Die koronare Herzkrankheit ist trotz wachsendem Lebensstandard und aller präventiven medizinischen Maßnahmen nach wie vor von hoher medizinischer und ökonomischer Bedeutung. Die Akutform stellt das akute Koronarsyndrom dar. Komplizierend kann sich im Rahmen eines akuten Koronarsyndroms ein kardiogener Schock manifestieren, welcher die häufigste Todesursache für Patienten mit akutem Myokardinfarkt nach Aufnahme ins Krankenhaus darstellt. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Identifizierung von Risikofaktoren für die Krankenhaus- sowie Langzeitmortalität bei der chirurgischen Revaskularisation von Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom und komplizierendem kardiogenen Schock. Wir führten hierfür eine retrospektive Datenanalyse an 302 konsekutiven Patienten durch, welche im akuten Koronarsyndrom und kardiogenen Schock mittels aortokoronarer Bypassoperation therapiert wurden. Insgesamt wurden 44 präoperative, 18 intraoperative und 28 postoperative binäre Items analysiert. Wir konnten zeigen, dass bei den Höchstrisiko-Patienten die Letalität stark vom präoperativen Risikoprofil und dem Ausmaß des kardiogenen Schocks abhängt. Insbesondere der präoperative Einsatz einer IABP sowie die Verwendung der linken Arteria mammaria als Bypassgefäß wirkten sich positiv aus. Das gute Langzeit-Ergebnis demonstriert den Benefit einer chirurgischen Revaskularisation bei den Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom und kardiogenen Schock mit anderenfalls schlechter Prognose.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of arterial insufficiency in patients undergoing CABG surgery and whether arterial insufficiency is a risk factor for postoperative wound infections in the harvesting leg. Patients who had CABG surgery were enrolled consecutively. A total of 144 patients participated in the study. During their hospital stay demographic data was recorded, as well as pre-, intra-, and postoperative tests and risk factors. The patients answered a questionnaire regarding postoperative wound infections 30 days after surgery patients answered a questionnaire regarding infections. The known and potential risk factors that were recorded were BMI, HB, tobacco usage, diagnosed diabetes, hyperglycemia, duration of surgery, the lowest temperature during surgery and clinical or subclinical arterial insufficiency. The result showed that 34% had postoperative wound infections in the harvesting leg and 26 patients had an ABI (Ankel Brachial Index) indicating arterial insufficiency. There was no significant relationship between ABI and postoperative wound infections in the lower extremity in the total study group (p = 0.36) nor among men (p = 0.92). There was a significant correlation between ABI and postoperative wound infections in the lower extremity (p = 0.02) among women. The conclusion is that arterial insufficiency is more prevalent in women. The relationship between postoperative infections of the lower limbs and arterial insufficiency was significant for the participating women, but not in the total group nor among the men.

Comparison between flow in the left internal mammary artery harvested via sternotomy and via a left anterior small thoracotomy with clinical impact for the patient Introduction: In the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), in addition to conservative therapy and percutaneous interventions, is irreplacebly belong coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The gold standard in the surgical treatment of CAD is CABG from a median sternotomy access using cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump CABG). A less invasive and economically advantageous is CABG from a median sternotomy access without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump CABG) and last but not least CABG through a left anterior small thoracotomy (LAST) approach (MIDCAB - "minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass"). Although the final technical implementation anastomoses is essentially identical in off-pump CABG and MIDCAB, the difference is very important during left internal mammary artery (LIMA) harvesting, especially through a LAST approach, which can be difficult for the surgeon. Aim of the study: The aim of these two studies is to assess the effect of surgical approach on the mean flow in LIMA, including short and long term clinical impact for the patient. Methods: Study 1 (nonrandomized, prospective): In our study we included 60 patients,...

