Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

The role of surgery in the natural history of HIV disease is in evolution. A review was conducted of 2980 CABG operations taking place between January 1992 and January 1996 at St. Vincents Hospital; four of these patients were known to be HIV-positive prior to the operation. Preoperative work-up, operative course, and postoperative events were largely unremarkable. Only 1 of the 4 patients required rehospitalization within 30 days. Follow-up averaged 28 months (range 7-49 months). Three of four patients were in NYHA Class II or better at follow-up. Other reviews of CABG performed on HIV+ patients also indicate that, although CPB can be linked with immune suppression, there is no conclusive evidence of the acceleration of HIV into AIDS associated with CPB. In conclusion, due to the lack of controlled trials and large patient reviews, no firm recommendations about the effect of CPB on immunocompromized patients can be generated.

Surgical approach for renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the left atrium.

Metastatic tumor involvement of the left atrium via the pulmonary veins has been reported rarely. We report a 58-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins and the lower lobe of the left lung. An unusual surgical approach combining median sternotomy and videoscope-assisted thoracic surgery was used in resecting the atrial mass and performing a lower lobe resection.

Coronary pseudoaneurysm after angioplasty.

Coronary pseudoaneurysm is a complication of angioplasty occurring in 4-5% of cases. The likely etiology of the pseudoaneurysm is an iatrogenic dissection. Although increasingly identified, they are infrequently reported and no large series has been documented. The case of a 64-year-old patient with a post-PTCA coronary pseudoaneurysm that was treated surgically is presented. A review of the world's literature identifies stenosis as a major cofactor in operative intervention and raises the possibility that aneurysm formation promotes stenosis.

The role of the 'pericardial window' in AIDS.

BACKGROUND: The leading cause of pericardial effusion in urban hospitals is now AIDS-related pathologies. Clinically, these effusions are a diagnostic and management dilemma. In our institution, pericardial biopsy and operative drainage have become part of the diagnostic and management plan. Surgical intervention, however, has appeared to have little clinical impact. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients (n = 29) diagnosed as having AIDS who underwent "pericardial window" for pericardial effusions from 1986 to 1994. RESULTS: Fluid cultures and pericardial biopsy were performed in all cases. Twenty-four percent of culture or biopsy specimens were diagnostic (7 of 29 = 2 adenocarcinoma, 3 lymphoma, 1 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Mycobacterium tuberculosis). In 94% of cases, there was no change in clinical management based on operative results. In 4 of 7 cases, the patients were ineligible for the indicated therapy based on underlying illness and in 1 of 7, the patient was receiving appropriate therapy for previously diagnosed disease. Ventilatory complications were noted in 17%. Three patients did not wean from the ventilator and died shortly after the operation. Sixty-nine percent mortality was noted at 8 weeks post-operatively. One hundred percent mortality was noted at 22 weeks with 86% follow-up. CONCLUSION: AIDS-related pericardial effusion is associated with a grave prognosis. Operations for diagnostic benefit provide little practical information and are not justified.

Protection of ischemic heart from reperfusion injury by myo-inositol hexaphosphate, a natural antioxidant.

Myo-inositol hexaphosphate (phytic acid), a highly charged antioxidant, has been found to chelate metal ions such as iron and calcium and to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, .OH. This study examined the efficacy of this antioxidant and redox agent in attenuating myocardial reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously with three different doses of phytic acid (group 1, saline solution only, control; group 2, 1.5 mg/100 g; group 3, 7.5 mg/100 g; group 4, 15 mg/100 g) 30 minutes before excision of hearts. Isolated hearts were prepared by the Langendorff technique. Global ischemia was induced for 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. As expected, in group 1, reperfusion was associated with enhanced creatine kinase release, reduced coronary flow, poor recovery of ventricular function as evidenced by reduced left ventricular developed pressure and the first derivative of left ventricular pressure, and increased lipid peroxidation. Groups 3 and 4, but not group 2, demonstrated myocardial protection as evidenced by reduced creatine kinase release, improved left ventricular function and coronary flow, and decreased lipid peroxidation compared with the control group. These results suggest that potential use of this antioxidant in salvaging the heart from ischemic and reperfusion injury.

Isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode-array detection method for determination of lysine- and arginine-vasopressins and oxytocin in biological samples.

