Tetralogy of Fallot with an Anomalous Course of the Brachiocephalic Vein

ABSTRACT Clinical data: Infant, 11-month-old, male, diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot with retrotracheoesophageal course of the brachiocephalic vein. Usual findings of Tetralogy of Fallot on physical examination. Technical description: Chest radiography showed slightly reduced pulmonary vascular markings and no cardiomegaly. Normal preoperative electrocardiogram with postoperative right bundle branch block. Usual findings of Tetralogy of Fallot on echocardiogram. Postoperative computed tomography angiography confirmed left brachiocephalic vein with anomalous retrotracheoesophageal course, configuring a U-shaped garland vein, in addition to postoperative findings of total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. Operation: Complete surgical repair was performed with pulmonary valve commissurotomy and placement of bovine pericardial patch to solve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary trunk enlargement, and ventricular septal defect closure. Comments: Systemic venous drainage may show variations in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot. These abnormalities are usually of little clinical relevance, as they are asymptomatic. We presented a rare case of retrotracheoesophageal course of an anomalous left brachiocephalic vein with intraoperative diagnosis, confirmed by imaging during postoperative follow-up, without compromising clinical management or surgical approach.

Post Ligation Cardiac Syndrome: an Educational Presentation

ABSTRACT Although technically simple, surgical correction of patent ductus arteriosus can have serious complications. In this context, acute ventricular failure must be remembered, as its prompt diagnosis and proper management can change clinical outcomes.

A very rare combination: two scimitar veins and a myocardial bridge

Abstract Scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by partial or complete anomalous pulmonary venous drainage of the right (rarely left) lung into the inferior vena cava. This anomalous vein resembles the curved Turkish sword "scimitar"[1]. Only few cases were reported with two scimitar veins[2]. "Myocardial bridge" constitutes a portion of the myocardial tissue that bridges a segment of the coronary artery, mostly the left anterior descending coronary artery . For the first time, a combination of double scimitar vein and a myocardial bridge was described in this study.

First two brazilian cases: correction of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve stenosis with sutureless/rapid deployment aortic prosthesis

Abstract Ascending aortic aneurysm is usually associated with aortic valve diseases, especially aortic stenosis. The standard technique involves the substitution of the dilated aortic segment with a Dacron tube and replacement of the aortic valve with a regular prosthesis. The correction of ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic valve replacement using the new sutureless and rapid deployment prosthesis was performed by a minimally invasive approach and for the first time in a Brazilian Center.

Fatores de risco de ateromatose da aorta em cirurgia cardiovascular / Risk factors of atheromatous aorta in cardiovascular surgery

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência e as características de ateromatose da aorta ascendente e/ou arco aórtico em cirurgia cardiovascular, os fatores de risco de sua ocorrência e a implicação prognóstica imediata da mesma. Métodos: No período de janeiro de 2007 a junho de 2011, 2042 pacientes adultos consecutivos foram analisados, sem critérios de exclusão. A detecção de ateromatose da aorta foi realizada por meio de palpação durante o ato operatório. Os fatores de risco de ateromatose da aorta e a sua implicação prognóstica foram determinados por regressão logística multivariada. Resultados: A prevalência de ateromatose da aorta foi de 3,3% (68 pacientes). Os fatores de risco foram a idade > 61 anos (OR= 2,79; IC95%= 2,43 - 3,15; P<0,0001), doença arterial coronária (OR=3,1; IC95%=2,8 - 3,44; P=0,002), hipertensão arterial sistêmica (OR=2,26; IC95%=1,82 - 2,7; P=0,03) e doença vascular periférica (OR=3,15; IC95%= 2,83 - 3,46; P=0,04). A ateromatose da aorta foi preditor independente da ocorrência de acidente vascular cerebral no pós-operatório (OR=3,46; IC95%=3,18 - 3,76; P=0,01). Conclusão: Embora infrequente, a presença de ateromatose da aorta tem maior ocorrência de acordo com a idade, com a presença de hipertensão arterial sistêmica, doença arterial coronária e doença vascular periférica. Nestas situações, é justificada investigação pré e intraoperatória mais detalhada, pois a presença de ateromatose determina maior chance de acidente vascular cerebral no pós-operatório. .

