Left brachiocephalic vein-right atrial bypass in superior vena cava syndrome.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a condition with total or partial stenosis in the superior vena cava (SVC) as a result of intrathoracic malignancies or microtrauma caused by central venous catheterisation. Various invasive and surgical interventions are performed to provide venous drainage in these patients whose head and neck venous blood flow is impaired. In this case report, we report on a bypass performed with a synthetic graft between the left brachiocephalic vein and the right atrium in a patient with SVCS.

Predictive value of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in severe degenerative aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is the most common cause of left ventricular outflow obstruction, and its prevalence among elderly patients causes a major public health burden. Recently, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been recognized as a novel prognostic biomarker that offers information about both aggregation and inflammation pathways. Since PLR indicates inflammation, we hypothesized that PLR may be associated with the severity of AVS due to chronic inflammation pathways that cause stiffness and calcification of the aortic valve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 117 patients with severe degenerative AVS, who underwent aortic valve replacement and 117 control patients in our clinic. PLR was defined as the absolute platelet count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count. Severe AVS was defined as calcification and sclerosis of the valve with a mean pressure gradient of >40 mmHg. RESULTS: PLR was 197.03 ± 49.61 in the AVS group and 144.9 ± 40.35 in the control group, which indicated a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that PLR values over 188 predicted the severity of aortic stenosis with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 70% (95% confidence interval = 0.734-0.882; P < 0.001; area under ROC curve: 0.808). CONCLUSION: We suggest that the level of PLR elevation is related to the severity of degenerative AVS, and PLR should be used to monitor patients' inflammatory responses and the efficacy of treatment, which will lead us to more closely monitor this high-risk population to detect severe degenerative AVS at an early stage.

Renal failure after coronary bypass surgery and the associated risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with acute renal failure in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: One hundred and six patients who developed renal failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) constituted the study group (RF group), while 110 patients who did not develop renal failure served as a control group (C group). In addition, the RF group was divided into two subgroups: patients that were treated with conservative methods without the need for hemodialysis (NH group) and patients that required hemodialysis (HR group). Risk factors associated with renal failure were investigated. RESULTS: Among the 106 patients that developed renal failure (RF), 80 patients were treated with conservative methods without any need for hemodialysis (NH group); while 26 patients required hemodialysis in the postoperative period (HR group). The multivariate analysis showed that diabetes mellitus and the postoperative use of positive inotropes and adrenaline were significant risk factors associated with development of renal failure. In addition, carotid stenosis and postoperative use of adrenaline were found to be significant risk factors associated with hemodialysis-dependent renal failure (P < .05). The mortality in the RF group was determined as 13.2%, while the mortality rate in patients who did not require hemodialysis and those who required hemodialysis was 6.2% and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Renal failure requiring hemodialysis after CABG often results in high morbidity and mortality. Factors affecting microcirculation and atherosclerosis, like diabetes mellitus, carotid artery stenosis, and postoperative vasopressor use remain the major risk factors for the development of renal failure.

Diagnostic accuracy of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the evaluation of postoperative left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

We compared the diagnostic accuracy of N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with that of echocardiography in the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction after coronary artery bypass grafting. Thirty patients were studied prospectively. Patients who had recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, or low ejection fraction with systolic dysfunction were excluded. Two blood samples were obtained: before anesthetic induction and on the 7th postoperative day. Levels of NT-proBNP were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Comprehensive echocardiographic Doppler examinations were performed on admission and on the 7th postoperative day. Relationships between NT-proBNP levels and echocardiographic indices were evaluated by correlation, multiple linear regression, and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. There were significant and correlated worsenings in diastolic stage as determined both by echocardiographic indices and NT-proBNP levels. Early transmitral-to-early diastolic annular velocity ratio (E/Ea) was found to correlate with both NT-proBNP and postoperative diastolic functional stage (r=0.78, P <0.001). Mitral E/Ea was significantly more sensitive than were NT-proBNP levels in predicting diastolic functional stage. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for NT-proBNP was significantly lower than that of mitral E/Ea (mean difference, 0.12; P=0.024). The NT-proBNP had 87.5% sensitivity and 55% specificity, whereas E/Ea had 87.5% sensitivity and 86.4% specificity. Plasma NT-proBNP levels are significantly related to mitral E/Ea ratio, which is a predictor of diastolic stage. Therefore, elevated NT-proBNP levels may indicate the time for a Doppler echocardiographic evaluation and identify a subgroup of patients at high risk who need closer monitoring during the early postoperative period.