A simple, isocratic, sensitive (1 ng), and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method based on photodiode-array detection (PAD) is described for simultaneous quantitation of the bioactive peptides, lysine vasopressin (LVP), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXY). Acidified pig plasma and left ventricular (LV) tissue samples were first extracted with Sep-Pak C18 columns, and the bioactive peptides were eluted with methanol, then dried at 37 degrees C and reconstituted with HPLC mobile phase. The bioactive peptides were separated by HPLC on a Dynamax 3009-A C8 column with a mobile phase of 0.1% trichloroacetic acid-50 mM heptanesulfonic acid-30mM triethylamine-20% acetonitrile in water, pH 2.5 and identified with a Waters 990-PAD system (spectrum index plots in the range 200-400 nm). Standards of LVP, AVP and OXY and their mixtures showed a linear increase in the range 5 to 100 ng and were eluted at 6.1, 6.9 and 4.6 min, respectively. Spectrum analysis showed a distinct absorption peak at 280 nm, corresponding to peptide bonds. The reproducibility of the method coefficient of variation for standards is 6.9, 5.8 and 4.7% for LVP, AVP and OXY, respectively. In plasma and tissue it is much higher: 12.9% (LV tissue) and 18.6% (plasma) for LVP. Pig plasma contains negligible amounts of AVP and OXY; LVP is much higher (0.28 +/- 0.19 ng/ml). In pig tissue, LVP predominates (6.95 ng/g wet weight) compared to AVP (1.45) and OXY (1.50). Spectral analysis is necessary to identify the bioactive peptide peaks among interfering substances and to increase the sensitivity four-fold. The method described here is useful for the simultaneous determination of LVP, AVP and OXY in the nanogram range and can be extended to picogram levels by employing PAD spectral analysis techniques.

Use of the variable-length intraluminal sutureless graft.

From August 1987 to May 1988 we treated 4 patients with acute ascending aortic dissections with a variable-length intraluminal aortic prosthesis. This operation uses profound hypothermic circulatory arrest and represents a refinement of existing techniques. There was no mortality, and morbidity was minimal. Modifications of this technique can be used in performing proximal aortic root reconstruction with a composite valved conduit. The use of a variable-length intraluminal prosthesis and hypothermic circulatory arrest is illustrated. This is a safe and useful technique in select cases of acute ascending aortic dissection.

Reduction of myocardial injury with verapamil before aortic cross-clamping.

The effect of verapamil administered before aortic cross-clamping was assessed in 40 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Myocardial protection consisted of cold blood potassium cardioplegia, topical ice slush, and moderate (28 degrees C) systemic hypothermia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group 1 (18 patients) received verapamil (0.1 mg/kg up to 10 mg) intravenously three to five minutes before aortic cross-clamping; group 2 (22 patients) did not (control). Myocardial injury was assessed by cumulative release of the cardiac-specific isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) after release of the aortic cross-clamp. Release of CK-MB was significantly lower in the verapamil group (44.9 +/- 6.2 versus 72.2 +/- 9.0 IU at 24.5 hours, p = 0.005). Calculated total infarct size was also lower in the verapamil group (6.0 +/- 0.9 versus 8.9 +/- 1.0 g-Eq, p = 0.035). Individual CK-MB release curves showed either one or two peaks. The two-peak pattern was more frequent in control patients (18 of 21 control patients versus 6 of 18 verapamil patients, p = 0.001) and was associated with a larger infarct size. Atrioventricular pacing was not required in any verapamil patient, but was needed in 1 control patient. We conclude that verapamil administered before aortic cross-clamping protects against myocardial injury during coronary artery bypass grafting with no increase in the incidence of atrioventricular block.

Effect of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxides on cardiac isoenzymes.

We report here the effect of oxygen free radicals, OFR (superoxide, O2-; hydroxy, OH; t-butylhydroperoxide, H2O2) lipid peroxides (malondialdehyde, MDA), free radical scavengers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, allopurinol) and generator (ferrous chloride) antioxidants (ascorbate, glutathione) spin traps (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyroline-N-oxide, N-t-butyl-L-pheny nitrone) on the cardiac isoenzyme (CK, CK-MB, LDH, LD1) concentrations in the sera of patients with acute myocardial infarction. CK-MB and LD1 were rapidly and completely inactivated by O2- (50 nmol/ml), OH (1 nmol/ml) and MDA (0.6 microM). Butylhydroperoxide (600 microM), and ferrous chloride (200 microM) selectively inhibited CK-MB. The free radical scavengers, antioxidants and spin traps all had minimal effects, and H2O2 had none.

Single-source outbreak of Candida tropicalis complicating coronary bypass surgery.

Candida tropicalis was isolated from the sternal wounds of eight coronary bypass patients from 18 to 89 days postoperatively; infections were limited to soft tissue in five patients but involved the sternum in three patients. Analysis of surgery records implicated one individual as the potential source of the yeast; this was confirmed by microbiological studies of fingertips and nasopharynx cultures of all personnel in contact with these patients. Only the suspect nurse, then acting as a scrub nurse and not as a circulator, infected the eight patients. Her removal from the cardiac team terminated the cluster outbreak.

