On or off pump coronary bypass? Insight from matched and principal component analyses of 8779 operations.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to compare the clinical impact of the different myocardial protection strategies in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients to facilitate decision-making for use of on- or off-pump technique. METHODS: Prospectively collected data for primary CABG patients between April 1, 1996 and December 30, 2010 (N.=8779) were analyzed. Early adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (ACCE) and late survival were compared between on-pump; cardioplegia (CPA, N.=3862, 44%), cross-clamp fibrillation (XCF, N.=3751, 43%), and off-pump (N.=1166, 13%) myocardial protection. Second, clinical profiling for the risk of ACCE with each strategy was performed using principal component analysis. Finally, a 1:1 matched cohort comparison of 1055 patients was done. RESULTS: There were vast differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Significantly fewer grafts per patient were constructed using off-pump. There were no remarkable differences in operative mortality and 10-year survival rates between the groups after restrictive matching. Principal component analysis identified high risk profiles; factor 1 (ejection fraction 30-50%, prior myocardial infarction, non-elective operation), and factors 4 (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, Body Mass Index >30 kg/m2) and 5 (female, octogenarian, left main stem disease) to be strongly associated with ACCE after on-pump CABG while lower risk profiles; factors 5 and 6 (extracardiac arteriopathy, prior stroke) were associated with ACCE after off-pump CABG. CONCLUSION: Comparatively, on-pump techniques were associated with greater risk of adverse events in "high risk" patients defined by clinical characteristics, while off-pump was associated with increased risk of adverse events in "low risk" patients.

Mitral valve surgery in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the cardiac muscle in which myocyte cytoskeletal weakness leads to ventricular dilatation and congestive cardiac failure. Most commonly, the etiology of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is unknown (idiopathic) and, in our practice, the second most common cause is advanced valvular heart disease. Functional mitral valve regurgitation occurs in up to 40% of patients with heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and contributes to a vicious cycle of volume overload, further left ventricular dilatation, and worsening mitral valve regurgitation and heart failure. Surgical management of mitral valve regurgitation in dilated cardiomyopathy may carry a high risk and can be very challenging. However, operative risk is mitigated by continued vigorous medical management and judicious perioperative care. For example, at our Clinic, mortality for mitral valve repair or replacement in 43 patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy having operation between 1993 and 2002 was 2.3%. Additional procedures to reverse cardiac remodeling have not proven to be uniformly successful and continue to undergo scientific scrutiny. Clinical outcome of mitral valve surgery in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy compares well with cardiac transplantation in the early-to-intermediate term, but the long-term results are less satisfactory. For our patients having mitral valve repair, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survivorships were 84%, 80% and 33%. Evolving technology and research that focus on methods of altering or reversing cardiomyopathy; e.g., cell transplant, may have significant impact on the future management of this debilitating illness.

The impact of the duration of mechanical ventilation on the respiratory outcome in smokers undergoing cardiac surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of the duration of mechanical ventilation on the rate of pulmonary complications in smokers undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 2163 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery between September 1993 and August 1999. Based on a 3-month preoperative smoking cessation, patients were classified as smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers. Their postoperative pulmonary complications were compared and related to the duration of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Postoperative pulmonary complications were twice as common in smokers (29.5%) as non-smokers (13.6%) and ex-smokers (14.7%). Although smokers required a longer duration of mechanical ventilation, this was not statistically significant. Smokers had a higher rate of increase in postoperative pulmonary complications beyond 6 h of mechanical ventilation (P<0.002). CONCLUSION: Prolonged mechanical ventilation in active smokers undergoing cardiac surgery is associated with a significant increase in the respiratory morbidity. Surgical strategies that allow early extubation may improve the respiratory outcome in smokers.

Esophageal melanotic schwannoma presenting with superior vena caval obstruction.

A rare tumor with an unusual presentation can pose a diagnostic and management dilemma. In this paper, we will discuss the management of a 47-year-old lady with melanotic schwanoma of the esophagus who presented with superior vena caval obstruction. The initial histological diagnosis of esophageal metastatic malignant melanoma did not corroborate the clinical and operative findings. Further evaluation revealed positivity for HMB45, S-100 protein, and vimentin, and confirmed the diagnosis of melanotic schwannoma.

The left atrial roof incision: an asset for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: The focus in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has been on reducing thoracic incisions. Several cardiac incisions described in these procedures do not conform with the philosophy of "minimal invasiveness". We describe the left atrial roof incision which has the potential of facilitating an excellent mitral valve exposure through a limited cardiac incision, without major cardiac trauma. The safety, efficacy and technical ease of this technique for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is evaluated. METHODS: From July 1998 to December 2000, 95 consecutive patients underwent mitral valve surgery by the same surgeon. The patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of the cardiac incision used for correction of mitral valve disease. Group I patients had left atrial roof incision and group II patients had the traditional paraseptal incision. Each group was further classified into the minimally invasive sternotomy and standard sternotomy subgroups. The clinical variables and complications in the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: There were 40 male and 55 female patients with a mean age of 63 +/-12yrs (range 29 to 88yrs). LARI was used for mitral valve exposure in 81 patients (85%). In 18 patients (19%), surgery was by minimally invasive technique. The mitral valve was replaced in 82% of patients and repaired in 18%. LARI provided a better exposure of the mitral valve in its anatomical and physiological disposition, without distortion. There was no significant difference in the cross clamp times and postoperative complications between the 2 groups. More patients in the LARI group regained sinus rhythm at discharge. CONCLUSION: LARI is safe and technically easy to perform. It provides an excellent exposure of the mitral valve and left heart cavities in its anatomical disposition with minimal cardiac trauma, making it ideal for minimally invasive mitral surgery.

