Aortic valve reconstruction with autologous pericardium in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Cardiac valve surgery for patients with osteogenesis imperfecta is associated with a high incidence of complications such as perioperative bleeding and valve detachment. In this report, we present a patient who was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta and severe aortic insufficiency and also discussed treatment options.

Application of cryoablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: Our mid-term results.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to present mid-term results of concomitant argon-based cryoablation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Between August 2014 and May 2016, 33 patients (17 males, 16 females; mean age 63.9 years; range 45 to 82 years) underwent the Maze procedure using cryoablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation during a concomitant open cardiac operation. Robot-assisted procedures were used in 12 patients. Biatrial or isolated left atrial ablation was performed according to the underlying pathology. The rhythm assessment with 12-lead electrocardiography and 24-hour Holter, and recordings of atrial fibrillation-related medications, stroke or other thromboembolic events were evaluated by the cardiologist at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Thirty patients (90.9%) were in sinus rhythm and three (9.1%) were in atrial fibrillation at the time of discharge. Cryoablation failed in three patients (n=2, 8.3% in isolated left atrial and n=1, 11.1% in biatrial group) following the operation in the mid-term. Among the patients, there was no in-hospital mortality and no major postoperative complications such as stroke, sepsis, renal failure requiring dialysis, and prolonged respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: Concomitant surgical cryoablation is an effective method for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, when performed concomitantly with other cardiac surgical procedures and results in very low atrial fibrillation recurrence, even in robotic surgery.

Emergent endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms in a single center: midterm outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular therapies may offer distinct advantages in acute aortic syndromes. In this paper, we present our experience with emergent endovascular repair of both abdominal and thoracic aortic ruptures and report early and midterm out comes. METHODS: Data from all patients (n=96) who were treated by endovascular procedures between 2004 to 2012 were prospectively collected and early-midterm outcomes of the emergency (e) interventions for both abdominal (EVAR) and thoracic (TEVAR) aortic ruptures (n=20) were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The mean age was 65 +- 11 years (range: 27-77 years)and 18 patients (90%) were male. Mean follow-up duration was 28 ± 21.2 months (range=1-57). Thirteen patients were treated by eEVAR (65%) and 7 by eTEVAR (35%). One patient who had a rupture of the aneurysm at arcus aorta level was treated by hybrid procedure (eTEVAR+ debranching).The hospital mortality rate was 20% (n=4) for all cases, 23.0% (n=3) for eEVAR and 14.2% (n=1) for eTEVAR. In the follow-up period, 3 patients (15.0%) had reinterventions. DISCUSSION: Reinterventions and the necessity of close follow-up are the disadvantages of endovascular procedures.Even if that is the case, we believe that eEVAR eTEVAR in the acute setting of ruptured aorta in patients with suitable anatomy is a lifesaving option.

Use of bone wax is related to increased postoperative sternal dehiscence.

AIM: To investigate the relation between use of bone wax and postoperative sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five thousnad three hundred and eighteen consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 1999 and 2009 were evaluated prospectively. Perioperative use of bone wax, perioperative data and outcome parameters were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to define independent risk factors for postoperative sternal dehiscence. RESULTS: Bone wax was used in a total of 1151 (21%) patients. Postoperative sternal dehiscence was detected in 88 (1.6%) patients. The postoperative sternal dehiscence rate was 1.4% in patients without bone wax and 2.5% in patients with bone wax (p = 0.001). The rate of bone wax use was 36.4% in patients with sternal dehiscence and 21.4% in patients without sternal dehiscence (p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for postoperative sternal dehiscence were defined as: age > 70 (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.1, p = 0.005), chronic obstructive lung disease (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.9, p < 0.001), use of bone wax (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.03-2.5, p = 0.03), nonelective operation (OR = 2, 95% CI: 1.1-3.4, p = 0.009), and body mass index > 30 (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4-3.5, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that use of bone wax may be associated with increased postoperative sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery. Thus liberal use of bone wax should be restricted.

Interrupted aortic arch or extreme coarctation? A case report and review of the literature.

The hallmark feature of aortic interruption that is useful in differentiating it from aortic coarctation is the "complete absence" of continuity between both parts of the interrupted segment. In this study, we reviewed the 28 patients diagnosed with isolated interrupted aortic arch (IAA) who reached adult age (> 20 years), aimed to review the validity of the Celoria-Patton classification in the literature, and reported the first microscopic pathology of the IAA in an adult.

