Off-pump coronary artery surgery with the Coronéo Cor-Vasc stabilizing device: clinical experience of 141 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous devices have been successfully introduced in off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery, most of them being disposable tools based on suction stabilization. Coronéo Cor-Vasc is a reusable system combining suction positioning with compression stabilization. The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience in OPCABG with the Cor-Vasc system. METHODS: Between March 2001 and May 2008, 141 patients (age = 71.1 +/- 7.5 years) underwent OPCABG surgery using the Cor-Vasc system, representing 6.3% of the case volume of isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the same period. Eighty-eight patients (62.4%) underwent surgery on an urgent basis. In 95 patients (67.4%), the OPCABG option was selected after finding a diseased ascending aorta at intraoperative epiaortic ultrasound. RESULTS: Among 334 anastomoses (mean = 2.4 +/- 1 per patient), 242 (95 patients) were fashioned with bilateral and 54 (46 patients) with single internal thoracic artery, respectively. In 89.4 and 73% of patients, a complete and a total arterial myocardial revascularization was achieved, respectively. There were two strokes (1.4%) and two myocardial infarctions (1.4%). Two patients died in the hospital (1.4%). Median ICU and in-hospital length of stay were 31.2 h and 10 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the use of the Cor-Vasc system, including the device-learning curve, was associated with low mortality and morbidity indexes in an aged population with a high risk of stroke. The system appeared to be sufficiently versatile and potentially cost-effective when compared with disposable devices.

Increased expression and secretion of resistin in epicardial adipose tissue of patients with acute coronary syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that specific epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) proinflammatory adipokines might be implicated in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We compared expression and protein secretion of several EAT adipokines of male ACS with those of matched stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and controls with angiographically normal coronary arteries. The effect of supernatant of cultured EAT on endothelial cell permeability in vitro was also evaluated in the three study groups. EAT of ACS patients showed significantly higher gene expression and protein secretion of resistin than patients with stable CAD. Interleukin-6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 genes were also significantly overexpressed in ACS compared with the control group but not when compared with stable CAD. Immunofluorescence of EAT sections revealed a significantly greater number of CD68(+) cells in ACS patients than stable CAD and control groups. The permeability of endothelial cells in vitro was significantly increased after exposure to supernatant of cultured EAT from ACS, but not control or stable CAD groups, and this effect was normalized by anti-resistin antiserum. We found that EAT of patients with ACS is characterized by increased expression and secretion of resistin and associated with increased in vitro endothelial cell permeability.

Current role and outcomes of ascending aortic replacement for severe nonaneurysmal aortic atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta is a challenging issue potentially affecting indications for surgery, operative choices, and patients' outcome. No standard treatment has emerged to date, and uncertainties persist about criteria for selecting patients and procedures. METHODS: Replacement of the atherosclerotic ascending aorta was performed in 64 patients at time of either aortic (n = 49), mitral (n = 21), or tricuspid (n = 7) valve surgery. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 53 patients, and the majority of patients underwent combined procedures (n = 49). Mean age was 72.0 +/- 7.6 years. The expected operative mortality, by logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation, was 29.0% accounting for ascending aortic replacement and 13.1% disregarding it. Circulatory arrest under deep hypothermia, eventually combined with either retrograde or antegrade brain perfusion, was required in 61 cases. RESULTS: Early death, stroke, and myocardial infarction rates were 10.9%, 6.3%, and 7.8%, respectively. Factors univariately associated with early deaths were preoperative renal failure requiring dialysis (p = 0.001) and longer cardiopulmonary bypass (p = 0.001) and cardioplegia (p = 0.008) times. Cumulative survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 86% +/- 4%, 74% +/- 6%, and 68% +/- 8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Replacement of the atherosclerotic ascending aorta can be carried out at acceptable mortality rates despite the high rates of preoperative comorbidity and the significant incidence of postoperative complications.

Clamshell approach and partial cardiopulmonary bypass to repair a right aortic arch aneurysm.

AB A 27-year-old man with history of ventricular septal defect repair in infancy presented with aneurysm of Edwards type IIIB right aortic arch. Karyotype analysis excluded chromosome 22 anomalies. The lesion was repaired using beating heart partial cardiopulmonary bypass via a clamshell incision. Postoperative course was uneventful.

Early and late outcomes of cardiac surgery in octogenarians.