Objective: To determine the prevalence and profile of ascending aorta or aortic arch atheromatous disease in cardiovascular surgery patients, its risk factors and its prognostic implication early after surgery. Methods: Between January 2007 and June 2011, 2042 consecutive adult patients were analyzed, with no exclusion criteria. Atheromatous aorta diagnosis was determined intraoperatively by surgeon palpation of the aorta. Determinants of atheromatous aorta, as well as its prognostic implication were studied by multivariate logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of atheromatous aorta was 3.3% (68 patients). Determinants were age > 61 years (OR= 2.79; CI95%= 2.43 - 3.15; P<0.0001), coronary artery disease (OR=3.1; CI95%=2.8 - 3.44; P=0.002), hypertension (OR=2.26; CI95%=1.82 - 2.7; P=0.03) and peripheral vascular disease (OR=3.15; CI95%= 2.83 - 3.46; P=0.04). Atheromatous aorta was an independent predictor of postoperative cerebrovascular accident (OR=3.46; CI95%=3.18 - 3.76; P=0.01). Conclusion: Although infrequent, the presence of atheromatous aorta is associated with advanced age, hypertension, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. In those patients, a more detailed preoperative and intraoperative assessment of the aorta is justified, due to greater risk of postoperative cerebrovascular accident. .

Influence of brain death and associated trauma on solid organ histological characteristics / Influência da morte encefálica e do trauma associado nas características histológicas de órgãos sólidos

PURPOSE: To evaluate histopathological alterations triggered by brain death and associated trauma on different solid organs in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n=37) were anesthetized with isoflurane, intubated and mechanically ventilated. A trepanation was performed and a balloon catheter inserted into intracraninal cavity and rapidly inflated with saline to induce brain death. After induction, rats were monitored for 30, 180, and 360 min for hemodynamic parameters and exsanguinated from abdominal aorta. Heart, lung, liver, and kidney were removed and fixed in paraffin to evaluation of histological alterations (H&E). Sham-operated rats were trepanned only and used as control group. RESULTS: Brain dead rats showed a hemodynamic instability with hypertensive episode in the first minute after the induction followed by hypotension for approximately 1 h. Histological analyses showed that brain death induces vascular congestion in heart (p<0.05), and lung (p<0.05); lung alveolar edema (p=0.001), kidney tubular edema (p<0.05); and leukocyte infiltration in liver (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Brain death induces hemodynamic instability associated with vascular changes in solid organs and compromises most severely the lungs. However, brain death associated trauma triggers important pathophysiological alterations in these organs.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações histopatológicas desencadeadas pela morte encefálica e pelo trauma associado em diferentes órgãos sólidos em ratos. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos (n=37) foram anestesiados com isoflurano, entubados e mecanicamente ventilados. Foi realizada trepanação e um cateter foi inserido na cavidade intracraniana e insuflado rapidamente para induzir morte encefálica. Após a indução, os ratos foram monitorados por 30, 180 e 360 min para parâmetros hemodinâmicos e exsanguinados pela aorta abdominal. Coração, pulmão, fígado e rim foram removidos e fixados em parafina para avaliação de alterações histológicas (H&E). Ratos falso-operados foram apenas trepanados e usados como grupo controle. RESULTADOS: Ratos com morte encefálica apresentaram instabilidade hemodinâmica com episódio hipertensivo no primeiro minuto após a indução seguido de hipotensão por aproximadamente 1 hora. Análises histológicas demonstraram que a morte encefálica induz congestão vascular no coração (p<0,05) e pulmão (p<0,05); edema alveolar (p=0,001); edema tubular (p<0,05); e infiltrado leucocitário no fígado (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A morte encefálica induz instabilidade hemodinâmica associada com mudanças vasculares em órgãos sólidos e compromete mais severamente os pulmões. Contudo, o trauma associado à morte encefálica desencadeia importantes alterações fisiopatológicas naqueles órgãos.

