

Material And Methods: This was a cohort study conducted by retrospectively investigating the IVF cycles of 653 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients under the age of 40 years who were diagnosed based on the Rotterdam criteria in a private IVF clinic between 2005 and 2015. The study included data from 653 IVF cycles of PCOS patients.

Clinical evaluation of leukocyte filtration as an alternative anti-inflammatory strategy to aprotinin in high-risk patients undergoing coronary revascularization.

Purpose: The use of aprotinin in cardiac surgery is associated with overriding safety concerns. Therefore, there is increased research on alternatives. This study investigated the relative benefits of strategic leukofiltration on polymer-coated extracorporeal circuits (ECC), aprotinin, and combined therapy in high-risk patients.

The effect of CD34 count and clonogenic potential of hematopoietic stem cells on engraftment.

In this study we have determined that the number of the CD34 (+) cells in the grafts that were infused to 48 patients who underwent autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and evaluated the number of colony forming units in vitro. Our aim was to determine whether there is a relation between these cell counts and post transplantation engraftment kinetics. A negative correlation was detected (p<0.

Successful birth following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos produced from in-vitro matured oocytes.

It is well established that ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is more frequent in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. In-vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes presents a potential alternative for the fertility treatment and prevention of OHSS for these patients. This report describes the case of a 26-year old woman with a successful pregnancy and delivery following the transfer of frozen-thawed embryos derived from in-vitro matured oocytes.

Clinical performance and biocompatibility of hyaluronan-based heparin-bonded extracorporeal circuits in different risk cohorts.

This prospective randomized study compares novel hyaluronan-based heparin-bonded circuits vs. uncoated controls across EuroSCORE patient risk strata including biomaterial evaluation. Over a two-year period, 90 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively randomized to one of the two perfusion protocols: Group 1 was treated with hyaluronan-based heparin-bonded preconnected circuits (Vision HFO-GBS, Gish, CA, USA) and Group 2 with identical uncoated controls.

Clinical efficacy of two-phase leukocyte filtration in high-risk patients undergoing coronary revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome, inflammatory response and myocardial function in high-risk patients undergoing three different leukocyte depletion strategies. Over a four-month period, forty patients (EuroSCORE 6+) undergoing coronary revascularization were prospectively randomized to one of the four perfusion protocols: Group 1 (N=10): Conventional circuits (ECC) + two leukocyte filters (LG6B, Pall, USA) with the method of two-phase (continuous + strategic) leukofiltration; Group 2 (N=10): ECC + single leukocyte filter with the method of continuous leukofiltration; Group 3 (N=10): ECC + single leukocyte filter with the method of strategic leukofiltration; Group 4 (N=10) CONTROL: ECC without leukocyte filtration. Blood samples were collected at T1: Baseline, T2: On CPB, T3: X-Clamp, T4: Off CPB, T5: ICU24 and T6: ICU48.

Clinical evaluation of minimized extracorporeal circulation in high-risk coronary revascularization: impact on air handling, inflammation, hemodilution and myocardial function.

Objective: We examined intraoperative microembolic signals (GME), inflammatory response, hemolysis, perioperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO(2)), myocardial protection and desorbed protein amount on oxygenator fibers in high-risk patients undergoing coronary revascularization (CABG) with minimized and conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Over a ten-month period, 40 Euroscore 6+ patients undergoing CABG were prospectively randomized to one of the two perfusion protocols (N=20): Group 1: minimized extracorporeal circuits (Mini-CPB) (ROCsafe MPC, Terumo, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) and Group 2: conventional extracorporeal circuits (CECC) (Capiox SX18, Terumo, USA). Serum creatinine kinase-MB (CKMB), free hemoglobin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C3a levels were measured.

Clinical and biomaterial evaluation of hyaluronan-based heparin-bonded extracorporeal circuits with reduced versus full systemic anticoagulation in reoperation for coronary revascularization.

Objective: This prospective randomized study compares full and reduced heparinization on novel hyaluronan-based heparin-bonded circuits vs. uncoated controls under challenging clinical setting including biomaterial evaluation.

Methods: 100 patients undergoing reoperation for coronary artery bypass grafting were allocated into two equal groups (n = 50): Group one was treated with hyaluronan-based heparin bonded preconnected circuits (Vision HFOGBS, Gish, California, USA) and Group two with identical uncoated controls (Vision HFO, Gish, USA).

Clinical effects of leukofiltration and surface modification on post-cardiopulmonary bypass atrial fibrillation in different risk cohorts.

Objective: A manifestation of inflammatory injury to the heart, atrial fibrillation (AF), ranks among the most frequent and potentially life-threatening post-operative complications.

Methods: In a prospective randomized study, 120 patients undergoing CABG were allocated into two groups (N = 60): Group 1: Polymethoxyethylacry late-coated circuits + Leukocyte filters (Terumo,USA); Group 2:

Control: Uncoated circuits (Terumo,USA). Each group was further divided into three subgroups (N = 20) with respect to low (Euroscore 0-2), medium (3-5) and high (6+) risk patients.

Comparison of polymethoxyethylacrylate-coated circuits with leukocyte filtration and reduced heparinization protocol on heparin-bonded circuits in different risk cohorts.

Objectives: The relative benefits of strategic leukofiltration on polymer-coated and low-dose heparin protocol on heparin-coated circuits were studied across EuroSCORE patient risk strata for three different cohorts.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized study, 270 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were allocated into three groups (n = 90): Group 1 - polymethoxyethylacrylate-coated circuits + leukocyte filters; Group 2 - polypeptide-based heparin-bonded circuits with reduced heparinization; and Group 3--CONTROL: uncoated circuits. Each group was further divided into three subgroups (n = 30), with respect to low- (EuroSCORE 0-2), medium- (3-5), and high- (6+) risk patients.

Use of laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with a history of poor ICSI outcome and limited metaphase II oocytes.

In this study, laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) improved the fertilization rate and the embryo quality in patients with a history of poor ICSI outcome and with limited metaphase II oocytes. This technique is less traumatic to the oocytes during the procedure, and the use of the technique may be expanded.

Clinical performance and biocompatibility of poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate)-coated extracorporeal circuits.

Background: Poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) is an amphiphilic organic polymer consisting of a hydrophobic backbone with pendant hydrophilic groups that has been reported to reduce protein and platelet adsorption in in vitro and ex vivo studies.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing three-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into two equal groups. Group 1 had operation with Capiox poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) coated SX18R oxygenators with noncoated circuits, and group 2 had operation with all noncoated circuits.