Right intra-atrial catheter placement for hemodialysis in patients with multiple venous failure.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of direct right atrial catheter insertion for hemodialysis in patients with multiple venous access failure. We retrospectively evaluated the charts of 27 patients with multiple venous access failure who had intra-atrial dialysis catheter placement between October 2005 and October 2010 in our clinic. Permanent right atrial dialysis catheters were placed through a right anterior mini-thoracotomy under intratracheal general anesthesia in all patients. Demographics of the cases, the patency rates of hemodialysis via atrial catheterization, existence of any catheter thrombosis, and catheter-related infections were documented and used in statistical analysis. Seventeen women (63%) and 10 men (37%) with the mean age of 59.0 ± 7.1 years (47-71) were enrolled in this study. Chronic renal failure was diagnosed for the mean of 78.9 ± 24.3 months (33-130). Five patients (18.5%) died. Ventricular fibrillation and myocardial infarction were the causes of death in the early postoperative period in two patients. Two of the remaining three patients died because of cerebrovascular events, and one patient died because of an unknown cause. Ten patients (37%) had been using anticoagulate agents (warfarin) because of concomitant disorders such as deep vein thrombosis, operated valve disease, and arrhythmias. Catheter thrombosis and malfunction was determined in three cases (11.1%). Intra-atrial hemodialysis catheterization is a safe and effective life-saving measure for the patients with multiple venous failure and without any possibility of peritoneal dialysis or renal transplantation.

Reoperative off-pump right subclavian artery to right coronary artery bypass grafting without full sternotomy.

Stenosis or occlusion of a large right coronary artery or its vein grafts in symptomatic patients who underwent previous bypass grafting procedure with patent left-sided grafts is mostly managed by percutaneous interventions. When percutaneous interventions fail, it is a difficult decision to reoperate on a such patient for a single-vessel disease considering the risk of resternotomy. We present our technique which involves small anterior thoracotomy and partial sternotomy.

Can D-dimer testing help emergency department physicians to detect acute aortic dissections?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of D-dimer testing for detection of acute aortic dissection. METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of patients who had been evaluated with suspicion of acute aortic dissection. All patients' D-dimer levels were determined prior to their further work up in the emergency department. The study was conducted in a tertiary care center between February 2006-August 2008. The D-dimer assay used was the immunoturbidimetric assay, with a normal range up to 0.246 µg/ml. Statistical analysis was accomplished using Chi-square test, Student's t-test and a receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were included in the study, 30 patients were diagnosed as having acute aortic dissection and 69 patients were evaluated in non-acute aortic dissection group. In comparison of the two groups, positive D-dimer results were found to be significantly higher in acute aortic dissection group than in non-acute aortic dissection group (p=0.001). Sensitivity of the D-dimer test in detection of acute aortic dissection was found as 96.6% and the negative predictive value of the test was 97.3%. Specificity and positive predictive value of the D-dimer test were 52.2% and 46.8%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve yielded an acceptable certainty for excluding acute aortic dissection on base of negative results (AUC: 0.764; CI 95%: 0.674-0.855; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: D-dimer testing is helpful for emergency physicians in detection of patients with suspected acute aortic dissection in the emergency department.

Clinical outcomes in "complex" thoracic aortic surgery.

Although the term "complex aortic surgery" has come into increasing use, it has not been defined. We propose the following definition: replacement or remodeling (not resuspension of commissures) of the aortic root, together with either an intracardiac procedure or a replacement of more than 1 segment of aorta, all of which require cerebral protection. We retrospectively analyzed data pertaining to 152 patients (mean age, 56 +/- 12 years) who underwent surgery for thoracic aortic disease with aid of cardiopulmonary bypass from October 2000 through December 2005. The replaced segment was the ascending aorta with or without the root in 106 patients, the aortic arch in 15, and the descending aorta in 31. Among these patients, 10 met our proposed criteria and constituted the complex group. In this group, in addition to the aortic root, the entire thoracic aorta (ascending, arch, and descending) was replaced in 4 patients, the total arch in 2, and a partial arch in 1. The remaining 3 underwent valve or coarctation repair. Their outcomes were analyzed as a sub-group within the overall outcome. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12.5% in the overall group (19/152), 4.1% in elective cases (3/73), and 10% in the complex group (1/10). Duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial ischemia, and total cerebral protection times were significantly longer in the complex group (P <0.0001). Total cerebral protection time over 40 minutes was the only predictor of neurologic morbidity (P = 0.003; odds ratio, 4.7). Procedural complexity, as we defined it, increased neurologic morbidity, but not the mortality rate.

