Subclavian and innominate artery trauma: a recent experience with nine patients.

This report summarizes a recent 24-month experience with 9 patients who were treated for injuries to the innominate or subclavian arteries at a large urban hospital. All patients were male, age range was 17 to 47 years, and mean age was 29 years. The mechanism of injury included major arterial avulsions sustained during cancer operations at the base of the neck (2), blunt injuries secondary to motor vehicle accidents (2), stab wounds (1), and gunshot wounds (4). The vessels injured included the right subclavian artery (2), the innominate artery (1), and the left subclavian artery (6). Associated major venous injuries were seen in 4 cases (44%) and major non-vascular injuries in 5 cases (55%). Arterial exposure involved a variety of incisions, including left thoracotomy, median sternotomy, clavicular resection, or a combination of these. Arterial continuity was restored in all cases using primary repair (2), autogenous saphenous vein graft (6), or prosthetic graft (1). Venous injuries were treated by ligation (2) or lateral venorraphy (2). One patient died unexpectedly on the tenth postoperative day for an overall mortality of 11 percent. Three of the 8 survivors sustained nonfatal complications (38%). All 8 survivors had patent arterial repairs at the time of hospital discharge, and 5 of 8 survivors were available for follow-up with intravenous digital subtraction angiography (DSA), revealing arterial repair patency in all.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Repair of right ventricular free wall defect with a pedicled muscle flap.

A unique case of repair of a full-thickness cardiac defect and simultaneous reconstruction of an infected median sternotomy wound is presented. A right ventricular defect, 6 cm in diameter, was closed with a fascia lata graft and reinforced with a rectus abdominis muscle flap. The superior portion of the mediastinum was obliterated with a pectoralis major muscle flap. The patient tolerated the procedure well and remains free of cardiac symptoms seven months postoperatively, with no evidence of residual infection.

Reconstruction of infected median sternotomy wounds.

Infected median sternotomy represents a major complication of cardiac surgery, with significant morbidity and mortality. The treatment of choice is immediate drainage and closure over suction irrigation catheters. However, when this conservative approach fails or radical debridement makes primary closure impossible, muscle flap closure is indicated. This form of reconstruction facilitates the obliteration of large mediastinal wounds; prevents spreading of infection on the heart, suture lines, grafts, or prosthetic material; and significantly decreases morbidity and mortality. We performed muscle flap closure in 11 consecutive patients in whom conservative treatment of infected median sternotomy wounds failed. All patients required closure with at least two muscle flaps or omentum for the complete obliteration of the mediastinal wounds. There was one postoperative death in our series due to acute heart failure. There were two superficial skin losses requiring skin grafting and one persistent draining sinus after reconstruction. Based on our experience and that of others, we conclude that muscle flap reconstruction should be considered as an important technique for the reconstruction of infected median sternotomy wounds.

Outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting in black persons.

Relatively little attention has been given to coronary artery disease in black persons in the United States. During 31 months, 73 consecutive black patients drawn from an urban working class inner city population who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting were studied. In the total series of elective and emergency operations, 3 patients (4%) died within the first 30 days and 3 more died by the end of the first year of follow-up. Functional capacity was assessed by interviews and a questionnaire in a subset (n = 39) at least 6 months after operation. Although 79% of the patients felt that the operation had resulted in improvement of symptoms, half of them continued to report angina. Only one-third of the patients were working in the period immediately before the operation; 13% were working postoperatively. Coronary artery bypass grafting had an acceptable mortality risk in these patients, although the functional outcome was disappointing.

Adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and gastric cardia. Comparison of results of transhiatal esophagectomy and thoracoabdominal esophagogastrectomy.

Between 1965 and 1984, 72 patients underwent operation for adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus or gastric cardia. A standard transthoracic esophagogastrectomy and esophagogastrostomy was performed in 43 and a transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy and partial proximal gastrectomy was performed in 29. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, sex, or TNM tumor staging. The perioperative complication rate was 86% in the esophagogastrectomy patients and 48% in the transhiatal esophagectomy patients (p less than 0.05). Mortality was higher in the esophagogastrectomy group (14%) than in the transhiatal esophagectomy group (7%). Average operative blood loss was greater in the esophagogastrectomy patients (2,510 versus 1,187 ml). Average postoperative hospitalization was longer for the esophagogastrectomy patients (22.2 days versus 12.3 days). Both differences are statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Late results, as evaluated by life-table analysis, showed no significant difference in survival between the two groups of patients. Because the morbidity and mortality rates of transhiatal esophagectomy are as low as or lower than those for esophagogastrectomy, late survival is as good, and palliation is superior (less suture-line tumor recurrence and reflux esophagitis), we believe that transhiatal esophagectomy is the preferred operative approach in patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus or gastric cardia.

Combined tracheal transection and innominate artery disruption from blunt chest trauma.

Both transection of the trachea and injury of the aorta and its arch vessels can occur after blunt chest trauma; however, the combination of these injuries in 1 patient is exceedingly rare. This report of a patient with distal trachea transection and proximal innominate artery disruption from blunt chest trauma reviews some of the important factors to be considered in managing these injuries. Management of the airway must be planned before the operative procedure is begun and can be facilitated by the use of a sterile anesthesia circuit passed on to the operative field. Exposure of tracheal injuries as low as the carina can be achieved through sternotomy incision if this approach is indicated for repair of the associated vascular injury. The use of prosthetic materials should be avoided in vascular injury repair due to contamination of the field from the associated airway disruption. Attention to postoperative bronchial hygiene is mandatory for successful outcome after tracheal anastomosis.

Long-term results of repair of incomplete persistent atrioventricular canal.

We evaluated the late results following repair of otherwise anatomically uncomplicated incomplete persistent atrioventricular canal in 39 consecutive operative survivors who underwent operation at our institution prior to 1976. Average follow-up was 12 years. Postoperative cardiac catheterization was performed in 35 patients (90%) at an average of 11 months after operation. Seven (20%) had residual mitral regurgitation with elevated mean pulmonary arterial wedge of left atrial pressures with abnormal v waves. Regurgitation was mild to moderate (pulmonary artery wedge or left atrial pressure 12 to 15 mm Hg) in five and severe (pulmonary artery wedge pressure over 20 mm Hg) in two patients. Clinically significant arrhythmias including complete heart block, sudden death, nodal rhythm, and chronic atrial fibrillation occurred in seven patients (18%). Two patients have required reoperation for mitral regurgitation. Five have clinically recognizable mild-to-moderate mitral regurgitation controlled with medical management; 25 patients are asymptomatic at current evaluation. Estimated actuarial survival rate at 13 years is 88% +/- 6%, with an actuarial survival free of reoperation of 82% +/- 6%. However, actuarial survival free of any late complication including late death, reoperation, serious arrhythmia, or mitral regurgitation is only 52% +/- 10% at 13 years.