Short-Term Results of Ivabradine versus Metoprolol: The Effects on Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Introduction: Classic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery involves diastolic cardiac arrest under cardiopulmonary bypass, while off-pump CABG (OPCABG) has become widespread in recent years. Methods: 174 patients who underwent OPCABG were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=90) received ivabradine and Group M (n=84) received metoprolol before surgery until postoperative day 10. Intraoperative arrhythmias and hypotension were recorded. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) and arrhythmia, mortality and morbidity rates were assessed based on the 30-day postoperative follow-up. Results: There were no significant differences in the intraoperative amount of inotropic support and red blood cell transfusion between groups (P=0.87 and P=0.31). However, the rates of intraoperative arrhythmias and hypotension were not significantly higher in Group M (P=0.317 and P=0.47). Ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) was observed in 2 patients in both groups. Postoperative AF occurred in 7 patients (7.7%) in Group I and in 10 patients (11.9%) in Group M. Although there was a trend towards a higher prevalence of AF in Group M patients, this did not reach statistical significance. In addition, mortality and morbidity rates were comparable between groups

The effectiveness of vacuum-assisted closure therapy in patients with infected venous leg ulcers

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of vacu-um-assisted closure therapy on venous stasis wound healing in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers. Methods: Vacuum-assisted closure therapy was applied on a total of 14 venous leg ulcers. All patients had post-thrombotic syndrome. Quantitative wound culture samples were obtained before the procedure and local wound assessments were performed. The primary outcome measures included wound healing as assessed by a local wound examination during each dressing change and the rate and velocity of ulcer reduc-tion. Wound healing was defined as the complete closure of the ulcer, while rapid wound healing was defined as a >= 30% reduction in the ulcer size by week four. Results: No surgical debridement or surgical corrective procedure was applied in any patient. The mean length of hospital stay was 32.3 days. The mean number of vacuum-assisted closure therapies for each case was 17.8 and the mean time to dressing change was 72.3 hours. Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were detected in three and four patients, respectively. Wound culture results became negative after a mean duration of vacuum-assisted closure therapy of 12.1 days. None of the patients needed antibiotic therapy until the procedure was completed. Compared to baseline, the mean ulcer reduction rates were 46.4% for the first six applications and 72.8% for the subsequent applications. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that vacuum-assisted closure therapy promotes rapid wound healing in patients with severe post-thrombotic syndrome with venous stasis leg ulcers, and reduces the need for antibiotics by reducing the biological burden

Penetrating Injuries of Peripheral Vascular Structures: Short-Term Follow-up Study

Objective: Penetrating vascular injuries are medical conditions that we often come across and require urgent treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment play a big role reducing the mortality and morbidity in patients suffering from penetrating vascular injuries

Comparison of Short and Mid-Term Mortality and Morbidity in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis (Intermediate/High Risk) Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Treatment protocols for severe aortic valve stenosis include surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), balloon valvuloplasty, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and medical treatment. Because the success rates are getting higher with both SAVR and TAVR, making the right treatment decision is important

Comparison of Short and Mid-Term Mortality and Morbidity in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis (Intermediate/High Risk) Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Treatment protocols for severe aortic valve stenosis include surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), balloon valvuloplasty, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and medical treatment. Because the success rates are getting higher with both SAVR and TAVR, making the right treatment decision is important

Postoperative chronic pain incidence and etiology in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective study

Introduction: Post-operative chronic pain (POCP), after updated by Werner-Kongsgaard, is defined as the pain developed after the surgical procedure or increased in intensity after the procedure, as the continuation of acute postoperative pain, localized in the surgical area, lasted at least 3 months, and other causes of pain excluded. In our study, we aimed to prospectively examine the prevalence of POCP and risk factors in the first three months after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS)

Comparison of Demographic Profile, Laboratory, Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Native Valve and Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a heterogenous infection that affects the endothelial surface of the intracardiac structures and other implanted intracardiac devices. We aimed to compare demographical characteristics, causative microorganisms, treatment, and prognosis of prosthetic and native valve endocarditis diagnosed in two separate hospitals

Comparison of Demographic Profile, Laboratory, Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Native Valve and Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a heterogenous infection that affects the endothelial surface of the intracardiac structures and other implanted intracardiac devices. We aimed to compare demographical characteristics, causative microorganisms, treatment, and prognosis of prosthetic and native valve endocarditis diagnosed in two separate hospitals