Partial cardiopulmonary bypass through left thoracotomy for coarctation repair in children.

BACKGROUND: A left thoracotomy approach is anatomically appropriate for childhood aortic coarctation; however, the pediatric femoral arteriovenous diameters are too small for cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation. We aimed to determine the safety of a partial cardiopulmonary bypass through the main pulmonary artery and the descending aorta in pediatric aortic coarctation repair. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients who underwent coarctation repair under partial main pulmonary artery-to-descending aorta cardiopulmonary bypass with a left thoracotomy as the CPB group. During the same period, 16 cases of simple coarctation of the aorta repair, with end-to-end anastomosis through a left thoracotomy without partial CPB assistance, were included as the non-CPB group to evaluate the impact of partial CPB. RESULTS: The median age and weight at surgery of the CPB group were 3.1 years (range, 9 days to 17.9 years) and 14.0 (range, 2.8-40.7) kg, respectively. Indications for the partial cardiopulmonary bypass with overlap were as follows: age > 1 year (n = 7), mild aortic coarctation (n = 3), and predicted ischemic time > 30 min (n = 5). Coarctation repair using autologous tissue was performed in seven cases and graft replacement in three. The mean partial cardiopulmonary bypass time, descending aortic clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass flow rate were 73 ± 37 min, 57 ± 27 min, and 1.6 ± 0.2 L/min/m2, respectively. Urine output during descending aortic clamping was observed in most cases in the CPB group (mean: 9.1 ± 7.9 mL/kg/h), and the total intraoperative urine output was 3.2 ± 2.7 mL/kg/h and 1.2 ± 1.5 mL/kg/h in the CPB and non-CPB group, respectively (p = 0.020). The median ventilation time was 1 day (range, 0-15), and the intensive care unit stay duration was 4 days (range, 1-16) with no surgical deaths. No major complications, including paraplegia or recurrent coarctation, occurred postoperatively during a median observation period of 8.1 (range, 3.4-17.5) years in the CPB group. In contrast, reoperation with recurrent coarctation was observed in 2 cases in the non-CPB group (p = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Partial cardiopulmonary bypass through the main pulmonary artery and descending aorta via a left thoracotomy is a safe and useful option for aortic coarctation repair in children.

Combined coronary artery bypass with descending thoracic aorta to bifemoral bypass grafting using minimal invasive technique.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) often coexist and are prevalent due to population ageing, smoking, diabetes, unhealthy lifestyles, and the epidemic of obesity. In high-risk patients, it is critical to minimize the overall burden of surgery to avoid poor outcomes and morbidity. Here, we present a case of successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with thoraco-bifemoral bypass surgery for PVD via a left thoracotomy approach. Traditionally, median sternotomy is done for these kinds of surgeries. However, we preferred thoracotomy over sternotomy to avoid morbidity in old age. Our case suggests that combined CABG with thoraco-bifemoral bypass via thoracotomy approach is a reliable surgical option depending on the anatomy of the lesion.

Combined mitral valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting through a left thoracotomy after retrosternal oesophageal reconstruction.

A 74-year-old man with a history of retrosternal oesophageal reconstruction was referred for surgical treatment of mitral valve regurgitation and coronary artery disease. He underwent mitral valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting through a left thoracotomy. Combined mitral valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting through a left thoracotomy were feasible in this patient with a retrosternal neo-oesophageal conduit.

