Five-Year Outcomes after PCI or CABG for Left Main Coronary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with contemporary drug-eluting stents, as compared with coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG), in patients with left main coronary artery disease are not clearly established. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1905 patients with left main coronary artery disease of low or intermediate anatomical complexity (according to assessment at the participating centers) to undergo either PCI with fluoropolymer-based cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (PCI group, 948 patients) or CABG (CABG group, 957 patients). The primary outcome was a composite of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. RESULTS: At 5 years, a primary outcome event had occurred in 22.0% of the patients in the PCI group and in 19.2% of the patients in the CABG group (difference, 2.8 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.9 to 6.5; P = 0.13). Death from any cause occurred more frequently in the PCI group than in the CABG group (in 13.0% vs. 9.9%; difference, 3.1 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.2 to 6.1). In the PCI and CABG groups, the incidences of definite cardiovascular death (5.0% and 4.5%, respectively; difference, 0.5 percentage points; 95% CI, -1.4 to 2.5) and myocardial infarction (10.6% and 9.1%; difference, 1.4 percentage points; 95% CI, -1.3 to 4.2) were not significantly different. All cerebrovascular events were less frequent after PCI than after CABG (3.3% vs. 5.2%; difference, -1.9 percentage points; 95% CI, -3.8 to 0), although the incidence of stroke was not significantly different between the two groups (2.9% and 3.7%; difference, -0.8 percentage points; 95% CI, -2.4 to 0.9). Ischemia-driven revascularization was more frequent after PCI than after CABG (16.9% vs. 10.0%; difference, 6.9 percentage points; 95% CI, 3.7 to 10.0). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with left main coronary artery disease of low or intermediate anatomical complexity, there was no significant difference between PCI and CABG with respect to the rate of the composite outcome of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 5 years. (Funded by Abbott Vascular; EXCEL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01205776.).

Everolimus-Eluting Stents or Bypass Surgery for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obstructive left main coronary artery disease are usually treated with coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG). Randomized trials have suggested that drug-eluting stents may be an acceptable alternative to CABG in selected patients with left main coronary disease. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1905 eligible patients with left main coronary artery disease of low or intermediate anatomical complexity to undergo either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with fluoropolymer-based cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (PCI group, 948 patients) or CABG (CABG group, 957 patients). Anatomic complexity was assessed at the sites and defined by a Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score of 32 or lower (the SYNTAX score reflects a comprehensive angiographic assessment of the coronary vasculature, with 0 as the lowest score and higher scores [no upper limit] indicating more complex coronary anatomy). The primary end point was the rate of a composite of death from any cause, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 3 years, and the trial was powered for noninferiority testing of the primary end point (noninferiority margin, 4.2 percentage points). Major secondary end points included the rate of a composite of death from any cause, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 30 days and the rate of a composite of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization at 3 years. Event rates were based on Kaplan-Meier estimates in time-to-first-event analyses. RESULTS: At 3 years, a primary end-point event had occurred in 15.4% of the patients in the PCI group and in 14.7% of the patients in the CABG group (difference, 0.7 percentage points; upper 97.5% confidence limit, 4.0 percentage points; P=0.02 for noninferiority; hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.79 to 1.26; P=0.98 for superiority). The secondary end-point event of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 30 days occurred in 4.9% of the patients in the PCI group and in 7.9% in the CABG group (P<0.001 for noninferiority, P=0.008 for superiority). The secondary end-point event of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization at 3 years occurred in 23.1% of the patients in the PCI group and in 19.1% in the CABG group (P=0.01 for noninferiority, P=0.10 for superiority). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with left main coronary artery disease and low or intermediate SYNTAX scores by site assessment, PCI with everolimus-eluting stents was noninferior to CABG with respect to the rate of the composite end point of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 3 years. (Funded by Abbott Vascular; EXCEL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01205776 .).

