Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affecting between 5% and 40% of patients, which leads to hemodynamic instability, an increased risk of thromboembolism, decompensated heart failure, prolonged hospitalization, and higher treatment costs. Currently, there are no universally accepted guidelines for preventing POAF. Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial, “The Effect of Colchicine on the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery” (CAFE), ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06798714, was conducted. The study included 140 patients with coronary artery disease randomized into two groups of 70 patients each. Group 1 (control group) received standard postoperative care. Group 2 (intervention group) received colchicine (Colchicum-Dispert at a dose of 500 mcg 4 h before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with CPB and at a dose of 500 mcg twice daily for 10 days postoperatively) and underwent intraoperative pericardial fenestration using an original technique. Results: Perioperative colchicine administration combined with intraoperative pericardial fenestration reduced POAF incidence to 2.9% compared to the control group with POAF incidence of 12.9% (p < 0.05). This management strategy was not associated with an increased incidence of infectious complications, gastrointestinal disorders, or elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, or creatinine. Conclusions: Perioperative colchicine administration combined with pericardial fenestration during CABG with CPB is associated with a reduced POAF incidence, good tolerability, and does not contribute to an increased incidence of infectious complications or impaired liver and renal function.

The high mortality rate caused by atherosclerosis makes it necessary to constantly search for new and better treatments. In previous reports, chemically modified carbon-coated iron nanoparticles (Fe@C NPs) have been demonstrated a high biocompatibility and promising anti-plaque properties. To further investigate these effects, the interaction of these nanoparticles with the adipose tissue of Wistar rats (in vivo) and human atherosclerotic plaques (ex vivo) was studied. For the in vivo study, cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloy tubes, which are used for coronary stent manufacturing, were prepared with a coating of polylactic acid (PLA) which contained either modified or non-modified Fe@C NPs in a 5% by weight concentration. The tubes were implanted into an area of subcutaneous fat in Wistar rats, where changes in the histological structure and functional properties of the surrounding tissue were observed in the case of coatings modified with Fe@C NPs. For the ex vivo study, freshly explanted human atherosclerotic plaques were treated in the physiological solution with doses of modified Fe@C NPs, with mass equal to 5% or 25% relative to the plaques. This treatment resulted in the release of cholesterol-like compounds from the surface of the plaques into the solution, thus proving a pronounced destructive effect on the plaque structure. Chemically modified Fe@C NPs, when used as an anti-atherosclerosis agent, were able to activate the activity of macrophages, which could lead to the destruction of atherosclerotic plaques structures. These findings could prove the fabrication of next-generation vascular stents with built-in anti-atherosclerotic agents.

Thirty-five cardiomyoplasty procedures were performed in five patients with dilated and 30 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathies. Russian-made cardiomyostimulators (CMS) were implanted in these patients. Twenty-one patients underwent a one-step procedure using a left thoracotomy for cardiomyoplasty, while in 14 patients, a two-step procedure that included a mid-line sternotomy was carried out. During the average follow-up period of 9 +/- 2.1 months, studies were carried out that showed in survivors improved clinical functional status and decreased heart failure symptoms. Evidence of revascularization of the ischemic myocardium from the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) wrap was obtained by angiography and radioactive scintigraphy. In five patients, the CMS had to be removed due to complications, and in all these patients, their clinical functional status deteriorated following the cessation of cardiomyostimulation.

Исследована роль апоптоза кардиомиоцитов в механизмах ишемического ремоделирования миокарда. Материалом исследования являлись биоптаты миокарда левого желудочка 50 пациентов с ишемической болезнью сердца и хронической сердечной недостаточностью. Использованы методы коронаровентрикулографии, эхокардиографии, иммуногистохимии, TUNEL. Установлена существенная значимость апоптоза кардиомиоцитов на ранних этапах ремоделирования левого желудочка. При увеличении конечно-диастолического объема левого желудочка роль апоптоза кардиомиоцитов в патогенезе ремоделинга миокарда не значима. Полученные результаты указывают на важную предикторную роль регуляторных элементов апоптоза в диагностике ишемической болезни сердца и хронической сердечной недостаточности.

The introduction of autovenous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) marked the era of surgical revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease. It provided effective treatment for angina and significantly improved the long-term prognosis. Venous transplants today remain the most popular conduits in coronary surgery due to their availability, ease of harvesting, and the absence of length restrictions. Despite the advantages of autovenous CABG, the main disadvantage is the high incidence of venous graft failure, which represents an important and unresolved problem in cardiac and cardiovascular surgery. On the other hand, the traditional allocation of a large saphenous vein implies the dissection of soft tissues throughout the length of the isolated conduit. Traumatic dissection causes a long-lasting persistent pain syndrome after surgery, frequent abnormalities in skin sensitivity, and a high incidence of wound complications in the lower extremities. These complications lengthen the period of rehabilitation of patients and worsen the quality of life. There is an approach of isolating the vein in a block with surrounding tissues to optimize the long-term functioning of the venous shunt, however, this technique is even more traumatic than the traditional method, and therefore its use is limited in practice. On the other hand, the introduction of minimally invasive methods of isolation allowed to reduce the incidence of wound complications and to improve the cosmetic result, but there is no convincing data regarding the effect on the consistency of shunts in the long-term postoperative period. The problems associated with the use of venous conduits in CABG are multifaceted, and their solutions are necessary to improve the effectiveness of surgical revascularization.

Aim. To assess the effect of a pharmacological protocol for the prevention of radial artery spasm, which is based on the systemic and local use of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, on the long-term outcomes of autoarterial coronary artery bypass grafting.Material and methods. According to the protocol, oral nifedipine at a dose of 5 mg/day is prescribed 3 days before surgery. Then, after the radial artery is isolated, the vessel is preserved in a solution of nifedipine (adalat) until it is used. After releasing the clamp from the aorta, a nifedipine (adalat) is infused intravenously at a dose of 0,63 mg/h. In the postoperative period, the infusion of nifedipine continues for 6 hours. In the future, patients are recommended to take dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers at a dose of 5 mg/day after discharge from the hospital.Results. The use of the pharmacological protocol (n=225) is associated with a lower number of major cardiovascular events (mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke) compared with the control group (n=230) (9,3% and 15,7%, p=0,031) during the 5-year follow-up. This result was achieved mainly by reducing the incidence of myocardial infarction (6,2% and 12,6%, p=0,018). Also, the use of the pharmacological protocol led to a decrease in repeated revascularizations (4,4% and 16,1%, p=0,0001) compared with the control group.Conclusion. The use of a pharmacological protocol for the prevention of radial artery spasm based on the systemic use of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers improves the long-term outcomes of autoarterial coronary artery bypass grafting.