Background/Objectives: The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is designed for evaluating comorbidities and mortality risks, with the age-adjusted CCI (ACCI) combining age and comorbidity assessments. Despite its long-standing use, research on CCI’s application in cardiac surgery patients is limited. This study assessed the effectiveness of CCI and ACCI in predicting in-hospital mortality and post-surgery outcomes for patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: CCI and ACCI scores were derived from medical records between 2016 and 2022. Patient demographics, surgical techniques, and postoperative complications were documented. Results: Totally 393 patients [297 (75.6%) males, 96 (24.4%) females] with an average age of 65 years were included. Median CCI and ACCI scores were 1 (1–2) and 4 (3–5), respectively. In-hospital mortality occurred in 5.9% (n = 23) of cases, with CCI being an independent predictor (OR 1.865, 95% CI 1.117–3.116; p = 0.017). Both CCI and ACCI scores negatively correlated with preoperative EF (%) and positively correlated with ICU and total hospital stay, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and cross-clamp time. ACCI score also positively correlated with extubation time. Patients categorized by CCI comorbidity severity (no comorbidity, mild, moderate, severe) showed a significant increase in postoperative complications with increasing severity, including postoperative VT (p = 0.000), acute renal failure (p = 0.009), pneumonia (p = 0.007), and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Both CCI and ACCI are prognostic indicators for in-hospital mortality in isolated CABG surgery patients, effectively predicting postoperative complications, extended ICU stays, and prolonged hospital stays. Implementing these scoring systems could enhance patient care and improve surgical decision-making.

Background: The lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR) is a novel inflammatory marker and a potential predictor of mortality in various conditions. No research has yet examined LAR’s impact on mortality in cardiac surgery patients. This study evaluated LAR’s role in predicting mortality and complications in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 377 CABG patients (93 women, 24.7%; 284 men, 75.3%; mean age 65.9 years) from 2020 to 2024 was conducted. Data included demographics, preoperative characteristics, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes, along with ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: In-hospital mortality was 6.1% (n = 23). Independent predictors were low preoperative ejection fraction (EF) (OR: 0.96, p = 0.024), baseline LAR (OR: 1.08, p = 0.000), LOS-ICU (OR: 1.1, p = 0.000), postoperative ventricular tachycardia (OR: 37.9, p = 0.006), and acute renal failure (OR: 12.1, p = 0.000). Mortality cases had a higher median LAR than survivors (8.6 vs. 5.2, p = 0.000). Elevated LAR correlated with lower preoperative EF (r = −0.227, p = 0.000), longer LOS-ICU (r = 0.17, p = 0.001), and longer LOS-hospital (r = 0.208, p = 0.000). A LAR cut-off of 7.097 predicted mortality (AUC: 0.823, sensitivity 78.3%, specificity 77.1%). Elevated LAR values were observed in all groups with postoperative complications (p < 0.05), indicating its consistent association with negative outcomes. Conclusions: LAR is a valuable predictor of in-hospital mortality and postoperative complications in CABG patients. Elevated LAR is associated with longer ICU/hospital stays and poorer outcomes. Preoperative LAR assessment can guide risk stratification, forecast mortality, and inform surgical planning and treatment strategies.