Early cardiac contractility outcome of reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting using right gastroepiploic artery.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (redo CABG) still carries higher mortality and increased morbidity compared with primary CABG. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed our operative outcome of redo CABG to evaluate the impact of the left anterolateral thoracotomy approach using the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA). METHODS: Between 1994 and 2020, 11 patients (mean age 60.3 ± 13.1 years; nine men, two women) underwent isolated redo CABG using the RGEA via the left anterolateral thoracotomy. RESULTS: The mean duration from the initial CABG was 128.3 ± 88.4 months. Redo CABG was performed because of graft occlusion in six patients (54.5%), graft stenosis in one patient (9.1%), and progressive disease of previously ungrafted vessels in four patients (36.4%). The total number of bypasses using RGEA (including Y-composite vein grafts) was 16 (four left anterior descending branches, two diagonal branches, five circumflex branches, five right coronary arteries). No residual graft injury, major comorbidity, or in-hospital death was observed. Changes in echocardiographic values before and after redo CABG were 210.9 ± 48.2 ml and 175.0 ± 41.4 ml in left ventricular end-diastolic volume, 130.2 ± 49.2 ml and 94.4 ± 33.0 ml in left ventricular end-systolic volume, and 45.6 ± 11.0% and 52.2 ± 10.7% in left ventricular ejection fraction, respectively. These parameters significantly improved after redo CABG. CONCLUSIONS: Redo CABG with RGEA grafting via the left anterolateral thoracotomy approach is a safe and effective surgical procedure especially in improving cardiac contractility in patients who required revascularization.

Total arch and descending aorta replacement via left thoracotomy for infected post-thoracic endovascular aortic repair type B aortic dissection.

A 38-year-old man underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for impending rupture of acute type B aortic dissection. Computed tomography revealed abscess formation around the proximal descending aorta 4 weeks after endovascular treatment. He underwent one-stage total arch and descending aorta replacement and omental wrapping via left thoracotomy. At the 6-month follow-up, his postoperative course was uneventful.

Venopulmonary artery extracorporeal lung assist in repair of traumatic aortic injury via left thoracotomy.

An urgent surgery was performed for a 28-year-old man who sustained a traumatic descending thoracic aortic injury in an automobile collision. Severe respiratory failure was encountered during surgery, which did not allow for single-lung ventilation for adequate exposure of the descending aorta. We used venopulmonary artery extracorporeal lung assist by main pulmonary artery cannulation with concurrent distal aortic perfusion using a single centrifugal pump. Cannulating the easily accessible main pulmonary artery for venopulmonary artery extracorporeal lung assist is a safe and feasible technique in patients complicated with profound respiratory failure undergoing aortic surgery via left thoracotomy.

Arduous redo made simple by "lateral approach"-pulmonary valve replacement via mini left thoracotomy.

We present a follow-up case of total anomalous pulmonary vein repair and pulmonary valvotomy done 21 years back presented with severe pulmonary regurgitation. Magnetic resonance imaging shows the right ventricle end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume being 185 mL/m2 and 80 mL/m2 , respectively. In addition to it the patient had had severe kyphoscoliosis causing severe pulmonary restriction. The patient underwent mechanical pulmonary valve replacement through a mini left thoracotomy. The patient had an uneventful recovery was discharged on postoperative day 6, and was in class 1 on follow-up at 3 and 6 months of surgery.

Left thoracotomy approach for left ventricular pseudoaneurysm due to myocardial infarction after mitral valve replacement for papillary muscle rupture.

A 59-year-old man with acute mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle rupture after myocardial infarction was admitted to our hospital. He underwent emergent mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve by median sternotomy. Although postoperative echocardiography showed no sign of a ventricular aneurysm, echocardiography performed 5 weeks after the surgery showed enlarging left ventricular pseudoaneurysm of the inferior to the posterior cardiac wall. He underwent dacron patch closure of the orifice by fifth intercostal left thoracotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged on postoperative day 10. The patient was successfully treated for two life-threatening complications occurring subsequently after myocardial infarction.

HeartMate 3 implantation via left thoracotomy with descending aortic anastomosis.

Left ventricular assist device implantation through left thoracotomy with outflow anastomosis to the descending aorta is an uncommon approach, particularly in patients with previous sternotomies. However, this approach has certain advantages, such as better surgical outcomes and lower complication rates. Here, we report the technique adapted for HeartMate 3 implantation through left thoracotomy with descending aortic anastomosis.

Aortic valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty via a left thoracotomy in an adult with left pulmonary agenesis.

