Partial Hammock Valve: Surgical Repair and Long-Term Follow-Up in 23 Patients.

BACKGROUND: In 2006, we reported a "forme frustrée" of hammock valve involving the posterior mitral leaflet resulting in restricted leaflet motion and mitral regurgitation. The purpose of this retrospective report is to describe the surgical techniques and long-term outcome of 23 patients with partial hammock valve who underwent successful repaired over a 22-year period (1995 to 2017). METHODS: Partial hammock valve is defined as anomalous papillary muscles that have hypertrophied and fused together. There are three or four papillary muscles implanted high on the posterior wall, forming a palisade under the posterior leaflet. Twenty-three patients were operated on, 19 adults and 4 children. In all but 3 patients, repair consisted of posterior leaflet enlargement of the P2 and P3 segments with a semilunar patch of bovine pericardium. The fused papillary muscles were split longitudinally, and some secondary chordae were cut. All adult patients received a prosthetic ring. RESULTS: A satisfactory repair was achieved in all patients. Mean age at the time of operation was 62 ± 11 years (range, 6 days to 79 years). Hospital mortality occurred in 1 patient (1 of 23; 4.3%). Mean follow-up was 7 years (range, 1 to 22). Actuarial survival rate at 7 years was 70%. At last echocardiogram, all survivors were free from mitral regurgitation grade II or higher. There was no reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Partial hammock valve is a rare congenital anomaly resulting in mitral regurgitation. Patch enlargement of the posterior leaflet achieves long-term repair. It is safe and reliable.

Anomalous Origin of Right Coronary Artery From Left Coronary Sinus-13 Cases Treated With the Reimplantation Technique.

OBJECTIVES: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery is uncommon but potentially clinically significant. Manifestations vary from asymptomatic patients to those who present with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, syncope, arrhythmias, and sudden death. We describe our experience with surgical reimplantation and results at midterm follow-up. METHODS: Between February 2003 and July 2016, a total of 13 patients with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left sinus underwent surgical reimplantation. RESULTS: Mean age was 39 years (range, 11-72 years). Eight patients presented with dyspnea and angina, two with acute myocardial infarction, and the remaining three were studied for atypical chest pain and ventricular premature contractions. Definitive diagnosis was achieved with coronary angiography in eight cases and with computed tomography scan in five. In all cases, the anomalous origin of the RCA from the left sinus had an intramural course except one case with interarterial (but not intramural) course. At operation, the RCA was dissected at the takeoff from the intramural course and reimplanted into the right sinus of Valsalva. There was no mortality. One patient had associated atherosclerotic coronary artery disease that required stent placement postoperatively. After a mean follow-up of 65 months (maximum 12 years), all patients are asymptomatic and have returned to exercise without limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The reimplantation technique provides a good physiological and anatomical repair, eliminates a slit-like ostium, avoids compression of the coronary artery between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, and gives similar results to the unroofing technique.

Severe Arterial Tortuosity.

Arterial tortuosity syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive connective tissue disease characterized by elongation, tortuosity, and aneurysmal formation of the large and middle-sized arteries sometimes associated with stenosis of the pulmonary arteries and/or aorta. We present three cases of severe arterial tortuosity with different manifestations. In two cases, the aortic arch was involved. Angiography showed a very tortuous aortic arch, with many loops and twists and a normal descending aorta. One required operation. The third case presented multiple severe stenoses of both pulmonary arteries with many tortuous segments. Surgical repair consisted of pulmonary artery augmentation utilizing a bovine pericardial patch from hilum to hilum.

Complete carotid and coronary revascularization in brain malperfusion.

A 54-year-old man presented with unstable angina and stroke with right hemiplegia and aphasia due to left main coronary plus 3-vessel disease, severe stenosis of bilateral internal carotid, proximal left common carotid, and proximal left subclavian arteries. Simultaneous complete revascularization was undertaken with the use of conventional cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate hypothermia (25℃). The left internal mammary artery and two saphenous vein grafts were used for coronary artery bypass, and brain revascularization consisted of a left aorta-to-common carotid Dacron graft and bilateral carotid endarterectomy. Recovery was good.

Cavopulmonary window: an extreme form of sinus venosus defect.

We present an unusual variant of the sinus venosus defect in which an obvious window is formed between a single pulmonary vein and the superior vena cava, the pulmonary vein retaining its connection to the left atrium. Two patients were operated on via right anterior minithoracotomy. A large single right pulmonary vein was found connecting to the left atrium. There was a large side-to-side communication between the superior vena cava and the pulmonary vein resulting in partially anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. A side-biting clamp was applied in the superior vena cava and the pulmonary vein at both sides of the communication, and the vein was divided. The incision in both veins was closed with a running suture.