Safety Pericardiocentesis with Fluoroscopy Following Cardiac Surgery.

PURPOSE: In the treatment of the postsurgical pericardial effusions via pericardiocentesis, determination of the puncture site might be difficult. Contrast echocardiography may not be efficient due to surgical artefacts and pulmonary problems and therefore may lead to inaccurate evaluation. Alternative imaging methods might be helpful to perform the pericardiocentesis with decreased complications. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the patients who had undergone pericardiocentesis in our department from January 2008 through April 2018. The procedure was performed in slightly semi-seated position with the guidance of the echocardiography and fluoroscopy. Following the catheterization, percutaneous drainage was performed. RESULTS: There were 63 patients needed intervention due to pericardial effusion. 67% of the patients were using warfarin and the next patients were using acetyl salicylic acid and/or clopidogrel. All effusions were in the posterolateral localization. The mean volume of aspirated pericardial fluid was 404 ± 173 mL (150-980 mL). Control echocardiograms showed that almost all fluid was drained in all patients and there were no procedural or follow-up complications. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of postoperative pericardial effusion, fluoroscopy is an alternative method to locate the catheter accurately in challenging situations following cardiac surgery. Thus, procedural risk minimizes and drainage of pericardial fluid is performed safely.

Our experiences on endovascular and hybrid treatment of peripheral arterial diseases.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to present our experiences on endovascular and hybrid treatment of peripheral arterial diseases. METHODS: Between March 2008 and April 2016, 86 patients who underwent endovascular treatment and 17 patients who underwent hybrid treatment for peripheral arterial disease in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The treatment approaches, success of treatments, complications and outcomes of these patients were studied. RESULTS: No mortality was seen during the procedures. Following the procedure, the patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit under standard heparin treatment for six hours at least. Anticoagulation was maintained with low-molecular-weighted heparin for three days, followed by dual oral antiaggregant (acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg + clopidogrel 75 mg). Repeated Doppler ultrasonography revealed no in-stent thrombosis or restenosis at the site of ballooning during hospitalization. None of the patients with normal renal functions preoperatively experienced severe renal failure. Although nearly all femorodistal interventions were performed in the antegrade way, none of the patients had bleeding complications at the site of intervention. All patients were discharged within 1 to 16 days. CONCLUSION: Endovascular and hybrid modalities are safe and comfortable in the treatment of peripheral arterial diseases for vascular surgeons having a hybrid room.

Comparison of primary repair and patch plasty procedure on the P wave in adult atrial septal defect closure.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we compared the effects of two different surgical procedures for closure of adult atrial septal defect (ASD) on postoperative P-wave changes. METHODS: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery for secundum type ASD closure were evaluated retrospectively. Seventy-two patients with primary repair of ASD and 29 patients with pericardial patch plasty repair were compared according to Pmax, Pmin and P-wave dispersions (Pd). RESULTS: In each group, the increases in postoperative maximum P-wave duration (Pmax) and minimum P-wave duration (Pmin) were statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between post- and pre-operative Pd values. In the comparison between group 1 and group 2 in terms of postoperative P-wave changes (Pmax, Pmin, Pd) there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Comparing patch plasty and primary repair for the surgical closure of ASD in the early to mid-postoperative period, no difference was found and both surgical procedures can be performed in adult ASDs.

The effect of serum, intestinal and peritoneal visfatin levels on early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a rapidly progressive disease where early diagnosis is life-saving. As a new cytokine, levels of thevisfatin might be affected during the ischema and reperfusion. In our study, we obtained changes of visfatin levels in the serum, peritoneal and intestinal lavage samples in rats, to investigate the effectiveness of these changes in the early diagnosis of AMI. METHODS: In group 1 (Sham group) the intestine was exteriorated after the laparotomy was performed and allowed to stand for 3 hours without ischemia. In group 2 (acute mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion group) the mesenteric artery was ligated and, mesenteric blood flow was restored after 60-minute ischemia. To compare with intestinal injury, in group 3 (acute pancreatitis group) the ductus pancreaticus was ligated, and the abdomen was closed for 3 days in expectation of the formation of pancreatitis. In all of the groups, the intestinal lavage, peritoneal lavage and blood samples were analyzed to evaluate the levels of visfatin, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8. Samples were taken before the procedure in all groups; additionally 60 minutes after ischemia and 120 minutes after reperfusion in group 2; and after the development of the pancreatitis in group 3. RESULTS: Serum, intestinal and peritoneal lavage visfatin levels were found to be increased in group 2 and group 3 (P<0.05). In group 2, while serum TNF-alpha levels were increased in both ischemia and reperfusion; in intestinal lavage sample the increase was only in the ischemic phase (P<0.05). In group 2, IL-8 levels were significantly increased after ischemia in serum (P=0.03) and after reperfusion in intestinal lavage (P=0.004) samples. CONCLUSIONS: Serum, intestinal and peritoneal visfatin levels were increased not only in the case of mesenteric ischemia, but also in acute pancreatitis. In these two clinical pathologies, the visfatin levels of the intestinal and peritoneal cavitiesmay increase parallel to the serum visfatin levels.