We report a case of a 66-year-old man who was diagnosed with severe aortic regurgitation, moderate tricuspid regurgitation and chronic atrial fibrillation. Preoperative computed tomography showed left lung agenesis. We performed aortic valve replacement, tricuspid valve annuloplasty and right pulmonary vein isolation via a left thoracotomy. This approach provided an adequate field of view.

Initiation and modification of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting.

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) via a small left thoracotomy has been proposed as an alternative to standard coronary artery bypass grafting. However, this technique is still limited to skillful surgeons. Off-pump multi-vessel bypass grafting and the use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries are particularly challenging via a small thoracotomy, while they are widely performed via a full median sternotomy. The purpose of this review is to serve as a guide for the proper introduction of MICS CABG in the current era. We examine the advances, current techniques, outcomes and learning curves of MICS CABG and discuss the safe introduction.

Right or left thoracotomy for esophageal atresia and right aortic arch? Systematic review and surgicoanatomic justification.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal thoracotomy approach for the management of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) with a right aortic arch (RAA) remains controversial. METHODS: Systematic review of complications and death rates between right- and left-sided repairs, including all studies on EA/TEF and RAA, apart from studies focusing on long-gap EA and thoracoscopic repairs. Review of right- and left-sided surgical anatomy in relation to reported complications. RESULTS: Although no significant differences were elicited between right- and left-sided repairs in complications (9/29 vs. 1/6, p = 0.64) and death rates (2/29 vs. 0/6, p = 0.57), unique anatomic complications - such as injury to the RAA covering the esophagus and intractable bleeding - associated with mortality were revealed in the right thoracotomy group. Left-sided repairs following failed repair through the right showed higher complications rate (3/3) than straightforward right- (9/29) or left-sided repairs (1/6) (p = 0.024). Right thoracotomies converted to left thoracotomies led to staged repairs more frequently (4/9) than straightforward right (5/38) or left thoracotomies (0/6) (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to support that right thoracotomy, characterized by unique surgicoanatomic difficulties, is equivalent to left thoracotomy for EA/TEF with RAA. Both approaches might be required, and, therefore, surgeons should be familiarized with surgical anatomy of mediastinum approached from right and left. Systematic review, Level of Evidence III.

An acquired transposition of the aortic arch secondary to large esophageal cancer misdiagnosed as a right-side aortic arch.

The present study is the first reported case of a patient undergoing esophagectomy with ectopic aortic arch secondary to a large esophageal cancer, which was pre-operatively misdiagnosed with a right-side aortic arch (RAA). The patient, a 54-year-old male, was first admitted to our hospital for esophagectomy owing to esophageal squamous cancer and had complained of progressive dysphasia for 3 months. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass in the middle thoracic esophagus. Furthermore, the three-dimensional CT of the thoracic great arteries showed a possible RAA and a curved descending aorta. After preoperative evaluation, the approach of using a left thoracotomy with cervical anastomosis was successfully performed and favorable short-term outcomes were achieved. According to previous reports, and the experience of the presented case, we emphasize clear recognition of the anatomical situation in the upper mediastinum and the importance of an optimal surgical approach for esophagectomy.

One-stage replacement of the aorta from arch to thoracoabdominal region.

OBJECTIVES: We present our experience with one-stage replacement of thoracic aneurysm from the ascending aorta to the thoracoabdominal aorta. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients (10 male and 4 female; mean age 53.6 ± 12.4 years) with extended thoracic aortic aneurysms underwent graft replacement. The pathology of the diseased aorta was chronic aortic dissection in 13 patients and intraoperative retrograde aortic dissection in 1 patient. Five patients had Marfan syndrome. In a previous operation, 1 patient had undergone the Bentall procedure, 4 had hemiarch replacement for acute type A dissection, and 1 had a Y-graft for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The approach to the aneurysm was posterolateral thoracotomy with rib-cross incision extended to the retroperitoneal abdominal aorta. Arterial inflow for cardiopulmonary bypass consisted of the femoral artery in 13 patients and abdominal aortic aneurysm graft in 2. Venous drainage site was the femoral vein in 7, femoral vein and pulmonary artery in 3, and pulmonary artery in 1. All patients had antegrade cerebral perfusion and visceral perfusion. RESULTS: Hospital mortality occurred in 1 patient due to acute myocardial infarction. Actuarial survival at 5 years after the operations was 96.5 ± 9.8%. Freedom from the subsequent aortic events was 91.0 ± 2.9% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our treatment method for extensive thoracic aneurysm, from the ascending aorta to the thoracoabdominal aorta, achieved satisfactory results via the use of specific strategies and appropriate organ protection according to the aneurysm extension in the selected patients.

