Dichloroacetate prevents restenosis in preclinical animal models of vessel injury.

Despite the introduction of antiproliferative drug-eluting stents, coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. In-stent restenosis and bypass graft failure are characterized by excessive smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and concomitant myointima formation with luminal obliteration. Here we show that during the development of myointimal hyperplasia in human arteries, SMCs show hyperpolarization of their mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and acquire a temporary state with a high proliferative rate and resistance to apoptosis. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoform 2 (PDK2) was identified as a key regulatory protein, and its activation proved necessary for relevant myointima formation. Pharmacologic PDK2 blockade with dichloroacetate or lentiviral PDK2 knockdown prevented ΔΨm hyperpolarization, facilitated apoptosis and reduced myointima formation in injured human mammary and coronary arteries, rat aortas, rabbit iliac arteries and swine (pig) coronary arteries. In contrast to several commonly used antiproliferative drugs, dichloroacetate did not prevent vessel re-endothelialization. Targeting myointimal ΔΨm and alleviating apoptosis resistance is a novel strategy for the prevention of proliferative vascular diseases.

Bilateral internal mammary artery laceration after cardiac pulmonary resuscitation.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is essential for the survival of cardiac arrest patients. High-quality chest compressions are critical for survival, but energetic resuscitation efforts can lead to chest injuries. Internal mammary artery (IMA) injury is a rare complication of CPR, but can lead to life-threatening intrathoracic hemorrhage. Early detection of IMA injury should be considered in all post cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) with anemia refractory to transfusion. To the best of our knowledge, no cases of CPR-associated bilateral IMA laceration have ever been reported. We report a unique CPR complication resulting in anterior mediastinal hemorrhage that was detected by ECHO, verified by computed tomography angiography, and treated with endovascular intervention.

Left internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula causing coronary steal syndrome: A review of literature on therapy, intervention, and management.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) are anatomical aberrations in the origin, structure, and course of the epicardial arteries. Literature has detailed common anomalies or fistulas formed because of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) manipulation of intrathoracic vessels. Despite the commonality of the CABG procedure, there are a few CAA and fistula findings which remain extremely rare. We present a case of left internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula causing coronary steal syndrome that presented symptomatically as a malignant arrhythmia. Following a literature review of therapy, intervention, and management we recommend a team based approach when faced with this extremely rare case presentation. The goal of management should to reduce symptoms, and ischemia, by reducing or stopping flow through the fistula and out of the coronary blood supply.

Internal mammary artery injury during percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is widely used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD). However, complications of PCI are inevitable. Internal mammary artery (IMA) injury is an infrequent but potentially lethal complication of PCI. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old man was diagnosed with multivessel lesions by coronary angiography. The IMA was injured during PCI, then cured by early identification and active rescue. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case, to our knowledge, of injury to the IMA during PCI. We we report this case to discuss how to treat this injury effectively and avoid this complication during clinical therapy.

Cardiac tamponade due to internal mammary artery injury after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A case report.

Vascular injuries caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be associated with major complications. If patients who have received CPR have sudden abnormal hemodynamic findings, it is necessary to consider the possibility of these injuries. We report a 73-year-old man who had cardiac tamponade due to an injury to the internal mammary artery following manual chest compression. This very rare injury was detected by computed tomography and was treated by thoracotomy and hematoma evacuation.

Safety and effectiveness of transcatheter embolization in the treatment of internal mammary artery injuries.

PURPOSE: Demonstrate the role of endovascular management in the treatment of internal mammary artery (IMA) injuries using transcatheter embolization reviewing our 7-year experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our retrospective analysis of cases consists of a total of 12 patients (8 M and 4 F; mean age 52 years) who underwent angiographic studies and transcatheter embolization for IMA injuries. Causes of vascular injury were divided in high-energy trauma (n = 6), iatrogenic (n = 3) and penetrating injuries (n = 3). Type of trauma, associated injury, imaging findings, treatments and complications were assessed. Imaging findings included active haemorrhage, pseudoaneurysm and focal dissection. RESULTS: Embolization was performed with microcoils in all patients; complete thrombosis was obtained in four patients by additional injection of Spongostan pledgets and in two patients with 300-500 µm particles. The technical success rate was 100%. No patient died as a direct result of vascular injury; one died of myocardial contusion and one for severe multiorgan failure related to high-energy trauma. No major and minor complications were registered. No patient required emergency surgery or subsequent surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter embolization offers an effective, efficient and safe alternative to conventional surgical management of IMA injuries.

Internal mammary artery-to-pulmonary vasculature fistula: Systematic review of case reports.

