Comparison of early postoperative results in patients with and without diabetes with low ejection fraction and normal serum creatinine values who underwent coronary artery bypass operation.

BACKGROUND: Low left ventricular ejection fraction and renal insufficiency are factors that increase the risk of coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to group patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery according to the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and to evaluate postoperative changes in serum creatinine levels and postoperative outcomes. METHODS: A total of 93 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were included in this single-centre, retrospective, cohort study. Patients with a pre-operative low left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 35% were included in the study. Patients were divided into diabetic and non-diabetic groups and intra- and intergroup values were compared. Pre-operative, and postoperative days 2 and 5 serum creatinine levels of the patients were measured and compared. RESULTS: Of the 93 patients included in the study, 60 were in the diabetic group (group 1) and 33 were in the non-diabetic group (group 2). Postoperative 2- and 5-day creatinine levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0.033 and p = 0.005, respectively). Postoperative 2- and 5-day creatinine levels were significantly higher than pre-operative creatinine levels in group 1 (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001, respectively). The intensive care unit stay was significantly longer in the diabetes mellitus group than in the group without diabetes mellitus (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Following coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction, which is already a risk factor, creatinine levels were found to have increased in the diabetes mellitus group.

The Effect of Hemodynamic Parameters on Cerebral Oxygenization During Carotid Endarterectomy

Abstract Objective/Introduction: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique to detect cerebral ischemia by monitoring changes in regional cerebral oxygenation (rSO2) in the frontal lobes. However, there are no studies showing the changes in NIRS values in response to hemodynamic variations during stages of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) procedure and clinical implications of these changes. The aim of this study was to determine if hemodynamic changes affect NIRS values during carotid endarterectomy and if our results may help to provide strategies for hemodynamic management in these patients. Methods: A total of 50 consecutive patients undergoing CEA were prospectively included in the study. NIRS was measured at first minute after clamping of carotid artery, and then systolic blood pressure was increased above 150 mmHg. NIRS values from both hemispheres were recorded simultaneously at certain time points and were analyzed to evaluate the changes at different stages of operation and to assess correlations with hemodynamic parameters. Results: NIRS values on the right and left sides were correlated with systolic (right P<0.001, R2:0.24; left P=0.02, R2:0.10) diastolic (right P<0.001, R2:0.36; left P=0.001, R2:0.18) and mean (right P<0.001, R2:0.33; left P=0.003, R2:0.17) blood pressures when the patient was under general anaesthesia. NIRS values were significantly lower than pre-incision values just after clamping of carotid artery in both hemispheres (P=0.005 for the right and P<0.001 for the left side). Conclusion: NIRS values measured in our study show that there is a correlation between hemodynamic changes and cerebral oxygenation. This effect is especially pronounced while the patient is asleep and intubated, which implies the importance of close monitoring of patients with carotid disease during any surgery requiring general anaesthesia.

The role of immature platelet count and immature platelet fraction in determining the need for transfusion in patients undergoing CABG.

BACKGROUND: Platelet dysfunction has been shown to play a role in postoperative bleeding, however it is not clear whether immature platelets (IP) can induce appropriate homeostasis to prevent excessive bleeding in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative change in IP count (IPC), IP fraction (IPF) and mean platelet volume (MPV), and to examine their relationship with postoperative bleeding and blood transfusion. METHODS: One hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG were included in this prospective study. All CABGs were performed by the same surgical team in a standardised method, utilising the on-pump technique. IPC, MPV and IPF were measured pre-operatively, after the completion of surgery, and at the postoperative first, third and fifth days. The primary outcome measure of this study was whether the need for transfusion was associated with IP, IPF, MPV and platelet count. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of 7.77% in IPC on the day of the operation. Pre-operative IPC and IPF were correlated with postoperative drainage (p < 0.001), intraoperative blood transfusion (p < 0.001) and intensive care unit blood transfusion (p < 0.001). Pre-operative haemoglobin levels were significantly correlated with length of hospital stay. However, neither pre-operative IPC nor IPF were associated with length of hospital stay. Postoperative IPC was however associated with the length of hospital and intensive care unit stay (p = 0.008 and p = 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative IPC and IPF were significantly correlated with postoperative drainage and blood transfusion frequency. In patients undergoing CABG, these can be seen as serious guiding parameters in the estimation of postoperative bleeding.

