Cardiovascular reoperations in Marfan syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study is to analyze the outcome results of reoperations in Marfan syndrome patients. METHODS: Between 1985 and December 2004, 49 patients with Marfan syndrome were operated for aortic aneurysms. Of these 49 patients, 9 (18,4%) required > or =1 reoperations after a mean duration of 32.2 +/- 26.6 months. The mean duration of follow-up was 52.0 +/- 46.8 months, a total of 39 patient/years. Survival free of reoperation was calculated by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Surgical indication for operation was a chronic aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending or abdominal aorta in seven patients (77.8%) and aortic dissection in two (22.2%) at the initial operation. In the reoperations, repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with separated graft interposition in six patients (66.7%), replacement of ascending aorta in one (11.1%), replacement of ascending and hemiarchus aorta in one (11.1%), and mitral valve replacement in three patients (33.3%) were performed. The hospital mortality was 11.1% with one patient. Among the survivors, one expired in the follow-up five months after the second operation (12.5%). With the Cox regression analysis, survival without reoperation for 13, 24, and 123 months are 95.56 +/- 3.04%, 90.66 +/- 4.40%, and 60.32 +/- 12.63%, respectively. Mean survival for reoperated patients is 99 +/- 14 months (95% confidence interval 72-127 months). CONCLUSIONS: Reoperations can be done with low morbidity and mortality. Patients should be kept under close follow-up using imaging techniques infinitely.

In which patients should sheathless IABP be used? An analysis of vascular complications in 1211 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to compare the results of the sheathed and sheathless techniques for intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion and to determine the rate of vascular complications in both conditions. METHODS: A total of 1211 patients were examined representing a period of 19 years. Three hundred five sheathless (Group I) and 906 sheathed (Group II) IABP catheters were evaluated retrospectively. Data were analyzed with univariate analysis and logistic regression. Relative risk (RR) values were calculated in order to examine the effect of sheath. RESULTS: Limb ischemia was seen in 129 patients (10.9%). Although the incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was relatively higher in Group I (11.1% vs. 3.6%), the ischemic complication rate was lower in Group I (5.2% vs. 12.4%; p = 0.001). Presence of PAD (p = 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.007) was found to be the risk factors of ischemia related to IABP use in all cases. In logistic regression analysis, presence of PAD, DM, and sheathed method was found to be the risk factors of ischemia. The patients who had all of these risk factors suffered from limb ischemia (RR value: 35.17). CONCLUSION: PAD, DM, and sheathed insertion technique are the major risk factors of ischemia during IABP use. Among all these risk factors, the only modifiable risk factor is the use of introducer sheath. With the presence of PAD and DM, the choice of sheathed method would increase the probability of ischemia almost 35 times. Sheathless method of insertion should be preferred in patients with DM and PAD.

Risk factors for requirement of permanent pacemaker implantation after aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of requirement for permanent pacing and related risk factors after aortic valve replacement. METHODS: Among 465 patients operated between 1994 and 2004, 19(4.1%) patients with a mean age 49.9 +/- 17.2 years required the implantation of a permanent pacemaker. Eleven of them were female (57.9%). The main indication was aortic stenosis (89.5%). Severe annular calcification was documented in 78.9% of them, and the aortic valve was bicuspid in 57.9%. RESULTS: Risk factors for permanent pacing after aortic valve replacement (AVR) identified by univariate analysis were female sex, hypertension, preoperative ejection fraction, aortic stenosis, annular calcification, bicuspid aorta, presence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) or left bundle branch block (LBBB), prolonged aortic cross-clamp and perfusion times, and preoperative use of calcium channel blockers. Multivariate analysis showed that female sex (p = 0.01, OR; 5.21, 95% CI: 1.48-18.34), annular calcification (p < 0.001, OR; 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.24), bicuspid aortic valve (p = 0.02, OR; 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.84), presence of RBBB (p = 0.009, OR; 0.03, 95% CI: 0.003-0.44) or LBBB (p = 0.01, OR; 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02-0.69), hypertension (p = 0.03, OR; 0.22, 95%CI: 0.05-0.89), and total perfusion time (p = 0.002, OR; 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08) were associated risk factors. CONCLUSION: Irreversible atrioventricular block requiring a permanent pacemaker implantation is an uncommon complication after AVR. Risk factors are annular calcification, bicuspid aorta, female sex, presence of RBBB or LBBB, prolonged total perfusion time, and hypertension.

Valvular surgery in Behcet's disease.

BACKGROUND: Behcet's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease with a relapsing course. Behcet's disease affects many systems and causes hypercoagulability, and detection of an intracardiac mass in a Behcet patient should raise the question of an intracardiac thrombus. We analyzed our patients with Behcet's disease operated for valvular disease. METHODS: We operated three patients (one male and two females) who had been diagnosed as having Behcet's disease previously. Using mechanical bileaflet valves, aortic valve replacement in two and mitral valve replacement in the other patient were performed. Mechanical valve replacement was performed using pledgetted-interrupted sutures in the mitral procedure. Patients' steroid therapies were not interrupted and in the postoperative course, steroid was continued. No reoperations were needed. Anticoagulation with warfarin was instituted after the operation with the target of an international normalized ratio (INR) between 3 and 3.5. RESULTS: There was no mortality either early or late follow-up. Intraoperative and postoperative courses were uneventful. Two had ventricular arrhythmias. Total follow-up was 23.3 patient/years with a mean of 93.3 +/- 64.7 months. In the late follow-up, patient with the mechanical mitral valve experienced a cerebrovascular accident 40 months after the operation. Her echocardiographic examination gave a functional valve without any pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should remember the hypercoagulable state in Behcet patients and strict anticoagulation protocols should be utilized. In the operations, bileaflet prostheses should be used.

Long-term outcome after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot in adolescent and adult age.

Although most patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) undergo radical repair during infancy and childhood, patients remaining undiagnosed and untreated until adulthood can still be treated. These patients have either a previous palliative or natural collateral circulation to the lung or a mild form of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction. The aim of this study is to analyze the perioperative and long-term results of radical corrective procedures in patients who reached adult ages. Two hundred and seven patients with TOF underwent complete correction between 1985-and 2002, 64 (30.9%) of whom were aged 14 years or more. The mean age at corrective repair for this group was 20.6 +/- 7.5 years (range 14 to 49 years). Only two patients had previous modified Blalock-Taussig shunts. In 44 patients (68.7%) besides infundibular resection, a transannular gluteraldehyde-treated pericardial patch was used to reconstruct right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Only infundibular patching was used in 15 patients (23.4%) and infundibular muscular resection with primary closure of right ventricle was performed in five patients (7.8%). Hospital mortality was 3.1% with two patients. Four patients (6.2%) underwent reoperation because of recurrent ventricular septal defect (VSD) with/without residual obstruction or pulmonary regurgitation. All survivors were in NYHA class I (42) or II (17). Late mortality was recorded in two patients and 16-year actuarial survival was 89.2%+/- 4.9%. The significant negative predictors of late survival determined by univariate analysis were reoperation <0.018) and associated cardiac anomalies <0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that there was no negative predictor of late-term mortality. Corrective procedures in adult patients with TOF can be performed successfully compared to patients who underwent operation during infancy and childhood.

Can revascularization restore sinus rhythm in patients with acute onset atrioventricular block?

BACKGROUND: We studied patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and complete atrioventricular (AV) block of acute onset that were treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to see whether revascularization can restore the sinus rhythm. METHODS: CABG was performed on eight patients with newly developed complete AV block and severe CAD. The distribution of coronary artery lesions showed a type IV pattern in six patients and a type II pattern in two patients. Complete revascularization was performed in six patients. Left anterior descending artery was revascularized in all eight patients. The patients were followed-up after operation for approximately 10 days before the implantation of a permanent pacemaker to see if they recover from AV block. RESULTS: The mean interval from development of complete AV block to operation was 3.63 +/- 1.3 days. There was no operative and/or early mortality. None of the patients recovered from complete AV block after coronary revascularization. Early morbidity was not detected. The mean hospital stay (12.75 +/- 1.49 days) and intensive care unit stay (30.25 +/- 19.39 hours) were relatively long because of the delay in permanent pacemaker implantation. All patients were asymptomatic at the end of their follow-up period (23.38 +/- 18.41 months). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperatively developed complete AV block did not adversely affect the operative and early postoperative outcome of CABG operations. Recovery from complete AV block cannot be achieved by coronary revascularization performed 3.63 +/- 1.3 days after the onset of complete AV block.

Endovascular treatment of intracerebral mycotic aneurysm before surgical treatment of infective endocarditis.

Mycotic aneurysms are rarely seen in patients who have infective endocarditis, and the management of these patients remains controversial. We present the case of a patient who had infective endocarditis complicated by a mycotic aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery. There was substantial mitral regurgitation, and Streptococcus viridans was isolated from the blood samples. Dysarthria appeared during the 4th week of the antibiotic therapy, but resolved completely 8 hours after onset. The left middle cerebral artery was embolized with platinum detachable coils. On the 7th day after the radiologic intervention, the native mitral valve was replaced with a 33-mm St. Jude Medical bi-leaflet mechanical mitral prosthesis. Most mycotic aneurysms show notable regression of symptoms with effective antibiotic treatment, and a very few may diminish in size. However it is impossible to predict the response of these aneurysms to therapy. To prevent the perioperative rupture of mycotic aneurysms and intracranial hemorrhage, priority should be given to endovascular interventions to treat cerebrovascular aneurysms in patients such as ours.

Surgical treatment of aortic abscess and fistula.

The formation of annular abscess and fistulous communication, the most devastating complication of destructive aortic valve endocarditis, requires extensive surgical débridement. Five men experienced destructive native aortic valve endocarditis in association with congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class IV) and hemodynamic deterioration that developed from severe aortic regurgitation. To eradicate the aortic valve endocarditis, we performed (from July 1998 through November 2002) aortic annular skeletonization by dissecting all infectious and necrotic tissue within the abscess cavity and the fistula between the ventriculoarterial junction and the sinotubular junction. The completely resected annular area was covered with a glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial patch that was sutured firmly to fibrous tissue, for a secure proximal anastomosis. Reconstruction of the aortic root was followed by implantation of a Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis, using the aortic root replacement technique. There were no deaths after surgery, nor is there record of a permanent complication due to a loss of conduction tissue. All 5 patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II during follow-up (range, 8-56 months). Echocardiography showed no signs of valve dysfunction, recurrent endocarditis, or fistulation. Annular skeletonization and reconstruction of the aortic annulus with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium permits radical removal of infected tissue and effective treatment of aortic annular abscess, with less risk of valve dehiscence from the fragile aortic annulus.

Pericardiectomy for chronic constrictive tuberculous pericarditis: risks and predictors of survival.

We performed this study to determine the predictors of early and long-term survival in the surgical treatment of tuberculous pericarditis and to examine the risks of pericardiectomy and the functional outcome in patients after surgery. A retrospective analysis was undertaken in 36 consecutive patients, 26 female and 10 male, with a mean age 32.2 +/- 16.3, who underwent pericardiectomy for chronic constrictive pericarditis from February 1985 to February 2002. All patients received antitubercular therapy in the postoperative period. The operative mortality rate was 6% (2 patients); the cause of death in both cases was severe low-cardiac-output syndrome. Nonfatal intraoperative complications affected 3 patients (8%). The median stay in the intensive care unit was 3.7 +/- 3.1 days. The median hospital stay was 14 +/- 2.6 days. The median ventilation time was 11.9 +/- 1.8 hours. The median volume of blood transfused was 2.1 +/- 1.6 units. Advanced age, atrial fibrillation, concomitant tricuspid insufficiency, inotropic support and low cardiac output were significant negative predictors of survival, according to univariate analysis. There were 4 late deaths. Actuarial survival at 5 years was 75.9% +/- 9.14%. At the 1-year follow-up examination, improved functional status was noted in 88% of patients. We suggest that pericardiectomy be performed early and as radically as possible, in an effort to prevent chronic illness. A combination of chemotherapy and surgery yields gratifying results in the treatment of tuberculous pericarditis.

