Metastatic cardiac tumors: from clinical presentation through diagnosis to treatment.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prevalence of metastatic tumors involving the myocardium and study their presentation in order to increase awareness to their existence. METHODS: Pathological reports from Sheba Medical Center (Israel, January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015) and medical records from The Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica (Serbia, 23 years period) were screened for cases of metastatic cardiac tumors. Medical, radiological and pathological data of identified cases was retrieved and reviewed. RESULTS: Out of thousands of registered cardiac surgeries we found less than a dozen cases of metastatic cardiac tumors classified as melanoma, carcinomas of lung, colon and kidney and sarcomas of uterine origin. We found that metastatic cardiac tumors comprised 15.8% of all the cardiac tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic cardiac tumors are extremely rare. As new diagnostic technologies and improved survival of oncological patients may increase the incidence of metastatic cardiac tumors in the future, awareness to their existence and knowledge of their presentation are key factors in their timely recognition.

Systematic reductive annuloplasty of the mitral and tricuspid valves in patients with end-stage ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy exhibit extensive remodeling of the left ventricle, annular dilation, and significant mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. These changes increase per operative morbidity and mortality, and emphasize patient candidacy for heart transplantation. The aim of this study is to show immediate and long-term results after reductive annuloplasty of double (mitral and tricuspid) orifices, performed at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting, as an alternative to heart transplantation. METHODS: There were 226 consecutive patients (205 males, 21 females) with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, mean ejection fraction below 30% [(26.6 +/- 3.1)%], and mean left ventricle end-diastolic internal diameter greater than 7.0 cm (7.3 +/- 0.3 cm). In addition to myocardial revascularization, Carpentier's mitral annuloplasty and posterior semicircular reductive annuloplasty were performed in 37 and 189 patients, respectively. In all 226 patients, a modified De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty was performed. RESULTS: Postoperative 30-day mortality was 7.5% (17 patients). Survival rates after 5 and 10 years were (61.5 +/- 4.0)% and (38.05 +/- 8.0)%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reductive annuloplasty of mitral and tricuspid orifices performed at the time of myocardial revascularization could be beneficial in selective patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Results indicate that this method should not be recognized as a valve repair, but ventricular repair procedure also.

[The importance of hemodynamic monitoring in mitral and tricuspid valve surgery].

INTRODUCTION: Untreated mitral valve disease is associated with marked hemodynamic disorders, low ejection fraction (EF) and poor perfusion. The study aimed to explore the importance of hemodynamic monitoring in intraoperative evaluation and treatment of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 85 patients: group 1: 41 patients, EF<40%; group 11: 44 patients, EF>40%. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded after initation of anesthesia (1), after sternotomy (2), after extracorporeal circulation (ECC) (3) and before leaving the operation theatre (4). The following parameters were assessed: mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index, central venous pressure, cardiac index. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t-test and correlation analyses in time series. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Hemodynamic parameters were changed at the beginnig of surgery, but gradually improved after sternotomy and were normal at the end of the operation. Both examined groups presented with reduction of the pulmonary artery preassure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index (reduction more than 30%) and cardiac index (up to 100%). Strong correlation between 1/2 and 3/4 assessments pointed to the importance of intraoperative evaluation. Swan-Ganz catheter ia a valuable tool used for hemodynamic monitoring. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative medication (based on obtained hemodynamic parameters) and operative treatment led to normalization of all parameters in both groups, regardless of the preoperative values of EF.

Prostacyclin reduces incidence of myocardial damage after coronary endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: After coronary endarterectomy, patients have an increased incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the possible reduction of perioperative myocardial damage after coronary endarterectomy by intravenous utilization of prostacyclin. METHODS: Elective coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 1,190 patients with diffuse and distal coronary artery disease, in whom endarterectomy of one or more vessels was used as a treatment. All procedures were done with cardiopulmonary bypass. There were 584 patients in the prostacyclin-treated group, and 606 patients in the control group. Prostacyclin (10 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1)) was started 20 minutes before the cross-clamp removal, or at the time of rewarming, and was continued during the first 24 hours after surgery. The incidence of perioperative myocardial damage was detected by creatine kinase-MB enzyme measurement, and electrocardiographic and left ventricular function changes. RESULTS: A significant decrease in perioperative myocardial damage was detected in the group treated with prostacyclin with respect to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Prostacyclin infusion initiated during revascularization and continued in the early postoperative course could be successfully employed for the prevention of thrombocyte aggregation and potentially decrease the overall incidence of significant myocardial damage after coronary endarterectomy.

