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OBJECTIVES: It is uncertain whether Thunderbeat has a place in harvesting the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and whether skeletonization is superior to pedicle-harvested LIMA. Some investigations have shown improved flowrates in the skeletonized graft. The aim of this study was to compare 3 groups of harvesting techniques: Pedicled, surgical skeletonized and skeletonized with Thunderbeat in terms of flow rates in the LIMA and postoperative in-hospital outcomes. METHODS: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with the LIMA to the anterior descending artery were randomized to pedicled (n = 56), surgical skeletonized (n = 55) and skeletonized with Thunderbeat (n = 54). Main outcomes were blood flow and pulsatility index in the graft. RESULTS: No statistical difference between groups regarding flow in LIMA or pulsatility index. Similarly, no difference in postoperative bleeding or days of hospitalization. The duration of harvesting was faster for the pedicled technique compared with surgical skeletonized and skeletonized with Thunderbeat [mean total min: pedicled 20.2 min standard deviation (SD) ± 5.4; surgical skeletonized 28.6 min SD ± 8.7; skeletonized with Thunderbeat 28.3 min SD ± 9.11, P < 0.001]. No grafts discarded due to faulty harvesting and there was no graft failure within hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: We found no difference between the harvesting methods except for a significantly faster harvesting time with the pedicled technique. However, non-touch skeletonized LIMA harvesting with Thunderbeat seems to be an effective alternative to traditional surgical skeletonized LIMA. The future will reveal whether patency is harvesting dependent. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05562908.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Assessment of ischemic but potentially viable myocardium plays an important role in the planning of coronary revascularization. Until now SPECT, PET, and MRI have been used to identify viable myocardium. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used to diagnose coronary atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of CT enhancement as a viability marker by investigating myocardial contrast distribution over time in pigs with experimentally induced antero-septal myocardial infarctions. METHODS: Twelve pigs were subjected to 60 min of balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, followed by removal of the balloon and reperfusion. Four pigs died due to refractory ventricular fibrillation. After 6 weeks, dynamic cardiac CT was performed assessing both wall motion and contrast attenuation. Measurements of attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU) in the infarct zone and the normal lateral wall were performed at 20 s, and 1, 3, 5, 8 and 12 min after contrast injection. RESULTS: We found highly significant differences in attenuation values between the two zones at all-time points except t =1 min (ANOVA P=0.85). The normal myocardium showed higher uptake- and washout-rates of contrast than the infarct zone (84±15 vs. 58±8 at 20 s, P=0.0001 and 27±12 vs. 81±13 at 12 min, P=0.0001). Specifically, the ratio between early (20 s) and late (12 min) uptake is a valid marker of viable myocardium. In all animals this ration was above one in the normal zone and below one in the infarct zone. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed infarct related uptake and washout of contrast shows promise for future clinical application of CT in a combined assessment of coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial viability.
RESUMO
Gastropleural fistula (GPF) is although uncommon a severe and sometimes fatal complication after prior thoracic surgery, trauma or malignancy. Standard therapy has often included major surgery such as laparotomia with gastrectomi. In this case report we present a patient with GPF who underwent thoracoscopia for closure of the fistula. To our knowledge this is the first report of its kind in the Danish and English literature. Thoracoscopic treatment of GPF may be associated with less morbidity and mortality, and should be considered as the initial procedure of choice.