The formation of a fistula between the internal mammary artery and the pulmonary vasculature (IMA-to-PV) is a rare anomaly. The etiology can be congenital; however, most recent cases have been associated with coronary artery bypass grafting, trauma, inflammatory conditions, chronic infections, or neoplasia. The knowledge base on the formation of these fistulas is derived primarily from case reports. To our knowledge, no systematic reviews or guidelines are available that provide information on how to manage these cases, and the treatment of an IMA-to-PV fistula is controversial. To our knowledge, this report is the first to review 80 cases of IMA-to-PV fistulas reported in the literature. We describe the etiologies, clinical presentation, and management of these fistulas.

Modified dual guide catheter ("ping-pong") technique to treat left internal mammary artery graft perforation.

Perforation of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft during percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare event. We report a case of mid-LIMA perforation treated by a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent using a modification of the dual catheter ("ping pong") technique. We propose that use of this modification when possible will further improve safety of treating a perforation.

Unusual Vascular Complications Associated with Transradial Coronary Procedures Among 10,324 Patients: Case Based Experience and Treatment Options.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to present our experience regarding the unusual vascular complications and specific treatment strategies in patients who underwent transradial coronary procedure (TRC). BACKGROUND: Transradial access provides lower vascular access site complication rates compared with transfemoral access. However, there is lack of data obtained from large study populations concerning the incidence and treatment strategies of hemorrhagic and vascular complications following a TRC in the literature. METHODS: 10,324 patients (2,652 patients with percutaneous coronary intervention and 7,672 patients with a diagnostic transradial coronary angiography) who underwent a TRC from February 2010 to December 2014 were reviewed to identify cases of large hematoma, perforation, arteriovenous fistula, and pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: The observed incidence was 0.44% (45 patients) for all unusual vascular and hemorrhagic complications. Of these 45 patients; 32 patients (0.31%) presented with large hematoma (≥6 cm), 8 patients (0.08%) presented with perforation, 4 patients (0.04%) presented with arteriovenous fistula (AVF), and only 1 case (0.009%) presented with radial artery pseudoaneurysm. Forty-one of forty-five patients were managed with mechanical compression. Surgery was performed in only 3 cases; a patient with a brachial artery perforation leading to compartment syndrome, a patient with AVF resulting in limb ischemia, and a patient with radial artery pseudoaneurysm. A right internal mammarian artery perforation resulting in huge breast hematoma was treated via endovascular graft stent implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic and vascular complications are rarely seen during TRC. However, majority of these complications could be managed conservatively without a requirement for surgical reconstruction.

Left Internal Mammary Artery Dissection: Use of Dual Balloon Angioplasty in Treatment of Ostial Dissection Involving Subclavian Artery.

The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is the preferred arterial graft to be used for the left anterior descending (LAD) artery for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) due to high graft patency rate. LIMA dissection is a rare, but dreadful complication of graft angiography and may lead to serious complications including death, myocardial infarction (MI), and re-do CABG. Transcatheter management of LIMA dissection involves multiple stenting. However, this may leave a dissection flap at the ostium of the LIMA that may extend to the left subclavian artery jeopardizing flow to the left arm and vertebral artery. We present a case of LIMA dissection where a dual balloon angioplasty was used for the first time offering better "sealing" of the dissection flap at the level of the ostium of the LIMA graft/subclavian artery.

Coil embolization of a symptomatic left internal mammary arteriovenous fistula.

Internal mammary artery (IMA) arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are exceedingly rare. There have been a few case reports documenting incidences of IMA AVFs arising from traumatic, iatrogenic, and congenital causes. Recommendations for management of IMA AVFs vary from open surgical ligation-excision to transcatheter embolization to observation. We present an unusual case of a patient who presented with ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure symptoms due to a left IMA AVF that formed after open heart surgery. The patient ultimately underwent percutaneous embolization of the fistulous connection.

Endovascular treatment of posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the internal mammary artery.

Pseudoaneurysm of the internal mammary artery is an unusual complication of wounds to the chest. We report a case of a 41-year-old man who sustained a stab chest wound and posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the internal mammary artery, resulting in hemomediastinum and hemothorax. The patient was successfully treated using emergency endovascular coil embolization. Because this injury is extremely rare, the literature is reviewed, and several principles are suggested to improve the management.

Endovascular stenting for treatment of a left internal mammary artery pseudoaneurysm following redo-sternotomy: a case report.