Introdução: Estudos clínicos e epidemiológicos têm revelado aumento do risco de doença coronária nos pacientes portadores de diabetes mellitus. A progressão da aterosclerose coronária documentada angiograficamente é identificada e utilizada com freqüência na prática clínica. Entretanto, o seu significado prognóstico ainda é pouco conhecido. Neste estudo, analisamos o significado dessa progressão em uma amostra de pacientes diabéticos e não diabéticos, portadores de doença arterial coronária e submetidos ao tratamento clínico, angioplastia ou cirurgia. Métodos. Foram avaliados 392 pacientes com cineangiocoronariografia inicial e após cinco anos de seguimento. A progressão foi definida como o surgimento de uma nova lesão ou o aumento em cerca de 20% de uma lesão prévia. A identificação da progressão foi realizada em pacientes submetidos previamente aos tratamentos clínico, cirúrgico e angioplastia. A progressão da doença foi analisada nos territórios correspondentes das artérias descendente anterior, circunflexa e coronária direita. A amostra englobou um grupo de 138 pacientes diabéticos e 254 pacientes não diabéticos. Dos 392 pacientes da amostra, formaram-se os seguintes grupos de intervenção: RCM (n=136) - 57 diabéticos e 79 não diabéticos; ATC (n=146) - 42 diabéticos e 104 não diabéticos; TM (n=110) - 38 diabéticos e 72 não diabéticos. Também se analisou também o percentual de progressão da doença, correlacionando-a com os fatores de risco e com a necessidade de novas intervenções. Resultados. Não se observou nenhuma diferença entre os grupos diabéticos e não diabéticos quanto à idade, sexo, HAS, tabagismo e distúrbios lipídicos. Além disso, não se demonstraram diferenças de progressão nesta amostra, quando comparados o grupo dos diabéticos e o de não diabéticos; entretanto, quando estratificados por intervenção, observou-se menor progressão da doença nos pacientes do grupo cirúrgico com diabetes mellitus (69,7%, p=0,014). Por outro lado, observou-se maior progressão no território das artérias descendente anterior (71,5%) e coronária direita (64,3%) dos pacientes diabéticos submetidos à angioplastia (p=0,024, p=0,047). Conclusão. Os resultados deste estudo permitiram concluir que, em cinco anos, o diabetes mellitus não impôs maior progressão angiográfica da doença aterosclerótica quando se compararam os grupos de pacientes diabéticos e de não diabéticos. Entretanto, a análise dos pacientes diabéticos submetidos a ATC revelou significativo aumento da progressão da doença nos territórios da coronária direita e da descendente anterior. Por outro lado, os pacientes diabéticos do grupo cirúrgico apresentaram menor progressão da doença. / Background: Epidemiologic and clinical studies have shown an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Angiographic progression of coronary atherosclerosis is frequently observed in clinical practice and is used as an end-point in clinical trials; however, its prognostic significance is unclear. In this study, we prospectively analyzed the angiographic progression in diabetic and nondiabetic patients treated by medication, angioplasty or surgery. Methods: At baseline and 5- year follow-up angiograms were obtained in 392 randomized patients. Progression was defined as an increase in diameter of stenosis by >20% of at least one coronary lesion. We tried to assess the coronary disease progression in the clinical, surgical, and angioplasty groups in the LAD, LCX, and RCA arteries in diabetic (n=138) and nondiabetic patients (n=254). A total of 392 subjects randomly assigned to CABG (n=136), 57 diabetic and 79 non diabetic, PCI (n=146),42 diabetic and 104 non diabetic or medical treatment(n=110) 38 diabetic and 72 non diabetic Also, we analyzed the relation of the rate of progression with morbidity and the need for an additional intervention. Results: No significant differences in relation to age, sex, hypertension, smoking, or lipid disorders were observed between the groups. Furthermore, no differences concerning CAD progression were shown when diabetic and nondiabetic subject were compared. However, when the type of treatment was stratified, the surgery group had less progression in the diabetic group (69.7% p =0.014). On the other hand, more progression in the PCI group was observed in RCA (64.3 %) and LAD (71.5%) territories in diabetic group (p=0.047; p=0.024). No relation was found between progression and the rate of events in both groups. Conclusion: Diabetes was not associated with greater progression of CAD in patients with stable CAD and preserved ventricular function during 5-year follow-up. However, the diabetic patients who underwent PCI had more progression of CAD compared with nondiabetic subjects in RCA and LAD territories.The surgery group shown less progression of the disease in the diabetic group.

