Comparison of Del Nido (a different application) and crystalloid blood cardioplegia on arrhythmia and early results

BACKGROUND

The results of the use of del-Nido(DN) solution using a different method or crystalloid blood cardioplegia in coronary bypass patients were compared. We aimed to investigate the effects on intraoperative and postoperative arrhythmias, arrhythmia durations and early results.

METHODS

The study included 175 patients using crystalloid blood cardioplegia (Group 1) and 150 patients using DN solution(Group 2). In the DN group, 75% of the calculated plegia dose was given first. the remaining part was applied by giving from grafts. Intraoperative/postoperative data were compared.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics. Preop troponin level was similar.(p = 0.190) However, there was a statistical difference between the postoperative 6th hour.(p = 0.001) There was no difference in troponin values at the postoperative 24th hour. (p = 0.631) Spontaneous rhythm occurred at the cardiopulmonary by pass (CPB) weaning stage in most of the patients in Group 2 (95.3%). Although the need for temporary pacing was less in Group 2, it was not significant.(p = 0.282) No patient required permanent pacing. CPB duration, cross clamp times and intraoperative glucose levels, intensive care follow-up times and hospitalization times were found to be shorter in Group 2. Although the postoperative atrial fibrillation frequency was similar (p = 0.261), the time to return to sinus was lower in Group 2.(p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The use of DN cardioplegia solution provides significant positive contributions to avoid arrhythmias compared to crystalloid blood cardioplegia. DN solution applied with this method may contribute to reducing the anxieties associated with its use in isolated coronary artery bypass surgery.

Popliteal artery aneurysms treatments: early midterm results of the use of endovascular stent grafts

Background/aim

Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are abnormal bulgings, which account for 70% of all peripheral artery aneurysms. They are usually asymptomatic. In this study, we present our long-term results of endovascular stent grafts in the treatment of PAA in the light of literature data.

Material and methods

A total of 63 legs of 63 patients with PAA, who were treated with endovascular techniques in our clinic between July 2010 and July 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent color Doppler ultrasound (DUS), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or computed tomography angiography (CTA) to identify the diameter and length of PAAs, vessel tortuosity, the presence and degree of thrombus, and diameter in the healthy landing zone and to visualize tibioperoneal vascular structures. A Viabahn stent graft was inserted in all patients.

Results

57 patients (90.5%) were males with a mean age of 76.35 ± 7 years. 24 patients (38.1%) were symptomatic, while 11 patients (17.5%) had a concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The mean follow-up period was 46.05 ± 25.01 months. The primary patency rate was 79.3%. A graft thrombosis was observed in 13 patients (20.6%) during a mean follow-up period of 8.31 ± 5.91 months. The number of distal arteries was significantly lower in the patients with thrombosis than those without.

Conclusions

Endovascular treatment of PAA using stentgrafts is safe in selected cases. However, it is reasonable to avoid endovascular treatment due to an increased risk for thrombosis in patients with a low number of patent distal arteries or impaired distal flow.

Modified model for end-stage liver disease score predicts 30-day mortality in high-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism admitted to intensive care units

OBJECTIVES

The Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding the international normalised ratio that is derived from prothrombin time which is calculated as a ratio of the patient's prothrombin time to a control prothrombin time standardized (MELD-XI) and modified MELD, which uses albumin in place of the international normalised ratio (MELD-Albumin) scores reflect liver and renal function and are predictors of mortality. However, their prognostic value in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has not been studied.

DESIGN

We assessed the predictive value of the MELD scores in patients diagnosed with high-risk APE admitted to the intensive care unit. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 273 patients included in the study, 231 were survivors and 42 were non-survivors. The mortality rate was 15.3%. The mean MELD-XI and MELD-Albumin scores were significantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (MELD XI, 11.8 ± 1.8 and 10.6 ± 1.43, respectively; p = .002; MELD-Albumin, 10.5 ± 1.6 and 8.7 ± 1.1, respectively; p = .001). The multiple logistic regression analysis identified the MELD-XI (hazard ratio: 3.029, confidence interval: 1.06-1.21, p = .007) and MELD-Albumin (hazard ratio: 1.13, confidence interval: 1.06-1.21, p = .002) scores as independent predictors of mortality. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the predictive power of the MELD-Albumin score (0.871 ± 0.014; p < .001) was higher than those of the MELD-XI (0.726 ± 0.022, p < .001), APACHE III (0.682 ± 0.024, p < .001), and PESI (0.624 ± 0.023, p < .001) scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The MELD-Albumin score is an easily calculable, reliable, and practical risk assessment tool and independent predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with high-risk APE.

Initial experience with a new pharmacomechanical thrombectomy device for deep venous thrombosis: Report of 91 cases

Background

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacomechanical thrombectomy using a new rotational thrombectomy device with additional thrombus-removal methods for deep venous thrombosis.

Methods

A total of 91 patients admitted to our tertiary center with symptomatic iliac, ilio-femoral, femoro-popliteal deep venous thrombosis and who underwent hybrid pharmacomechanical thrombectomy constituted the study group. Postinterventional color Doppler ultrasonography was repeated at 1st, 6th, and 12th months. Villalta scoring system was used to evaluate the patients for the development of post-thrombotic syndrome after deep venous thrombosis. The patient-reported severity of pain in the index leg was measured on a Likert scale.