An 85-year-old gentlemen with a history of previous triple vessel coronary bypass grafting presented with severe aortic stenosis and occlusion of the previous saphenous vein grafts but with patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-left anterior descending. The patient underwent uncomplicated repeat sternotomy and aortic valve replacement with repeated coronary bypass. On post-operative day 21 the patient was successfully resuscitated from a pulseless electrical activity (PEA) arrest, and was found to have a 1-cm pseudoaneurysm of the left internal mammary artery at the level of sternomanubrial junction with associated hemothorax. The LIMA remained patent and a pinhole source of extravasation was discovered by angiography at the aneurysmal site. The defect was successfully repaired by endovascular implant of a 3.5 mm × 12 mm Graft Master covered stent (Abbott Vascular). The patient recovered well from the procedure without further complications and was discharged after a total of 48 days of hospital stay. Our experience confirms the feasibility of repairing post-operative pseudoaneurysm in the internal mammary artery by endovascular stent grafting, thereby avoiding the risks and complications of a repeat open chest procedure.

Conversion to sternotomy during sternal-sparing coronary artery surgery.

Conversion to a full sternotomy may complicate up to 1.8% of the sternal-sparing coronary artery surgery. Left internal mammary artery injury and anastomotic problems are the common causes. The purpose of this article is to retrospectively review the outcomes of six patients that required conversion to sternotomy during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass and also to point out technical aspects in order to avoid such a complication.

[Patient with massive hemothorax due to blunt trauma saved by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)].

A 78-year-old man who fell from a step ladder was transported to our hospital by ambulance under the diagnosis of multiple rib fractures and right hemothorax. Since he was in shock on arrival, endotracheal intubation and tube thoracotomy were immediately performed. Though 2 liters of blood was evacuated, persistent hemorrhage was observed, requiring continuous rapid infusion and blood transfusion. Emergency thoracic arteriography revealed active bleeding from a branch of the right internal thoracic artery. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was performed using vascular embolization coils and porous gelatin particles. These procedures successfully controlled active hemorrhage from the chest. Intrathoracic hematoma was evacuated through the 2nd large chest tube. Chest tubes were removed on the 7th day. He was discharged on the 17th day without any complications.

Perioperative rupture of the LIMA graft leading to cardiogenic shock, emergency angiography, and stenting with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent.

A 58-year-old man underwent an elective coronary bypass graft for severe four-vessel stenosis. Cardiogenic shock developed just after coronary bypass grafting with a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending (LAD) artery and superficial venous graft to 1st and 2nd obtuse marginal (OM1/OM2) arteries the posterior descending artery (PDA) was too small to graft. Despite significant inotropes and an intra-aortic balloon pump, the patient deteriorated in intensive care unit with cardiogenic shock and ventricular arrhythmia. Urgent coronary angiography revealed a rupture or torn LIMA graft with extravasation of contrast into the left pleural cavity. There was no distal LIMA to LAD flow probably due to graft thrombosis. Revascularisation was performed on the severe ostial native LAD stenosis with a drug eluting stent. The rupture graft was then stented with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent, which stopped the bleeding, and latter, led to total graft thrombosis. The patient improved significantly and supportive inotropes could be weaned down. At 11 month follow-up, the patient had mild left ventricular dysfunction, widely patent ostial LAD stent and thrombosed LIMA graft.

Sternal plate closure: indications, surgical procedure and follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Titanium plate osteosynthesis (Synthes) is an alternative option for sternal closure. The indications and time point of application are still debated. This study investigated the application and feasibility of this technique after median sternotomy. METHODS: Forty-one patients (29 M/12F, mean age 63 ± 17 years) received the plate system for complicated sternal conditions. Indications, intraoperative course and postoperative follow-up were assessed. RESULTS: Sternal deformity was present in 5 % (2/41), sternal fractures in 17 % (7/41), bone defect in 12 % (5/41), wire loosening in 39 % (16/41) and pseudoarthrosis in 27 % (11/41). 54 % (22/41) of patients showed concomitant sternal infection. Two intraoperative complications were noted: mammary artery injury (1 patient), pleural injury (1 patient). At discharge the patients reported no pain (90 %, 37/41) or only occasional discomfort (10 %, 4/41). Postoperative complications were subcutaneous hematoma in 12 % (5/41), seroma in 12 % (5/41) and sternal reinfection in 7 % (3/41). 12 % (5/41) showed occasional discomfort and 7 % (3/41) had persistent pain leading to plate removal. CONCLUSION: The Titanium Sternal Fixation System is comfortable and easy to use. It can be used to treat a wide spectrum of indications, especially for pseudoarthrosis, an entity which has not yet received sufficient attention.

Endovascular coiling of an internal mammary artery pseudoaneurysm following placement of an internal jugular central venous catheter.

We discuss an interesting case of a right internal mammary artery pseudoaneurysm discovered after an attempted right internal jugular venous catheter placement. Such injury to the internal mammary artery is a rare complication of traumatic injuries to the chest, sternotomies, and central venous catheter placements. It has been reported after subclavian line placements, but not after an internal jugular catheterization.