Thrombocytopenia in Moderate- to High-Risk Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare preliminary data on the outcomes of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) with those of aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of SU-AVR in moderate- to high-risk patients from 2013 to 2016. Matching was performed at a 1:1 ratio using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality score with sex and age. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were operative outcomes and complications. RESULTS: A total of 277 patients were studied. Ten patients (50% males; median age, 81.5 years) underwent SU-AVR. Postoperative echocardiography showed impressive outcomes in the SU-AVR group. The 30-day mortality was 10% in both groups. In our study, the patients in the SU-AVR group developed postoperative thrombocytopenia. Platelet counts decreased from 225×10³/μL preoperatively to 94.5, 54.5, and 50.1×10³/μL on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3, respectively, showing significant differences compared with the AVR group (p=0.04, p=0.16, and p=0.20, respectively). The median amount of platelet transfusion was higher in the AVR group (12.5 vs. 0 units, p=0.052). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the 30-day mortality of moderate- to high-risk patients depending on whether they underwent SU-AVR or AVR. Although SU-AVR is associated with favorable cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times, it may be associated with postoperative thrombocytopenia.

Clinical Analysis of Carotid Artery Stenting in Symptomatic High-Risk Patients : A Single Stroke Center Study / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The early management of patients with acute symptoms due to carotid stenosis remains a subject of debate. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with symptomatic extracranial carotid artery stenosis. Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has recently emerged as an alternative to CEA for the primary and secondary prevention of stroke in patients who are at a high risk for complications from surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate and analyze the clinical outcome of symptomatic high-risk patients with carotid stenosis that was treated with early CAS in a single stroke center. METHODS: From January 2008 to October 2009, we retrospectively analyzed 75 symptomatic high-risk carotid stenosis patients who had been admitted to the stroke center of our neurosurgical department and who were treated with early CAS. Twenty-five patients had transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 50 patients had minor or major stroke and all of them were at a high medical and surgical risk for carotid endarterectomy. They were treated with early CAS as soon as possible (treatment was done within 2 weeks from the onset of symptoms). RESULTS: At three months, 15 patients (20%) in the TIA and stroke group experienced an improvement in their initial neurologic deficit (a decreased modified Rankin scale greater than 2), while in 59 patients (78.4%) the deficit remained stable, and only one patient had a neurological impairment. CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that urgent assessment and early initiation of a combination of existing preventive treatments can reduce the risk of early recurrent stroke after TIA and minor or major stroke in the symptomatic high-risk patients with carotid stenosis.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in high-risk patients / 中国微创外科杂志

5) receiving cardiopulmonary coronary artery bypass grafting(CCAB) during the same period was reviewed as control group(CCAB Group).The preoperative risk factors,operation parameters,and postoperative outcomes between the two groups were compared for statistical analysis.Results The EuroSCORE value of the OPCAB Group and the CCAB Group was 9.0?2.6 and 8.3?2.1,respectively(t=2.016,P=0.045). The number of grafts in the OPCAB Group was less than that in the CCAB Group(3.2?0.9 vs 3.8?0.9;t=-4.267,P=0.000).The postoperative levels of creatine kinase(CK) and creatine kinase myocardial band(CK-MB) were significantly lower in the OPCAB Group [570(61～8246) U/L and 20(1～282) U/L] than the CCAB Group [870(246～8155) U/L and 55(12～300) U/L](Z=-3.648 and-5.767,P=0.000).The blood transfusion in the OPCAB Group was significantly less than that in the CCAB Group(775?693 ml vs 1088?712 ml;t=-2.887,P=0.004).There was no statistical difference in postoperative complications between the two groups.The mortality is 3.5%(4/113) in the OPCAB Group and 6.6%(5/76) in the CCAB Group,without statistical difference(?2=0.925,P=0.336).Conclusions OPCAB is safe and effective in high risk patients.Different operation methods should be used for patients with different risks.

Minimally invasive treatment for intertrochanteric fractures of the femur in high-risk patients / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of minimally invasive external fixation in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur in high-risk patients. Methods By using a monolateral external fixator with oblique pin-insertion, we treated 77 consecutive elderly patients (mean age, 71.3) with intertrochanteric fractures of the femur associated with at least one kind of severe systemic diseases from June 1996 to June 2004. Fractures included 70 cases of anterograde intertrochanteric fracture (According to the Evans classification, there were 5 cases of type Ⅰ fracture, 11 cases of type Ⅱ, 34 type ⅢA, 9 type ⅢB, and 11 type Ⅳ.) and 7 cases of retrograde intertrochanteric fracture. A total of 8 patients were combined with multiple injuries. Results A follow-up was made for 5~60 months (mean, 24.3 months). Complete bone union was achieved in all the patients within a period of 8~20 weeks (mean, 12 weeks). Postoperatively, no non-union or coxa vara occurred. According to the Harris hip scores, 49 patients were classified as “excellent” results, 21 as “good”, and 7 as “poor” (all of which were fatal cases), the “excellent-and-good” rate being 91%. Conclusions Minimally invasive external fixation is an alternative to open internal fixation in the management of intertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients, especially suitable to those with multiple injuries.

Successful Coronary Interventions with the Aid of Abciximab (ReoPro (R)) in High-Risk Patients: Report of Two Cases / 대한구급학회지

Abrupt closure of coronary artery during coronary intervention is one of major limitations especially in high-risk patients. Platelets are responsible for composing acute thrombotic occlusion at the site of therapeutic arterial injury. Abciximab (platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker) might be helpful in preventing the acute thrombotic occlusion. We experienced an excellent effects of the drug in two cases of high-risk patients, unsuccessful thrombolytics and PTCA with acute occlusion. With additional use of abciximab we overcame the complications and succeeded in getting normal coronary flow and resultant successful angioplasties.