Trombo en tránsito izquierdo intraoperatorio en trasplante bipulmonar diagnosticado por ecocardiografía transesofágica: ¿qué es lo siguiente? / Left side clot in transit in double-lung transplantation diagnosticated by transesophageal echocardiography: What's next?

Un varón de 61 años sin predisposición trombótica es sometido a trasplante bipulmonar como último tratamiento para su EPOC terminal sin soporte de ECMO. Tras el implante y la reperfusión de ambos pulmones, se realizó un examen ecocardiográfico transesofágico completo para comprobar principalmente las anastomosis de las venas pulmonares. En este estudio se identificó una gran masa móvil, hiperecogénica, densa y heterogénea en la aurícula izquierda, compatible con un trombo en tránsito desde la circulación venosa pulmonar. Este hallazgo fue comunicado al equipo quirúrgico inmediatamente para reabrir la anastomosis y retirar el coágulo antes de mayores consecuencias. No hubo manifestaciones clínicas cuando se despertó al paciente.(AU)

61-year-old man without any thrombotic predisposition was undergone double sequential lung transplantation due to terminal stage of COPD without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. After implantation and reperfusion of both lungs, a complete transoesophageal echocardiography exam was performed to check especially the pulmonary venous anastomosis. In this exam, a large heterogenous, dense, hyperechoic mobile mass was identified in the LA, which was compatible with a thrombus in transit from pulmonary veins circulation. This finding was communicated to the surgical team to reopen the anastomosis and remove the clot before further consequences. There were no clinical manifestations when the patient was awakened.(AU)

Surgical Strategies for Cardiac Perforation After Catheter Ablation or Electrophysiology Study.

Catheter ablation is a treatment modality which has been increasingly used for cardiac arrhythmias. However, it is not complication-free, and cardiac perforation is one of its most life-threatening complications. As surgery is usually not the first-line treatment for this emergent episode, there were only very few sporadic surgical reports in the literature. This systemic review primarily aims to collect different surgical approaches for catheter-induced cardiac perforation to help surgeons manage this kind of uncommon and critical patients. Of the 452 initially screened articles, 22 studies (38 patients) were included in the systemic review. Of all the included patients, 84% (32/38) were found to have pericardial effusion acutely following catheter-related procedures, and 16% (6/38) experienced delayed-onset episodes. Regarding the surgical procedures, four patients underwent removal of clots only, eight patients underwent suture repair of the left ventricle (LV), nine patients underwent suture repair of the right ventricle (RV), five patients underwent suture repair of the LA, and four patients underwent sutureless repair of the LV and pulmonary vein (LV 1, RV 1, pulmonary vein 1). In addition to repair of perforation sites, the concomitant combined procedures included repair of intercostal vessels (complication of pericardiocentesis) for one patient, cryoablation for two patients, and maze procedure for one patient. For cardiac perforation following catheter ablation or electrophysiology study, although the majority of the patients are treated with pericardiocentesis and medical management at first, cardiovascular surgeons have to prepare to take over if the bleeding is persistent or if the cardiac tamponade is not relieved.

Comparison of lesion characteristics between conventional and high-power short-duration ablation using contact force-sensing catheter in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Transmural lesion creation is essential for effective atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Lesion characteristics between conventional energy and high-power short-duration (HPSD) setting in contact force-guided (CF) ablation for AF remained unclear. METHODS: Eighty consecutive AF patients who received CF with conventional energy setting (power control: 25-30 W, force-time integral = 400 g s, n = 40) or with HPSD (power control: 40-50 W, 10 s, n = 40) ablation were analyzed. Of them, 15 patients in each conventional and HPSD group were matched by age and gender respectively for ablation lesions analysis. Type A and B lesions were defined as a lesion with and without significant voltage reduction after ablation, respectively. The anatomical distribution of these lesions and ablation outcomes among the 2 groups were analyzed. RESULTS: 1615 and 1724 ablation lesions were analyzed in the conventional and HPSD groups, respectively. HPSD group had a higher proportion of type A lesion compared to conventional group (P < 0.01). In the conventional group, most type A lesions were at the right pulmonary vein (RPV) posterior wall (50.2%) whereas in the HPSD group, most type A lesions were at the RPV anterior wall (44.0%) (P = 0.04). The procedure time and ablation time were significantly shorter in the HPSD group than that in the conventional group (91.0 ± 12.1 vs. 124 ± 14.2 min, P = 0.03; 30.7 ± 19.2 vs. 57.8 ± 21 min, P = 0.02, respectively). At a mean follow-up period of 11 ± 1.4 months, there were 13 and 7 patients with recurrence in conventional and HPSD group respectively (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Optimal ablation lesion characteristics and distribution after conventional and HPSD ablation differed significantly. HPSD ablation had shorter ablation time and lower recurrence rate than did conventional ablation.

Reduction in Pulmonary Vein Stenosis and Collateral Damage With Pulsed Field Ablation Compared With Radiofrequency Ablation in a Canine Model.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis is a highly morbid condition that can result after catheter ablation for PV isolation. We hypothesized that pulsed field ablation (PFA) would reduce PV stenosis risk and collateral injury compared with irrigated radiofrequency ablation (IRF). METHODS: IRF and PFA deliveries were randomized in 8 dogs with 2 superior PVs ablated using one technology and 2 inferior PVs ablated using the other technology. IRF energy (25-30 W) or PFA was delivered (16 pulse trains) at each PV in a proximal and in a distal site. Contrast computed tomography scans were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12-week (termination) time points to monitor PV cross-sectional area at each PV ablation site. RESULTS: Maximum average change in normalized cross-sectional area at 4-weeks was -46.1±45.1% post-IRF compared with -5.5±20.5% for PFA (P≤0.001). PFA-treated targets showed significantly fewer vessel restrictions compared with IRF (P≤0.023). Necropsy showed expansive PFA lesions without stenosis in the proximal PV sites, compared with more confined and often incomplete lesions after IRF. At the distal PV sites, only IRF ablations were grossly identified based on focal fibrosis. Mild chronic parenchymal hemorrhage was noted in 3 left superior PV lobes after IRF. Damage to vagus nerves as well as evidence of esophagus dilation occurred at sites associated with IRF. In contrast, no lung, vagal nerve, or esophageal injury was observed at PFA sites. CONCLUSIONS: PFA significantly reduced risk of PV stenosis compared with IRF postprocedure in a canine model. IRF also caused vagus nerve, esophageal, and lung injury while PFA did not.

Rate of acquired pulmonary vein stenosis after ablation of atrial fibrillation referred to electroanatomical mapping systems: Does it matter?

BACKGROUND: Thermal injury during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS). It is currently unclear if routine screening for PVS by imaging (echocardiography, computed tomography) is clinically meaningful and if there is a correlation between PVS and the electroanatomical mapping system (EAMS) used for the ablation procedure. It was therefore investigated in the current single center experience. METHODS: All patients from January 2004 to December 2016 with the diagnosis of PVS after interventional ablation of AF by radiofrequency were retrospectively analyzed. From 2004 to 2007, transesophageal echocardiography was routinely performed as screening for RFA-acquired PVS (group A). Since 2008, diagnostics were only initiated in cases of clinical symptoms suggestive for PVS (group B). RESULTS: The overall PVS rate after interventional RFA for AF of the documented institution is 0.72% (70/9754). The incidence was not influenced by screening: group A had a 0.74% PVS rate and group B a 0.72% rate (NS). Referred to as the EAMS, there were significant differences: 20/4229 (0.5%) using CARTO®, 48/4510 (1.1%) using EnSite®, 1/853 (0.1%) using MediGuide®, and 1/162 (0.6%) using Rhythmia®. Since 2009, no significant difference between technologies was found. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis of 9754 procedures revealed 70 cases of PVS. The incidence of PVS is not related to screening but to the application of different EAMS. Possible explanations are technological backgrounds (magnetic vs. electrical), learning curves, operator experience, and work-flow differences. Furthermore, incorporation of new technologies seems to be associated with higher incidences of PVS before workflows are optimized.

Internal mammary artery-to-pulmonary vasculature fistula: Systematic review of case reports.

The formation of a fistula between the internal mammary artery and the pulmonary vasculature (IMA-to-PV) is a rare anomaly. The etiology can be congenital; however, most recent cases have been associated with coronary artery bypass grafting, trauma, inflammatory conditions, chronic infections, or neoplasia. The knowledge base on the formation of these fistulas is derived primarily from case reports. To our knowledge, no systematic reviews or guidelines are available that provide information on how to manage these cases, and the treatment of an IMA-to-PV fistula is controversial. To our knowledge, this report is the first to review 80 cases of IMA-to-PV fistulas reported in the literature. We describe the etiologies, clinical presentation, and management of these fistulas.

Rupture of the right upper pulmonary vein and left atrium caused by blunt chest trauma.

