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.

Sex Difference in Patients With Ischemic Heart Failure Undergoing Surgical Revascularization: Results From the STICH Trial (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure).

Background: Female sex is conventionally considered a risk factor for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and has been included as a poor prognostic factor in multiple cardiac operative risk evaluation scores. We aimed to investigate the association of sex and the long-term benefit of CABG in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction enrolled in the prospective STICH trial (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Study).

Methods: The STICH trial randomized 1212 patients (148 [12%] women and 1064 [88%] men) with coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% to CABG+medical therapy (MED) versus MED alone.

The Significance of Pain in Chronic Venous Disease and its Medical Treatment.

Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is a highly prevalent condition in the general population, and it has a significant impact on quality of life. While it is usually manifested by obvious signs, such as varicose veins and venous ulcers, other symptoms of the disease are less specific. Among the other symptoms, which include heaviness, swelling, muscle cramps and restless legs, pain is the symptom that most frequently compels CVeD patients to seek medical aid.

Impact of Intubation Time on Survival following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Insights from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trial.

Objective: The authors aimed to assess determinants of intubation time and evaluate its impact on 30-day and 1-year postoperative survival in Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial patients.

Design, Setting, Participants, And Interventions: A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used among the 1,446 surgical patients from the STICH trial who survived 36 hours after operation, in order to identify perioperative factors associated with 30-day and 1-year postoperative mortality. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors associated with intubation time.

Correlation of structural defects in the ascending aortic wall to ultrasound parameters: benefits for decision-making process in aortic valve surgery.

Background: Histopathological changes in the ascending aorta wall in patients with severe tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) stenosis were graded and correlated to echocardiographic parameters. Objective was to associate threshold echocardiographic values with structural defects in the ascending aorta providing a tool to improve decision-making process in cases when simultaneous aortic valve replacement (AVR) and ascending aorta replacement is considered.

Methods: Biopsies from 108 TAV stenosis patients subjected to AVR were graded into three grades according to severity of aortic wall changes.

Renal Dysfunction Following Elective Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a degenerative disease of the aortic wall with potentially fatal complications. Open repair (OR) was considered the gold standard, until the emergence of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), which is less invasive and equally (if not more) effective. As the popularity of endovascular procedures grows, related complications become more evident, with kidney damage being one of them.

Effect of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment on mortality in acute respiratory infections: a patient level meta-analysis.

Background: In February, 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the blood infection marker procalcitonin for guiding antibiotic therapy in patients with acute respiratory infections. This meta-analysis of patient data from 26 randomised controlled trials was designed to assess safety of procalcitonin-guided treatment in patients with acute respiratory infections from different clinical settings.

Methods: Based on a prespecified Cochrane protocol, we did a systematic literature search on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Embase, and pooled individual patient data from trials in which patients with respiratory infections were randomly assigned to receive antibiotics based on procalcitonin concentrations (procalcitonin-guided group) or control.

Predictors of Quality of Life Improvement after 2 Years of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Purpose: The aim was to examine the predictors of improvement of quality of life after 2 years of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: In all, 208 patients who underwent the elective CABG at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases Dedinje in Belgrade were contacted and examined 2 years after the surgery. All patients completed Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part one.

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.

Awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors among medical students.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as to assess the impact of medical education on their knowledge and recognition of the importance of implementation of preventive measures.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 514 students in the second year of studying at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Serbia (younger students response rate 79.57%) and 511 students in the last year of education (older students response rate 90.

Should We be Concerned About the Inflammatory Response to Endovascular Procedures?

Endovascular surgery represents a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of occlusive and aneurysmal arterial disease. However, it is followed by inflammatory response, with a rise in specific inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and fibrinogen. Shear stress during balloon inflation and vascular injury represents triggering events for the inflammatory process, stimulating the production of proinflammatory molecules and activation of circulating monocytes.

Preoperative Insight Into the Quality of Radial Artery Grafts.

We investigated the impact of preoperative ultrasonography of the forearm circulation on radial artery conduit selection. Preoperative ultrasound of the forearm circulation was performed routinely in 536 patients planned for radial artery harvesting. The safety assessment of the harvest included the following algorithm of tests: the ultrasound, the Allen test, and pulse oximetry.

Influence of a High-Fat Diet on Cardiac iNOS in Female Rats.

Background: Overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a key link between high-fat (HF) diet induced obesity and cardiovascular disease. Oestradiol has cardioprotective effects that may be mediated through reduction of iNOS activity/expression.

Methods: In the present study, female Wistar rats were fed a standard diet or a HF diet (42% fat) for 10 weeks.

Bilateral Eagle Syndrome with Associated Internal Carotid Artery Kinking and Significant Stenosis.

Background: Eagle syndrome represents elongated styloid process characterized by calcification and ossification of the stylohyoid ligament rarely associated with the pathology of carotid arteries. We are presenting a very rare case of bilateral Eagle syndrome with associated internal carotid artery (ICA) kinking on the right side and significant ICA stenosis on the left side.

Case Report: A 62-year-old female patient was admitted to our Institution for multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography.