Primary cardiac lymphoma in a heart transplant recipient.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is one of the most serious complications of chronic immunosuppression in transplant recipients. Involvement of the cardiac allograft or development of lymphoma in the heart is extremely rare. We report a primary cardiac lymphoma that developed about 14 months after the operation in a cardiac recipient. The patient presented with vague abdominal complaints. Multiorgan failure developed within a short period of time, and the patient died. The diagnosis of "diffuse large cell lymphoma of B cell type" was made on postmortem examination.

Coronary artery bypass and carotid endarterectomy: combined approach.

Controversy exists concerning the best management of patients with coronary artery and carotid artery disease. Between June 1994 and July 2000, 88 patients with coronary artery and carotid artery disease underwent combined coronary artery surgery and carotid endarterectomy. Demographics and perioperative variables of these patients were compared with those of 266 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery surgery. Patients in the combined coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy group were elderly patients (p=0.0001) with a higher prevalence of female gender (p=0.0001), left ventricular dysfunction (p=0.006), left main coronary artery disease (p=0.033), triple-vessel coronary artery disease (p=0.002), unstable angina pectoris (p=0.004), and history of prior neurologic events (p=0.0001). Three (3.4%) patients in the combined group and 5 (1.9%) patients in the isolated coronary artery surgery group (p=0.317) developed perioperative myocardial infarction. Two (2.3%) patients in the combined group developed a permanent postoperative neurologic event. Hospital mortality was 5.7% (5 patients) in the combined coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy group and 1.5% (4 patients) in the isolated coronary artery surgery group (p=0.046). Patients with concomitant carotid and coronary artery disease have an advanced arteriosclerosis. Although combined coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy is associated with a higher risk of death and perioperative myocardial infarction than simple coronary artery surgery, this procedure is a preferable approach for these high-risk patients and results in lower neurologic morbidity.

The effects of modified hemofiltration on inflammatory mediators and cardiac performance in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Cardiopulmonary bypass increases the blood levels of various immune mediators, thereby leading to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome, e.g. sepsis, with some hemodynamic alterations, such as vasodilatation, tachycardia, and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. Perioperative hemofiltration is one of the treatment modalities proposed to prevent this syndrome. Modified hemofiltration has been introduced recently by investigators who recommend that the former standard techniques are ineffective in eliminating the inflammatory mediators. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the modified technique on these mediators and on hemodynamic parameters. Forty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized into equal control and hemofiltered groups. The hemodynamic parameters, as well as blood samples, were taken before and after hemofiltration to assess blood concentrations of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and neopterin. The hemodynamic parameters and immune mediator levels did not differ between the two groups during the course of the study, except in the immediate postoperative periods, where cardiac output, cardiac index, and systemic vascular resistance values were significantly greater in the hemofiltered group while there were no differences in the immune mediators. The results of our study suggest that the effects of modified hemofiltration on immune mediators are still debatable. The improvement found in cardiac performance could be attributed to the prevention of hemodilution and hypervolemia.

Easy harvesting of radial artery with ultrasonically activated scalpel.

BACKGROUND: The radial artery was proposed and then abandoned as a coronary artery bypass graft in the 1970s. Development of new pharmacologic antispasmodic agents and minimally traumatic harvesting techniques has led to a revival of the use of the radial artery in coronary artery bypass surgery. Usually the main reasons for the spasm are thermal injury caused by electrocautery and traumatic harvesting technique. METHODS: In our technique an ultrasonically activated scalpel (Harmonic Scalpel; Ultracision Inc, Smithfield, RI) was used for radial artery harvesting without using hemostatic clips for vessel side branches. The patients in the study were divided into two groups of 10 patients each. In the first group radial arteries were harvested with this technique, and in the second group with hemostatic clips, scissors, and minimal electrocautery. Harvesting time, frequency of spasm, and use of hemostatic clips were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The Harmonic Scalpel decreased the harvesting time, frequency of spasm, and excessive use of hemostatic clips. CONCLUSIONS: Good coagulation capacity with markedly decreased use of hemostatic clips and minimized thermal injury offers the surgeon the ability to perform less traumatic, spasm free, and rapid radial artery harvesting.

Effects of flow types in cardiopulmonary bypass on gastric intramucosal pH.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between splanchnic perfusion and oxygen consumption, and flow types in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), by measuring gastric intramucosal pH. Twenty patients undergoing elective open-heart surgery were prospectively randomized to receive either pulsatile or nonpulsatile flow during CPB. Gastric intramucosal pH was measured using gastric tonometry. A flowmeter was used to measure the inferior caval vein flow. A catheter was inserted through the femoral vein to sample blood from the iliac vein. Systemic vascular resistance index, gastric intramucosal pH, inferior caval vein flow and arterial, inferior vena caval and iliac venous blood gases were recorded at different times. Gastric intramucosal pH decreased in all patients; only in the nonpulsatile group was this decrease statistically significant. After 45 min of CPB, the pH was 7.37 +/- 0.03 compared with the prebypass value of 7.48 +/- 0.04 (p = 0.00016). After weaning from CPB, the pH was 7.358 +/- 0.02 compared with the prebypass value (p = 0.000037). At 2 h post-operatively the pH was 7.416 +/- 0.025 (p = 0.02). Systemic vascular resistance index rose in all patients during bypass in both groups. These changes did not have any statistical significances and after weaning from bypass returned to prebypass levels. We conclude that nonpulsatile flow in CPB is associated with reduced gastric intramucosal pH and the measurement of intramucosal pH during open-heart surgery provides important information about splanchnic perfusion.

