Hematological Changes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: a Prospective Study.

Objectives: Removal of pro inflammatory stimuli after CABG, wound closure and the regenerative ability of the bone marrow will ensure a gradual recovery of hematological parameters. The aim of this study was to assess the hematological changes after CABG.

Materials And Methods: A prospective cohort study included 164 consecutive patients undergoing on pump CABG surgery between January 2012 and January 2013.

Epidemiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Southern Albania.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, incidence and the burden of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Southern Albania.

Material And Methods: This is an epidemiologic observational study with cross-sectional analyses of all patients with RA who lived in Southern Albania during the 1995-2011 years. The RA prevalence, incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were assessed.

Papillary fibroelastoma of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve mimicking vegetation.

Introduction: The papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a rare and benign primary cardiac tumor, and the mostly frequently found tumor occurring in cardiac valves.

Case Presentation: We describe a 52 year old female presenting a history of 2 weeks of fever due to wound infection after breast's surgery. A preoperative echocardiography demonstrated a mass >1cm(2) originating from the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve mimicking vegetation.

Papillary fibroelastoma of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve mimicking vegetation.

The papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a rare and benign primary cardiac tumor, and the most frequently found tumor occurring in the cardiac valves. With the introduction of echocardiography, the diagnosis of these tumors in living patients has been reported sporadically. The PFEs have been found most often on valve leaflets, chordae tendineae, and both ventricles.

Differences in the availability of diagnostics and treatment modalities for chronic hepatitis B across Europe.

The prevalence and management of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection differ among European countries. The availability and reimbursement of diagnostics and drugs may also vary, determining distinct treatment outcomes. Herein, we analyse differences in medical facilities for the care of patients with chronic HBV infection across Europe.

Primary cardiac synovial sarcoma originating from the mitral valve causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

An 11-year-old boy was admitted due to different episodes of syncope and convulsion. Echocardiogram revealed a mass of 2 × 4 cm originating from the mitral subvalvular apparatus and more precisely from the antero-lateral papillary muscle, protruding in the left ventricle outflow tract causing intermittent obstruction. The patient underwent surgical excision of the left sided mass.

Hemodynamics of 17-mm vs. 19-mm St. Jude Medical Regent and annulus enlargement.

Objective: We aimed to compare early and midterm clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of 17-mm vs. 19-mm St. Jude Medical Regent valves with concomitant aortic annulus enlargement.

A giant myxoma originating from the aortic valve causing severe left ventricular tract obstruction: a case report and literature review.

Introduction: The left ventricular localization of a myxoma is very rare, usually arising from the interventricular septum close to the left ventricular outflow tract, the mitral valve, the ventricular wall and extremely rarely the aortic valve.

Case Presentation: A 13-year-old male was admitted due to dyspnea and angina. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with a mean gradient of 58 mmHg, and a mobile mass measuring 65×25 mm originating from the ventricular surface of the aortic valve was identified.

Surgical treatment of a massive bilateral pulmonary embolus due to an entrapped thrombus in a patent foramen ovale: a case report.

Introduction: Entrapped thrombus in a patent foramen ovale is a rare form of right heart thromboembolism. Various treatments have been used, such as anti-coagulation and thrombolytic therapy, vena cava filter, percutaneous thrombectomy and surgical embolectomy.

Case Presentation: A 60-year-old Kosovan woman was admitted to our hospital with a massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism, entrapped thrombus in the patent foramen ovale and severe right ventricular dysfunction.

Endovascular treatment of superior vena cava obstruction after surgical correction of intracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

A three-month-old infant operated for obstructed intracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was readmitted because of sinus bradycardia and superior vena cava syndrome. Cardiac catheterization revealed a stenosis at the superior vena cava-right atrial junction with retrograde azygos flow. Following balloon dilatation of the stenotic area and stent implantation, the superior vena cava syndrome was rapidly relieved.

The prevalence and consequences of malnutrition risk in elderly Albanian intensive care unit patients.

Purpose: Many investigators have reported rising numbers of elderly patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition risk in the ICU by comparing the prevalence of malnutrition between older adults (aged 65 years and above) and adults (aged 18-64 years), and to examine the negative consequences associated with risk of malnutrition in older adults.

Materials And Methods: A prospective cohort study in the ICU of the University Hospital Center of Tirana, Albania, was conducted.

Entrapped thrombus in a foramen ovale causing pulmonary emboli treated with emergent surgery. Literature review.

