Inferior vena cava reconstruction with a superficial femoral vein graft after resection of a venous leiomyosarcoma.

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malign neoplasm, representing about 5-7% of all tissue sarcomas while inferior vena cava leiomyosarcomas accounts for only 1%. This paper presents the case of a 74 years old patient that was diagnosed with an abdominal venous leiomyosarcoma involving the inter-renal segment of the inferior vena cava. Tumor was treated by complete in bloc resection. Reconstruction of the vascular axis was performed with an autologous venous tube graft achieved with segments of the right superficial femoral vein. Recurrent free survival and freedom from local or systemic recurrence was observed at 2 years after the intervention thanks to the aggressive radical surgical management.

Impact of preoperative fractional flow reserve on arterial bypass graft anastomotic function: the IMPAG trial.

AIMS: Visual estimation is the most commonly used method to evaluate the degree of coronary artery stenosis prior to coronary artery bypass grafting. In interventional cardiology, the use of fractional flow reserve (FFR) to guide revascularization decisions has become routine. We investigated whether the preoperative FFR measurement of coronary lesions is associated with anastomosis function 6 months after surgical revascularization using a multiarterial grafting strategy. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective double-blind study, 67 patients were enrolled from two institutions in Europe and Canada. From these patients, 199 coronary lesions were assessed visually and with FFR at the time of the preoperative angiogram. All patients received coronary revascularization using multiple arterial grafts. A post-operative 6-month angiogram was performed to assess anastomosis functionality using a described angiographic method. The primary outcome was the association between preoperative FFR values and anastomosis function 6 months after surgery. Preoperative FFR was significantly associated with 6-months anastomotic function for all conduits and for all targets (P < 0.001). An FFR value of ≤0.78 was associated with an anastomotic occlusion rate of 3%. CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between the preoperative FFR measurement of the target vessel and the anastomotic functionality at 6 months, with a cut-off of 0.78. Integration of FFR measurement into the preoperative diagnostic workup before multiarterial coronary surgical revascularization leads to improved anastomotic graft function. CLINICAL TRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02527044.

Bilateral internal mammary artery Y construct with multiple sequential grafting improves survival compared to bilateral internal mammary artery with additional vein grafts: 10-year experience at 2 different institutions†.

OBJECTIVES: Utilization of bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMAs) has been shown to improve long-term outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. To achieve complete revascularization, BIMAs may be used as either sole conduits for revascularization through a Y-graft configuration (BIMA-Y) or deployed with additional grafts used in conjunction with BIMAs. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of two institutions that predominantly used either the BIMA-Y configuration or BIMA plus additional grafts to achieve optimal revascularization. METHODS: From 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2010, 436 patients were revascularized using a non-sequential BIMA grafting at one institution (Group A), with veins being used for additional targets. At the second institution (Group B), 771 patients were revascularized using a BIMA-Y graft for all distal targets. Kaplan­Meier analysis was used to compare unadjusted survival between the groups. Cox proportional hazards regression modelling was used to provide an adjusted comparison of survival between the groups. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the average number of anastomotic sites used in Group A and Group B (A = 4.0 ± 0.7 vs B = 4.0 ± 0.7; P = 0.24). Group A did not have a significantly greater in-hospital mortality (0.7% vs 1.0% P = 0.39), stroke (0.5% vs 0.8% P = 0.40), deep sternal wound infection (0.0% vs 0.6% P = 0.11) or reoperation for bleeding (1.6% vs 0.6% P = 0.10) than Group B. Cox proportional hazards analyses demonstrated that at 14 years, Group B had a significantly improved survival compared to Group A (Group B = 88% vs Group A = 81%) with an overall reduction in mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.780, 95% confidence interval 0.448­0.849; P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Utilization of the BIMA-Y configuration was associated with improved survival when compared to BIMA grafting with additional vein grafts. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of BIMA-Y grafting against other means of providing complete arterial revascularization.

Complete myocardial revascularization using only bilateral internal thoracic arteries provides a low-risk and durable 10-year clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) bypass provides long-term survival benefits over strategies that use single internal mammary arteries during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, the rate of adoption of this strategy remains very low. Moreover, optimal BITA configuration and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass still remain a matter of debate. We investigated the long-term results of a coronary revascularization strategy, utilising exclusively BITA-Y composite grafts using off-pump platform and sequential anastomoses. METHODS: From March 2000 to November 2010, all isolated CABGs (n = 2057 patients) were performed using an off-pump platform. Of these, 1240 patients had three-vessel coronary disease (60.3%), with severe coronary disease defined as >70% stenosis and three-vessel disease defined as the presence of 3 vessels with >70% stenosis, of which 784 (63.2%) were treated with two internal thoracic artery grafts in a composite fashion with a no-touch technique avoiding any manipulation of the ascending aorta. The primary end-point was the long-term survival and freedom from major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (MACCEs). The follow-up was completed using the annual anniversary method. RESULTS: The mean number of anastomoses per patient was 4.0. Hospital mortality occurred in 8 patients (1%). Ninety-day stroke, myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization rates were respectively 0.7, 0.6 and 0.3%. The mean follow-up was 6.6 ± 3.2 years and was obtained for 99% of the patients. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 93.1 ± 1.6 and 83.8 ± 3.2%, respectively. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular event (MACCE) at 5 and 10 years was: cardiovascular event: 98.7 ± 1.6 and 96.1 ± 1.7%, documented ischaemia: 90.5 ± 2 and 80.2 ± 3.8%, revascularization: 94.0 ± 1.5 and 89.7 ± 2.5%, infarction: 98.1 ± 0.8 and 96.0 ± 1.6%. The patency of left and right internal thoracic artery in a BITA-Y configuration was 91.1 and 88.8% at 5 ± 3 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Performance of an exclusive composite BITA off-pump revascularization strategy optimal and sustained long-term protection from MACCE.

Long-Term Survival and Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Postinfarction Cardiogenic Shock.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the long-term outcome of patients undergoing emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (eCABG) for cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients underwent eCABG for cardiogenic shock at 2 European institutions during an 11-year period. Preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and long-term follow-up data of all patients were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Hospital survival was 86% (58 of 67), with all deaths due to cardiac causes. At a mean follow-up of 78 ± 48 months (range, 1 to 153 months), 43 of the 58 patients (74%) discharged from the hospital were alive. Causes of death in 9 of the 15 follow-up deaths (60%) were noncardiac. Overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 64% (43 of 67). Of the 43 survivors, 41 (95%) were in New York Heart Association Functional Classification I to II, ischemia free, had a Karnofsky performance status exceeding 80, and an excellent quality of life as assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass and the internal thoracic artery were associated with significantly better long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term survival and quality of life of patients who undergo eCABG for cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction are good, and eCABG should be considered a valuable therapeutic option in this setting. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass and the internal thoracic artery at the time of the operation are strongly advocated.

Chronic competitive flow from a patent arterial or venous graft to the circumflex system does not impair the long-term patency of internal thoracic artery to left anterior descending grafts in patients with isolated predivisional left main disease: long-term angiographic results of 2 different revascularization strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To compare 2 different surgical approaches to treatment of patients with isolated predivisional stenosis of the left main coronary artery (IOSLM) and to evaluate the effect of chronic competitive flow from a patent arterial or venous graft to the circumflex system on the long-term patency of internal thoracic artery (ITA) to left anterior descending grafts. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with IOSLM were treated at our institutions during a 9-year period: 14 patients received double ITA grafts, whereas 18 underwent ITA graft plus saphenous vein (SV) bypass. All patients were reviewed clinically and angiographically at long-term follow-up. RESULTS: No patient died during hospitalization. At a mean follow-up of 96±9 months 7 patients had died (6 from noncardiac causes) and 5 had experienced angina/ischemia recurrence, without differences between the 2 revascularization strategies. At control reangiography all ITA and SV grafts were found to be fully patent, without evidence of caliber reduction or string sign in the ITA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with IOSLM, long-term ITA to left anterior descending artery patency is not jeopardized by chronic flow competition from a concomitant arterial or venous graft to the circumflex system. Notably, the addition of a second ITA graft or of a SV to the first ITA does not lead to differences in long-term angiographic patency. Our results minimize the role of flow competition in this setting and should be kept in mind when choosing the appropriate graft configuration.

Exclusive percutaneous approach for surgical transaortic transcatheter valve replacement.

Direct transaortic implantation (TAo) has been described as a new alternative approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with unsuitable transfemoral access. TAo is usually achieved through an upper ministernotomy or, more recently, through a right thoracotomy in the second intercostal space. We describe here our first experience with a fully thoracoscopic approach that allowed successful deployment of a 23-mm Edwards SAPIEN valve.

