Nonpharmacological interventions for 'no-option' refractory angina patients.

Refractory angina pectoris (RAP) defined as chronic anginal chest pain because of coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major problem. The increase in the number of patients with RAP in recent years is because of the increasing aging population and improved survival rates among patients with CAD. Management of patients with RAP is often extremely challenging. In this review, we present several interventional approaches for RAP, including device therapies, lifestyle intervention, and cell therapies. Some of these treatments are currently used in the management of RAP, whereas other treatments are under investigation.

The Modified Sternoplasty: A Novel Surgical Technique for Treating Mediastinitis.

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is one of the most complex and devastating complications post cardiac surgery. We present here the modified sternoplasty, a novel surgical technique for treating DSWI post cardiac surgery. The modified sternoplasty includes debridement and sternal refixation via bilateral longitudinal stainless-steel wires that are placed parasternally along the ribs at the midclavicular or anterior axillary line, followed by six to eight horizontal stainless-steel wires that are anchored laterally and directly into the ribs. On top of that solid structure, wound reconstruction is performed by the use of bilateral pectoralis muscle flaps followed by subcutaneous tissue and skin closure. We reported mortality rates and length of hospitalization of patients who underwent the modified sternoplasty. In total, 68 patients underwent the modified sternoplasty. Two of these critically ill patients died (2.9%). The average length of hospitalization from the diagnosis of DSWI was 24.63 ± 22.09 days. The modified sternoplasty for treating DSWI is a more complex surgery compared with other conventional sternoplasty techniques. However, this technique was demonstrated to be more effective, having a lower rate of mortality, and having a length of hospitalization lower than or comparable to other techniques previously reported in the literature.

The Coronary Sinus Reducer Stent for the Treatment of Refractory Angina Pectoris: From the Conception of Innovation to Clinical Application.

The Neovasc Coronary Sinus Reducer Stent (CSRS) was developed for the treatment of patients who continue to suffer from disabling symptoms despite optimal medical therapy. This patient population with refractory angina symptoms is expected to grow, since life expectancy of individuals with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is increasing. In this paper, we discussed the development of a novel device the CSRS and the upside-down strategy to rebuild a retrograde coronary pressure that was attenuated by the atherosclerotic disease.

The Late Effects of Pregnancy on Aortic Dimensions in Patients with Marfan Syndrome.

While the immediate effects of pregnancy on aortic dimension in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) have been evaluated, the late effects of subsequent pregnancies in these patients are less known. For this purpose, we evaluated 2 groups of women with MFS who were under specialized care in our institution. Group A included 23 women with MFS who experienced 55 pregnancies; group B included 12 nulliparous MFS patients. Patients in group A were similar in age (36.13 ± 5.6 years vs. 34.25 ± 6.54 years, p = 0.41) and follow-up time (group A 6.05 ± 3.56 years and group B 4.92 ± 3.37 years, p = 0.37). Baseline aortic root diameters as well as the aortic root diameters at follow-up visits were similar between groups (35.60 ± 4.42 vs. 35.08 ± 3.82 mm, p = 0.73, and 37.57 ± 4.66 vs. 37.33 ± 4.83 mm, p = 0.89, respectively). The aortic root diameter increased by 0.5 (0, 2) mm in group A and 1 (0, 4.5) mm in group B (p = 0.54). The rate of aortic dilation per year of follow-up was similar between the groups (0.34 ± 0.52 mm/year in group A vs. 0.55 ± 0.75 mm/year in group B [p = 0.52]). Chronic medical treatment was similar in both groups. Patients in both groups were treated similarly with ß-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers. In summary, subsequent pregnancies in patients with MFS were not associated with an increase in the rate of aortic root dilation in these patients.

Risk of Aortic Dissection in Pregnant Patients With the Marfan Syndrome.

Patients with Marfan syndrome (MS) face a high risk of aortic dissection during pregnancy. A dilated aortic root (>40 to 45 mm) is considered a relative contraindication for pregnancy. We investigated the risk for aortic dissection and pregnancy outcome in patients with MS. Women with MS who attended our cardiology high-risk pregnancy clinic from 2006 to 2015 were followed clinically and with serial echocardiograms by a multidisciplinary team. Beta blockers were offered and titrated by blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with aortic root dilation ≥40 mm were considered high-risk patients with MS. A consistent increase in aortic root diameter of >1 mm during pregnancy was classified as dilation during pregnancy; 31 pregnancies in 19 patients with MS were followed. Four pregnancies were terminated early because of prenatal diagnosis of fetal MS and 4 additional babies born with MS. Eight pregnancies were in patients with a dilated aortic root (40 to 46 mm); 21 patients (68%) were treated with ß blockers. There were 2 cases of postpartum aortic dissection (6.5%): 1 type A dissection in a woman with a dilated aortic root who declined ß blockers (1 of 8, 12.5%) and 1 type B dissection. Increasing aortic root diameter (>1 mm) in pregnancy was significantly associated with later aortic dissection (2 of 6 vs 0 of 21, p = 0.04). No maternal deaths occurred. All high-risk women with MS gave birth by cesarean section, whereas in the non-high-risk group mode of delivery was by obstetric indication. Preterm delivery rate was 41% (11 of 27). One antenatal fetal death and no major neonatal morbidity or mortality were observed. In conclusion, pregnant patients with MS, especially those with a dilating aortic root, are at high risk of aortic dissection, even with tight control of blood pressure and heart rate.

Postoperative pain trajectories in cardiac surgery patients.

Poorly controlled postoperative pain is a longstanding and costly problem in medicine. The purposes of this study were to characterize the acute pain trajectories over the first four postoperative days in 83 cardiac surgery patients with a mixed effects model of linear growth to determine whether statistically significant individual differences exist in these pain trajectories, and to compare the quality of measurement by trajectory with conventional pain measurement practices. The data conformed to a linear model that provided slope (rate of change) as a basis for comparing patients. Slopes varied significantly across patients, indicating that the direction and rate of change in pain during the first four days of recovery from surgery differed systematically across individuals. Of the 83 patients, 24 had decreasing pain after surgery, 24 had increasing pain, and the remaining 35 had approximately constant levels of pain over the four postoperative days.

El stent reductor del seno coronario para el tratamiento de la angina de pecho refractaria crónica / The coronary sinus reducer stent for the treatment of chronic refractory angina pectoris

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Aortic aneurysm-induced disseminated intravascular coagulopathy: successful surgical repair.

Aortic aneurysm is a rare cause of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). We present the developmental course of DIC in a 70-year-old male patient who had a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm characterized by a progressive descending aortic aneurysm presenting as subcutaneous hemorrhage of acute onset. He was diagnosed as having aortic aneurysm-induced DIC. After adequate infusion of blood components, surgical repair of the descending aortic aneurysm was carried out successfully. The patient's bleeding tendency stopped dramatically in the early postoperative period as identified by clinical and laboratory findings. We concluded that the occurrence of DIC was due mainly to the progressive descending aortic aneurysm in the present patient and that surgical repair could be the definitive treatment of DIC in this setting.

Massive intraventricular thrombus in polycythemia vera.

Polycythemia vera is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder which is prone to thrombotic complications. However, thrombosis of the cardiovascular system is an extremely rare complication of polycythemia vera. We describe a 76-year-old male patient who developed congestive heart failure due to massive intraventricular thrombus with pulmonary valvular involvement. Surgical treatment under cardiopulmonary bypass proved to be the sole solution for such a condition.