Cardiac surgery in the octogenarian: evaluation of risk, cost, and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Nationwide, cardiac surgery is being performed more frequently in patients aged 80 years and older. METHODS: One hundred four octogenarians undergoing a variety of heart-lung procedures were prospectively studied between 1995 and 1998 for comparison with similar patients aged 65 to 75 years (n = 351). RESULTS: Octogenarians were more likely to be of female gender, and be nondiabetic than the younger group. The 30-day mortality rate for patients aged 65 to 75 years was 3.4% (12 of 351 patients), versus 13.5% (14 of 104) for patients aged 80+ (p = 0.0004), which ranged from 2% (1 of 50) in nonemergent coronary artery bypass grafting to 75% (3 of 4) in double valve procedures. Complications occurring more frequently in octogenarians were severe low output state, reintubation, and atrial fibrillation. Elders experienced a longer intensive care (69.2 versus 43.3 hours, p = 0.002) and postoperative stay (10.09 versus 7.45 days, p = 0.001), and were discharged to a skilled nursing facility more often than younger patients (47% versus 21.1%, p = 0.0001). Total direct costs were $4,818 higher in the octogenarian group (p = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Although emergency operations and complex procedures carried high risks for the octogenarian, the majority of these patients can be offered operation with short-term morbidity, mortality, and resource use that only modestly exceeds that of younger patients.

Less invasive Thoratec LVAD insertion: a surgical technique.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation is historically a complicated, invasive operation performed on critically ill patients and is often associated with bleeding and multiorgan morbidity. The purpose of this investigation was to devise an LVAD insertion technique, utilizing the concepts of less invasive cardiac surgery, that would be a less complicated operation, with low morbidity, and still meet all the goals of the standard procedure. We describe the technical details of a "less invasive" LVAD implantation.

Suturing and knotting techniques for thoracoscopic cardiac surgery.

The preceding description of E-CABG may seem excessively detailed, even redundant, for trained cardiac surgeons; however, the authors' extensive experience with training surgeons on endoscopic techniques suggests that, despite a high level of proficiency and dexterity that a surgeon may possess in open surgery, becoming equally proficient and dexterous in the endoscopic environment is not simple. Participating in an in-depth, systematic endoscopic microvascular surgery training program in a laboratory setting is essential before applying the previously described E-CABG techniques in humans. The E-CABG procedure is one of the most challenging endoscopic techniques. Successful completion of this procedure requires that the surgeon be motivated to succeed and willing to invest the time and effort necessary to develop the new skills. Also critical is the avoidance of the temptation to use devices and systems that promise to obviate the need to bother with learning these difficult endoscopic skills. Long term results of the minimally invasive approach remain to be defined. However, some early studies of port-access procedures are encouraging. To date, a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing conventional LAD bypass to E-CABG has not been conducted. Although most investigators believe that long term patency of the IMA to the LAD using either technique should be the same, this is as yet unproven. Nonetheless, the adaption of endoscopic skills by the cardiac surgeon will further advance the evolution of this specialty.

Importance of preoperative liver function as a predictor of survival in patients supported with Thoratec ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation.

UNLABELLED: Patient selection is crucial for the success of ventricular assist devices as a bridge to heart transplantation. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify preoperative markers for survival and end-organ recovery in patients having a ventricular assist device. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 32 severely ill patients with end-stage cardiac failure being mechanically bridged to heart transplantation with the Thoratec Ventricular Assist Device System (Thoratec Laboratories Corporation, Pleasanton, Calif) in a single center between 1984 and 1995. The preoperative cardiac index averaged 1.6 L/min per square meter with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 29 mm Hg. Because of a high incidence of hepatic or renal dysfunction, or both (total bilirubin: 3.5 +/- 6.2 mg/dL; creatinine: 2.0 +/- 1.3 mg/dL), biventricular support was used in most patients (28/32). A total of 30 preoperative and 4 perioperative variables were evaluated for their association with survival and liver recovery. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (59.4%) survived to transplantation and 13 died. All 19 patients undergoing transplantation were discharged alive with a 1-year survival of 94.4%. All patients without liver recovery died of multiorgan failure. Direct and indirect bilirubin measurements were the only significant predictors for survival to discharge (P = .036, .045); all other factors failed to show significance. As direct bilirubin levels increased (normal range, 3 times normal, and >3 times normal), patient survival decreased (82 %, 56%, and 33 %, respectively). In addition, bilirubin and liver enzyme levels before insertion of the assist device were significantly associated with liver recovery during support with the device. CONCLUSION: In our patient population with ventricular assist devices, liver function is the most predictive factor of patient survival in bridging to transplantation.

Neurologic complications of cardiac transplantation.

Between 1984 and 1989, orthotopic cardiac transplantations were done in 90 patients from 10 to 65 years of age for end-stage, refractory congestive cardiomyopathy. Two patients had had ischemic strokes 5 months and 18 years, respectively, before transplantation. Six patients (7%) suffered acute neurologic events perioperatively. Three patients suffered cerebral infarctions. In 1 case this occurred 10 days before transplantation--probably as a result of systemic hypoperfusion--with the placement of ventricular assist devices. Two others suffered infarctions 5 and 21 days, respectively, after transplantation, each of probable embolic origin. Two patients had an acute intracerebral hemorrhage 21 and 36 days, respectively, after transplantation; both were located within the basal ganglia and subcortical regions. Both patients had moderate to severe hypertension, and in 1, renal failure and a coagulopathy developed before hemorrhage. Tremor, seizures, and an altered level of consciousness developed in 1 patient as an apparent toxic reaction to cyclosporine treatment. Only 1 patient died as a result of the neurologic complication--of an acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Three patients recovered fully, 2 partially. Only the case of drug toxicity could be directly attributed to the transplantation procedure itself. We conclude that the risk of an acute neurologic insult with orthotopic cardiac transplantation is low but may result from drug toxicity, cerebral ischemia, or hemorrhagic mechanisms.

