A Simple Approach for Minimally Invasive Combined Aortic and Mitral Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There is now extension of minimally invasive techniques to involve concomitantly aortic and mitral valves through a single small incision. We share our experience in such surgeries through upper partial sternotomy with approaching the mitral valve through the dome of the left atrium. METHODS: Two matched groups of cases receiving concomitant aortic and mitral valve surgeries are compared regarding the surgical outcomes: the minimally invasive group (group A) including 72 patients and the conventional group (group B) including 78 patients. RESULTS: The mean age was 52 ± 8 years in group A and 53 ± 7 years in group B. Males represented (42%) in group A and (49%) in group B. The mean mechanical ventilation time was significantly shorter in group A (4.3 ± 1.2 hours) than in group B (6.1 ± 0.8 hours) with a p-value of 0.001. In addition, the amount of chest tube drainage and the need for blood transfusion units were significantly less in group A (250 ± 160 cm3 and 1.3 ± 0.8 units, respectively) when compared with group B (320 ± 180 cm3 and 1.8 ± 0.9 units, respectively) with p-values of 0.013 and 0.005, respectively. Over a follow-up period of 3.2 ± 1.1 years, one mortality occurred in each group with no significant difference (p-value = 0.512). CONCLUSION: Combined aortic and mitral valve surgery through upper partial sternotomy with approaching the mitral valve through the dome of the left atrium is safe and effective with the advantages of less postoperative blood loss, need for blood transfusion, and mechanical ventilation time compared with conventional aortic and mitral valve surgery.

N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The strength of association between preoperative natriuretic peptide levels and adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery recently has been studied in different research, but results still are diversely variable. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive patients undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting prospectively were recruited. Preoperative levels of NTproBNP were measured in venous blood samples collected before induction of anesthesia. RESULTS: The average age was 57.62 ± 7.21. Of the patients, 86.15% were male. Euro-scoreII averaged 1.76 ± 0.34. The mean preoperative NTproBNP levels were 312.41 ± 329.93 pg/mL. Only two patients died (3%). Three patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation (4.6%). Four patients (6%) suffered from new onset postoperative AF. Five patients (7.6%) had low cardiac output, of which three needed IABP, and four patients (6%) had postoperative myocardial infarction. The mean ICU stay was 3.37 ± 0.84 days, and the mean hospital stay was 6.38 ± 1.3 days. There were no significant differences in preoperative NTproBNP levels in patients who had or didn't have any of the postoperative complications or in-hospital mortality (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed no significant correlation between preoperative NTproBNP levels and postoperative low cardiac output, atrial fibrillation, postoperative myocardial infarction, length of ICU stay, prolonged mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay as well as in-hospital mortality following elective off-pump CABG. Therefore, more prospective specific studies are needed to delineate the role of preoperative natriuretic peptides as significant predictors of poor outcomes after CABG surgery.

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting via a lower ministernotomy for left anterior descending artery myocardial bridging: mid-term results.

OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery bypass grafting or supra-arterial myotomy is now suggested as a better therapeutic option in myocardial bridging (MB) when medical treatment fails to control symptoms. For left anterior descending (LAD) MB, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass via a lower ministernotomy can be offered. METHODS: Forty-four consecutive patients who underwent elective minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery from 2005 to 2014 via an inferior sternotomy using the left internal mammary artery as a bypass graft for LAD MB were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age was 59.1 ± 13.1 years with 26 (59%) men and 18 (41%) women. The mean body mass index was 27.2 ± 3.9 and the mean EuroSCORE II was 1.6 ± 1.8. Routine coronary multislice computed tomography angiography on the 6th postoperative day revealed 97.7% graft patency. During the initial hospital stay, 1 patient (2.3%) underwent a reoperation for early graft failure. Forty patients (91%) could be followed up for a mean period of 64.4 ± 24.5 months after the procedure, during which 2 patients (4.5%) died of non-cardiac causes and 9 patients (20.5%) underwent postoperative coronary angiography with confirmed graft occlusion in only 1 case (2.3%). The improvement in the distribution of patients in the Canadian Cardiovascular Society class 0 was from 4 patients (9%) preoperatively to 37 patients (84%) at the end of the follow-up period (P-value 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery via a lower ministernotomy may be safe and efficient for treating LAD artery MB with acceptable complication rates, cosmetic benefits and patency rates.

