A new technique for use of an anomalous subclavian artery for a systemic-pulmonary arterial shunt.

Anomalous subclavian arteries were used as interposition grafts for systemic-pulmonary arterial shunts in three infants and children with good early and long-term results. This is the first report of the use of an anomalous subclavian artery as an interposition graft for a systemic-pulmonary arterial shunt. The advantages and effectiveness of the technique are discussed.

Evaluation of lung metabolism during successful twenty-four-hour canine lung preservation.

We used a canine left lung allotransplantation model to evaluate 24-hour lung preservation with two different electrolyte solutions, low-potassium dextran and low-potassium dextran with 1% glucose. To investigate changes in the energy status during preservation, we analyzed the lungs for adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, and several metabolites of the glycolysis pathway and the citric acid cycle: glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, lactate, citrate, and malate. We also devised and evaluated a pulmonary cooling jacket to prevent rewarming of the lung during implantation. The lungs were divided into four groups. Groups I (n = 10) and II (n = 6) were flushed with low-potassium dextran and groups III (n = 6) and IV (n = 6) were flushed with low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose. The cooling jacket was used for groups II and IV only. After 24-hour preservation at 10 degrees C, the left lungs were implanted into the recipient animals. Function of the transplanted left lung was assessed during temporary (10 minutes) occlusion of the contralateral pulmonary artery while both lungs were ventilated with 100% oxygen. This assessment was performed at 1 hour and at 3, 8, and 22 days after transplantation. Immediately after transplantation the arterial oxygen tension was 279 +/- 70 mm Hg in group I, 376 +/- 56 mm Hg in group II, 523 +/- 41 mm Hg in group III, and 518 +/- 50 mm Hg in group IV. The arterial oxygen tension in groups III and IV were significantly greater than in group I (p < 0.05). Of the lungs preserved with low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose solution, 11 of 12 (92%) showed excellent lung function (arterial oxygen tension > 300 mm Hg) at 3 days; only 10 of 16 lungs preserved with low-potassium dextran achieved this level of function. Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, lactate, citrate and malate levels decreased significantly during 24-hour preservation with low-potassium dextran solution; they were stable with low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose. Adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine were stable for 24 hours with both low-potassium dextran and low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose. The cooling jacket provided uniform cooling of the lung parenchyma during implantation, and significant increase in temperature was observed in its absence, with topical cooling by cold saline solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Retrograde cerebral perfusion versus selective cerebral perfusion as evaluated by cerebral oxygen saturation during aortic arch reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Time limits for neuroprotection by retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) in aortic arch aneurysm repair or dissection are undergoing definition. METHODS: Using near-infrared optical spectroscopy, changes in regional cerebrovascular oxygen saturation (rSO2) were compared between the two perfusion methods. RESULTS: Immediately before cardiopulmonary bypass, baseline rSO2 was 63.9%+/-6.9% for the RCP and 66.1%+/-5.3% for the SCP group (no significant difference). As patients were core-cooled to 20 degrees C, rSO2 increased to 73.1%+/-8.8% and 74.1%+/-7.9% in the RCP and SCP groups, respectively. With circulatory arrest, rSO2 suddenly decreased. After starting cerebral perfusion, rSO2 returned to prearrest values in the SCP group but continued decreasing steadily in the RCP group, to levels below baseline after about 25 minutes. At the end of perfusion, rSO2 was 57.4%+/-12.2% for the RCP group and 71.7%+/-6.9% for the SCP group, and the ratio of rSO2 to baseline value was 0.89 for RCP and 1.08 for SCP despite a shorter brain perfusion time for RCP (38.8+/-18.0 versus 103.3+/-43.3 minutes). Three of 5 patients whose ratios of rSO2 to baseline at the end of brain protection were 0.7 or less had neurologic deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Although SCP showed no clinically important time limitation, rSO2 continued to decrease with time during RCP. An rSO2 ratio less than 0.7 could represent a critical lower limit.

Lung preservation with low-potassium dextran flush in a primate bilateral transplant model.

