CABG using both ITAs can be performed routinely with good clinical results and low mortality. Compared with single ITA grafting, sternal and bleeding complications were slightly increased. Diabetes mellitus, BITA grafting, duration of surgery but not obesity or COPD could be identified as independent risk factors for sternal complications. Dialysis-dependent renal failure, EF<30%, emergent cases, and the absence of BITA grafting were predictors for increased perioperative mortality.

The superior patency of ITA-grafts could be documented angiographically in a negatively selected, symptomatic population. Graft occlusion was at least twofold higher for SVG.

In patients with suspected or known significant CAD, 3T myocardial perfusion CMR with standard perfusion protocols provides consistently high image quality and an excellent diagnostic performance.

No abstract

Fecal calprotectin concentrations serve as a screening tool for HE and SBP. Assessment of FCCs may faciliate grading of HE-severity.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y inhibitor is a mainstay of the prevention of stent thrombosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the 2015 European guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), prasugrel (PRA) and ticagrelor (TICA) combined with aspirin are recommended as first-line therapy. Clopidogrel (CLO) is recommended as an alternative medication for patients with contradictions to these new drugs. This single-center study analyzed the platelet function of 809 ACS patients undergoing PCI and treatment with DAPT. The platelet response to ADP was determined using Multiplate® analyzer at a median of 3 days after PCI in 254 patients treated with PRA (loading dose [LD] 60 mg, 10 mg qd), 162 patients receiving TICA (LD 180 mg, D 90 mg bid), and 393 CLO-treated patients (LD 600 mg, 75 mg qd). An aggregation >468 arbitrary units (AU)*min was defined as "high on-treatment platelet reactivity" (HPR), <188 AU*min as "low on-treatment platelet reactivity" (LPR). Platelet response in PRA-treated patients was lower compared to CLO or TICA (median; interquartile range: PRA 220 [163-275] AU*min vs. CLO 268 [186-387] AU*min, p < 0.001 vs. TICA 245 [190-320] AU*min, p = 0.001). Only 1.6% of PRA patients were stratified as HPR and 34.6% as LPR, while in the TICA group 1.9% fulfilled the criteria of HPR and 24.1% criteria of LPR. Sixteen percent of CLO patients were stratified as HPR and 26.2% as LPR. In a real-world cohort of ACS patients following PCI, PRA results in more potent inhibition of platelet function compared to CLO and TICA. TICA achieves a consistent antiplatelet effect with reduced rates of HPR and LPR in relation to CLO.

Simultaneous TEA and cardiac surgery can be performed with an acceptable risk for neurological complications and mortality. Occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery could be identified as an evident predictor for increased neurological complications. Compared to two-stage procedures, combined operations yield a reduction of hospital costs.

No abstract