Background: Despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, reliable intraoperative predictors of adverse postoperative outcomes in cardiac surgery remain elusive. This study aimed to identify perioperative factors associated with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay and in-hospital mortality while defining actionable thresholds. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 130 adult cardiac surgery patients (with a median age of 61 years, 66.2% men) from October 2022 to November 2024. Data on preoperative risk factors, intraoperative variables (cardiopulmonary bypass time-CPBT, aortic cross-clamp time-AXCT), and postoperative outcomes (ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality) were extracted from electronic medical records. Results: Prolonged ICU stay (≥7 days) occurred in 38.5% of patients, and in-hospital mortality was 10%. AXCT was the sole independent predictor of prolonged ICU stay (OR = 1.046, 95% CI = 1.014–1.080, p = 0.005), with a 110-min cut-off (sensitivity 71%, specificity 61%, AUC = 0.729). A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly longer ICU stays above this threshold (p = 0.006). For in-hospital mortality, prolonged CPBT (OR = 1.030, 95% CI = 1.003–1.057, p = 0.030), emergency surgery (OR = 0.043, 95% CI = 0.002–0.863, p = 0.040), and higher AXCT (OR = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.934–0.997, p = 0.034) were the independent predictors. A receiver operating characteristic analysis identified 140 min for AXCT (sensitivity 67%, specificity 70%, AUC = 0.707) and 227 min for CPBT (sensitivity 83%, specificity 69%, AUC = 0.824) as the optimal cut-offs. A combined model (emergency surgery yes/no, AXCT > 140 min, CPBT > 227 min) yielded excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.846). Conclusions: These findings suggest perioperative benchmarks that may guide surgical teams in refining operative strategies, reducing ICU resource utilization, and improving survival following cardiac surgery.

Background: A popliteal vein aneurysm (PVA) is a rare vascular abnormality that can lead to the formation of venous thrombi, resulting in potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: We present the case of a 30-year-old female who presented with recurrent pulmonary embolism complicated by cardiorespiratory arrest. Emergency thrombolysis was initiated, which successfully stabilized the patient. Further diagnostic evaluation, including imaging studies, revealed the presence of a giant popliteal vein aneurysm (60/70 mm) as the underlying cause of recurrent embolism. Results: The patient underwent surgical repair of the popliteal vein aneurysm to prevent further thromboembolic events. The procedure was performed successfully, and the patient recovered favorably. Conclusions: This case underscores the importance of recognizing PVA as a potential cause of recurrent PE, particularly in young patients without typical risk factors.

Background: Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion during cardiac surgery is associated with complex metabolic alterations that reflect both myocardial injury and recovery. This prospective study aimed to characterize intraoperative lactate, pH, and bicarbonate dynamics in paired coronary sinus (CS) and peripheral blood samples and to explore whether these responses could be integrated into a composite marker of reperfusion-related metabolic burden (RMB). Methods: We prospectively studied 101 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Simultaneous blood samples from the CS and peripheral circulation were obtained before aortic cross-clamping (T0), immediately after declamping (T1), and 10 min after reperfusion (T2). Temporal changes and transmyocardial gradients of lactate, pH, and bicarbonate were analyzed. RMB was calculated from standardized changes in these variables. As an exploratory analysis, associations with in-hospital mortality were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Significant temporal variations in metabolic parameters were observed, with the most pronounced transmyocardial disturbances occurring at aortic declamping. Lactate demonstrated the largest gradient during early reperfusion, accompanied by transient acidosis and bicarbonate consumption. The RMB framework integrated these coordinated metabolic responses into a single measure of reperfusion stress. In exploratory outcome analyses, higher RMB values were observed among non-survivors, with the largest observed AUC for peripheral RMB measured 10 min after reperfusion (AUC 0.87). However, these estimates were based on only seven deaths and should be considered hypothesis-generating. Conclusions: Paired CS and peripheral sampling revealed dynamic metabolic adaptations during myocardial ischemia–reperfusion. The exploratory RMB framework integrates coordinated metabolic changes into a single descriptive measure of reperfusion-related stress. Its observed associations with in-hospital mortality remain preliminary and require confirmation through external validation and evaluation in larger independent prospective cohorts.

The mutation in the Myosin Heavy Chain 7 (MYH7) gene, which encodes the β-myosin heavy chain, is one of the most common and clinically significant genetic abnormalities associated with cardiomyopathy. While it is most frequently linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, recent studies have increasingly linked MYH7 mutations to certain forms of restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) as well. Case Presentation: We present the case of a 25-year-old patient without personal or family history of cardiovascular disease. The patient was admitted with symptoms of fatigue, exertional dyspnea, and a transient loss of consciousness. Electrocardiogram revealed bradycardia and repolarization abnormalities. Echocardiography showed normal left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction, severely dilated left atrium, and restrictive LV filling pattern. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) showed preserved systolic function, evidence of interstitial fibrosis, and marked left atrial dilation. Subsequent genetic testing revealed a pathogenic MYH7 variant and a likely pathogenic ABCC9 variant, supporting the diagnosis of a genetically determined cardiomyopathy with restrictive features. This case highlights the importance of integrating advanced imaging and genetic testing in patients with unexplained restrictive physiology and preserved systolic function, even in the absence of myocardial hypertrophy.