Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of systemic inflammatory markers, such as the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI), Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Monocyte–Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), and Platelet–Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), to identify patients at risk of developing surgically treated postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS). Methods: A total of 150 patients were retrospectively analyzed. In total, 75 patients who developed postpericardiotomy syndrome requiring surgical drainage constituted the postpericardiotomy group, whereas 75 age- and surgically matched non-PPS patients served as the control group. Blood samples were collected at four time points: preoperative (T1), 24 h postoperative (T2), 7 days postoperative (T3), and 24 h before secondary intervention in the PPS group and the closest matched outpatient follow-up (T4) in the control group. Inflammatory marker values were compared within and between the groups at the four defined time points. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to determine the diagnostic and predictive accuracy of each marker. Results: Significant increases in the SIRI, MLR, and CRP levels were observed in patients who developed PPS and required surgical intervention. MLR on postoperative day 7 had the highest sensitivity (84%) with a cut-off of 0.575, whereas SIRI demonstrated the highest specificity (81.3%) at a cut-off of 3.34. SII increased significantly only in the late stage, indicating disease progression. The NLR lacked predictive power across all time points. Conclusions: The SIRI and MLR are promising early-stage biomarkers for identifying patients at high risk of developing PPS. Their integration into routine postoperative follow-up could facilitate earlier diagnosis and reduce surgical burden. A multi-marker approach may enhance the diagnostic precision of PPS beyond that of traditional inflammatory measures.

Background and Objectives: Effective myocardial protection is essential for successful cardiac surgery outcomes, especially in complex and prolonged procedures. To this end, Del Nido (DN) and histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) cardioplegia solutions are widely used; however, their comparative efficacy in adult surgeries with prolonged aortic cross-clamp (ACC) times remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of DN and HTK for myocardial protection during prolonged ACC times in adult cardiac surgery and to define clinically relevant thresholds. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 320 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with an aortic cross-clamp time ≥ 90 min. Data were collected from the medical records of elective adult cardiac surgery cases performed at a single center between 2019 and 2025. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of cardioplegia received: Del Nido (n = 160) and HTK (n = 160). The groups were compared using 1:1 propensity score matching. Clinical and biochemical outcomes—including troponin I (TnI), CK-MB, lactate levels, incidence of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), and need for mechanical circulatory support—were analyzed between the two cardioplegia groups. Subgroup analyses were performed according to ACC duration (90–120, 120–150, 150–180 and >180 min). The predictive threshold of ACC duration for each complication was determined by ROC analysis, followed by the analysis of independent predictors of each endpoint by multivariate logistic regression. Results: Intraoperative cardioplegia volume and transfusion requirements were lower in the DN group (p < 0.05). HTK was associated with lower TnI levels and less intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) requirement at ACC times exceeding 180 min. Markers of myocardial injury were lower in patients with an ACC duration of 120–150 min in favor of HTK. The propensity for ventricular fibrillation after ACC was significantly lower in the DN group. Significantly lower postoperative sodium levels were observed in the HTK group. Prolonged ACC duration was an independent risk factor for LCOS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.023, p < 0.001), VIS > 15 (OR, 1.015; p < 0.001), IABP requirement (OR: 1.020, p = 0.002), and early mortality (OR: 1.016, p = 0.048). Postoperative ejection fraction (EF), troponin I, and CK-MB levels were associated with the development of LCOS and a VIS > 15. Furthermore, according to ROC analysis, HTK cardioplegia was able to tolerate ACC for up to a longer duration in terms of certain complications, suggesting a higher physiological tolerance to ischemia. Conclusions: ACC duration is a strong predictor of major adverse outcomes in adult cardiac surgeries. Although DN cardioplegia is effective and economically advantageous for shorter procedures, HTK may provide superior myocardial protection in operations with long ACC duration. This study supports the need to individualize cardioplegia choice according to ACC duration. Further prospective studies are needed to establish standard dosing protocols and to optimize cardioplegia selection according to surgical duration and complexity.

These evidence-based guidelines from the Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and Phlebology Society intend to support clinicians in best decisions regarding the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Editor was selected by the three national societies and was tasked with the recruitment of the recognized panel. All financial support was solely derived from the sponsoring societies without the direct involvement of industry or other external stakeholders. The panel prioritized clinical questions and outcomes according to their importance for clinicians in terms of VTE. The panel agreed on 42 recommendations under 15 headings for the diagnosis, initial management, secondary prevention of VTE, and treatment of recurrent VTE events. Important recommendations included the use of ultrasonography, preference for home treatment over hospital treatment for uncomplicated VTE, preference for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over vitamin K antagonists for primary treatment of cancer and non-cancer-related VTE, extended or indefinite anticoagulation with DOACs in selected high-risk patients. Early catheter-directed thrombectomy was recommended in only young symptomatic patients with a diagnosis of fresh iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis.