Purpose. Make a comparative assessment of supportive methods of myocardial revascularization in ischemic heart disease patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (<35 %) conducted under CPB with cardioplegic cardiac arrest and on a beating heart combined with intraoperative use of IABP or levosimendan. Materials and methods. The study included 90 patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction <35 %, which was performed CABG under normothermic CPB. Patients were randomized into 4 groups: IABP+CP (CPB with cardioplegia and IABP) (n=30), IABP+CPB (beating heart on a parallel CBP and IABP) (n=14), LS+CP (CBP with cardioplegia and levosimendan) (n=30), LS+CBP (beating heart on a parallel CBP and IABP) (n=16). The primary endpoint wastroponinI.Hemodynamic parameters, the markers of myocardial damage and heart failure, postoperative complications, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay was evaluated. Results. In LS+CP and LS+CBP groups was revealed reduction in blood pressure (p=0.002 and p=0.013 respectively) and increase in heart rate (p=0.0008 and p=0.0002 respectively) before CBP in comparison with IABP. The average area under the curve (AUC) of troponin I concentration in LS+CP group was less than in IABP+CP group: 11.75 (6.28–13.29) ng/ml vs 24.43 (12.52–27.88) ng/ml, p=0.013. In LS+CP group was revealed decrease in length of ICU stay (2 (2–3) days) compared with IABP+CP group (4 (3–4) days, p=0.0002) and IABP+CBP group (4 (3–6) days, p=0.0008). Preoperative BNP concentration ≥203 pg/mL was a predictor of necessity for inotropic support with sensitivity 60 % (95 % CI 47.1–72.0) and specificity 93.75 % (95 % CI 69.8–99.8) (AUC 0.728; p=0.0001). Preoperative NTproBNP concentration ≥8.24 fmol/L was a predictor of necessity for inotropic support in the postoperative period with sensitivity 77.78 % (95 % CI 64.4–88.0) and specificity 66.67 % (95 % CI 38.4–88.2) (AUC 0.745; p=0.0012). In singlefactor regression analysis the independent effect on necessity for inotropic support in the early postoperative period exert the concentration of preoperative BNP (OR=1.01; 95 % CI 1.001–1.014; p=0.033). Belonging to LS+CP group reduces the risk of ICU stay for more than 3 days on 72 % (OR=0.28; 95 % CI 0.09–0.82; p=0.021). In multivariate regression analysis, a risk factor for 30-day mortality was the concentration of troponin I on the second postoperative day (OR=1.15; 95 % CI 1.03–1.27; p=0.010) and the preoperative concentration NTproBNP was a risk factor for the 1 year mortality (OR=1.02; 95 % CI 1.001–1.032; p=0.006). 6 hours CPK level after CBP was a predictor of atrial fibrillation development in the early postoperative period (OR=1.003; 95 % CI 1.001–1.005; p=0.003) and prolonged hospital stay for more than 14 days (OR=0.996; 95 % CI: 0.994–0.999; p=0.007) Conclusion. CABG on a beating heart under CPB in ischemic heart disease patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (regardless of the hemodynamic support method) does not lead to significant decrease in serum concentration of Troponin I in the postoperative period. Intraoperative levosimendan infusion together with cardioplegic cardiac arrest improves early postoperative period, which is expressed in significant reduction in ICU stay. Thus, the most preferred method to support myocardial revascularization in ischemic heart disease patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction is combination of a standard methodology for CABG with cardioplegic myocardial protection accompanied by intraoperative infusion of levosimendan. Key words: cardiopulmonary bypass; coronary artery bypass surgery; beating heart; IABP; levosimendan.

Aim of this study was to assess brain oxygen supply in patients with chronic pulmonary embolism (CPE) for elucidation of factors of risk of neurological complications in early postoperative period. We examined 34 patients with diagnosis of CPE. Mean duration of the disease was 3 (1.4-4.2) years. Data on baseline cerebral oxygenation, monitoring of brain oxygen during various stages of surgery, and level of cerebral oxygen supply in immediate postoperative period are presented. More than 40% lowering from initial values of parameters of cerebral oxygenation during circulatory arrest substantially increases risk of development of neurological complications in early postoperative period.