Neuronal Nitric Oxide Mediates the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Intestinal Ischemic Preconditioning.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can provide a defense against ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced acute inflammation and barrier dysfunction in many organs. Because nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as a trigger or mediator in the IPC mechanism and because neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) is a dominant isoform of NOS in the gastrointestinal tract, our aim was to investigate the role of nNOS in IPC-induced protection after mesenteric IR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intestinal IR was induced in sodium pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion (IR group; n = 7). In further groups, IPC was used (three cycles of 5-min ischemia/5-min reperfusion periods) before IR in the presence or absence of selective inhibition of nNOS with 7-nitroindazole (5 mg/kg, intravenously, in a bolus 15 min before IPC, n = 6 each). Changes in mesenteric vascular resistance, intramucosal pH (pHi), and small bowel motility were monitored. Plasma nitrite/nitrate levels, intestinal NO synthase activity, leukocyte accumulation, mast cell degranulation, and histologic injury were also determined. RESULTS: Ischemia significantly decreased mesenteric vascular resistance and pHi, whereas IR induced a temporary bowel hypermotility and acute inflammatory reaction. IPC facilitated pHi recovery, attenuated motility dysfunction, elevated NOS-dependent NO production, and reduced leukocyte accumulation, mast cell degranulation, and mucosal injury. Pretreatment with 7-nitroindazole halted the IPC-induced increase in NO availability, pHi recovery, and the anti-inflammatory and morphologic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that NO generated by intestinal nNOS plays a pivotal role in IPC-linked tissue protection by inhibiting an IR-related acute inflammatory response.

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma: A case report.

Cardiac angiosarcomas are the most common primary malignant cardiac tumors in adults. The diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific clinical symptoms at presentation. The cornerstones of diagnosis are echocardiography and the histological evaluation of the cardiac biopsy. The knowledge on the treatment is limited; the outcomes of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, complete surgical removal, and heart transplantation are controversial. We report a 38-year-old woman with a primary heart tumor which infiltrated the right atrial wall and the pericardium and caused pericardial effusion. Angiosarcoma was verified histologically. The surgical excision could not be radical, and the patient died 3 months from diagnosis.

[Pathophysiology, clinical and experimental possibilities of pericardial tamponade]. / A pericardialis tamponád kórélettana, klinikuma és állatkísérletes vizsgálati lehetoségei.

Acute pericardial tamponade is one of the most emergent clinical scenarios in cardiac surgery. With numerous causes in the background, pericardial tamponade can lead to cardiogenic shock and death. In modern diagnostic era, the recognition of pericardial tamponade is simple, but its management and the long-term effects can still be challenging. Without the detailed understanding of the pathophysiological pathways diagnostic and therapeutic management plans of pericardial tamponade is very difficult. The aim of this review was to give a complex picture of pericardial tamponade, from its role in medical history to pathophysiology and its significance in surgical experimental models. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(5): 163-167.

[The significance of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide in the management of adult patients with congenital heart disease - Results from the CSONGRAD Registry]. / Az N-terminális pro-B natriureticus peptid jelentosége a felnott korú congenitalis szívbetegek gondozásában ­ Eredmények a CSONGRAD Regiszterbol.

INTRODUCTION: The prognostic role of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was confirmed in chronic heart failure and congenital heart diseases irrespective of the aetiology. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare NT­proBNP measured in the clinical practice and important clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with adult congenital heart diseases under our care. METHOD: Data of a total of 70 patients were analysed; 34 patients had corrected tetralogy of Fallot and 19 patients had corrected transposition of the great arteries. In 17 further cases, patients with other congenital vitiums have been involved in the study. In all cases, out-patient examination was performed with electrocardiography, echocardiography and NT-proBNP measurement. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) stages of the patients were determined and the patients filled in a questionnaire regarding their quality of life. RESULTS: Elevated NT-proBNP level resulted in a worse quality of life (visual analogue scale, VAS) and an increased right ventricular end diastolic diameter; the incidence of arrhythmia increased as well. Negative correlation was found between the NT-proBNP level and the VAS value (r = -0.45, p = 0.0001) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF) (r = -0.67, p = <0.0001). ROC analysis showed that NT­proBNP≥668.1 pg/ml was the cut-off value that most accurately predicted NYHA class III-IV (sensitivity 93%, specificity 63%, area under the curve 80%, p = 0.001). Similarly, NT-proBNP≥184.7 pg/ml was found to be the cut-off value most accurately predicting LV-EF below 55% (sensitivity 66%, specificity 67%, area under the curve 77%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP has a role in the evaluation of adult patients with congenital heart diseases and in determining the prognosis of these patients, and in addition to other examinations used in the follow-up of these patients, NT-proBNP may help in determining the time of reoperation or potential heart transplantation. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(4): 141-148.

