Spinal cord stimulation may improve not only intractable pain but also necrotic wounds.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an implantable neuromodulation modality, is one of the most exciting developments in chronic pain syndromes. In addition, SCS may improve intractable pain and may help ischemic wound healing. Herein, we report a 59-year-old female patient with persistent neuropathic pain and peripheral arterial disease in the lower limb which was treated successfully with SCS.

Systemic oxidant/antioxidant balance in human abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidant-antioxidant balance in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Forty-two consecutive patients with AAA and 46 control subjects were included. Total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were measured and the oxidative stress index (OSI) value determined. Serum TOS and OSI values in patients with AAA were higher than those in the controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between abdominal aortic diameters, serum TOS levels (r = 0.592, p < 0.001) and OSI values (r = 0.598, p < 0.001). A cut-off value of 17.68 µmol H2O2equivalent/L for TOS was associated with 86% sensitivity and 83% specificity and a cut-off value of 1.77 for OSI was associated with 86% sensitivity and 81% specificity for predicting AAA. Systemic oxidative imbalance develops in patients with AAA, particularly as a result of an increase in TOS.

Comparison of perioperative oxidative stress in endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate the differences in perioperative oxidative stress (OS) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients treated with either endovascular repair (EVAR) or open repair (OR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (11 OR, 9 EVAR) treated for AAA with no known malignant or inflammatory disease and an aneurysm diameter of over 5 cm and no rupture were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained preoperatively, during aortic occlusion, and 1 h and 24 h after reperfusion. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidative stress (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. RESULTS: OSI at 1 h and 24 h after reperfusion was higher in the EVAR group (P = 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). TAS levels were higher (P = 0.001, P = 0,029). MDA levels showed no difference (P = 0.291, P = 0.076). TOS levels were lower 24 h after reperfusion in the EVAR group (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Markers of oxidative stress were lower in the EVAR group. This may be associated with advantages of EVAR. More studies are required for a clear-cut conclusion.

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). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median aortic cross clamping (XC) time: group 1 (XC time < 42 minutes) and group 2 (XC time ≥ 42 minutes). RESULTS: TOS and OSI values of whole patients at 30 minutes after reperfusion were higher than preoperative values (P = 0.045, P = 0.015), while perioperative TAS levels of the patients were similar to the preoperative levels (P = 0.173). XC time was correlated with TOS levels at 30 minutes after reperfusion (r = 0.43, P = 0.041). In group 2, TOS and OSI values at 30 minutes after reperfusion were higher than preoperative values (P = 0.023, P = 0.048), whereas a significant difference was not found in group 1 (P = 0.601, P = 0.327). CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative imbalance and increase in TOS at reperfusion in ONCABG may be associated with XC time.

Initial experiences of young cardiologists with balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve implantation in Turkey: a case series of eleven patients.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical aortic valve replacement is the gold standard of treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis in all age groups. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), which is performed by senior interventional cardiologists in experienced centers, is an alternative therapy for patients considered to be at high risk for surgery. The aim of this study is to describe the procedural success and short-term results of TAVI performed by young interventional cardiologists in Trabzon, Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients, 10 women and 1 man, who were treated by balloon-expandable TAVI through transfemoral access between January 2012 and April 2012, were included in the study. The clinical and echocardiographic parameters of the patients were compared before and three months after the procedure. RESULTS: The median calculated logistic EuroSCORE and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score of patients were 28% (24%-34%) and 14% (12%-18%), respectively. The median age of the patients was 83 years and ranged from 80-85 years. The mean aortic valve pressure gradient and the aortic valve area were significantly improved after TAVI. The mean aortic valve pressure gradient was 48 (46-53) mmHg before treatment and 20 (16-23) mmHg after treatment (p=0.003). The aortic valve area was 0.65 (0.55-0.70) cm(2) before treatment and 1.7 (1.6-1.8) cm(2) after treatment. The functional status of the patients improved from NYHA class 3-4 to NYHA class 1-2. Intraprocedural mortality was not observed, and the overall 3 month mortality was 9%. CONCLUSION: TAVI can be performed successfully by young cardiologists. In centers with high patient loads, we encourage young cardiologists to perform TAVI if they have received the appropriate training and to form specialized, cooperating teams with a focus on TAVI.

Delayed diaphragmatic hernia: an unusual complication of tube thoracostomy.

The nature of a tube thoracostomy -a blind maneuver- renders it subject to complications. Nevertheless, it is very uncommon to create a diaphragmatic hernia with this procedure. Herein, we present the occurrence of this complication after six months under emergency conditions that was treated by thoracotomy.

Ectopic thyroid gland on the ascending aorta with a partial pericardial defect: report of a case.

Intrathoracic ectopic goiters are rare. To our knowledge, only two reports of thyroid tissue on the aorta have been reported in the English literature. A 42-year-old woman was found to have a right paracardiac mass. Sternotomy revealed a firm and encapsulated tumor attached to the anterolateral surface of the ascending aorta and a defect in the right superior part of the pericardium. The mass was completely excised and histopathologic examination confirmed a multinodular goiter. We discuss the features of this rare tumor.

Effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 on pannus formation in replacement prosthetic heart valves.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a multifunctional protein which plays a role in smooth muscle cell growth, wound healing, tissue repair and angiogenesis. FGF-2 is also released by mechanically wounded cells. Herein, the importance of FGF-2 release from periannular tissue in the mechanism of pannus formation in obstructed mechanical prostheses was investigated. METHODS: Between January 1993 and December 2002, 35 patients with an obstructed bileaflet prosthetic mitral valve were classified according to the nature of obstruction as either thrombus or pannus. Data were related to patient age and gender, prosthesis model and size, intraoperative and pathology findings, and interval between implant and thrombosis. FGF-2 release was monitored immunohistochemically in all cases. RESULTS: Thrombus formation was found in 19 patients, and pannus formation in 16. Patients were reoperated on after 3.10 +/- 0.7 years in the thrombus group, and after 6.3 +/- 0.46 years in the pannus group (p = 0.04). A foreign body reaction was found 78.9% of thrombus patients and 81.2% of pannus patients (p = 0.602), chronic inflammation in 31.5% and 50%, respectively (p = 0.317), and FGF-2 release in 78.9% and 87.5%, respectively (p = 0.582). CONCLUSION: As FGF-2 release was similar in both patient groups, the duration of FGF-2 release from injured periannnular tissue was considered to form part of the chronic healing process, and was not attributed to mitral valve obstruction by pannus formation.

True and pseudo aneurysms of coronary arteries in a patient with Behçet's disease.

A 33-year-old man with a 9-year history of Behçet's disease was hospitalized with a giant pseudo aneurysm of left anterior descending and true aneurysm of right coronary artery. This unusual vascular complication of Behçet's disease treated successfully is presented.