Objective:This study aimed to assess the effect of new generation oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban on intimal hyperplasia and smooth muscle cell proliferation at the carotid artery anastomosis site of rabbits.Methods:In total, 14 New Zealand male rabbits weighing 3–3.5 kg were randomized into two groups. Group A (7 rabbits) served as the control group and received no medication. Rivaroxaban was perorally administered to group B (7 rabbits) mg/kg/day for 28 days. Following anesthesia induction, carotid arteries were dissected through a right neck incision. following heparinization at 100 IU/kg, vertical full thickness arteriotomy was performed, then was repaired continuously with 8-0 polypropylene. At day 28, all rabbits were sacrificed and the anastomosed carotid artery segments were analyzed using light microcopy. Hematoxylin–eosin and Masson’s trichrome stained images were analyzed using a digital image analysis program, and lumen diameter, lumen area, intimal and medial thickness, and media areas were measured and results were compared.Results:In the serial sections, the average lumen diameter of group B was higher than that of group A (p=0.001). The lumen areas of group B were also higher than those of group A (p=0.004). The intimal thickness of group B was lower than that of group A (p=0.001). When the section series were evaluated for media thickness, the thickness of group B was lesser than that of group A; the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002).Conclusion:This study may imply a potential midterm benefit of rivaroxaban following arterial anastomosis by reducing intimal proliferation and restenosis.

This study aims to assess the relation between late term arteriovenous fistula thrombosis and alteration in hemogram parameters before the occurrence of thrombosis in hemodialysis patients with end-stage renal failure. Materials and Methods: Data of three hemodialysis centers in our city were evaluated retrospectively. The results of hemogram values before thrombosis formation at first and third month in 14 re-operated patients between March-September 2017, owing to late term fistula thrombosis occurrence, who previously had a successful fistula access, were compared to 73 patients still having hemodailysis therapy via fistula access. Results: Statistically significant increments were measured in neutrophile to lympocyte ratio, red blood cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width parameters in fistula thrombosis developed patients compared to their previous results three months before thrombosis formation and control group. No significant relation was found between thrombosis formation and other parameters in hemogram. Conclusion: Herein, it's determined that a profound examination of hemogram has a predictive value for late term fistula thrombosis in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart anomaly. In surgical treatment, the transatrial approach is frequently utilized because of causing less right bundle block and ventricular scarring. However, some VSDs are obscured by the chordae tendineae or a pouch formation of the septal leaflet; therefore, alternative techniques are required. In such cases, tricuspid valve detachment (TVD) provides a complete visualization and ease to access to ventricular septal defects. In this study, we evaluated the results of the patients of whom we performed TVD. Patient and Method: Our study includes 50 patients who underwent TVD during the procedure with the diagnosis of perimembranous VSD. Patients were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before and after operation and the valvular functions are evaluated. All patients were kept in follow up for 3 months after discharge. Results: The mean age of the patients was 27.56±34.81 months. At the end of the study, all patients were in New York Heart Association class I. There was no residual shunt through VSD. Except 4 patients with mild tricuspid regurgation (TR), the TTE has not revealed any TR in majority of patients. Conclusion: We suggest that, in appropriate patients, VSD closure can be performed safely with a TVD application thru an incision of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve without any adverse effect on function or growth at of the valve at midterm follow-up.

Objective: This study evaluated how much of the myocardium was hibernating in patients with left ventricle dysfunction and/or comorbidities who planned to undergo either surgical or interventional revascularization. Furthermore, this study also identified which irrigation areas of the coronary arteries presented more scar and hibernating tissue. Methods: At rest, Tc-99m MIBI SPECT and cardiac F-18 FDG PET/CT images collected between March 2009 and September 2016 from 65 patients (55 men, 10 women, mean age 64±12) were retrospectively analyzed in order to evaluate myocardial viability. The areas with perfusion defects that were considered metabolic were accepted as hibernating myocardium, whereas areas with perfusion defects that were considered non-metabolic were accepted as scar tissue. Results: Perfusion defects were observed in 26% of myocardium, on average 48% were associated with hibernation whereas other 52% were scar tissue. In the remaining Tc-99m MIBI images, perfusion defects were observed in the following areas in the left anterior descending artery (LAD; 31%), in the right coronary artery (RCA; 23%) and in the Left Circumflex Artery (LCx; 19%) irrigation areas. Hibernation areas were localized within the LAD (46%), LCx (54%), and RCA (64%) irrigation areas. Scar tissue was also localized within the LAD (54%), LCx (46%), and RCA (36%) irrigation areas. Conclusion: Perfusion defects are thought to be the result of half hibernating tissue and half scar tissue. The majority of perfusion defects was observed in the LAD irrigation area, whereas hibernation was most often observed in the RCA irrigation area. The scar tissue development was more common in the LAD irrigation zone.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the early operative outcomes and to compare the left ventricle and mitral valve functions after initial Takeuchi repair in patients with anomalous left coronary arising from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).MethodsFourteen patients (5 males, 9 females; mean age 4.3 years, ranging from 25 days to 34 years) who were operated for ALCAPA between 2007 and 2018 were included in this study. Data were evaluated retrospectively based on our medical records.ResultsHospital mortality rate was 7.1% (n=1). Thirteen surviving patients were kept in follow-up mean 4.3±3.05 years. When compared to preoperative measurements, both left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), (P=0.007) and mitral regurgitation (MR) (P=0.001) significantly improved before discharge. Moreover, LVEF values were improved in the late follow-up, considering early postoperative outcomes, and this alteration was significant (P=0.014). Nevertheless, alteration in the degree of MR among patients did not differ in the long-term follow-up (P=0.180). There was no late-term mortality or need for reoperation among patients.ConclusionAlthough some centers prefer to direct implantation in ALCAPA, Takeuchi procedure can be accepted as a reliable method that provides satisfactory long-term results, considering that it aids to improve left ventricle ejection fraction and reduced mitral valve regurgitation.