The Clinical Outcomes of Marginal Donor Hearts: A Single Center Experience

Background and Objectives@#Although the shortage of donor is a common problem worldwide, a significant portion of unutilized hearts are classified as marginal donor (MD) hearts. However, research on the correlation between the MD and the prognosis of heart transplantation (HTx) is lacking. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical impact of MD in HTx. @*Methods@#Consecutive 73 HTxs during 2014 and 2021 in a tertiary hospital were analyzed.MD was defined as follows; a donor age >55 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 240 minutes, or significant cardiac structural problems. Preoperative characteristics and postoperative hemodynamic data, primary graft dysfunction (PGD), and the survival rate were analyzed. Risk stratification by Index for Mortality Prediction after Cardiac Transplantation (IMPACT) score was performed to examine the outcomes according to the recipient state. Each group was sub-divided into 2 risk groups according to the IMPACT score (low <10 vs. high ≥10). @*Results@#A total of 32 (43.8%) patients received an organ from MDs. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was more frequent in the non-MD group (34.4% vs. 70.7, p=0.007) There was no significant difference in PGD, 30-day mortality and long-term survival between groups. In the subgroup analysis, early outcomes did not differ between low- and high-risk groups. However, the long-term survival was better in the low-risk group (p=0.01). @*Conclusions@#The outcomes of MD group were not significantly different from non-MD group. Particularly, in low-risk recipient, the MD group showed excellent early and longterm outcomes. These results suggest the usability of selected MD hearts without increasing adverse events.

A Case of Heart Transplantation for Fulminant Myocarditis After ChAdOx1nCoV-19 Vaccination

Vaccines have become the mainstay of management against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (coronavirus disease 2019; COVID-19) in the absence of effective antiviral therapy. Various adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination have been reported, including cardiovascular complications such as myocarditis or pericarditis. Herein, we describe clinical records of a 63-year woman with fulminant myocarditis following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination that was salvaged by heart transplantation. She complained chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever after the second vaccination. After the heart transplantation, the patient died due to necrotizing pneumonia on the 54th day of onset. Fulminant myocarditis is very rare after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination but can be fatal.

Effects of Preoperative Autologous Blood Donation in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) is a conservation strategy for reducing allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) during minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). We aimed to evaluate the effects of PABD on the frequency of ABT and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing MICS.METHODS: We enrolled 113 patients (47.8±13.1 years, 50 men) undergoing MICS without preoperative anemia (hemoglobin >11 g/dL) between 2014 and 2017. Of these patients, 69 (the PABD group) donated autologous blood preoperatively and were compared to the non-PABD group (n=44). We analyzed the frequency of perioperative ABT and clinical outcomes.RESULTS: Baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between groups, although preoperative hemoglobin levels were lower in the PABD group. All operations were performed using a minimally invasive approach. Patients’ surgical profiles were similar. There were no cases of mortality or significant differences in early postoperative outcomes. During the early postoperative period, hemoglobin levels were higher in the PABD group. No significant difference was found in the frequency of ABT.CONCLUSION: Although the PABD group had higher postoperative hemoglobin levels, there was no clear clinical benefit in the early postoperative period, despite a great deal of effort and additional cost. Additional PABD in the setting of strict policies for blood conservation was ineffective in reducing ABT for young and relatively healthy patients who underwent MICS.

Effects of Preoperative Autologous Blood Donation in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND@#Preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) is a conservation strategy for reducing allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) during minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). We aimed to evaluate the effects of PABD on the frequency of ABT and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing MICS.@*METHODS@#We enrolled 113 patients (47.8±13.1 years, 50 men) undergoing MICS without preoperative anemia (hemoglobin >11 g/dL) between 2014 and 2017. Of these patients, 69 (the PABD group) donated autologous blood preoperatively and were compared to the non-PABD group (n=44). We analyzed the frequency of perioperative ABT and clinical outcomes.@*RESULTS@#Baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between groups, although preoperative hemoglobin levels were lower in the PABD group. All operations were performed using a minimally invasive approach. Patients’ surgical profiles were similar. There were no cases of mortality or significant differences in early postoperative outcomes. During the early postoperative period, hemoglobin levels were higher in the PABD group. No significant difference was found in the frequency of ABT.@*CONCLUSION@#Although the PABD group had higher postoperative hemoglobin levels, there was no clear clinical benefit in the early postoperative period, despite a great deal of effort and additional cost. Additional PABD in the setting of strict policies for blood conservation was ineffective in reducing ABT for young and relatively healthy patients who underwent MICS.

