Gökhan Albayrak

The effect of resveratrol on intimal hyperplasia and endothelial proliferation of rabbit carotid artery anastomosis

OBJECTIVES We assessed the effect of resveratrol on intimal hyperplasia and endothelial proliferation after its use for carotid artery anastomosis in rabbits. METHODS Fourteen New Zealand-type male rabbits, weighing a mean of 2-3 kg were selected randomly. Their right carotid arteries were transected and anastomosed side by side using 8/0 polypropylene. The rabbits were divided into two groups with seven in each group. While the rabbits in the first group were accepted as the Control group, the rabbits in the second group were given resveratrol (1 mg/kg/day) for 14 days intravenously. At the end of the 28th day, all the carotid artery segments that were transected and anastomosed and the left carotid arteries that did not undergo surgery were removed and evaluated histologically. RESULTS The results of histological evaluation were as follows: lumen diameter (P <0.001) and lumen area (P <0.05) of the Resveratrol group were larger than those of the Control group, intimal thickness (P <0.05) and media thickness of the Resveratrol group (P = 0.04) were thinner than those of the Control group, and intima/media ratio of the Control group was found to be greater than that of the Resveratrol group (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Resveratrol can prevent intimal hyperplasia and endothelial proliferation following surgical anastomosis.

Advanced treatment of acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusion with Fogarty catheter guidance

Purpose The guiding role of the Fogarty catheter was investigated among patients suffering from limb ischemia due to acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusion. Methods A total of 27 patients with a history of femoropopliteal bypass operation who was admitted with acute limb ischemia were enrolled in this retrospective study. In cases in which the Fogarty catheter could not be passed through the popliteal anastomosis, the popliteal region was explored and a new bypass or patch plasty was performed for the distal anastomosis. The cases in which the blood circulation was observed in the graft, but in which the Fogarty catheter balloon was stuck in the native vessels on the proximal and distal side of the graft and the balloon could be withdrawn by deflation, were referred to conventional angiography. The stenosis observed in native vessels was managed by endovascular stent grafting and/or balloon dilatation. Findings Graft patency was achieved in all patients. In 11 patients, conventional angiography was implemented following embolectomy. In these patients, all the occlusions found as significant on angiography were removed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Conclusion Effective use of Fogarty catheter is safe in acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusions and in particular, in the planning of further treatment following thrombectomy.

Bedside Surgery to Treat Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Low-Birth-Weight Premature Infants

Background Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is commonly seen in premature infants with low birth weights (LBW). It is a condition that has high mortality and morbidity rates. Early closure of the ductus arteriosus may require surgery or medical treatment. However, the decision of first medical approach for symptomatic PDA closure is still debated. In this study, we compared the surgical and medical treatments for the closure of PDA in premature LBW infants. Methods This study included 27 premature infants whose birth weights were lower than 1500 g, who were born in the period between 2011 and 2013 and had symptomatic PDA. Patients were separated into two groups: groups A and B. Group A included patients whose PDAs were closed with medical treatment (n = 16), and group B included patients who had undergone surgical operations for PDA closure (n = 11). Results There were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B when the groups were compared in terms of birth weight, gestational age, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and pneumothorax. Although the mortality rate was determined to be lower in group B (2 out of 11, 18.1%) than in group A (7 out of 16, 43.7%), no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. A statistically significant increase was determined in the incidence of kidney function loss in patient group that received Ibuprofen, a medical treatment, in comparison to the patients who had surgery. Conclusion In conclusion, surgery is a safe method to repair PDA in premature LBW infants. Although there is no remarkable difference between surgery and medical treatment, we suggest that a surgical approach may be used as a first choice to repair PDA considering the lower rate of mortality and morbidity and higher rate of closure compared to medical treatment.

A mandatory modification in extracorporeal biventricular assist device (BIVAD) implantation: intercostal tunnel application: a case report

In this case, our patient was a heart transplant candidate connected to a respiratory system. An extracorporeal biventricular assist device (BIVAD) was the only option in order to bridge to transplantation. In routine procedures, it is recommended that Berlin Heart Excor cannulas be removed through the subfascial subcostal tunnel. As the severely dilated right ventricle compressed the apex of the left ventricle, which was also dilated to the mid-back zone of the left hemithorax, the whole length of the Extracorporeal BIVAD apical cannula had to remain within the thorax; however, the cannula was removed from the body by creating a tunnel at the 7th intercostal space. In the long-term follow-up, this compulsory modification has proven to be safe and effective.

Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in a Patient with Severe Atherosclerotic Stenosis Presenting with Acute Limb Ischemia: Case Report

Acute leg ischemia is a clinical condition that can result in loss of the extremity or death. Depending on the clinical picture, patients with acute leg ischemia can be treated with emergent surgical revascularizaton or catheter-directed thrombolysis. This paper presents a case of acute leg ischemia treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis.

Inhibitory effect of adenosine on intimal hyperplasia and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in a carotid arterial anastomosis animal model

Purpose The effect of adenosine (9-β-0-ribifuranosyladenine) on the endothelial cell proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia is investigated in the rabbit carotid artery anastomosis model. Methods Twenty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were arranged in four groups of seven animals each. The right carotid arteries of each animal were transsected and re-anastomosed. The left sides remained as control. In Group A, no medication was used. In Group B, subcutaneous Adenosine was applied for 3 days. In Group C, the same dose was applied for 7 days, and in Group D for 21 days. After 28 days, the luminal diameters, luminal areas, intima/media ratios were all measured by using histopathological evaluation. Findings The mean luminal diameters and areas of the four groups were smaller than the control ones. Massive thickening of smooth muscle cell proliferation and dense intensifying in the connecting tissues were observed most prominently in Group A, in decreasing degrees within other groups. Intima/media ratio was highest in Group A. Scoring the quantity of e-NOS positive staining also revealed a significant difference between the experimental groups and their control associates. Conclusion The process of endothelial cell proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia can be significantly reduced by the use of adenosine.

Hybrid Approach for the Treatment of Type 1b Endoleak Following Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneursym: Case Report

Crawford in 1978. The procedure has rapidly evolved over the years. Nowadays, treatment options for TAAA’s include open repair, endovascular repair or hybrid repair. They perform with experienced surgical centers to have much lower mortality and morbidity rates particularly in organ protection. Moreover, high technology has led to the extended use of endovascular grafts in the visceral aorta. Hybrid approach and endovascular extended grafts usage are becoming widespread as they have lower mortality and morbidity rates with shorter hospital stay. Hybrid TAAA repairs providing concomitant visceral artery revascularization and endovascular aneursymal repair. In this paper we report a case with type 1b endoleak that was treated with hybrid treatment consisting inflow to visceral arter-