The endothelial integrity of radial artery grafts harvested by minimally invasive surgery is better preserved than in the grafts obtained by the conventional manner. This could play an important role in improving graft patency and might represent a preliminary condition of stable functioning in coronary arterial bypasses.

Introduction. Migration of the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to the tunica media in the saphenous vein (SV) transplants is facilitated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to identify any associations between expression of MMP-2 or endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMP-2 and TIMP-3) in the SV segments and late failure of the SV grafts. Methods. Two hundred consecutive patients with a mean age of 63.1 ± 8.9 years who underwent primary isolated venous CABG were examined. Patients were retrospectively split into two subgroups, with the SV graft disease (SVGD (+); n = 47) or without it (SVGD (−); n = 153). In the SV segments, immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of the MMP-2, TIMP-2, and -3 was performed. Results. In the SVGD (+) patients, tissue expression of MMP-2 was stronger, whereas that of both TIMPs was weaker than in the SVGD (−) patients. In majority of the SV segments obtained from the SVGD (−) individuals, a balance in MMP and TIMP expressions was found, whereas an upregulation of MMP-2 expression was usually noted in the SVGD (+) subjects. Conclusion. The strong expression of MMP-2 accompanied by reduced immunostaining of both TIMPs is associated with the development of the SV graft disease and unfavorable CABG outcomes.

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Background: We assess the effectiveness and our experience in emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with post-traumatic acute thoracic aortic injury (TAI) and associated multiorgan trauma. TAI is a life-threatening condition. It usually results from a sudden deceleration caused by vehicle accident, a fall or some other misfortune. Techniques of endovascular aortic repair have become promising methods to treat emergent TAI.Methods: Since 2007, 114 patients with thoracic aorta pathologies have been treated by TEVAR. Our study involved 15 (incl. 14 men) of them (13%) who underwent stent graft implantation for post-traumatic either aortic rupture or pseudoaneurysm. The procedural access was limited to small skin incision in one groin and percutaneous puncture of the contralateral femoral artery. We evaluated technical success, early and long-term mortality, complication rate of procedure and throughout clinical and instrumental follow-up.

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