How to perform a haemodialysis using the arterial and venous lines of an extracorporeal life support.

Continuous renal replacement therapy is particularly suited in the setting of acute renal failure, occurring after cardiac surgery, in patients requiring extracorporeal life support (ECLS) or membrane oxygenation. In such patients, temporary catheters are not necessary since the circuit of haemodialysis or haemofiltration may be connected on the ECLS cannulae. We report how to modify a classical ECLS circuit to connect directly the haemodialysis (Prismaflex device, Gambro-Hospal, Lyon, France) to the ECLS. We also detail parameters used to initiate the haemodialysis. Actually, we modify all our ECLS circuits as described here, at implantation time, allowing rapid haemodialysis initiations. Since 2004, 21 patients have been treated, as described here, without supplemental mortality or related complication.

Diaphragmatic rupture during labour, two years after an intra-oesophageal rupture of a bronchogenic cyst treated by an omental wrapping.

We report the case of a 27-year-old pregnant woman, presenting a rare but potentially fatal complication of an omental wrapping, transposed in the thorax by a phrenotomy due to an intra-oesophageal rupture of a bronchogenic cyst. Two years later, on time of delivery of her first pregnancy, she has presented a diaphragmatic rupture with a complete transposition of the volvuled stomach. The diagnosis was done using the Gastrographin transit and the CT-scan, showing the specific 'Collar sign'. An urgent surgical correction was performed including the re-instatement of all abdominal organs in the peritoneum, the omental wrapping section and the diaphragmatic closure. The two-year follow-up was uneventful. We discuss the case, the investigations needed and the possibility to cut the omental wrapping without any complication two years after this oesophageal re-inforcement. In conclusion, we believe that omental transpositions must always be done using the retrosternal route or by transhiatal approach to avoid this serious complication after delivery.

How to replace an extracorporeal life support without interruption of the cardiopulmonary assistance.

The extracorporeal life support (ECLS) allows a maximum of a few weeks of cardio-respiratory assistance. Using standard ECLS, the circuit must be replaced after a few days or sometimes more frequently, in case of dysfunction. Classically, the replacement needs the interruption of the support inducing a temporarily hemodynamic instability. We report a simple technique, allowing this replacement without interruption of the assistance, based on the implantation of a new circuit in parallel. We describe the original modification, the complete procedure and our results. This method has been used in 34 ECLS replacements in 14 patients without any incident or thrombo-embolic events. This simple technique is safe, reliable, and avoids the hemodynamic instability induced by classical replacements.

FTIR protein secondary structure analysis of human ascending aortic tissues.

The advent of moderate dilatations in ascending aortas is often accompanied by structural modifications of the main components of the aortic tissue, elastin and collagen. In this study, we have undertaken an approach based on FTIR microscopy coupled to a curve-fitting procedure to analyze secondary structure modifications in these proteins in human normal and pathological aortic tissues. We found that the outcome of the aortic pathology is strongly influenced by these proteins, which are abundant in the media of the aortic wall, and that the advent of an aortic dilatation is generally accompanied by a decrease of parallel beta-sheet structures. Elastin, essentially composed of beta-sheet structures, seems to be directly related to these changes and therefore indicative of the elastic alteration of the aortic wall. Conventional microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy were used to compare FTIR microscopy results with the organization of the elastic fibers present in the tissues. This in-vitro study on 6 patients (three normal and three pathologic), suggests that such a spectroscopic marker, specific to aneurismal tissue characterization, could be important information for surgeons who face the dilemma of moderate aortic tissue dilatation of the ascending aortas.

Endovascular treatment of an acute subdiaphragmatic aortic rupture.

We report the case of a 23-year-old man presenting an acute rupture of the subdiaphragmatic aorta in front of a T12 vertebral fracture after a road accident. Because of the location of this lesion, the operative risk and a cardiac instability, we opted for an endovascular treatment with a new and original approach in covering a small part of the aorta using commercial devices. We also describe the probable mechanism of this uncommon aortic rupture. The surgical outcome was uneventful and the 3 month computed tomographic scan confirmed the complete exclusion of the aortic disruption.

Traumatic aorto-right atrial fistula and tricuspid valve rupture. Post-operative cardiac and respiratory support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

We report the case of a 30-year-old man admitted for a crushed chest trauma. The echocardiography found an aorto-right atrial fistula, a tricuspid valve rupture and a myocardial contusion. The fistula was closed using an autologous pericardial patch and a bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement was performed because the lesions did not allow for any valvular sparing. Because of the proximity between the right coronary ostium and the rupture, a venous aorto-right coronary bypass was performed. The ostium was also closed by the pericardial patch. A peripheral ECMO was implanted at the end of the surgical repair because of a right ventricle dysfunction and a respiratory failure related to severe bilateral pulmonary contusions. A few days later, renal, hepatic and coagulation failures were also noticed, justifying hemodialysis and transfusions. Despite an initial worsening of these five organ failures, the outcome was finally favorable and the patient was discharged 108 days after surgery. A 3-year follow-up revealed a complete recovery of all organ failures. To conclude, we firmly believe that the ECMO can be successfully applied in selected cases of severe right ventricular dysfunction and respiratory failure after cardiac surgery.