Five-year follow-up of drug-eluting stents implantation vs minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass for left anterior descending artery disease: a propensity score analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The spread of drug-eluting stents (DES) has reduced the incidence of early restenosis following percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Meanwhile, development of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB) has offered a valuable alternative to conventional sternotomy with preservation of the benefit of the internal mammary artery use. Therefore, the revascularization of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery is suitable for both techniques. However, few data with long-term comparison of these two techniques exist. METHODS: Prospective data were collected for 456 patients undergoing isolated LAD revascularization between 1997 and 2011. Two hundred and sixty patients were treated with MIDCAB and 196 with first-generation DES implantation. A propensity score model was created to adjust for 19 relevant confounding variables. Primary and secondary end-points were, respectively, 5-year survival and freedom from major adverse cerebro-cardiovascular events (MACCE). RESULTS: Both groups were similar in age, EuroSCORE and mean duration of follow-up. Five-year survival was similar after MIDCAB or DES (hazard ratio (HR): 0.95; P = 0.89). Freedom from MACCE was significantly in favour of the MIDCAB group (HR: 0.32, P < 0.0001), mainly triggered by high subsequent need for revascularization of the targeted vessel in the DES group (HR: 0.17, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: MIDCAB and DES implantation showed similar rates of survival but despite an expected lower rate of reintervention on the targeted vessel with DES use, a highly significant higher MACCE rate was observed in the PCI group at 5-year follow-up.

Embol-X intraaortic filter and transaortic approach for improved cerebral protection in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Techniques for transcatheter aortic valve implantation involve manipulation of the native aortic valve and the aortic arch. As a result, excellent technical outcomes of this technique remain counterbalanced by a level of neurologic complications that remain unacceptably high. We present here a report of a new potential combined approach to reduce periprocedural neurologic events. After a 6-cm J-shaped upper-mini-sternotomy, 26-mm Sapien valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) was deployed through a transaortic approach. In addition, the Embol-X device (Edwards Lifescience) was directly inserted in the distal ascending aorta was deployed during all the procedure. Postoperative evolution was clinically uneventful. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed no new ischemic lesions in this first patient.

Transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the Edwards SAPIEN valve: feasibility, technical considerations, and clinical advantages.

The randomized Partner study [1] has recently shown superiority of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation, in patients who are not candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement, when compared with conventional nonsurgical therapies. In patients who are not candidates for the transfemoral approach because of peripheral vascular disease or other contraindications, deployment of the SAPIEN valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) in an antegrade fashion can be achieved through the apex of the left ventricle. However this valuable technique carries specific risks inherent to the access route. Transaortic implantation, through an upper ministernotomy, offers a new alternative that could avoid complications related to the transapical approach.

Recycling of internal thoracic arteries in reoperative coronary surgery: in-hospital and midterm results.

BACKGROUND: Selected patients, presenting for reoperative coronary surgery with patent internal thoracic arteries (ITAs), may benefit from techniques to salvage and reuse these ITA grafts. We have termed this practice the recycling of ITAs. The purpose of this study is to report our short-term and midterm results using various recycling techniques. METHODS: Between April 1996 and February 2009, 60 patients underwent ITA recycling at our institution. Information regarding survival and cardiac events was obtained from a prospectively maintained, institutional database. Survival and freedom from major adverse cardiac events were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Mean follow-up duration was 60 ± 36 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 64 ± 9 years and the mean time to reoperation was 117 ± 68 months. The patent ITA served as an inflow for a composite Y graft in 39 patients and was distally reimplanted on the same coronary vessel in 9 patients. A combination of these two techniques was used in 8 patients. Other techniques were used in the remaining 4 patients. Freedom from cardiac death was 93% ± 7% and 85% ± 9% at 1 and 5 years and freedom from major adverse cardiac events was 93% ± 7% and 81% ± 11% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Recycling of ITA grafts during reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting is safe and feasible in selected patients. These techniques can be useful in selected young patients to avoid saphenous vein graft or in patients with a lack of graft conduits.

Preservation of the pulmonary autograft after failure of the Ross procedure.