[Perioperative use of levosimendan in cardiac surgery. Hungarian recommendation]. / A levoszimendán perioperatív alkalmazása a szívsebészetben. Magyar ajánlás.

Low output syndrome significantly increases morbidity and mortality of cardiac surgery and lengthens the durations of intensive care unit and hospital stays. Its treatment by catecholamines can lead to undesirable systemic and cardiac complications. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitiser and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (IK,ATP) opener agent. Due to these effects, it improves myocardium performance, does not influence adversely the balance between O2 supply and demand, and possesses cardioprotective and organ protective properties as well. Based on the scientific literature and experts' opinions, a European recommendation was published on the perioperative use of levosimendan in cardiac surgery in 2015. Along this line, and also taking into consideration cardiac surgeon, anaesthesiologist and cardiologist representatives of the seven Hungarian heart centres and the children heart centre, the Hungarian recommendation has been formulated that is based on two pillars: literature evidence and Hungarian expert opinions. The reviewed fields are: coronary and valvular surgery, assist device implantation, heart transplantation both in adult and pediatric cardiologic practice. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(22): 870-877.

[Multivalve redo surgery in adult patient with complex pulmonary artesia]. / Több-billentyus redomutét felnott betegen komplex pulmonalis atresiában.

30-year-old adult with complex pulmonary atresia (previous surgical procedures: in infancy: exploration, at age of 10: ventricular septal defect closing, unifocalization, homograft implantation between right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary artery) has biventricular dysfunction because of aortic valve regurgitation, ascending aortic aneurysm, and homograft insufficienty. Multivalve surgery: aortic valve plasty, pulmonary homograft changes for homograft and ascending aortic reconstruction by graft were carried out successfully. In Hungary this was the first case of this type of surgery. Management of special problems (follow-up, correct diagnostics (echocardiography, MR, CT), indication and necessity of reoperation, optimal age) in adult patients with complex congenital heart defects produces excellent early and late surgical results. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(14), 546-549.

[Change in our approach in the surgical management of congenital heart defects in patients with Down syndrome, 1974-2016]. / Szemléletváltozás a Down-szindrómás szívbetegek szívsebészeti kezelésében, 1974­2016.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital heart defects are frequently present in patients with Down syndrome. AIM: The authors analyzed the impact of changing approach in surgical management of congenital heart defect on the life expectancy of patients with Down syndrome. METHOD: Between 1974 and 1997 the data of 359 children with Down syndrome were collected. Among them 255 patients had no surgery and the mortality in this group was 25.9%, whereas the mortality in the group of 104 patients who underwent palliative surgery was 8.6%. RESULTS: Surgical management of congenital heart defects provides the same life expectancy for these patients as compared to Down patients without cardiac defects. Primary reconstruction is the preferable surgical procedure in infancy that provides good results. Nowadays the number of the operated grown-up congenital heart disease patients with Down syndrome is increasing. During the last three years 82 grown-up congenital heart disease patients, including 4 patients with Down syndrome (aged between 24 and 60 years) were reconstructed successfully. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the successful surgery in infancy the population of grown-up congenital heart disease patients with Down syndrome is increasing. The cardiac surgeons are ready to do everything for the optimal life expectancy of these patients. However, management of special problems (indication and necessity of reoperation, optimal age) in patients with Down syndrome poses a great challenge for cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(40), 1601-1603.

[The role of mini-sternotomy in aortic valve surgery]. / A ministernotomia szerepe az aortabillentyu-sebészetben.

INTRODUCTION: Minimal access aortic valve replacement plays a significant role in modern cardiac surgery. The technical evolution of aortic bioprostheses, particularly sutureless valves, leads to simplify minimal access aortic valve surgery and it allows easier implantation in a narrow work field with the need of less manipulation. AIM: The aim of this study is to summarize the historical and technical aspects of minimal access aortic valve replacement, especially concentrating on sutureless valves, and to present data of own patients of the authors. METHOD: Pre- and post-operative data of 13 minimal access aortic replacement cases who were operated at the Deparment of Cardiac Sugery at the University of Szeged are summarized. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As compared to full sternotomy, minimal access aortic surgery is safe, and it does not require special instrumentation. It is technically more demanding but it can be learned quickly, and the overall pre- and post-operative results are not worse with the benefit of less pain and superior cosmetics.

