Treatment protocols for severe aortic valve stenosis include surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), balloon valvuloplasty, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and medical treatment. Because the success rates are getting higher with both SAVR and TAVR, making the right treatment decision is important. This study retrospectively shows the short- (1 month) and mid-term (6 months) mortality and morbidity rate differences between 2 groups of patients, who arrived to our hospital from January 2014 through October 2018. The first group consists of 54 patients who underwent mid-high risk SAVR operations at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Institute of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery. The second group consists of 57 patients who underwent TAVR at the Cardiology Department. Preoperative evaluation showed that the mean age of the SAVR group (71.5 years) was higher than the TAVR group (80 years). Also, the history of previous cardiac valve replacement surgery significantly was higher in the SAVR group than the TAVR group (P = .028). There were no significant differences between the remaining preoperative tests and diagnostic procedures. Of the patients who underwent SAVR, 3.7% experienced postoperative cardiac arrhythmias, while the 17.5% of patients from the TAVR group experienced cardiac arrhythmias after the procedure. This difference between the groups were statistically significant. Mortality rate was 9.3% in the SAVR group and 5.3% in the TAVR group. The mortality rate was not statistically different between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in the means of neurological incidents. The TAVR group had more vascular complications (17.9% to none) and pacemaker implantations (21.4% to 1.9%). Minor or major bleeding was the most common reason for admission to the hospital after SAVR. Seven out of 10 patients experienced bleeding. Aortic regurgitation was more common in the TAVR group at the first and sixth month following the procedure. Ratios between the gradient values were higher in the SAVR group (P < .001). Peak gradient values at the sixth month following the procedure were lower than the values of the first month (P < .040). Aortic regurgitation symptoms increased with patients at the mid-term follow-up appointment. To prevent the vascular complications in the TAVR group, preoperative peripheral vascular examination thoroughly should be performed. Considering that bleeding disorders are the main reason the SAVR group arrived to the hospital, INR values should closely be monitored. There seems to be no mortality difference between the groups at the six-month follow up, but studies should continue with more patients and long-term results.

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a pericardial disease characterized by the pericardium becoming calcified or fibrotic as a result of chronic inflammation, which impairs diastolic filling by compressing the cardiac chambers. Pericardiectomy is a promising surgical option for treating CP. In this study, we reviewed over 10 years of preoperative, perioperative, and short-term postoperative follow-ups of patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis at our clinic. Between January 2012 and May 2022, 44 patients were diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis. Twenty-six patients underwent pericardiectomy for CP. Median sternotomy is the surgical approach of choice because it provides easy access for complete pericardiectomy. The patient median age was 56 (min: 32, max: 71), and 22 out of 26 patients (84.6%) were male. Twenty-one patients (80.8%) complained of dyspnea, which was the most common reason for admission. Twenty-four patients (92.3%) were scheduled for elective surgery. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used during the procedure in six patients (23%). The duration of intensive care stay was two days (min: 1, max: 11), and the total hospitalization was six days (min: 4, max: 21). No in-hospital mortality was observed. The median sternotomy approach provides a critical advantage in terms of performing a complete pericardiectomy. Although CP is a chronic condition, early diagnosis and planning of pericardiectomy before irreversible deterioration of cardiac function leads to a notable reduction in mortality and morbidity.

In recent years, endovascular treatments have become more common in patients with renal artery stenosis and aneurysm. Although the treatment algorithms are not universally accepted, endovascular therapy can be readily utilized for the appropriate indications in the context of surgical treatment for renovascular diseases. The most important factor to consider is that the correct indication is applied for such treatment. Although the applied procedures are believed to have minimal risk, any complications that occur may result in major problems. Moreover, the pathology that is being treated (e.g., hypertension, high serum creatinine concentration, or low glomerular filtration rate) must be well defined. As stent and balloon technologies continue to be developed, more positive results are expected in the coming years. In the present study, we reviewed the endovascular treatment algorithms for atherosclerotic renovascular disease and performed a narrative review of the current literature.

Introduction: Classic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery involves diastolic cardiac arrest under cardiopulmonary bypass, while off-pump CABG (OPCABG) has become widespread in recent years. Methods: 174 patients who underwent OPCABG were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=90) received ivabradine and Group M (n=84) received metoprolol before surgery until postoperative day 10. Intraoperative arrhythmias and hypotension were recorded. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) and arrhythmia, mortality and morbidity rates were assessed based on the 30-day postoperative follow-up. Results: There were no significant differences in the intraoperative amount of inotropic support and red blood cell transfusion between groups (P=0.87 and P=0.31). However, the rates of intraoperative arrhythmias and hypotension were not significantly higher in Group M (P=0.317 and P=0.47). Ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) was observed in 2 patients in both groups. Postoperative AF occurred in 7 patients (7.7%) in Group I and in 10 patients (11.9%) in Group M. Although there was a trend towards a higher prevalence of AF in Group M patients, this did not reach statistical significance. In addition, mortality and morbidity rates were comparable between groups.