Combined radiofrequency ablation and myxoma resection through a port access approach.

Myxomas are common cardiac tumors that are traditionally managed by complete excision through a median sternotomy approach with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. We discuss a patient with left atrial myxoma and chronic atrial fibrillation who underwent surgical excision and combined irrigated radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation through a Port Access approach. Minimally invasive operations constitute an expanding field for the treatment of many cardiac diseases and may be an alternative for the treatment of this pathology because of less surgical trauma and cosmetic superiority.

Vitamin D receptor alleles, bone mineral density and turnover in postmenopausal osteoporotic and healthy women.

Objective: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and bone metabolic markers were investigated as potential genetic markers for osteoporosis in postmenopausal Turkish women. The relationship between their VDR gene polymorphisms and bone states was determined.

Materials And Methods: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms at the VDR gene locus (i.

Does off-pump CABG reduce gastrointestinal complications?

Background: The aim of this study was to compare gastrointestinal complications and associated risk factors among patients undergoing cardiac surgery using off- and on-pump revascularization techniques.

Methods: A total of 1146 adult patients who underwent coronary artery surgery during a 6-year period were evaluated retrospectively. Group 1 consisted of 546 patients operated using off-pump techniques and group 2 consisted of 600 cases operated with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Combined radiofrequency modified maze and mitral valve procedure through a port access approach: early and mid-term results.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of irrigated radiofrequency (RF) modified Maze procedure through a port access approach during mitral valve surgery and evaluate early and mid-term results.

Material And Method: During a 16 months time period, 67 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) eligible for port access mitral valve surgery were randomly assigned to either Group A, in which they underwent a combined procedure (N = 33) or Group B, in which a valve procedure alone was performed (N = 34). Both groups were similar in terms of age, sex, valve pathology, duration of AF left atrial diameter and left ventricle function (P > 0.

Comparison of intraoperative transit-time flow measurement with early postoperative magnetic resonance flow mapping in off-pump coronary artery surgery.

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate graft patency of off-pump coronary artery surgery intraoperatively by transit-time flow measurement and to compare this technique with postoperative magnetic resonance flow mapping. Twenty patients (13 men and 7 women; mean age, 679 +/- 76 yr) underwent off-pump coronary artery surgery. Intraoperative transit-time flow measurement of grafts was performed measuring maximum, minimum, and mean flows.

The use of stentless valves for root replacement during repair of ascending aortic aneurysms with aortic valve regurgitation.

Background: Early and mid-term results of stentless valves for the treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm (AAA) were evaluated in a retrospective manner.

Material And Methods: During a four-year period, 26 patients with ascending aortic aneurysms and aortic valve insufficiency underwent a total root replacement procedure using a stentless "Freestyle" valve (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis MN).

Does off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery reduce mortality in high risk patients?

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare outcome in two groups of patients who were classified according to their risk groups and underwent coronary revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Material And Methods: Between January 1996 and July 2000, 480 cases that underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) were included in a retrospective nonrandomized manner for study. Group 1 included 210 patients who were revascularized using off-pump techniques.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with use of the octopus 2 stabilization system.

Background: The treatment of coronary artery disease has evolved rapidly over the last two decades. The gold standard of surgical revascularization, the on-pump coronary artery bypass graft, has been challenged by the development of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Our experience with the alternative of the off-pump ("beating heart") coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) technique during a period of 18 months suggests that OPCAB avoids the complications of cardiopulmonary bypass and offers patients the benefit of long-term graft patency that greatly exceeds that of current endovascular technologies.

Electrical activity regulates AChR gene expression via JNK, PKCzeta and Sp1 in skeletal chick muscle.

Electrical activity of myotubes represses nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) gene expression. This effect is mimicked by okadaic acid and blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) or staurosporine in cultured myocytes [Altiok et al., EMBO J.

The use of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist ondansetron for the treatment of postcardiotomy delirium.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist ondansetron in patients with postcardiotomy delirium.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University hospital.