Background: Surgical treatment of empyema thoracis in patients with chronic kidney disease is challenging, and few studies in the literature have evaluated this issue. In this study, we aim to report the surgical outcomes of empyema and to analyze factors predicting perioperative mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: This retrospective study included data from 34 patients with chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 for 3 or more months) who underwent surgery for empyema between 2012 and 2020. An analysis of demographic characteristics and perioperative variables, including complications, was carried out. Postoperative mortality was the primary outcome measure. Results: Patients’ age ranged from 20 to 74 years with a 29-to-5 male-female ratio. The majority (n=19, 55.9%) of patients were in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring maintenance hemodialysis. The mean operative time was 304 minutes and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 562 mL. Postoperative morbidity was observed in 70.5% of patients (n=24). In the subgroup analysis, higher values for operative time, blood loss, intensive care unit stay, and complications were found in ESRD patients. The mortality rate was 38.2% (n=13). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group >2) (p=0.03), ESRD (p=0.02), and late referral (>8 weeks) (p<0.001) significantly affected mortality. Conclusion ESRD, late referral, and poor functional status were poor prognostic factors predicting postoperative mortality. The decision of surgery should be cautiously assessed given the very high risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Background: We aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgical repair of Kommerell diverticulum (KD) with individualized surgical methods. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of adult patients (aged ≥17 years) who underwent surgery to treat KD between June 2008 and October 2019. Results: Nine patients (median age, 45 years; range, 19–67 years; 7 men) underwent surgical repair. The indications for surgical therapy were acute aortic dissection in 2 patients, the presence of compressive symptoms due to dilated KD in 4 patients, and aneurysm growth in 3 patients. Various surgical techniques were used: (1) resection of the diverticulum stump and revascularization of the aberrant subclavian artery (n=3), (2) one-stage total-arch replacement including the diverticulum segment (n=3), and (3) hybrid repair (n=3). Early mortality occurred in 1 case of hybrid repair. Transient paraparesis occurred in a patient who underwent total arch repair as part of complicated acute aortic dissection.During follow-up (median duration, 30 months; range, 7–130 months), no late death or associated aortic complications were documented. All survivors were free from symptoms and had no abnormal findings on follow-up computed tomography. Conclusion With a customized surgical approach and appropriate consideration of patient-specific anatomy and associated comorbidities, KD can be repaired with favorable outcomes.

Primary tracheobronchial lipoma is an extremely rare entity, the diagnosis of which is often missed initially. Cases are generally diagnosed late after initial treatment for asthma and bronchitis. We report a case of a 42-year-old man with a left main bronchus lipoma that caused near-total obstruction. The lipoma was treated by bronchoscopic resection with an electrosurgical snare and cryoablation.

Background: Behçet disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a varying etiology.Herein, we report the involvement of peripheral veins in Behçet disease and discuss the treatment thereof. Methods: Thirty-four patients with venous involvement in vasculo-Behçet disease were retrospectively analyzed over 15 years. We reviewed the clinical manifestations, treatment choices, and complications of these patients. Results: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was observed in 24 patients (70.59%) and varicose veins in 19 (52.94%). Immunosuppressive treatment was administered to all patients due to the pathological feature of vein wall inflammation. In patients with DVT, anticoagulation therapy was also used, but post-thrombotic syndrome was observed in all patients along with chronic luminal changes. Eleven patients with isolated varicose veins underwent surgery; although symptoms and lesions recurred in half of these patients, no cases of secondary DVT occurred. Conclusion When DVT was diagnosed in patients with Behçet disease, there was no cure for the lesions. Ultrasonographic abnormalities were observed in all patients, and post-thrombotic syndrome remained to varying degrees. In cases of isolated varicose veins in patients with Behçet disease, DVT did not occur after surgical treatment. If the activity of Behçet disease is controlled, surgical correction of varicose veins is preferable.

Background: Malignant primary cardiac tumors are extremely rare, but have a poor prognosis. This study evaluated the surgical outcomes of patients with this disease. Methods: Forty patients who underwent surgery for malignant primary cardiac tumors between January 1998 and December 2018 were enrolled. Participants were divided into 3 groups based on resection margins (R0, 14 patients; R1, 11 patients; and R2, 11 patients) and their surgical outcomes were compared. Heart transplantation was performed in 4 patients with unresectable tumors. Results: Early mortality was reported in 2 cases (5%) due to postoperative bleeding and cerebral hemorrhage secondary to brain metastasis. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 67.5% and 42.5%, respectively. The median survival time of the patients was 20.3 months (range, 9.2–37.6 months). The median survival time was 48.7, 20.3, and 4.8 months in patients with R0, R1, and R2 resections, respectively (p=0.023). Tumor recurrence occurred in 21 patients (61.7%), including 4 cases of local recurrence and 17 cases of distant metastasis. In patients who underwent heart transplantation, the median survival time was 29.5 months, with 3 cases of distant metastasis. Conclusion Although surgery for malignant primary cardiac tumors has a poor prognosis, complete resection of the tumor may improve surgical outcomes.

