Effectiveness of Artificial Neochordae Implantation in Tricuspid Valve Repair.

Various techniques for treating tricuspid regurgitation have been described; however, because of scarce data about the long-term outcomes of different repairs, the optimal technique has not been established. We evaluated the effectiveness and durability of artificial neochordae implantation in the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation. From 2009 through 2014, 507 patients underwent tricuspid valve repair at our institution. Of those, 48 patients implanted with artificial neochordae were included in our study. The median age of the participants was 62 years (range, 4-77 yr) and 50% were women. Thirty patients (63%) were in New York Heart Association functional class III, and 11 (23%) were in class II. The cause of tricuspid regurgitation was functional in 33 patients (69%) and rheumatic in 15 (31%). In 46 patients, neochordae implantation was performed in addition to Kay annuloplasty (n=13) or ring annuloplasty (n=33). Forty-two patients were discharged from the hospital with absent or mild tricuspid regurgitation. The mean follow-up period was 44.3 ± 20.2 months. Follow-up echocardiograms revealed that tricuspid regurgitation was absent, minimal, or mild in 38 patients (80.8%), moderate in 7, and severe in 2. Our results indicate that the use of artificial neochordae implantation as an adjunct procedure to annuloplasty leads to effective and durable repair in comparison with conventional techniques for treating tricuspid regurgitation.

Does using Jackson-Pratt drain affect the incidence of sternal wound complications after open cardiac surgery?

BACKGROUND: TThis study aims to investigate the effect of the Jackson-Pratt drain on sternal wound complications in patients with a Body Mass Index of ≥30 kg/m2 undergoing open cardiac surgery via median sternotomy. METHODS: A total of 174 patients (124 males, 50 females; mean age 58.2±10.4 years; range, 33 to 78 years) with a Body Mass Index of ≥30 kg/m2 undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy between January 2011 and December 2015 in our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Of the patients, 94 were inserted a Jackson-Pratt drain (JP group) following median sternotomy, while 80 patients received no drain (non-JP group). Pre-, intra, and postoperative outcomes of both groups including type of operation, length of hospital stay, and complications were compared. RESULTS: No significant difference in the age, gender, Body Mass Index, and potential risk factors was found between the groups. The median of stay in the intensive care unit was two days and the median time from operation to discharge was seven days in both groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of sternal wound complications between the groups. Sternal wound complications occurred in two patients (2.1%) in the drained group, compared to nine patients (11.25%) in the non-drained group (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study results show that Jackson-Pratt drain insertion after median sternotomy in patients with a Body Mass Index of ≥30 kg/m2 undergoing open cardiac surgery is a simple and reliable method to reduce the risk of postoperative sternal wound complications, compared to the conventional closure technique.

A Review of the Exclusion Technique as a Mode of Surgical Repair in the Treatment of Aortoiliac Aneurysms with Spontaneous Arteriovenous Fistulas

Patients who have aortoiliac aneurysms with arteriovenous fistulas are difficult to treat. The traditional mode of surgical repair based on aneurysmal excision, fistula closure and graft inclusion has been associated with high perioperative mortality. As an alternative the exclusion technique has also been utilized. Over the years the popularity and success rate of endovascular techniques have increased in the treatment of these patients, yet a technical failure during an endovascular repair always makes surgical repair inevitable. This paper aims to review the outcomes of aneurysmal exclusion as a modality of surgical repair in the treatment of patients who have aortic and/or iliac aneurysms with arteriovenous fistulas. The literature in English was researched utilizing the MEDLINE database. Articles reporting on surgical exclusion of abdominal arterial aneurysms with arteriovenous fistulas were included. Overall, four cases in three patients and our unpublished experience in a fifth case were evaluated. There were two aortoiliac, one aortic, one secondary iliac and one pure iliac artery aneurysm, all with fistulas into the venous system. All patients recovered well following the exclusion operations. There were no operative or 30-day mortalities. One patient had inferior vena cava obstruction. Another patient developed a secondary iliac artery aneurysm with iliac vein fistula 2 years postoperatively, due to an internal iliac artery which was not ligated during the first operation. Reported data indicate that for patients who have aortoiliac aneurysms with arteriovenous fistulas, the exclusion technique is a viable surgical alternative either as a first-line choice or when other strategies are not technically feasible.

Long-Term Results of Pericardial Autologous Patch Enlargement of the Aortic Annulus Using the Manouguian Technique.

BACKGROUND: The management of a small aortic root at the time of aortic valve replacement is controversial. In cases in which the aortic root is very small the choice of aortic valve type and of root-enlargement method is difficult. The technical challenge of the small aortic root has instigated the creation of methods for annular enlargement. Severe mismatch as a predictor of overall 30-day mortality or midterm mortality reports about long-term results of aortic valve replacement using autologous pericardial patch are scarce. Moreover, no reports about patient series are present in the English medical literature. This retrospective study was designed to address this gap in evidence. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (with or without mitral valve replacement and/or coronary artery bypass grafting) at Baskent University Adana Medical Center between June 30, 1999 and April 10, 2006 were retrospectively evaluated. All clinical and echocardiographical data belonging to this population were specified. Their perioperational data were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty patients operated using the Manouguian technique for narrow aortic root from June 1999 to April 2006 were followed for 8.54 ± 3.35 years. Fourteen patients were alive at the end of the follow-up. Six patients had died. Early mortality rate was 5% and late mortality after 8.54 ± 3.35 years was 30%. Late mortality related to cardiac reasons was 5%. Only one death could be attributed to a cardiac cause which occured in a 36-year-old male patient 3 years and 6 months after the operation. 70% of the patients were alive after a mean follow-up period of 8.54 ± 3.35 years. CONCLUSION: The main finding of the present study is that aortic root enlargement using untreated fresh autologous pericardium in Manouguian type operations is a durable option, especially in conditions when homograft or stentless valve use is difficult or economically not feasible. We found that no patient had aneurysmal dilatation or mitral regurgitation after a mean follow-up of 8.54 ± 3.35 years with autologous untreated pericardium as the enlargement patch.

Embedded Left Anterior Descending Artery During Coronary Bypass Operations: A 15-year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Revascularisation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is the most important part of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations. We analysed the results of CABG in patients with embedded LADs compared to age and gender-matched controls. METHODS: Among 4,102 patients undergoing primary on-pump CABG from January, 1999, through April, 2014, 92 had embedded LADs. Direct dissection (n= 19) or retrograde probe technique (n= 73) was utilised to expose the LAD. Controls had epicardial courses of the LAD. A retrospective study was performed and follow-up information was obtained. RESULTS: Cross clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were longer (63.5 ± 8.5 vs. 46.6 ± 20, p<0.001; and 81.4 ± 21.4 vs. 60.1 ± 20.8, p<0.001, respectively) in the study group in which four patients had right ventricular injury (n = 3, direct dissection; n = 1, retrograde probe). The groups did not differ in terms of associated comorbidities, number of grafts, reoperation rate for bleeding, duration of intensive care unit stay, and duration of hospital stay. There were no hospital deaths in either group. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed similar survival rates postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with embedded LADs, surgical outcomes following on-pump CABG compare favourably with the age- and gender-matched controls.

Mitral valve surgery using video-assisted right minithoracotomy and deep hypothermic perfusion in patients with previous cardiac operations.

BACKGROUND: Redo-sternotomy for mitral valve (MV) surgery may be complex and attendant complications can be avoided using anterolateral right thoracotomy, deep hypothermia (20°C, nasopharyngeal) with low flow cardiopulmonary perfusion. Video-assisted minithoracotomy technique is a further improvement. METHODS: We performed 20 consecutive MV operations in patients with previous cardiac surgery using video-assisted right minithoracotomy, femoro-femoral bypass, deep hypothermia, low flow cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic cross-clamping. The mean follow-up was 30 ± 17.8 mo. Data is presented as the mean ± standard deviation of the mean. RESULTS: There were 11 males and 9 females (age, 62.3 ± 12.1; ejection fraction 50.1 ± 11.2). Operations included MV replacement (n = 11), MV repair (n = 5), and MV re-replacement (n = 4). There were no hospital deaths, and the mean hospital stay was 8 ± 2.9 days. There were no postoperative strokes or need for mechanical circulatory support. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 152 ± 28 minutes. Two patients (10%) required inotropic support beyond 24 hrs. All patients were free from inotropic support at 48 hours. The mean number of transfused red cell units was 2.8 ± 0.8 (range, 2 to 4). One patient died in another institution six months postoperatively following surgery for acute type III aortic dissection. At 30 ± 17.8 months follow-up all patients were found to be in NYHA Class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive video-assisted MV surgery using deep hypothermia, low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic clamping can result in excellent clinical outcomes in patients with previous cardiac surgery via a median sternotomy. This technique offers reproducible results, good myocardial protection (as evidenced by the low rate of inotropic support that patients needed postoperatively), and low rates of complications.

Intimal intussusception in aortic dissection and coexisting coronary artery disease.

Intimal tear is rarely circumferential in aortic dissection. In such an instance, intimal intussusception may occur. This exposes the patient to the additional risk of severe aortic regurgitation, blockage of the left main coronary artery ostium, or both in proximal intimal intussusception in ascending aortic dissection. Here we present a 61-year-old patient with ascending aortic dissection, aortic regurgitation caused by an intussuscepted proximal intimal flap, and coexisting coronary artery disease. The presenting symptoms and electrocardiographic findings simulated an acute coronary syndrome. Among other diagnostic measures, only transesophageal echocardiography clearly defined the pathologic condition. The patient underwent a successful aortic root replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting.

Repair of aortic coarctation and aneurysm of ductus arteriosus in the presence of right-sided arch and descending aorta.

