Intra-aortic balloon pump-induced pulsatile flow reduces coagulative and fibrinolytic response to cardiopulmonary bypass.

The aim of this study is to evaluate if a simple intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)-induced pulsatile perfusion reduces activation of coagulative system during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Ninety-six patients undergoing preoperative IABP were randomized to nonpulsatile CPB with IABP discontinued during cardioplegic arrest (Group A) or IABP-induced pulsatile CPB (Group B). White blood cells (WBC), hematocrit (Ht), platelets (PLTs), International Normalized Ratio (INR), fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), antithrombin III (AT-III) activity, and D-dimer were measured at the end of surgery (ES) and postoperatively. Chest drainage, need for reexploration, and transfusions were compared. Group B showed lower chest drainage (1st day P = 0.038; 2nd day P = 0.044), transfusions (P = 0.031), WBC (P < 0.05 at all time points), and INR (P < 0.05 at all time points), together with a higher Ht (P < 0.05 at ES, 12 h), platelets (P < 0.04 at all time points), fibrinogen (P < 0.05 at ES, 12 h, 24 h), and aPTT (P < 0.05 at all time points). AT-III activity lowered in Group A (P = 0.001 at ES, 12 h, 24 h), together with higher D-dimer levels (P < 0.05 at all time points). IABP-induced pulsatile perfusion ameliorates coagulative system activation following CPB.

Successful radiofrequency ablation determines atrio-ventricular remodelling and improves systo-diastolic function at tissue Doppler-imaging.

BACKGROUND: Clinical, echocardiographic results and determinants of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following AF ablation during mitral valve surgery (AFAMVS) were evaluated. METHODS: Fifty-two patients undergoing radiofrequency AFAMVS between January 2003 and December 2005, underwent serial echocardiographies with tissue Doppler imaging to assess atrio-ventricular function. Recurrence of AF, hospital readmission, episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded. Predictors for AF-recurrence were evaluated. RESULTS: At a 29.5+/-8.6 months of follow-up (100% complete), 78.8% patients were in sinus rhythm (SR). Freedom from AF-recurrence was 64.6+/-0.76%, from hospital readmission 88.9+/-0.47%, from CHF 91.6+/-0.63%. SR-patients demonstrated better freedom from hospital readmission (97.4 vs 60.6%; p=0.0003) and from CHF (100 vs 72.7%; p=0.008) during follow-up. At follow-up SR-patients demonstrated left atrial (preoperative 5.8+/-0.8 cm vs follow-up 5.1+/-0.9; p=0.013) and ventricular reverse remodelling (preoperative LVDd 5.7+/-1.1cm vs follow-up 5.2+/-1.1; p=0.048 - preoperative LVDs 4.0+/-1.4 vs follow-up 3.6+/-1.1; p=0.036). E/A ratio was normal in 73.1% (92.7% of SR-patients). TDI at the level of the left lateral annulus showed an improved left ventricular systole (Sm), and diastole (Em, E/Em) of SR-patients, compared with AF-patients (Sm 9.40+/-1.74 vs 7.72+/-1.5, p=0.0001; Em: 10.45+/-1.98 vs 7.68+/-0.72, p=0.001; E/Em: 0.07+/-0.02 vs 0.10+/-0.04, p=0.0001). Large preoperative atrial diameter (OR=5.81; p=0.002), preoperative NYHA-IV (OR=3.55; p=0.001), high diuretics at discharge (OR=1.27; p=0.03), tricuspid insufficiency at follow-up (OR=2.31; p=0.02) were independent predictors of AF-recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency AFAMVS achieves 78.8% of SR recovery. Maintenance of SR improves clinic, haemodynamic and echocardiographic endpoints. Pre- and post-operative cardiac failure is the main determinant of AF-recurrence.

Transbrachial intraaortic balloon pumping in severe peripheral atherosclerosis.

Preoperative intraaortic balloon pumping improves the results of complex coronary surgery; however, insertion may be harmful or contraindicated in severe and diffuse atherosclerosis of the descending aorta and peripheral arteries. We report our experience with 10 consecutive patients with severe peripheral atherosclerosis or distal abdominal aortic aneurysms, in whom a 7.5F intraaortic balloon catheter was inserted through the brachial artery. Intraaortic balloon pumping was maintained until hemodynamic stability was established; no complications or ischemia of the hand related to the intraaortic balloon pump occurred. Transbrachial intraaortic balloon pumping with a 7.5F catheter is as safe and effective as the transfemoral method in patients with unavailable femoral arteries.

Single versus sequential saphenous vein grafting of the circumflex system: a flowmetric study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate if patients with proximal critical circumflex (CX) lesions did better with single SV-CABG on the best obtuse marginal (OM), or with sequential SV-CABG on two OM branches. DESIGN: Ninety patients were prospectively randomised to single SV-CABG on the best OM (sSV-CABG-45 patients; Group A) or to sequential SV-CABG on 2 OM (seqSV-CABG 45 patients; Group B). Transit-time flowmetry (TTF), and graft flow reserve were evaluated. Recurrent angina, acute myocardial infarction, readmission for coronary reintervention were defined "treatment failure" during follow-up. RESULTS: SeqSV-CABG showed better intraoperative maximum (119.1+/-57.5 ml/min vs. sSV-CABG 62.4+/-29.6; p=0.001), mean (56.3+/-31.5 ml/min vs. 30.8+/-12.8; p=0.0001), minimum flow (22.8+/-9.2 ml/min vs. 11.8+/-8.9; p=0.001) and P.I. (0.71+/-0.4 vs.1.46+/-0.9; p=0.006). Graft flow reserve also proved to be higher (95.4+/-29.7 ml/min mean flow vs. sSV-CABG 42.3+/-15.2 ml/min mean flow; p=0.0001; flow reserve 1.72+/-0.99 vs 1.32+/-1.09; p=0.001) as well as freedom from treatment failure (97.5+/-0.5% vs 88.7+/-0.4%; p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SeqSV-CABG showed higher TTF flows, with no incremental risk for perioperative morbidity. Higher flows and graft flow reserve may allow lower treatment failure at mid-term follow-up.

Radial artery graft function is not affected by age.

OBJECTIVE: Extensive arterial grafting with the radial artery in elderly patients is still debated, because of the reduced life expectancy and the supposedly higher periprocedural morbidity caused by an accelerated atherosclerosis of arterial grafts in elderly patients, which might hamper functional results. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with patients undergoing radial artery myocardial revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting) between January 2003 and December 2006, divided into 2 groups: elderly patients (> or =70 years, group A) and young patients (< or =60 years, group B). Hospital outcome and transit-time flowmetric maximum and mean flow, pulsatility index, and graft flow reserve were compared. Results were stratified by target vessel, surgical technique, and subgroups at risk. RESULTS: Hospital outcome, troponin I levels, and echocardiographic segmental kinetics were comparable in the 2 groups. Stratifying patients for target vessels, no differences in radial artery transit-time flowmetric results were recorded between the 2 groups either on-pump or off-pump, as free grafts or Y grafts, or in diabetic patients and hypertensive patients. Although graft flow reserve was significantly improved in all patients (P < .05 in the young and elderly groups, regardless of the target vessel, the surgical technique, and the comorbidities), graft flow reserve of radial artery grafts was comparable between elderly and young patients. CONCLUSIONS: Radial artery coronary artery bypass grafting showed similar transit-time flowmetric functional results in elderly and young patients, regardless of the target vessel, the use or avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass, the construction of proximal anastomoses, and the presence of comorbidities. These data explain the reported better results of arterial revascularization in the elderly and suggest an increase in extensive radial artery grafting in the last decades of life.