Introduction The long-term patency of the grafts used during the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most significant predictors of the clinical outcomes. The gold standard graft used during CABG with the best long-term patency rate and the better clinical outcomes is left internal thoracic artery (LITA) grafted to the left coronary artery (LCA). The controversy lies in choosing the second-best conduit for the non-left coronary artery (NLCA) with similar patency rate as LITA. This meta-analysis examines the long-term patency and clinical outcomes of all arterial grafts versus all venous grafts used during the CABG. Methods A comprehensive literature search of all published randomized control trials (RCTs) assessing long-term patency and clinical outcomes of grafts used in CABG was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar (1966-2018). Keywords searched included combinations of "CABG", "venous grafts in CABG", "arterial grafts in CABG", "radial artery grafts in CABG", "gastroepiploic artery grafts in CABG", "patency and clinical outcomes". Inclusion criteria included: RCTs comparing the long-term patency, and clinical outcomes of radial artery, right internal thoracic artery, gastroduodenal artery, and saphenous vein grafts used in CABG. Long-term patency of the grafts and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results Eight RCTs involving 2,091 patients with 1,164 patients receiving arterial grafts and 927 patients receiving venous grafts were included. There was no difference between the long-term patency rate (relative risk (RR) = 1.050, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.949 to 1.162, and p = 0.344), overall mortality rate (RR = 1.095, 95% CI = 0.561 to 2.136, and p = 0.790), rate of myocardial infarction (MI) (RR = 0.860, 95% CI = 0.409 to 1.812, and P = 0.692), and re-intervention rate (RR = 0.0768, 95% CI = 0.419 to 1.406, and P = 0.392) between arterial and venous grafts. Conclusion The use of arterial conduits over the venous conduits has no significant superiority regarding the long-term graft patency, the rate of MI, overall mortality, and the rate of revascularization following CABG. Additional adequately powered studies are needed to further evaluate the long-term outcomes of arterial and venous grafts following the CABG.

The American Heart Association (2006) has identified cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in the United States for every year except 1918 since 1900. Cardiac surgery is an increasingly common method of treating this problem (Contrada, Goyal, Cather, Rafalson, Idler et al. , 2004). Researchers have found that depression is associated with serious complications related to cardiac surgery (Connemey, Shapiro, McLaughlin, Bagiella, & Sloan, 2001 ). Many researchers have identified factors associated with depression in these patients. The purpose of this thesis was to identify and synthesize these current research findings. Studies included were published from 1997-2006 and focused on male and female patients 18 years of age and older, primarily undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The synthesis of these findings includes both the factors associated with developing depression and the complications associated with depression. Common factors associated with its development included female gender, lower socioeconomic status, pessimism, and poorer cognitive and physical functioning. Complications associated with depression included decreased physical functioning, healing, and cognitive functioning, as well as increased hospital stays, readmissions, cardiac events, and mortality. The associated factors may help to identify patients at high risk for developing depression, while the complications emphasize its importance. Limitations were acknowledged and recommendations for nursing research, education, and practice are included.

Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse drug reaction characterized by a lowered platelet count (50% from baseline) 4-10 days after heparin exposure. Autoantibodies specific for platelet factor 4 (PF4) bind PF4 and heparin complexes (PF4/H) and activate platelets through the FcgammaRIIA receptor. Severe cases of HIT can result in thrombotic complications including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and death. Pathogenic class-switched antibodies against PF4/H (IgG) are detectable in circulation as early as five days post-heparin exposure and peak at 14 days. The timeline and class of antibody found in HIT patients suggest that there must be pre-existing immunity against PF4/H. Thus, B cells producing anti-PF4/H antibodies must exist prior to heparin exposure. Cardiac surgery patients are disproportionately prone to anti-PF4/H seroconversion (up to 70%) and thus are utilized in this study as a model patient group. Research objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the preoperative immune profile is associated with postoperative anti-PF4/H antibody production in a cohort of patients undergoing cardiac pulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Materials and methods: To characterize the preoperative immune profile, we used 1) a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) enzyme linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay to measure the prevalence of preoperative anti-PF4/H specific antibody secreting cells (ASC) and 2) a PF4/H-dependant enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to measure the anti-PF4/H antibodies produced by PBMCs in vitro. To characterize postoperative anti-PF4/H seroconversion in CPB patients, we used a PF4/H dependent EIA to measure in vivo levels of anti-PF4/H antibodies produced postoperatively. We also utilize a functional assay, 14C-serotonin release assay (SRA) to determine if seroconverting patients produced platelet activating antibody. Results: All patients were able to produce anti-PF4/H spots in the ELISPOT; however, this did not correlate with the titer of antibody production in vitro nor did it correlate with antibody production in the postoperative period. Instead, we found that pre-operative in vitro anti-PF4/H IgM production was associated with post-operative IgG anti-PF4/H seroconversion (Spearman’s r=0.39, P=0.018). We observed that 92.1% of CPB patients produced PF4/H antibody at postoperative week 3 with some combination of IgA, IgG, and IgM. Of the anti-PF4/H seropositive patients, 26% developed platelet activating antibody and were found seropositive when the SRA was supplemented with PF4 instead of heparin, while 15.7% were seropositive in the original SRA. It was noted that 4 of 10 patients that caused the most robust platelet activation were also seropositive for anti-PF4/H IgA antibody. Lastly, throughout this serosurveillance study, several patients that demonstrated unique immunological features are presented in this study as case studies. Specifically, we report the preoperative, surgical, clinical and postoperative characteristics for 3 patients of interest: 1) in a preoperative setting, a CPB patient’s PBMC were able to be activated and produce anti-PF4/H IgG antibody in vitro, 2) the second patient had platelet-activating antibodies in circulation prior to intraoperative heparin challenge and early post-surgery 3) the third patient who developed probable HIT. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we conclude that preoperative PF4/H ELISPOTs were unable to predict post-operative production of anti PF4/H antibodies. However, preoperative in vitro production of anti-PF4/H IgM may be associated with postoperative production of anti-PF4/IgG antibody and should be investigated further as this may help to elucidate the mechanisms for anti-PF4/H production related to HIT. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

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Die koronare Herzkrankheit ist trotz wachsendem Lebensstandard und aller präventiven medizinischen Maßnahmen nach wie vor von hoher medizinischer und ökonomischer Bedeutung. Die Akutform stellt das akute Koronarsyndrom dar. Komplizierend kann sich im Rahmen eines akuten Koronarsyndroms ein kardiogener Schock manifestieren, welcher die häufigste Todesursache für Patienten mit akutem Myokardinfarkt nach Aufnahme ins Krankenhaus darstellt. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Identifizierung von Risikofaktoren für die Krankenhaus- sowie Langzeitmortalität bei der chirurgischen Revaskularisation von Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom und komplizierendem kardiogenen Schock. Wir führten hierfür eine retrospektive Datenanalyse an 302 konsekutiven Patienten durch, welche im akuten Koronarsyndrom und kardiogenen Schock mittels aortokoronarer Bypassoperation therapiert wurden. Insgesamt wurden 44 präoperative, 18 intraoperative und 28 postoperative binäre Items analysiert. Wir konnten zeigen, dass bei den Höchstrisiko-Patienten die Letalität stark vom präoperativen Risikoprofil und dem Ausmaß des kardiogenen Schocks abhängt. Insbesondere der präoperative Einsatz einer IABP sowie die Verwendung der linken Arteria mammaria als Bypassgefäß wirkten sich positiv aus. Das gute Langzeit-Ergebnis demonstriert den Benefit einer chirurgischen Revaskularisation bei den Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom und kardiogenen Schock mit anderenfalls schlechter Prognose.