[Surgical management of congenital heart defects beyond the age of 60]. / Veleszületett szívhibák sebészi kezelése 60 éves kor felett.

INTRODUCTION: The population with congenital heart disease is increasing and ageing. AIM: The aim of the authors was to examine the outcome of surgical management of congenital heart diseases beyond the age of 60 years. METHOD: Between 2013 and 2015, 77 adults were operated (36 younger, and 41 older than forty years, including 12 patients aged over 60 years. The numbers of procedures were as follows (in brackets the number of operations in the three age groups): Ross surgery 5 (3, 2, 0); aortic valve replacement 19 (12, 1, 6); subaortic membrane resection 1 (0, 0, 1); Bentall/ascending aortic plasty 8 (4, 3, 1); myectomy with or without mitral valve replacement in left ventricular outflow obstruction 5 (0, 3, 2); aortic coarctation 1 (1, 0, 0); ligation of ductus arteriosus 2 (1, 1, 0); reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract with biological valve 4 (0, 3, 1); homograft 5 (5, 0, 0); BioValsalva graft 1 (0, 1, 0); primary reconstruction of complete atrioventricular septum defect 3 (1, 2, 0); valve replacement 2 (1, 1, 0); ventricular septum defect 10 (4, 6, 0); atrial septum defect closure 5 (2, 3, 0); total cavopulmonal anastomosis 1 (1, 0, 0); valve replacement in congenital transposition of great arteries 1 (0, 1, 0), Ebstein operation with valve plasty 2 (0, 1, 1); valve replacement 2 (1, 0, 1). RESULTS: There was no operative mortality, while early mortality occurred in one patient with total cavopulmonal anastomosis due to multiorgan failure. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital heart defects can be operated beyond the age of 60 years with good results in a tertiary heart centre having great experience in the management of congenital and acquired heart disease.

[Long-term follow-up of patients with transposition of the great arteries following Senning or Mustard operations. Results from the CSONGRAD Registry]. / A teljes nagyér-transzpozíción átesett betegek Senning- és Mustard-féle mutéti megoldásának hosszú távú utánkövetése. Eredmények a CSONGRAD Regiszterbol.

INTRODUCTION: Transposition of the great arteries is one of the most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases. AIM: The present study aimed to examine and compare long-term survival, functional grading, arrhytmologic and quality of life control in patients with transposition of the great arteries following Senning- and Mustard-operations. METHODS: The present study comprised 85 patients with transposition of the great arteries, of whom Senning-operation was performed in 37 cases and Mustard-operation in 48 subjects. Follow-up study was performed in all cases. RESULTS: The success rate of long-term follow-up proved to be 74%. Twelve out of the 31 Senning-operated and 16 out of 32 Mustard-operated patients died during the follow-up (39% vs. 50%, p = 0.45). Neither features of heart failure, nor those of arrhythmias showed differences between the groups, but parameters of quality of life and functional capacity proved to be favourable in Senning-operated patients. CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference in mortality and morbidity of patients with transposition of the great arteries following Mustard- and Senning-operations. Regarding to long-term follow-up quality of life and functional capacity of Senning-operated patients were more favourable.

[Early experiences with the Sorin Perceval S arteficial biological valve]. / Kezdeti tapasztalatok a Sorin Perceval S aorta biológiai billentyu beültetésével.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the Sorin Perceval S artificial biological valve implantation techniques, and present the initial experiences in our unit. METHODS: In the last 1.5 years, 27 patients had been implanted with Sorin Perceval S biological arteficial valve due to aortic valve disease. The device was mainly used in high-risk patients, in reoperative circumstances, in cases of calcified aortic root, and in elderly patients. RESULTS: The valve implantation time, aortic cross clamp time is shorter, but the risk of the operation cannot be eliminated entirely, because of the high risk patients' severe comorbidities. Furthermore, we performed echocardiography in the postoperative period, which demonstrated that the valve function is excellent, the valve fitted tightly in the anulus, and there was no paravalvular leakage. CONCLUSIONS: The Sorin Perceval S biological arteficial aortic valve is safe to use in high risk patients, and the surgical procedure is easier in case of partial sternotomy, too.

[Perspectives in the management of congenital heart defects in adult patients]. / Perspektívák a veleszületett szívhibák felnottkori sebészi kezelésében.

Due to improving results in congenital heart surgery, the number of adult patients with congenital heart defect is increasing. The question is: what kind of problems can be managed in this patient-group? The authors review the different problems of management of congenital heart defects in adults based on national and international literature data. Simple defects recognised in adults, postoperative residual problems, changing of small grafts and valves, correction of primary or operated coarctation aortae can be usually managed without problems. A very close follow-up is necessary to establish the correct period for heart transplantation in patients with transposition of great arteries with Senning/Mustard operation, and univentricular heart corrected with "Fontan-circulation" type surgical procedure. The authors conclude that although the number of patients increases, only a few congenital heart diseases may cause problems. It seems important (1) to monitor asymptomatic patient who underwent operation (Fallot-IV, Ross procedure, etc.), (2) follow up regularly patients who underwent Senning/Mustard procedure (magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, brain natriuretic peptide measurement), (3) define the proper period of preparation for heart transplantation of patients with a univentricular heart, with special attention to the possibility of multiorgan (lung, liver, etc.) failure. Due to the improvement of foetal diagnosis of congenital heart defects, the number of patients with complex congenital heart defects is decreasing. The standard management of these patients could be primary heart transplantation in infancy.

[Successful surgical management of aortico-left ventricular tunnel using modern noninvasive diagnostic imaging methods]. / Aorta-bal kamra tunnel sikeres sebészi kezelése modern noninvazív képalkotó diagnosztika alapján.

Aortico-left ventricular tunnel is a rare congenital cardiac defect, which bypasses the aortic valve via the paravalvar connection from the aorta to the left ventricle. The authors present the case of a 14-year-old boy with aortico-left ventricular tunnel in whom the aortic orifice arose from the right aortic sinus and was closed by a pericardial patch. The diagnosis was confirmed by combined two-dimensional and real time three-dimensional echocardiogram and magnetic resonance imaging. This is the first case, in which these complex diagnostic imaging methods have been used in the pre- and postoperative management of this defect. Optimally the new transthoratic three-dimensional echocardiography would be needed to define the anatomy and functional consequences of the aortico-left ventricular tunnel and in the postoperative follow-up.

[More than 50 years' experience in the treatment of patients with congenital heart disease at a Hungarian university hospital]. / Több mint 50 év tapasztalat a congenitalis szívbetegek ellátásában egy magyar egyetemi központban. A CSONGRÁD Regiszter alapadatai.

Improvements in surgical techniques and technical advancements have made possible for several patients with congenital heart disease to grow up to adulthood. It has been decided to create a registry for their more precise treatment. This registry now includes 2770 patients with data on 3043 operations, with almost 30 different diagnoses. The purpose of this paper is to review the facts and the basics leading to the establishment of this registry.

Altered expression of genes for Kir ion channels in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a multifactorial disease characterized by left ventricular dilation that is associated with systolic dysfunction and increased action potential duration. The Kir2.x K⁺ channels (encoded by KCNJ genes) regulate the inward rectifier current (IK1) contributing to the final repolarization in cardiac muscle. Here, we describe the transitions in the gene expression profiles of 4 KCNJ genes from healthy or dilated cardiomyopathic human hearts. In the healthy adult ventricles, KCNJ2, KCNJ12, and KCNJ4 (Kir2.1-2.3, respectively) genes were expressed at high levels, while expression of the KCNJ14 (Kir2.4) gene was low. In DCM ventricles, the levels of Kir2.1 and Kir2.3 were upregulated, but those of Kir2.2 channels were downregulated. Additionally, the expression of the DLG1 gene coding for the synapse-associated protein 97 (SAP97) anchoring molecule exhibited a 2-fold decline with increasing age in normal hearts, and it was robustly downregulated in young DCM patients. These adaptations could offer a new aspect for the explanation of the generally observed physiological and molecular alterations found in DCM.