BACKGROUND: Expanding demand for cardiac surgery in the elderly requires constant assessment of selection criteria and outcomes. METHODS: Records of consecutive patients 80 years old or greater (n = 355) having cardiac operations from September 1998 through May 2007 were reviewed. There were 172 isolated coronary bypass grafting (CABG), 73 isolated valve, 79 valve and CABG combined, and 31 other procedures. RESULTS: Thirty-three (9.3%) deaths and 13 (3.7%) strokes occurred during the index hospital stay. Intensive care unit and hospital length of stay lasted 6.3 +/- 14.3 and 15.5 +/- 20.8 days, respectively. Overall cumulative 5-year survival was 65.5 +/- 3.3%, varying among procedures as follows: 67.9 +/- 4.4% for isolated CABG, 64.6 +/- 8.9% for valve surgery, 60.3 +/- 7.3% for combined coronary and valve surgery, and 63 +/- 10.7% for other procedures (p = 0.23). Ninety-seven percent of survivors lived at home. Risk factors for hospital death were emergency status, preoperative renal dysfunction, and postoperative complications such as myocardial infarction, cardiac failure requiring intraaortic balloon pumping, acute renal failure requiring replacement therapy, stroke, and ventilator dependency exceeding 48 hours. Among hospital survivors, risk factors for late death were carotid artery disease, chronic lung disease, renal dysfunction, and the occurrence of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival of octogenarians submitted to a wide variety of cardiac operations was satisfactory despite substantial rates of early complications and deaths. Most survivors were free from cardiac symptoms. Postoperative complications were stronger risk factors for hospital deaths than preoperative comorbidities and procedural variables. Their impact on long-term survival was also significant.

Mild inflammatory activation of mammary arteries in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are characterized by multiple unstable coronary plaques and elevated circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers. The endothelium of internal mammary arteries (IMA), which are atherosclerosis resistant, is exposed to proinflammatory stimuli as vessels that develop atherosclerosis. Our study investigated the IMA endothelial expression of inflammatory molecules in patients with ACS or chronic stable angina (CSA). IMA demonstrated normal morphology, intact endothelial lining, and strong immunoreactivity for glucose transporter 1. E-selectin expression was observed more frequently in IMA of ACS patiention than CSA patients (ACS 61% vs. CSA 14%, P = 0.01). High fluorescence for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) was significantly more frequent on the luminal endothelium (ACS 66.7% vs. CSA 17.6%, P = 0.001 for class I; and ACS 66.7% vs. CSA 6.2%, P = 0.0003 for class II-DR) and on the vasa vasorum (ACS 92.9% vs. CSA 33.3% and 7.7%, P = 0.0007 and P < 0.0001 for class I and class II-DR, respectively) of ACS patients than CSA patients. ICAM-1, VCAM-1, Toll-like receptor 4, tissue factor, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and TNF-alpha expression were not significantly different in ACS and CSA. Circulating C-reactive protein [ACS 4.8 (2.6-7.3) mg/l vs. CSA 1.8 (0.6-3.5) mg/l, P = 0.01] and IL-6 [ACS 4.0 (2.6-5.5) pg/ml vs. CSA 1.7 (1.4-4.0) pg/ml, P = 0.02] were higher in ACS than CSA, without a correlation with IMA inflammation. The higher E-selectin, MHC class I and MHC class II-DR on the endothelium and vasa vasorum of IMA from ACS patients suggests a mild, endothelial inflammatory activation in ACS, which can be unrelated to the presence of atherosclerotic coronary lesions. These findings indicated IMA as active vessels in coronary syndromes.

Aortic root replacement with a valved conduit containing a stented xenograft.

The Bentall operation is a well-established procedure for aortic root replacement, generally contemplating the use of a mechanical valve substitute. We have devised a simple modification by which a stented bioprosthesis is sutured inside, rather than at the extremity, of a vascular tube graft. This facilitates the technique of implantation and may simplify a redo procedure in case of valve failure.

Metalloproteinases-2, -9 and TIMP-1 expression in stable and unstable coronary plaques undergoing PCI.

INTRODUCTION: Experimental models and ex-vivo studies suggest a crucial role of some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the development of acute coronary syndromes, but expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in human coronary plaques causing stable angina or an acute coronary syndrome have not been reported, yet. METHODS: MMP-2, -9 and TIMP-1 expressions were assessed by real-time PCR from the debris collected into distal protective vascular guards from patients with stable angina (SA-Group, n=16), acute coronary syndrome (ACS-Group, n=16) undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). MMP-2 and -9 activities were also evaluated by gelatin-substrate zymography on plasma samples collected immediately before PCI, and compared to those of healthy subjects (Control-Group). RESULTS: The expression of MMP-2 was similar in ACS and SA-Groups. MMP-9 (P=0.011), but not TIMP-1, expression was higher in debris samples from patients in the ACS-Group than in SA-Group. In both groups, the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were inversely correlated (rho=-0.7; P<0.004). Zymography data indicated that pro and active MMP-9 were higher in ACS than in SA-Group, while no difference in MMP-2 was found. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-9, but not TIMP-1 or MMP-2 expression is increased in plaques causing acute coronary syndrome.

Tricuspid valve annuloplasty with a flexible prosthetic band.

This study evaluates the application to the tricuspid valve of a flexible prosthetic band originally devised for mitral repair. Between March 2001 and May 2005, 53 consecutive patients (age 66.2+/-8.5 years) with significant tricuspid regurgitation and dilatation of the right-sided cardiac chambers underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty with the band and concomitant mitral repair or replacement. Thirty-one patients (58.5%) were in NYHA class III or IV, and 33 (62.3%) had a history of right heart failure. Follow-up was 19.2+/-14.0 months. Three patients (5.7%) died before discharge, and one during follow-up. One late reoperation was required for mitral endocarditis. NYHA class decreased in survivors from 2.7+/-0.8 to 1.4+/-0.6 (P<0.0001), and the symptoms of right heart failure improved significantly after surgery. Tricuspid regurgitation was mild or absent in 44 survivors (89.8%) and moderate in 5 (10.2%). Regurgitation significantly decreased even in patients with risk factors for tricuspid repair failure or with persistent left ventricular dysfunction. The 4-year actuarial freedom from tricuspid regurgitation grade >1 was 88.7%. By univariable analysis, preoperative tricuspid regurgitation grade >2, right ventricular shortening fraction <35%, and permanent pacemaker were associated with the risk of recurrent moderate regurgitation, though only probably so (P=0.077, 0.061, and 0.097, respectively).

Critical illness polyneuropathy. Regression following cardiac operation.

Critical illness polyneuropathy is an acute neuromuscular disorder of severely ill patients that may also occur in complicated postoperative heart surgery course. This case report should make this disease known also as a preoperative condition that may regress following a successful cardiac operation.

Aortic-right atrium fistula complicating Austrian Syndrome: a case report and literature review.

The triad of pneumonia, meningitis, and endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is known as Austrian syndrome. We report a case with an aortic-right atrium fistula in a 39-year-old woman who had undergone splenectomy for Hodgkin's lymphoma. The review of literature shows that the prevalence of Austrian syndrome is decreasing from 19% to 3% of patients with pneumococcal endocarditis in recent years. This case emphasizes that diagnosis of endocarditis should be considered early in every patient with pneumococcal meningitis or bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Diagnosis and management of severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta and aortic arch during cardiac surgery: focus on aortic replacement.

OBJECTIVE: Severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta and arch frequently causes difficulties during heart operations, hindering surgical manoeuvres and potentially leading to systemic embolism. The aim of our study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of replacing the atherosclerotic ascending aorta in this setting. METHODS: Aortic atherosclerosis was characterized by epiaortic ultrasonographic scanning in 90.1% of 1927 consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac operations, and by computed tomographic chest scanning in selected cases. Thirty-six of the 152 patients requiring major derangements from our standard practice due to aortic atherosclerosis underwent replacement of the ascending aorta and constitute the study group. Replacement of the aorta was extended to the arch in 13 cases (36.1%). It was associated with single or multiple valve surgery in 34 patients (94.4%) and with coronary revascularization in 30 (83.3%). Two patients (5.6%) underwent coronary bypass grafting without valve surgery. A cryoablation procedure was associated in three patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was employed in 34 patients (94.4%), while proximal aortic disease allowed conventional distal crossclamping in 2 cases. The risk of operative mortality was estimated by the logistic EuroSCORE both with and withholding the variable "surgery of the thoracic aorta". All survivors were followed-up for 1-41 months (16+/-12). RESULTS: Two patients died in the hospital (5.6%) and two during follow-up, for a cumulative survival of 91.3% and 85.6% at 1 and 3 years, respectively (hospital deaths included). The hospital death rate compared favourably with the expected estimates of 25.5% (p<0.05) and 10.3% (p=0.67) obtained by the EuroSCORE full model and without "aortic surgery", respectively. In-hospital adverse neurologic events occurred in six patients (16.7%), including stroke in one patient (2.8%) and neurocognitive disturbances in five (13.9%), although they were all transient and cleared before discharge. Excess bleeding required re-exploration in four patients (11.1%), and one more patient underwent emergency grafting for acute postoperative coronary occlusion. Ten patients (38.5%) were intubated for longer than 24h. CONCLUSION: Despite significant perioperative morbidity, replacement of the severely atherosclerotic aorta is worth consideration to avert expectedly higher death and stroke rates.

Surgical management of the atherosclerotic ascending aorta: is endoaortic balloon occlusion safe?

BACKGROUND: Occlusion of the atherosclerotic ascending aorta by an endoaortic inflatable balloon has been proposed as an alternative to conventional cross-clamping to prevent injury to the vessel and distal embolization of debris. The safety and the effectiveness of endoaortic occlusion have not been documented in this setting. METHODS: Endoaortic occlusion was employed in 52 of 2,172 consecutive patients. Surgeon's choice was based on preoperative identification of aortic calcifications or intraoperative epiaortic ultrasonographic scanning. Deaths and strokes were analyzed casewise and in aggregate. RESULTS: In 10 patients (19.2%), the endoaortic balloon had to be replaced by the ordinary cross-clamp because of incomplete occlusion (n = 5), hindered exposure (n = 2), or balloon rupture (n = 3). In-hospital death occurred in 13 patients (25%), and stroke on awakening from anesthesia in 2 (3.8%). The death rate of patients treated by endoaortic occlusion was significantly higher compared with all other patients (4.2%, p < 0.0001) and with the expected estimate by European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (10.5%, p = 0.05). By multivariable analysis, use of endoaortic occlusion was independently associated with in-hospital death (odds ratio = 5.609, 95% confidence interval: 2.684 to 11.719). Although the stroke rate was higher in the endoaortic occlusion group compared with all other patients, the difference was only possibly significant (3.8% versus 0.8%, p = 0.067). CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the endoaortic occlusion was frequently ineffective, and was associated with a significantly higher risk of in-hospital death and a numerically higher risk of stroke.