Effects of thoracic and hiatal clamping in repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of hiatal and thoracic clamping on postoperative outcome and morbidity and factors affecting mortality and morbidity. The records of 102 patients who had undergone ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between 1993 and 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. Hiatal clamping and thoracic clamping were performed in 72 patients and 30 patients, respectively. Postoperative complications and survival were evaluated comparatively between the two groups by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Overall mortality and hospital mortality rates were 63 (61.8%) and 24 (23.5%) patients, respectively; and there was no difference between the two groups. Postoperative respiratory complications, gastrointestinal complications, and blood requirement were higher in the thoracic clamping group. Preoperative shock and renal ischemia time (>30 min) were found to be significant predictors of hospital mortality. Postoperative renal failure was the only independent postoperative predictor of mortality. In the follow-up period, cardiac event was an independent predictor of late mortality. If hospital mortalities were excluded, 5-year and 10-year cumulative survivals were 57.82 +/- 5.85% and 38.16 +/- 6.97%, respectively. Cross-clamp level did not have a significant effect on long-term survival. Although both thoracic and hiatal clamping had no effect on mortality, postoperative respiratory complications, blood requirement, and intestinal ischemia were more pronounced in patients operated with thoracic clamping. Hiatal clamping is preferable for a safe postoperative period.

Perioperative determinants of mortality and morbidity in distal arch and proximal descending aortic aneurysm surgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article is to describe our experience on distal arch and proximal descending aortic aneurysm repair, and to evaluate retrospectively the determinants of mortality and morbidity. MATERIAL/METHODS: Between 1994 and 2002, 30 patients (mean age 53.4 years) underwent repair of distal arch or proximal descending aortic aneurysm approached through left thoracotomy with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Femoro-femoral bypass was used in all patients except for four, in whom the left subclavian artery was cannulated. Retrograde cerebral perfusion was performed in 16 patients. The mean circulatory arrest time was 30.7 min. RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 13.3%. Excessive blood (p=0.008) and plasma (p=0.009) transfusions, and coronary artery disease (p=0.012) were correlated with mortality. The overall rate of postoperative complications was 30%. Renal failure and respiratory failure were the most frequent complications (16.7%), while the rates of stroke and transient neurological dysfunction were 6.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Age >70 years, bypass time >140 min, distal ischemia time >55 min, and excessive blood or plasma transfusions were determinants of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with left thoracotomy is a valid procedure with acceptable mortality rates in the management of aneurysms of distal arch and proximal descending aorta. Prolonged bypass and distal ischemia times and excessive blood transfusions are associated with increased postoperative morbidity.

Amiodarone reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of postoperative administration of prophylactic amiodarone in the prevention of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: In this prospective study 157 patients were randomly divided into two groups: 77 patients (amiodarone group) received intravenous amiodarone in a dose of 10 mg/kg/d for postoperative 48 hours. On postoperative day 2 oral amiodarone was started with a dose of 600 mg/d for 5 days, 400 mg/d for the following 5 days, and 200 mg/d for 20 days, and 80 patients received placebo (control group). RESULTS: Preoperative patient characteristics and operative variables were similar in the two groups. Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 8 patients (10.4%) receiving amiodarone and in 20 (25.0%) patients receiving placebo (P =.017). Duration of atrial fibrillation was 12.8 +/- 4.8 hours for the amiodarone group compared with 34.7 +/- 28.7 hours for the control group (P =.003). The maximum ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation was slower in the amiodarone group than in the control group (105.9 +/- 19.1 beats per minute and 126.0 +/- 18.5 beats per minute, respectively, P =.016). The two groups had a similar incidence of complication other than rhythm disturbances (20.8% vs 20.0%, P =.904). Amiodarone group patients had shorter hospital stays than that of control group patients (6.8 +/- 1.7 days vs 7.8 +/- 2.9 days, P =.014). The in-hospital mortality was not different between two groups (1.3% vs 3.8, P =.620). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative intravenous amiodarone, followed by oral amiodarone, appears to be effective in the prevention of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation. It also reduces ventricular rate and duration of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. It is well tolerated and decreases the length of hospital stay.

