Dupla artéria torácica esqueletizada versus convencional na revascularização do miocárdio sem CEC em diabéticosDouble skeletonized internal thoracic artery vs. double conventional internal thoracic artery in diabetic patients submitted to OPCAB Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of the technique used in the dissection of thoracic arteries in the evolution of diabetic patients submitted to OPCAB.Methods: Seventy diabetic patients submitted to OPCAB using bilateral thoracic arteries were evaluated. In Group A, thoracic arteries were dissected as a pedicle, while in Group B they were skeletonized.Results: The mean age of patients in Group A was 52.14 ± 7.35 years old versus 55.71 ± 8.1 years for Group B (p=0.057). In Group A, six patients (17.1%) were insulin dependent against nine (25.7%) in Group B (p = 0.561). The EUROSCORE was 3.97 ± 2.49 for Group A opposed to 4.14 ± 3.06 for Group B (p = 0.879). The number of distal anastomoses in Group A was 3 ± 0.77 versus 3.03 ± 0.89 in Group B (p = 0.981). Three patients (8.57%) from Group A presented with mediastinitis. Insulin dependence was the only significant risk factor (p=0.008) for mediastinitis. In this group the use of skeletonized ITAs significantly decreased the incidence of mediastinitis (p = 0.044).Conclusion: The incidence of mediastinitis was lower in the group for which thoracic arteries were dissected using skeletonization. Among insulin-dependent diabetics, 50% of the patients from the group in which the pedicled internal thoracic artery was utilized presented with mediastinitis; the utilization of skeletonized ITAs significantly decreases the incidence of mediastinitis. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc 2008; 23(3): 351-357 Descriptors

ObjectiveTo measure the concentration of cefazolin in the anterior mediastinal adipose tissue of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, determining the variation of cefazolin concentration.MethodsTwo samples of approximately 1g of subcutaneous tissue were collected from 19 patients who underwent surgery in December 2015: the first sample was collected right after sternotomy and the second one, before sternal synthesis with steel wires. Antibiotic dosage was administered through high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsWe observed a positive and statistically significant correlation between time 1 and cefazolin concentration (r=0.489 and P=0.039). For time 2 and cefazolin concentration, there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between both variables (r=-0.793 and P<0.001). A negative correlation was also observed between body mass index and cefazolin concentration at time 2 (r=-0.510 and P=0.031). The regression model showed that every 1-minute increase in time 1 corresponded to an increase of 0.240 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration, whereas every 1-minute increase in time 2 corresponded to a reduction of 0.046 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration. As for body mass index, every 1 kg/m2 increase corresponded to a reduction of about 0.510 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration.ConclusionThere was a positive and significant correlation between the initial time of surgery and cefazolin level in the first dosage. The evaluation of the second dosage showed a negative and significant correlation between cefazolin level and the second time of dosage. The concentration of cefazolin is under the influence of body mass index.

Reação histopatológica da parede da aorta abdominal ao stent não recoberto Histopathological reaction of the abdominal aorta wall to non-covered stents Abstract Objective: To evaluate the histopathological reaction of the abdominal aorta wall in pigs' renal arteries to the presence of non-covered stainless steel stents. Methods: The abdominal aorta of ten pigs (6 months old and weighing 86.6 kg on average) was histopathologically studied 100 days after the implant of stainless steel stents in the abdominal aorta, with one segment of the stent implanted in the renal artery. Self-expanding non-covered stents were released by laparotomy. The histological slices were made at the transition from the normal aorta and the aorta containing the stent; the aorta portion containing the stent; the portion with the ostia of renal arteries; periaortic lymph nodes and renal parenchyma. The samples were stained by the hematoxylin and eosin technique. Results: Macroscopic findings showed periaortic lymphadenopathy, thickened aortic wall, patency of lumbar and renal arteries and normal renal anatomical structure. Microscopic analyses near the stents revealed thickening of vessel wall secondary to intima fibrosis, and media layer affected by interstitial fibrosis. Micrometric measurements of aorta wall with the stent, compared to the aortic portion without it, presented a 75.90% increase in the total thickness of the wall by thickening of the intima layer secondary to fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposits with lymphocytary inflammatory infiltrate and foreign body-type granulomas. Conclusion: The non-covered stainless steel stents in pigs' aortas produced a significant inflammatory reaction with fibrosis in the media and intima layers evidenced by histopathological analyses; their presence did not interfere in the patency of the abdominal aorta or the renal and lumbar arteries.

Embolization by a dislodged projectile is a rare complication that may occur in cases of gunshot cardiac injuries. We report a case of a firearm projectile cardiac injury that evolved, with dislocation of the projectile during cardiac surgery, into embolization of the right external carotid artery.

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Introduction Transfusion of red blood cells is recurrent in cardiac surgery despite the well-established deleterious effects. Identifying patients with higher chances of requiring blood transfusion is essential to apply strategic preventive measures to reduce such chances, considering the restricted availability of this product. The most used risk scores to predict blood transfusion are the Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge (TRACK) and Transfusion Risk Understanding Scoring Tool (TRUST). However, these scores were not validated for the Brazilian population. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of TRACK and TRUST scores in estimating the need for postoperative transfusion of red blood cell concentrates (TRBCC) after cardiac surgery. Methods A clinical retrospective study was conducted using the database of a Brazilian reference service composed of patients operated between November 2019 and September 2021. Scores were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test assessed calibration of the scores. Accuracy was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). All analyses considered a level of significance of 5%. The study was approved by the research ethics committee (CAAE 55577421.4.0000.5201). Results This study assessed 498 patients. Only the TRACK score presented good calibration (P=0.238; TRUST P=0.034). AUC of TRACK was 0.678 (95% confidence interval 0.63 to 0.73; P<0.001), showing a significant accuracy. Conclusion Between the scores analyzed, only the TRACK score showed a good calibration, but low accuracy, to predict postoperative TRBCC after cardiac surgery.

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