The Treatment of Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysm by a Minimally Invasive Approach

Left atrial appendage (LAA) aneurysm is a rare, pathologic condition that may lead to atrial tachyarrhythmia or thromboembolic events. A 49-year-old man presented with aggravated palpitation and dizziness. He suffered from refractory atrial fibrillation despite a previous history of radiofrequency catheter ablation. Echocardiography revealed a 57-mm LAA aneurysm. Surgical ablation was performed through a right mini-thoracotomy, and the LAA aneurysm was obliterated with a 50-mm AtriClip (Atricure Inc., Westchester, OH, USA). However, follow-up computed tomography showed residual communication, so the patient is still taking warfarin. We report that a minimally invasive strategy for treating LAA aneurysm can be considered, but incomplete closure may occur; thus, caution is needed.

Myocardial Injury Following Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis: Risk Factor of Postoperative Myocardial Injury and Its Impact on Long-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND: As hypertrophied myocardium predisposes the patient to decreased tolerance to ischemia and increased reperfusion injury, myocardial protection is of utmost importance in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic valve stenosis (AS). METHODS: Consecutive 314 patients (mean age, 62.5+/-10.8 years; 143 females) with severe AS undergoing isolated AVR were included. Postoperative myocardial injury (PMI) was defined as 1) maximum postoperative creatinine kinase isoenzyme MB or troponin-I levels > or =10 times of reference, 2) postoperative low cardiac output syndrome or episodes of ventricular arrhythmia, or 3) left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 55% and decrease in left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction of more than 20% of the baseline value. RESULTS: There were 90 patients (28.7%) who developed PMI. There were five cases of early death (1.6%), all of whom had PMI. On multivariable analysis, the use of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution instead of blood cardioplegia (odds ratio [OR], 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63 to 5.77; p=0.001), greater LV mass (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.07; p=0.007), and increased cardiac ischemic time (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.22; p<0.001) were independent predictors for PMI. Patients who had PMI showed significantly inferior long-term survival than those without PMI (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: PMI occurred in a considerable proportion of patients undergoing AVR for severe AS and was associated with poor long-term survival. HTK cardioplegia, higher LV mass, and longer cardiac ischemic duration were suggested as predictors of myocardial injury.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in a Patient with Status Asthmaticus

Status asthmaticus is a rare, fatal condition, especially in children. Sometimes respiratory support is insufficient with a mechanical ventilator or medical therapy for patients with status asthmaticus. In such situations, early extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application is a useful method for treating refractory respiratory failure. We report on a case of a six-year-old, male child who underwent venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for refractory status asthmaticus.

Surgical Outcomes in Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND: The experience of a single-institution regarding surgery for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) was reviewed to evaluate the surgical outcomes and prognoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1990 to December 2009, thirty-four patients (28 male) underwent major pulmonary resection and lymph node dissection for SCLC. Lobectomy was performed in 24 patients, pneumonectomy in eight, bilobectomy in one, and segmentectomy in one. Surgical complications, mortality, the disease-free survival (DFS) rate, and the overall survival rate were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 26 months (range, 4 to 241 months), and there was one surgical mortality (2.9%). Six patients (17.6%) experienced recurrence, all of which were systemic. Eight patients died during follow-up; four died of disease progression and the other four died of pneumonia or of another non-cancerous cause. The three-year DFS rate was 79.2+/-2.6% and the overall survival rate was 66.4+/-10.5%. Recurrence or death was significantly prevalent in the patients with lymph node metastasis (p=0.001) as well as in those who did not undergo adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.008). The three-year survival rate was significantly greater in the patients with pathologic stage I/II cancer than in those with stage III cancer (84% vs. 13%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Major pulmonary resection for small cell lung cancer is feasible in selected patients. Patients with pathologic stage I or II disease showed an excellent survival rate after surgery and adjuvant treatment. Prospective randomized studies will be needed to define the role of surgery in early-stage small cell lung cancer.

