Surgical treatment of interventional coronary angiographic accidents.

Newer methodologies have increased the incidence of coronary interventions. At the authors' institution, 5,614 coronary interventional procedures (28% of all catheterizations) were performed over a 3-year period, from 1995 to 1997. Eighty-one patients (1.4%) suffered angiographic accidents, including coronary artery dissection, free rupture, tamponade, foreign body embolism, and wire entrapment, and were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were taken for emergency surgery in less than 4 hours. The mean age was 61.2 years, 44 (54%) were men, and 37 (46%) were in cardiogenic shock at the time of surgery. Fifty-seven patients (70%) had intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. The number of previous cardiac interventions ranged from one to four with a mean of 1.9. One to five bypass grafts (mean, 2.2) were performed, and three patients required temporary ventricular assist devices. There were six deaths for a 30-day mortality rate of 7.4%. Thirty-two patients (39.5%) suffered significant morbidity, including cerebrovascular accidents, and renal and respiratory failure. Perioperative myocardial infarctions were diagnosed in 39 (48%) patients. Average length of stay was 12.1 days. One-year survival was satisfactory at 90% (73/81), with 56 survivors (77%) regaining normal everyday activity. Early surgical intervention, rapid revascularization, and temporary mechanical support are keys to low mortality in this high-risk group. Identification of high-risk interventions and significant comorbid conditions, with concomitant surgical consultation, need to be pursued to reduce the high morbidity rate.

Internal thoracic artery for coronary artery grafting in octogenarians.

BACKGROUND: Use of the left internal thoracic artery as a bypass graft has been shown to result in better long-term patency and improved survival. In elderly patients, the internal thoracic artery has been used less often for coronary artery bypass grafts because of the belief that greater morbidity and mortality are associated with this procedure. This study was undertaken to test this premise in the octogenarian population. METHODS: Over an 8-year period, 474 consecutive patients 80 years of age and greater had coronary artery bypass grafting. The left internal thoracic artery was used in 188 patients (39.7%) (group 1) and saphenous vein grafts only (group 2), in 286 (60.3%). The mean age was 82.6 years (range, 80 to 95 years). There were 312 men (65.8%) and 162 women (34.2%). RESULTS: Use of the internal thoracic artery as a graft has risen steadily each year, as has the number of patients who are octogenarians. The hospital mortality rate was 7.8%. Patients in group 1 had a mortality rate of 9.0% and patients in group 2, a mortality rate of 7.0%. The mortality rate among survivors at 1 year was 6.7%. Long-term survival was significantly greater in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this study, we conclude that the internal thoracic artery is the bypass graft of choice, especially in regard to long-term mortality, and should not be denied to this high-risk group.

Methylene blue does not neutralize heparin after cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: It was hypothesized that methylene blue could neutralize heparin in patients after cardiopulmonary bypass and become an alternative to protamine. DESIGN: This was a prospective unblinded study with patients serving as their own controls. SETTING PARTICIPANTS: A single, large university hospital. This study was conducted in patients scheduled for elective aortocoronary bypass grafting. INTERVENTIONS: When heparin was to be neutralized, patients received methylene blue, 2 to 12 mg/kg, diluted in 50 mL and infused over 20 minutes. If a clot was not observed or the activated coagulation time (ACT) remained elevated, protamine, 250 mg, was administered and the ACT was repeated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No patient demonstrated clot after methylene blue infusion. ACT did not return to preheparin values in any patient. All patients required protamine to establish hemostasis. Protamine restored the ACT to preheparin values in every patient. The one patient who received 12 mg/kg experienced severe pulmonary hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Methylene blue does not neutralize heparin after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cardiac surgery in nonagenarians.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to document our initial experience with patients 90 years of age and older and to determine whether cardiac surgery is justified in this age group. Cardiac surgery in octogenarians has proven to be a successful and worthwhile procedure. A small group of nonagenarians with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic valve disease refractory to medical therapy have been considered for surgery. METHODS: Fourteen patients aged 90 or more underwent cardiac surgery for symptomatic CAD or aortic valvular disease refractory to medical therapy. Eight patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and six patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). All patients were in NYHA Class IV preoperatively. RESULTS: Hospital mortality occurred in one patient (7%). Hospital morbidity occurred in 10 patients (71%) and included 7 cardiac, 5 neurological, 1 gastrointestinal, 1 infectious, and 1 pulmonary event. All survivors left the hospital symptomatically improved. The mean length of stay was 26 days. Four CABG patients went on to die at a mean of 2 years and 2 months, and 3 remain alive at a mean of 2 years and 4 months. Three AVR patients expired at a mean of 3 years and 4 months, and 3 remain alive at 4 years and 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery in carefully selected nonagenarians is justified and can be performed with acceptable results.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with chronic renal failure: A reappraisal.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is known to increase the morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac operations. Successful outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in some patients with CRF has been reported, but remains controversial. METHODS: Forty-four patients with CRF who underwent CABG were examined. Two groups were analyzed. Group I consisted of 13 patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Group II consisted of 31 patients with a creatinine > or = 1.6 gm/dL for a minimum of 6 months, but were not on dialysis. There were 36 male and 8 female patients, with a mean age of 71 years. RESULTS: The hospital mortality was 10 patients (23%) with 4 (31%) hospital deaths in Group I, and 6 (19%) in Group II. There was major morbidity in 35 (80%) patients. In Group II there were 8 (26%) patients who required permanent postoperative dialysis. A control group of 547 patients 70 years of age who underwent CABG had 30 hospital mortalities (5%) and 75 morbidities (13%). The average length of stay was 27 days. Fifteen patients died at a mean of 34 months after being discharged from the hospital. Nineteen of the original 44 patients remain alive at a mean of 32 months. The total mortality at 6 years and 4 months was 57%. CONCLUSIONS: Older and sicker patients with CRF who undergo CABG are at an exceptionally high risk for mortality and morbidity. For CRF patients not on dialysis with a creatinine 2.5 gm/dL, there is a strong likelihood of permanent postoperative dialysis. Long-term follow-up shows survival to be well below their non-CRF counterparts.

Prospective evaluation of complications associated with percutaneous intraaortic balloon counterpulsation.

In summary, current, prospective experience with 691 consecutive patients revealed that female gender, peripheral vascular disease, cardiac index, and diabetes were the only independent predictors of risk after percutaneous IAB insertion. Neither sheathless insertion nor smaller IAB catheter size was associated with a lower complication rate. There may be a threshold of catheter size associated with a dramatic reduction in complications. If that exists, it has not yet been reached.