OBJECTIVE: Failure of the pulmonary autograft following the Ross Procedure is mainly due to dilatation and/or cusp prolapse causing insufficiency. We analysed the result of pulmonary autograft valve sparing and repair, using techniques developed for native aortic root and valve. METHODS: Of a total of 275 patients who underwent Ross operation between 1991 and 2009, 31 needed autograft re-operation. Of the 28 patients re-operated in our centre, 26 (93%) had autograft valve preservation and they represent the study cohort. At the initial Ross procedure, root remplacement technique was performed in 20 patients and autograft inclusion technique was performed in 6. Mean redo interval was 9.3 + or - 3.5 years and mean age at redo was 44 + or - 13 years. Indications for re-operations were neo-aorta dilatation (n=12; 46%), autograft insufficiency (n=4; 15%) and dilatation with autograft insufficiency (n=10; 40%). Neo-aorta dilatation was repaired using valve-sparing root replacement (n=12, 46%) or ascending aorta replacement (n=10; 40%). Cusp prolapse was repaired by commissural re-suspension (n=1), free margin plication (n=10) or re-suspension with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; n=6). Cusp repair was performed in isolation (n=4) or in association with sparing (n=5) or ascending aorta replacement (n=4). RESULTS: There was no in-hospital mortality. Two patients having undergone isolated cusp repair needed valve replacement for recurrent insufficiency after 5 days and 8 years postoperatively. At follow-up (100% complete, median: 27 months) all patients were alive, in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I (n=22; 84%) or II (n=4; 16%). No autograft regurgitation was present in nine patients (five sparing and four ascending aorta replacement); grade I insufficiency was present in 11 (six sparing and five ascending aorta replacement), grade 2 in two (one sparing and one isolated cusp repair) and grade 3 in two (one ascending aorta replacement and one isolated cusp repair). At 3 years, overall freedom from autograft insufficiency > or = grade 3 was 80%. CONCLUSION: Preservation of the pulmonary autograft valve can be safely performed in selected patients. At midterm, repair of neo-aorta dilatation using valve-sparing root replacement or ascending aorta replacement showed acceptable results. In contrast, results of cusp repair for isolated autograft insufficiency were unsatisfactory.

Comparison of fractional flow reserve of composite Y-grafts with saphenous vein or right internal thoracic arteries.

BACKGROUND: Composite Y-grafts, using the left internal thoracic artery as the inflow, allow a more efficient use of conduits without the need to touch a diseased ascending aorta. Among other conduits, the saphenous vein graft may be an alternative to the radial artery in elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the hemodynamic characteristics of 17 composite Y-grafts made with the left internal thoracic artery anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery in all cases and with either the free right internal thoracic artery (RITA group, n = 10) or a saphenous vein graft (SVG group, n = 7) implanted proximally to the left internal thoracic artery and distally to the circumflex territory 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: At baseline, the pressure gradient measured with a 0.014-inch pressure wire was minimal between the aorta and the internal thoracic artery stem (2 +/- 1 mm Hg), the internal thoracic artery and left anterior descending (4 +/- 2 mm Hg), the internal thoracic artery and left circumflex (3 +/- 1 mm Hg), and the saphenous vein graft and left circumflex (2 +/- 2 mm Hg). During hyperemia induced by adenosine, the pressure gradient increased significantly to 6 +/- 2 mm Hg in the internal thoracic artery stem, 9 +/- 4 mm Hg in the internal thoracic artery and left anterior descending artery, 9 +/- 3 mm Hg in the internal thoracic artery and left circumflex, and 7 +/- 4 mm Hg in the saphenous vein graft and left circumflex. Fractional flow reserve was 0.94 +/- 0.02 in internal thoracic artery stem, 0.90 +/- 0.04 mm Hg in the internal thoracic artery and left anterior descending, 0.91 +/- 0.03 mm Hg in the internal thoracic artery and left circumflex, and 0.92 +/- 0.06 mm Hg in the saphenous vein graft and left circumflex. No difference between the two types of composite Y-grafts was observed for pressure gradients or fractional flow reserve measured in internal thoracic artery stem or in distal branches. CONCLUSIONS: Composite Y-grafts with saphenous vein or right internal thoracic arteries allow similar and adequate reperfusion of the left system with minimal resistance to maximal flow and an even distribution of flow in both distal branches.

Causes of non-functioning right internal mammary used in a Y-graft configuration: insight from a 6-month systematic angiographic trial.