Refractory Coronary Artery Spasm after Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Postoperative coronary arterial spasm is a rare but potentially fatal complication. A 51-year-old male patient with a history of a reactive ergonovine stress test coronary angiogram developed refractory coronary artery spasm after undergoing minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient was successfully managed with rapid implementation of intra-aortic balloon-pump counter pulsation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Refractory Coronary Artery Spasm after Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Postoperative coronary arterial spasm is a rare but potentially fatal complication. A 51-year-old male patient with a history of a reactive ergonovine stress test coronary angiogram developed refractory coronary artery spasm after undergoing minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient was successfully managed with rapid implementation of intra-aortic balloon-pump counter pulsation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Thoracic Endovascular Repair for Complicated Type B Acute Aortic Dissection with Distal Malperfusion

Successful thoracic endovascular repair for complicated Stanford type B acute aortic dissection in two patients is herein reported. The true lumen flow was immediately restored following stent graft deployment in the descending thoracic aorta with subsequent resolution of the distal malperfusion syndrome. One patient is doing well more than 15 months after surgery and another patient who was treated more recently is also doing well 7 months postoperatively.

Ventricular fibrillation by hypothermia in spinal fusion surgery: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 63-year-old man was scheduled for T12-S1 posterolateral spinal fusion surgery. The patient's vital signs were stable and there were no specific laboratory findings except for high triglycerides. In addition, echocardiography showed mild left ventricular hypertrophy, but normal left ventricular function, no regional wall abnormal contractility and normal ejection fraction. During the operation, a warming blanket and fluid warmer were applied. Near the end of the operation, the blood pressure waveform from the radial artery and pulse oxymeter became flat. Cardiotonics were administered and an infusion of intraoperative salvage of blood was administered using the cell-saver. However, the hemodynamic status of the patient deteriorated to severe hypotension, with ventricular fibrillation. The patient's vital signs with temperature became stabilized after warming for 4 hours using active warming methods, including a forced air warming blanket and warming of the fluids and blood components with a rapid infusion system.

Study on optimum dose of remifentanil in a combined pediatric anesthesia with sevoflurane during inguinal minor surgery

BACKGROUND: Remifentanil can maintain hemodynamic stability in pediatric anesthesia. However, it is also known to frequently have hemodynamic adverse effects including hypotension and bradycardia when large doses are used. Therefore, we aimed to find the optimum dose of remifentanil that can minimize the hemodynamic changes when it is used in combination with sevoflurane in pediatric anesthesia. METHODS: We studied 59 patients who were planned for under general anesthesia, aged between 2 and 8 years. They were randomly divided into two groups. The children in the Group S were anesthetized using sevoflurane 1 MAC and those in the Group R were given a combination of sevoflurane 0.5 MAC and remifentanil 0.1?0.2microg/kg/min. During anesthesia, the N2O was maintained at 50% in all subject children and the anesthesiologist recorded hemodynamic changes before, immediately after and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes after tracheal intubation. The total dose of remifentanil administered during the anesthesia was recorded after the completion of the anesthesia. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of blood pressure observed between the two groups. Significant difference of heart rate was observed in the Group R at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes after tracheal intubation as compared with the Group S. The average dosage of remifentanil administered during the surgery in the Group R was 0.121 +/- 0.057microg/kg/min. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric anesthesia, a combined administration of 0.5 MAC sevoflurane and remifentanil (0.12microg/kg/min) could achieve similar degree of the depth of anesthesia and hemodynamic stability as 1 MAC sevoflurane only.