Epicardial cavernous hemangioma: a two-case report

We report two-cases of cavernous hemangiomas arising from the epicardium in two women aged respectively 24 and 79 years old. The first patient was symptomatic and presented with palpitations. The second patient was referred after a random discovery at echocardiography. Chest CT and MRI were performed in the two cases and showed a mass located in the pericardial cavity. Coronary CT was necessary in the first case to ascertain the degree of coronary artery involvement. Both of our patients underwent surgical resection under cardiopulmonary bypass with an uneventful postoperative course for the first case. The second one, died postoperatively from pneumonia. Cardiac cavernous hemangiomas, although rare and well tolerated require prompt management and surgery at discovery to avoid further complications which may put at risk the patient's life prognosis

[Beating heart coronary artery bypass:100 case]

Coronary artery revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass has been reported to carry several risks. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has been proposed to result in a better outcome. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of off-pump cardiopulmonary bypass. In a 7-year period, a total of 100 patients undergoing isolated first-time off-pump coronary artery bypass graft were studied. The mean ejection fractions was 48% and the EUROSCORE mean was 4.9. The average number of grafts was 1.55 per patient. The postoperative outcomes were simple for most patients with little use of inotropes after 24 hours [42%], few cases of atrial fibrillation [9.4%], and transfusion [27.3%]. Time to extubation was less than 48 hours in most cases [94.7%] and hospital mortality rate was 10.5%.The beating heart bypass surgery allows good immediate results including multi-vessel disease and in patients at high risk

Endoscopic thoracic sympatecomy for hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a benin affection representing a social and professional problems and occupational handicaps in young patient. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy thus provides a radical treatment for severe palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. We describe the technique used in our institut and present results. From 1995 to 2002, 32 patients were operated on for hyperhidrosis. There were 17 mens and 15 women raging in age from 15 to 32 years. The intervention consisting on destruction by eJectrocoaguJation to the sympathetic trunk. There was no major complication and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 2 days. The disappearance of the palmar sweating was immediately after operation. 7 patients complained of compensatory sweating. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis is a safe effect technique for treating palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. Compensatry sweeting represent the major that necessite a preable information