Objective: to test the hypothesis that the perioperative use of omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3PUFA) as intravenous infusion will reduce the risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients with coronary heart disease operated on under extracorporeal circulation.Subjects and methods. A doubleblind prospective controlled study was conducted in 39 patients who were randomized into two groups: 1) 18 patients were infused with ω3PUFA (Omegaven, Fresenius Kabi, Germany), beginning before inducing anesthesia in a dose of 200 mg/kg/day within the first 24 hours and 100 mg/kg/day on days 2 to 7 postsurgery; 2) 21 received placebo (Intralipid, Fresenius Kabi, Germany) in the equivalent dose. The primary end point was freedom from POAF during 2 months after surgery. POAF was examined using a subcutaneously implanted continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring device (Reveal XT, Medtronic, USA). Monitoring readings were taken on day 10 at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months following surgery.Results. POAF was observed in 4 (19%) patients in the placebo group and in 5 (27.8%) in the ω3PUFA group on days 10 postsurgery (p=0.88). During 2year followup, POAF was revealed in 5 (27.8%) patients in the control group and in 6 (35.3%) in the ω3PUFA group (p=0.9). The duration of POAF was associated with the risk of rehospitalizations for decompensated heart failure (regression coefficient, 0.24; standard error, 0.02; p<0.0001; R2=0.74).Conclusion. The results of the study do not support the efficiency of perioperatively using ω3PUFA to prevent POAF

Aim. To assess the condition of peripheral microcirculatory circulation (MCC) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) depending on the age, before and after revasculatization during different stages of operation treatment. Material and methods. Totally 40 patients with CHD included. Two groups completed: 1-24 patients with the age up to 60 and 2-16 patients older than 60. The condition of MCC in lower limbs studied by laser-doppler flowmetry (LDF) using the occlusion test, before revascularization and level of peripheral MCC at different stages of surgical intervention. Results. In those older than 60 we found lower level of MCC and lowered reactivity of microcirculatory bed. Lowering of the capillary reserve (CR) was found in two patients of both groups. The lowest level of peripheral MCC in both groups was detected at 30th min. of artificial circulation; at the end of operation there was increase of MCC to the values at start with the lowest level of circulation in the group older than 60. Conclusion. In older CHD patients the lowest level and lowest reserve of MCC were found compating to those younger than 60. At the background of artificial circulation there is lowering of peripheral MCC in both circulatory circles; once blood circulation has returned there is no complete restore of MCC because of low circulation in patients older than 60.

Objective: to evaluate the safety of using 7.2% NaCl/6% hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 solution to develop acute renal injury (ARI) in patients after aortocoronary bypass surgery (ACBS) under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Subjects and methods. This was a single-center prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial. The patients singly received either 7.2% NaCl/6% hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 solution (a NC/HES group, n=20) or 0.9% NaCl (a control group, n=20) in a dose of 4 ml/kg for 30 min after induction of anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the rate of ARI diagnosed according to the recommendations of the International Organization KRIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes). The secondary endpoints were serum cystatin C (sCys С), and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL). Results. The rate of ARI was comparable in both patient groups. Thus, ARI was found in 4 (20%) patients in the NC/HES group and in 6 (30%) cases in the control group (p=0.72). During the first two postoperative days, the peak concentration of creatinine was significantly lower in the NC/HES group (101 (range 94—107) ^l/l) than in the control one (117 (range 100—127) ^l/l) (p=0.02). That of sCys C was substantially lower in the NC/HES group (0.83 (range 0.73—0.89) mg/l) than in the control one (1.02 (range 0.88—1.15) mg/l) (p=0.001). The patients of the NC/HES group had comparable peak of uNGAL concentrations (33 (range 5—38) ng/ml) versus the controls (30 (range 21—50) ng/ml). Conclusion. The use of NC/HES does not cause any increase in the rate of ARI, increased renal injury, or a more significant decrease in glomerular filtration in patients after ACBS under EC. Key words: hypertonic solution, hydroxyethyl starch, acute renal injury, aortocoronary bypass surgery.

Objective: to evaluate the safety of using 7.2% NaCl/6% hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 solution to develop acute renal injury (ARI) in patients after aortocoronary bypass surgery (ACBS) under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Subjects and methods. This was a single-center prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial. The patients singly received either 7.2% NaCl/6% hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 solution (a NC/HES group, n=20) or 0.9% NaCl (a control group, n=20) in a dose of 4 ml/kg for 30 min after induction of anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the rate of ARI diagnosed according to the recommendations of the International Organization KRIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes). The secondary endpoints were serum cystatin C (sCys С), and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL). Results. The rate of ARI was comparable in both patient groups. Thus, ARI was found in 4 (20%) patients in the NC/HES group and in 6 (30%) cases in the control group (p=0.72). During the first two postoperative days, the peak concentration of creatinine was significantly lower in the NC/HES group (101 (range 94—107) ^l/l) than in the control one (117 (range 100—127) ^l/l) (p=0.02). That of sCys C was substantially lower in the NC/HES group (0.83 (range 0.73—0.89) mg/l) than in the control one (1.02 (range 0.88—1.15) mg/l) (p=0.001). The patients of the NC/HES group had comparable peak of uNGAL concentrations (33 (range 5—38) ng/ml) versus the controls (30 (range 21—50) ng/ml). Conclusion. The use of NC/HES does not cause any increase in the rate of ARI, increased renal injury, or a more significant decrease in glomerular filtration in patients after ACBS under EC. Key words: hypertonic solution, hydroxyethyl starch, acute renal injury, aortocoronary bypass surgery.

