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Copyright of Archives of the Turkish Society of Cardiology / Türk Kardiyoloji Derneği Arşivi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is commonly used for abdominal aortic aneurysms, but its mortality rate remains high. The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, which measures hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet levels, provides prognostic value by reflecting the nutritional status and systemic inflammation. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the HALP score upon admission and long-term mortality in patients with EVAR. Methods: Consecutive patients with EVAR at our tertiary center from October 2010 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. HALP scores were calculated using the following formula: hemoglobin (g/L) x albumin (g/L) x lymphocyte count (/L)/platelet count (/L). In-hospital and long-term mortality data were extracted. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified predictors of in-hospital mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to examine determinants of long-term mortality. Results: Among the 162 participants (mean age: 69.4±8.2 years, 90.1% male), the HALP score was the most significant predictor of in-hospital mortality (area under the curve: 0.752, 95% confidence interval: 0.674-0.830; p<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed HALP (p=0.001) and C-reactive protein (p=0.004) as independent determinants of long-term mortality. Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the association between the HALP score and in-hospital and long-term mortality in EVAR patients. The HALP score is a robust prognostic tool compared with its components and other parameters in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), including hypertensive LVH, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA), is a commonly encountered condition in cardiology practice, presenting challenges in differential diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the importance of echocardiographic evaluation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in distinguishing LVH subtypes including hypertensive LVH, HCM, and CA. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with common causes of LVH including hypertensive LVH, HCM, and CA were included. The role of echocardiographic evaluation of IVC diameter and collapsibility in distinguishing these causes of LVH was assessed in conjunction with other echocardiographic, clinical, and imaging methods. Results: A total of 211 patients (45% HCM, 43% hypertensive heart disease, and 12% CA) were included in our study. Their mean age was 56.6 years and 62% of them were male. While mean IVC diameter was significantly dilated in CA patients (13.4 mm in hypertensive LVH, 16.0 mm in HCM, and 21.1 mm in CA, p <.001), its collapsibility was reduced (IVC collapsible in 95% of hypertensive patients, 72% of HCM patients, and 12% of CA patients, p <.001). In the analysis of diagnostic probabilities, the presence of both hypovoltage and IVC dilation is significant for CA patients. Although it is not statistically significant, the presence of IVC dilation along with atrial fibrillation supports the diagnosis of HCM. Conclusion: In conclusion, although advances in imaging techniques facilitate the diagnosis of LVH, simple echocardiographic methods should never be overlooked. Our study supports the notion that IVC assessment could play an important role in the differential diagnosis of LVH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bezmialem Science is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: Pericardiocentesis is a critical invasive procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pericardial effusion, regardless of the etiological cause. We aimed to evaluate the in-hospital and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing pericardiocentesis due to pericardial effusion at a tertiary referral center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 204 patients who underwent pericardiocentesis between 2017 and 2022 was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups based on the development of mortality during long-term follow-up. Results: The mean follow-up duration was 42.5 ± 22.7 months. The most commonly identified etiology was idiopathic, accounting for 44.1%, followed by neoplastic (33.3%) and infectious (10.8%) causes. In-hospital mortality occurred in 21 (10.2%) patients, while recurrence developed in 41 (20.1%) patients. During the follow-up period, 74 out of 204 participants experienced mortality. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p=0.013), malignancy (p<0.001), and hemodynamic instability (p<0.001) as independent determinants of long-term mortality. Conclusion: Although pericardiocentesis has a low complication rate, mortality rates remain high in these patients due to additional comorbidities. LVEF, malignancy, and hemodynamic instability determine mortality. Careful management of this group can reduce further events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing incidence of diagnosing both congenital and acquired heart valve diseases in women during pregnancy. Factors such as elevated rates of pregnancy, older maternal age, and coexisting conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity contribute significantly to the symptomatic manifestation and detection of valvular heart diseases in women planning for pregnancy. Pregnancy induces cardiovascular changes across the maternal physiology, posing a heightened risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in women afflicted with valvular heart diseases. In this article, we present a case of a 25-year-old patient who underwent mitral ring annuloplasty surgery at the age of 9. Her echocardiography revealed a mismatch of the mitral ring during a follow-up examination at the age of 20. Despite neglecting further follow-ups, the patient became pregnant and presented to us at the 6th week of pregnancy. She underwent evaluations at the 6th, 10th, and 22nd weeks of pregnancy, as well as before delivery. Following the resumption of follow-up appointments, intervention planning was initiated during the postpartum period. This case exemplifies successful management, resulting in a healthy delivery after navigating through the pregnancy.