Paradoxical effects of brain death and associated trauma on rat mesenteric microcirculation: an intravital microscopic study

OBJECTIVE: Experimental findings support clinical evidence that brain death impairs the viability of organs for transplantation, triggering hemodynamic, hormonal, and inflammatory responses. However, several of these events could be consequences of brain death-associated trauma. This study investigated microcirculatory alterations and systemic inflammatory markers in brain-dead rats and the influence of the associated trauma. METHOD: Brain death was induced using intracranial balloon inflation; sham-operated rats were trepanned only. After 30 or 180 min, the mesenteric microcirculation was observed using intravital microscopy. The expression of Pselectin and ICAM-1 on the endothelium was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The serum cytokine, chemokine, and corticosterone levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. White blood cell counts were also determined. RESULTS: Brain death resulted in a decrease in the mesenteric perfusion to 30 percent, a 2.6-fold increase in the expression of ICAM-1 and leukocyte migration at the mesentery, a 70 percent reduction in the serum corticosterone level and pronounced leukopenia. Similar increases in the cytokine and chemokine levels were seen in the both the experimental and control animals. CONCLUSION: The data presented in this study suggest that brain death itself induces hypoperfusion in the mesenteric microcirculation that is associated with a pronounced reduction in the endogenous corticosterone level, thereby leading to increased local inflammation and organ dysfunction. These events are paradoxically associated with induced leukopenia after brain damage.

Tratamento híbrido com endoprótese não recoberta nas dissecções agudas da aorta tipo A / New surgical strategy for acute type A aortic dissection: hybrid procedure

O tratamento da dissecção aguda da aorta tipo A de Stanford, com a utilização de um novo dispositivo (stent de aorta não recoberto) em associação à interposição de tubo supracoronariano para a substituição da aorta ascendente e hemiarco permitem que o arco aórtico e porção da aorta descendente sejam tratados, sem acrescentar complexidade ao procedimento operatório, nem prolongar o tempo de isquemia cerebral ou sistêmica.

The new surgical strategy to treat patients with acute type A aortic dissection, the hybrid procedure with an uncovered aortic stent, allows surgeons to treat the aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta, besides the ascending segment, without extension of cerebral or systemic ischemia.

Proteção cerebral: sítios de canulação arterial e vias de perfusão do cérebro / Cerebral protection: sites of arterial cannulation and brain perfusion routes

O método de perfusão encefálica para a adequada proteção cerebral evoluiu desde o início da circulação extracorpórea. As limitações de tempo de atuação na parada circulatória total em hipotermia profunda, a ineficiente manutenção do metabolismo encefálico na retroperfusão cerebral e os cuidados relacionados à prevenção de eventos embólicos na perfusão cerebral seletiva resultaram em diferentes métodos de proteção cerebral durante sua evolução, principalmente nas operações que envolvem o arco aórtico. O fluxo arterial anterógrado, em oposição ao fluxo arterial retrógrado, e os sítios de canulação que permitem esse fluxo anterógrado são hoje, em associação à hipotermia moderada sistêmica, considerados o método mais efetivo de proteção cerebral.

Brain perfusion for adequate cerebral protection has changed over the years. The limitations of the time during total circulatory arrest with deep hypotermia, the inefficient cerebral metabolism during retrograde perfusion and special care to prevent cerebral embolism during antegrade perfusion have resulted in the development of different methods of cerebral protection during the evolution of aortic arch operations. Antegrade cerebral perfusion associated with moderate hypothermia is today, considered the best option for cerebral protection.