The Warden procedure for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in children: 10 years experience in 65 cases.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we share our experience in the Warden procedure for the repair of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections (PAPVCs) draining high in the superior caval vein in 65 cases of the paediatric age group over a period of 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 65 patients receiving the Warden procedure for the repair of high PAPVCs (draining above the cavoatrial junction) over a period of 10 years starting from January, 2010 to January, 2020 were included in this study. RESULTS: In total, 34 were males (52.3%) and 31 were females (47.7%). The mean age was 3.47 ± 1.4 years, while the mean weight was 17.3 ± 5.3 kilograms. The mean bypass time was 84.2 ± 13.9 minutes and the mean cross clamp time was 54.8 ± 12.9 minutes. The mean intensive care unit stay was 2.14 ± 0.89 days, while the mean hospital stay was 5.9 ± 1.4 days. There was no in-hospital mortality or persistent sinus node dysfunction necessitating permanent pacemaker. In total, 62 patients (95%) could be followed up for a mean period of 7.8 ± 1.2 years after discharge. During the follow-up period, no stenosis was detected in the Warden anastomosis or the rerouted pulmonary veins and only one case of late mortality (1.6%) occurred due to a non-cardiac cause. CONCLUSION: The Warden procedure is a safe approach for the repair of high PAPVCs (above the cavoatrial junction) in the paediatric age group with good long-term results and low incidence of complications like sinus node dysfunction as well as pulmonary vein and superior caval vein obstruction.

Results of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Alone Versus Combined Surgical Revascularization and Mitral Repair In Patients with Moderate Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND: This is a prospective randomized-controlled study done to evaluate the best surgical option for moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation through either coronary artery bypass grafting only or by performing additional mitral repair. METHODS: Over a nine-month period, 60 patients with ischemic heart disease associated with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation were equally divided into two groups. Group 1 included 30 patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting with mitral valve repair; Group 2 included 30 patients who had only coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the study groups, regarding operative data, apart from the cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time, which were significantly longer in group 1 (P < 0.001). Only one patient died in group 1 due to severe myocardial dysfunction. During the follow up, the NYHA class improved in group 1, from 2.7 to 1.35 (P < 0.004), compared with group 2, where the NYHA class improved from 2.6 to 1.72 (P = 0.07). The degree of MR improved in 28 patients (93%) in group 1 and 22 patients (73%) in group 2 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The study revealed many advantages of adding mitral repair to surgical revascularization in patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation, with improvement in the degree of MR and NYHA functional class. On the other hand there were no significant differences between the groups, regarding the postoperative course and incidence of mortality.

Mitral valve replacement in mitral stenosis; the problem of small left ventricle.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve stenosis in adults especially due to rheumatic heart disease may be associated with a smaller than normal left ventricular cavity. Mitral valve replacement in such cases may lead to hemodynamic instability either during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass or in the early postoperative period manifested by the need for inotropic support and even mortality due to low cardiac output syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 184 patients with predominately severe stenotic mitral valves who underwent elective isolated mitral valve replacement in the period between January 2012 and January 2018 at our hospital were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 matched groups; (small LV group) consisting of 86 cases and (normal or dilated LV group) consisting of 98 cases. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in operative details among both groups apart from the need for inotropic support and intra-aortic balloon pump due to low cardiac output which were statistically significantly higher in (small LV group) than (normal or dilated LV group) with a p-values of 0.01 and 0.03 respectively. Within the ICU stay only the incidence of occurrence of heart failure was significantly higher in (small LV group) with a p-value of 0.008. No statistically significant difference could be elicited in the in-hospital mortality between both groups (p-value = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Patients with mitral valve stenosis and small left ventricular cavity are in a higher need for inotropic and even mechanical support after mitral valve replacement as well as at a higher risk for the development of heart failure before hospital discharge than patients with mitral stenosis and normal-sized left ventricular cavity.

Ring, Band or Suture in Tricuspid Annuloplasty for Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation; Which is Better and More Durable?

