The role of transapical cannulation in the operative management of acute aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of transapical cannulation as the routine cannulation site in patients with acute aortic dissection and to compare it with other cannulation methods. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2013, emergency surgery was performed in 111 consecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection. Patients were divided into two groups: transapical cannulation group and other cannulation sites group (including femoral and axillary artery cannulation). Pre-, intra- and postoperative data were compared between these two groups of patients. RESULTS: Transapical cannulation was the most frequent cannulation site (78 patients, 70.3%), the femoral artery was selected in 24 patients (21.6%) and the axillary artery in 9 patients (8.1%). The mortality rate in the transapical group was 16.7% and 18.2% when other cannulation sites were chosen (p=0.85). No difference in postoperative stroke rate (6.4% vs 9.1%, p=0.62, transapical vs other cannulation sites group, respectively), myocardial infarction (6.4% vs 6.1%, p=0.94) and postoperative acute renal insufficiency incidence (9% vs 6.1%, p=0.61) was found. CONCLUSIONS: Routine transapical cannulation in patients with acute type A aortic dissection is a fast and safe way to establish cardiopulmonary bypass. There is no difference in major operative outcomes after transapical cannulation when compared to the other cannulation sites.

[Cardiac neoplasms: results of the surgical treatment between 2000. and 2008].

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study was to show early and midterm results of surgical treatment of cardiac neoplasma. METHODS: Between 2000. and 2008., sixty-seven patients with a cardiac tumor or a subdiaphragmatic neoplasma with right atrial extension were operated in our institution. In 22 patients (32.8%), not only a simple extirpation of neoplasma, but an additional surgical procedure was done. RESULTS: A patient reoperated for a recurence of biatrial myxoma died early after operation (1.5% mortality rate). During follow-up period of 3.3 years, two patients (3.4%) out of 58 that were contacted died because of the neoplasma (Methastasis of adenocarcinoma, Carcinoma renis). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of cardic tumors resulted in low early mortality and an excellent survival rate after a follow-up period of 3.3 years.

[Cardiac surgery in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT II)].

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) might be life-threatening in patients undergoing open heart surgery, due to thromboembolic events, thrombocytopenia and bleeding. If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is necessary, anticoagulation therapy will be based on usage of danaparoid or direct thrombin inhibitors. Female patient was switched from per oral anticoagulant therapy to low molecular heparin therapy preparing for reredo mitral valve replacement due to endocarditis and artificial valve thrombosis. In next 10 days, thrombocytopenia was obvious (Tr 302,000 mm3 to 11,000 mm3) , and diagnoses of HIT were done. Anticoagulant therapy was continued with danaparoid, 750 IU/12 h sc. During the surgery, reredo mitral valve replacement and aortocoronary bypass on anterior descending coronary artery, blood salvage technique with rhirudin (intravenous bolus 0.4 mg/kg, in CPB prajming solution 0.4 mg/kg and continuous infusion during CPB 0.15 mg/kg/h) during cardiopulmonary bypass was used. Active coagulation time and +++ were monitored, without any sign of micro thrombosis in circuit. Postoperatively, per oral anticoagulation therapy was initiated with prolonged postoperative treatment due to basic disease, endocarditis. Patient was discharged from hospital on 21st postoperative day without any complication.