¿Tiene el médico enfermo imagen de su propia enfermedad?: un dilema bioético / Does the sick physician have an accurate picture of his own disease?: a bioethical dilemma

Se refiere aquí una experiencia vivida en la convalecencia de una enfermedad por un cirujano cardíaco en un hospital con clientela cerrada, en una época en que no existían otros servicios en la ciudad y habiendo sido él mismo el "fundador" del Servicio, debiendo practicar cirugía de revascularización coronaria. La enfermedad, definitivamente, constituye una nueva dimensión de la sensibilidad, a veces carente de razonamiento según Broeckman, o al decir de Lolas Strepke "falla la teorización del rol de estar enfermo", y eso es lo que introduce a los médicos en el laberinto. Nos preguntamos finalmente: ¿Quién se ocupa del "cuidado del médico", o sea, del "cuidado del cuidador"? Se concluye que, por lo general, el médico, estando enfermo, no tiene imagen real de su propia enfermedad. Falta analizar los aspectos narcisistas psicológicos de los cirujanos. (AU)

What is reported here is an experience lived in the convalescence of a disease by a cardiac surgeon within a hospital of closed clientele, at a time when there were no other services in the city and having been himself the "founder" of that same service, having to practice coronary revascularization. Illness definitely constitutes a new dimension of sensitivity, sometimes lacking in reasoning according to Broeckman, or as Lolas Strepke says "the theorization on the role of being sick fails", and that is what makes physicians end up in a labyrinth. So finally, we ask ourselves, who deals with the "care of the doctor" or the "care of the caregiver"? It is concluded that generally the doctor, being sick, has no realistic image of his own illness. We lack an analysis of the psychological narcissistic aspects of surgeons. (AU)

How to remove multiple mediastinal and pericardial hydatid cysts.

A 61-year-old male who lived for 30 years in a rural area presented chest pain of 3 months duration. Multiple hydatid cysts (Echinococcus granulosus) were diagnosed in the pericardium and the mediastinum by echocardiography and computed tomography. The cysts were removed successfully with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass and beating heart.  This video tutorial shows how we removed the cysts, using the puncture-aspiration and enucleation technique.  Few videos of this technique exist, and we believe that this tutorial is a helpful demonstration of how to handle mediastinal and pericardial hydatid cysts.

Situation Awareness for Circumflex Artery Injury During Mitral Valve Surgery.

Injury of the circumflex artery (Cx) during mitral valve surgery is a rare and underrecognized life-threatening complication. A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing mitral valve operations at 2 centers was conducted. Five mitral valve operations are described. After diagnosis of Cx injury, 2 patients were treated by stent implantation, 1 by coronary bypass to the Cx, and 1 by repositioning the responsible annular stitches. In another patient, the Cx injury was not treated and was diagnosed at autopsy. There were no deaths in patients whose Cx injury was promptly treated. Cx injury can be successfully managed when it is treated on time.

How to create patient-specific loops for correcting mitral valve prolapse through a minimally invasive approach.

A 72-year-old woman with a 6-month history of severe mitral valve regurgitation presented at our institution with dyspnea (NYHA II-III) and left ventricular impairment (LVEF 50%). Echocardiography showed P2-P3 prolapse with chordal rupture. A posterior mitral valve repair was performed using the loop technique through a minimally invasive approach. Only trivial postoperative regurgitation was observed. This video tutorial shows demonstrates our technique for this procedure and shows how we created self-made loop neochords.