A 49-year-old man was transferred to our hospital by ambulance due to blunt chest trauma sustained in a car accident. Echocardiography and enhanced computed tomography showed hemopericardium without other vital organ damage. Emergent surgery was performed under strong suspicion of traumatic cardiac rupture. Careful inspection showed a rupture of the right upper pulmonary vein at the junction of the left atrium, a laceration of the inferior vena cava, and a left-side pericardium rupture, and they were repaired with running 4-0 polypropylene suture. Postoperative hemodynamics were stable. The patient was discharged ambulatory on postoperative day 15.

Inadvertently transected left superior pulmonary vein during thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: There are several anatomical variations of the pulmonary vein which can cause serious complications in pulmonary lobectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: We inadvertently divided the left superior pulmonary vein during thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy in a lung cancer patient. Retrospective review of the preoperative computed tomography showed extra-pericardial common trunk of the left pulmonary venous system. Left superior pulmonary vein was reimplanted into stump of divided common trunk via thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of vascular anomalies will help thoracic surgeons to prevent potential morbidity and mortality from complications.

Efficacy and hemodynamic response of pleural carbon dioxide insufflation during thoracoscopic surgery in a swine vessel injury model.

PURPOSES: Thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection is a minimally invasive technique, but intraoperative massive bleeding is a critical complication. We investigated the hemostatic efficacy and safety of intrapleural carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation in thoracoscopic surgery in a swine vessel injury model. METHODS: Swines were assigned to one of four groups subjected to thoracoscopic surgery under target intrathoracic pressures of 0, 5, 10, or 15 mmHg CO2 insufflation, respectively. A pin-hole injury of the right cranial lobe pulmonary vein was inflicted thoracoscopically and we compared the blood loss and hemodynamic changes in each group. RESULTS: There were no signs or echographic findings of air embolus. Both the blood loss per minute and total blood loss during the experiment were significantly lower in the 10 and 15 mmHg groups than in the 0 mmHg group (p > 0.05, respectively). The hemodynamic signs, including heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation, were not significantly different in the 0 and 10 mmHg groups at most times, although they were significantly correlated with the insufflation pressure during the experiments (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CO2 insufflation in thoracoscopic major lung resection appears to be safe, even in the short term, and can help to control vessel injury.

Management of unexpected intraoperative bleeding during thoracoscopic pulmonary resection: a single institutional experience.

PURPOSE: Unexpected intraoperative bleeding during thoracoscopic surgery, necessitating emergency conversion to thoracotomy, is gradually being reported. We reviewed our experience of encountering unexpected bleeding during thoracoscopic surgery. METHODS: We defined "unexpected intraoperative bleeding" as the need for hemostatic procedures with angiorrhaphy, with or without a sealant. The location, cause, and management of injured vessels, and perioperative outcomes were investigated and compared with those for patients without injured vessels. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2014, a total of 241 thoracoscopic anatomical pulmonary resections were performed at our hospital. Twenty (8.3 %) of these patients required hemostatic procedures with angiorrhaphy, with or without a sealant. The main injured vessels were the pulmonary artery (n = 13) and vein (n = 3) and the main causes of injury were related to technical issues with energy devices and staplers. There were no morbidities related to intraoperative bleeding. The operation time and blood loss were significantly greater in the patients with vessel injury than in those without vessel injury, but perioperative morbidities and the duration of chest tube insertion (4.5 vs. 3.5 days, average, p = 0.20) and postoperative hospital stay (12.7 vs. 11.0 days, average, p = 0.08) were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of unexpected bleeding was relatively high in this series, but its management and outcomes were satisfactory in terms of safety.

Surgical repair of pulmonary vein injury from blunt trauma.

Pulmonary vein deceleration injury is rare and patients can be deceptively stable for a period after injury. Quick diagnosis and transfer to the operating theatre is the only way to treat this potentially lethal injury successfully. Techniques of repair are a useful addition to the cardiovascular surgeon's repertoire.

Intraoperative air embolism originating from a pulmonary vein.

Air embolism entering the systemic arterial system originating from the pulmonary circuit itself is an extremely rare occurrence. We report the case of an 18-year-old female undergoing correction of an atrial septal defect, who had an air embolism that is believed to have originated from the right superior pulmonary vein. Although the exact mechanism of air entry remains a matter of speculation, several plausible hypotheses are proposed and discussed. Injury to a pulmonary vein may lead to air entry with migration to the left atrium and ultimately to systemic embolism.