ABSTRACT
We present a rare case of stent graft infection. A 69-year-old man, who had undergone endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with an Inoue stent graft 5 years previously, was admitted with high-grade fever. An abscess around an abdominal aortic aneurysm was found on abdominal computed tomography (CT) and he was given a diagnosis of stent graft infection. The stent graft was removed and vascular reconstruction was performed using a Gelweave graft bonded with rifampicin. The graft was then covered with the greater omentum, and he was discharged on the 27th postoperative day.
ABSTRACT
To improve the long-term clinical results of coronary artery bypass grafting, we evaluated our graft selections and the designs that were used, in relation to the quality of the anastomoses and patient backgrounds. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 505 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting involving more than 3 vessel reconstructions between May 1999 and March 2007. Neither the selection of a saphenous vein graft nor that of an internal thoracic artery graft was a statistically significant cardiac event factor. The cardiac event-free rates (at 1 and 5 years) according to anastomotic site were as follows : a) 92.9% and 76.6% for a radial artery graft and 93.2% and 83.9% for a saphenous vein graft at the right coronary artery ; b) 93.0% and 70.3% for a radial artery graft and 95.1% and 80.4% for a saphenous vein graft at the distal right coronary artery ; c) 94.5% and 77.8% for a left internal thoracic artery graft and 93.0% and available for a right internal thoracic artery graft at the left anterior descending artery ; d) 96.5% and 79.8% for a radial artery graft, 93.0% and 78.0% for a saphenous vein graft, and 91.3% and 75.6% for an internal thoracic artery graft at the left circumflex artery. Significant cardiac event factors were dialysis (risk ratio, 5.28 ; <i>p</i><0.001), the use of a right gastroepiploic artery graft as the inflow blood vessel of a radial artery graft (risk ratio, 5.75 ; <i>p</i>=0.02), and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (risk ratio, 1.62 ; <i>p</i>=0.03). As a tendency toward more frequent early-stage cardiac events among patients with radial artery grafts was confirmed, careful follow-up is important for this group of patients. Right gastroepiploic artery grafts should be chosen carefully with full consideration of the anastomotic site quality and the flow demand, as the blood supply capability of such grafts is limited. For dialysis patients, although the mid-term clinical results are still being evaluated, a saphenous vein grafts have bwer early-stage of cardiac events. In younger patients, off-pump bypass is not the only treatment method available, and revascularization with extracorporeal circulation can reliably achieve good long-term results. To improve the long-term clinical results for coronary artery bypass grafts, graft selection and design should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. The quality of the anastomotic site and the patient background are important factors, especially with regard to the selection of a saphenous vein graft or a right gastroepiploic artery graft. A radial artery graft should be selected for use in relatively young patients because of its superior patency. Off-pump bypass may not necessarily be the treatment of choice in some cases because revascularization using extracorporeal circulation can reliably achieve better long-term results.
ABSTRACT
Endoventricular circular patch plasty (the Dor procedure) has been demonstrated to improve outcome in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, in some of them congestive heart failure (CHF) occurred during follow-up. This study examined the effects of the Dor procedure on the long-term survival and predictors of CHF after this procedure. Hemodynamic and clinical results were analyzed and predictors of CHF were examined. Postoperative ESVI in the CHF group was larger than that in the non-CHF group. The delayed MR rate was greater following the CHF group (82.4%) compared to the non-CHF group (19.2%). Despite mitral valve repair (<i>N</i>=8), 3 patients had delayed MR. All of them were greater than MR<sup>3</sup>. Hemodynamic and clinical results were improved by the Dor procedure. However, cardiac events were usually occurred during the follow-up. The predictor of CHF was delayed MR. Therefore, patients with preoperative MR should be treated. If preoperative MR is greater than 3, there will be MR recurrence cases after MVP only. Therefore, patients with preoperative MR (3 or 4) should be treated by alternative surgical procedures.
ABSTRACT
A retrospective review was performed on 43 patients on hemodialysis undergoing valve surgery between May 1999 and August 2004. Ages ranged from 36 to 80 years (mean, 63.8 years). Twenty aortic, 9 mitral, 8 aortic and mitral and 6 valvuloplasties were performed. Twenty-three aortic mechanical valves, 5 aortic bioprosthetic valves, 13 mitral mechanical valves and 4 mitral bioprosthetic valves were implanted. Twenty-five of the 28 aortic valve replacement were hypoplasia of the aortic valve ring. There were 3 hospital deaths (heart failure, pneumonia and sepsis). There were 10 late deaths (2 heart failure, 2 pneumonia, wound infection, cerebral infarction, 2 cancer, arteriosclerosis obliterans and unknown death). Survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 81%, 74% and 47%. There were three documented major bleedings or thromboembolisms in the 29 patients with mechanical valves (10%) and none in the 9 patients with bioprosthetic valves (0% no significance). Three reoperations were performed for premature degeneration of bioprosthetic valve (19, 24 and 50 months) due to accelerated calcification. These results demonstrate that the prosthetic valve-related major bleedings and strokes in hemodialysis patients are similar for both mechanical and bioprosthetic valves, and that bioprosthetic valves will undergo premature degeneration. Therefore, preference should be given to mechanical valve prostheses in hemodialysis patients.
ABSTRACT
Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a serious and increasingly common clinical disorder, but at present, the relationship between left ventricular shape and IMR is not completely understood. Thirty patients with moderate or severe IMR who underwent mitral valve surgery combined with coronary artery bypass grafting were studied retrospectively. Left ventricular shape, left ventricular regional wall motion, hemodynamic index, condition of the coronary artery, severity of IMR and long term results were assessed using ventriculography and angiography. Left ventricular shape at end diastole and end systole were quantified based upon the ratio of the major-to-minor axis and the sphericity index. Hospital mortality rate was 13.3%, 5 years survival rates were 10.5%, and 5-year rate of freedom from congestive heart failure (CHF) were 7.8%. Significant difference between cardiac deaths (<i>n</i>=11) and survivors (<i>n</i>=19) included requiring intensive care admission, requiring intra-aortic balloon pumping, recurrent myocardial infarction, the ratio of the major-minor axis at end diastole, the sphericity index at diastole, and the sphericity index at end systole. Multivariable regression analyses were performed with the Cox proportional hazards model. Significant determinants of survival were the sphericity index at end systole and LV regional wall motion at the site of the anterobasal segment or apex. These findings indicate that the shape of the LV and LV regional wall motion in IMR may be important determinants of prognosis and suggest that surgical attention to shape may be helpful for mitral valve surgery.