Variation in the histopathological features of patients with ascending aortic aneurysms: a study of 111 surgically excised cases.

BACKGROUND: Ascending aortic aneurysms (AA) are a common, though poorly understood medical condition. AIMS: To document the histological changes in a large series of human ascending AA, and to correlate these changes with clinical variables. METHODS: 111 ascending AA were excised at surgery over a 3 year period. Each aneurysm was received as a continuous ring of tissue. Sections were taken from the anterior, posterior, greater and lesser curvature of the aorta and graded in a semi-quantitative fashion for the degree of elastin fragmentation, elastin loss, smooth muscle cell (SMC) loss, intimal changes and inflammation. RESULTS: Mean patient age at surgery was 58.7 (15.6) years; there were 70 men and 41 women. 12 patients had Marfan syndrome, 34 (30.6%) had a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), while 71 (64.0%) had a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). Inflammatory cells were present in 28 cases (25.2%) and were confined to the adventitia. No particular region of the aortic circumference was more severely affected, however a BAV was associated with significantly less intimal change, and less fragmentation and loss of elastic tissue compared with patients with a TAV. Advanced age (>65 years), female gender and Marfan syndrome were all associated with more severe elastin degeneration and smooth muscle cell loss (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Results indicate a wide variation in the histological appearance in ascending AA, depending on patient characteristics. They suggest that the underlying aneurysm pathogenesis may also be highly variable; this warrants further investigation.

Predictors of operative risk for coronary bypass operations in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of ventricular dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary operations, as well as the prevalence of other risk factors in these patients, has been increasing. We identified the predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with ventricular dysfunction to permit more accurate evaluation of risk and to direct future strategies to improve outcomes. METHODS: Demographic, intraoperative, and outcome data were collected prospectively on 20,614 patients undergoing isolated coronary operations at our institution from 1982-1997. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify the independent predictors of mortality and low-output syndrome. RESULTS: Moderate ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction, 20%-40%) was noted in 4107 (19.9%) patients, and severe dysfunction (ejection fraction, <20%) was noted in 680 (3.3%) patients. Patients with worse ventricular function had an increasing prevalence of other risk factors with time. Mortality decreased between the 1982-1986 and 1987-1991 cohorts but did not decrease further. Low-output syndrome was less common in the 1992-1997 cohort than in previous years. The predictors of mortality were ventricular dysfunction, age, reoperation, year of operation, urgency, female sex, and left main stenosis. Low-output syndrome was predicted by ventricular dysfunction, reoperation, year of operation, female sex, urgency, extensive coronary disease, age, left main stenosis, and symptom class. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increasing prevalence and risk profile of patients with ventricular dysfunction, mortality rates and incidence of low-output syndrome declined with time. Patients with severe dysfunction were at greatest risk when facing reoperation or urgent operation. Earlier intervention and more aggressive preoperative optimization may improve outcomes in these high-risk patients.

Open hearts. The origins of direct-vision intracardiac surgery.

Only 50 years ago, operating under direct vision within the walls of the living human heart appeared to be a surgical problem with no great hope of solution. However, technologic advances soon provided the necessary tools, and a safe, reliable, and practical technique of performing surgery within the open heart evolved in a series of stages. First, W.G. Bigelow espoused applied hypothermia as a means of protecting the vital organs during direct cardiac repair--a technique that F.J. Lewis then applied in correcting an atrial septal defect under direct vision. This was followed by C.W. Lillehei's introduction and application of controlled cross-circulation, which enabled the correction of more complex cardiac lesions. Finally, the efforts of J.H. Gibbon and J.W. Kirklin led to the creation of a reliable cardiopulmonary bypass apparatus, which enabled the many subsequent achievements well recognized in the history of surgery.

Twelve weeks of coronary artery disease.

Osler said the components of the student spirit are humility, confidence, pride and hope. In this retrospective look at 12 weeks spent on a cardiology ward, medical student Paul Fedak recounts his experiences concerning a patient diagnosed with terminal coronary artery disease.