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Objective: This study aimed to compare the results of oneand two-stage basilic vein transposition (BVT) in haemodialysis patients. Methods: This was a non-randomised, retrospective study between January 2007 and January 2012 on 96 patients who were diagnosed with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) (54 males, 42 females; mean age 43.6 ± 14 years) and underwent one-or two-stage BVT in our clinic. All patients who were not eligible for a native radio-cephalic or brachio-cephalic arterio-venous fistula (AVF) were scheduled for one-or twostage BVT after arterial (brachial, radial and ulnar) and venous (basilic and cephalic) Doppler ultrasonography.Patients were retrospectively divided into two groups: group 1, basilic vein diameter > 3 mm and patients who underwent one-stage BVT; and group 2, basilic vein diameter < 3 mm and patients who underwent two-stage BVT. In group 1, the basilic vein with a single incision was anastomosed to the brachial artery, followed by superficialisation. In group 2, the basilic vein was anastomosed to the brachial artery and they underwent the superficialisation procedure one month postoperatively. Fistula maturation and postoperative complications were assessed. Results: The mean diameter of the basilic vein was statistically significantly higher in group 1 (3.46 ± 0.2 mm) than in group 2 (2.79 ± 0.1 mm) (p < 0.05). In terms of postoperative complications, thrombosis, haemorrhage and haematoma were significantly higher in group 1 (34, 36 and 17%, respectively) than in group 2 (23, 14 and 6%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The rate of fistula maturation was significantly lower in group 1 (66%), compared to group 2 (77%) (p < 0.05). Time to fistula maturation was significantly shorter in group 1 (mean 41 ± 14 days), compared to group 2 (mean 64 ± 28 days) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Two-stage BVT was superior to one-stage BVT due to its lower rate of postoperative complications and higher fistula maturation, despite its disadvantage of late fistula use. Although the diameter of the basilic vein was larger in patients who underwent one-stage BVT, we observed that one-stage BVT was disadvantageous in terms of postoperative complications and fistula maturation.

Platelet activation plays a pivotal role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated the relationship between platelet distribution width (PDW) and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with ACS. A total of 502 patients with ACS were enrolled. High (n = 151) and low PDW (n = 351) groups were defined as patients having values in the third tertile (>17%) and lower 2 tertiles (≤17%). There were significantly higher Gensini score (44 [10-168] vs. 36 [2-132], P < .001), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (3.1 [0.8-12.4] vs. .2.5 [0.3-13], P = .012) and baseline platelet counts were significantly lower (220 [61-623] vs. 233 [79-644] 10(3)/mm3, P = .022) in the high PDW group. The variables PDW >17%, diabetes mellitus, and myocardial infarction were found to be associated with high Gensini score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-2.88, P = .002; OR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.91-4.25, P < .001; OR: 2.67, 95% CI:1.74-4.1, P < .001, respectively). An increased PDW (>17%) is associated with severity of CAD in patients with ACS.

The origins, numbers, diameters, and courses of the bronchial arteries can vary substantially among individuals. Multidetector computed tomographic angiography enables a detailed road map of the bronchial arterial system to interventional radiologists and thoracic surgeons.

Our findings suggest that primary sternal closure with longitudinal wire reinforcement on both sides of the corpus sterni will decrease the risk of infection and improve wound-healing in parallel with a decrease in sternal dehiscence.