We used a bilateral lung transplant model to confirm, in primates, the results of lung preservation studies previously obtained in a canine single-lung transplant model. The donor lungs were flushed with low-potassium dextran solution and maintained semiinflated with 100% oxygen at 10 degrees C for a planned ischemic time of 12 hours for the lung implanted first. Of eight experiments performed, results in the 6 operative survivors form the basis of this report. After bilateral lung transplantation, animals were maintained on a ventilator for 6 hours; arterial oxygen tension, pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance were determined in the recipients at 2, 4, and 6 hours after transplantation and compared with donor values, which served as controls. Arterial oxygen tension in the recipients did not differ from the controls (p = not significant), whereas the pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance showed significant elevation (p < 0.05 versus control values). After the 6 hours of assessment, the animals were extubated and 3 survived for 48 to 72 hours with a mean arterial oxygen tension of 69 mm Hg on room air. These results demonstrate excellent lung function after a minimum of 12 hours of preservation in a primate model in which the animal is totally dependent on the function of transplanted lung tissue, and confirm the potential for prolonged clinical lung preservation.

Ebstein's anomaly and partial atrioventricular canal associated with double orifice mitral valve.

A case of Ebstein's anomaly and partial atrioventricular canal associated with double orifice mitral valve is reported. Patch closure of the primum defect, plication of the atrialized ventricle, and tricuspid valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical valve were carried out successfully, and the patient is doing well 2 years and 9 months after the operation. To our knowledge, this combination of congenital heart defects has not been reported in the literature.

Surgical treatment of ventricular septal perforation with right ventricular infarction.

A 71-year-old woman underwent an emergency surgery for ventricular septal perforation together with right ventricular infarction. The perforation of the anterior septum was closed using. Dacron patch combined with a little larger bovine pericardium, the surplus of which was stitched in the surrounding viable muscle. This procedure was performed only through the infarct of the right ventricle. She has been doing well with no residual shunt and lives a normal life now.

Leriche syndrome. Surgical procedures and early and late results.

During the past thirteen years, 29 patients underwent surgical intervention for Leriche syndrome. Fifteen patients (aged forty-two to seventy-two years, average 60.7 years) underwent anatomical bypass, and 9 of them whose thrombus was confined to the infrarenal aorta received a routine graft insertion. In the other 6 whose thrombus extended to the level of the renal arteries, an open thrombectomy of the juxtarenal aorta was first performed through a transection of the infrarenal aorta under renal ischemia (4-14 minutes, average 7). Twelve elderly or high-risk patients (aged sixty-eight to eighty-four years, average 75.3 years) underwent an axillobifemoral bypass, and another 2 (fifty-eight and sixty years old, respectively) who had been operated on at an earlier time received an ascending aortobifemoral bypass. In cases of anatomical bypass, no graft has occluded and all patients but 1, who died of cerebral infarction, have an active life now. In cases of extraanatomical bypass, 5 of the 28 grafts occluded and only 6 patients have survived. The other 8 patients died of malignancy, atherosclerotic complications, or unknown causes. The 10-year survival rate was 92.9% and 29.5% in the anatomical bypass and extraanatomical bypass group, respectively. In Leriche syndrome, anatomical bypass is preferred to extraanatomical bypass if conditions permit. In the juxtarenal type, an open thrombectomy under renal ischemia is mandatory for anatomical bypass, and a transection of the infrarenal aorta facilitates this procedure. Because the patients with Leriche syndrome are elderly and harbor arteriosclerotic lesions, a careful follow-up is mandatory.

Coronary artery bypass grafting using the "Super Pulse" dynamic pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass device in patients with cerebrovascular occlusive disease.

Patients with coronary disease complicated by severe carotid or intracranial arterial stenosis underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) using a novel method of dynamic pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (Super Pulse CPB). The Super Pulse technique can maintain the systolic pressure and systolic-diastolic amplitude in such a way that they mimic the physiologic circulation. Forty-five patients (33 males and 12 females, mean age 65.1 years) with coronary disease who had a greater than 75% stenosis of the carotid or intracranial arteries were evaluated. Evaluation was performed for the following 3 groups: 8 patients with conventional pulsatile CPB (Group I), 8 patients with conventional pulsatile CPB plus intraaortic balloon pumping (Group II), and 29 patients with Super Pulse CPB. Maximum, minimum, and mean perfusion pressures during CPB were 112.7, 53.6, and 76.9 mmHg (integrated mean), respectively, in Group III. The systolic-diastolic amplitude was significantly better than for Group I and similar to baseline pressures. No patients in Group II or Group III developed perioperative cerebral disorders or myocardial infarction, while in Group I perioperative cerebral disorders developed in 3 patients, myocardial infarction occurred in 2 patients, and 2 patients died during hospitalization. The initial performance of the Super Pulse CPB indicates excellent safety, and is useful for patients with co-morbid cerebral arterial disease.

