Composite graft replacement of the aortic root after previous cardiac surgery: a 20-year experience.

BACKGROUND: An aging population and prolonged survival of patients after cardiac operations has meant that composite aortic root replacement after previous cardiac operation is being performed with increasing frequency. METHODS: From January 1979 to July 1999, 32 patients underwent "reoperative" composite replacement of the aortic root at our institution. Previous operations were 16 aortic valve replacement, 9 coronary artery bypass grafting, 5 repair aortic dissection, and 7 others. Indications for operation included ascending aortic aneurysm in 16 patients, ascending aortic dissections in 10 patients, and other in 6 patients. RESULTS: The unit elective mortality was 3 of 26 (11.5%). One surgeon's elective mortality was 1 of 22 (4.6%). The unit emergent mortality was 6 of 6 (100%). There has been one late death. Morbidity was low. CONCLUSIONS: Reoperative aortic root replacement is a technically demanding procedure, but expertise in the area achieves low elective mortality. Consideration should be given to aortic root replacement at the initial procedure. Close follow-up of postcardiac operation patients is necessary to proceed with elective aortic root replacement if indicated. Emergent presentation in the reoperative setting has a very poor prognosis.

Pseudosubluxation of the hip joint. A case report.

The case of a 32-year-old man who had a subluxation of his hip joint after open reduction and internal fixation for an acetabular fracture is presented. The subluxation resolved without surgical intervention. It is thought that the subluxation, herein termed pseudosubluxation, is similar to pseudosubluxation seen in the shoulder. The patient had sustained significant trauma to the abductor musculature and lateral hip region with a Morel-Lavelle lesion and a hip fracture coincident with his acetabular fracture. This entity has not been reported previously.

Use of an interlocked cephalomedullary nail for subtrochanteric fracture stabilization.

Forty-five Russell-Taylor Type 1B subtrochanteric femoral fractures were stabilized using an interlocked cephalomedullary nail. The intraoperative complication rate was 13.5%; the most frequent complication was a varus malreduction. The union rate was 100% at an average of 13.5 weeks after surgery; there were no implant failures. Forty-three of 45 (96%) patients regained greater than 120 degrees knee motion. Based on these results it is thought that an interlocked cephalomedullary nail may be the implant of choice for stabilization of Russell-Taylor Type 1B fractures; however, its proper use requires careful intraoperative technique, with particular attention given to avoid a varus malreduction.

Compartment pressures during nonreamed tibial nailing without traction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the intracompartmental pressure changes during the nailing of acute tibia fractures with the extrinsic factors of 90 degrees/90 degrees positioning, posterior thigh posts, continuous traction, and remaining removed. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case control. METHODS: Fifty-eight acute tibia fractures were nailed using an unreamed technique without leg elevation, thigh post, or continuous traction. Two presented with compartment syndrome and had fasciotomy before nailing. Thirty of the remaining fifty-six tibias had continuous intracompartmental pressure monitoring of the anterior compartment. RESULTS: The highest pressures were routinely seen during manual reduction of the fracture (20-58mms Hg; avg = 34mm Hg) and during nail passage (15-56mms Hg; avg = 26mms Hg). In fifteen tibias, the pressure rose to within 30mmg Hg of the diastolic pressure and in 12 tibias the pressure exceeded 40mmg Hg. The pressures in all cases returned to baseline immediately following nail passage (avg = 13.8mms Hg). No sequelae of compartment syndrome was found in any of the 56 tibias presenting without compartment syndrome. There were no iatrogenic compartment syndromes in the series. CONCLUSION: When extrinsic factors that increase intramedullary pressures are avoided, then intramedullary nailing raises the intramedullary pressure only momentarily. The pressure peaks during manual reduction and nail passage, and then returns to normal before the patient is awakened. Intramedullary nailing performed without reaming or traction is safe with respect to compartment syndromes and continuous pressure is not required.

Rifampicin antibiotic impregnation of the St. Jude Medical mechanical valve sewing ring: a weapon against endocarditis.

The Dacron sewing ring material of the St. Jude Medical mechanical heart valve (St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Paul, Minn.) was passively impregnated with rifampicin (60 mg/ml) both in its unsealed state and after sealing by the methods of preclotting in blood, autoclaving in blood, and autoclaving in 20% albumin. Antistaphylococcal activity in the Dacron material was assessed immediately after rifampicin impregnation and at regular periods up to 5 days after implantation into the goat aorta. When the Dacron material had been sealed by autoclaving in blood and autoclaving in 20% albumin significant retention of antistaphylococcal activity was found after 5 days in vivo. Best results were obtained with the use of autoclaved blood (p < 0.05). We also compared these results with those obtained from impregnating commercially available gelatin-sealed (Gelseal) and collagen-sealed (Hemashield) Dacron material with rifampicin. Although antistaphylococcal activity was equivalent immediately after rifampicin impregnation, after 4 days in vivo the activity was negligible in Gelseal material (p < 0.05) and could not be demonstrated in Hemashield material. Rifampicin impregnation of the intact St. Jude Medical mechanical valve sewing ring may have an application in the prevention of prosthetic valve endocarditis and a clinical protocol is suggested.

Post-traumatic chronic false aneurysm of the ascending aorta with long-term survival.

The case of a patient with impending rupture of a post-traumatic chronic false aneurysm of the ascending aorta is presented. It is stressed that chronic false aneurysms of the ascending aorta are rare and that a chronic false aneurysm of any part of the aorta carries a high risk of delayed rupture at any time.

Salvage of infected truncus repair using rifampicin-impregnated gelatin-sealed graft.

An infant suffered sternal infection and ventricular septal patch dehiscence after a truncus arteriosus repair. Successful reoperation used rifampicin-impregnated gelatin-sealed Dacron to repair the recurrent ventricular septal defect and replace the contaminated conduit. This was an effective solution to a potentially lethal surgical complication.

Massive tumour embolism from primary lung cancer.

Massive systemic intra-arterial embolism of malignant lung cancer is a rare condition. When it occurs it usually follows pneumonectomy. Its occurrence is related to propagated tumour within a pulmonary vein and this may be suspected pre-operatively. Although the primary lung cancer may theoretically be curable, embolism is frequently widespread and is associated with a very poor prognosis. The importance of early intraoperative pulmonary vein interruption during lung cancer surgery is emphasized.