Sternotomy after retrosternal esophagogastric anastomotic disruption: a case report

Disruption of cervical esophagogastric anastomosis after retrosternal stomach transposition remains a dangerous complication. We report a case of cervical gastric disruption after retrosternal gastric transposition in a 36-year-old man that required sternotomy for reanastomosis. After sternotomy, gastric mobilization was possible, in order to gain sufficient length for a new cervical esophagogastric anastomosis

Coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with polycythaemia rubra vera - a rare indication with a spectrum of complication: a case report

Coronary artery bypass surgery for coronary artery thrombosis in patients with polycythaemia rubra vera has been rarely described. The main issue with such patients is their risk of both bleeding and thrombosis and as such the ideal postoperative management of such cases is unknown. Hereby, we describe a case of a 62-year-old man with polycythaemia rubra vera who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. Although his initial postoperative course was complicated, his long-term outcome was good

Successful thrombolysis of a thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve using a synthetic tissue plasminogen activator: a case report

Abstract Introduction Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life-threatening condition that requires careful evaluation and prompt treatment. While surgical intervention remains the gold standard, thrombolytic therapy is now emerging as a potential substitute. Various thrombolytic treatments including streptokinase, urokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activators have been reported with variable success rates. However, the data on the use of tenecteplase (a synthetic tissue plasminogen activator) is limited. Case presentation A 44-year-old Middle Eastern man with a previously implanted prosthetic mitral valve presented with exertional dyspnea and orthopnea. Investigations revealed a thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve. Successful thrombolysis was achieved using tenecteplase which lead to the complete restoration of valve function with no risk to the patient. Conclusion Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life threatening condition, the diagnosis of which requires a high index of suspicion. Tenecteplase can be used successfully in the management of such cases. It has proved to be useful with no extra risk to the patient.</p

VEGF-mediated cell survival in non-small-cell lung cancer: implications for epigenetic targeting of VEGF receptors as a therapeutic approach

Aims: To evaluate the potential therapeutic utility of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) in targeting VEGF receptors in non-small-cell lung cancer. Materials &amp; methods: Non-small-cell lung cancer cells were screened for the VEGF receptors at the mRNA and protein levels, while cellular responses to various HDACi were examined. Results: Significant effects on the regulation of the VEGF receptors were observed in response to HDACi. These were associated with decreased secretion of VEGF, decreased cellular proliferation and increased apoptosis which could not be rescued by addition of exogenous recombinant VEGF. Direct remodeling of the VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 promoters was observed. In contrast, HDACi treatments resulted in significant downregulation of the Neuropilin receptors. Conclusion: Epigenetic targeting of the Neuropilin receptors may offer an effective treatment for lung cancer patients in the clinical setting

Effect of smoking on short-term outcome of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Data on the effect of smoking on short-term outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are limited. We sought to assess the morbidity and in-hospital mortality of smokers and former smokers compared with nonsmokers undergoing CABG. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected departmental data base. In all, 2,587 consecutive patients underwent isolated CABG between February 2000 and June 2007. Of these, 475 patients were current smokers, 1,364 were former smokers of more than 4 weeks, and 748 were nonsmokers. RESULTS: Current smokers had higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications than former smokers and nonsmokers (30.1% versus 23.3% versus 19.9%, p < 0.001). Blood transfusion requirement was lower for current smokers group than for the other two groups (34.9% versus 37.5% versus 44.1%, p = 0.02). Adjusted odd ratios (OR) for early clinical outcomes showed that current smokers had 59% higher risk of developing pulmonary complications (OR 1.59) than nonsmokers, with former smokers showing an intermediate pattern (OR 1.17). Current smokers had 36% lower risk of postoperative blood transfusion than nonsmokers (OR 0.64), with former smokers showing an intermediate pattern (OR 0.94). Rates of other postoperative complications, intensive care unit readmission, postoperative length of stay, and mortality did not differ among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is associated with significant pulmonary complications after CABG. In-hospital mortality is not influenced by smoking. Smokers should be encouraged to quit before undergoing CABG, and a period of 1 month may be beneficial, given that former smokers in our study seem to have better prognosis than current smokers

Effect of Preoperative Atrial Fibrillation on Postoperative Outcome following Cardiac Surgery

Atrial fibrillation remains the commonest arrhythmia encountered in cardiac surgery. Data on the effect of preoperative atrial fibrillation on postoperative outcome remain limited. We sought to assess the effects preoperative atrial fibrillation on patients' outcome following cardiac surgery. This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected departmental data of all patients who underwent cardiac surgery over 8-year period. Our cohort consisted of 3777 consecutive patients divided into atrial fibrillation (n=413, 11%) and sinus rhythm (n=3364, 89%). Postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality were analysed. Univariate analysis showed significantly increased mortality and major complications in atrial fibrillation compared to sinus rhythm patients. Using multiple logistic regression analysis and after accounting for Euro SCORE as a confounding variable, we found that preoperative atrial fibrillation significantly increases the risk of mortality (OR 1.7), low cardiac output state (OR 1.3), prolonged ventilation (OR 1.4), infective complication (OR 1.5), gastrointestinal complications (OR 2.0), and intensive care unit readmission (OR 1.6). Preoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery patients increases their risk of mortality and major complications following cardiac surgery. Surgical strategies such as Cox-Maze procedure may be beneficial in these patients