The paper describes a case of inhaled iloprost use in a female patient with severe respiratory failure after pulmonary artery thromboendarterectomy, who was on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. To reduce pulmonary hypertension and to prevent reperfusion syndrome, the patient received inhaled iloprost in a dose of 5 ^g every 3 hours during surgery and in the first two days after surgery. On day 14 after surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was stopped as there were satisfactory respiratory and hemodynamic parameters. Four days later, the patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation. The length of stay in the intensive care unit was 24 days. The patient was discharged from hospital in a satisfactory condition. Thus, the perioperative use of iloprost could reduce pulmonary artery pressure by twice; however, reperfusion syndrome could not prevent significant respiratory failure. The data available in the literature on the use of ilo-prost in patients after pulmonary artery thromboendarterectomy are single and their results are ambiguous. There is a need for large-scale multicenter studies in this group of patients. Key words: chronic postthromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary artery thromboendarterectomy, iloprost, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Heart transplantation in patients after implantation of mechanical cardiac support devices entails an extremely high risk for perioperative bleeding. Recombinant activated coagulation factor VII is presently used to reduce the volume of bleeding in this patient group. There are parallel data on its administration-induced thromboembolic events in the literature. This paper describes a case of using a prothrombin complex concentrate in a patient during explantation of a left ventricular bypass system and subsequent orthotopic heart transplantation in the presence of significant hypocoagulation. At the end of a surgery, 1200 IU of the agent was used at a remaining bleeding rate of more than 1000 ml/hour. Within the first 24 hours after surgery, the rate of discharge drainage was less than 100 ml/hour. A control plain chest X-ray study revealed massive left-sided hydrothorax on day 2 postsurgery. The left pleural cavity was revised under thoracoscopic guidance and 1000 ml of blood clots were evacuated. Although the administration of prothrombin complex concentrate did not guard against re-intervention, its use seems a promising strategy in life-threatening bleedings in patients after explantation of mechanical cardiac support devices. Further multicenter investigations are required to determine the efficacy and safety of prothrom-bin complex concentration in cardiac surgery. Key words: Recombinant activated coagulation factor VII, prothrombin complex concentration, mechanical cardiac support device, orthotopic heart transplantation.

The aim of our study was to compare the efficiency of the use of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) and levosi-mendan in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass. The study included 90 patients who were randomized into three groups according to the strategy of hemodynamic support. Group A patients received IABP 24 hours before surgery. In group B, preventive IABP was combined with intraoperative levosimendan infusion. Group C patients received intraoperative levosimendan infusion only. Hemodynamics, the markers of myocardial damage and heart failure, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay were observed. The patients treated with lev-osimendan had a more stable hemodynamic profile. Troponin I level was significantly lower in Group C six hours after cardiopulmonary bypass than that in group A. Length of stay in intensive care was significantly lower in Group C. The pre-operative concentration of BNP (>360 pg/ml) is a predictor of inotropic support in the postoperative period. The results of our study indicate that the use of levosimendan in high-risk patients is effective and shows the results comparable with those of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.

Objective: to study the effect of 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 on extravascular lung water and respiratory and cardiovascular systems in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after myocardial revascularization under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Subjects and methods. A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 40 patients with coronary artery disease. A study group (n=20) received 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5; a control group (n=20) had 0.9% NaCl in a dose of 4 ml/kg within 30 min before EC. Extravascular lung water and central hemodynamic parameters were assessed using transpulmonary thermodilution and a Swan-Ganz catheter; respiratory function was estimated by the arterial oxygenation index, alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference, and venous shunt fraction. Plasma osmolality and Na concentration were determined using an Osmomat 030 device. Conclusion. The intraoperative use of 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 in patients with CHD leads to a significant reduction in extravascular lung water after myocardial revascularization, thereby effectively protecting pulmonary oxygenizing function. The single administration of 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch causes a short-term increase in cardiac index and it is a relatively safe in preventing neurological disorders and heart failure. Key words: 7.2% NaCl/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5; extravascular lung water, respiratory function, cardiac index, osmolarity.