Sequential in situ left internal thoracic artery grafting to the circumflex and right coronary artery areas.

BACKGROUND: Several bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafting patterns have been proposed to enhance 3-vessel coronary artery revascularization. We present the outcomes of sequential in situ left ITA grafting to the circumflex and right coronary artery (RCA) areas. METHODS: Between January 2001 and September 2007, 102 patients with 3-vessel coronary artery disease underwent arterial myocardial revascularization with bilateral in situ ITA grafts. The circumflex and distal RCA branches were revascularized sequentially with the left ITA. The left anterior descending artery area was grafted with the right ITA. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients (97.0%) were monitored for 37.2 ± 2.9 months, and 77 (75.4%) underwent postoperative coronary imaging after 27.8 ± 5.8 months. The bilateral ITA grafts were 97.1% patent (FitzGibbon grade A+B) overall. The sequential anastomoses of the left ITA to the circumflex and RCA territories were 96.7% patent overall, with competitive flow (FitzGibbon grade B) in 3 patients. The patency rates of sequential anastomoses to the circumflex and RCA branches were 98.0% and 95.0%, respectively. The right posterolateral and right descending posterior artery anastomoses were 91.8% and 100% patent, respectively. The in situ right ITA grafts to the left anterior descending artery area were 98.0% (FitzGibbon grade A+B) patent overall. Angina recurred in 1 patient (0.9%) 6 months after the operation. Percutaneous coronary interventions were performed in 3 patients (3.8%). No cardiac deaths occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential in situ left ITA grafting to the circumflex and RCA areas yields acceptable midterm results in selected patients with 3-vessel disease.

Long term follow up results of sequential left internal thoracic artery grafts on severe left anterior descending artery disease.

PURPOSE: Several alternative procedures have been proposed to achieve complete revascularization in the presence of diffuse left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) disease. With the extensive use of internal thoracic artery grafts in coronary artery bypass procedures, sequential anastomosis of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to LAD has gained popularity in these challenging cases. The long term results of sequential LITA to LAD anstomosis were examined in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to determine the long term results of the sequential revascularization of LAD by LITA graft, 41 out of 49 patients operated between January 2001 and December 2005 were selected for control coronary arteriography. The median period for control coronary arteriography was 64 months. RESULTS: Seventy five anastomoses were found to be fully patent (91,46%) among the 82 sequential LITA anastomoses (41 LITA grafts) on the LAD at a median follow-up period of 64 months (53 to 123 months). Among the 41 LITA grafts used for this purpose, 36 were found intact (complete patency of the proximal and distal anastomoses) (87,8%). Two LITA grafts (4 anastomoses) were found to be totally occluded (4,87%). The proximal anastomosis of the LITA graft was observed to be 90% stenotic in one patient (1,21%). In one patient tight stenosis of the distal anastomosis line was observed (1,21%), while in another patient 70% narrowing of LITA lumen after the proximal anastomosis was detected (1,21%). CONCLUSION: We strongly beleive that sequential LITA grafting of LAD is a safe alternative in the presence of severe LAD disease to achieve complete revascularization of the anterior myocardium with patency rates not much differing from conventional single LITA to LAD anastomosis.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in cold-induced urticaria.

Cold-induced urticaria is an unusual systemic disorder that develops in response to exposures to cold temperatures in susceptible individuals. Patients with cold urticaria are potentially at risk of severe systemic anaphylactic shock-like reactions. This disorder is of unique clinical importance in cardiac surgery, considering the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia. Contact of blood with hypothermia and subsequent warming can be associated with hemodynamic instability, hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse, mainly during the period of rewarming. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman with chronic cold-induced urticaria, who underwent a successful coronary bypass grafting, and describe perioperative management of this rare disorder.

Combined internal mammary artery graft in coronary bypass: 18-year follow-up.

Graft preference is a key point for long-term patency in coronary artery bypass grafting. We present a patient with multivessel coronary artery disease who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting 18 years ago. Revascularization of the left coronary system was performed by using a combined internal mammary artery (IMA) graft, which consisted of an end-to-end anastomosis of left IMA (in situ) and right IMA (free), with the interposition of a small piece of vein. A coronary angiography at the 18-year follow-up revealed patency of all sequential anastomoses with an enlarged combined IMA graft.

Right coronary revascularization by coronary-coronary bypass with a segment of internal thoracic artery.

