Is it safe to perform total arterial grafting in elderly patients lacking vein grafts? A single surgeon comparison.

OBJECTIVES: The results of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with total arterial revascularisation (TA-CABG) in elderly patients, who may have insufficient vein graft material for conventional CABG (CO-CABG), have not been fully established. We therefore sought to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of patients >70 years old undergoing CO-CABG and TA-CABG. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study analyzing all consecutive adult patients aged >70 years undergoing first-time CABG over the 15-year period from 2004 to 2020 under a single surgeon. Primary outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality, long-term mortality, and re-intervention rate. Secondary outcomes of interest included operative durations and the incidence of peri-operative complications. RESULTS: There were 46 patients (age 76 ± 3 SD) in the TA-CABG group and 145 patients (age 76 ± 4 SD) in the CO-CABG group. Cardio-pulmonary bypass and cross-clamp durations were comparable between groups (p = .11 and p = .23, respectively). Stroke occurred in 1.0% undergoing CO-CABG compared to 0% in the TA-CABG group (p = .42). Hospital mortality was 3.0% with CO-CABG (EuroSCORE; mean [SD] 6.81 (5.81)) and 2.0% with TA-CABG (EuroSCORE; mean [SD] 6.38 (6.57)) (p = .93). On long-term follow-up, myocardial infarction occurred in 10.0% of CO-CABG patients compared to 4.0% of TA-CABG patients (p = .25). Re-intervention rates were 7% following CO-CABG, and 2% after TA-CABG (p = .23). There was no significant difference in long-term mortality between patients undergoing CO-CABG and TA-CABG (47% vs. 57%, p = .27). Long-term survival was comparable between grafting techniques (p = .27). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, re-intervention rate, hospital or long-term mortality between CO-CABG and TA-CABG. TA-CABG represents a safe and feasible alternative to CO-CABG in elderly patients offering good long-term outcomes.

Surgical management and long-term follow-up of aberrant right coronary arteries in adults.

OBJECTIVES: Anomalous origins of the right coronary artery (RCA) can cause ischaemia and sudden cardiac death, particularly if the RCA runs between the aorta and pulmonary artery. Conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be affected by early graft failure due to collateral blood flow. We present our institutional experience in managing patients with RCA anomalies. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review of all patients who underwent surgery for aberrant right coronary arteries between 2005 and 2021 was conducted and in-hospital and long-term outcomes were analysed at our institution. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients (5 females, median age: 51 years, 36-62) were identified. They presented with symptoms of chest pain (n = 8), dyspnoea (n = 1) or following cardiac arrest (n = 1). In the majority the RCA originated from the left coronary sinus (n = 9). In one of those patients and one in whom the RCA originated directly from the left anterior descending artery CABG was performed. The other 8 patients were treated using transfer of the RCA ostium. All patients were discharged home (median hospital stay 5 days, range: 4-10). Four patients experienced post-op atrial fibrillation. No other complications were observed. At a median follow-up of 10 years and 9 months, 9 patients were alive and free from cardiac symptoms. One patient died 3 years postsurgery due to liver failure, unrelated to cardiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with an aberrant RCA, transfer of the ostium into the RCS carries a low surgical risk. It overcomes early graft failure in these patients, who present with a dynamic impairment in RCA blood flow. However, if fixed proximal RCA flow-limiting pathology exists, conventional bypass surgery is feasible.

Complete revascularization optimizes patient outcomes in multivessel coronary artery disease: Data from the e-Ultimaster registry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this analysis was to assess the effect of the coronary revascularization strategy during index admission on clinical outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD). BACKGROUND: The value of complete revascularization (CR) over incomplete revascularization (IR) in MVD patients is not fully established. METHODS: Patients with MVD defined as ≥2 major epicardial vessels with ≥50% stenosis were selected from the observational all-comer e-Ultimaster registry. Patients were treated with a sirolimus-eluting thin-strut coronary stent. Completeness of revascularization was physician assessed at the index procedure or an eventually staged procedure during the index hospitalization. Outcomes measures at 1 year were target lesion failure (TLF) (composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction [MI], and clinically driven target lesion revascularization [TLR]), and patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE) (all-cause mortality, MI, or revascularization). The inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) methodology was used to perform a matched analysis. RESULTS: The registry recruited 37,198 patients of whom 15,441 (41.5%) had MVD. CR on hospital discharge was achieved in 7413 (48.0%) patients and IR in 8028 (52.0%) patients. Mean age was 64.6 ± 11.1 versus 65.7 ± 11.0 years (p < 0.01), male gender 77.9% and 77.3% (p = 0.41) and diabetes 31.3% versus 33.4% (p = 0.01) for CR and IR, respectively. Chronic stable angina patients more commonly underwent CR (47.6% vs. 36.8%, p < 0.01). After propensity weighted analysis, 90.5% of CR patients were angina-free at 1 year compared with 87.5% of IR patients (p < 0.01). TLF (3.3% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.01), POCE (6.8% vs. 10.8%; p < .01), and all-cause mortality (2.3% vs. 3.1%; p < .01) were all lower in CR patients. CONCLUSIONS: A physician-directed use of a CR strategy utilizing sirolimus-eluting thin-strut stent results in optimized clinical outcomes and less angina in an all-comer population. Our findings suggest that a CR should be aimed for.