Implante valvular aórtico percutáneo por vía transfemoral y apical. Impacto y consideraciones generales de ambos abordajes / Transapical and Transfemoral Aortic Valve Implantation. Impact and General Considerations of both Approaches

RESUMEN: Introducción: La miectomía septal ampliada constituye el tratamiento de elección para pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica obstructiva sintomática, refractarios al tratamiento farmacológico. Objetivos: Evaluar los resultados posoperatorios, el cambio en los síntomas y la evolución ecocardiográfica de una población sometida a miectomía septal ampliada por miocardiopatía hipertrófica obstructiva sintomática. Material y métodos: Desde noviembre de 2011 a octubre de 2017, se intervino un total de 28 pacientes. Se analizaron la evolución posoperatoria, clínica y ecocardiográfica al alta y al seguimiento. Resultados: Edad promedio 53,3 ± 13,4 años. La mortalidad perioperatoria (< 30 días) fue del 0%. Un paciente falleció a los 90 días (3,5%). No se produjeron comunicaciones interventriculares, daño de la válvula aórtica ni se reemplazó la válvula mitral en ningún paciente. El 91% de ellos se encontraban con disnea en CF III-IV en el preoperatorio, los restantes tenían angina o síncope. En el seguimiento, el 92,8% estaban asintomáticos, 1 paciente en CF III y otro en CF II. El gradiente preoperatorio basal promedio fue de 53,5 mmHg y con valsalva 86,4 mmHg; los gradientes basal y con valsalva posoperatorios fueron 9,4 mmHg y 13,5 mmHg (p < 0,01). Al seguimiento, los gradientes en reposo y con valsalva fueron aún más bajos, 8,3 mmHg y 10,7 mmHg, respectivamente (p: NS). Nueve pacientes (32%) presentaban insuficiencia mitral moderada a grave previa por movimiento anterior sistólico o patología intrínseca mitral. Se detectó solo un paciente con insuficiencia mitral moderada asintomática en el seguimiento (3,5%). La mediana de seguimiento fue de 400 días, Pc 25-75 de 695 días (mínimo de 30 días y el máximo de 1868 días). Conclusión: Con la miectomía septal ampliada se obtiene una mejoría hemodinámica y clínica de los pacientes sintomáticos, con bajo número de complicaciones posoperatorias. Esto tiene como resultado una mejor calidad de vida.

La cirugía miniinvasiva de la válvula mitral, ¿es posible en pacientes complejos? / Is Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery Possible in Complex Patients?

Introducción: Los pacientes con riesgo preoperatorio alto de morbimortalidad, endocarditis mitral y aquellos con cirugía cardíaca previa son considerados "limitantes" para ser operados por vía cirugía miniinvasiva. Objetivos: Evaluar resultados en pacientes complejos sometidos a cirugía miniinvasiva. Primario: mortalidad posoperatoria dentro de los 30 días. Secundario: resultados técnico-quirúrgicos y complicaciones posoperatorias tempranas. Material y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de las cirugías mitrales realizadas en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires desde enero de 2010 hasta abril de 2016. Se realizaron 135 cirugías mitrales, 63 de ellas mediante técnica miniinvasiva (46,6%). Los pacientes considerados "complejos" fueron 45 (71,4%), incluyéndose aquellos con riesgo > 10% del STS PROMM, los pacientes con endocarditis activa y/o los pacientes con cirugía cardíaca previa. Resultados: El 73,3% (n = 33) fueron cirugías electivas, el 22,2% (n = 10) de urgencia y el 4,4% (n = 2) de emergencia. El STS PROM% y el STS PROMM% fueron de 6,08 ± 10,8 y de 26,7 ± 16,8, respectivamente. Se incluyen 6 pacientes con cirugía cardíaca previa, 5 pacientes con endocarditis en tratamiento activo. Se realizaron reemplazo valvular mitral (14 reumáticas) en el 62% (n = 28) y plástica mitral en el 38% (n = 17). No se constataron óbitos en plástica mitral ni mediastinitis. La mortalidad a los 30 días fue del 4,4% (n = 2). Hubo conversión a esternotomía en un caso. Conclusiones: La mortalidad observada es inferior a la calculada por puntaje de riesgo (STS PROMM%: 6,08 ± 10,8 vs. 4,4). La minitoracotomía derecha videoasistida nos ofreció una excelente exposición e interpretación de la patología. La técnica de cirugía miniinvasiva puede ser utilizada en pacientes con cirugía cardíaca previa, endocarditis y/o pacientes con puntaje alto de riesgo preoperatorio.

