Extrapericardial Tamponade After Blunt Trauma.

Cardiac tamponade results from compression of the heart and great vessels. Mediastinal hematoma has been reported in association with cardiac tamponade in multiple settings, including nonaortic mediastinal hemorrhage from cervical spine fractures, aortic and carotid aneurysmal rupture, mediastinal penetrating trauma, and cardiac penetrating trauma. A few cases of blunt trauma to the anterior chest wall resulting in tamponade formation have been reported. We present a patient with an anterior mediastinal hematoma resulting from blunt chest trauma that caused extrapericardial cardiac tamponade due to bleeding from a branch of the left internal mammary artery after a motor vehicle collision.

Is Internal Mammary to the Anterior Descending Always the Best Option?

The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is the gold standard conduit used to revascularize the left anterior descending artery and has consistently been shown to be associated with better survival, graft patency, and freedom from cardiac events compared with other used conduits. Evaluation of LIMA flow and anatomy is not routinely done by the interventional cardiologist while performing the left heart catheterization. We present a case where the LIMA was found to be the major blood supply to the left leg, which might have led to leg ischemia if the LIMA had been used as graft.

Pulmonary fibrosis combined with lung cancer following lung transplantation: should we do more?

Currently, lung transplantation is the standard of care for patients with end-stage lung disease, with interstitial lung disease (ILD) being the most common reason in the recent years In the other hand, in cases where stage II and III lung cancer have been identified following lung transplantation, long-term survival outcomes are poor when compared to lung cancer patients that have not received a lung transplant because the use of immunosuppressant and the problem of rejection and infection and the treatment of recurrence and so on. However, there is no statistical difference observed in stage I (pT1N0M0) patients. In this paper we report about a patient with ILD receiving left lung transplantation in the early time. A lesion of the right lung which was considered the normal ILD tissue and without enough attention. Post-transplant it showed progress and finally the whole right lung (native lung) was occupied by the tumor. Some ground glass changes could also be found in the transplanted lung several months later. A secondary lung transplant was performed for this patient, and there has been no postoperative recurrence thus far. For lung transplant patients with high-risk factors, effective surveillance methods are required for the early detection of lung cancer.

Surgical Thoracic Transplant Training: Super Fellowship-Is It Super?

OBJECTIVE: The quality of training provided to thoracic transplant fellows is a critical step in the care of complex patients undergoing transplant. The training varies since it is not an accreditation council for graduate medical education accredited fellowship. METHOD: A total of 104 heart or lung transplant program directors throughout the United States were sent a survey of 24 questions focusing on key aspects of training, fellowship training content and thoracic transplant job satisfaction. Out of the 104 programs surveyed 45 surveys (43%) were returned. RESULTS: In total, 26 programs offering a transplant fellowship were included in the survey. Among these programs 69% currently have fellows of which 56% are American Board of Thoracic Surgery board eligible. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) requirements, 46% of the programs do not meet the requirements to be qualified as a primary heart transplant surgeon. A total of 23% of lung transplant programs also perform less than the UNOS minimum requirements. Only 24% have extra-surgical curriculum. Out of the participating programs, only 38% of fellows secured a job in a hospital setting for performing transplants. An astounding 77% of replies site an unpredictable work schedule as the main reason that makes thoracic transplant a less than favorable profession among new graduates. Long hours were also a complaint of 69% of graduates who agreed that their personal life is affected by excessive work hours. CONCLUSION: Annually, almost half of all thoracic transplant programs perform fewer than the UNOS requirements to be a primary thoracic surgeon. This results in a majority of transplant fellows not finding a suitable transplant career. The current and future needs for highly qualified thoracic transplant surgeons will not be met through our existing training mechanisms.

Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure Measured Intraoperatively by Right Heart Catheterization Is a Predictor of Kidney Transplant Recipient Survival.