Aortic arch advancement for type A interrupted aortic arch with persistent fifth aortic arch type B.

Persistence of the fifth aortic arch is a very rare anomaly, but is clinically relevant when it is associated with coarctation. We report a case of a neonate with type A interrupted aortic arch and severe coarctation of a persistent fifth aortic arch, which was discovered after repair of a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The combination of anomalies was discovered intra-operatively following left thoracotomy, and was treated with aortic arch advancement. The postoperative course was uneventful.

In-hospital outcomes of a minimally invasive off-pump left thoracotomy approach using a centrifugal continuous-flow left ventricular assist device.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive left thoracotomy (MILT) and off-pump implantation strategies have been anecdotally reported for implantation of the HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD). We analyzed our experience with off-pump MILT implantation techniques and compared early in-hospital outcomes with conventional on-pump sternotomy (CS) implantation strategy. METHODS: Between January 2013 and February 2014, 51 patients underwent HVAD implantation and were included in this study. Thirty-three patients had CS, whereas 18 patients underwent off-pump MILT. To compare outcomes of these techniques, a multivariate analysis using propensity score modeling was performed after adjusting for age, INTERMACS, Kormos and Leitz-Miller (LM) scores. RESULTS: Mean age at implant was 57 (range 18 to 69) years, and overall in-hospital mortality was 8%. Univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in days on inotropes (p = 0.04), and a trend toward reduced intra-operative blood product administration (p = 0.08) in the MILT group. There was no difference in intensive-care-unit length of stay (p = 0.5), total length of stay (p = 0.76), post-operative blood product administration (p = 0.34) and total time on mechanical ventilation (p = 0.32). After adjusting for age, INTERMACS profile and Kormos and LM scores, no statistically significant differences were observed between the MILT and CS groups. CONCLUSIONS: An off-pump MILT implantation strategy can be utilized as a safe surgical approach for patients undergoing HVAD implantation. Further large collaborative studies are needed to identify advantages of the MILT approach.

Minimally invasive and alternative approaches for long-term LVAD placement: the Vanderbilt strategy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive and alternative strategies for implantation have been anecdotally reported for contemporary continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) placement. METHODS: We reviewed our experience at a single center with alternative strategies for implantation of the HeartMate II and HeartWare CF-LVADs, in patients with advanced heart failure (HF). This featured article focuses on the associated surgical techniques and patient management pitfalls. RESULTS: For appropriately selected cases, our group believes that these alternative strategies allow for the development of novel and less traumatic surgical approaches for CF-LVAD implantation. With reproducible outcomes, these approaches also promise the possibility of increasing the number of high-risk surgical patients who could benefit from CF-LVAD therapies. CONCLUSIONS: This work has detailed a variety of less invasive alternative strategies for implantation of long-term LVADs. These newer approaches have the potential for significant advancements in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Large-scale collaborative studies will be needed to clarify the potential advantages and disadvantages of these novel techniques on patient outcomes.

Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula associated with situs inversus totalis.

Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula with situs inversus totalis is an extremely rare association. We are presenting a case of a preterm neonate suffering from similar condition. Fistula ligation with primary repair was done via left thoracotomy to avoid technical difficulties. Preoperative echocardiography should be done to confirm dextrocardia and disposition of the aortic arch.