Background and Objectives: The saphenous vein is one of the most common used grafts (SVG) for surgical revascularization. The mechanism of the SVGs occlusion is still unknown. Surgical preparation techniques have an important role in the early and late graft occlusion. Our study analyzed the influence of the three different surgical techniques on the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the vein grafts. Methods: Between June 2019 and December 2020, 83 patients who underwent surgical revascularization were prospectively randomly assigned to one of the three groups, according to saphenous vein graft harvesting (conventional (CVH), no-touch (NT) and endoscopic (EVH)) technique. The vein graft samples were sent on the histological (hematoxylin-eosin staining) and immunohistochemical (CD31, Factor VIII, Caveolin and eNOS) examinations. Results: The CVH, NT, and EVH groups included 27 patients (mean age 67.66 ± 5.6), 31 patients (mean age 66.5 ± 7.4) and 25 patients (mean age 66 ± 5.5), respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed a lower grade of microstructural vein damage in the NT group (2, IQR 1-2) in comparison with CVH and EVH (3, IQR 2-4), (4, IQR 2-4) respectively (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemical examination revealed a high grade of staining in the NT group compared to the CVH and EVH group (CD 31 antibody p = 0.02, FVIII, p < 0.001, Caveolin, p = 0.001, and eNOS, p = 0.003). Conclusion: The best preservation of the structural vein integrity was in the NT group, while the lowest rate of leg wound complication was in the EVH group. These facts increase the interest in developing and implementing the endoscopic no-touch technique.

The 44-year-old female was admitted to the hospital due to the severe pain in the right arm. Doppler ultrasonography revealed occlusion of the right brachial and right common carotid artery. Subsequently, computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the occlusion of the right brachial and common carotid artery, and revealed pedunculated floating ascending aortic mass. The floating thrombus in ascending aorta is a rare and potentially very dangerous pathological condition. Although aetiology is still unclear, ascending aorta atherosclerosis and coagulation disorder are probably the most common reasons. Hypercoagulable state, high level of antiphospholipid antibody and factor VIII are closely relating with vascular thrombosis. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, increasing evidence suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) might produce hypercoagulable state with subsequent thrombosis and thromboembolism. The infection elevated the level of factor VIII in the blood and, consequently, increased the risk of adverse thrombotic and embolic events. Additionally, endothelial inflammation and injury mediated by coronavirus represent an additional risk factor. According to literature, this is the first case of the floating ascending aorta thrombus in the patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The thrombus’ fragile structure and high blood velocity through the ascending aorta significantly increases cerebral and peripheral embolization incidence, with potentially fatal outcome. Due to frequent adverse events, urgent surgical extirpation is the best therapy option. We presented successfully surgically treated giant floating thrombus in the ascending aorta and aortic arch in a patient with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection with acute right arm ischemia due to embolic complication.

Background: Our study aimed to evaluate the early outcomes of aortic valve replacement with Perceval S sutureless valve through the right anterior thoracotomy and upper hemisternotomy approaches, and to determine if there are any differences between these two approaches.Methods: We carried out a study using data from 174 patients who underwent minimally invasive Perceval S valve implantation for aortic valve stenosis between January 2018 and August 2023. This was a retrospective, single-center observational study. The patients were divided into two groups: the hemisternotomy group (n = 100) and the right anterior thoracotomy group (n = 74).Results: The overall in-hospital mortality was 1,7%. The cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times were longer in the right anterior thoracotomy group (p < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of stroke, paravalvular leak, mechanical ventilation time, blood transfusion requirements, pacemaker implantation, reexploration for bleeding, conversion, wound infection, or in-hospital stay. Postoperative chest drainage was lower (p < .001) and postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred less frequently (p = .044) in the right anterior thoracotomy group. The median intensive care unit stay was shorter in the right anterior thoracotomy group (p = .018).Conclusion: Aortic valve replacement with the Perceval S valve through either an upper hemisternotomy or a right anterior thoracotomy is a procedure associated with low perioperative complication rates. Right anterior thoracotomy for an aortic valve replacement with the Perceval S valve was associated with lower postoperative bleeding, a lower postoperative atrial fibrillation incidence and a shorter intensive care unit stay compared to upper hemistornotomy.

Introduction: Technical improvement and new operative strategies significantly influence survival and outcomes after the treatment of acute aortic dissection type A (AADA). However, postoperative complications and particularly neurological dysfunctions (ND) are still very common. Aim: To identify preoperative and intraoperative factors as well as immediate postoperative conditions with an influence on the occurrence of neurological complications of surgical treatment of AADA and accordingly take action to reduce them. Material and methods: Between January 2013 and December 2018, 240 patients with AADA were emergently surgically treated. All patients were divided into two groups: group I - patients with postoperative ND (subgroup Ia - patients with mild, transient ND and Ib - patients with severe ND) and group II - patients without ND. Results: Neurological damage after the operation was registered in 87 (39.5%) patients. Thirty (13.6%) patients had mild ND and 57 (25.9%) severe. Presence of preoperative neurological deficit, reduced level of consciousness, supra-aortic vessel dissection, hemodynamic instability, and excessive postoperative bleeding with hypotension are factors with a highly statistically significant association with the occurrence of severe ND. Neurological complications were not identified in 66.7% of patients who were axillary cannulated versus 55.9% of patients cannulated in the other way but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.1099). Conclusions: Advanced neuroprotective strategies during surgical treatment of AADA are associated with favorable neurological outcomes, especially in a group of patients with identified risk factors for ND.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for patients with severe carotid artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is still problematic. The important question is whether it is necessary to treat significant carotid disease in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. This study analyzed short- and midterm results after same-day carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: From 2013 to 2020, a total of 69 patients were enrolled in the study. Same-day carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting were performed in all patients. The study's primary end points were the evaluation rate of stroke, myocardial infarction, and death within short- and midterm periods after the procedures. Results: The 30-day mortality was 0%. The occurrences of perioperative adverse events, namely stroke, myocardial infarction, and transient ischemic attack, were 1 (1.4%), 1 (1.4%), and 4 (5.8%), respectively. Mean (IQR) follow-up time was 28 (IQR, 17–43) months. Six (8.8%) patients died during this period. Fatal stroke was registered in 2 cases, and 1 patient experienced a disabling stroke with a fatal outcome. The other 3 patients died because of chronic renal disease, a traffic accident, and for an unknown reason, respectively. Midterm survival in the group was 91.2%. Conclusion: The study showed that same-day carotid artery stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting for concomitant carotid and coronary disease treatment could be a promising and feasible therapeutic strategy.