Serial changes in renal function in cardiac surgical patients.

Cardiopulmonary bypass is widely believed to be injurious to renal function. The low incidence of renal dysfunction with modern techniques of bypass led us to reexamine this concept by monitoring urine output and creatinine clearance in 18 adult patients undergoing nonpulsatile, hemodilution cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery bypass grafting (12 patients) or valve procedures (6 patients). Samples were taken before, during (mean duration of bypass, 105 +/- 26 minutes [+/- standard deviation]), and every two hours after bypass for 24 hours. Urine output (42 +/- 37.7 mL/h) and creatinine clearance (57 +/- 40.4 mL/min) were surprisingly low in the period before cardiopulmonary bypass (all values normalized to a body surface area of 1.73 m2). Urine volumes rose to 305 +/- 149.6 mL/h and creatinine clearance to 252 +/- 176.9 mL/min during bypass and decreased to stable values after eight hours in the postoperative unit (urine output, approximately 60 mL/h, and creatinine clearance, approximately 75 mL/min). Renal dysfunction did not develop in any patient. Nine patients who required loop diuretics for low urine output 18 hours postoperatively had a sustained increase in both urine output and creatinine clearance lasting up to six hours. We conclude the following: modern techniques of cardiopulmonary bypass are not injurious to renal function; urine output and creatinine clearance are decreased before cardiopulmonary bypass, probably because of preoperative dehydration; and loop diuretics in the postoperative period increase both urine output and creatinine clearance for as long as six hours after administration.

The risks and benefits of thrombolytic therapy in acute aortic and mitral prosthetic valve dysfunction: report of a case and review of the literature.

A patient with acute thrombosis of a St. Jude mitral prosthesis was treated with streptokinase with initial success. Subsequent recurrent thrombosis and embolism prompted operative revision. Because the use of thrombolytic agents in this setting is somewhat controversial, we searched the literature for all reports of aortic or mitral prosthetic valve dysfunction treated this way. The cases of 58 patients treated 62 times were reviewed for efficacy of therapy and morbidity. Thrombolytic therapy may be useful in patients with prosthetic valve thrombosis causing critical hemodynamic compromise. It is frequently the only treatment needed. Further, it may help reduce operative risk for those patients in whom complete resolution is not possible. The incidence of systemic embolism is 18%, however, neurological events are usually limited and transient.

Hemothorax associated with endometriosis.

Fifteen cases have been reported of pleural effusion associated with endometriosis. Common characteristics that may aid in the diagnosis are discussed and an additional case is presented.

Global left ventricular impairment and myocardial revascularization: determinants of survival.

Of 2,782 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from 1970 through 1979, 196 exhibited severe global impairment of left ventricular (LV) wall motion preoperatively (LV score, greater than or equal to 15; ejection fraction, less than 0.40 in all patients and less than 0.30 in 67%). The initial 89 patients (Group 1) underwent CABG without potassium chloride cardioplegia. The subsequent 107 patients (Group 2) were given potassium chloride cardioplegia intraoperatively. Group B patients received more grafts per patient (3.1 versus 2.5; p less than 0.001) and were completely revascularized more often (72.9% versus 58.4%; p less than 0.05). Operative mortality was lower in Group B (3.7% versus 12.4%; p less than 0.025), and 5-year cumulative survival was better in Group B (88.8% versus 63.9%; p less than 0.0001). Preoperative congestive heart failure resulted in higher operative mortality (14.3% versus 4.5%; p less than 0.05) and lower 5-year survival (65.0% versus 81.8%; p less than 0.02). Complete revascularization led to higher 5-year survival (82.2% versus 66.0%; p less than 0.02) but did not alter operative mortality significantly (6.9% versus 9.1%). Potassium chloride cardioplegia may influence operative survival favorably by reducing perioperative myocardial infarction in patients with severe LV dysfunction. Long-term survival relates to completeness of revascularization and severity of congestive heart failure as variables independent of methods of myocardial protection.

A life table and Cox regression analysis of patients with combined proximal left anterior descending and proximal left circumflex coronary artery disease: non-left main equivalent lesions (CASS).

