Aortic valve-sparing procedure with cusp elongation and free edge reinforcement for bicuspid aortic valve.

Aortic valve-sparing procedures demonstrate excellent valvular function at midterm. Recently authors have reported acceptable early results with aortic valve-sparing procedures on patients with regurgitant bicuspid valves. We report the case of a novel procedure to preserve bicuspid valves with a calcified raphe and root dilatation. This procedure includes raphe excision, pericardial patch elongation, free edge leaflet reinforcement, and a root reimplantation valve-sparing procedure.

Determinants of gastrointestinal complications in cardiac surgery.

We designed this study to define determinants of gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery. From January 1992 through December 2000, 11,058 patients underwent cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass at our institution. Data were prospectively collected and univariate and multivariate analyses conducted. A total of 147 gastrointestinal complications occurred in 129 patients (129/11,058; 1.2%) including gastroesophagitis (18, 12.2%), upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (42, 28.6%), perforated peptic ulcer (7, 4.7%), cholecystitis (10, 6.8%), pancreatitis (13, 8.8%), intestinal ischemia (17, 11.5%), colitis (18, 12.2%), diverticulitis (5, 3.4%), intestinal occlusion (2, 1.1%), lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage (1, 0.7%), and mixed gastrointestinal complications (14, 9.5%). Patients with gastrointestinal complications were significantly older and had significantly higher comorbidity (unstable angina, chronic renal failure, and peripheral vascular disease), morbidity (prolonged mechanical ventilation, intraaortic balloon pumping, bleeding, acute renal failure, stroke, and infection), and mortality rates (22.5% vs 4%, P < 0.0001). They also had longer cardiopulmonary bypass times and higher valvular surgery rates. Multivariate analysis identified 6 independent predictors for gastrointestinal complications: prolonged mechanical ventilation (odds ratio [OR], 5.5), postoperative renal failure (OR, 4.2), sepsis (OR, 3.6), valve surgery (OR, 3.2), preoperative chronic renal failure (OR, 2.7), and sternal infection (OR, 2.4). Factors such as mechanical ventilation, renal failure, and sepsis are the stronger predictors for GI complications, causing splanchnic hypoperfusion, hypomotility, and hypoxia. Furthermore, excessive anticoagulation after valve replacement may lead to GI hemorrhage. Valve surgery, often requiring anticoagulation, increases bleeding. Monitoring mechanical ventilation and hemodynamic parameters, adopting early extubation and mobilization measures, preventing infections, and strictly monitoring renal function and anticoagulation may prevent catastrophic abdominal complications.

Endovascular stent-graft repair of a complicated penetrating ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta: a word of caution.

PURPOSE: To report a pitfall encountered during stenting of a complicated penetrating ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with a complicated penetrating ulcer of the thoracic aorta. A 38-mm Talent endograft was implanted. On balloon dilation of the distal end of the endoprosthesis, the terminal bare stent became distorted and penetrated the aortic wall. A 42-mm endoprosthesis was immediately placed to exclude the aortic perforation. Control aortography demonstrated exclusion of the original proximal aortic ulcer and the distal iatrogenic aortic tear. CONCLUSIONS: Endoprostheses may present some drawbacks in terms of elasticity and adaptability to tortuous and angulated diseased aortas. Caution is advised in the treatment of penetrating aortic ulcers where the aortic wall is diffusely friable. In this condition, balloon dilation should be limited to the covered portion of the stent-graft to prevent stent distortion and erosion through the aortic wall.

Delayed treatment of contained blunt traumatic aortic rupture: a case of rupture treated by endoprosthesis.

A 45-year-old man sustained an intracerebral frontal hematoma and a contained aortic isthmic rupture in a head-on automobile collision. Due to the intracerebral hemorrhage, open repair was contraindicated. Treatment with a stent graft was selected but delayed until the next morning, because the correct stent size was unavailable. Two hours before the time scheduled for surgery, the patient experienced oxygenation problems and became hypotensive. Chest radiography revealed a new, severe left hemothorax. Fortunately, the stent graft had just arrived from the manufacturer, and it was deployed to seal the ruptured aorta. Immediate angiography showed good stent-graft position without any endoleak as did a computed tomographic scan 2 days after the procedure. The patient was transferred to a rehabilitation unit to recover from his neurologic trauma. A 3-month follow-up computed tomographic scan showed the patient's condition to be unchanged.