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting using the gastroepiploic artery for reoperation after the Cabrol procedure.

Obstruction of the right coronary ostial anastomosis is a rare late complication after composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve with separate Dacron coronary grafts (Cabrol method). Occlusion at the right coronary ostial anastomosis in a 36-year-old woman with aortitis syndrome who underwent a composite graft with a Dacron coronary graft is described. She underwent a third successful operation for right coronary reconstruction by minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting technique using the right gastroepiploic artery. This approach is likely to be extremely useful in avoiding resternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass in patients requiring coronary reoperation.

[Mitral valve repair for the treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation].

Twenty-six patients with moderate and severe ischemic mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle dysfunction underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) or mitral annuloplasty (MAP) using modified Kay method. Emergent operation was performed in 12 patients of whom 11 had severe congestive heart failure even under IABP, 5 had cardiogenic shock and 9 needed respiratory care with intubation preoperatively. Elective operation was performed in 14 patients of whom 6 had history of congestive heart failure and 1 had episodes of ventricular tachycardia. As intraoperative findings of mitral valve, mural annular dilatation in 84.6%, prolapse of anterior leaflet in 23.1%, papillary muscle scar in 15.4%, chordal elongation in 15.4% and chordal rupture in 3.8% were seen separately or in combination. In 22 patients MAP using modified Kay method and CABG were performed, but in 4 patients MVR was needed because of the prominent prolapse of the anterior leaflet. Fourteen patients who underwent MAP with CABG and one MVR with CABG survived. Hospital mortality was higher in emergent (58.5%) than elective operation (28.6%). In the 15 survivors, mitral regurgitation decreased below Sellers 2, pulmonary wedge pressure decreased significantly (p < 0.01) and NYHA functional class improved to I or II postoperatively. During the follow up period of 15-100 (mean 38.7 +/- 21.6) months, 2 MAP+CABG patients died suddenly, but the remaining 13 patients were in NYHA class I or II and no progression of MR was seen. These results indicated that MAP+CABG is recommendable in the treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle dysfunction, in order to preserve cardiac function and to reduce valve related complications.

[Management of coronary artery disease combined with aortic stenosis: how to do with mild aortic stenosis].

A total of fourteen patients with combined operation of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) for coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic stenosis (AS) were reviewed to evaluate the indication of the combined operation. Preoperative pressure gradient across the valve and effective orifice area were 21-89 mmHg (mean 64 mmHg), 0.5-1.9 cm2 (mean 0.92 cm2), respectively. The extent of CAD was 1-3 (mean 2.0). Fractional shortening (%FS) ranged from 13% to 43% with mean value of 28%. All patients underwent CABG and AVR. The number of grafts was 1-4 (mean 2.3) with internal thoracic artery used in 7 cases. Mechanical valves were employed for all patients except 1 case with cerebral aneurysm. There was no operative death, although low output syndrome developed in 2 cases. One had poor left ventricular function preoperatively, and the other was emergency case. Fractional shortening improved postoperatively even in two cases with preoperative %FS less than 20%, and all grafts were patent on postoperative coronary angiography. The event-free survival was 100% during 32 months of mean follow-up. Combined AVR with CABG is recommended to avoid risky secondary operation in patients of CAD and AS, even if one of which is relatively mild, because of the fact that operative and late results of the combined surgery are satisfactory.

[The effect of PGI2 analogue on the warm ischemic changes in canine lung].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of PGI2 analogue on the warm ischemic injury in the reimplantation model of the lung. Twenty-five mongrel dogs were subjected to this experiment in which the left thoracotomy and complete left hilar stripping were performed. The dogs were divided into 4 groups. The control group (8 dogs) did not have any medical treatment. I2 1 microgram group (7 dogs) received PGI2 analogue in the amount of 1 microgram/kg/min for 30 min during hilar dissection. I2 50 ng group (5 dogs) received PGI2 analogue in the amount of 50 ng/kg/min for 30 minutes. Heparin group (5 dogs) received 100 U/kg of heparin after hilar stripping. Then left, PA, PV, and Bronchus were clamped for 1 hour to make the left lung a warm ischemic state. To evaluate the function of the left lung subjected for a warm ischemia, right pulmonary artery was occluded for 10 minutes and PaO2, PaCO2, Qs/Qt, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were measured. Two hours after reperfusion, pulmonary microangiography and histological investigation were performed. As a result of warm ischemia, PaO2 was 158 mmHg with 70% FiO2 1 hour after reperfusion in control group, whereas it was maintained at as high as 299 mmHg in I2 1 microgram group. PaCO2, Qs/Qt, pulmonary artery pressure, as well as the pulmonary vascular resistance were almost normal throughout the experiment in I2 1 microgram group, but they gradually elevated in control group during the experiments. In the other two groups these parameter are not so satisfactory as in I2 1 microgram group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect and its sequelae in adults.