Complex Reoperation for Late Complications After Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery.

The correct management of acute Type A dissection continues to be a challenge. The primary goal is to save the patient´s life. However, the decision regarding the surgical approach determines possible later complications. We present the case of a 59-year-old female patient with a past history of emergent surgery for acute Type A dissection treated by supracoronary ascending and aortic valve replacement 19 years previously. Later, in a second endovascular approach, the descending aorta was treated by a thoracic endoprosthesis. During follow-up a dilated aortic root and a Type I endoleak were observed, and complex reoperation was required. We performed a total aortic arch replacement with a 4-branched graft and a complete aortic root replacement using the Cabrol technique for the reinsertion of the coronary arteries. The mechanical aortic normally functioning valve was preserved. The patient was discharged 30 days postoperatively.

Two-Stage Procedure for Infected Aortic Graft Pseudoaneurysm: 10-Year Follow Up after Omental Prosthesis Wrapping.

Prosthetic graft infections with mediastinitis following aortic surgery are rare, yet represent grave complications yielding high morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 57-year-old female patient with past history of emergent surgery for iatrogenic Type A dissection treated by supracoronary ascending aortic replacement. Four months after the initial surgery, a sternal fistula had formed and due to severe bleeding emergent reoperation was required. Imaging and pathology on admission revealed an infected pseudoaneurysm at the distal aortic prosthesis and mediastinitis with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Rescue surgery was performed by means of a two-stage approach, with extensive debridement, graft replacement and continuous antiseptic lavage in a first step and an omental wrapping of the new prosthesis in a second stage 24 hours later. During 10 years of follow-up, no recurrent infection occurred. The operative approach and general considerations for management of infected pseudoaneurysms are discussed.

Longevity after aortic root replacement: is the mechanically valved conduit really the gold standard for quinquagenarians?

BACKGROUND: The choice of the best conduit for root/ascending disease and its impact on longevity remain controversial in quinquagenarians. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 205 patients (men=155) between 50 and 60 years (mean, 55.7 ± 2.9 years) received either a stentless porcine xenoroot (n=78) or a mechanically valved composite prosthesis (n=127) between February 1998 and July 2011. Of these, 166 patients underwent root replacement for aneurysmal disease (porcine: 39% [n=65]; mechanical: 61% [n=101]; P=0.5), 25 for acute type A aortic dissection (porcine: 32% [n=8]; mechanical: 68% [n=17]; P=0.51), and 14 for endocarditis/iatrogenic injury involving the aortic root (6.4% [n=5] versus 7.1% [n=9]; P=1.0). The predominant aortic valve pathology was stenosis in 19% (n=38), regurgitation in 50% (n=102), combined valvular dysfunction in 26% (n=54), and normal aortic valve function in 5% (n=11). Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass grafting (13%), mitral valve repair (7%), and partial/complete arch replacement (12%/4%), with no significant differences between porcine and mechanical root replacement. Overall hospital mortality was 7.3%, with no difference between the 2 types of valve prostheses (7.7% for porcine and 7.1% for mechanical root replacement; P=1.0). Follow-up averaged 5.4 ± 3.7 years (1096 patient-years) and was 100% complete. Freedom from aorta-related reoperation at 12 years was not statistically different between the groups (porcine: 94.9% versus mechanical: 96.1%; P=0.73). Survival was equivalent between both groups, with a 5-year survival of 86 ± 3% (porcine: 88 ± 4%; mechanical: 85 ± 3%; P=0.96) and a 10-year survival of 76% (porcine: 80 ± 7%; mechanical: 75 ± 5%; P=0.84). The linearized mortality rate was 3.1%/patient-year (porcine: 2.9%/patient-year; mechanical: 3.2%/patient-year). CONCLUSIONS: In quinquagenerians, long-term survival after stentless porcine xenograft aortic root replacement is equivalent to that after a mechanical Bentall procedure. These results bring into question the predominance of mechanical composite conduits for root replacement in quinquagenerians, particularly in the current era of transcatheter valve-in-valve procedures for structural valve deterioration.

