Establishing an interhospital ECMO-transport program during a pandemic: Key lessons learned.

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 has amplified the importance of efficient patient transfer, leading to the idea of inter-hospital ECMO transport programs. However, there are limited studies on ECMO transfer protocols and experiences during COVID pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness our transport program and provide insights into establishing and maintaining ECMO programs.

Comparison of minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation versus standard cardiopulmonary bypass systems on coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: In this study, we shared our experience with the minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation system for coronary artery bypass grafting patients.

Methods: A total of 163 patients were included in the retrospective study, with 83 patients (63 males, 20 females; mean age: 61.9±8.

Tocilizumab Reduces Lung Injury in a Rat Lung Ischemia and Reperfusion Model.

Objective: In this study, the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ) on lung tissue in lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats was investigated.

Material And Methods: A total of 24 Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, with 6 rats in each group: Left lung I/R was applied to I/R groups. In the I/R groups, the left lung hilum was clamped for 45 minutes, and then the clamp was removed and reperfused for 120 minutes.

Outcomes of conservative management in patients with nutcracker syndrome.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate outcomes in nutcracker syndrome patients with tolerable symptoms and treated conservatively without invasive interventions.

Methods: This prospective study included patients treated conservatively. Promoting weight gain, the endpoint of the study was spontaneous resolution of symptoms.

Treatment of Nutcracker Syndrome with Left Renal Vein Transposition and Endovascular Stenting.

Background: Nutcracker syndrome is a rare condition that occurs as a result of the entrapment of the left renal vein (LRV) between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. It is typically associated with symptoms such as left flank pain, hematuria, proteinuria, and pelvic congestion. The current treatment approach may be conservative in the presence of tolerable symptoms, and surgical or hybrid and stenting procedures in the order of priority in the presence of intolerable symptoms.

Reverse-U Aortotomy (Kırali Incision) for Aortic Valvular Interventions.

Background:  Surgical incisional approach to the ascending aorta is the main strategic step during valvular and/or subvalvular aortic interventions. Classic aortotomy incisions (transverse or oblique) can be challenging and can cause suboptimal exposure of the aortic root especially for the patients with small aortic annulus or for redo coronary artery bypass patients with patent proximal grafts interposed to the ascending aorta.

Methods:  The Kırali incision was used in 91 patients (including 13 reoperations) who underwent an aortic intervention for valvular and subvalvular pathologies.

Long-Term Results of Thoracofemoral Bypass in the Initial Treatment of Juxtarenal Total Aortic Occlusion.

Background: Thoracofemoral bypass has been applied mostly secondary to previous procedures in the treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease. However, its application as an initial treatment is less common, and long-term outcomes remain uncertain. The aim of this analysis was to review the 16-year experience and long-term outcomes of 31 consecutive patients who underwent thoracofemoral bypass as the primary procedure.

In-Hospital and Long-Term outcomes after Open-Heart Surgery in Turkish Octogenarians: a Single-Center Study.

Objective: We aimed to analyze the early and long-term results of open-heart surgery in Turkish patients aged 80 years or older who were operated on at our center.

Methods: All patients aged 80 years or older who underwent surgery between January 2000 and December 2013 at a high-level heart center were included in the study. The in-hospital data of study patients were obtained from the electronic database and from the hospital files.

Prognostic value of main pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aorta diameter ratio in patients with advanced heart failure.

Objectives And Background: In this study we assessed the prognostic value of main pulmonary artery diameter and its ratio to ascending aorta diameter (P/Ao ratio) in advanced heart failure patients.

Methods: Patients with advanced heart failure who were candidates for heart transplantation were retrospectively evaluated. The clinical information, cardiac catheterisation results, and computed tomography images were gathered from institutional database system.

MitraClip Removal During Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is an important consequence of heart failure (HF) patients, which increases hospitalization and mortality rates. The MitraClip procedure is increasingly preferred for HF patients with obvious MR to improve MR and related symptoms. In some cases, patients may need further intervention such as left ventricular assist device implantation with the aim of improving progressive clinical deterioration caused by the progression of HF or mitral clip associated complications (i.

The publication rate of oral presentations presented in national congresses of Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Background: This study aims to investigate the literature contribution of oral presentations presented in the largest national congresses of the Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Methods: A total of 675 orally presented abstracts during biannually organized 12, 13, and 14 congresses were reviewed using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases in May 2018. Abstracts were searched for institutions where they were submitted, publication status in scientific journals, type of peer-reviewed journal, and publication year.

The mid-term effect of left ventricular assist devices on renal functions.

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the mid-term effects of left ventricular assist devices on kidney functions.

Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2017, a total of 61 patients (53 males, 8 females; mean age 46.4±11.

Fluid inside driveline after left ventricular assist device implantation: A rare case.

In this article, we present our diagnostic and therapeutic approach in a rare case in whom fluid inside the driveline developed following left ventricular assist device implantation.

The effect of time between angiography and coronary artery bypass grafting on postoperative acute kidney injury in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of time interval between coronary angiography and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery on postoperative acute kidney injury in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Between December 2013 and November 2016, a total of 421 diabetic patients (274 males, 147 females; mean age 60±9.2 years; range, 31 to 84 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were included in the study.

Regenerating a ventricular cavity during left ventricular assist device implantation.

Ten months after an ineffective percutaneous coronary stent placement, a 53-year-old patient was rehospitalized with NYHA functional class IV congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease and left ventricular aneurysm. Echocardiography revealed thrombus formation in the left ventricle with apical aneurysm. Even though left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation improves quality of patients' lives with an increase of its overall use, it becomes more complicated in the presence of ventricular thrombus.

Immediate Outcomes of Aortic Valve Replacement with Sutureless versus Stentless Bioprosthesis.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a sutureless valve is an innovative therapy in high-risk elderly patients. The study aim was to compare the early results of AVR using sutureless aortic valves or stentless aortic bioprostheses.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 55 patients who underwent AVR with either a sutureless valve (Perceval S; n = 24 or Edwards Intuity; n = 9) or a stentless valve (Sorin Freedom SOLO™; n = 22).

The role of genetics in coronary artery bypass surgery patients under 30 years of age.

Aim: We undertook genetic assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 20 patients aged 30 years or less undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, to investigate the prognostic value of pre-defined genes.

Methods: Twenty patients, who underwent CABG surgery between December 2001 and May 2013, were retrospectively analysed to find out the role their genetic make-up played in their disease. We used three genetic diagnostic tests, the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) -1 gene, the A1/A2 polymorphism of glycoprotein IIIa (GpIIIa) gene, and common polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene.

Early Outcomes of Sutureless Aortic Valves.

Background: In elderly high-risk surgical patients, sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) should be an alternative to standard AVR. The potential advantages of sutureless aortic prostheses include reducing cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and facilitating minimally invasive surgery and complex cardiac interventions, while maintaining satisfactory hemodynamic outcomes and low rates of paravalvular leakage. The current study reports our single-center experience regarding the early outcomes of sutureless aortic valve implantation.

Oxidant-antioxidant balance during on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in perioperative oxidant-antioxidant balance in ONCABG.

Methods: Twenty-three patients were included in this study. Serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were assessed preoperatively, at 20 minutes after aortic clamping and at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 48 hours after declamping (reperfusion).

Forearm compartment syndrome caused by reperfusion injury.

Compartment syndrome is commonly seen following lower extremity ischemia. However, upper extremities' compartment syndrome, especially after any vascular surgical procedures, is infrequent. Herein we report a case of an acute forearm compartment syndrome that was developed after delayed brachial artery embolectomy.