Combined proximal left anterior descending and proximal left circumflex artery stenoses greater than or equal to 70% have been referred to as "left main equivalent" lesions. We compared the survival rates of medically treated patients who have this type of coronary anatomic characteristics with the survival rates of patients who have left main coronary artery stenoses greater than or equal to 70% by use of a stratified life table approach and a Cox regression model. Comparison of the patients with left main coronary artery stenoses with those who have left main equivalent lesions by use of life table analysis and three different calculations of patient exposure time revealed a poorer prognosis for the patients who had left main coronary artery disease (p less than or equal to .04 for all three methods). The stepwise Cox analysis also determined that patients who had left main artery stenoses had a significantly poorer prognosis than patients who had left main equivalent coronary disease (p = .002), even after consideration of important baseline variables known to affect survival rates. We then compared the patients who had combined proximal left anterior descending and proximal left circumflex artery disease with patients who had combined stenoses greater than or equal to 70% in the nonproximal left anterior descending stenosis influenced survival rates. The 5 year to determine if location of the left anterior descending stenosis influenced survival rates. The 5 year survival rate was not as high for the patients who had proximal left anterior descending artery disease (55% vs 70%, p = .001). In conclusion, combined proximal left anterior descending and proximal left circumflex artery disease identifies a high-risk (as determined by angiography) patient subset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Late patency of the internal mammary artery as a coronary bypass conduit.

From January, 1972, through August, 1977, 472 patients had internal mammary artery (IMA) coronary bypass, of which 100 were double-IMA bypasses. We selected those patients having a widely patent IMA one year postoperatively who then had a second catheterization 49 to 105 (mean, 64) months following operation. None of the 93 patients who met these criteria was specifically recalled for this study; they all had follow-up catheterizations for multiple other reasons. All of the 91 left IMA and 22 right IMA bypasses (total, 113) were patent at late catheterization, but 1 right IMA was diffusely narrowed. One left IMA had acute angulation with 50% stenosis proximal to the distal anastomosis, which was unchanged over the follow-up interval. There were 100 patent saphenous vein bypasses at one year and 87 at late catheterization. Late closure of coronary bypass grafts is secondary to progression of coronary disease, atherosclerosis of the bypass conduit, or intimal proliferation. Because we have not encountered the latter two causes of conduit closure, IMA grafts remain our graft of choice for nonemergent operations in patients under 60 years of age having revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery system.

Coronary artery stenosis following aortic valve replacement and intermittent intracoronary cardioplegia.

From July, 1977, to July, 1980, intermittent cold blood potassium cardioplegia was used in 208 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. Aortic root injection of the cardioplegic solution at 10 degrees C was followed every 20 to 30 minutes by infusions of the solution through Silastic cannulas sutured in the coronary orifices or reinserted with each injection. Symptoms of myocardial ischemia developed in 6 patients 3 to 30 months postoperatively. Coronary angiography confirmed new stenoses of the left orifice (3 patients), left main trunk (1 patient), left anterior descending coronary artery (2 patients), circumflex coronary artery (1 patients), and right orifice (3 patients). Four patients underwent saphenous vein grafting procedures, with 2 deaths; 2 patients refused reoperation. A seventh patient with 80% stenosis of the circumflex coronary artery and a posterolateral myocardial infarction died 2 months after double-valve replacement. Intermittent cold blood potassium cardioplegia instead of continuous perfusion did not prevent coronary arterial injury. Injuries occurred in the distal coronary arteries as well as the orifices and were not prevented by withdrawal of the cannulas between injections. Tight-fitting cannulas and high-pressure injection should be avoided. A careful search for coronary arterial injury should be made in all symptomatic patients following aortic valve replacement.

[Comparison of the cumulative survival among patient groups with a left main coronary artery lesion after surgical and therapeutic treatment]. / Sravnenie sovokupnoi vyzhivaemosti sredi grupp patsientov s porazheniem glavnogo stvola levoi koronarnoi arterii posle operativnogo i terapevticheskogo lecheniia.

In order to evaluate survival patterns in patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease, 1492 patients with LMCA disease admitted to the U. S. Collaborative Study on Coronary Artery Surgery (CASS) were followed up. Of the 1492 patients, 1183 (79%) underwent coronary artery bypass (CABG) with an operative mortality of 4.2% and an average of 2.7 grafts/patient inserted. Allocation to surgery was by patient and physician preference and not random. Surgical patients generally had more severe angina, a higher prevalence of beta blocker usage, worse ventricular function and more severe LMCA stenosis than medically treated patients. Overall (4 years) survival of the surgical group was 88% compared to 63% in the medical group (p less than 0.001). Other independent predictors of mortality included angiographic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction score, age, % LMCA stenosis, hypertension, dominance, and presence of significant right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis greater than or equal to 50%. CABG was not shown to significantly improve survival in women, in LMCA patients with left dominant circulation, in LMCA patients with non-diseases dominant or balanced RCA circulation or in LMCA patients with greater than or equal to 50% RCA stenosis but good LV function. These data indicate that CABG prolongs life in most patients with left main coronary artery disease, particularly those with severe LMCA narrowing or severe LV dysfunction, however, subgroups of LMCA patients are identifiable who may fare with medical treatment alone.