[Abdominal complications associated with cardiac surgery. Review of a contemporary surgical experience and of a series done without extracorporeal circulation]. / Les complications abdominales associées à la chirurgie cardiaque: à propos d'une expérience chirurgicale contemporaine et examen d'une population opérée sans circulation extracorporelle.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and morbidity associated with gastrointestinal (GI) complications after cardiac surgery, with and without cardiopulmonary bypass, we carried out a retrospective cohort study at a university teaching hospital. METHODS: We divided the 11,405 eligible adult patients into 2 groups: group A (operated on between January 1992 and June 1996) (4657 patients) and group B (operated on between July 1996 and December 2000) (6748 patients). RESULTS: We found 147 GI complications in 134 (1.2%) patients. The incidence of GI morbidity was similar for the 2 groups of patients (group A, n = 59/4657 [1.2%]; group B, n = 75/6748 [1.1%]. Patients from group B were older, obese, diabetic and presented with more peripheral and cerebrovascular disease. Bleeding, gastritis and ulcer with perforation, the most common of these GI events, were associated with the esophagus and stomach (67/147 [45.5%]). Other events that we documented included cholecystitis 10 (6.8%), pancreatitis 13 (8.8%), episodes of small and large bowel ischemia 17 (11.6%), pseudomembranous colitis 12 (8.3%) and diverticulitis 5 (3.4%). Mesenteric ischemia was responsible for 11 (37.9%) of the 29 deaths. Two hundred and ninety-three patients were revascularized without extracorporeal circulation during this study. In this group, we were able to pinpoint 5 (1.7%) GI complications with 3 cases of mesenteric ischemia. Multivariate analysis identified renal insufficiency, prolonged intubation and sepsis as significant, predictive variables of GI complications for the 2 groups of patients whereas the Parsonnet score and stroke were predictive for the second group. CONCLUSIONS: Although cardiac surgery is now being performed on older patients with significant comorbidity, we could not demonstrate a significant increase of GI complications after cardiac surgery. Off-pump coronary artery bypass does not seem to protect patients from these complications.

Myocardial infarction in a young woman secondary to a rupture of a noncoronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm without coronary artery disease.

A 22-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of chest pain. Echocardiography showed a ruptured aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva in the right atrium. Slight ST segment depression was observed on initial electrocardiography (ECG). The patient was transferred to a tertiary care centre 10 h after the onset of symptoms. Surgery consisted of patch closure of the noncoronary sinus and tricuspid valve resuspension through the right atrium. Postoperatively, myocardial infarction (MI) was diagnosed based on a significant increase in cardiac enzymes and a new septal and apical akinesia on echocardiography. The etiology of MI in such a setting is multifactorial. Decreased coronary perfusion secondary to the severe aortic valve regurgitation and increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure, coupled with increased myocardial workload and delay before surgery may be implicated in the genesis of MI.

Pacemaker-induced superior vena cava syndrome: a case report and review of management strategy.

A case of pacemaker-induced superior vena cava syndrome is presented with its management. A review of the physiopathology and therapeutic options is presented for this unusual clinical syndrome.

Endoluminal stenting of the aorta as treatment of aortoesophageal fistula due to primary aortic disease.

A 78-year-old woman with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was admitted to the emergency room with hematemesis. With use of esophagoscopy, chest computed tomographic scanning, and aortography, we found a large descending aortic aneurysm and a penetrating ulcer of the proximal descending aorta. We determined that the patient had an aortoesophageal fistula and pseudoaneurysm that had originated from a ruptured penetrating ulcer of the mid-descending aorta. We deployed two 100-mm stent grafts to seal the ruptured thoracic aorta. Six months later, the pseudoaneurysm was almost completely resolved, with no infection or endoleak. We advocate the use of endoluminal aortic stenting for aortoesophageal fistulas of aortic origin, particularly in patients with severe concomitant disease.

Double valve replacement through an aorto-annulo-atriotomy using an aortic-valved graft in a mitral position.

We present a modified technique for the reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body in double-valve replacement through an aorto-annulo-atriotomy. This technique allows the surgeon to enlarge and reconstruct both annuli by using a tailored aortic-valved conduit in a mitral position.