Background: Most abdominal aortic aneurysms are degenerative atherosclerotic aneurysms. Inflammatory or infected abdominal aortic aneurysms, which show a slightly different clinical course, are rarely encountered in clinical settings. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical course of these variants of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods: This retrospective study included 32 patients with atypical inflammatory or infected abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent emergent graft replacement between November 1997 and December 2017. Patients were followed up at the outpatient clinic for a mean period of 4.9±6.9 years. We analyzed the patients’ clinical course and compared it with that of patients with atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms. Results: There was 1 surgical mortality (3.0%) in a case complicated by aneurysmal free rupture. In 2 cases of infected abdominal aortic aneurysms, anastomotic complications developed immediately postoperatively. During the follow-up period, 10 patients (30%) developed graft complications, and 9 of them underwent reoperations; of these, 2 patients (22.2%) died of postoperative complications after the second operation, whereas 2 patients survived despite graft occlusion. Conclusion Patients with inflammatory abdominal aneurysms frequently develop postoperative graft complications requiring secondary surgical treatment, so they require close mandatory postoperative follow-up.

Background: Attaining an adequate effective orifice area (EOA) is definitive goal in aortic valve replacement (AVR). The simple interrupted suture (SIS) technique could be a solution to achieve this goal, but limited data are available in the literature. This study aimed to compare hemodynamic differences between the SIS and non-everting mattress suture (NMS) techniques. Methods: From our database, 215 patients who underwent AVR for severe aortic stenosis were extracted to form the overall cohort. From March 2015 to November 2016, the SIS technique was used in 79 patients, while the NMS technique was used in 136 patients.Hemodynamic outcomes were evaluated, as detected by transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. On immediate postoperative echocardiography, the SIS group showed a significantly wider EOA (1.6±0.4 vs. 1.4±0.5㎠ , p=0.007) and a lower mean pressure gradient (PG) (13.3±5.4 vs. 17.0±6.0 mm Hg, p<0.001) than the NMS group. On follow-up echocardiography, the SIS group continued to have a wider EOA (1.6±0.4 vs. 1.4±0.3㎠, p<0.001) and a lower mean PG (11.0±5.1 vs. 14.1±5.5 mm Hg, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in paravalvular leakage. Conclusion The SIS technique for AVR was associated with a wider EOA and a lower mean PG. The SIS technique could be a reasonable option for AVR.

Surgeons avoid creating arteriovenous fistulae in obese patients owing to deep vessels, cannulation complications, and inconsistent outcomes. We describe placing an arteriovenous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft between the brachial artery and axillary vein to avoid these complications. A 39-year-old super-obese woman with end-stage renal disease had undergone several hemodialysis access procedures on both arms. We traced the course of the arteriovenous graft course with the patient sitting and lying down. The ideal course was more accurate with the patient sitting; thus, the patient sat when the course was drawn, before lying on the operating bed. The PTFE graft was placed between the right brachial artery and axillary vein, according to the course in the opposite arm. No anastomotic dehiscence or pseudoaneurysm has taken place during 2 years of follow-up.In super-obese patients, the ideal course for arteriovenous grafts should be drawn while they are sitting, avoiding skin folds. This tip could avoid anastomotic dehiscence and pseudoaneurysm between the axillary vein and a PTFE graft.

To validate the technique of the single Heartstring aortotomy for multiple off-pump venous bypass grafts (described in 2015), the results of a 38-month follow-up study of 18 patients, including high-risk patients, are presented. No early deaths or cardiac or cerebral complications occurred. During the follow-up period, 2 patients died of non-cardiac causes, and 3 developed coronary ischemia. Ischemia occurred due to late graft occlusion in 2 patients, both of whom had normal postoperative courses and correct graft flow. The presence of acute symptoms 24 months after surgery in these patients indicated that technical graft failure was unlikely. This safe technique combines the advantages of simple and reproducible revascularization, the off-pump approach, and minimal aortic manipulation.

Background: Hydatidosis is a major health problem around the world, especially in the Mediterranean region. Cysts can break open or develop secondary bacterial infections, alter ing the clinical presentation. Methods: Patients who underwent hydatid cyst surgery at Al-Mouassat University Hospital in Damascus, Syria between January 2006 and December 2017 were evaluated. Cases involving isolated hepatic cysts were excluded. The patients were divided into those with perforated hydatid cysts (group 1) and those with intact hydatid cysts (group 2). Results: This study included 224 cases: 113 in group 1 (50.4%) and 111 in group 2 (49.6%).The median chest tube duration, hospitalization time, and postoperative complication rate were higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p=0.003, p=0.002, and p=0.006, respectively). In both groups, the most common symptom was cough (present in 178 patients in total [79.5%]), while chest pain (121 patients [54%]) and dyspnea (113 patients [50.4%]) were also common. Cough, hemoptysis, fever, and expectoration of cystic contents were significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (p<0.001). Conclusion The early discovery and treatment of intact pulmonary hydatid cysts reduced the hospitalization time, chest tube duration, and postoperative complication rate.Relative to intact cysts, perforated cysts are more complex and are associated with more expensive and time-consuming surgical treatment.