BACKGROUND The effect of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) measured by Swan-Ganz right heart catheter (SG-RHC) on kidney transplant recipient survival has not been previously studied. The objective of this study was to assess the relationships between PASP measured via SG-RHC, done intraoperatively at the time of initiating anesthesia at the beginning of kidney transplant surgery, and patient survival. Multiple comorbidities, time on dialysis before the transplantation, and graft function were also analyzed in our study. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study using data from all consecutive patients undergoing kidney transplant between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 at Tampa General Hospital. Kidney transplant recipients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 with PASP <35 mmHg and group 2 with PASP ≥35 mmHg. Patients and graft survival data, time on dialysis before transplant, and comorbidities were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Only 363 patients were found to have a documented PASP measurement at the time of anesthesia induction for the transplant surgery, and were included in the specific analysis of our study. Patients with PASP ≥35 mmHg showed a significant decrease in survival in comparison to patients having PASP values <35 mmHg (HR 1.88; 95% CI 1.012 to 3.47, P=0.04). There was a significant positive correlation between time on dialysis and PASP (rho 0.20; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.30, p<0.001), as well as a significant difference in median time on dialysis between PASP <35 vs. PASP ≥35 (22 vs. 29 months, p=0.004). There were no significant differences in graft failure between the 2 PASP groups (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.12 to 1.01, P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with PASP ≥35 mmHg, measured intraoperatively by SG-RHC, showed significantly shorter survival in comparison to patients having PASP values <35 mmHg. This result suggests the need for a randomized controlled trial to address the importance of post-transplant pulmonary hypertension management in patient survival.

Outcomes of Induction Therapy with Rabbit Anti-Thymocyte Globulin in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Induction immunosuppression is used in transplantation to prevent early acute rejection. The survival benefit of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) induction has not been established yet. We sought to determine the role of rATG in preventing rejection and improving overall survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted from 2005 to 2009 and data of consecutive 268 heart transplant recipients were reviewed. RESULTS The data of 144 patients who received induction with rATG were compared to 124 patients who did not. Although overall survival was not different between the 2 groups (P=0.12), there was a significant difference in restricted mean survival time (RMST) at 5 years (RMST=4.8 months; 95% CI: 1.0-8.6, P=0.01) and 10 years (RMST=10.4 months; 95% CI: 1.6-19.3, P=0.02) in favor of the non-induced patients. No difference was observed between induced and non-induced patients who developed de novo donor specific antibodies. There was a significant difference in median days to first rejection in favor of the induced group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Induction with rATG adds no survival benefit in heart transplant recipients. Patients who did not receive induction therapy had higher life expectancy at 5 years and 10 years. Although there was significant delay in the first rejection episode in favor of the rATG induced group, no difference was observed in donor specific antibodies. This study indicates a need for separate analysis of peri-transplantation co-morbidities and mainly the incidence of acute kidney injury, which could affect long-term survival.

Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation support: ethical dilemmas.

The vast expansion of patients treated with of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) emerge novel ethical questions about the use of this new technology. In regard the indications, duration of support and timing of withdrawal of support, these questions sometimes create disagreement among surrogates, between health care team and surrogates, and even disagreement among health care team, these disagreements occurs because of the extreme emergency of support initiation, the ambiguity of the outcome as well as lack of clarity on the intended treatment direction, whether it is ineffective, bridge to recovery or bridge to lifetime mechanical support or transplant. In this article we discuss these questions through patients' scenarios.

Use of distal perfusion in peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving technique to manage refractory cardiopulmonary failure. Its usage and indication continue to increase. Femoral venoarterial ECMO (VA ECMO) is relatively less invasive and the cardiac support may be more rapidly instituted in in these extremely tenuous patients. Vascular injuries and limb ischemia unfortunately occur in these emergent access settings. Here we will discuss the optimal techniques of preventing this complication which might affect patient survival and impact the patient quality of life.

Pulmonary tuberculous and tuberculous pericardial tamponade post lung transplant.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) associated with tuberculous pericarditis after lung transplantation is a very rare entity. Here we report a unique case of cardiac tamponade due to tuberculous pericarditis, in a patient 4 months after single right lung transplantation, the patient underwent a subxyphoid pericardial window. The pericardial effusion analysis showed exudate effusion with high level of lymphocyte concentration. Both patient and donor didn't have history of TB or TB Exposure.

Ex vivo lung perfusion review of a revolutionary technology.

Donor lung shortage has been the main reason to the increasing number of patients waiting for lung transplant. Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is widely expanding technology to assess and prepare the lungs who are considered marginal for transplantation. the outcomes are encouraging and comparable to the lungs transplanted according to the standard criteria. in this article, we will discuss the history of development, the techniques and protocols of ex vivo, and the logics and rationales for ex vivo use.

