The aim of our experimental work was to assess morphological changes of arterial wall that arise during different thawing protocols of a cryopreserved human aortic root allograft (CHARA) arterial wall. The experiment was performed on CHARAs. Two thawing protocols were tested: 1, CHARAs were thawed at a room temperature at +23°C; 2, CHARAs were placed directly into a water bath at +37°C. After fixation, all samples were washed in distilled water for 5 min, and dehydrated in a graded ethanol series (70, 85, 95, and 100%) for 5 min at each level. The tissue samples were then immersed in 100% hexamethyldisilazane for 10 minutes and air dried in an exhaust hood at room temperature. Processed samples were mounted on stainless steel stubs, coated with gold. Thawing protocol 1: All 6 (100%) samples showed loss of the endothelium and damage to the subendothelial layers with randomly dispersed circular defects and micro-fractures without smooth muscle cells contractions in the tunica media. Thawing protocol 2: All 6 (100%) samples showed loss of endothelium from the luminal surface, longitudinal corrugations in the direction of blood flow caused by smooth muscle cells contractions in the tunica media with frequent fractures in the subendothelial layer All the samples thawed at the room temperature showed smaller structural damage to the CHARA arterial wall with no smooth muscle cell contraction in tunica media when compared to the samples thawed in a water bath.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of dipyrone on sensitivity to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) in patients who underwent peripheral artery vascular reconstruction. Subjects and Methods: Impedance aggregometry and light transmission aggregometry were used to determine the effects of dipyrone on ASA treatment in 21 patients. Blood samples were drawn in a 7-day period after the surgery. The cut-off value for high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) was set at < 65% of aggregation inhibition for impedance aggregometry. For light transmission aggregometry the cut-off value for arachidonic acid-induced aggregation was set at > 20% of aggregating platelets, and the cut-off value for epinephrine-induced aggregation was > 44% of aggregating platelets. The cut-off value for each method was derived from a large number of patients treated with a daily dose of 100 mg of ASA. Results: We found HTPR in 14 (67%) of the 21 patients. None had primary resistance to ASA, i.e., after the addition of ASA in vitro all samples showed antiplatelet efficacy. Regression analysis showed a possible correlation between lower efficacy of ASA treatment and higher daily doses of dipyrone (p = 0.005 for impedance aggregometry, p = 0.04 for light transmission aggregometry), higher platelet count (p = 0.005 for impedance aggregometry), and shorter time from surgery (p = 0.03 for impedance aggregometry). Conclusion: HTPR occurs in 67% of ASA-treated patients after lower limb vascular surgery. The occurrence of HTPR correlates with the daily dose of dipyrone. Therefore, dipyrone should not be used as a postoperative analgesic in ASA-treated patients after peripheral artery revascularisation due to its influence on the effectiveness of ASA.

Introduction Isolated iliac artery dissection (ISIAD) without the involvement of the aorta is a rare medical condition. Report A case of a 38-year-old man with sudden onset of rest pain and paraesthesia on the right lower limb (RLL) is presented. Upon admission, the RLL was pulseless, with mild paraesthesia in the foot. The patient underwent computed tomography angiography, which revealed isolated common iliac artery (CIA) dissection followed by endovascular treatment (stenting) of the CIA dissection, with an instant therapeutic effect. Hospital stay was uneventful. The patient was discharged on the third post-procedural day. Discussion Endovascular treatment of ISIAD is a viable treatment modality, with low periprocedural complications, mortality, and morbidity. Owing to its mini-invasiveness, it is a viable treatment modality.

BackgroundPulmonary artery endarterectomy (PEA) is established as a successful method for the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). A significant fraction of patients indicated for the pulmonary endarterectomy has other severe comorbidities that generally increase the risk of cardiac surgery. The aim of our study is to analyze the process of indications and therapeutic procedures at our Cardio-Centre, as well as comparing hemodynamic parameters and long-term results in order to determine the continuation of the treatment.MethodFrom September 2004 to August 2012, 192 patients underwent PEA for CTEPH. We carried out a retrospective analysis of patients’ data. Patients were divided into two groups: A and B. The group A included patients with PEA only (128 patients), group B consisted of patients with PEA and other cardiac procedure (64 patients, i.e. 33.3% of which 72 cardiac procedures were carried out). Group B was further subdivided into group B1-patients with PEA+CABG, which included 25 patients, and group B2-PEA+suture of PFO, which consisted of 29 patients for more detailed analysis.ResultsFive-year survival rate is 83% in group A, 79.3% in group B, and 63.1% in group B1. Group B1 is statistically significantly different from group A (P=0.031). The cumulative survival rate is comparable for groups A and B2. Cumulative survival rate is very good with annual survival in group A – 94%, group B2 – 90% and group B1 – 82.6%.ConclusionResults of combined interventions are comparable with isolated pulmonary endarterectomy. We did not find any differences in hemodynamic effects. All patients indicated for the PEA should be screened for the most common comorbidities regardless of their age. We recommend implementation CryoMAZE for the treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter

Background: Uterus transplantation is a complex, multi-step experimental procedure used for the treatment of uterus absence or uterus anomaly that prevents embryo implantation or pregnancy completion. Method: To date, only 51 uterus transplants worldwide had been performed. When simplified, it is vascularized composite allograft transplantation. While it is still an experimental procedure with encouraging results for the future, there are still many issues that have to be clarified. The most serious complications of uterus transplantation are graft rejection or grafts vascular failure. Results: So far, no reference to the atherosclerotic arterial infiltration of the uterus arteries was suggested and studied as one of the main causes of graft's failure. Conclusion: In this review we summarized current knowledge and possible role of uterus arterial damage, including atherosclerotic changes on the graft's survival.