Redo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting via a left thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed our experience in a meticulously selected group of patients undergoing redo off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery from the descending aorta to the circumflex artery (Cx) and its branches. METHODS: Between January 2001 and October 2013, 32 patients at our hospital underwent redo off-pump CABG from the descending aorta to the Cx and its branches via a left posterolateral thoracotomy. Of these patients, 27 were male (84.3%) and five were female (15.7%), with a mean age of 61.66 ± 8.63 years. All patients had a patent left internal thoracic artery-to-left anterior descending coronary artery (LITA-LAD) anastomosis. Thoracotomy was performed through the fifth intercostal space. The saphenous vein or radial artery was prepared as a graft at the same time as the left posterolateral thoracotomy from the contralateral extremity, without any positional problem. RESULTS: The main reasons for surgery in this group of patients were new lesion formation in 19, graft occlusion in six, and both in seven patients. The average operating time was 143.90 ± 36.93 minutes, respiratory assist time was 5.08 ± 1.88 hours, intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 21.3 ± 4.41 hours and hospital stay was 5.06 ± 2.74 days. Thirty-eight bypasses were performed. The follow-up period was 56.17 ± 39.2 months. Six patients were lost in the follow-up period and four patients died. Twenty-two were alive and free of cardiac problems. CONCLUSION: Redo off-pump CABG via a left posterolateral thoracotomy provided a safe and effective surgical approach with lower rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients who required revascularisation of the Cx and its branches.

Septal myectomy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: late results with stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to assess the functional capacity of the survivors of septal myectomy for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in long-term follow-up as assessed by dobutamine stress echocardiography. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy underwent septal myectomy between 1975 and 1996. The mean age was 25.4 +/- 13.6 years (range, 6-58 years), and 10 of the patients were women. The early mortality was 4.3%. Hospital survivors (95.7%) were followed up for a mean of 43.8 +/- 28.7 months (range, 6-114 months). RESULTS: The postoperative mean functional capacity of the group was 1.47 +/- 0.56. No late deaths were reported. Forty-nine patients (74.2%) were evaluated with standard echocardiographic techniques, and 29 (43.9%) patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography. There was a significant decrease in the thickness of the interventricular septum after surgery. The mean preoperative and postoperative septal thickness was 1.99 +/- 0.59 cm (range, 1.3-3.8 cm) and 1.55 +/- 0.41 cm (range, 0.96-2.8 cm), respectively (p < 0.004). The mean posterior wall thickness was significantly less than the preoperative value (p = 0.008) and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was slightly greater in the postoperative measurements, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.162). Postoperative left ventricular outflow systolic gradients were reduced significantly when compared with preoperative values (preoperative mean, 78.4 +/- 33.6 mm Hg, range, 50-212 mm Hg versus postoperative mean, 17.9 +/- 15.9 mm Hg: range, 0-40 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Septal myectomy for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is a safe procedure with excellent clinical and functional results in the long-term follow-up.