We operated on 20 adult patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD). In 7 of these cases (aged 36 to 51 years, average 42.6 years), VSD was accompanied by sequelae other than pulmonary hypertension. Concomitant procedures in type-I VSD included a suspension of the prolapsed aortic cusp in 2 patients, a repair of the ruptured sinus of Valsalva in 2, and a new procedure for active infective endocarditis, described below, in 2. In this latter procedure, the aortic valve and infected Valsalva sinus were excised, and the pulmonary valve and the right ventricular wall to which the infection had extended were thoroughly debrided. The resulting defect was closed with a single patch, and a prosthetic valve was inserted in the position of the original aortic valve using this patch as part of the annulus. Another patient with the type-II VSD underwent concomitant tricuspid valve replacement for infective endocarditis. In the mean follow-up period of 77.1 months, 6 patients have been doing well in New York Heart Association class I, and the remaining patient with Valsalva repair remained in class II due to dilated cardiomyopathy.

The problems of surgical treatment for cardiac myxoma and associated lesions.

Twenty-four patients with cardiac myxomas consisting of 22 left and 2 right atrial myxomas were operated on. All myxomas were removed with an excision of the attachment walls using a cardiopulmonary bypass. Two myxomas required a partial cardiopulmonary bypass from the femoral vein to the artery prior to operation because they were on the verge of becoming stuck in the atrioventricular valves and potentially causing shock. For embolic complications of myxoma, the embolus of the external carotid artery was extirpated before undergoing cardiac surgery. In a patient with pulmonary infarction, the infarcted lung was resected simultaneously. Another patient with a cerebral infarction received a clipping of an aneurysm which later appeared in the infarcted area. For associated cardiac lesions, two patients underwent a coronary artery bypass graft and one mitral valve replacement with tricuspid annuloplasty. In the former two cases, the myxoma was removed prior to coronary artery bypass grafting because the use of retrograde coronary perfusion was considered to be sufficient to protect the heart. In the latter case, the removal of the myxoma first disclosed a significant mitral lesion which had been masked by the huge myxoma. All patients but one, who died of pneumonia, showed a good recovery. In this series, the problems of surgical treatment for cardiac myxoma and associated lesions are also discussed.

Surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect and ruptured sinus of Valsalva associated with infective endocarditis.

Two patients with ventricular septal defect of Kirklin type I and ruptured right coronary sinus of Valsalva associated with infective endocarditis were operated on. Both had bacillus vegetation clinging to the aortic and pulmonary valves and the right ventricular intimal wall around the septal defect. Aortic and pulmonary regurgitation were also found. The surgical approach included vertical incision of the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary trunk and transverse aortotomy. The right coronary sinus of Valsalva showed distinct aneurysmal change in one patient. The aortic valve and infected Valsalva sinus were excised in both cases, and the pulmonary valve and right ventricular wall where infection extended thoroughly débrided. The resulting defect, including the ventricular septal defect and excised right Valsalva sinus and aortic annulus, was closed with one patch, and the prosthetic valve inserted in the position of the original aortic valve using this patch as part of the annulus. Both patients had a good postoperative course and are doing well, although slight pulmonary regurgitation persists.

[Operative technique of systemic to pulmonary artery shunt and aortoplasty utilizing in aberrant subclavian artery].

This paper presents a review of our experience of 3 cases of systemic to pulmonary artery shunt operation and 2 cases of subclavian flap aortoplasty using aberrant subclavian artery. The aberrant subclavian arteries were divided to release the vascular rings and were used as shunt grafts or reversed subclavian flaps. In case of shunt operation, this graft would be superior to the EPTFE graft of modified Blalock-Taussig shunt, from the point of view of the grafts' growth ability. In case of aortoplasty, if arch hypoplasia exists, this flap can repair it beyond the coarctation segment. When the aberrant subclavian artery is dissected, it should be avoided to use the contralateral subclavian artery, as it may cause cerebral damage because of the impairment of bilateral vertebral arterial circulation.

Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by annular infection and cerebral infarction.