Retrograde aortic dissection after a stent graft repair of a type B dissection: how to improve the endovascular technique.

To date, endovascular repair of thoracic dissections is a reality, associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman presenting a retrograde aortic dissection at the postoperative day 12, after an endovascular repair for a 60-mm thoracic dissecting aneurysm. Two years earlier, she had presented an uncomplicated thoracoabdominal type B aortic dissection between the isthmic aorta and the iliac bifurcation. Despite an acceptable blood pressure control, a 62-mm thoracic dissecting aneurysm was observed on the 24-month CT-scan. Due to a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we chose the endovascular approach to exclude the thoracic entry tear leading to the complete false lumen thrombosis around the endoprosthesis. However, the inferior part of the false lumen remained patent due to a second abdominal entry tear. The initial outcome was uneventful but the patient presented a sudden death syndrome twelve days after the endovascular repair. During the autopsy, we discovered an intrapericardial rupture of a retrograde dissection, starting at the level of the proximal bare spring of the endoprosthesis. We discuss some important technical details to improve the safety, and to reduce the risk of immediate or delayed complications.

Mitral valve replacement in idiopathic eosinophilic endocarditis without peripheral eosinophilia.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHS) is a rare systemic disease than can cause multiple organ failure by eosinophilic infiltration. Cardiac involvement is characterized by endocardial fibrosis and overlying thrombus leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy and valvular dysfunction. The absence of peripheral eosinophilia does not exclude eosinophilic cardiac involvement. Surgical experience of patients with mitral dysfunction caused by this syndrome is limited and valvular replacement is most often performed. Mechanical valvular replacement has a high incidence of recurrent obstructive thrombosis and replacement by bioprosthesis is recommended despite associated restrictive cardiomyopathy. This report describes a patient who presented mitral insufficiency caused by eosinophilic endocarditis without peripheral eosinophilia who underwent mitral valve replacement.

Intra-esophageal rupture of a bronchogenic cyst.

Bronchogenic cysts usually are an asymptomatic disease and present as an incidental finding in the chest X-rays. They require a complete and early surgical excision to prevent complications and recurrences. We report a rare case of a voluminous symptomatic para-esophageal bronchogenic cyst complicated by an esophageal fistula. The initial video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery excision of the cyst was converted in open thoracotomy to suture the esophagus and interpose omentum. Previously, only four cases of para-esophageal bronchogenic cysts with esophageal communication have been reported.

Transection of left common carotid artery with arch extension after blunt chest trauma.

We report the case of a 63-year-old man, admitted after a traffic accident. Clinical examination found chest trauma, mandibular and long bone fractures but there was no cerebral ischemic signs. The chest X-ray showed a widening of the mediastinum; therefore an aortography demonstrated a false aneurysm, an intimal flap of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and a middle aortic arch disruption. Surgical reconstruction was accomplished by inserting Dacron prosthesis from the ascending aorta to the LCCA. The aortic arch wound was reconstructed by an autologous pericardial patch. In light of this surgical case, we discuss early methods of diagnosis and details of medical, surgical or endovascular treatments.

Factors determining early improvement in mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis: a transthoracic and transesophageal prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequently associated with aortic stenosis. Previous reports have shown that coexisting mitral insufficiency can potentially regress after aortic valve replacement. HYPOTHESIS: This study sought to assess the frequency and severity of MR before and after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and to define the determinants of its postoperative evolution. METHODS: For this purpose, 30 adult patients referred for aortic valve surgery underwent pre- and postoperative transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and color Doppler examination. RESULTS: Mean preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 57 +/- 16% and remained unchanged postoperatively. Preoperative MR was usually mild to moderate and correlated with aortic stenosis severity and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The color Doppler mitral regurgitant jet area significantly decreased during the postoperative period (p = 0.016) as left ventricular loading conditions returned to normal, suggesting an early decrease of the functional part of MR. On the other hand, the mitral regurgitant jet width at the origin remained unchanged. Statistical analysis found pulmonary artery pressure (p = 0.02) an d indexed left ventricular mass (p = 0.009) to be preoperative predictive factors of postoperative MR improvement. Predictive factors of postoperative MR severity were left atrial diameter (p = 0.02), pulmonary artery pressure (p = 0.003), and the presence of mitral calcifications (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In our cohort of patients with normal left venticular ejection fraction, the majority of moderate MR, associated with severe aortic stenosis, regresses early after aortic valve replacement. Mitral calcifications and/or left atrial dilation seem to be predictive factors of fixed MR.

Malignant mesenchymoma of the pleura.

Malignant mesenchymomas are rare soft tissue tumors of mesenchymal origin. We report a case of pleural localization with liposarcomatous, leiomyosarcomatous and osteocartilaginous elements. The treatment associated surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sixteen months after the diagnosis a metastatic retroperitoneal sarcoma with osteosarcomatous differentiation appeared without any sign of thoracic recurrence. A surgical resection was performed, but a rapid retroperitoneal recurrence led to death.