Mini-Bentall Surgery: The Right Thoracotomy Approach.

Surgeons are increasingly using the right mini-thoracotomy approach to perform aortic valve surgery. This approach has shown better results in terms of blood loss and length of hospital stay than the sternotomy approach. For selected patients requiring aortic root and ascending aorta surgery, a right mini-thoracotomy approach may prove beneficial. In our technique, we placed a 5-cm horizontal skin incision in the right second intercostal space. Femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass was established. A valved aortic conduit was used for aortic root replacement. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, with a short hospital stay. This technique offers a minimally invasive approach to aortic root and ascending aorta surgery with easy adaptability and reduced costs.

Case of rheumatic mitral stenosis with bilateral coronary artery fistula to pulmonary artery: A rare entity.

Coronary to pulmonary artery fistula is a rare form of congenital coronary artery anomaly. Majority of coronary arteriovenous fistula detected incidentally on coronary angiography. Although, most of these patients are asymptomatic, larger fistulae can produce symptoms of heart failure. Here we present a rare case of 61-year-old female who presented primarily for mitral valve replacement for severe mitral stenosis. On screening angiography, there were two fistula arising from both right and left coronary artery and draining in to the main pulmonary artery. The patient was operated and mitral valve replacement with closure of the fistula. Patient had an uneventful post-operative period and was discharged on 7 the post-operative day.

Total arterial multivessels minimal invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting via left minithoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Minimal Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (MIDCAB) is becoming popular and an important armamentarium for cardiac surgeons. We aimed to evaluate the result of MIDCAB total arterial revascularization. METHODS: We have evaluated 216 patients who underwent MIDCAB multivessel total arterial revascularization through a left anterolateral mini thoracotomy. LIMA harvested in every patient, RIMA or radial artery used as second conduit. LIMA-RIMA Y or LIMA-RADIAL Y was made to accomplish multivessels total arterial revascularization. Post-operative graft patency was evaluated in all patients by CT coronary angiography at 6 months following discharge. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 52.5 ± 9.8 years. Average number of anastomosis performed were 2.34 ± 0.75. Multivessels total arterial CABG was accomplished in all individuals. There was no mortality or deep wound infection. Re-exploration was done in two patients for bleeding. In one patient emergency CPB was required. Average ICU and hospital stay was 1.52 ± 0.77 and 4.92 ± 1.46 days, respectively. Patients were mobilized earlier due to less pain. Wound healing of anterolateral thoracotomy was faster. In the follow up CT angiography 100% of the LIMA grafts were patent. CONCLUSIONS: Multivessels total arterial MIDCAB can be accomplished safely in selected individuals. RIMA can be harvested in long standing diabetic patients with no concern for sternal wound healing. MIDCAB patients experience better cosmetics and early return to daily activities.

Use of autologous umbilical cord blood transfusion in neonates undergoing surgical correction of congenital cardiac defects: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion requirement during neonatal open heart surgeries is universal. Homologous blood transfusion (HBT) in pediatric cardiac surgery is used most commonly for priming of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system and for postoperative transfusion. To avoid the risks associated with HBT in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery, use of autologous umbilical cord blood (AUCB) transfusion has been described. We present our experience with the use of AUCB for neonatal cardiac surgery. DESIGNS AND METHODS: Consecutive neonates scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery for various cardiac diseases who had a prenatal diagnosis made on the basis of a fetal echocardiography were included in this prospective observational study. After a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section, UCB was collected from the placenta in a 150-mL bag containing 5 mL of citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1 solution. The collected bag with 70-75 mL cord blood was stored at 2°C-6°C and tested for blood grouping and infections after proper labeling. The neonate's autologous cord blood was used for postcardiac surgery blood transfusion to replace postoperative blood loss. RESULTS: AUCB has been used so far at our institute in 10 neonates undergoing cardiac surgery. The donor exposure in age and type of cardiac surgery-matched controls showed that the neonates not receiving autologous cord blood had a donor exposure to 5 donors (2 packed red blood cells [PRBCs], including 1 for CPB prime and 1 for postoperative loss, 1 fresh frozen plasma, 1 cryoprecipitate, and 1 platelet concentrate) compared to 1 donor for the AUCB neonate (1 PRBC for the CPB prime). Postoperative blood loss was similar in both the groups of matched controls and study group. Values of hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, platelet counts, and blood gas parameters were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: Use of AUCB for replacement of postoperative blood loss after neonatal cardiac surgery is feasible and reduces donor exposure to the neonate. Its use, however, requires a prenatal diagnosis of a cardiac defect by fetal echo and adequate logistic and psychological support from involved clinicians and the blood bank.

A prospective randomized comparison of testicular functions, sexual functions and quality of life following laparoscopic totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) and trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repairs.

BACKGROUND: There is very scant literature on the impact of inguinal hernia mesh repair on testicular functions and sexual functions following open and laparoscopic repair. The present randomized study compares TAPP and TEP repairs in terms of testicular functions, sexual functions, quality of life and chronic groin pain. METHODS: This study was conducted from April 2012 to October 2014. A total of 160 patients with uncomplicated groin hernia were randomized to either trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) repair or totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) repair. Testicular functions were assessed by measuring testicular volume, testicular hormone levels preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. Sexual functions were assessed using BMSFI, and quality of life was assessed using WHO-QOL BREF scale preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Chronic groin pain was evaluated using the VAS scale at 3 months, 6 months and at 1 year. RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 13 months (range 6-18 months). The mean preoperative pain scores (p value 0.35) as well as the chronic groin pain were similar between TEP and TAPP repairs at 3 months (p value 0.06) and 6 months (p value 0.86). The testicular resistive index and testicular volume did not show any significant change at follow-up of 3 months (p value 0.9) in the study population. No significant difference was observed in testicular resistive index and testicular volume when comparing TEP and TAPP groups at at follow-up of 3 months (p value >0.05). There was a statistically significant improvement in the sexual drive score, erectile function and overall satisfaction over the follow-up period following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. However, sexual function improvement was similar in patients undergoing both TEP and TAPP repairs. All the domains of quality of life in the study population showed a significant improvement at a follow-up of 3 and 6 months. Subgroup analysis of all the domains of quality of life in both TAPP and TEP groups showed a similar increment as in the study population (p value <0.001); however, the mean scores of all the domains were comparable between the two subgroups (p value >0.05), preoperatively and 3 and 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic groin hernia repair improves the testicular functions, sexual functions and quality of life, but TEP and TAPP repairs are comparable in terms of these long-term outcomes.