Left ventricular surgical remodeling after the STICH trial.

Surgical treatment of anteroseptal scars has been, and still is, a challenging task for cardiac surgeons. Most patients are in heart failure and the infarcted areas can include different parts of the septum and the anterior wall. The core problem of ischemic congestive heart failure is the undue demand placed on the residual viable left ventricle myocardium. The surgical techniques used to correct the mismatch between contractile and asynergic areas differ, but the evolution of surgical techniques for left ventricular surgical remodeling (LVSR) is still a work in progress. The most popular one was proposed by Dor et al. in the 1980s and is still in general use. This technique addressed the problem of recovering a predictable volume but not necessarily the problem of rebuilding a physiologically conical shape. This anatomical aspect is becoming increasingly important, and the purpose of septal reshaping, as proposed by us in 2004, is more to recover a conical shape than to achieve volume reduction. Thus, we use the Dor operation only when septoapical scars are present. The need for a different surgical strategy is emphasized by the result of the STICH trial, which reports the data of 1000 patients randomized for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, n = 499) or CABG and LVSR (n = 501) and which failed to show any benefit of LVSR. However, the only surgical technique used was the classic Dor operation, where the purpose was to reestablish volume and not to recreate a physiological shape. This study, however, does not provide a definitive answer, as echocardiography results included only 212 patients in the CABG arm and 161 in the CABG and LVSR arm. Furthermore, previous myocardial infarction (MI) was not a prerequisite for study inclusion (13 % of patients in each group had no previous MI) and whether a previous MI was Q-wave or not was not specified. In conclusion, the long-term results after LVSR are satisfactory but appear to be better if a conical shape has been recreated. The role of preemptive surgery in selected cases and how to establish the limits of LVSR (grade of preoperative diastolic dysfunction, diastolic diameter, ventricular volumes, function of the remote zone, etc.) is still unclear. The impact of each individual treatment in the individual patient (medical treatment, CABG alone, CABG and LVSR) has still to be identified.

Radial artery for myocardial revascularization: long-term clinical and angiographic results.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the long-term clinical and angiographic results of the radial artery (RA) as a graft in coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four patients had a RA graft from July 1992 to July 1994. In 128 (group A) the RA was connected end to side (115) or end to end (13) to the left internal mammary artery. In 36 (group B) the proximal anastomosis was on the ascending aorta. RESULTS: Early mortality was 1.8% (group A 1.6% and group B 2.8%). Eight-year survival was 83.2%+/-3.2% (group A 82.1%+/-3.8% and group B 86.7%+/-6.2%, p = not significant [NS]), and event free survival was 80.1%+/-3.5% (group A 79.9%+/-4.4% and group B 80.2%+/-7.3%, p = NS). Sixty-one patients (37.2%) had an early angiography within 90 days from the operation. Patency rate of RA distal anastomoses were 98.9% (88 of 89), 98.7% in group A (77 of 78), 100% in group B (11 of 11; p = NS). After a mean of 48+/-27 months (6 to 96), 72 patients (51.1% of the survivors) had a new angiography. Patency rate of RA distal anastomoses was 95.6% (87 of 91), 93.8% in group A (61 of 65) and 100% in group B (26 of 26; p = NS). All the intermediate RA-LIMA anastomoses were patent at the early and late control. Patency rate for RA and IMAs was similar both early (88 of 89 versus 82 of 82; p = NS) and after 48+/-27 months (87 of 91 versus 93 of 93; p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term clinical results after RA grafting are satisfying. Angiographic patency rate, both early and after 48 months, is higher than 90% and is similar to that obtained with internal mammary arteries. The site of the proximal anastomosis does not influence early and late patency.

Mitral valve procedure in dilated cardiomyopathy: repair or replacement?

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve (MV) procedure for dilated cardiomyopathy is becoming popular. We analyzed the indications to MV repair or replacement according to our 10-year experience. METHODS: From January 1990 to May 2000, 49 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (12 idiopathic and 37 ischemic) underwent MV operation, 29 repair and 20 replacement. Preoperative evaluation included measurement of MV coaptation depth (CD) as a mirror of the abnormalities of MV apparatus leading to functional mitral regurgitation. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 4.2% (2 patients). One-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial survival was, respectively, 90%, 87%, 78%, and 73%. The possibility of survival with at least one New York Heart Association functional class improvement was 88%, 76%, 71%, and 65%. Return of functional mitral regurgitation after MV repair was nearly inevitable; however, using a scale from 0 to 4, mean postoperative functional mitral regurgitation was 1.2+/-0.8 when preoperative MVCD was 10 mm or less and 2.5+/-0.7 when preoperative MVCD was 11 mm or higher (p < 0.05). Globally, functional results were not influenced by the strategy of treatment (MV repair or replacement). CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve operation can give satisfying survival and good palliation of dilated cardiomyopathy. The MVCD can be helpful in the choice of the surgical strategy on the MV.

Early clinical experience with a new sutureless anastomotic device for proximal anastomosis of the saphenous vein to the aorta.

BACKGROUND: Avoiding aortic side clamping is useful to avoid local particulate embolization. A device that allows a saphenous vein graft to be anastomosed to the aorta without aortic manipulation is clinically evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: From July 1999 to March 2000, 17 patients who underwent myocardial revascularization had an aorta-saphenous vein graft anastomosis performed by means of an aortic anastomotic device. Eight were operated on with cardiopulmonary bypass and 9 without. The proximal anastomoses created by the aortic anastomotic device were performed before the institution of cardiopulmonary bypass or before the related distal anastomosis was performed. In 11 patients transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used. In 1 (6%) patient the saphenous vein graft was not deployed, and in 2 (12%) a single suture was added for minor bleeding. None of the 11 patients evaluated with transcranial Doppler ultrasound had evidence of particulate embolization during the procedure. No patient died or was reoperated on for bleeding. Six (35%) patients had a postoperative angiogram 48 +/- 26 days after the operation that showed widely patent proximal anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: Use of an aortic anastomotic device allows a sutureless anastomosis to be created between the aorta and saphenous vein graft. The device could be used in totally endoscopic myocardial revascularization. A second-generation device is ready to solve the problems encountered and to increase the ease in handling the device.

Off-pump myocardial revascularization using arterial conduits without cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: The feasibility of myocardial revascularization via a median sternotomy with arterial conduits, without and with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), was evaluated. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: From May 21, 1997, to November 30, 1999, 721 patients had myocardial revascularization without CPB via median sternotomy using at least two arterial conduits. The procedure was performed without CPB in 322 patients (Group A); the remaining 399 patients (Group B) underwent the same operation with the aid of CPB. Group A patients were older, with a higher ejection fraction and less redo than Group B. There was no early death in Group A versus nine (2.3%) patients in Group B (p < 0.02). Incidence of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were similar in both groups. Early major events incidences were 1.2% versus 8.0% (p < 0.001) in Groups A and B, respectively. Postoperative angiographic controls showed a cumulative patency rate of 98.4% and a perfect patency rate of 96.7%. After 30 months, Groups A and B showed an actuarial survival of 98.1 +/- 0.7 and 96.5 +/- 2.8 (p = ns) and an event-free survival of 96.6 +/- 1.0 and 96.5 +/- 2.8 (p = ns), respectively. CONCLUSION: Myocardial revascularization without CPB using arterial conduits can be accomplished with the same quality of results obtained with the use of CPB.

Reoperative coronary surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Reoperative coronary surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was analyzed to evaluate the technical profile of the patients studied and the benefit from this technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From November 21, 1994 to May 20, 1999, 166 patients had reoperative coronary surgery, 112 patients (Group A) with and 54 patients (Group B) without CPB. Median sternotomy was used in all the patients in Group A and in 13 patients in Group B. The remaining had a LAST (37 patients) or a posterolateral thoracotomy (4 patients). RESULTS: Anastomoses per patient were 2.4 +/- 0.8 in Group A and 1.1 +/- 0.4 in Group B (p < 0.001). When a single graft was needed, CPB was not used in 82.8% of the cases. However, when more than one graft was required, CPB was not used in only 5.6% of the cases. When a single territory had to be grafted, CPB was not used in 76.6% of the patients. If two territories were grafted, only 6.8% of the patients were in Group B, whereas no patient who needed a graft in all the three territories was in Group B. Overall mortality was 3.6% cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence were 0.6% and 1.8%, respectively, and were similar in both groups. Incidence of early major events (overall 8.4%) was not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The primary endpoints (mortality, CVA rate, and AMI) were similar in both groups, but patients in Group B were less complicated. However, patients in the two groups were not the same, as the technical profile was quite different. As our results were similar to those obtained in the first operation, we think that consideration of different surgical possibilities, depending on territory to be grafted, will improve the results of redo coronary surgery, making them similar to those obtained in the first operation.

Angiographic anatomy of the grafted left internal mammary artery.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that persistence of undivided branches is a common finding after myocardial revascularization using the left internal mammary artery was explored. METHODS: Three hundred seven consecutive postoperative angiographies of the left internal mammary artery were considered. Seven were excluded because of occlusion or malfunction of the conduit or the anastomosis. Of the remaining 300, 150 were harvested through a left anterior small thoracotomy (group A) and 150 through a median sternotomy (group B). The persistence of undivided branches was recorded for each group. RESULTS: Common origin with other branches of the subclavian artery was present in 55 patients in group A and 54 in group B (p = not significant); the persistence of lateral costal branch was also equally distributed in both groups (15 and 17; p = not significant). The first intercostal artery was present in 5 patients in group A and in none in group B (p = not significant). Branches of 1 mm or more were more frequent in group A (34 versus 4, p < 0.001), as well as branches of less than 1 mm (140 versus 67; p < 0.001). Only 2 patients in group A had no branches versus 48 patients in group B (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Common origin with other branches of the subclavian artery and persistence of the lateral costal branch are common aspects in the angiographic anatomy of the grafted left internal mammary artery. Moreover, new branches, sometimes wider than 1 mm, develop with time. These findings are independent from the harvesting technique, the left anterior small thoracotomy, or the median sternotomy. If flow competition between the coronary and noncoronary territories was a reality, coronary artery grafting with the left internal mammary artery would be unsuccessful since the beginning.

Off or on bypass: what is the safety threshold?

BACKGROUND: To identify the technical profile of the patients operated on without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the benefit of the procedure. METHODS: From May 21, 1997, to December 31, 1998, 785 patients had coronary artery bypass grafting through a median sternotomy (group A: 472 without CPB; group B: 290 with CPB; group C: 23 converted). Technical aspects, mortality rate, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) incidence (crude and risk-adjusted), and incidence of major complications were recorded. RESULTS: Patients without CPB had mainly one to three grafts and one- or two-vessel disease. Multiple arterial grafting was not a limit, whereas sequential grafting was. Group A had lower complications rates, shorter intensive care unit and postoperative in hospital stays, and lower transfusion rates. Mortality rates and CVA incidence (crude and risk-adjusted) were similar in both groups and in each subgroup considered. In group A, a lower complications rate was present in some patients (aged greater than 70 years, female, with unstable angina). Group C showed higher mortality and complications rates. Failure of revascularization showed no difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Primary endpoints are not affected by the surgical strategy, whereas some of the secondary endpoints are. However, patients in group A experienced fewer complications. Both techniques can give satisfying results and must be applied according to the surgeon's preference.

Bilateral internal mammary artery grafting: midterm results of pedicled versus skeletonized conduits.

BACKGROUND: To increase the number of anastomoses per patient, bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMAs) were harvested with a skeletonized approach instead of a pedicled one. METHODS: One thousand one hundred forty-six patients underwent isolated myocardial revascularization using BIMAs, 304 receiving pedicled grafts (group A, October 1991 through May 1994) and 842 receiving skeletonized conduits (group B, June 1994 through June 1998). Group B had a higher incidence of patients with diabetes (223 versus 40, p < 0.001). RESULTS: The number of BIMA anastomoses per patient was significantly higher in group B (2.4 +/- 0.3 versus 2.1 +/- 0.4, p < 0.001), as well as the number of sequential grafts (288 versus 42, p < 0.001). Twenty-three patients (2.0%) died in the first 30 days after surgery, 5 in group A (1.6%) and 18 in group B (2.1%) (not significant). Postoperative complications were similar in both groups; the incidence of sternal wound healing problems was higher as a whole and with regard to diabetic patients (4 of 40 [10%] versus 5 of 223 [2.2%], p < 0.05) in group A. Seventy-one patients in group A and 133 (15.8%) in group B underwent a postoperative angiography. Patency rate was similar, both early (100% in group A versus 98.6% in group B, not significant) and late (98.6% in group A versus 98.4% in group B, not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The use of skeletonized BIMA conduits allowed us to increase the number of BIMA anastomoses per patient with a lower rate of sternal wound complications and angiographic results similar to those obtained with pedicled BIMA conduits.

Left anterior small thoracotomy (LAST): mid-term results in single vessel disease.

BACKGROUND: Left anterior descending artery grafting using the left internal mammary artery via a left anterior small thoracotomy (LAST) gained new popularity in 1994. We review our experience in 250 of 512 patients who underwent a LAST in single vessel left anterior descending artery disease from November 1994 to October 1997. METHODS: Left anterior descending artery stabilization was obtained pharmacologically and mechanically. Two patients (0.8%) had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty at a mean of 23 +/- 5 days; 172 (68.8%) patients had early postoperative angiography. RESULTS: Eight conduits were occluded (patency rate 95.3%). There was only one late death. Cumulative angiography and Doppler flow evaluation showed that 96.8% of the anastomoses were patent and 95.6% were both patent and nonrestrictive. At a mean follow-up of 16.3 +/- 9.3 months, 9 (3.6%) patients had redo-surgery due to anastomotic/conduit failure and 249 (99.6%) patients were alive and asymptomatic. No patients had acute myocardial infarction. The 35-month actuarial survival rate was 99.6% +/- 0.4%, and the event-free survival rate for the entire experience was 93.7% +/- 1.3%. If only the last 157 patients are considered, at 18 months event-free survival was higher than in the entire group of patients (96.4% +/- 1.4% vs 93.7% +/- 1.3%, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: New instrumentation has made the operation easier and has contributed to its spread, along with increased experience and the end of the learning curve. At the moment we consider the LAST a more anatomical and physiological surgical approach to single vessel coronary disease.