Surgical treatment of acute arch dissection.

OBJECTIVES: Acute type A arch dissections are rare and no consensus has been reached on their surgical treatment. We studied perioperative risk factors for mortality in arch dissection patients. METHODS: Between October 1995 and October 2001, 108 patients with acute type A dissection were operated on, of whom 16 had acute arch dissections. Their mean age was 58 +/- 9 (44-77). Surgery involved total arch replacement in 4, hemiarch replacement in 10, and intimal tear repair with pledgeted sutures and ascending aortic replacement in 2. RESULTS: One patient who underwent total arch replacement died intraoperatively due to bleeding. Both patients who underwent ascending aortic replacement and primary repair of arch tears died 2 days postoperatively, 1 due to bleeding, and the other due to multiorgan failure. In-hospital mortality was thus 18.75%, or 3 of 16. All 3 had cardiac tamponade preoperatively. The 13 survivors were discharged after a mean hospital stay of 11 +/- 6 days. Mean follow-up was 38 +/- 25 months, from 3 months to 6 years. One patient died due to graft infection 3 months postoperatively, but the remaining 12 remain in good condition. Univariate predictors of in-hospital mortality were the type of surgery (primary intimal tear repair) (p = 0.027) and preoperative cardiac tamponade (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of acute type A-arch dissections can be done with reasonable mortality and mid-term survival comparable with those of other subgroups with acute type A dissection. As with series of arch dissections, our patient population is too small to draw specific conclusions, but our experience leads us to conclude that the sites of intimal tears should be resected in acute type A arch dissection.

Prophylactic dialysis in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative creatinine values higher than 2.5 mg/dL are associated with markedly increased risk for both mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. We aimed to determine the effects of prophylactic perioperative hemodialysis on operative outcome in patients with nondialysis-dependent moderate renal dysfunction. METHODS: Forty-four adult patients with creatinine levels greater than 2.5 mg/dL but not requiring dialysis underwent coronary artery bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group 1 (dialysis group, 21 patients), perioperative prophylactic hemodialysis was performed in all patients. Group 2 (23 patients) was taken as a control group and hemodialysis was performed only if postoperative acute renal failure was diagnosed. RESULTS: The hospital mortality was 4.8% (1 patient) in the dialysis group, and 30.4% (7 patients) in the control group (p = 0.048). Postoperative acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis was seen in 1 patient (4.8%) in the dialysis group and in 8 patients (34.8%) in the control group (p = 0.023). Thirty-three postoperative complications were observed in the control group for an early morbidity of 52.2% (12 patients) and 13 complications occurred in 8 patients in the dialysis group (38.1%). The average length of the intensive care unit and postoperative hospital stay were shorter in the dialysis group than in the control group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.023, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative creatinine levels higher than 2.5 mg/dL, increase the risk of mortality and the development of acute renal failure and prolong the length of hospital stay after on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Perioperative prophylactic hemodialysis decreases both operative mortality and morbidity in these high-risk patients.

Perigraft to right atrial shunt by using autologous pericardium for control of bleeding in acute type A dissections.

BACKGROUND: We report our experience with creating a perigraft to right atrial fistula by using autologous pericardium to control the inaccessible bleeding after aortic root repair in patients with acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2001, perigraft to right atrial fistula was used in 7 of 109 patients (mean age; 55 years) who underwent emergency operation for acute type A dissections. A chamber around the aortic graft was created by suturing a patch of pericardium to the right ventricular wall inferiorly, to the pulmonary artery medially, to the Teflon felt at the distal aortic anastomosis or innominate vein superiorly, and to the superior vena cava and right atrium laterally. A large stab wound was created on the medial aspect of the right atrium. The perigraft space was then closed expeditiously. RESULTS: None of these patients required reexploration for bleeding and they were discharged from the hospital without complications. The average blood and fresh frozen plasma requirement was 3.4 +/- 0.9 and 2.7 +/- 0.7, respectively. All underwent echocardiographic examination before discharge and no perigraft to right atrial shunt was detected. CONCLUSIONS: If intractable bleeding is encountered after the administration of protamine and thrombotic agents and a discrete bleeding site can not be found, then a perigraft to right atrial fistula using autologous pericardium can be created as a last resort. It provides primary and definite sternal closure and avoids the detrimental effects of a second pump run and continued bleeding.

