Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with LARIAT offers an alternative to oral anticoagulation (OAC) for patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to present long-term clinical outcomes of LAAC in these patients (AF). A prospective, single-center study was performed in 139 patients undergoing LAAC with Lariat. Thromboembolic events, severe bleeding and mortality rate were recorded. The reduction in risk of thromboembolism and bleeding after LAAC was calculated. The mean CHADS₂-score was 1.8 ± 1.0, mean CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was 2.9 ± 1.6 and HAS-BLED score was 3.1 ± 1.1. After 428.4 patient-years of follow-up (mean 4.2±1.0 years), the thromboembolism rate was 0.6% with a calculated thromboembolism risk reduction of 81%. The severe bleeding rate was 0.8%; calculated bleeding risk reduction was 78%. The overall mortality rate was 1.6%. Long-term outcomes show that LAAC with Lariat is a safe and effective treatment for stroke prevention and bleeding risk reduction in AF patients with a high level of underlying risk.

Introduction Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the gold standard in treating symptomatic aortic valve defects. To improve the healing process and limit the trauma, the minimally invasive approach was introduced. Aim To compare the peri- and post-operative results of aortic valve replacement...

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small, finger-like extension of the left atrium and its exclusion is used as a treatment strategy to prevent ischemic stroke. Existing holdfast devices may damage the tissue, are unisized and not adjustable. A novel holdfast device for LAA exclusion devoid of these shortcomings was designed and 3D-printed using the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology with polyamide powder and tested it on animal model. We selected the SLS 3D printing technology due to its wid14e availability and low production costs which could provide on-site 3D printing for specific patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of the reported holdfast device and compare the histological results obtained for local tissue reactions to those obtained for an established grafting material. Thirty swine subdivided into two groups were examined. The LAA exclusion device was implanted and was either coated with a polyester vascular implant or not coated at all and the histological response to the device’s presence was evaluated which is a standard approach to test the device biocompatibility. In all cases, complete occlusion was seen without any pathological findings during the incubation time. In both groups, the surface of the atrium under a holdfast device was smooth and shiny and had no clots. The foreign body reaction of the LAA holdfast device made of polyamide powder was insignificantly lower compared to the polyester graft. Thus, it fulfils the parameters of biocompatibility at the highest degree, and makes it suitable material for the manufacturing of LAA holdfast devices.

Postoperative inflammation contributes to organ dysfunction and complications after cardiac surgery. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a common marker of systemic inflammation. In this study, we assessed how postoperative CRP levels and their trajectories are associated with the CRP rs1800947 gene variant and perioperative dexamethasone use, and how these factors relate to postoperative morbidity. We analysed CRP levels in 484 adults who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CRP levels on postoperative day 1 (CRP1) were compared across the rs1800947 genotype and intraoperative dexamethasone dose: (1) none, (2) low (median 0.4 mg/kg), or (3) high (median 1.0 mg/kg). The 4-day CRP trajectories were evaluated in a subgroup of 174 patients with serial CRP measurements. The composite outcome of 30-day morbidity and mortality was analysed to reveal the association with CRP trajectories. Results: Adjusted analysis revealed an association between the GC genotype and a 15% reduction in CRP1 levels. Dexamethasone, regardless of dose, reduced CRP1 levels by ~ 30%. Morning surgery increased CRP1 levels by 27%. Elevated preoperative CRP levels increased postoperative CRP1 levels by 19%. CRP trajectories varied by genotype and dexamethasone exposure. Patients were grouped into four trajectory types, whose associations with postoperative complications differed significantly. Conclusions: Postoperative CRP levels and trends were associated with genetic and clinical factors. Low-dose dexamethasone is as effective as high-dose dexamethasone in limiting increases in CRP1 level. The CRP patterns associated with CRP genotypes and dexamethasone use potentially represent inflammatory endotypes linked to different morbidity risks. Trial registration: This study was registered in the US National Clinical Trial under the code NCT01020409 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01020409. Registered on November 24, 2009.

Background/Aim: Haemostatic dressings for the uniformed and rescue services are an integral part of life-saving equipment for controlling post-traumatic haemorrhage. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of active constituent substances and materials of haemostatic dressings on muscle tissue and muscle regeneration after traumatic injury. Materials and Methods: Three hemostatic dressing prototypes were analysed: OBR/G/S sponge: dressing material sponge made of Na-Ca chitosan/algal composite microfibers and nanofibers; OBR/MBT/S: tactic gauze modified with a polymer mixture of Na-Ca chitosan/algal composite microfibers and nanofibers, impregnated with a moderate amount of procoagulants (22.9 g/m²); and OBR/MS/S: seton gauze modified with a polymer mixture of Na-Ca chitosan/algal composite microfibers and nanofibers, impregnated with a moderate amount of procoagulants (18.0 g/m²), with chitosan (ChitoClearhqg 95) and sodium alginate (Protanal LF10/60 FT) as the coagulants. The experiment was conducted on 20 pigs which were euthanised 24 h, 7 or 14 days after wound dressing. Samples of porcine muscle tissue were subjected to qualitative histopathological analysis. Results: Histopathological analysis of muscle tissues from the experimental pigs revealed that the application of modified seton (OBR/MS/S) produced the most satisfactory results. The observed changes were similar on all dates that samples were collected and in all experimental groups, and minor differences in their extent were observed between groups. Regenerative processes were most advanced, and retrograde changes were least apparent in animals treated with OBR/MS/S. Conclusion: Modified seton (OBR/MS/S) induced the least tissue reaction and was most effective in promoting tissue regeneration after injury.

Background: Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. It is responsible for almost a third of deaths in patients over the age of 35. Various biomarkers are currently being studied in detail for their value in predicting postoperative mortality in patients undergoing CABG. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the predictive value of certain blood morphological parameters in CABG and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods: A total of 520 patients who underwent surgery in two consecutive years and underwent CABG (404) or OPCAB (116) were included in this retrospective study. Gender, age, comorbidities, five-year survival rate, detailed information on hospitalization, surgery, intensive care unit parameters and preoperative blood samples from the cubital vein were recorded. Inverse propensity treatment weighting was applied to adjust for confounding factors at baseline. Results: No differences were found between OPCAB and CABG as an isolated comparison. In the standardized population, patients with abnormal lymphocyte counts had an increased risk of death at one-year and five-year follow-up. In the standardized population, abnormal red blood cell distribution width (RDW-SD), neutrocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were associated with increased mortality in each period analyzed. Conclusions: Abnormal PLR, RDW-SD and NLR are associated with increased early and late mortality in patients undergoing CABG and OPCAB. Abnormal lymphocytes are only associated with increased late mortality.