Natural internal banding in adult patients with a large ventricular septal defect and a preserved pulmonary vascular system.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophied anomalous muscle bands (AMBs) in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) may develop in the context of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and limit persistent pulmonary overflow. In adult patients with a large VSD, persistent AMBs in the RVOT therefore can simulate the role of an externally placed pulmonary artery band. We termed such alterations natural internal bands (NIBs). Our goal was to establish the morphologic nature of the obstructive muscular lesions of the RVOT in patients with a large VSD. METHODS: Patients who underwent operations for a large VSD in our center, which has a high volume of adult patients with congenital defects, were retrospectively reviewed, and the nature of the NIBs in these patients was documented. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization evaluations preoperatively and at postoperative month 3. Histopathologic examination of the AMBs was performed. RESULTS: Of 96 adult patients who underwent operations for a large isolated VSD (mean defect size, 16.9 ± 3.5 mm), 16 patients had a hemodynamically significant NIB. Two different patterns of obstruction were found. Ten of the 16 patients revealed an os infundibulum morphology, and 6 patients revealed systolic bulging of the conal septum. Four of the patients with os infundibulum also had classic tetralogy-type septal malalignment. The mean peak systolic gradient on the RVOT was 56.5 ± 17.2 mm Hg and 53.6 ± 12.3 mm Hg in the patients with os infundibulum and in the patients with systolic bulging of the conal septum, respectively. Surgical repair of the VSD was completed successfully in all patients. Resection of the os infundibulum was performed concomitantly in patients with os infundibulum. At the third postoperative month, the mean peak systolic gradient was 16.8 ± 3.5 mm Hg in patients with os infundibulum and 26 ± 5.9 mm Hg (range, 20-35 mm Hg) in patients with systolic septal bulging. CONCLUSIONS: Some mechanisms in adult type VSDs are essential for protecting the pulmonary vasculature. We tried to review these protective mechanisms: hypertrophied AMBs and NIBs.

Hybrid repair of an acute type B dissection with subclavian-to-subclavian bypass and stent-grafting.

Hybrid repair of an acute type B aortic dissection with endovascular stenting and aortic arch debranching is an acceptable treatment in complicated type B dissection. We present the case of a 71-year-old man presenting with acute type B aortic dissection and concomitant aneurysm of the distal aortic arch, who underwent an uneventful hybrid procedure, which involved subclavian-to-subclavian bypass before endovascular stent-graft placement to the aortic arch.

Blood cyst of the right ventricle presenting as recurrent high fever and chills in an adult.

Blood cysts are uncommon primary cardiac tumors, frequently encountered in pediatric patients, but extremely rare when found in adults. Due to the considerable risks of embolization and obstruction of the blood flow, surgical removal is preferred. Herein, we report a case of blood cyst of the right ventricle, presenting as recurrent fever and chills in an adult patient.

Erdosteine ameliorates lung injury induced by transient aortic occlusion in rats.

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the protective effect of erdosteine on lung injury induced by ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) of the lower extremities of rats. Wistar albino rats (n = 21) were divided into three groups. In the IR group (n = 7), the aorta was cross-clamped for two hours, followed by one hour of reperfusion. In the erdosteine group (n = 7), animals were pretreated with erdosteine 100 mg/kg daily via gastric lavage, starting three days before aortic occlusion. In the control group (n 5 7), the lungs were removed and blood samples were taken immediately after sternotomy. No treatment was given in the control and IR groups. After both lungs were removed, biochemical parameters were measured and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL ) assessment was made. MDA levels and MPO activities in the lung tissue were significantly reduced in the erdosteine group compared to the IR group. BAL assessment revealed decreased neutrophil counts in the erdosteine-treated group. Pretreatment of animals with erdosteine significantly attenuated transient aortic occlusion-induced remote lung injury, characterised by leukocyte accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The results suggest that erdosteine may be beneficial in amelioration of lung injury caused by IR.