Dissection of aorta: a pediatric case report.

We present a 15-year-old boy who developed sudden walking disability and sensory loss. He could not stand up on his feet and had no feeling following a sudden fall while playing basketball. He had been referred to a local hospital with these symptoms. In his physical examination absence of deep tendon reflexes and sensory loss were noted. His arterial blood pressure was 210/160 mmHg. He was transferred to our hospital with these findings and diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome and hypertensive encephalopathy. There was sudden onset of sensory loss, walking disability and history of trauma. In the following hours hematuria, back pain and lower extremity ischemia developed. We suspected spinal artery injury based on the findings. Dissection of descending aorta was established with the help of magnetic resonance imaging of spinal region and contrasted aortography. The patient went to surgery immediately. He was lost on the second day after operation because of malperfusion. We report this case because dissecting aorta is very rare in the pediatric age group. High index of suspicion and early aortography are needed to diagnose aorta dissection.

Predictive value of conventional computed tomography in determining proximal extent of abdominal aortic aneurysms and possibility of infrarenal clamping.

The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of computed tomography in determining the proximal extent of abdominal aortic aneurysms and the possibility of infrarenal clamping. Preoperative computed tomographic findings, together with the operative data for 95 patients, were retrospectively analyzed in light of the operative findings. Eighty-nine (93.68%) of the patients were men and 6 (6.32%) were women, with a mean age of 66.27 +/- 18.14 years. Diagnosis of infrarenal aneurysm by computed tomography was confirmed at the time of surgery in 91 (95.79%) of 95patients. The negative-predictive value of computed tomography in detecting supra-aneurysmal renal arteries was found to be 95.79%. The specificity was 98.91%. Infrarenal cross-clamping was performed in 59 (62.11%) of 95 patients, whose aortic segments between the renal artery orifices and the proximal borders of the aneurysms had a mean length of 26.4 +/- 7.11 mm by computed tomography Suprarenal clamping was required in 36 (37.89%) of the 95 patients, whose aortic segments had a mean length of 12.7 +/- 3.48 mm. We conclude that conventional computed tomography is reasonably accurate in determining the proximal extent of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Although there is a high rate of error in determining the possibility of infrarenal clamping when no specific measurements are taken, infrarenal clamping can be planned when measurement by computed tomography shows a length of > or = 26 mm between the renal arteries and the proximal extent of the aneurysm. In patients with shorter aortic segments, suprarenal aortic clamping should be considered.

Adverse effects of cell saver in patients undergoing ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

A retrospective analysis of 56 patients undergoing ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair was performed to find out if cell saver had any impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality. All patients but one were male. The mean age was 68 +/- 8 years (35-85 years). Cell saver was used in 40 patients (CS group) and was not used in 16 patients (NCS group). We compared the incidences of respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal complications; reoperation; transfusion requirement; length of hospital stay; and mortality between the groups. This study demonstrated that intraoperative cell saver usage significantly increased the incidence of respiratory complications and the need for blood and fresh frozen plasma transfusion, and prolonged the hospital stay in patients with ruptured AAA, but did not have any impact on mortality. Postoperative complications were more prominent in patients who received >3000 mL cell saver blood.

Analysis of perioperative risk factors in mortality and morbidity after modified Bentall operation.

The objective of the present study was to determine the risk factors for operative and short-term mortality, and morbidity after a Bentall operation. Between July 1994 and February 2001, 86 consecutive patients (70 males) underwent a modified Bentall operation at our hospital. The aortic pathology was acute aortic dissection in 12 (14%), chronic dissection in 9 (10.5%) and degenerative aneurysm in 65 (75.6%). Mean age was 48 +/- 15 years. Eleven preoperative, 8 intraoperative and 6 postoperative variables of these patients were retrospectively analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Six patients died in the hospital (6.9%) and 2 died within four months after being discharged from the hospital. Mean follow-up time was 33 +/- 23 months (2 months to 8 years). The survival rate among hospital survivors was 88% at 3 years and 77% at 6 years. Univariate predictors of in-hospital and short-term mortality were the presence of aortic valve calcification, stenotic aortic valves, renal failure, and cardiac failure after the operation. Multivariate analysis revealed no independent risk factors. Risk factors for morbidity were etiology of acute dissection, use of circulatory arrest, transfusion of blood and fresh frozen plasma more than 2 units each, cross clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times (exceeding 90 and 140 minutes, respectively), and performing concomitant procedures. Modified Bentall procedures are safe in general. Meticulous dissection, careful handling and positioning of the coronary buttons are of paramount importance in patients with stiff aortic root since technical errors are more likely to occur.

