Right Atrium Primary Cardiac Lymphoma Causing Heart Failure.

Background Patients with primary cardiac tumors may present with symptoms based on the size and location of the tumor. Symptoms may include congestive heart failure secondary to intracardiac obstruction, systemic embolization, arrhythmias, and constitutional symptoms. Case Description A patient presented with new onset atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Workup including open surgery revealed a primary cardiac lymphoma. Conclusion Cardiac tumors present with a variety of symptoms and are best evaluated by echocardiogram, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Tissue diagnosis is necessary. Although primary cardiac lymphoma is rare, long-term survival after chemotherapy and rituximab is superior to other cardiac malignancies.

Risk stratification and prognostic effects of internal thoracic artery grafting during acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Surgeons are occasionally requested to perform coronary artery bypass grafting during acute myocardial infarction. We intended to test the safety of coronary artery bypass grafting and internal thoracic artery grafting early after myocardial infarction using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. METHODS: The database was queried for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting less than 24 hours after a myocardial infarction from 2002 to 2008. By using multivariable logistic regression and classification trees, risk models were created to stratify this group of patients. The independent prognostic effect of internal thoracic artery grafting was examined using standard risk-adjusted mortality comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 44,141 patients were identified, with an overall operative mortality of 7.9%. Cardiogenic shock occurred in 21%, percutaneous coronary intervention within 6 hours before surgery was performed in 11%, myocardial infarction within 6 hours before surgery occurred in 37%, preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 50%, and internal thoracic artery grafting was performed in 79% of the patients. Myocardial infarction in less than 24 hours was associated with higher operative mortality (odds ratio, 3.25) and major morbidity (odds ratio, 2.54). Emergency/salvage status (odds ratio, 6.43), age more than 80 years (odds ratio, 4.07), dialysis (odds ratio, 3.08), and cardiogenic shock (odds ratio, 2.79) were independent mortality predictors. Patients with nonemergence salvage status, absence of cardiogenic shock, creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL, and age less than 70 years represented 48% of the population and exhibited a lower mortality rate of 2%. Internal thoracic artery grafting was independently associated with a lower risk of mortality (odds ratio, 0.52; P < .0001) and did not seem to compromise outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting less than 24 hours after myocardial infarction carries a higher operative risk but can be performed safely in selected patients. Although confounding variables may exist, internal thoracic artery grafting was associated with improved outcomes. Internal thoracic artery use in this setting is less than ideal, and taking time to harvest internal thoracic artery grafts in patients with acute myocardial infarction might be encouraged.

A short history of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons national cardiac database: perceptions of a practicing surgeon.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database was developed as an initiative to standardize nationwide outcomes in adult cardiac surgery, and it has currently expanded into general thoracic and congenital cardiac surgery databases. For more than 19 years since its inception, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database has grown as a powerful source of risk-adjusted outcomes, large scale scientific contributions, and invaluable information for healthcare policy making. This review article provides a snapshot of the genesis, history, growth, and scientific contributions of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database to stimulate the participation of thoracic surgery programs and maximize its future use for investigational purposes.

An unusual presentation of spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to talc-induced pulmonary granulomatosis.

Talc-induced pulmonary granulomatosis is an unusual condition resulting from the intravenous administration of medications intended for oral use. A patient with this condition who presented with a spontaneous tension pneumothorax is reported. Although the radiographic findings of a diffuse reticulonodular pattern are typical, this patient was found to have diffuse, small cavitary pulmonary nodules. Surgeons should be aware of this rare condition and should have a low threshold for performing a thoracoscopic lung biopsy.

Management of acute infrarenal aortic occlusion secondary to type A dissection.

Infrarenal aortic occlusion is a well described complication of type A aortic dissection that carries a significant mortality rate. A technique of immediate reperfusion of the lower extremities through an axillo-bi-femoral graft is described in 2 patients with good results.