Contemporary surgical management of advanced end stage emphysema: an evidence based review.

Emphysema is a progressive unrelenting component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a major source of mortality and morbidity globally. The prevalence of moderate to severe emphysema is approximately 5% in Malaysia and likely to increase in the future. Hence advanced emphysema will emerge as a leading cause of hospital admission and a major consumer of healthcare resources in this country in the future. Patients with advanced disease have a poor quality of life and reduced survival. Medical therapy has been largely ineffective for many patients however certain subgroups have disease amenable to surgical palliation. Effective surgical therapies include lung volume reduction surgery, lung transplantation and bullectomy. This article is a comprehensive evidence based review of the literature evaluating the rationale, efficacy, safety and limitations of surgery for advanced emphysema highlighting the importance of meticulous patient selection and local factors relevant to Malaysia.

Surgery for isolated non-inflammatory chronic total occlusion of the left main coronary artery: a case report and literature review.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is a rare manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and defined by a total absence of antegrade blood flow to the left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex (Cx) system. Patients are at high risk of myocardial ischaemia as a sizeable area of myocardium is at risk and thus require urgent intervention. Surgery is the treatment of choice especially with CTO lesions as percutaneous coronary intervention has limited success with a high restenosis rate. We report a rare case of a young Chinese male who presented acutely with a myocardial infarction and discuss the aetiology and peri-operative technical considerations for successful surgery with this condition.

Patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome should have imaging of the subclavian artery and its branches prior to coronary artery bypass grafting.

Patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome have increased incidence of subclavian artery anomalies. We report a case of a patient with this syndrome undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Intra-operatively, the patient was found to have the left internal mammary artery arising from the second intercostal space and the decision was taken to use it as a free graft. As other anomalies of the subclavian arteries and their branches are recognised in patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome, we propose that imaging of the internal mammary arteries is carried out pre-operatively in such patients to assess the suitability for use as conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Diffuse coronary artery disease and dystrophic calcification of the radial artery--is there an association?

Arterial revascularization is an attractive surgical option in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). In the recent years, the radial artery (RA) has enjoyed resurgence in popularity as the preferred arterial conduit of choice after the internal mammary artery. Despite renewed interest in RA conduits, little is known of the prevalence of preexisting disease in this vessel, and in particular which patient subgroups are most affected, hence implications for long-term graft patency remain uncertain. We present our experience of three patients with diffuse CAD, found to have dystrophic calcification of their radial arteries intraoperatively. In all cases, the radial arteries were used, and the patients remain well and symptom-free. Soft tissue X-rays of the contra lateral forearm taken postoperatively demonstrated obvious calcification in the radial arteries in all patients. Diffuse CAD may reflect calcific disease in the RA. Suitability of a calcified RA as a conduit for CABG depends on long-term patency, which requires further evaluation.

Spontaneous aortic dissection in a 14-year-old adolescent.

We describe a case of a 14-year-old boy with a spontaneous aortic dissection. The diagnosis was suspected and confirmed with an urgent transthoracic echocardiogram and computer tomography (CT). He underwent an immediate surgery with tube graft replacement of the ascending aorta using a biological glue to reinforce the distal false lumen. Although the immediate postoperative course was uneventful, he continued to have a persistent distal false lumen, which was observed to be enlarging in size on close follow-up. Potential causes of this complication are discussed along with the various different etiologies for aortic dissection in this rare age group.

Repair of left coronary artery aneurysm, recurrent ascending aortic aneurysm, and mitral valve prolapse 19 years after Bentall's procedure in a patient with Marfan syndrome.

A 45-year-old female with Marfan syndrome had a Bentall's procedure performed 19 years ago. She presented with a 4-year history of gradually worsening dyspnea and decreasing exercise tolerance. Investigations revealed severe mitral valve prolapse, a left main stem coronary artery (LMSCA) aneurysm, and a recurrent aneurysm of the ascending aorta. The mitral valve was replaced and the aortic aneurysmal sac and the LMSCA aneurysm were then repaired by a modified Bentall procedure. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged home.

Massive pulmonary embolism due to late-onset heparin-induced thrombocytopenia following coronary artery bypass graft surgery: successful treatment with lepirudin.

Most cardiac surgical patients have had previous exposure to heparin for diagnostic or therapeutic interventions and hence have an increased susceptibility to developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) postoperatively. HIT is an immune-mediated adverse drug reaction that may be associated with limb or life-threatening thrombosis. Heparin cessation is a vital first step in treatment; however, alternative anticoagulant therapy is essential. Recombinant hirudin (lepirudin), a thrombin-specific inhibitor, provides safe and effective anticoagulation in such patients. We describe a case of delayed onset HIT with resulting massive pulmonary embolism postcardiac surgery that was successfully managed with lepirudin.

Utilizing a patent proximal vein graft stump in a case of coronary artery reoperation.

A patient was referred for coronary artery bypass reoperation. The right internal mammary artery (RIMA) was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and a left radial artery graft (RA) was sequentially anastomosed to the posterior descending artery (PDA) and left ventricular branches (LVB) of the right coronary artery (RCA). The patent proximal stump of an occluded saphenous vein graft was used as an interposition segment to lengthen the RA graft, thereby avoiding the need for a further anastomosis on the ascending aorta.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and left lower lobectomy simultaneously performed via a left postero-lateral thoracotomy.

A 75-year-old male with angina and a squamous carcinoma of the left lower lobe underwent a single-stage procedure for the treatment of these lesions. Through a left postero-lateral thoracotomy, a left lower lobectomy was performed with systematic nodal dissection including the subcarinal and paraaortic lymph nodes. A reversed saphenous vein segment was used to bypass the left anterior descending artery from the ascending aorta without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Traumatic aortic rupture during pregnancy.

A 29-year-old woman, in her third trimester of pregnancy, underwent emergency Caesarian section for placental abruption following a road traffic accident. Following transfer, an abrupt change in the diameter of the aorta was noted on CT scan. Aortography confirmed aortic rupture distal to the left subclavian artery and Dacron graft replacement of this segment was carried out, utilizing a left atrial to descending aorta partial bypass through a centrifugal pump. The mother is alive and well at 4 months follow-up.

Aortic valve replacement in osteogenesis imperfecta--technical and practical considerations for a successful outcome.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a connective tissue disorder that is rarely associated with isolated aortic insufficiency. Surgery on such patients carries high morbidity and mortality, which are mostly associated with bleeding tendencies secondary to increased tissue and capillary fragility. We report a 42-year-old male with isolated aortic incompetence, who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mechanical prosthesis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home on the seventh postoperative day (POD 7). He remains well on follow-up 6 months later. We highlight the importance of a meticulous surgical technique, together with a strategy for management of anticipated perioperative complications to ensure a successful outcome.

Malignant internal mammary lymph nodes during mobilization of the internal mammary artery.

Malignant internal mammary node involvement may occur with a primary neoplasm or with metastasis. The incidental discovery of malignant internal mammary nodes from an unknown primary origin has not been previously described. Cardiac surgeons should be aware of pathologic internal mammary artery (IMA) nodes and any abnormally enlarged nodes encountered in the course of IMA mobilization should be sent for histological examination. The incidental discovery of malignancy does not preclude the use of the IMA as a bypass conduit. Once a diagnosis of malignancy is established, meticulous exhaustive investigation may be indicated to identify the primary lesion and definitive treatment instituted if appropriate.