Improved results with resection of extensive thoracoabdominal aneurysms.

Thoracoabdominal aneurysms are the most extensive of aortic aneurysms, and their correction is associated with the greatest number of complications. The introduction of new techniques has reduced the morbidity and mortality of surgery for these formidable lesions. A description of some of these techniques, as applied to 33 patients, is summarized, and the results presented.

One-stage segmental resection of extensive thoracoabdominal aneurysms with left-sided heart bypass.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe a technique for resection of extensive thoracoabdominal aneurysms, which the authors believe will lower morbidity and mortality rates. METHODS: In an effort to minimize the risk of spinal cord ischemia, we have used a combination of sided heart bypass (left atrium to left femoral artery) with local cooling of the intercostal and visceral arteries and segmental resection of the aneurysm. Segmental resection of the aneurysm allows perfusion of the spinal cord and abdominal viscera as the proximal anastomosis is completed and as each pair of intercostal arteries is reimplanted. An attempt is made to reimplant all pairs of intercostal arteries from T8 to L2. Before the intercostal or visceral arteries are reimplanted, that segment of aorta is cooled with cold crystalloid solution. Thus no segment of the aorta is exposed to warm ischemia for more than 30 minutes. Left-sided heart bypass allows the patient's temperature to be maintained between 35 degrees C and 37 degrees C. RESULTS: We have used this technique in 23 patients with types I and II (Crawford's classification) thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Seven patients (30%) had dissections or rupture associated with their aneurysms and underwent emergency operation. One of these seven patients became paraplegic after operation, for a 4.3% incidence of paraplegia. One patient died of multiple organ failure after operation. No patient had kidney failure requiring dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that our technique allows the operation to be performed in a deliberate manner with a low incidence of paraplegia and kidney failure.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in a private hospital: a decade's experience (1980-1989).

Despite refinements in elective resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms, morbidity and mortality rates for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) remain high. Between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989, we treated 208 patients with RAAAs whose mean age was 70 years. The overall mortality rate was 49.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that three factors correlated with predicted patient survival. Patients < 70 years old had a survival rate of 65.7% compared with a survival rate of 37.4% in patients > 70 years old (p < 0.001). Among "stable" patients (preoperative blood pressure consistently > 90 mm Hg), 88.9% survived compared with 40.9% of "unstable" patients (blood pressure < 90 mm Hg) (p < 0.001). Of the patients with free intraperitoneal rupture, 38.3% survived compared with a survival rate of 79.6% of patients with rupture confined to the retroperitoneum (p < 0.001). Despite a high overall mortality rate in patients with RAAAs, surgical intervention remains the only hope for survival. We continue to advocate an aggressive surgical approach in this group of patients.

Delayed postoperative bleeding from polytetrafluoroethylene carotid artery patches.

Patch angioplasty of the internal carotid artery after endarterectomy has been advocated as a means of decreasing early postoperative carotid artery thrombosis, as well as reducing the incidence of recurrent carotid artery stenosis. Noninfectious rupture of saphenous vein patches in the early postoperative period has been reported by several authors, leading others to advocate the use of prosthetic patches. This report describes three patients in whom delayed bleeding through needle holes along the suture lines in polytetrafluoroethylene cardiovascular patches occurred between 1.5 and 4 days after operation. All patients required reexploration to control bleeding, and acute respiratory distress from tracheal compression developed in one patient. Although delayed bleeding through needle holes in polytetrafluoroethylene cardiovascular patches appears to be rare, a word of caution may be in order before advocating routine patching of the carotid artery with this particular type of patch.

Septic complications after cardiac catheterization and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Septic complications after cardiac catheterization and percutaneous transluminal coronary artery angioplasty are distinctly uncommon. However, we have recently treated nine patients with sepsis and life-threatening complications after cardiac catheterization alone or after catheterization and subsequent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The common denominator in all patients was either repeat puncturing of the ipsilateral femoral artery or leaving the femoral artery sheath in for 1 to 5 days after the procedure. Two patients died as a direct result of their septic complications. One death occurred in a patient in whom bacterial endocarditis with congestive heart failure developed, and the other patient had a large retroperitoneal hematoma that became secondarily infected. Infected aneurysms that were successfully treated developed in three patients. Our study suggests that colonization of the needle tract by skin flora predisposes to septic complications if repeat arterial punctures are required or if a femoral artery sheath is left in place for more than 24 hours. Patients in whom sepsis develops after these procedures should be initially treated with antibiotics effective against gram-positive organisms. CT scanning or angiography should be considered for patients with persistent sepsis, septic emboli, and abdominal or flank pain. Infected aneurysms require resection or ligation because of the propensity of these aneurysms to rupture.

Post inferior myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture.

Mortality from ventricular septal rupture after myocardial infarction (MI) is high. Ventricular septal rupture after inferior MI is particularly associated with a high risk because of difficulty in diagnosis and surgical approach. These three case reports show how diagnosis and correction can be expedited by emergency transportation and color-flow echo-Doppler cardiography. Prompt ventricular septal repair can provide excellent survival and rehabilitation potential.

Left atrial myxoma: pulmonary infarction caused by pulmonary venous occlusion.

Atrial myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors. Typical complications include congestive heart failure, systemic emboli, or vasculitic type syndromes. Presented is a case of postpartum congestive heart failure in a 17-year-old girl. Echocardiography revealed a left atrial mass. Intraoperatively this mass was found to be extending into and occluding the left pulmonary veins. Left pulmonary infarction had occurred, and left pneumonectomy was required to completely remove the lesion. This case thus represents an unusual complication of left atrial myxoma.