Removal of broken catheter piece with snare device during endovascular treatment of post-traumatic brachial artery pseudo-aneurysm.

Post-traumatic pseudo-aneurysm is a rare complication of penetrating vascular injury. Endovascular stent implantation has become an alternative approach in the management of this pathology. In our case, we present a brachial artery pseudo-aneurysm that was treated with endovascular stent implantation, and removal of a broken catheter part with a three-dimensional snare device.

Coronary artery bypass grafting following simultaneous treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm and peripheral arterial disease.

Atherosclerosis might affect all arterial segments of the vascular system, thus peripheral arterial disease (PAD) accompanying coronary artery disease (CAD) is not uncommon. In addition to this coexistence, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is frequently associated with CAD. Although treatment strategies of CAD and PAD or CAD and AAA has been reported previously, treatment of these three pathologies has not been reported. The management of a therapeutic strategy is important for avoiding perioperative mortality and morbidity in CAD associated with AAA and PAD. We are reporting our simultaneous treatment strategy of three pathologies with endovascular AAA repair, stent implantation into the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Comparison of conventional technique and ultrasonographic mapping in saphenous vein harvesting.

BACKGROUND: Saphenous vein mapping provides accurate identification of the graft diameter, location of the harvest side, and quality of graft and also led to a selective leg skin incision. In this article, we aimed to compare patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with or without vein mapping. METHODS: Patients who underwent CABG surgery with saphenous vein grafts (SVG) between January 2005 and January 2010 in our service were analyzed retrospectively. One hundred seventy-eight 178 SVGs were harvested with classical methods (Group A), and 136 SVGs were harvested after Doppler ultrasonography (USG) mapping (Group B). RESULTS: In Group A, 6.7% of patients needed additional incisions for graft harvesting than planned before CABG surgery due to unsuitable vein grafts. In Group B, SVGs were harvested from left lower extremity in 16 patients, and the saphenous vein was not suitable for grafting in 1 patient due to Doppler examination. In the postoperative period, complications at the incision site were reduced in Group B. CONCLUSION: Preoperative vein mapping for harvesting SVGs is an effective method in reducing wound site complications, hospital stay, and hospital costs and in increasing patient comfort and satisfaction.

Four different strategies for repair of aortic coarctation accompanied by cardiac lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Coarctation accompanied by cardiac lesions is a complex clinical situation due to the presence of two different pathologies that necessitate surgical treatment. An individual strategy, according to the severity of the disease, is important to reduce perioperative mortality and morbidity. METHODS: We report here on 25 patients with coarctation accompanied by cardiac lesions who were treated by various surgical approaches. Coarctation and associated disease were treated in 14 patients in a single stage by an ascending-to-descending bypass (n = 11) or by a hybrid procedure (n = 3). The remaining 11 patients underwent a two-stage operation for their treatment. Six of these 11 patients who had coronary artery disease or signs of congestive heart failure were first operated for their cardiac disease, whereas in the remaining five patients, who did not have any congestive signs, coarctation repair was performed first. RESULTS: All the patients were male, between the ages of 20 and 24 years, except for one 45-year-old woman. The mean cross-clamp times, cardiopulmonary bypass times and operation times were 52 ± 14.5, 102.3 ± 28.5 and 174 ± 24.8 min in the extra-anatomical bypass group; 29.8 ± 11.7, 55.5 ± 17.6 and 116 ± 22 min in the two-stage groups and 49 ± 19.8, 63 ± 18.7 and 159 ± 21.3 min in the hybrid patients, respectively. One patient who underwent extra-anatomical bypass died on the 14th postoperative day. There were no events during the follow-up period for the other patients. Also, there were no gradients between the extremities and no graft-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: As a consequence of the progress in the development of endovascular techniques, hybrid treatment is becoming a more popular option for the treatment of coarctation accompanied by cardiac diseases. Two-stage procedures and extra-anatomical bypass might be alternative techniques if endovascular procedures are contraindicated or failing.

