Inflammatory aneurysm of arcus aorta with massive hemoptysis

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. An aneurysm in the aortic arch was detected in the radiologic investigations. The aortic arch was replaced with a Dacron graft with the patient under total circulatory arrest. A pathology evaluation revealed an inflammatory aneurysm. To date, a few cases of inflammatory aneurysms of the aortic arch have been reported. Unlike the previously reported cases, the aneurysm in our case unexpectedly presented with massive hemoptysis

A late pseudoaneurysm caused by thermal injury in the descending aorta: report of a case

Pseudoaneurysm is a pulsating hematoma that occurs after an injury to all layers of the arterial wall. Traumas due to gunshot injuries may sometimes damage the arteries indirectly with the thermal energy causing deterioration in the arterial wall and rarely induce pseudoaneurysm formation. Pseudoaneurysm caused by the chest traumas in the adults have already been defined in the literature, however, pseudoaneurysms due to penetrating traumas in pediatric patients are very uncommon. We present a case of late pseudoaneurysm in the descending aorta of a six-year-old child caused by discharge of a hand gun

Revascularization of Left Anterior Descending (LAD) Artery with In Situ Left Internal Thoracic Artery (LITA) and Coronary-Coronary Free LITA Grafts: 12-Year Patency

Background: We aim to present a patient with coronary-coronary bypass grafting (CCBG), left anterior descending-left anterior descending (LAD-LAD) coronary artery bypass with left internal thoracic artery (LITA), and provide the 12-year follow-up angiogram to confirm the longest reported patency. Methods and Results: A 57-year-old man with three vessel disease where LAD had multiple lesions was operated on. LITA with pedicle was grafted in situ onto the proximal LAD, and the distal residual segment was used as a free LITA graft to bypass the distal stenosis. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has been recently readmitted to our clinic with atypical chest pain. In angiography, all of the bypasses, including the free LITA graft, were patent. Conclusions: We used free LITA graft to bypass the distal lesions of LAD in selected patients as a valid alternative to sequential bypass grafting. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only angiographic view of a CCBG in LAD with LITA graft confirming the long-term patency. doi: 10.1111/j. 1540-8191.2008.00643.x (J Card Surg 2008;23:722-724

An alternative reinforced closure technique with external Kirschner wires in sternal dehiscence

Objective. We present an alternative closure technique that is effective in length stabilization of the dehisced sternum, technically easy, and less time consuming

A new technique to avoid the intraoperative complications of septal myectomy in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Although transaortic septal myectomy in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHC) is accepted as a safe procedure, it may end up with serious peroperative complications. We developed a practical method to avoid this unfavorable outcome by using a 20-cc syringe body. We believe this apparatus will provide safe and effective septal myectomy procedures without additional cost

A novel approach to surgical treatment of diseased intracavitary coronary arteries and ventriculotomy closure

Inadvertent opening of the right ventricle may occur during dissection of an intracavitary artery. Two patients with stenotic intracavitary left anterior descending arteries were operated on. A right ventriculotomy was performed in the operation. The anastomosis was performed to this intracavitary segment of the artery. The ventriculotomy was closed with a pericardium. There were no ischemic changes or aneurysmal formation in the postoperative follow-ups. This technique may be preferable in the closure of right ventriculotomy without compromise of coronary flow or anastomosis

Evaluation of the relationship between caregiver burden, coping styles and levels of anxiety and depression in caregivers of old age patients

Introduction:  At present, caregiver's health is a public health challenge in itself, as important as the health of the elderly. This study aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and levels of anxiety and depression, the factors influencing them, and also to evaluate the coping strategies of the caregivers.Methods:  This study is a survey-based cross-sectional study, including a total of 70 caregivers. Sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and care receivers were collected by a survey. The functional status of the elderly was evaluated by Katz’ Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Burden Interview Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and The COPE Inventory were used to examine the caregiver burden, anxiety and depression levels and coping strategies of the caregivers.Results:  Anxiety and depression levels of the caregivers included in our study were higher when compared with the other studies. The anxiety levels were correlated with the non-functional coping strategies. The use of effective social support decreased the anxiety levels. Conclusion:  Country specific guidelines should be prepared for the primary healthcare centers in order to evaluate and protect caregiver health. Long-term multicenter clinical studies are needed to develop culture-specific programs for the intervention of functional coping strategies and to help caregivers cope more effectively with their daily life stressors

Interventricular hydatid cyst imitating pulmonary stenosis

Cardiac hydatid cyst is known to be a rarely occurring disease. The appearance of large cysts in the interventricular septum in childhood is even more rare. Although such cysts are usually asymptomatic, they can behave like valvular disorders, depending on their location. In addition, cardiac hydatid cysts originating from the interventricular septum carry the risk of rupturing into both ventricular cavities, which may lead to fatal complications. Thus, early surgical treatment is of extreme importance. We describe the case of a 7-year-old girl with a cardiac hydatid cyst that originated in the interventricular septum

Evaluation of the relationship between caregiver burden, coping styles and levels of anxiety and depression in caregivers of old age patients

Introduction:  At present, caregiver's health is a public health challenge in itself, as important as the health of the elderly. This study aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and levels of anxiety and depression, the factors influencing them, and also to evaluate the coping strategies of the caregivers.Methods:  This study is a survey-based cross-sectional study, including a total of 70 caregivers. Sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers and care receivers were collected by a survey. The functional status of the elderly was evaluated by Katz’ Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Burden Interview Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and The COPE Inventory were used to examine the caregiver burden, anxiety and depression levels and coping strategies of the caregivers.Results:  Anxiety and depression levels of the caregivers included in our study were higher when compared with the other studies. The anxiety levels were correlated with the non-functional coping strategies. The use of effective social support decreased the anxiety levels. Conclusion:  Country specific guidelines should be prepared for the primary healthcare centers in order to evaluate and protect caregiver health. Long-term multicenter clinical studies are needed to develop culture-specific programs for the intervention of functional coping strategies and to help caregivers cope more effectively with their daily life stressors