Long-term survival after composite mechanical aortic root replacement: a consecutive series of 448 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of different etiologies on the outcome and mortality after mechanical composite aortic root/ascending replacement. METHODS: From February 1998 to June 2011, 448 consecutive patients (358 men, age, 52.8 ± 12.3 years) underwent composite mechanical aortic root replacement. Of these 448 patients, 362 (80.8%) were treated for degenerative/atherosclerotic root/ascending aortic aneurysm (287 men, age, 53.0 ± 12.1 years), 65 (14.5%) for emergent acute type A aortic dissection (49 men, age, 51.0 ± 13.1 years), and 21 (4.7%) for active infective endocarditis (20 men, age, 46.5 ± 13.6 years); 15% (n = 68) were reoperative or redo procedures. RESULTS: The overall hospital mortality after composite root/ascending replacement was 6.7% (n = 30). It was 3.9% (n = 14) after elective/urgent aneurysm replacement, 20.0% (n = 13) after emergency repair for acute type A aortic dissection, and 14.3% for active infective endocarditis (n = 3). The overall 1-year mortality--as a measure of operative success--was 5.2% (n = 19) after elective/urgent degenerative/atherosclerotic root/ascending aortic aneurysm repair, 21.5% (n = 14) after emergency repair for acute type A aortic dissection, and 14.3% (n = 3) after active infective endocarditis (degenerative/atherosclerotic root/ascending aortic aneurysm vs acute type A aortic dissection, P = .03; degenerative/atherosclerotic root/ascending aortic aneurysm vs active infective endocarditis, P = .08; acute type A aortic dissection vs active infective endocarditis, P = .8). Long-term survival was 88.3% at 5 years and 72.2% at 10 years, with a linearized mortality rate after 30 days of 2.5%/patient-year. Long-term survival after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection and active infective endocarditis was 72% and 72.3% at 5 years and 64.9% and 62% at 10 years, respectively, with a linearized mortality rate of 2.6%/patient-year for acute type A aortic dissection and 3.7% for active infective endocarditis. Survival after composite root replacement after the first year paralleled that of an age- and gender-matched population, regardless of the etiology. Women appeared to have less favorable longevity. CONCLUSIONS: Composite root replacement remains a versatile choice for various pathologic features with excellent longevity and freedom from reoperation and should be strongly considered if conditions for valve-sparing repair are less than perfect.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de aneurismas de arco aórtico / Tratamento cirúrgico do aneurisma do arco aórtico / Surgical treatment of aneurysms of the aortic arch

La resolución de la patología del arco aórtico constituye un desafío quirúrgico. En el presente reporte se describen 3 casos, detallando las estrategias utilizadas en nuestro servicio para reemplazar el arco cuando se debe asociar a reemplazo de aorta ascendente por esternotomía o cuando se requiere reemplazo simultáneo de aorta descendente por toracotomía.

A resoluçâo da patologia do arco aórtico constitui um desafio cirúrgico. No presente relato descrevem-se 3 casos, detalhando as estratégias utilizadas em nosso serviço para substituir o arco quando e deve associar a substituiçâo da aorta ascendente por esternotomía ou quando é necessária uma substituiçâo da aorta descendente por toracotomía.

The resolution of aortic arch disease is a surgical challenge. This report describes 3 cases indicating the strategies used in our department to replace the arch combining the replacement of the ascending aorta by sternotomy or when it is necessary to simultaneously replace the descending aorta by thoracotomy.