Apoptosis of myocytes and proliferation markers as prognostic factors in end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of apoptosis, proliferation markers, volume density of interstitium, and myofibril volume fraction for the prognosis in patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS: Endomyocardial biopsy was performed during open-heart surgery in 56 patients with end-stage DCM. Patients were divided into two groups, one group with shorter survival (24+/-9 months, mean+/-S.D.) and another group with survival of more than 7 years after operation. The TUNEL method was used for the detection of apoptosis, and immunohistochemical methods were used for the evaluation of inhibitor of apoptosis (bcl-2) and proliferation markers (PCNA and Ki-67). RESULTS: The increased percentage of apoptotic myocytes, decreased expression of bcl-2, and decreased expression of PCNA and Ki-67 antigen was found in the group with early mortality compared to that with longer survival. Myofibril volume fraction was lower and volume density of interstitium was higher in the group with early mortality compared to that with longer survival. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis, bcl-2 expression, and proliferation activity of myocytes, myofibril volume fraction, and volume density of interstitial tissue might be useful in predicting the prognosis (progressive vs. nonprogressive form) of patients with heart failure due to DCM.

Surgical treatment of heart failure in patients with primary and ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to show hemodynamic and clinical improvement of heart failure after reductive annuloplasty of double (mitral and tricuspid) orifices (RADO) in the treatment of ischemic (IDCM) and primary (PDCM) dilated cardiomyopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1986 to July 15, 2002, 341 patients underwent operations for dilated cardiomyopathy. The IDCM group consisted of 231 patients (68%) with a mean ejection fraction (EF) of 23.3%. From July 1991 to July 15, 2002, the 110 patients in the PDCM group (mean EF, 22.9%) underwent such operations. RESULTS: The postoperative 30-day mortality rate was 5.9% for the entire patient population, 7.3% for the IDCM group, and 2.7% for the PDCM group. Follow-up survival rates were 61.5% +/- 4.0% at 5 years and 38.2% +/- 8.0% at 14 years for the IDCM group and 43.9% +/- 5.6% at 5 years and 21.3% +/- 8.5% at 10 years for the PDCM group. CONCLUSION: RADO corrects remodeling of the fibrous skeleton of the heart, changes the spherical geometry of the left ventricle, improves the hemodynamic action of the left and right ventricles, and slows down the progression of heart failure. We recommend the RADO procedure as an important associated procedure in the surgical treatment of IDCM and as a new surgical alternative for treating the early stage of PDCM immediately after the first decompensation.

Reductive annuloplasty of double orifices in patients with primary dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with primary dilated cardiomyopathy exhibit extensive remodeling of the left ventricle, mitral and tricuspid annular dilation and both mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. These factors significantly contribute to heart failure, and are predictors of early lethal outcome. The aim of this study is to show hemodynamic and clinical improvement after reductive annuloplasty of both mitral and tricuspid orifices in primary dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: There were 76 patients with primary dilated cardiomyopathy. Mitral annuloplasty using a Carpentier-Edwards sizer was performed on 9 patients, and posterior semicircular reductive annuloplasty was performed on 67 patients. Modified De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty was performed on all patients. RESULTS: Immediate and long-term results showed significant improvement in hemodynamic values and myocardial contractility after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Reductive annuloplasty of both mitral and tricuspid orifices corrects remodeling of the left ventricle of the heart, changes sphericity and geometry of the left ventricle, improves hemodynamic action of the left and right ventricle, and slows down progression of heart failure. We recommend reductive annuloplasty of both mitral and tricuspid orifices before or soon after the first decompensation.