Tuberculous Empyema Post Bilateral Lung Transplant.

Tuberculous empyema in lung transplantation recipients is a rare entity, with only a handful of cases reported in the English-language literature. We are reporting a case of tuberculous empyema 3 months after uncomplicated bilateral lung transplantation. The recipient underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery for diagnosis and decortication. Both the recipient and donor lacked a history of tuberculosis or tuberculosis exposure.

Successful Delivery in a Patient With Left Ventricular Assist Device and Unplanned Pregnancy.

We report the case of a woman supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) who presented at 20 weeks of gestation and decided against recommendations to continue with her pregnancy. This was managed with well-developed plan for a multidisciplinary team approach. With close and regular follow-up and regular adjustment of the patient's medications and LVAD parameters, successful delivery and outcome for both the mother and the newborn were achieved.

Use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenator in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

The superiority of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) compared with medical therapy for patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who are not suitable candidates for surgery had been proven. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is rarely used in TAVR. Reports of early use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenator (ECMO) have promising outcomes. ECMO offers the option of cardiac support rescue in case of intraoperative hemodynamic instability and can be instituted in advance when hemodynamic instability is expected. Here we review the English literature about the use of ECMO in TAVR procedures, and discuss the indications and rationale for its use as well as its advantages.

New horizons of non-emergent use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenator support.

The expansion of the extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use and its indication is strikingly increased in the past few years. ECMO use expanded to lung transplantation, difficult general thoracic resections, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and LVAD implantation. Here we will discuss the indications and the outcomes of non-emergent use of ECMO.

Primary extraskeletal pleural osteosarcoma: a rare pleural identity.

A 69-year-old female with a history of a heart transplant 16 years prior, presented with a large left chest mass identified on fluoroscopy in the cardiac catheterization lab. The patient noted a 40 pound weight loss in one year. A chest X-ray (CXR) and chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a large complex cystic mass in the left chest. A CT guided aspiration was performed, and the cytology for the cyst fluid was negative for malignancy. The patient continued to have worsening shortness of breath, a repeat chest CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) three months later, demonstrated a recurrence of the left pleural mass. Further, work-up was negative for tumor. A left video assisted thoracotomy exploration was performed and left thoracotomy was needed for the mass resection. The final pathology demonstrated a high grade osteosarcoma. The post-operative course was unremarkable.

A successful percutaneous mechanical vegetation debulking used as a bridge to surgery in acute tricuspid valve endocarditis.

Timing of surgical management of acute infective endocarditis is a major challenge, with respect to surgical complications, risks of recurrences and optimal valve repair or replacement. We present a case of a 24-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug abuse, who was referred to our center after 10 days of medical management of acute infective endocarditis. Upon arrival he was in septic shock, multi-organ failure, and mobile vegetations on the tricuspid valve with severe tricuspid regurgitation. He also had bilateral pulmonary infarcts and an ischemic stroke in the right parietal lobe. A successful percutaneous transcatheter mechanical vegetation debulking was performed followed by surgical valve replacement seven days later. This case introduces a new option in the management of right-sided endocarditis in critically ill patient, and demonstrates the technical feasibility of a debulking procedure in this setting, which led subsequently to a significant improvement in patient's condition, and he was ultimately able to undergo definitive surgery.

Minimally invasive is the future of left ventricular assist device implantation.

There have been many factors that have allowed for progressive improvement in outcomes and lower complication rates. These include the improvement in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technologies, combined with better understanding of patient management, all these. Nowadays the numbers of LVAD implantations exceed the number of annual heart transplants worldwide. Minimally invasive procedures are shown to improve the surgical outcome in both LVAD insertion and replacement. These minimally invasive techniques can be grouped grossly into shifting from on-pump to off-pump implantation, alternative access for implantation other than sternotomy, and a combination of both, which should be the ultimate aim of minimally invasive LVAD implantation. Here we describe the alternative techniques and configurations of minimally invasive and sites of implantation.

Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) review of a lifesaving technology.

Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) indications and usage has strikingly progressed over the last 20 years; it has become essential tool in the care of adults and children with severe cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction refractory to conventional management. In this article we will provide a review of ECMO development, clinical indications, patients' management, options and cannulations techniques, complications, outcomes, and the appropriate strategy of organ management while on ECMO.