Techniques for retrograde cerebral perfusion in the treatment of aortic lesions via left thoracotomy.

Retrograde cerebral perfusion under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is a simple and useful adjunct in aortic surgery and is performed by many surgeons in the treatment of aortic arch pathology. In recent years, this technique has been recommended in the surgery of distal arch and proximal descending aortic lesions through a left thoracotomy inclusion. The aim of the technique is to increase the right atrial pressure for retrograde cerebral perfusion. After cooling using femorofemoral bypass, circulatory arrest is initiated. The right atrial pressure is increased to 20 mmHg, and retrograde cerebral circulation results. In this article, five patients with distal aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aortic lesions who were operated on by using this technique were evaluated. It is suggested that this technique can be used with a lateral thoracotomy approach that is suitable for procedures on a distal aortic arch and proximal descending aorta.

Complement consumption during cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison of Duraflo II heparin-coated and uncoated circuits in fully heparinized patients.

Heparin attachment to synthetic surfaces is one means of improving the biocompatibility of clinically used cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits. To assess the effect of heparin-coated circuits on complement consumption during CPB, 40 patients undergoing elective myocardial revascularization were prospectively randomized either to a group in which a completely Duraflo II heparin-coated circuit was used for perfusion (heparin-coated Group, n = 20 patients) or to a control group (n = 20 patients) in which an uncoated, but otherwise standard circuit was used. Full systemic heparinization was induced (activated clotting time, 480 seconds) in all the patients included in the study, regardless of which perfusion circuit was used. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of bodyweight, aortic crossclamp and extracorporeal circulation times. No patient had difficulty in weaning from bypass and the postoperative period was uneventful in all patients. Concentrations of C3 and C4 were found to be within the "normal' range in the prebypass period in both groups. There were no significant intergroup differences with regard to C3 and C4 consumption during CPB. We conclude that Duraflo II heparin-coated circuits have no effect in reducing complement consumption during CPB in fully heparinized patients.

Endoaneurysmorrhaphy for left ventricular aneurysm. Follow-up in 69 patients.

We reviewed the cases of 69 consecutive patients who underwent physiologic reconstruction of the left ventricular cavity with an endoventricular patch (endoaneurysmorrhaphy) after aneurysmectomy. Eight patients had isolated endoaneurysmorrhaphy, 60 patients had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, and 1 patient had concomitant closure of an atrial septal defect. The primary indications for operation were angina pectoris (New York Heart Association functional class I or II) in 42 patients and dyspnea (functional class III or IV) in 27 patients. The preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction evaluated with ventriculography was 28.95% +/- 7.27% (mean +/- standard error of the mean). The global perioperative mortality rate was 2.8%. Total follow-up was 139.3 patient-years. The late mortality rate was 4.3% per patient-year. A marked increase was found in the mean postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of the patients: 41.91% +/- 11.83%. Survivors were interviewed in person: their functional status was class I or II in 58 patients and class III in 3 patients. We conclude that left ventricular endoaneurysmorrhaphy results in satisfactory functional improvement and can be performed with relatively low early and late mortality rates.

Effect of pulsatile flow during cardiopulmonary bypass on thyroid hormone metabolism.

Changes in thyroid hormone levels during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are well documented. However, little is known about the effects of pulsatile flow during CPB on thyroid hormone metabolism. To examine the effect of flow pattern, a prospective study was carried out using 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Fifteen patients had pulsatile flow during CPB and 15, nonpulsatile flow. Serum samples were obtained preoperatively, during bypass, and at 2 and 24 hours postoperatively. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), free T4, and free T3 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. All measured hormone levels except free T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone decreased after the initiation of CPB. There were no differences in preoperative values between the two groups. However, levels of T3 and free T3 during and after CPB showed a significant difference between the two groups, with a smaller decrease in patients in whom pulsatile flow was used during bypass (p < 0.05). Thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone free T4 values showed no difference between the two groups at any sampling time. These data provide support for the use of pulsatile flow during CPB to establish a more physiologic state and maintain better thyroid hormone metabolism.

Aminophylline reversal of flunitrazepam sedation.

Seventeen otherwise healthy patients were given either intravenous physiologic saline, 5 ml, or aminophylline, 2 mg/kg, randomly 30 min after they were given intravenous flunitrazepam in doses adequate to produce sleep and sedation during spinal anesthesia for anorectal surgery. In the control group, mean sedation scores were 1.8 +/- 0.3 and 1.0 +/- 0.4 15 and 45 min after injection of placebo. Fifteen and 45 min after the injection of aminophylline the mean scores of sedation were 0.4 +/- 0.2 and 0.2 +/- 0.2, respectively. Even though the patients in both groups appeared to be equally alert and responsive after 75 min, Trieger tests revealed that psychomotor function was still significantly impaired in the control group 90 min after the injection of placebo. The amnesic effects of flunitrazepam were not affected by aminophylline. Aminophylline may be used to reverse the sedative and psychomotor effects of flunitrazepam.