Therapeutic alliance trajectories and associations with outcome in psychodynamic child psychotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated therapeutic alliance (TA) trajectories, their demographic and symptomatic predictors, and associations with outcome in psychodynamic child psychotherapy. METHOD: The sample included 89 Turkish children (Mage = 6.87, SD = 2.11, 46% girls) with internalizing (37.11%), externalizing (21.14%), and comorbid (38.20%) problems; 12% of the children were in the nonclinical range. Independent raters coded 328 sessions from different phases of treatment using the Therapy Process Observational Coding System-Alliance Scale. Outcome measures were collected at intake and termination (Children's Behavior Checklist and Teacher Rating Form). RESULTS: Multilevel growth curve modeling indicated that TA showed a quadratic trend (high-low-high) over the course of treatment. The shape-of-change methodology indicated three subgroups following a stable pattern, a slow and an accelerated quadratic TA trajectory. Externalizing problems (teacher report) negatively predicted average TA strength. Boys and children with internalizing problems showed a declining TA trajectory, whereas children with externalizing problems (teacher report) showed an upward TA trajectory. Multivariate multiple regression analyses showed that the average TA (i.e., intercept) and the positive quadratic slope (the high-low-high pattern) positively predicted changes in internalizing and externalizing problems (teacher report). DISCUSSION: This study was the first to show the course of TA development in psychodynamic child psychotherapy, identify a number of child characteristics that facilitate and impede TA. Investigating both the strength and patterns of TA development when examining associations with outcome is important. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Coronary flow reserve in patients with left anterior descending artery-left internal mammary artery long patch plasty anastomosis: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed at assessing the efficacy of the patch plasty technique without endarterectomy in patients with diffuse coronary artery. Long anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery graft (LIMA) to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery was performed and examined using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to detect coronary flow reserve (CFR) and epicardial stenosis. METHODS: Forty-one patients (6 women; mean age, 58 ± 9 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery using the patch plasty technique without endarterectomy were included in the study. Presence of CFR was examined in each patient by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: One of the patients (2.4%) died on the first postoperative day. The remaining patients were divided into 2 groups: those with normal CFR (CFR ≥ 2) (n = 35, 88%) and those with low CFR (CFR < 2) (n = 5, 12.0%). The length of patch plasty (3.6 ± 0.82 cm) in the low CFR group was significantly longer than that in the normal CFR group (2.69 ± 0.75 cm). Coronary angiography was performed for the 3 patients with CFR < 2: Two patients showed normal grafts and anastomoses, but the third patient's distal LAD-LIMA anastomosis was almost 90% occluded. CONCLUSION: We elucidated the reliability of the patch plasty without endarterectomy method and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography for detecting the severity of coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in a patient with ureterosigmoidostomy.

A 75-year-old male patient had stable angina pectoris. After coronary angiography we decided to perform a coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Twenty years ago the patient underwent radical cystectomy and bilateral ureterosigmoidostomy because of bladder cancer. After that, his micturition was via the rectum. We did not experience that before. As is known, monitoring of urine output is very important after cardiac surgery. The patient was consulted with an urologist for how to monitor urine output in him. Transrectal catheterization was recommended for our follow-up, but before the catheterization bowel cleansing is necessary. Four-vessel on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed without any problem. Peroperative urine volume and arterial blood gas results were normal. Urine output is a sensitive variable reflecting the patient's effective blood volume and tissue perfusion. Urinary catheterization is a standard for all cardiac surgeries, and it allows the patients' urine to drain freely from the bladder for collection. Monitoring of urine output in patients with ureterosigmoidostomy is impossible by standard urinary catheterization method. In this case we performed transrectal catheterization for Urine flow follow-up. Urine flow follow-up is essential after the open-heart surgery and it can be measured in different ways, as in our case.

Does pulmonary artery venting decrease the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after conventional aortocoronary bypass surgery?

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that pulmonary artery venting would decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: This prospective study included 301 patients who underwent complete myocardial revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass in our department during a 2-year period. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: group I included 151 patients who underwent aortic root venting and group II included 150 patients who underwent pulmonary arterial venting for decompression of the left heart. Pre-, peri-, and postoperative risk factors for atrial fibrillation were assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The mean age was similar in the 2 groups. The mean number of anastomoses was significantly higher in group I (2.8 ± 0.8) than in group II (2.4 ± 0.8) (P = 0.001). The mean cross-clamp time was 42.7 ± 17.4 minutes in group I and 54.1 ± 23.8 minutes in group II (P = 0.001). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 66.4 ± 46.1 minutes in group I and 77.4 ± 28.6 minutes in group II (P = 0.08). The incidence of atrial fibrillation was 14.5% (n = 21) in group I and 6.5% (n = 10) in group II (P = 0.02). Multivariate regression analysis showed that pulmonary artery venting decreased the postoperative incidence of atrial fibrillation by 17.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary arterial venting may be used as an alternative to aortic root venting during on-pump coronary bypass surgery, especially in patients at high risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Combined transdiaphragmatic off-pump and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass with right gastroepiploic artery and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

PATIENT: Male, 74 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) Symptoms: Palpable abdominal mass Medication: - Clinical Procedure: Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair Specialty: Surgery. OBJECTIVE: Rare disease. BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is common in elderly patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Here we report a case of the combination of surgical repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm and off-pump and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery. CASE REPORT: A 74-year-old man who presented at our clinic with chest pain was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. His medical history included right coronary artery stenting. Physical examination revealed a pulsatile abdominal mass on the left side and palpable peripheral pulses. Computed tomography scans showed an infrarenal abdominal aneurysm with a 61-mm enlargement. Coronary angiography revealed 80% stenosis in the stent within the right coronary artery and 20% stenosis in the left main coronary artery. The patient underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and transdiaphragmatic off-pump and minimal invasive coronary artery bypass grafting with right gastroepiploic artery were performed simultaneously in a single surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We report this case to emphasize the safety and effectiveness of transdiaphragmatic off-pump and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery with abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. This combined approach shortens hospital stay and decreases cost.

Atrial fibrillation after surgical revascularization: is there any difference between on-pump and off-pump?

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is still frequent complication after cardiac surgery in spite of the improvements in the surgical procedures. There is still controversy whether or not, the absence of cardiopulmonary bypass results in a lower incidence of AF. METHODS: Six hundred and seventy patients that underwent revascularization by using in situ LIMA for single vessel disease were included in this retrospective study and the patients were divided in two groups. Group I included 328 patients who underwent complete revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass and group II consisted of 342 patients who underwent complete revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass. Then, the incidence and predictive perioperative factors of AF in two groups were determined and compared with each other. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between two groups with respect to the preoperative demographic characteristics of the patients. The incidence of postoperative AF was determined as 16.1% after on-pump and 14.6% after off-pump revascularization. Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass did not decrease the incidence of postoperative AF. Sex, age over 65 years, prophylactic beta-blocker usage and left ventricular dysfunction were independent predictive factors in group I (r2=0.51; P<0.001). However, only age over 65 years and prophylactic beta-blocker usage were independent predictive factors in group II (r2=0.59; P<0.01). The rates of AF in both groups were decreased by using prophylactic beta-blocker usage (P=0.05 in group I, P<0.001 in group II). CONCLUSIONS: There is no reduction of AF rate in myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass. However, prophylactic beta-blocker usage decreases the incidence of AF after both on-pump and off-pump myocardial revascularization.