Right ventricular needle embolus in an injecting drug user: the need for early removal.

This case report describes an unusual cardiac complication in a 22 year old, female injecting drug user. The retention of two fractured injection needles at the site of intravenous injection in the groin, and the subsequent embolisation of one to the right ventricle, predisposed to recurrent local and systemic infections, and endocarditis. Two years later, the needle was completely embedded in the wall of the right ventricle and not suitable for transvenous removal. Removal of the retained and/or embolised needle at an earlier stage would have precluded these complications.

Safe technique for removal of extensive renal cell tumors.

We describe our technique for excision of a renal tumor that extended to the right atrium and was adherent to the inferior vena cava within the liver. The surgical procedure was performed using cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion to extend the safe period of cerebral ischemia.

Transmitral diagnostic cardioscopy in a coronary artery bypass graft patient.

A 69-year-old man with unstable angina and impaired left ventricular function who was admitted for emergency coronary artery bypass grafting had echocardiographic findings suggestive of a left ventricular thrombus. A transmital cardioscopy was successfully performed at surgery, without video assistance, to confirm the diagnosis. We discuss our approach and the advantages.

Cardiopulmonary endoscopy: an effective and low risk method of examining the cardiopulmonary system during cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: During cardiac surgery it is sometimes necessary to examine heart chambers remote from the site of surgery. Similarly visualization of the pulmonary arterial tree will enable assessment for the completeness of pulmonary embolectomy. There are no standard adjunctive procedures to accomplish this. Left ventriculotomy used to examine the left ventricle, and maneuvers used to ensure complete pulmonary embolectomy can have serious complications. Impelled by the need to obviate the complications, we adopted and, herein describe a simple method of examining the cardiopulmonary system with an endoscope. Our early experience is also presented. METHOD: Transmitral cardioscopy was performed in two patients, and pulmonary angioscopy in one. One patient had the combined procedure. The indications for transmitral cardioscopy were; suspected left ventricular thrombus and a right atrial thrombus propagating into the left atrium through a patent foramen ovale. The indications for pulmonary angioscopy were pulmonary embolectomy and right atrial thrombus. SSURGICAL TECHNIQUE Cardiopulmonary endoscopy was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass, at an appropriate stage of the primary procedure. For transmitral cardioscopy, a flexible fibreoptic endoscope was passed into the left ventricle through the right superior pulmonary vein, or the right atrium. For pulmonary endoscopy, the flexible endoscope was introduced through a pulmonary arteriotomy. At the end of the procedure, the port of entry of the endoscope was closed and cardiopulmonary bypass terminated. RESULTS: A good visualization of the cardiac chambers and the pulmonary artery was obtained in all the patients. One patient was found to have an endocardial scarring, and a left ventricular thrombus was excluded in another. Visual guidance facilitated pulmonary emboli retrieval. There were no complications in these patients. CONCLUSION: Cardiopulmonary endoscopy is simple, safe and effective in examining the cardiac chambers and the pulmonary arterial system. It can be performed with a sterilized flexible fibreoptic endoscope. It facilitates pulmonary embolectomy, and precludes procedures and maneuvers that can cause serious complications. It adds a visual advantage to pulmonary embolectomy, which is otherwise blind. Cardiopulmonary endoscopy has the potential for a wider applicability, possibly in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery.

An unusual combination of diaphragmatic hernias in a patient presenting with the clinical features of restrictive pulmonary disease: report of a case.

The combination of a Morgagni hernia and a paraesophageal hernia in adults is very rarely encountered in clinical practice. In fact, to our knowledge, only three cases of this condition, which is probably a coincidental occurrence, have been reported in the medical literature. We discuss the management of a 74-year-old man found to have combined Morgagni and paraesophageal hernia who presented with clinical features of a restrictive pulmonary disease.

Pulmonary embolectomy in a child.

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy treated successfully by pulmonary embolectomy for massive pulmonary embolism, 18 days after bilateral hip surgery. He has a family history of pulmonary embolism and an inherited antithrombin deficiency. His diagnosis was confirmed by spiral computed tomography scan. We believe that pulmonary embolectomy has a role in selected cases in children.

Mitral valve surgery using a modified superior left atrial approach.

Most surgeons use a longitudinal right lateral left atrial incision behind the inter-atrial groove for the exposure of the mitral valve, even though several other surgical techniques have been described. The shortest route to the mitral valve is, however, through the roof of the left atrium, where the incision is closest to the mitral annulus. This was first described by Meyer et al., but the approach became unpopular because of its technical difficulties and inadequacies. We have modified this technique, making it safer, easier and adaptable to any type of mitral surgery. We describe our experience with 53 patients who had mitral valve surgery using this modified approach. All of the operations were performed by the same surgeon over an 18 month period with consistently satisfactory results.

Do not snog the dog: infective endocarditis due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus.

We present a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis and paravalvular abscess caused by the canine bacteria Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a 63-year-old man, who made a habit of snogging his pet dog. Capnocytophaga canimorsus can cause culture-negative endocarditis, therefore a high level of clinical awareness and the appropriate isolation techniques are important for making the diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy and properly timed excision of the infected focus are recommended.