Background: CABG is a commonly performed procedure to improve survival and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease. Despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care, postoperative pneumonia remains a serious complication contributing to increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (POP) and identify its risk factors in patients undergoing isolated CABG. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 430 patients who underwent CABG between 2019 and 2024. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, surgical details and laboratory data were collected. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify significant predictors of pneumonia. Results: The incidence of POP after CABG was 10% (43/430). In patients with POP, diabetes mellitus (p = 0.03) and chronic kidney disease (p = 0.048) prevalence was higher, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (p = 0.01) and cross-clamp time (p = 0.003) was longer, LDH levels (p = 0.017) were higher, hemoglobin (p = 0.012) and albumin (p = 0.015) levels were lower, and lymphocyte % (p = 0.04) was lower; prevalence of COPD and length of stay (LOS) in hospital tended to be higher (both p < 0.06). Multivariate binary logistic regression identified COPD (OR 4.383, 95% CI: 1.106–17.363, p = 0.035), CPB time (OR 1.013, 95% CI: 1.001–1.025, p = 0.030) and LOS (OR 1.052, 95% CI: 1.004–1.103, p = 0.035) as independent predictors of POP. Conclusions: Postoperative pneumonia is a common complication after CABG and is strongly associated with preoperative COPD, CPB time and length of stay in hospital. These findings underline the importance of preoperative risk assessment and optimization. Early identification of high-risk patients may allow targeted strategies such as enhanced respiratory support and prophylactic antibiotics to reduce the incidence of pneumonia and improve clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on ischemia/reperfusion injury remain the focus of interest. Ticagrelor and enoxaparin, which are antiaggregant and anticoagulant drugs developed for use in many cardiovascular pathologies, are still included in many ischemia/reperfusion studies. Remarkably, their new protective effects, especially with regard to ticagrelor, continue to be reported in the current literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of ticagrelor and enoxaparin pretreatments on the rat heart with histological and immunohistochemical markers in an ischemia/reperfusion model. METHODS: Wistar-albino rats (weighing 350-400 g) were divided into four groups as follows: Sham-Control (Group 1), Control-Saline+ischemia/reperfusion (Group 2), Ticagrelor+ischemia/reperfusion (Group 3), and Enoxaparin+ischemia/reperfusion (Group 4). The ischemia/reperfusion injury model was applied to Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4. Heart tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examinations. Caspase 3 immunostaining was evaluated to detect apoptosis in the heart tissue sections. RESULTS: Both pretreatments ameliorated the ischemic damage but especially tissue sections belonging to Group 3 were nearly similar to control levels. The results indicated that ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial damage was significantly increased in Group 2, whereas ticagrelor and enoxaparin pretreatments in Group 3 and Group 4 significantly decreased apoptotic scores and the histological appearance of the Group 3 close to the normal myocardium (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: As supported by histological findings in our study, ticagrelor and enoxaparin have protective properties for heart tissue in this ischemia/reperfusion injury model.

The process of aging is characterized by a series of physiological, cellular, and immunological changes in tissues. Bempedoic acid is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering drug that does not belong to the statin class. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of bempedoic acid on age-related histopathological alterations in rat lungs. A total of 40 Wistar-Albino male rats (275–357 g) were included in the study, with 10 rats in each experimental group [Young control (YC), Young + Bempedoic acid (YD), Elderly control (EC), Elderly + Bempedoic acid (ED)]. Bempedoic acid (30 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for one month. The rats were housed under controlled conditions to minimize external stressors. The Geropathological Grading System (GGP) was used to standardize the evaluation of age-related findings in the lungs. Some lesions were classified as either present or absent, whereas others were evaluated on a scale of 0–4 according to their severity. Composite lesion scores were calculated for each rat. Additionally, the presence and severity of emphysema in the rat lungs were recorded. Although the median composite lesion score was higher in the elderly groups, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.7). The distribution of cells associated with passive congestion, heart failure, and atelectasis was higher in the elderly drug group (p = 0.024 and p = 0.015, respectively). The prevalence of perivascular inflammation was significantly higher in the elderly control group compared to the other groups. Moreover, no cases of moderate-to-severe perivascular inflammation were observed in the elderly drug group (p = 0.019). The prevalence of severe emphysema was higher in the elderly control group compared to the other groups, whereas no cases of severe emphysema were observed in the elderly drug group (p = 0.044). It is hypothesized that statins, a class of antihyperlipidemic drugs, exert a protective effect against aging due to their ability to correct oxidative damage. Similarly, bempedoic acid’s effect on fat oxidation and cholesterol metabolism may be associated with its protective role in the lungs.