[Surgical treatment of peripheral vascular injuries after cardiac catheterization]. / Kardiyak Kateterizasyon Sonrasi Gelisen Periferik Vasküler Yaralanmalarda Cerrahi Tedavi.

OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac interventions have being performed in expanding numbers during last years. Forty-two cases with peripheral vascular injuries requiring surgical therapy after 64.911 cardiac interventions in our center between 1985 and 2002 were evaluated retrospectively. METHODS: Thirty-three of vascular injuries (78.6%) occurred after angiography/catheterization, and the remaining vascular injuries (21.4%) occurred after angioplasty/stent procedures. There were 12 female (28.6%) and 30 male (71.4%). The mean age was 51.3+/-4.1 years. The localization of the arterial injuries were femoral region in 37 cases (88.1%) and brachial region in 5 cases (11.9%). The complications were recorded as arterial thrombosis in 19 cases, pseudoaneurysm in 14 cases, hematoma in 5 cases, arteriovenous fistula in 2 cases, deformed stent stuck in 2 cases. Arterial injuries were treated by performing embolectomy in 16 cases, embolectomy and saphenous patch plasty in 3 cases, resection of pseudoaneurysm and PTFE patch plasty in 1 case, draining of hematoma and primary repair in 5 cases, primary repair of femoral arteriovenous fistula in 2 cases and removal of the deformed stent from femoral artery in 2 cases. RESULTS: The incidence of vascular complications was significantly higher in brachial interventions when compared with femoral interventions (p<0.0001). The postoperative morbidity was found as 14.3% in our cases. CONCLUSION: The early diagnosis and treatment are very important in peripheral vascular complications after cardiac interventions; otherwise, delay can cause loss of related extremity.

Early- and long-term comparison of the on- and off-pump bypass surgery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The adverse effects of extracorporeal circulation increase the morbidity and mortality risk of coronary bypass surgery, especially in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to provide a comparison of the early and long-term outcome between patient groups with left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF<40% or LVPS>or=15) operated with or without using cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with left ventricular dysfunction, who were operated on between October 1992 and March 1994, were investigated retrospectively. They were divided into two groups: BH-group included 26 patients and cardiopulmonary bypass group had 25 patients. Mean age and risk factors were identical. All patients received one vessel bypass left internal mammary artery to left descending artery. RESULTS: There was no early mortality and perioperative myocardial infarction in either group. In the early postoperative period the need of cardiac support therapy was significantly higher in the cardiopulmonary-bypass group than in the beating heart-group: 32% versus 7.7% (p<0.05). The need for blood products (for fresh frozen plasma 3.63 +/- 2.15u versus 2.5 +/- 1.34u; p = 0.023; for packed red blood cells 1.8 +/- 0.75u versus 1.25 +/- 0.46u; p = 0.048), the extubation time (18.2 +/- 5.5 hours versus 15.3 +/- 3.8 hours; p = 0.03) and the hospital stay (10.64 +/- 3.2 days versus 7.92 +/- 2.25 days; p = 0.001) were higher in the cardiopulmonary bypass -group than in the beating heart-group. Actuarial survival for the beating heart-group was 92.3 +/- 5.2% at 6 years, and for the cardiopulmonary bypass group was 92 +/- 5.4% at 6 years (p = 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of more than four times as many patients in the cardiopulmonary bypass group requiring inotropic support after surgery, survival and cardiac death rates were similar for both groups. Off-pump bypass surgery conserves the blood constituents. The benefits of both techniques to improve the left ventricular performance score and ejection fraction were similar, but postoperative extubation time, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay were reduced significantly in the beating heart group. With these good results of the beating heart coronary bypass surgery and considering its cost effectiveness, we concluded that coronary bypass on a beating heart can be an alternative to cardiopulmonary bypass technique in selective patient groups.