Anterior minithoracotomy: a safe approach for surgical asd closure & asd device retrieval

Abstract Objective: Midline sternotomy is the preferred approach for device migration following transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect. Results of patients operated for device migration were retrospectively reviewed after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect. Methods: Among the 643 patients who underwent atrial septal defect with closure device, 15 (2.3%) patients were referred for device retrieval and surgical closure of atrial septal defect. Twelve patients underwent device retrieval and surgical closure of atrial septal defect through right antero-lateral minithoracotomy with femoral cannulation. Three patients were operated through midline sternotomy. Results: Twelve patients operated through minithoracotomy did not require conversion to sternotomy. Due to device migration to site of difficult access through thoracotomy, cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic instability, respectively, three patients were operated through midline sternotomy. Mean aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were 28.1±17.7 and 58.3±20.4 minutes, respectively. No patient had surgical complication or mortality. Mean intensive care unit and hospital stay were 1.6±0.5 days and 7.1±2.2 days, respectively. Postoperative echocardiography confirmed absence of any residual defect and ventricular dysfunction. In a mean follow-up period of six months, no mortality was observed. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I without wound or vascular complication. Conclusion: Minithoracotomy with femoral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass is a safe-approach for selected group of patients with device migration following transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect without increasing the risk of cardiac, vascular or neurological complications and with good cosmetic and surgical results.

Safe and easy method with little modification in technique is useful for successful internal jugular vein cannulation on same side even after intra‑arterial puncture without using ultrasound guidance in adult cardiac patients.

Background: The modification in technique is useful for successful right-sided internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation on the same side even after intra-arterial puncture without using ultrasound guidance in adult patients. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in total 160 adult patient from American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade II to III patients male (n = 95) and female (n = 65) who underwent cardiac surgery where cannulation was done on right sided by triple lumen catheter (7 French) using Seldinger technique. Results: Majority of patients were cannulated successfully by Seldinger technique with single or double attempt except for five patients in which arterial puncture occurred. All five patients were cannulated successfully on the same side with this modified technique without any significant major complications. They were managed by application of blocker at the end of arterial needle puncture without removing it. In our routine practice, we were used to removing this needle and applying compression for few minutes to prevent hematoma formation after an arterial puncture. In this study, cannula was used as a marker or guideline for the relocation of IJV on the same side and recannulation was performed by changing the direction of needle on same side lateral to the previous one and without going towards the same direction to prevent the arterial puncture again. Conclusion: Most simple and useful modified technique for institutes where the complications are most common with trainee doctors and in hospitals where there is no advanced facility like ultrasound-guided cannulation available. By this modification, it will be time saving, very comfortable, and user-friendly technique with high success rate.

A comparative study of different modalities of treatment of liver abscess.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of conservative medical treatment versus minimal invasive surgical techniques like percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) and percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) in the management of liver abscess. Material and methods: All patients with liver abscess who were admitted in Surgery from October 2013 to June 2014 were included in this study and were exposed to four different treatment modalities. The patients were first treated with combination of medicine (Option-A). If they failed to respond to this treatment then they were subjected to ultrasound guided aspiration (Option -B). If Option - B failed they were exposed to pig tail catheter placement (Option -C). Final option was surgical drainage (Option - D) if it was rupture liver abscess and if the patient presented with co morbid conditions like septicaemia and peritonitis.PNA was repeated every third day if the cavity size had not declined to 50% of the original for up to three times. Persistence of cavity or of clinical symptoms was considered failure of treatment. Results: Out of 51 patients, 14 patients responded to drug therapy alone. 34 patients required ultrasound guided aspiration and Pig tail catheter placement and 3 patients required open surgical drainage. A combination of drug therapy and ultrasound guided needle aspiration was effective for majority of 83% patients Duration of hospital stay was similar in the two groups. Conclusion: Minimal surgical interventions like PCD and PNA are better than conservative treatment for the management of liver abscesses of size >5 cm, in terms of duration to attain clinical relief and duration for which parenteral antibiotics are needed. Pyogenic liver abscess are less common than amoebic liver abscess. Right lobe of the liver is most commonly involved in both types of abscesses. Radio-imaging techniques like ultrasonography (US) and computerized tomography (CT) are the modalities of choice for investigation purposes. Treatment modalities of these abscesses, first emphasizes on medical treatment, but if it is unsuccessful then only the surgical intervention should be taken up. Laparotomy and Drainage or Laparoscopic Drainage remains the standard of care for ruptured liver abscess.