Postinfarction acute aortic valve regurgitation and cardiac rupture.

We report the case of a 71-year-old man who developed acute aortic regurgitation after a myocardial infarct. At operation he was also found to have a contained cardiac rupture.

Off-pump coronary operations can be safely taught to cardiothoracic trainees.

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) operations are evolving rapidly and becoming established in many cardiothoracic centers. For the technique to be widely applicable, teaching methods must be developed for surgical trainees. Early and midterm clinical outcomes of OPCAB performed at our institution by trainees as first operators under supervision were compared to those obtained in patients operated on by consultants. METHODS: Analysis was undertaken on data prospectively inserted in the Patient Analysis & Tracking System. Of the 559 OPCAB operations performed between January 1997 and May 2000, 124 (22%) were carried out by a supervised trainee and 435 (78%) by a consultant. RESULTS: There was no difference in age, sex, angina class, New York Heart Association functional class, or operative priority and extent of coronary artery disease in the two groups. More patients operated on by consultants had a history of congestive heart failure requiring medical therapy, significantly lower ejection fraction, and higher Parsonnet score compared with patients operated on by trainees. Early and midterm clinical results, in terms of morbidity and mortality, were similar in patients operated on by trainees or by consultants. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show no differences in early and midterm clinical outcome for patients undergoing OPCAB operations performed either by consultants or by trainees under supervision. The improvements in exposure and stabilization techniques, as well as the use of intracoronary shunts, have made it possible and safe to teach trainees off-pump multivessel coronary artery revascularization.

High-pressure suction drainage via a polyurethane foam in the management of poststernotomy mediastinitis.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of suction drainage in the management of early poststernotomy mediastinitis. METHODS: From September 1998 to August 1999, we encountered nine cases of poststernotomy mediastinitis out of 1,209 adult median sternotomies performed in this time period. All these cases were treated with suction drainage, which was recently introduced to our management protocol. From September 1997 to August 1998, we encountered 11 cases of poststernotomy mediastinitis of 1,343 adult median sternotomies. All these cases were initially treated by closed drainage and irrigation, which was our previous first-line management. We used the latter group as historical controls for the evaluation of suction drainage. Lengths of hospitalization were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, and success versus failure of the primary treatment was compared using the chi2 test. RESULTS: Treatment with the suction dressing resulted in a decreased length of hospitalization after treatment starts (p = 0.02) and a lower rate of treatment failure (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The use of high-pressure suction drainage is a valuable adjunct in the early management of poststernotomy mediastinitis.

Surgical management of a gigantic circumflex coronary artery aneurysm with fistulous connection to the coronary sinus.

We report the successful management of a gigantic circumflex coronary artery aneurysm with fistulisation into the coronary sinus. Transoesophageal echocardiography allowed continuous visualisation of ventricular wall motion during dissection and closure of the aneurysm whilst operating on cardiopulmonary bypass on the beating heart.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients over 70 years old: the influence of age and surgical technique on early and mid-term clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of age and modern techniques of coronary artery bypass grafting with or without cardiopulmonary bypass on early and mid-term mortality and morbidity in a consecutive series of elderly patients. METHODS: From April 1996 to December 2000, data of 3842 patients undergoing coronary revascularisation were prospectively entered into a database. Data were extracted for 990 patients older than 70 years: (A) 70-74 years, (n=659); (B) 75 or more years, (n=331). RESULTS: A total of 990 elderly patients (> or = 70 years) underwent coronary revascularisation, 219 (22.1%) with off-pump surgery. Elderly patients were more likely to have higher CCS, NYHA and EuroScores, history of previous MI, unstable angina, renal dysfunction, left main stem disease > or = 50%, and to be urgent. However, they were less likely to be overweight. In-hospital mortality, occurrence of re-intubation, renal dysfunction, and hospital stay were significantly higher in this elderly group. Overall, the distribution of mortality was doubled in the female gender although this was not statistically significant. Patients undergoing on-pump surgery had lower EuroScore, were less likely to be >75 years of age, likely to have obesity or hypercholesterolaemia, or to have suffered a previous cerebro-vascular accident. However, they had more extensive coronary disease, were more likely to have unstable angina, and received more grafts than those undergoing off-pump surgery. After adjustment for prognostic variables, off-pump surgery was found to be associated with reduced inotropic use, intra-operative arrhythmias, blood loss and transfusion requirement when compared to on-pump coronary surgery (point estimates of odd ratios, 0.26-0.87) (all P<0.05). Mid-term mortality or cardiac-related events were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early but not mid-term mortality is higher in patients aged 75 or more years when compared with those aged 70-74 years. Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is safe and effective in the elderly population.

Recurrent bronchogenic cyst in a Jehovah's witness.

A 26-year-old female practising Jehovah's witness presented with a history of recurrent respiratory infections since childhood and more recently, recurrent cardiac dysrhythmias. A large bronchogenic cyst arising beneath the carina and compressing the bronchi was felt to be responsible. The cyst was adherent to the roof of the left atrium. She initially underwent a partial excision through the standard approach of left thoracotomy. Complete resection via this route was hazardous with real danger of laceration of the atrial wall. Repeat surgery was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass 3 years later for recurrence of symptoms. Complete excision was achieved.