Management of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The combination of descending aortic aneurysm (DAA) with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We review the surgical management for patients with this combined disease. METHODS: From January 2000 to January 2014, we performed 268 elective surgeries on the descending or thoracoabdominal aorta. Sixty-six patients (24.7%) had significant CAD. Indications for aortic intervention included thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) in 28 (42.4%), DAA in 36 (54.5%), and coarctation and ulcer in one each. Fifty-two (78.8%) patients had prior CAD, with remote coronary intervention in 32 (48.5%). RESULTS: Sixteen (24.2%) patients required coronary intervention prior to aortic surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention in three and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 13 (six off-pump). We used the right internal thoracic artery (ITA) because of vulnerability of the left ITA during DAA clamping; the left ITA as a free graft or in situ when disease was distant to the left subclavian artery; and off-pump CABG to avoid manipulation and embolization. Mean duration between coronary intervention and aortic surgery was 37.2 days. There was no mortality or major adverse cardiac events (MACE) following coronary intervention or during interim to aortic surgery. There were two (3%) cardiac mortalities following DAA/TAAA repair. CONCLUSION: CAD is common among patients with DAA/TAAA. We recommend aggressive evaluation and prior treatment of CAD to minimize perioperative MACE.

Superior haemodynamic stability during off-pump coronary surgery with thoracic epidural anaesthesia: results from a prospective randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery is a technically more demanding strategy of myocardial revascularization compared with the standard on-pump technique. Thoracic epidural anaesthesia, by reducing sympathetic stress, may ameliorate the haemodynamic changes occurring during OPCAB surgery. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of thoracic epidural anaesthesia on intraoperative haemodynamics in patients undergoing OPCAB surgery. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-six patients were randomized to either general anaesthesia plus epidural (GAE) (n = 109) or general anaesthesia (GA) only (n = 117). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and central venous pressure (CVP) were measured before sternotomy and subsequently after positioning the heart for each distal anastomosis. RESULTS: Both groups were well balanced with respect to baseline characteristics and received a standardized anaesthesia. The MAP decreased in both groups with no significant difference (mean difference (GAE minus GA) -1.11, 95% CI -3.06 to 0.84, P = 0.26). The HR increased in both groups after sternotomy but was significantly less in the GAE group (mean difference (GAE minus GA) -4.29, 95% CI -7.10 to -1.48, P = 0.003). The CVP also increased in both groups after sternotomy, but the difference between the groups varied over time (P = 0.05). A difference was observed at the third anastomosis when the heart was in position for the revascularization of the circumflex artery (mean difference (GAE minus GA) +2.09, 95% CI 0.21-3.96, P = 0.03), but not at other time points. The incidence of new arrhythmias was also significantly lower in the GAE compared with the GA group (OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.78, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Thoracic epidural with general anaesthesia minimizes the intraoperative haemodynamic changes that occur during heart positioning and stabilization for distal coronary anastomosis in OPCAB surgery.

Minimal access aortic valve replacement using minimal extracorporeal circuit.

A minimal extracorporeal circuit has been shown to decrease the transfusion rate, cardiac and neurological damage in coronary surgery. We describe in detail a technique for minimal-access aortic valve replacement using a minimal extra-corporeal circuit, and provide surgical and perfusion tips to maintain antegrade perfusion and a clear surgical field.

Reverse subclavian flap and aorto-pulmonary window technique for repair of interrupted aortic arch and truncus arteriosus.

We report a surgical strategy for repairing an interrupted aortic arch (IAA) with truncus arteriosus (TA) by using a reverse subclavian flap and an aorto-pulmonary (A-P) window technique for preserving the pulmonary artery architecture. A 10-day-old neonate with type B IAA and type I TA with echocardiographic evidence of a significant distance between the ascending and descending aorta underwent surgical repair at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. The superior part of the arch was reconstructed using a reverse subclavian flap and the undersurface with a pulmonary homograft patch. The ascending aorta was separated from the pulmonary arteries using a Gore-Tex patch (A-P window type of repair) without disconnecting the branch pulmonary arteries, in order to preserve their architecture. The continuity between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery bifurcation was established using a 12 mm Contegra conduit. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the neonate was discharged after 12 days. At follow-up, the patient remains well, gaining weight, with no echocardiographic evidences of obstruction. Reverse subclavian flap with homograft patch combined with and 'A-P window' technique for preservation of the pulmonary artery architecture is a useful and effective surgical strategy for neonates presenting with IAA associated with TA.