Comparison of ultrasonically activated scalpel and traditional technique in radial artery harvesting; an electron microscopic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Use of the radial artery (RA) as a conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has become increasingly popular in recent years. The aim of this prospective randomized study is to determine how the endothelial wall and blood flow of RA are differently affected with the usages of ultrasonic scalpel and conventional electrocautery in addition to effects of hypothermia and storage solutions. Histopathologic study was achieved by electron microscope to evaluate endothelium of the grafts. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2009, 182 patients with coronary artery diseases were operated for coronary artery revascularization. The radial arteries were harvested for 40 of these patients and divided into two groups depending on the use of the ultrasonic cautery (UC) (n=20) and the high-frequency electrocautery (EC) (n=20). Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the storage media of the graft. RA was preserved in situ at room temperature (Group 1) and normothermic organ bath (NOB) (Group 2). Harvesting time, use of hemostatic clips, frequency of spasm, in situ free flow, temperature and endothelial damage were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, Friedman and unpaired t tests. RESULTS: In all groups, blood flows were significantly decreased as parallel to the local temperatures. Second and third phase flows were similar in group EC1 and UC1 (p>0.05). Free flow was increased in group UC+NOB when comparing with only EC group (60.4±9.83 ml/min and 40.8±7.50 ml/min, p<0.001), whereas the graft preparing time "t2" was shorter in group EC than UC (10.9±2.42 min and 15.2±1.31 min, p<0.01). Nonetheless scoring of the groups in terms of endothelial cell structure and mitochondrial morphological changes did not show any significant difference. CONCLUSION: If endothelial integrity of the RA can be preserved along with the application of systemic temperature (NOB), regardless of harvesting technique, it provides better flow rates.

Stentless bioprosthesis provided excellent hemodynamic performance in a military scuba diver with infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge that ultimately requires surgical intervention in 20% of all cases. Surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis requires not only hemodynamic repair, but also special emphasis on the eradiation of the infectious focus to prevent recurrence. This goal can be achieved by the combination of aggressive debridement of infective tissue and appropriate and adequate antibiotic treatment. We report a case of Streptococcus viridans induced aortic valve perforation related to aortic valve and root endocarditis, which was successfully treated with aortic root replacement using stentless bioprosthesis. This bioprosthesis thus seems to be a valuable option for active endocarditis, provides excellent hemodynamics with low gradients. Acceptable operative risk can be achieved by full root stentless valve replacement in physically active patients such as divers.

Left main coronary artery and supravalvular aortic stenosis in adult: treatment with ostial patchplasty and modified Brom procedure.

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis accompanying to supravalvular aortic stenosis is a very uncommon, serious congenital abnormality. Aortic valve leaflet fusions and intimal thickening of the aortic valve leaflets and coronary artery are the underlying pathologies for the LMCA stenosis. We operated on a 21-year-old male patient for supravalvar aortic stenosis with LMCA ostial stenosis. We enlarged the LMCA with a pericardial patch (ostial plasty) and reconstructed the aortic root with a modified Brom procedure. Postoperative course was uneventful; echocardiographic evaluation revealed a normal functioning aortic valve with a normal left ventricular function. Gradient at left ventricular outflow tract was decreased a great deal. Although supravalvular aortic stenosis with LMCA stenosis is a very rare congenital abnormality, this clinical entity can be successfully corrected with detailed and selected surgical procedures.

Safety of unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion at 22 degrees C systemic hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: The superiority of antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) in aortic surgery is widely accepted, but the sufficiency of unilateral cerebral perfusion and the optimal systemic temperature during the operation are still controversial. METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent operation with unilateral ACP at a systemic temperature of 22 degrees C between January 2005 and September 2007 were included in this study. The mean age (+/-SD) of the patients was 58 +/- 11 years, and 21 (70%) of the patients were male. The indication for surgery was acute type A aortic dissection in 14 patients (47%), degenerative aortic aneurysm in 9 patients (30%), dissecting aortic aneurysm in 6 patients (20%), and intramural hematoma in 1 patient (3%). Supracoronary ascending aorta replacement was performed in 13 patients (43%). Eight patients (27%) underwent ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement. The Bentall procedure was performed with hemiarch replacement in 3 patients (10%). Three patients (10%) underwent total aortic arch replacement, and 2 patients (7%) underwent the Bentall procedure. The ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta were replaced in 1 patient (3%). RESULTS: Hospital mortality was limited to 1 patient (3.3%). A permanent or transient neurologic deficit was not detected in any of the survivors. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp, and ACP times were 144 +/- 40 minutes, 82 +/- 28 minutes, and 30 +/- 11 minutes, respectively. The mean mechanical ventilation time was 18 +/- 9 hours. The mean stay in the intensive care unit was 2.3 +/- 1.1 days, and the mean hospital stay was 12 +/- 6 days. CONCLUSION: Unilateral ACP with systemic hypothermia at 22 degrees C is safe and has satisfactory clinical results. Establishing ACP via cannulation of the right axillary artery is fast and simple. The presence of fewer cannulas in the operation field provides an operative condition as convenient as the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest technique.