Early experience with the DJUMBODIS system: what did we observed, what can we expect? Part 1.

PURPOSE: In order to remodel or to stabilize the dissected descending aorta following conventional replacement of proximal aorta for real type I acute dissection, the deployment of a bare-metal stent that expand the true lumen and compress the false lumen has been proposed. To date results have been insufficiently assessed through comparative studies. We conducted this study to compare midterm results according to the optional deployment of an antegradely inserted balloon inflated stainless steel stent at the level of the proximal descending aorta during conventional aortic surgery in real type I aortic dissections. METHODS: Control study including a consecutive series of patients operated on conventionally for real type I aortic dissection involving descending aorta between 2006 and 2011. For stented patients, an optimal inflation volume was determined a priori according to the measured diameter of landing zone and a bare stent 90 or 140mm long was deployed antegradely during circulatory arrest. Endpoints were mid-term aortic event free survival and the evolution of the indexed (body surface area) diameter of descending aorta. RESULTS: We included 19 and 26 patients in the stented and control group respectively. Aortic event free survival at 4 years was 57% and 43% (p=0.37) in the stented and control group respectively. The proximal descending aorta remained remodeled or stabilized during follow-up for 11 stented and only 9 control patients (p=0.05). After a mean follow up of 2 years, the mean indexed diameter of the upper third aorta was 4 mm wider in the control group due to false lumen enlargement (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Anatomic evolution is favorable in the stented group. Increment of comparative followup data is mandatory before considering a revision of conventional approach of TAAD to influence mid- term aortic event free survival.

Clinical experience with the mini-extracorporeal circulation system: an evolution or a revolution?

PURPOSE: We studied a cohort of 150 patients operated on with a new cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system. This is the mini-extracorporeal circulation (MECC) system. DESCRIPTION: The MECC is a fully heparin coated closed-loop CPB system that includes a centrifugal pump and has a priming volume of 450 mL. Between March 2001 and September 2002, 150 consecutive patients were operated on using the mini-CPB (MECC) method. This includes 105 coronary artery bypass graft and 45 aortic valve replacement patients. The median age was 66.7 +/- 10.7 years with a gender ratio of 3.27 males to 1 female. EVALUATION: The 30-day operative mortality was 1.3%. The hemoglobin concentration was stable and perioperative transfusion was needed in only 6% of all patients. The renal and neuropsychiatric complications were less than 1%. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the MECC system is a reliable new concept for CPB with good clinical results.

Totally normothermic aortic arch replacement without circulatory arrest.

The authors propose a new strategy of normothermic perfusion for replacement of the aortic arch to avoid the complications of profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. Six patients underwent complete replacement of the aortic arch under normothermia using two pumps for the body (one for the brain and the thoracoabdominal aortic branches) and one for the heart. The surgical procedure was performed with no time limit. There were no operative or late deaths. No patients had neurologic deficit and all were rapidly extubated with uneventful postoperative courses. The method preserves autoregulation of cerebral blood flow and maintains body perfusion without high vascular resistances.

Management of patients with asymptomatic moderate aortic stenosis undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Manual decalcification of the aortic valve was performed systematically in a prospective series of patients with asymptomatic moderate aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study addressed two main issues: (i) whether aortic valve decalcification is a good option to relieve moderate AS; and (ii) whether the natural progression of AS may be delayed by manual valve debridement when surgery is indicated for coronary disease. METHODS: Between October 1997 and March 2001, 14 adult patients with moderate AS underwent concomitant surgical repair of the aortic valve during CABG. Manual valve debridement with restoration of cusp mobility was attempted. Calcified deposits were removed by careful dissection. All patients underwent myocardial revascularization; a mean of 2.38 grafts was performed per patient. RESULTS: Immediately after surgery, mean aortic valve area index (AVAI) was improved, from 0.56+/-0.12 to 1.43+/-0.25 cm2/m2. Patients with the slowest recalcification rates were those with a postoperative/preoperative AVAI ratio of 1.6 to 2.4, those in whom the degree of postoperative aortic insufficiency was very similar to the degree of preoperative regurgitation, and those in whom the preoperative AVAI was >0.55 cm2/m2. CONCLUSION: Manual aortic valve debridement for moderate AS is a good option when surgery must be performed for coronary disease; the best results were obtained in patients with senile stenosis of a tricuspid aortic valve with an AVAI of 0.55-0.9 cm2/m2.