Long-term outcomes of omniflow II biosynthetic vascular graft in lower extremity arterial revascularization

Background: This study aims to evaluate the patency rates and long-term outcomes of femoro-popliteal bypass procedures with Omniflow II biosynthetic vascular grafts in patients with occlusive vascular disease. Methods: This retrospective, observational, clinical study included a total of 93 patients (61 males, 32 females; mean age 56.9±7.4 years; range, 43 to 83 years) who underwent femoro-popliteal bypass in which Omniflow II biosynthetic vascular grafts were used due to peripheral arterial disease. The patients were divided into two groups: 62 patients undergoing femoro-popliteal above-knee bypass and 31 patients undergoing the femoro-popliteal belowknee bypass. We evaluated preoperative clinical characteristics, postoperative graft patency rates, and other clinical results. Results: The mean follow-up was 44.9±18.8 months in the femoropopliteal above-knee bypass group and 47.3±22.3 months in the femoro-popliteal below-knee bypass group (p=0.302). The cumulative primary graft patency rates of the femoro-popliteal above-knee bypass and femoro-popliteal below-knee bypass groups at three, four, and five years were 98%, 95% and 78% and 86%, 75% and 45%, respectively (log-rank; p=0.312). The cumulative assisted graft patency rates of the femoro-popliteal above-knee bypass and femoro-popliteal below-knee bypass groups at five years were 87.9% and 65.3%, respectively (log-rank; p=0.530). Conclusion: The Omniflow II biosynthetic vascular graft is suitable for above-and below-knee femoro-popliteal bypass procedures. These grafts may be prefered due to high patency rates, low incidence of aneursym formations, and infections. ©2018 All right reserved by the Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery

The efficacy and safety of Omalizumab in refractory chronspontaneous urticaria: Real-life experience in Turkey

PubMed ID: 30244261Introduction: This study used real-world data to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of omalizumab in treating recalcitrant chronic spontaneous urticaria in Turkish patients. Methods: Study data were collected retrospectively from eight tertiary-care hospitals in Turkey. This study included 132 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria that were resistant to H1 antihistamine treatment in a dose up to four times the licensed dose and were treated with 300 mg/month of omalizumab for 6 months. Results: The mean weekly urticarial activity score (UAS7) after omalizumab treatment improved significantly compared to the pretreatment score (p < 0.001). Treatment response was detected primarily in the 1st and 2nd months after treatment. No significant association was observed between omalizumab’s treatment effectiveness and disease-related parameters or laboratory data. The mean dermatology life quality index was 23.12 ± 6.15 before treatment and decreased to 3.55 ± 3.60 6 months after treatment (p < 0.001). No side effects were reported in 89.4% (118) of the patients. Conclusion: This study showed that UAS7 decreased significantly and quality of life improved in omalizumab-treated patients. Moreover, treatment effectiveness was mainly observed in the first 2 months after treatment. However, no association was observed between omalizumab treatment effectiveness and disease-related parameters or laboratory data. © 2018, Slovenian Medical Society. All rights reserved