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluate different annuloplasty modalities to repair functional tricuspid regurgitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and January 2017, 200 patients with moderate or greater functional tricuspid regurgitation received tricuspid valve repair as part of primary surgeries on the left side of their cardiac valves. Of these, 39 patients received rings (Group A), 84 patients received bands (Group B), and 77 patients received suture annuloplasty (Group C). RESULTS: Two patients from Group C were operated on again, during the primary hospital stay due to severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation. The degrees of early postoperative tricuspid regurgitation - mean vena contracta and mean jet area - significantly were higher in Group C. During a mean follow-up period of 26 ± 12.6 months, 5 patients within Group C (6.85%) and one patient in Group B (1.3%) were operated on again with tricuspid valve replacement due to severe symptomatic tricuspid incompetence. Also during follow up, mean degrees of tricuspid regurgitation, mean vena contracta, and mean jet areas significantly were higher in Group C. CONCLUSION: Patients who received rings followed by band annuloplasty had better early and late results with lower recurrence rates than those who received suture annuloplasty.

Rescue Cardiac Surgeries After Pediatric Catheter-Based Interventions: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-based interventions for treating congenital cardiac defects have gained wide acceptance as they reduce the risks associated with surgery. However, these procedures are associated with some complications, such as the embolization of devices or stents and the injury of surrounding structures, which might need a rescue surgical intervention. METHODS: Data from 25 patients who needed rescue surgery following interventional catheterization between January 2008 and January 2018 were retrospectively collected and statistically analyzed to review the decision and timing of surgery as well as the surgical techniques and results. RESULTS: There were 24 cases of rescue surgery after device embolization, including 9 cases of atrial septal defect closure, 8 cases of patent ductus arteriosus closure, 4 cases of pulmonary artery balloon dilatation with stenting, 3 cases of muscular ventricular septal defect closure, and 1 case of right ventricular outflow tract injury during balloon valvuloplasty. Median age was 4 years (range, 2 months to 12 years). All rescue surgeries were done via median sternotomy. The mean time interval between the decision to remove the device surgically and the actual surgical procedure was 75 ± 14 minutes. There were no reported cases of postoperative complications or mortality among the patients who underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Our single-center experience confirms that early rescue cardiac surgery to correct adverse events after pediatric transcatheter interventions is safe and effective. Surgical strategies should be tailored according to the situation in each case.

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Isolated Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection.

BACKGROUND: We assessed risk factors for early mortality in isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection over a modern era excluding emergent cases to eliminate the influence of associated factors on surgical outcome.  Methods: 70 patients with isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection who were repaired electively between January 2013 and February 2018 were included. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was encountered in 4 patients (5.7%). Upon univariate analysis, low age (P = .003) and weight (P = .001) at surgery, preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (P = .010), preoperative low oxygen saturation (P = .031), long cardiopulmonary bypass (P = .001) and aortic cross clamp (P = .003) times, long duration of mechanical ventilation (P = .001), chest infection (P = 0.041), postoperative low CO syndrome (P < .001) and long postoperative inotropic support (P = .015) were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. In multivariate analysis postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (OR: 1.060; 95% CI: 1.008-1.116) and prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation (OR: 1.772; 95% CI: 1.141-2.751) were independent factors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Surgical repair of TAPVC is now performed with acceptable results. According to our study, postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation were the most significant predictors for early mortality.

Removal of an endometrioid stromal sarcoma from the inferior vena cava and right atrium.

Entometrioid stromal sarcomas are seen in extra-uterine as well as extra-gonadal sites and have a strong association with endometriosis. Although having better prognosis than other sarcomas, yet these tumors may relapse (whether local or distant) in up to 56% of cases, even as late as 20 years after surgery. We report a case of a 30-year-old female patient with a mass in the inferior vena cava and right atrium which was surgically removed using cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and turned to be an entometrioid stromal sarcoma. The patient gave a history of endometriosis followed by the appearance of a low-grade ovarian endometrioid stromal sarcoma 4 years before the development of the mass in the IVC and right atrium.

Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia after pulmonary artery banding operation through median sternotomy.