Arch-first technique used with commercial T-graft to treat subacute type-A aortic dissection in patient with Marfan syndrome.

Staged repair of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms puts certain patients at risk of rupture. We report the case of a patient with Marfan syndrome who presented with subacute type-A aortic dissection and a large descending aortic aneurysm. We used the arch-first technique with a commercially available Dacron T-graft. A clamshell incision was used for exposure. A button of arch vessels was anastomosed to the T-graft. Antegrade cerebral perfusion was established through the side branch. The distal end of the graft was anastomosed to the descending aorta and the proximal end to a composite graft. The duration of cerebral ischemia was 30 minutes; antegrade cerebral perfusion lasted 52 minutes. The patient experienced no neurologic dysfunction and was discharged with no major deficit. This technique shortens brain-ischemia time and is a good option if the risk of rupture of the descending component of an extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm is high. To the best of our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case in which the arch-first technique has been used with a commercially available T-graft to treat subacute type-A aortic dissection in a patient with Marfan syndrome.

Four years' experience with the Edwards-Tekna bileaflet valve prosthesis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Although over 20,000 Edwards-Duromedics valves were implanted worldwide between 1982 and May 1988, use of the valve was voluntarily suspended by the manufacturer in May 1988 on the basis of reported leaflet escapes. In 1990, a modified version was introduced to the market, the Edwards-Tekna. The study aim was to evaluate the short-term outcome with this revised valve. METHODS: Between 1994 and 1998, 137 patients (67 males, 70 females; mean age 36.3+/-9.1 years) underwent heart valve replacement with the Edwards-Tekna prosthesis. Among these patients, 72 had isolated mitral valve replacement, 59 isolated aortic valve replacement, and six double-valve replacement. RESULTS: Early hospital mortality was 0.72% (n = 1). Follow up was 95% complete (129/136 patients discharged from hospital). Mean follow up was 24.9+/-10.5 months (range: 2 to 48 months); total follow up was 282.9 patient-years (pt-yr). Actuarial freedom from complications at two-year follow up and linearized incidence (%/pt-yr) of these events were: late mortality 87.8+/-8.5% (1.77%/pt-yr); thromboembolism 89.8+/-4.9% (2.12%/pt-yr); anticoagulation-related bleeding 97.8+/-1.5% (0.71%/pt-yr); prosthetic valve endocarditis 99.1+/-0.9% (0.35%/pt-yr); valve-related mortality 98.2+/-1.2% (0.71%/pt-yr); and valve-related morbidity and mortality 85.0+/-5.0% (4.24%/pt-yr). There was no structural valve failure such as leaflet escape in this series. Clinically significant hemolysis was not encountered (mean postoperative plasma LDH level 345+/-124 IU/l). Preoperatively, 69% of patients were in NYHA classes III/IV; at two years postoperatively 90% of survivors were in classes I/II. CONCLUSION: The Edwards-Tekna mechanical valve prosthesis has shown excellent overall clinical performance in the short term, though long-term data are needed to confirm its durability.

Perioperative risk factors for mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to identify the perioperative risk factors for death in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AADA). METHODS: Between 1993 and 2001, 108 consecutive patients (86 men; mean age, 53 years) underwent emergent operations for AADA. All patients but 2 underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with an open distal anastomosis during a period of hypothermic circulatory arrest. In addition, 22 patients had hemiarch and 5 had total arch replacement. Aortic root was replaced in 20 and repaired with gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue in 39 patients; aortic valve was separately replaced in 3, resuspended in 24, and remained untouched in 22 patients. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 25%. Mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with preoperative dissection complications than in those without (21/36 [58%] vs 6/72 [8%], p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, predictors of mortality were presence of rupture, renal failure, and intestinal malperfusion, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass > or = 200 minutes, blood loss > or = 500 mL, and transfusion of blood > or = 4 units. Location of the intimal tear, extent of the replacement, type of the aortic root repair, and duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest did not emerge as predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Major determinants of surgical mortality in patients with AADA are preoperative complications. Earlier diagnosis remains essential to improve the survival rate.