The Effect of Hemodynamic Parameters on Cerebral Oxygenization During Carotid Endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE/INTRODUCTION: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique to detect cerebral ischemia by monitoring changes in regional cerebral oxygenation (rSO2) in the frontal lobes. However, there are no studies showing the changes in NIRS values in response to hemodynamic variations during stages of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) procedure and clinical implications of these changes. The aim of this study was to determine if hemodynamic changes affect NIRS values during carotid endarterectomy and if our results may help to provide strategies for hemodynamic management in these patients. METHODS: A total of 50 consecutive patients undergoing CEA were prospectively included in the study. NIRS was measured at first minute after clamping of carotid artery, and then systolic blood pressure was increased above 150 mmHg. NIRS values from both hemispheres were recorded simultaneously at certain time points and were analyzed to evaluate the changes at different stages of operation and to assess correlations with hemodynamic parameters. RESULTS: NIRS values on the right and left sides were correlated with systolic (right P<0.001, R2:0.24; left P=0.02, R2:0.10) diastolic (right P<0.001, R2:0.36; left P=0.001, R2:0.18) and mean (right P<0.001, R2:0.33; left P=0.003, R2:0.17) blood pressures when the patient was under general anaesthesia. NIRS values were significantly lower than pre-incision values just after clamping of carotid artery in both hemispheres (P=0.005 for the right and P<0.001 for the left side). CONCLUSION: NIRS values measured in our study show that there is a correlation between hemodynamic changes and cerebral oxygenation. This effect is especially pronounced while the patient is asleep and intubated, which implies the importance of close monitoring of patients with carotid disease during any surgery requiring general anaesthesia.

Is Biochemical Follow Up Possible in Peripheral Arterial Disease Treatment: Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Alpha?

PURPOSE: The hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 is a dimeric protein complex that plays an integral role in the body's response to hypoxia. This study aimed to analyze the regulation of HIF-1α following vascular and/or endovascular surgery in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with PAD (≥Rutherford category 3) were included in this prospective study. The mean age was 61.9±9.2 years. Open surgery was performed in 16 patients, and endovascular intervention was performed in 34 patients. At preoperative (T1), postoperative day 1 (T2), and month 3 (T3), the serum HIF-1α levels were checked using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: At T3, the ankle-brachial index was significantly higher than the preoperative value (P<0.001). Serum HIF-1α levels at T1, T2, and T3 were 2.0±1.7 ng/mL, 1.9±1.7 ng/mL, and 1.6±1.4 ng/mL, respectively. Serum HIF-1α levels between T1 and T3 and between T2 and T3 were significantly different (P<0.05). The preoperative HIF-1α levels were lowest in iliac lesions compared to femoropopliteal or tibial lesions. CONCLUSION: The HIF-1α levels were decreased in all patients on postoperative days, T2 and T3, compared with the preoperative values. Our results indicated that HIF-1α may be a surrogate marker after revascularization in patients with PAD. Further studies are needed to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off values of HIF-1α in patients with PAD.