A 60-year-old woman was admitted due to massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism and entrapped thrombus in the patent foramen ovale and severe right ventricular dysfunction. The patient underwent on-pump/beating heart removal of the intracardiac thrombus and bilateral pulmonary embolectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Early and mid-term postoperative outcome of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of this study is to report our experience on the postoperative outcome of surgical treatment of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA).

Materials And Methods: Between January 1997 and March 2014, 35 patients with IAAA underwent surgery. The mean age was 63 ± 18 years.

Surgical treatment of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms: outcome and predictors analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report our experience on the postoperative outcome of surgical treatment of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA).

Materials And Methods: Between 1997-2014, 35 patients with IAAA underwent surgery. The mean age was 63+/-18years.

The peacock tail technique: a modified reconstruction technique for tricuspid valve repair in Ebstein's malformation.

The "peacock tail" technique is a modification of the cone reconstruction technique for Ebstein's malformation and failing right ventricle and is performed simultaneously with a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt. The technique consists of total detachment of the posterior and anterior tricuspid valve leaflets, which are rotated simultaneously clockwise and counterclockwise and sutured at the midseptal leaflet level, forming a new tricuspid valve (TV). The constructed cone-shaped valve is then attached in its entire circumference to the true tricuspid annulus.

One and a half ventricle repair in association with tricuspid valve repair according to "peacock tail" technique in patients with Ebstein's malformation and failing right ventricle.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome in a series of patients with Ebstein's anomaly and a failing right ventricle (RV) undergoing tricuspid valve (TV) repair and bidirectional Glenn cavopulmonary anastomosis (BDG).

Materials And Method: Between January 2006 and September 2013, 11 consecutive patients diagnosed with severe forms of Ebstein's anomaly and a failing RV underwent TV surgery and BDG. The mean age was 16.

An epidemiological study on ankylosing spondylitis in southern Albania.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in southern Albania and to assess the association of various demographic risk factors with the severity of disease.

Material And Methods: This is an observational study with cross-sectional analyses, conducted in the region of Gjirokaster, between 1995 until 2011. The diagnosis of AS was based on the modified New York criteria.

Perventricular device closure of a large residual perimembranous interventricular septal defect after previous surgical correction.

A 21 years albanian patient was referred with important residual left to right shunt. He was undergone 7 years before conventional surgical correction of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). The patient underwent sternotomy and perventricular device closure of the residual employing a 16 mm multifenestrated atrial septal defect occlude, which was positioned through the anterior wall of the right ventricle.

A giant cardiac malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor presenting with total obstruction of the superior vena cava.

A 16-year-old boy presenting with dyspnea, facial swelling, cyanosis, and fatigue was found to have a tumor involving the heart, causing superior vena cava and brachiocephalic venous trunk total obstruction. This was diagnosed as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, a rare sarcoma of the heart. The patient underwent successful resection of the tumor, and reconstruction of the superior vena cava and right atrium.

HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 allele associations in an Albanian patient population with rheumatoid arthritis: correlations with the specific autoantibody markers and inter-population DRB1 allele frequency variability.

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and its specific autoantibodies varies in different populations. This variability depends on the genetic polymorphism of the immune response genes among which the HLA system plays a major role. In this context, we studied the HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 first-level allele frequencies in 100 Albanian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and taking into account their rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) serologic subgroups, we compared them with the respective frequencies in a population of 191 Albanian individuals without known pathology.

Surgical outcome of reoperation due to left atrioventricular valve regurgitation after previous correction of complete atrioventricular septal defect.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the early and late outcomes in patients undergoing reoperation due to left atrioventricular valve regurgitation (LAVVR) after initial complete repair (ICR) of complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD).

Materials And Method: Between January 1990 and April 2013, 45 consecutive patients underwent reoperation due to severe LAVVR. The mean age was 7.

Orbital complications of sinusitis.

Background: Despite the modern antibiotherapies applied in the practice of otorhinolaryngology, the orbital complications of sinusitis are still considered a serious threat to essential functions of the eye, including loss of vision, and at worst, life threatening symptoms.

Aims: The goal of this study is to consider and analyse patients who were treated for these complications in the last decade in our hospital, which is the only tertiary hospital in our country.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of cases.

Streptococcus bovis isolated in haemoculture a signal of malignant lesion of the colon.

S. bovis is known for causing bacteremia and endocarditis as well as accompanying malignant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, identification of this species and recognition of the clinical characteristics of infections caused are essential for both therapy and prognosis.