External validation study of hip peri-prosthetic joint infection with cemented custom-made articulating spacer (CUMARS).

INTRODUCTION: Peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The use of custom-made articulating spacers (CUMARS) has been described for use in the first of 2-stage treatment. We report our outcomes of managing PJI using CUMARS. METHODS: Patients undergoing 1st-stage revision using the Exeter standard stem, all-polyethylene acetabulum and antibiotic-loaded cement were identified. Medical records were assessed for demographics, microbiological and operative treatment, complications, eradication of infection and reoperations. No postoperative restrictions were enforced. 2nd-stage revision was undertaken in the presence of pain or subsidence. RESULTS: 53 patients underwent 1st-stage revision using this technique. The average follow-up was 3.9 (range 0.5-7.2) years. Infection was eradicated in 47 (88.7%) patients. 2 patients had chronic infection managed with suppressive antibiotics, 2 patients died before eradication confirmed, 1 patient had raised inflammatory markers but no positive aspiration cultures, 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Complications occurred in 5 (9.4%) patients - 4 dislocations and 1 infected haematoma. 4 patients required a repeated 1st stage. 2nd-stage revision was performed in 19 patients (35%). CONCLUSIONS: The CUMARS technique is an effective way of eradicating PJI after THA. It maintains function by providing a stable construct that permits weight-bearing. It delays or negates the need for 2nd-stage revision. Furthermore, it allows surgeons to choose between managing patients prospectively as a single-stage revision with the option of reverting to a 2nd stage.

An unusual case of clavicular prosthesis migration causing traumatic injury to the ascending aorta.

Traumatic aortic injuries can be a lethal event. Almost 88% of patients with traumatic aortic injuries die within the first hour and only 2% survive long enough to develop a chronic aneurysm. Injury to the ascending aorta, whether acute or chronic, are typically managed with surgery, and those in the descending aorta, are managed conservatively or in some cases with stents. We present a rare case of a 53-year old gentleman with intra-aortic migration of a left clavicular prosthesis used for restoration of the left shoulder girdle.

Interprosthetic femoral fractures managed with modern distal femoral locking plates: 10 years' experience at a UK major trauma centre.

INTRODUCTION: Interprosthetic femoral fractures (IFF) are rare but increasing with an ageing population. Operative management is challenging and there is currently a paucity of outcome data in literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of IFFs managed with modern distal femoral locking plates, in a larger sample size than previously published. METHOD: This retrospective study reviewed 49 closed IFFs in 48 patients at a major trauma center from 2009 to 2019 occurring between previous total hip arthroplasty (n=38), hemi hip arthroplasty (n=3), dynamic hip screw (n=6) or cephalomedullary nail (n=2) and total knee arthroplasty. They were managed with Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPO) employing modern biological fixation techniques and stabilised with VA-LCP Condylar (Synthes; n=28) or Peri-Loc (S&N; n=21) plate. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were measured. RESULTS: The majority of fractures were in female patients (80%), who were elderly (average 83 years), and comorbid (55% ASA grade 3 or 4). Most fractures were Pires type IIA and OTA/AO type 33A. Average plate spanning femur was 16 holes, with average working length of 6 holes. 86% had unrestricted weight bearing immediately post operatively. 31 fractures reached radiological (n=25) or clinical (n=6) union. 13 patients died with 2 lost to follow up. There were 3 non-unions, with implant failure occurring before 4 months in all 3. We present a union rate of 91% (n=31/34). CONCLUSION: IFFs are occurring with increasing frequency in a frail elderly population. In patients with IFFs, MIPO and biological fixation techniques using modern distal femoral locking plates can achieve high rate of union when combined with immediate unrestricted weight bearing postoperatively.

Understanding survival analysis: actuarial life tables and the Kaplan-Meier plot.

Survival analysis is a set of methods used to study the time between enrollment in a study and the occurrence of an event of interest. Two methods are commonly used: actuarial life tables and the Kaplan-Meier approach for survival analysis. A good understanding of both these methods is useful when reading and appraising the literature concerning prognostic and interventional studies. Kaplan-Meier curves are widely used as they enable analysis of incomplete sets of data (i.e. after patients withdraw from studies or are lost to follow up). This review explains these two methods and gives practical examples of their use.

Ethics of Smartphone Usage for Medical Image Sharing.

Technology advances in medicine have led to increased usage of smartphones and applications in facilitating provision of care. As the increased power of technology paves the way for advances, it is fundamental that ethical considerations are comprehensively explored. This paper explores the importance of consent, confidentiality, and data security in use of smartphone applications for transferring medical information.

Being a patient: a medical student's perspective.

Medical education follows the clinical drive toward patient-centered care and, therefore, puts strong emphasis on the development of empathy by medical students. It has, however, been found that there is a decline in empathy throughout a student's education. Students' participation in role-play as the doctor has been proved to improve patient care in a clinical capacity. Here, it is proposed that patient role-play can enhance patient care holistically, by enhancing key communication skills and student's empathy.