Association of right aortic arch and coarctation of the aorta is rare. A patient with aortic coarctation was presented to our clinic. Detailed radiological work-up revealed aortic coarctation, aneurysm of ductus arteriosus, mirror image brachiocephalic vessels, right-sided arch, and right-sided descending aorta. The patient underwent successful operative repair through a right thoracotomy. She is normotensive and doing well two years postoperatively.

Effect of female gender on the outcome of coronary artery bypass surgery for left main coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Early mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting is generally higher in women than in men. This study analyzes the effect of female gender on early mortality of coronary artery bypass grafting particularly for left main coronary artery disease. METHODS: Study population consisted of 144 consecutive patients (33 women, 111 men) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting for left main coronary artery disease. Mean follow-up was 25.1 +/- 14.0 months. Data were collected retrospectively and presented as mean +/- standard deviation. Survival analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier actuarial curve method with the log rank univariate test, followed by Cox's proportional rate multivariate model. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 7% in the patient population. Cox regression analysis revealed that the independent predictors of increased total mortality were female gender (HR 8.34, 95% CI 1.79 - 38.76, p=0.007), advanced age (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.23, p=0.014), degree of left main coronary artery stenosis (HR 1.068, 95%CI 1.005-1.135, p=0.03), and left ventricular ejection fraction (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-0.99, p=0.03). Female gender was found to be the only independent predictor of increased early mortality (HR 13.18, 95%CI 1.444-120.343, p=0.02). After discharge from the hospital, female gender was no more a predictor of increased mortality. CONCLUSION: According to these data, we may assume that female gender is related with increased mortality in coronary artery surgery for left main disease in the pre-discharge period however after discharge from hospital, long-term benefit of female survivors of coronary artery bypass grafting operated on for left main coronary artery disease might be as good as in men.

Association between postprandial hyperinsulinemia and coronary artery disease among non-diabetic women: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: We planned a case-control study to assess the relation of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, postprandial glucose and postprandial insulin levels with coronary artery disease in nondiabetic women. METHODS: Among 968 consecutive nondiabetic women screened, 104 with coronary artery disease (mean age 60, 4+/-9) made up the study cohort (group I). One-hundred and four age-matched, nondiabetic women without coronary artery disease who had a similar lipid and blood pressure profile (group II), and 52 healthy, age-matched women served as controls (group III, real control group). Demographics, waist circumference, lipids, fasting glucose postprandial glucose, fasting and postprandial insulin levels were compared among the groups. A separate subgroup analysis were performed in patients with metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: No differences were identified in terms of prevalences of risk factors between group I and group II. Women with coronary artery disease had higher postprandial insulin level than the women in group II and group III. In reverse stepwise logistic regression analysis postprandial hyperinsulinemia was found to be the single independent determinant for coronary artery disease for the entire study group as well as for women with metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that postprandial hyperinsulinemia is independently associated with coronary artery disease, irrespective of fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, and fasting insulin levels in nondiabetic women with clusterings of factors of metabolic syndrome.

Comparison of alpha-stat and pH-stat cardiopulmonary bypass in relation to jugular venous oxygen saturation and cerebral glucose-oxygen utilization.

UNLABELLED: Jugular venous oxygen saturation (SJVO(2)) reflects the balance between cerebral blood flow and metabolism. This study was designed to compare the effects of two different acid-base strategies on jugular venous desaturation (SJVO(2) <50%) and cerebral arteriovenous oxygen-glucose use. We performed a prospective, randomized study in 52 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) at 27 degrees C with either alpha-stat (n = 26) or pH-stat (n = 26) management. A retrograde internal jugular vein catheter was inserted, and blood samples were obtained at intervals during CPB. There were no differences in preoperative variables between the groups. SJVO(2) was significantly higher in the pH-stat group (at 30 min CPB: 86.2% +/- 6.1% versus 70.6% +/- 9.3%; P < 0.001). The differences in arteriovenous oxygen and glucose were smaller in the pH-stat group (at 30 min CPB: 1.9 +/- 0.82 mL/dL versus 3.98 +/- 1.12 mL/dL; P < 0.001; and 3.67 +/- 2.8 mL/dL versus 10.1 +/- 5.2 mL/dL; P < 0.001, respectively). All episodes of desaturation occurred during rewarming, and the difference in the incidence of desaturation between the two groups was not significant. All patients left the hospital in good condition. Compared with alpha-stat, the pH-stat strategy promotes an increase in SJVO(2) and a decrease in arteriovenous oxygen and arteriovenous glucose differences. These findings indicate an increased cerebral supply with pH-stat; however, this strategy does not eliminate jugular venous desaturation during CPB. IMPLICATIONS: A prospective, randomized study in 52 patients during cardiopulmonary bypass revealed that pH-stat increased jugular venous oxygen saturation and decreased arteriovenous oxygen-glucose differences. There was no difference in the incidence of jugular venous desaturation. These findings suggest an increased cerebral blood flow with no protection against jugular venous desaturation during pH-stat.