Results

Of the 91 patients whose charts were reviewed, the location of thrombus was iliofemoral in 60 (65.9%) and femoropopliteal in 31 (34.1%) patients, respectively. Duration of symptoms was 5.62 ± 3.43 (range, 2–15) days. Technical success was observed in 82 patients (90.1%) at 3 months, in 77 patients (84.6%) at 6 months, and in 74 patients (81.3%) at 12 months. Villalta score was over 10 points in 15 of 17 patients whose Doppler US revealed venous occlusions, at 12 months, and in 8 patients with recurrent deep venous thrombosis. Post-thrombotic syndrome was detected in 18 patients in our study. Twelve (13.2%) of these 18 patients had mild, 5 (5.5%) moderate, and 1 (1.1%) severe PTS. In predicting predisposing factors in 18 patients with PTS, 13 patients (72.2%) had a Villalta score ≥10, 10 patients (55.6%) had experienced a delayed endovascular procedure (≥10 days), and 8 patients (44.4%) had recurrent deep venous thrombosis.

Conclusion

The endovenous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy with the Mantis thrombectomy device in the treatment of acute and subacute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis is a promising approach in terms of efficacy and safety in the early period regarding reasonable and long-term prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome, development of pulmonary thromboembolism, and adequate venous system patency.

The APACHE II Score as a Predictor of Mortality After Open Heart Surgery

Objective

The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) severity of disease classification system, which is one of the most widely used scoring systems to predict mortality, is used for intensive care units (ICU) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of APACHE II for mortality in patients after undergoing cardiac surgery. We studied if APACHE II could successfully predict the outcome in post-cardiac surgery patients.

Methods

This study involved retrospective data collection of all adult patients who were admitted to Ordu State Hospital cardiovascular surgery ICU following cardiac surgery from August 2013 to December 2015. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) values were calculated for the APACHE II model.

Results

During the two years of data collection, we included 600 patients with a mean age of 64.77±10.148 years. Of these, 180 (30.0%) were females. The ICU mortality rate was 8.33%, and the mean length of ICU stay was 4.210±6.913 days. The mean pre-operative EuroSCORE was 3.890±2.565, and the mean pre-operative APACHE II score was 6.790±3.617. The AUC values for APACHE II and EuroSCORE were 0.743 and 0.767, respectively.

Conclusion

The APACHE II model can be used to predict mortality in a Turkish population of patients who have undergone cardiac surgery.

Endovascular approach in isolated abdominal aortic dissections

Background

Here, we report the mid-term results of endovascular treatment of isolated dissection of the abdominal aorta, which is a very rare pathology.

Materials and methods

A total of 11 patients (4 males (36.3%) and 7 females (63.6%)) aged 42–72 (mean, 60.3 ± 10.45) years with isolated dissection of the abdominal aorta underwent endovascular stent-graft treatment at our institution between August 2010 and September 2015. Eight patients were symptomatic, and the remaining three were asymptomatic. The asymptomatic patients had aortic aneurysms coexisting with dissection. Eight patients without aneurysm had spontaneous dissections, and the most common symptom was unresponsive abdominal pain.

Results

The mean abdominal aorta diameter was 46.7 ± 20.6 (range, 31.2–100.9) mm and the mean dissection length was 71.1 ± 47.3 (range, 17–162) mm. Aorto-bi-iliac stent grafts were used in all patients, and were placed successfully under spinal anesthesia in all but one (90.9%) patient. Occlusion developed in one patient due to compression of the aorto-bi-iliac graft. Right–left femoral–femoral bypass was performed in this patient, who could not be placed on the opposite side. In addition, the graft was placed in one patient using the left renal artery chimney technique. No intraoperative mortality occurred, and open surgery was not required. In addition, no death occurred and no additional intervention was required during the mean follow-up period of 25.5 ± 17.1 (range, 6–60) months.

Conclusion

Limited data regarding endovascular treatment of isolated dissection of the abdominal aorta are available in the literature. Based on data obtained in a limited number of patients, we consider endovascular aortic repair to be a good alternative to surgery due to its low morbidity and mortality rates.

A new percutaneous technique: N-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive for the treatment of giant saphenous vein insufficiency

Background

We have made a retrospective evaluation of the results of the cyanoacrylate ablation technique which has recently started to be used in the treatment of giant saphenous vein insufficiency today and in which tumescent anesthesia is not required.

Methods

Giant saphenous vein was treated in 50 patients between September 2015 and September 2016 by using endovenous cyanoacrylate ablation. In the procedure, tumescent anesthesia and varsity socks were not used. Control duplex ultrasound evaluation was performed in the post-procedural 1st, 6th and 12th months. Venous Clinical Severity Score and Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire scores were evaluated.

Results

In the 50 patients who were treated, full closure was observed in giant saphenous vein in 47 (94%) patients in the 12th month control duplex ultrasound. The mean age of the patients was 46.4 (20–70) and 30 (60%) of them were female. The median Venous Clinical Severity Score scores in the 1st, 6th and 12th months were 3, 2 and 1, respectively ( p < 0.001); the median Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire scores in the 1st, 6th and 12th months were 7, 5 and 4, respectively ( p < 0.001). In the access site, two (4%) patients developed phlebitis and one (2%) developed ecchymosis. However, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and paresthesia were not observed.

Conclusion

Considering the early period results in the treatment of giant saphenous vein insufficiency, cyanoacrylate ablation makes a more reliable alternative than endovenous thermal ablation methods in that it does not require tumescent anesthesia and it has a low incidence of adverse effects.