Diaphragmatic hernias following cardiac surgeries in general are being reported after coronary artery bypass grafting using the right gastro-epiploic artery as a conduit as well as in patients with ventricular assist devices, orthotopic heart transplants, or subxiphoid epicardial pacemakers. We report a case of an iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia following pulmonary artery banding operation through median sternotomy which was discovered 4 years later during the debanding and ventricular septal defect closure operation. The diaphragm was most likely injured during insertion of the retro-sternal tube during the first operation.

Predictors of surgical outcome in isolated prosthetic mitral valve endocarditis.

Background Most previous studies dealing with predictors of surgical outcome in prosthetic valve endocarditis included patients with aortic and/or mitral valve prostheses. Here, we concentrate on isolated prosthetic mitral endocarditis due to heterogeneity of epidemiological data, anatomical factors, and surgical techniques between mitral, prosthetic mitral, and aortic endocarditis between prosthetic mitral and prosthetic aortic endocarditis. Methods Data of 40 patients reoperated upon due to isolated prosthetic mitral endocarditis between July 2015 and March 2017 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results Independent predictors of major postoperative complications on multivariate analysis were: no blood cultures before referral (odds ratio 6.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.44-28.15), inadequate response to medical treatment (odds ratio 11.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-100.25), and serum creatinine ≥2.0 mg·dL-1 (odds ratio 4.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-19.36). Independent predictors of hospital mortality were: congestive heart failure (odds ratio 30.91, 95% confidence interval: 2.02 to 473.87), embolization (odds ratio 18.24, 95% confidence interval:1.94-171.91), peri-annular extension of infection (odds ratio 12.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-123.43), serum creatinine on admission > 2 mg·dL-1 (odds ratio 9.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.97-47.48), and early prosthetic valve endocarditis (odds ratio 7.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.35-45.00). EuroSCORE II > 5.93% was associated with the highest predictive value for hospital mortality (area under the curve 0.813). Conclusion Certain factors can predict morbidity and mortality in surgery for isolated mitral prosthetic valve endocarditis. EuroSCORE II has a good ability to predict hospital mortality in surgery for mitral prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Repair of Morgagni hernia and ventricular septal defect through sternotomy.

We report a case of Morgagni hernia occupying the anterior mediastinum and right hemithorax in a male infant with Down syndrome, who also had a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Through a median sternotomy, the hernia sac was freed from the right pleura, and the pericardium was opened to reduce its contents (colon) into the abdomen. The diaphragmatic defect was closed with Prolene mesh and the hernia sac was used to reinforce the diaphragmatic defect. Finally, the pericardium was opened and the ventricular septal defect was closed with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch through a right atriotomy after instituting cardiopulmonary bypass.

Predictors of Surgical Outcome in Isolated Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis: Single Center Experience of 60 Patients.

Background: Tricuspid valve (TV) endocarditis may be associated with serious complications, and 25% of patients require surgical intervention. However, indications and outcomes of surgery are not clearly identified. In this study, 60 patients are retrospectively reviewed to determine preoperative predictors of surgical outcome. Patients and Methods: Sixty patients with isolated TV endocarditis who underwent surgery in the period between January 2012 and December 2016 are reviewed retrospectively from the medical records of Cairo University Hospitals. Forty-two (70%) patients were males, and 18 (30%) were females with a mean age of 29.3 ± 10.6 years. Eleven patients had an underlying cardiac lesion, and 27 patients were intravenous (IV)-drug addicts. Results: TV repair could be done in nine (15%) patients, and the rest received TV replacement with biological valves. Twenty-four (40%) patients experienced postoperative complications. On multivariate analysis, a vegetation size >2.2 cm was a significant preoperative predictor for embolic complications and prolonged ventilation. In-hospital mortality occurred in 10 (16.67%) patients. Significant preoperative predictors of mortality were pulmonary embolization, congestive heart failure (HF), and the presence of pericardial effusion. During a mean follow-up period of 25 ± 12.6 months with echocardiography, two (4%) IV drug user patients developed recurrence of infection and needed reoperation. Conclusion: Surgery for tricuspid valve endocarditis (TVE) can be performed with good early and mid-term results. A large size of vegetations >2.2 cm is a significant risk factor for embolic complications. Preoperative predictors of in-hospital mortality according to our study are pulmonary embolization, congestive heart failure, and pericardial effusion.