Long-term results of the single-patch repair technique for sinus venosus atrial septal defects.

BACKGROUND: Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage commonly accompanies sinus venosus atrial septal defects (SVASDs). Many techniques have been reported for avoiding postoperative complications, such as narrowing of the superior vena cava (SVC) or the pulmonary system, and arrhythmia. We perform a single V-Y pericardial patch plasty repair technique for SVASDs. The purpose of this study is to report on the long-term results of this surgical technique. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who had a diagnosis of ASD and who underwent their operations between 2000 and 2010 at the Gulhane Military Medical Academy Haydarpasa Training Hospital. Thirty-nine of the patients had an anomalous pulmonary return, and the single pericardial patch technique had been performed in 32 of these patients. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) postoperative extubation time was 5 ± 1.6 hours. The mean drainage volume was 384 ± 137 mL. All patients were discharged from the hospital at a mean of 4.6 ± 1.1 days after their operation and were prescribed anticoagulants for 3 months. No perioperative or late-term mortality was observed. Patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. There were no residual shunts and no stenosis-related findings in the pulmonary venous system or the SVC. CONCLUSION: Use of the single pericardial patch plasty technique might lower complication rates in patients with SVASD, especially those who have not completed their growth.

Reversed C sternotomy versus conventional sternotomy in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: In this study, cardiac surgery with minimally invasive reversed C sternotomy was compared with conventional sternotomy in patients undergoing valve replacement or septal defect repair. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, 35 patients were assigned into one of two groups for elective cardiac surgery under general anesthesia: Group A (reversed C sternotomy group) and Group B (conventional sternotomy group). Intraoperative variables, intubation time, postoperative drainage volume, pulmonary function tests, sleep quality and quality of life, and requirement for blood transfusion were compared. RESULTS: A significant difference between the two groups was found in blood transfusion requirement, extubation time, and drainage volume. Forced expiratory volume in one second and functional vital capacity were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A at postoperative Month 1. Total sleep component score of Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index in Group B patients was significantly worse at postoperative Month 1. Postoperative assessment of quality of life (physical and mental) also showed a significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings suggest that creating an access point without compromising the integrity of the sternum seems to be an advantageous and appropriate technique for suitable patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Natural internal banding in adult patients with a large ventricular septal defect and a preserved pulmonary vascular system.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophied anomalous muscle bands (AMBs) in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) may develop in the context of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and limit persistent pulmonary overflow. In adult patients with a large VSD, persistent AMBs in the RVOT therefore can simulate the role of an externally placed pulmonary artery band. We termed such alterations natural internal bands (NIBs). Our goal was to establish the morphologic nature of the obstructive muscular lesions of the RVOT in patients with a large VSD. METHODS: Patients who underwent operations for a large VSD in our center, which has a high volume of adult patients with congenital defects, were retrospectively reviewed, and the nature of the NIBs in these patients was documented. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization evaluations preoperatively and at postoperative month 3. Histopathologic examination of the AMBs was performed. RESULTS: Of 96 adult patients who underwent operations for a large isolated VSD (mean defect size, 16.9 ± 3.5 mm), 16 patients had a hemodynamically significant NIB. Two different patterns of obstruction were found. Ten of the 16 patients revealed an os infundibulum morphology, and 6 patients revealed systolic bulging of the conal septum. Four of the patients with os infundibulum also had classic tetralogy-type septal malalignment. The mean peak systolic gradient on the RVOT was 56.5 ± 17.2 mm Hg and 53.6 ± 12.3 mm Hg in the patients with os infundibulum and in the patients with systolic bulging of the conal septum, respectively. Surgical repair of the VSD was completed successfully in all patients. Resection of the os infundibulum was performed concomitantly in patients with os infundibulum. At the third postoperative month, the mean peak systolic gradient was 16.8 ± 3.5 mm Hg in patients with os infundibulum and 26 ± 5.9 mm Hg (range, 20-35 mm Hg) in patients with systolic septal bulging. CONCLUSIONS: Some mechanisms in adult type VSDs are essential for protecting the pulmonary vasculature. We tried to review these protective mechanisms: hypertrophied AMBs and NIBs.

Left sinus of valsalva aneurysm in an adult with congenital unicuspid aortic valve.

Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is rare, but well-described congenital malformation in adults. Although aortic root and ascending aortic aneurysms can develop in unicommissural UAV, coexistence with left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is an unusual event. Surgical correction is necessary to relieve left ventricular outflow tract obstruction associated with aortic stenosis in unicuspid aortic valve, and to decrease the substantial risk of impending rupture of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.