Reimplantation and long-term mortality after transvenous lead extraction in a high-risk, single-center cohort.

PURPOSE: The use of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has increased significantly over the last decades. With the development of transvenous lead extraction (TLE), procedural success rates also improved; however, data regarding long-term outcomes are still limited. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcomes after TLE, including reimplantation data, all-cause and cause-specific mortality. METHODS: Data from consecutive patients undergoing TLE in our institution between 2012 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Periprocedural, 30-day, long-term, and cause-specific mortalities were calculated. We examined the original and the revised CIED indications and survival rate of patients with or without reimplantation. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients (age 66 ± 14 years) with 308 leads (dwelling time 7.8 ± 6.3 years) underwent TLE due to pocket infection (n = 105, 70%), endocarditis (n = 35, 23%), or non-infectious indications (n = 10, 7%). All-cause mortality data were available for all patients, detailed reimplantation data in 98 cases. Procedural death rate was 2% (n = 3), 30-day mortality rate 2.6% (n = 4). During the 3.5 ± 2.4 years of follow-up, 44 patients died. Arrhythmia, as the direct cause of death, was absent. Cardiovascular cause was responsible for mortality in 25%. There was no significant survival difference between groups with or without reimplantation (p = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high number of pocket and systemic infection and long dwelling times in our cohort, the short- and long-term mortality after TLE proved to be favorable. Moreover, survival without a new device was not worse compared to patients who underwent a reimplantation procedure. Our study underlines the importance of individual reassessment of the original CIED indication, to avoid unnecessary reimplantation.

Effects of respiratory mechanics on the capnogram phases: importance of dynamic compliance of the respiratory system.

INTRODUCTION: The slope of phase III of the capnogram (SIII) relates to progressive emptying of the alveoli, a ventilation/perfusion mismatch, and ventilation inhomogeneity. S(III) depends not only on the airway geometry, but also on the dynamic respiratory compliance (Crs); this latter effect has not been evaluated. Accordingly, we established the value of SIII for monitoring airway resistance during mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Sidestream capnography was performed during mechanical ventilation in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery (n = 144). The airway resistance (Raw), total respiratory resistance and Crs displayed by the ventilator, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and S(III) were measured in time domain (S(T-III)) and in a smaller cohort (n = 68) by volumetry (S(V-III)) with and without normalization to the average CO2 phase III concentration. Measurements were performed at positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels of 3, 6 and 9 cmH2O in patients with healthy lungs (Group HL), and in patients with respiratory symptoms involving low (Group LC), medium (Group MC) or high Crs (Group HC). RESULTS: S(T-III) and S(V-III) exhibited similar PEEP dependencies and distribution between the protocol groups formed on the basis of Crs. A wide interindividual scatter was observed in the overall Raw-S(T-III) relationship, which was primarily affected by Crs. Decreases in Raw with increasing PEEP were reflected in sharp falls in S(III) in Group HC, and in moderate decreases in S(III) in Group MC, whereas S(T-III) was insensitive to changes in airway caliber in Groups LC and HL. CONCLUSIONS: SIII assessed in the time domain and by volumetry provide meaningful information about alterations in airway caliber, but only within an individual patient. Although S(T-III) may be of value for bedside monitoring of the airway properties, its sensitivity depends on Crs. Thus, assessment of the capnogram shape should always be coupled with Crs when the airway resistance or oxygenation are evaluated.

Case report: Urgent surgical management of pediatric clear cell sarcoma of the kidney with atrial obstruction.

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is an uncommon renal neoplasm of childhood. Progression of intracaval or cavoatrial thrombosis is extremely rare and mostly asymptomatic, treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery. However, in an unstable patient, acute radical surgical intervention is the treatment of choice. We present a 2-year-old girl diagnosed as having a large left kidney tumor and acute cardiac decompensation via cavoatrial thrombotic progression. Urgent radical nephrectomy and removal of tumor thrombus were performed using atriotomy and inferior vena cava (IVC) endarterectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. Histopathology revealed CCSK. The patient is tumor-free at 9-year follow-up.