Bridge to cardiac transplantation: successful use of prosthetic biventricular support in a patient awaiting a donor heart.

A 33-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy was successfully "bridged" to cardiac transplantation, with the use of left and right prosthetic ventricles. The prostheses supported the pulmonary and systemic circulations for 87 h, at which time they were removed and orthotopic transplantation was performed. Heart transplantation is the only viable long-term therapy for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. In the case of sudden decompensation in a patient who requires cardiac transplantation, if a suitable allograft is not immediately available, a system of prosthetic ventricles can be used to provide hemodynamic support until a donor organ is located. In addition, the use of a prosthetic ventricle or ventricles does not preclude the possibility of recovery of ventricular function, an option that is removed if a total artificial heart is used.

Risk-benefit analysis of warfarin therapy in Hancock mitral valve replacement.

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the thromboembolic and/or major bleeding complications of 124 consecutive but nonrandomized patients who had only mitral valve replacement with the Hancock porcine xenograft between September, 1974 and June, 1979. These patients were treated either with or without anticoagulants. Four basic study groups were created: Group 1, warfarin; Group 2, aspirin; Group 3, no anticoagulants; and Group 4, warfarin and aspirin. Group 5 combined Groups 1 and 4 (warfarin and warfarin plus aspirin) and Group 6 combined Groups 2 and 3 (aspirin and no anticoagulants). The cardiac rhythm, history of embolism, and intraoperative findings of a thrombus in the left atrium were examined as risk factors for later thromboembolism . Follow-up time was 3.03 years (range 2.0 to 4.2 years). The embolic rate was not significantly different in any group (n = NS). In Groups 5 and 6 the embolic rate was 2.97 and 3.25 embolisms per 100 patient-years, respectively. Warfarin therapy resulted in significant major bleeding episodes, including two deaths (p less than 0.05). The number of patients with a history of a previous embolism, the finding of an intraoperative left atrial thrombus, or abnormal cardiac rhythm was insufficient to test embolic risk in the four treatment groups. We conclude that long-term warfarin therapy increases the risk of bleeding complications but may not significantly influence the incidence of thromboembolism arising from the Hancock porcine xenograft mitral valve. Other and larger studies are needed to confirm this last point.

Pharmacologic antagonism of beta adrenergic blockade in dogs. II. Hemodynamic effects of simultaneous intravenous infusion of isoproterenol and dopamine during chronic propranolol administration.

Chronic beta adrenergic blockade was induced in eight dogs with 240 to 360 mg of oral propranolol dailty for 2 to 6 weeks. Beta blockade was confirmed by a minimal heart rate response to isoproterenol, 0.06 micrograms/kg/min, in a pentobarbital-anesthetized, open-chest preparation. Subsequent to confirmation of beta blockade, hemodynamic effects of isoproterenol and dopamine were examined individually and in combination. A desirable balance of arterial pressure and cardiac output was achieved by combining isoproterenol, 0.2 to 2.0 micrograms/kg/min, with dopamine, 5 to 20 micrograms/kg/min. This combination increased mean arterial pressure (109 +/- 9 versus 81 +/- 7), cardiac output (4.3 +/- .5 versus 2.8 +/- .3 L/min) and heart rate 156 +/- 4 versus 120 +/- 7) (p less than 0.05). The hemodynamic effects of combined isoproterenol-dopamine were superior to the effects of either drug alone and suggest a method for effective circulatory support of man during chronic beta adrenergic blockade.

Pharmacologic antagonism of beta-adrenergic blockade in dogs. I. Hemodynamic effects of isoproterenol, dopamine, and epinephrine in acute propranolol administration.

Hemodynamic effects of isoproterenol, dopamine, and epinephrine were studied before and after acute beta-adrenergic blockade in 16 open-chest, anesthetized mongrel dogs. Beta blockade was induced with 1 mg. per kilogram of intravenous propranolol. Cardiac output measurements were obtained by thermal dilution, and pressure recordings were obtained in the right ventricle, pulmonary artery, left atrium, left ventricle, and aorta. Derived parameters included stroke volume, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances, and peak left ventricular dP/dt. In the presence of propranolol, epinephrine became a lethal drug in large doses and did not increase cardiac output in standard doses. Dopamine, in 25 to 50 mcg. per kilogram per minute doses, increased arterial pressure and systemic resistance; cardiac output was diminished compared with dopamine, 10 mcg. per kilogram per minute, prior to propranolol, as a result of increased resistance and decreased LV contractility. Isoproterenol, 0.6 to 0.9 mcg. per kilogram per minute, 15 to 20 times standard dosages, had moderately positive inotropic effects and increased cardiac output. Left ventricular systolic pressure with isoproterenol after propranolol was reduced when compared with effects of smaller doses prior to propranolol. These observations suggest that none of the catecholamines studied would be optimal for circulatory support in heart failure in the presence of propranolol. The present results define a pharmacologic basis for design of appropriate drug combinations for circulatory support in beta-blocked animals.

The clinical value of pediatric herniography.

We review the herniography experience at a community hospital. Twenty-nine patients, aged 4 weeks to 6 years, were examined. Herniography was most often helpful (25 of 29 patients) in determining the need for exploration of the clinically normal side in the patient with a unilateral hernia. By herniography, patients with a right inguinal hernia were found to have a left sac in 47% of cases; whereas with a clinical left inguinal hernia, the incidence of right sacs was 67%. Herniography was also useful (four of 29 patients) as a diagnostic aid in children with a history of hernia but inconclusive physical findings. In all patients explored, the roentgenographic findings were confirmed at surgery.