Fibula allograft sandwich technique for the reconstruction of sternal nonunion after cardiac surgery

Sternal dehiscence is an untoward complication of cardiac surgery that leads to increased morbidity as well as length of hospital stay and costs. Although many different conventional and creative techniques have been described using both synthetic and biologic materials, the ideal method of sternal reconstruction is still controversial. In this case, we describe a simple and reproducible "fibula allograft sandwich technique" for the reconstruction of sternal nonunion in a cardiac surgery patient. This technique also facilitates the conventional wiring by creating bilateral landing zones for the wires at both sides of the sternum

Angiographic characteristics of major intramural coronary arteries and their effect on coronary bypass surgery

Objective - Dissection of intramyocardial coronary arteries can cause technical problems in coronary bypass surgery, including bleeding and inadvertent ventricular perforation, which can prolong the operation time. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of intramural coronary arteries on coronary bypass surgery and to define the angiographic characteristics of these coronary arteries

Unusual cause of chest pain mimicking acute myocardial infarction: Congenital left ventricular aneurysm

WOS: 000422512900057PubMed ID: 25763365A 36-year-old man without any cardiac history presented to the emergency room with ongoing chest pain. The Electrocardiography (ECG) showed diffuse ST segment elevations on the anterior leads compatible with acute anterolateral wall myocardial infarction [Table/Fig-1]. The patient was a current smoker with a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD). He had a stable hemodynamic status with normal blood pressure and pulse rate. Initial examination revealed mild systolic murmur along the left sternal border as well as lateral displacement of the apical pulse. Lung auscultation was completely normal and all peripheral pulses were palpable. He was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography that showed reduced ejection fraction of 38% with hypokinesis of the anterior wall along with a diffuse aneurysmal apical segment [Table/Fig-2]. Depending on the high clinical suspicion of acute myocardial infarction, the patient underwent emergency coronary angiography that revealed normal coronary arteries. In order to further define the anatomy, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed [Table/ Fig-3], [Video-1 and 2]. Left ventricular cavity was seen to expand at the apical level associated with thinning of the myocardium concordant with a true aneurysm. The aneurysmal pouch had a size of 4x5 cm without any thrombus inside

Calcium dobesilate may improve hemorheology in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Background: Calcium dobesilate is an angioprotective agent that has positive effects on hemorheological parameters. It is an antioxidant that increases endothelial-derived vasodilator substance secretion, there are none that analyze its effects during the postoperative period of patients undergoing myocardial revascularization

Calcium dobesilate may improve hemorheology in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting Dobesilato de cálcio pode melhorar hemorreologia em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica

BACKGROUND: Calcium dobesilate is an angioprotective agent that has positive effects on hemorheological parameters. It is an antioxidant that increases endothelial-derived vasodilator substance secretion, there are none that analyze its effects during the postoperative period of patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the effects of calcium dobesilate on hemorheological parameters, such as reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde in patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing myocardial revascularization in the postoperative period. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four patients operated for coronary heart disease were included in this study. Hemorheological, oxidant and antioxidant parameters were measured two days after surgery and after a period of treatment with calcium dobesilate. Then, 500 mg of calcium dobesilate was given twice a day to one group of 68 patients for three months. The control group was composed of 66 patients who did not receive this medication. RESULTS: The increase in the erythrocyte deformability index was found to be significant compared with both the pretreatment values and with the 1st and 2nd values of the control group after calcium dobesilate administration, whereas there were no significant changes in blood viscosity, glutathione (GSH) or malondialdehyde (MDA) values after the calcium dobesilate administration. The same improvement in the CCS class was observed in patients regardless of they received the calcium dobesilate treatment. CONCLUSION: In the present investigation, the same improvement in the CCS class was observed in patients regardless of they received the calcium dobesilate treatment. Improvements with calcium dobesilate were statistically significant only in the increase in erythrocyte flexibility.<br>ANTECEDENTES: O dobesilato de cálcio é um agente angioprotetor que tem efeitos positivos sobre os parâmetros hemorreológicos. É um antioxidante que aumenta a secreção endotelial derivada da substância vasodilatadora, não há nada que analisar os seus efeitos durante o período pósoperatório de pacientes submetidos a revascularização do miocárdio. OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo foi determinar os efeitos de dobesilato de cálcio sobre os parâmetros hemorreológicos, tais como glutationa reduzida e malondialdeído em pacientes com doença cardíaca isquêmica submetidos a revascularização do miocárdio no pós-operatório. MÉTODOS: Cento e trinta e quatro pacientes operados por doença cardíaca coronária foram incluídos neste estudo. Parâmetros de oxidante, hemorreológicos e de antioxidantes foram medidos dois dias após a cirurgia e após um período de tratamento com o dobesilato de cálcio. Em seguida, 500 mg de dobesilato de cálcio foi administrado duas vezes por dia para um grupo de 68 pacientes durante três meses. O grupo controle foi composto por 66 pacientes que não receberam essa medicação. RESULTADOS: O aumento do índice de deformabilidade dos eritrócitos foi considerado significativo comparado com ambos os valores pré-tratamento e com os 1º e 2º valores do grupo controle após a administração dobesilato de cálcio, enquanto que não houve alterações significativas na viscosidade do sangue, na glutationa (GSH) ou malondialdeído (MDA) após a administração dobesilato de cálcio. A mesma melhoria na classe CCS foi observada em pacientes independentemente de terem recebido tratamento com dobesilato de cálcio. CONCLUSÃO: Na presente investigação, a mesma melhora na classe CCS foi observada em pacientes independentemente de terem recebido o tratamento com dobesilato de cálcio

Cost-effective usage of membrane oxygenators in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in infants

WOS: 000351596400011PubMed ID: 24965913Although the poly-methylpentene (PMP) oxygenators have significant advantages in ECMO implementation, their usage may be limited in some situations, which may be related to economic constraints. In this report, we aimed to emphasize our cost-effective usage of a membrane oxygenator at the ECMO setup. We implemented ECMO with eight Capiox((R)) FX05 or Baby RX05 hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators in five neonatal patients. The average ECMO duration was 121 hours (ranging from 41 to 272 hours). Following the termination of the ECMO, the system was broken down into its components for macroscopic analysis. Neither gross blood clots nor plasma leakage were observed in any of the components. The integration of a centrifugal pump and a separate hollow-fiber oxygenator may provide a cost-effective ECMO implementation setup with no adverse effects which may be an encouraging alternative for the low cost usage of ECMO in neonates

Slow ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention strategy and coronary diameters

WOS: 000317946500052Introduction: In the era of coronary stenting, ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be performed in most of the patients with stable or unstable coronary artery disease as safely and successfully. In elective PCI patients, ad hoc PCI raises some concerns regarding ethical issues, informed decision making, thrombocyte inhibition, reduced/increased cost, patient anxiety and safety issues. PCIs performed on the same day as diagnostic angiography were considered “ad hoc”; all others were designated “staged”. Ad hoc PCI is therefore reasonable for many patients, but not desirable for all, and should not automatically be applied as a default approac