In certain coronary artery bypass grafting operations, the internal thoracic artery is not by itself adequate for complete arterial revascularization. Which graft should be used for revascularization of the right coronary artery is still a matter of debate. From August 2000 through July 2005, we performed coronary-coronary bypass grafting on 48 patients (77.1% men, 22.9% women), whose mean age was 57.2 years (range, 40-75 yr). After completion of the internal thoracic artery anastomoses, we performed coronary-coronary bypass grafting with a remaining (distal) segment of the left (or, rarely, the full length of the free right) internal thoracic artery. The proximal and distal anastomoses of the internal thoracic artery to the right coronary artery were end-to-side. We preferred to use the right coronary ostium as the proximal anastomosis site where possible; otherwise, we used a disease-free segment of the right coronary artery. A total of 192 anastomoses were performed (mean, 4.15 per patient); all used the bilateral internal thoracic arteries as conduits. There were no in-hospital deaths or perioperative myocardial infarctions. The duration of follow-up ranged from 1 to 46 months (mean, 9.6 mo). Follow-up angiography was performed in 24 patients (50%). The mean time to coronary angiography was 16.5 months (range, 7 days-2 years). The patency rate was 100%. We conclude that coronary-coronary anastomosis by means of a distal segment of the internal thoracic artery can help to achieve complete arterial revascularization in selected patients.

Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in diabetic patients: perioperative risk analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic patients have a higher risk to acquire coronary artery disease at younger ages and vein grafts used in these patients have a tendency to develop stenosis earlier. No significant differences have been reported between the patency of internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. However, bilateral ITA grafting in diabetic patients remains a controversial topic due to increased risks in the perioperative morbidity. METHODS: The effects of bilateral ITA grafting on perioperative morbidity for diabetic patients were studied in two different trials. The first study compared 25 diabetic patients with 25 non-diabetic patients with bilateral ITA grafts for the length of the intensive care unit and hospital stay periods, for superficial wound infection, sternal dehiscence, mediastinitis rates and readmissions following discharge. The second study compared 30 diabetic patients with bilateral ITA grafts to 30 diabetic patients with unilateral ITA grafts for the same criteria as in the first study. RESULTS: The first study showed no statistical difference between diabetic and non-diabetic patients for the criteria studied, but a slight increase was clinically observed in the readmission rate for diabetic patients due to superficial wound infection. The second study showed neither statistical, nor clinical differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Full arterial revascularization is very important for the prognosis of diabetic patients. With a careful management, the slight increase in the perioperative morbidity could be reduced to acceptable levels enabling the diabetic patients to benefit from the long-term advantages of bilateral ITA grafting.

Mid to long-term results of circumflex coronary artery revascularization with left internal thoracic artery grafts.

The current trend in coronary artery surgery is to revascularize the left coronary artery branches with bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITA). For this procedure, the right ITA is usually grafted to the left anterior descending coronary artery while the circumflex coronary artery is revascularized by the left ITA. The mid to long-term results of the left ITA on the circumflex system were examined in this study. Forty of 48 patients operated on between 1996 and 1998 who had undergone revascularization of the left coronary artery with both ITAs and who fulfilled the study criteria underwent control coronary arteriography to determine the mid to long-term patency of LITA grafts on the circumflex artery. The median time for follow-up was 53 months (range, 49 to 70 months). Of the 40 angiographically controlled patients, 35 had patent left ITA to circumflex artery anastomosis (87.5%). One graft stenosis and four graft occlusions were observed. In the same group, right ITA to left anterior descending coronary artery anastomoses were patent in 38 patients (95%). Left ITA grafts seem to be the conduit of choice for revascularization of the circumflex coronary artery. In combination with the in situ right ITA to left anterior descending coronary artery anastomosis, in situ left ITA grafting to the circumflex system can be done with acceptably low mortality and excellent long-term patency rates. Its utilization is particularly advised in young patients where the importance of left coronary artery revascularization by bilateral ITA grafts is increased.

Short and long term survival of surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysms: ten years experience.

Although surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysms has been performed for a long time, it is still a point of debate. In this study, we investigated 159 patients who had undergone surgery for a left ventricular aneurysm in our clinic between 1985 and 1994. Perioperative mortality, long term survival rates, and parameters which probably affect these ratios were evaluated. All of the patients except one were followed by clinical records, mail or phone. Classic linear repair (111 cases), plication (46 cases), and Dor plasty (2 cases) were performed. Revascularisation procedure was also performed in 140 (88%) cases. The average number of distal anastomosis was 2.6. Twenty cases (12.6%) died in the perioperative period. The most important parameter which affected early mortality was the requirement for an intra-aortic balloon pump in the postoperative period. Mean follow-up duration was 47 +/- 35 months. Forty-two late deaths occurred in this period. The overall 5-year survival rate was 71%. Predictors for long term mortality were related to preoperative left ventricular function, presence of congestive heart failure, and poor functional capacity. The type of surgery did not affect short and long term survival. The functional capacity of the survivors was improved. In conclusion, surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysms with classic linear repair and plication had acceptable short and long term survival rates and improved functional capacity. The most important predictor of survival in either the early or late postoperative period was preoperative left ventricular function.