Gauze-based negative pressure wound therapy to infected deep sternotomy wound complicated by cardiac tamponade: a case report.

Negative pressure wound therapy is the standard of care for infections after median sternotomy. Foam-based systems are commonly used even in scenarios when the myocardium is exposed. Gauze-based systems have recently gained popularity. We describe a case of deep sternal dehiscence that lead to a life-threatening complication secondary to wound filler choice.

The effect of diabetes mellitus on patients undergoing coronary surgery: a risk-adjusted analysis.

BACKGROUND: Surgical case-mix is seriously worsening, and the results of surgical revascularization on high-risk cohorts should be continuously evaluated. This study investigates the influence of diabetes mellitus on the short and midterm outcome in the modern era of coronary surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who underwent first-time coronary artery bypass grafting from April 1996 to October 2003 were classified into diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. A total of 5259 patients were studied, and of these 877 (17%) were diabetic. Patients with diabetes were more likely to be female, have a higher body mass index, be in an advanced New York Heart Association class and Canadian Cardiovascular Society class, have a history of congestive heart failure, have a poor ejection fraction, renal failure, and more extensive coronary artery disease than the nondiabetic group (P < .001 for all). In-hospital mortality was 2.2% and 1% for diabetic and nondiabetic patients, respectively; however, diabetes was not found to be an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 1.63; 95% confidence interval 0.92-2.88; P = .089). Postoperative complications were comparable in the two groups, with only renal, neurologic, and gastrointestinal complications significantly associated with diabetes (all P < or = .05). There was no association between diabetes mellitus and postoperative infective complications. Diabetes remained an independent predictor of 5-year mortality (hazard ratio 1.55; 95% confidence interval 1.22-1.96; P < .001) and of lower 5-year cardiac-related event-free survival. CONCLUSION: Despite a worsening cohort, diabetic patients could be surgically revascularized with low morbidity and mortality, comparable with control patients. The negative effect of diabetes mellitus on the longer-term mortality and morbidity remains a problem.

Splanchnic organ injury during coronary surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy of coronary surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass in protecting the function of the small intestine, liver, and pancreas. METHODS: Patients were randomized to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) or coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (CABG-CPB). Small intestine function was assessed by differential four sugars (O = methyl-D-glucose, D-xylose, L-rhamnose, and lactulose) permeability and absorption tests. Liver function was assessed by monoethylglycinexylidide/lidocaine ratios and by serial measurements of transaminases (aspartate transaminase and alanine-amino transferase), bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase. Pancreatic function was assessed by serial measurements of insulin/glucagon ratio, amylase, and glucose. Forty patients were recruited (20 per group). RESULTS: Permeability and absorption were more impaired in the OPCAB group immediately after surgery, but returned to baseline levels in both groups by postoperative day 5 (interaction of surgery type and time; p = 0.05 and p = 0.02, respectively). Monoethylglycinexylidide/lidocaine ratios were not different in the two groups. Aspartate transaminase and alanine-amino transferase levels were higher in the CABG-CPB group for the first postoperative day, but levels converged by day 3 (interaction of surgery type and time; p < 0.0001 and p = 0.04, respectively). The bilirubin level for the OPCAB group overshot the CABG-CPB group at 36 hours before returning to a similar level 60 hours postoperatively. Amylase levels were higher in the CABG-CPB group than in the OPCAB group (1.17 times; p = 0.03); other markers of pancreatic function showed no differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early small intestine function is worse with OPCAB; all functions recover to similar levels in both groups by day 5. Conversely, pancreatic function is worse with the CABG-CPB group than with the OPCAB group. Hepatic metabolic function does not differ by type of surgery to the end of the operation. Postoperative hepatocellular injury was worse with the CABG-CPB group.

Fibrosing mediastinitis as a cause of superior vena cava syndrome.

Fibrosing mediastinitis is a rare, chronic inflammatory process that can cause superior vena cava syndrome, and can mimic malignancy. We present two cases of this disease where surgical resection was not possible and review the treatment options.