In this study, PMV following aorta no-touch OPCAB was related to preoperative variables: age, octogenarians, preoperative IABP, TIA, and stroke. There was no relation between PMV and any of the operative data.

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Objectives: The radial artery is used as a second arterial conduit in coronary artery bypass surgery. However, concerns exist about the thermal injury incurred to the radial artery during endoscopic harvest. We sought to assess this effect both histologically and radiologically. Methods: From February 2015 to March 2016, 50 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery utilizing endoscopically harvested radial artery were prospectively studied. Computerized tomography coronary angiography scan was performed randomly in 8 patients who also had their respective radial artery analyzed histologically at the time of harvest. Standard coronary angiography was also performed in 4 additional patients driven by symptoms recurrence. Results: All patients were available for follow up at 1 year following the surgery. There was no mortality during follow-up. Three patients (6%) developed transient complications in the harvest arm which resolved. All radial arteries were patent on follow-up imaging. Histological examination showed integrity of the arterial wall, intact endothelial lining, patent lumens and no significant pathological abnormalities. Conclusion: The use of endoscopic radial artery harvest was associated with few self-limiting morbidities and excellent patency rates. In addition, there was no evidence of any thermal or traumatic injuries sustained to the radial arteries when examined histologically. The use of endoscopically harvested radial arteries appears safe with excellent results.

Background: Intrapleural fibrinolytics installation is considered an alternative method to aggressive operative intervention. This conservative medical management may decrease morbidity and mortality that were recorded with surgery. Our study investigates the outcome of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), alteplase, and streptokinase (SK) as a treatment for stage II of empyema. Methods: This study prospectively evaluated 38 patients that had stage II of empyema. The patients were divided into two groups with installing one fibrinolytic protocol into a chest tube for each group: group A, (TPA) and group B, (SK). The evaluation was based upon clinical examination and radiological findings for the efficacy of each protocol. Results: There were no differences in baseline characteristics between both groups. There was a significant improvement after 1 st , where 11 patients (52.4%) improved in the TPA group with only 3 patients (17.6%) in the SK group. TPA group showed 100% success, on the other hand, SK Group had 2 patients' failure (11.8%) and surgical intervention was necessary for them. Hemorrhagic complications were 9.5% and 17.6% for TPA and SK respectively. Finally, there was a significantly prolonged duration of mean hospital stay with SK therapy (5.48 vs 8.59 days). Conclusions: Both fibrinolytic protocols were effective and safe for empyema management, but Alteplase had a better outcome.