OBJECTIVE: Y-graft configuration with left and right ITA (RITA) allows complete arterial revascularisation. We previously compared two types of ITA revascularisation in a prospective randomised trial with a systematic 6-month angiographic follow-up study. The present study is a secondary analysis of these populations to evaluate the angiographic parameters influencing the function of the RITA used in a Y-graft configuration. METHODS: The functionality of the RITA was based on the TIMI grade flow: in TIMI grade 0 (occluded graft) and in TIMI grade 1 or 2 (balanced flow), the RITA was considered not functional. RITA was considered functional when a complete opacification (TIMI 3) of all anastomoses of the targeted coronary vessels was observed. RESULTS: A total of 25.3% of RITA were not functional. In univariate analysis, the number of anastomoses, the type and size of grafted coronary segments and the severity of the native coronary stenosis influenced ITA function. In multivariate analysis, the function of the RITA was positively influenced by the number of anastomoses (OR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.7), and a severely narrowed first circumflex (OR=39.1, CI: 8.1-189.2) and negatively by the presence of a grafted intermediate coronary artery (OR=0.01, CI: 0.003-0.06), and of a grafted RCA (OR=0.08, CI: 0.02-0.35). The size of targeted vessel, history of infarction and regional myocardial function did not influence ITA function. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic angiographic study, the function of the RITA used as a Y-graft was significantly improved when used on several branches of the circumflex artery or on a severely narrowed first circumflex. Grafting of the intermediate branch or of a RCA has a negative prognostic influence on graft function.

Comparison of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery with implantation of drug-eluting stentsin patients with left anterior descending coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: : Bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions improve the clinical status of patients with left anterior descending coronary artery disease. However, these techniques differ in invasiveness and in the need for subsequent reinterventions. The development of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery and of drug-eluting stents (DES) offers perspectives to close this gap. METHODS: : We compared the long-term clinical outcome of 308 patients after revascularization for isolated left anterior descending coronary artery disease. One hundred fifty-four patients were treated with MIDCAB and 154 with percutaneous coronary interventions and DES implantation. RESULTS: : Both groups were similar in age (63 ± 13 and 62 ± 10 years), Euroscore (3.3 ± 2.8 and 3.4 ± 2.6), and mean duration of follow-up (30 ± 17 and 24 ± 10 months). Two-year survival was similar after MIDCAB and after DES (97.4% and 94.8%). During follow-up, four patients (2.6%) of the MIDCAB group and 21 patients (13.6%) of the DES group needed subsequent revascularization of the target vessel (P = 0.001). Revascularization of a nontarget vessel was needed in 11 patients (7%) of the MIDCAB group and in 17 patients (11%) of the DES group (NS). Neurologic complications included two transient ischemic accidents and two strokes in the MIDCAB group but three fatal cerebral hemorrhages and one stroke in the DES group. Major adverse coronary and cerebrovascular events rates were 14% in the MIDCAB and 31% in the DES group. CONCLUSIONS: : MIDCAB and DES implantation showed similar rates of mortality but a higher reintervention rate after DES. Anticoagulation implications remain critical for the future of DES.

Comparison of bilateral internal thoracic artery revascularization using in situ or Y graft configurations: a prospective randomized clinical, functional, and angiographic midterm evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA) demonstrated superiority over other grafts to the left coronary system in terms of patency and survival benefit. Several BITA configurations are proposed for left-sided myocardial revascularization, but the ideal BITA assemblage is still unidentified. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 03/2003 to 08/2006, 1297 consecutive patients underwent isolated bypass surgery in our institution. 481 patients met the inclusion criteria for randomization, and 304 (64%) were randomized. Patients were allocated to BITA in situ grafting (n=147) or Y configuration (n=152) then evaluated for clinical, functional, and angiographic outcome after 6 months and 3 years. Patient telephone interviews were conducted every 3 months and a stress test performed twice yearly under the referring cardiologist's supervision. Angiographic follow-up was performed 6 months after surgery. The primary and secondary end points were, respectively, major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events (MACCE) and the proportion of ITA grafts that were completely occluded at follow-up angiography. More arterial anastomoses were performed in patients randomized to the Y than the in situ configuration (3.2 versus 2.4; P<0.001). No significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of hospital mortality or morbidity was found. At follow-up, there was no significant difference in any MACCE rate between the 2 groups. 450 out of 464 anastomosis (97%) in the BITA Y group and 287 of 295 (97%) in the BITA in situ group were controlled patent (P=0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Excellent patency rates were achieved using both BITA configurations with no significant differences in terms of MACCE up to 19 months postoperatively, but longer-term results remain to be established.