Successful treatment of massive pulmonary embolism in a pregnant woman complicated with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The treatment of the massive pulmonary embolism concomitant hemodynamic instability in pregnancy is difficult and controversial and carries a high risk for both the baby and the mother. The catheter-directed thrombectomy with or without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support may be a suitable management strategy in suitable cases but pregnancy-related complications may follow the treatment of pulmonary embolism and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis. We present a case of a 32-year-old patient who had a pulmonary embolism with shock in the 8th week of pregnancy complicated by atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Corticosteroid use in COVID-19 pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a 1-2% fatality rate, where no specific treatment has yet been defined. Although corticosteroids are recommended for selected COVID-19 patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and septic shock, there is no consensus regarding patient subgroups, dose, and duration. In this study, it was aimed to examine the contribution of corticosteroid treatment to the management of COVID-19 pneumonia without ARDS, septic shock both in acute and recovery setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was divided into two as those who used corticosteroids during the recovery phase (who did not develop sufficient radiological or clinical improvement) and those who did so during the activation phase (non-ARDS/septic shock condition, clinical, laboratory or radiological progression). RESULT: We identified 47 patients, 26 of which were males, and mean age was 60.5 ± 16.5 years. Seventeen patients were found to receive corticosteroids during the recovery phase and the rest (n= 30) during the activation period. After corticosteroid therapy, we found reduction of increased pre-treatment levels of D-dimer, ferritin, fibrinogen, CRP, increment of decreased pre-treatment lymphocyte count and saturation. Complete symptomatic improvement was detected in 6.9% and 17.6% of the patients in the activation phase and recovery phase, respectively. Complete radiological improvement was found in 11.5% and 35.3% of the patients in the activation phase and recovery phase, respectively. While corticosteroid treatment was initiated on day 4.2 ± 2.6 and continued for a mean of 5.9 ± 2.8 days in the activation group, it was started on day 8.1 ± 11.3 and administered for 7.8 ± 3.8 days in the recovery group. In both groups, methylprednisolone was given at a median dose of 40 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term low-dose corticosteroid therapy may improve clinical, radiological, laboratory outcomes in the management of COVID-19 pneumonia during the activation period without ARDS and non-septic shock and during recovery period with no satisfactory response. Further randomized controlled studies will be useful in demonstrating its efficacy.

Management of traumatic arteriovenous fistulas: A tertiary academic center experience.

BACKGROUND: To present the surgical experience at a tertiary academic center of treating patients with traumatic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) who in whom endovascular treatment was contraindicated or in whom unsuccessful endovascular treatment had been performed. METHODS: A total of 27 patients with traumatic AVFs who underwent surgery between September 2014 and May 2016 were included. The site of injury, timing of surgery, and the surgical methods utilized were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Arteriovenous fistulas were located in the lower extremity in 26 patients (96.29%) and in the upper extremity in one patient (3.7%). Etiological factors included gunshot injuries in 23 patients (85.18%) and penetrating injury in four patients (14.81%). AVFs in the lower extremity were between the popliteal artery and vein in 21 patients and between the femoral artery and vein in five patients. The one patient with upper-extremity AVF had a communication between the brachial artery and cephalic vein. Primary repair of the artery and vein after ligation, arterial graft interposition plus primary vein repair, and arterial and venous graft interposition were performed for surgical repair in two, five, and 20 patients, respectively. The saphenous vein was used for grafting in all cases needing grafts. CONCLUSION: In patients enduring penetrating trauma in the close vicinity of major vascular structures, a detailed history-taking and physical examination should be performed along with auscultation. The endovascular approach may represent the initial choice of management because of its lower rate of complications, noninvasive nature, decreased in-hospital costs, and decreased loss of work productivity. However, surgery is still unavoidable option in a significant proportion of patients who are either hemodynamically unstable, contraindicated for endovascular treatment, or in whom endovascular treatment was unsuccessful.

Time from cardiac catheterization to cardiac surgery: a risk factor for acute kidney injury?.

OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury can occur after cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery. The negative effects of the contrast media and cardiopulmonary bypass on renal function may be additive when performed in close succession. The results in the literature are, however, conflicting. METHODS: Preoperative, operative, perioperative and postoperative variables of 573 consecutive adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass were collected prospectively. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria based on changes in serum creatinine level within 48 h of surgery. RESULTS: Acute kidney injury was detected in 233 patients (41%). In a multivariate analysis, older age (P = 0.01), longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (P = 0.003), lower preoperative haematocrit level (P = 0.02) and higher body mass index (P = 0.001) were found to be independently associated with development of acute kidney injury. Analysis of the time from cardiac catheterization to surgery by logistic regression modelling did not show any significant change in the risk of acute kidney injury. Risk related to time from catheterization to surgery was not increased even in the patients with elevated preprocedural creatinine levels (>106 µmol l(-1); P = 0.23), left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <40%; P = 0.19) and older age (≥70 years; P = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: The time from cardiac catheterization to cardiac surgery is not a risk factor for the development of postoperative acute kidney injury even in patients with other risk factors. Surgical intervention should not be delayed in emergency or urgent cases. The optimization of renal function seems to be the correct strategy in clinically stable patients with risk factors for acute kidney injury.