How to introduce a program of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery? The experience of the CAPIO group.

The traditional model of hospital care has been challenged by the development of a care-management process that allows early patient autonomy (outpatient surgery, Enhanced Recovery after Surgery). Hospitalization has been transformed in response to this development, based on innovative medical and organizational strategies. Within a surgical service, the deployment of these processes requires the creation of a support structure, with re-organization of existing structures, analysis of potential obstacles, implementation of management tools, and ongoing follow-up of organizational function, clinical results, organizational and patient satisfaction. These will ultimately assess adaptation of structures within these new organizations. In this article, we share our insights based on experience gained over the past six years by surgical teams of the CAPIO group.

Bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt.

BACKGROUND: Bidirectional superior vena cava-pulmonary shunt is widely used as an interim palliation for patients with univentricular hearts. Bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt, as an alternative approach of partial Fontan circulation, may offer the advantage of performing the complete Fontan circulation more easily due to the already constructed inferior vena cava lateral tunnel. METHODS: We used bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt in 2 patients. Contraindications to a complete Fontan circulation were due to, respectively, a volume-overloaded systemic ventricle and an irregular pulmonary arterial tree. RESULTS: Postoperative courses were uneventful. There were no significant pleural effusions. Transcutaneous oxygen saturations were 77% and 78%. Pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratios were 0.57 and 0.63. A complete Fontan circulation was safely performed 8 and 12 months later, without any "Fontan-related" complications. CONCLUSIONS: Bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt can be useful in selected patients with univentricular hearts, although its place in the field of "partial Fontan operations" cannot be determined as yet.

[Pulmonary arborization abnormalities in complex forms of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect: unification, unifocalization and complete repair]. / Défauts d'arborisation pulmonaire des formes complexes d'atrésie pulmonaire à septum ouvert:unification, unifocalisation et réparation complète.

The presence of intrapulmonary arborization abnormalities in patients with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect remains a therapeutic challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the value of procedures of pulmonary unifocalization, i.e. pulmonary unification, remodelling of the central pulmonary arteries and creation of an unifocal pulmonary blood supply, thereby resulting in complete repair. From october 1989 to october 1995, 27 unifocalization procedures were performed in 19 patients. The number of pulmonary segments dependant on non-communicating systemico-pulmonary collaterals was 14.7 +/- 5.4 per patient. The number of non-communicating systemico-pulmonary collaterals was 3.4 +/- 1.2 per patient. The Nakata index was 71 +/- 83 mm2/mm2. There were 3 deaths after an unifocalization procedure (mortality rate 15.8%). In 12 patients (63.2% of cases) a pulmonary arterial tree compatible with a complete repair was obtained. Eight complete repairs, with no mortality, following one or several pulmonary unifocalization procedures with a right to left ventricular systolic pressure ratio of 0.61 +/- 0.12 (range 0.4 to 0.75). Pulmonary unifocalization increases the recruitment of pulmonary segments and thereby the possibilities of complete correction in forms of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and arborization abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial tree.

Biatrial inferior transseptal approach to the mitral valve.

The standard surgical approach to the mitral valve is via a longitudinal incision in the left atrium. This is applicable in the vast majority of patients. In cases of small left atrium with poor exposure the standard incision may be modified. We report a biatrial inferior transseptal approach that we have employed in 25 patients over a 2-year period. The technique is simple to execute and is without risk to surrounding structures.

[Accessory mitral tissue responsible for left ventricular outflow obstruction. Reports of 7 cases]. / Tissu mitral accessoire responsable d'une gêne à l'éjection du ventricule gauche. A propos de 7 cas.

The authors report the medico-surgical experience of Marie Lannelongue hospital of a rare condition: accessory mitral valve tissue. Seven patients aged 2 to 28 years (average: 8.7 years) had left ventricular outflow obstruction due to accessory mitral valve tissue. The diagnostic was not obvious clinically and was based on the association of echocardiographic and angiographic data. This condition was associated with another intra-cardiac malformation in 6 of the 7 patients. Surgical treatment included resection of the accessory mitral valve tissue by an aortic or combined aorto-left atrial approach, together with correction of the associated intracardiac abnormality. The postoperative results were excellent with the regression of the ventriculo-aortic pressure gradient and the physiological integrity of the mitral valve.