The surgical treatment of nine patients with infective endocarditis (IE) complicated by annular infection and five with IE complicated by cerebral infarction is described herein. In those with annular infection, after thorough débridement of the infected tissues, valve replacement was performed at the original position in five, at the supraannular position in three, and one underwent a translocation procedure. Aortic valve replacement was able to be performed at the original position in two patients by closing the defect at the aortic annulus with a patch after through débridement. The five patients who underwent original valve position replacement recovered well. Of the three who underwent supraannular position replacement, two died of septicemia after a redo operation, and one received pacemaker implantation. The patient undergoing the translocation procedure died of intestinal infarction. In the five patients who suffered cerebral infarction due to embolus of the vegetation, valve replacement was performed between 40 h and 5 months after its onset. Although one patient died of the rapid progression of brain damage, the other four are alive and well, including two who developed mycotic cerebral aneurysm in the infarcted areas. In conclusion, early surgery for IE is mandatory irrespective of active infection, due to the high mortality and morbidity associated with serious sequelae such as annular abscess or cerebral infarction.

[Surgical treatment of incomplete endocardial cushion defect in elderly patients].

We experienced 5 surgical cases of incomplete endocardial cushion defect who were 50 years old or older. Preoperatively, 3 cases were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and 2 in class III. Catheterization study showed that systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was 24 to 48 (average; 38) mmHg and pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio was 3.4 to 8.1 (average; 5.2). Left ventriculography showed mitral valve regurgitation (grade I-1 cases, grade II-3, grade III-1) with cleft and goose neck sign in all cases. Single atrium and patent foramen ovalis were associated in each one case. At operation, suture of mitral cleft and patch closure of ostium primum defect from mitral valve side were performed. Postoperatively, NYHA class, cardiomegaly, pulmonary arterial pressure and mitral regurgitation improved remarkably in all patients. During the follow-up period from 18 to 126 months (average; 57), right bundle branch block and supraventricular arrhythmia in electrocardiogram disappeared in 3 of 4 and 4 of 5 cases, respectively. Surgical treatment and postoperative course of incomplete ECD were reviewed in over-50-year-old patients, in reference to 17 surgical cases in Japan.

[Graft replacement of a thoracic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass grafting using retrograde cerebral perfusion through left thoracotomy--a case report].

A 67-year-old woman having descending thoracic aneurysm and 90% stenosis of the obtuse marginal artery underwent a concomitant operation of graft replacement of a thoracic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass grafting. The operation was performed through left posterolateral thoracotomy with total cardiopulmonary bypass using femoral artery, femoral vein and the pulmonary artery cannulation, deep hypothermia and retrograde cerebral perfusion (RGCP). RGCP was performed by high central venous pressure (17-18 mmHg) resulted from low flow perfusion of the lower body under clamping of the descending aorta. Distal coronary anastomosis was done during an initial 100ling period and proximal anastomosis was put on the replaced thoracic graft after coming off extracorporeal circulation (ECC). ECC time was 167 minutes, and RGCP time was 27 minutes. The patient did well after the operation. Postoperative coronary angiography showed the patent coronary bypass graft. We conclude that this method provides good exposure of the thoracic aorta and the coronary artery, and satisfactory brain protection.

[Efficacy of terminal warm blood cardioplegia against the reperfusion injury].

The effect of terminal warm blood cardioplegia (TWBC) was evaluated from the incidence of ventricular fibrillation and myocardial metabolism after release of aortic clamping in 70 patients (group I) who underwent open heart surgery using TWBC compared with 70 patients (group II) without TWBC. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation after unclamping in group I was 19.7% which was statistically less than 68.6% in group II. Both excess lactate (delta XL) and redox potential (delta Eh) demonstrated that anearobic myocardial metabolism after reperfusion was restored more rapidly in group I than in group II. Multivariate analysis showed the incidence of ventricular fibrillation after reperfusion was related to high concentrations of both calcium and sodium and low concentration of potassium in reperfused blood in group II. But it was only related to left ventricular myocardial temperature in group I. High concentration of calcium and low concentration of potassium in reperfused blood, and low myocardial temperature were most related to anearobic metabolism of myocardium following reperfusion in group II, whereas only pH value was closely related to recovery for myocardial metabolism in group I. In conclusion, TWBC was useful for improving microcirculation in myocardium and avoiding calcium-overload to myocardial cells, and resulted in reducing reperfusion injury in myocardium. Furthermore, acid content of TWBC and enough amount to raise myocardial temperature would provide more efficacy on myocardial preservation.