Unexpected normal left ventricular systolic function after total chronic occlusion of left main coronary artery and stenosis of right coronary artery: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is a very rare finding in coronary angiography because of its highly lethal nature. Right coronary artery dominance and extensive collateral circulation are the principal determinant factors of survival after total occlusion of the left main coronary artery. The impact on the left ventricle is often significant with a profound alteration of its systolic function. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 52-year-old North African man, a tobacco smoker, who presented symptoms of unstable angina related to a total chronic occlusion of his left main coronary artery with a right coronary artery stenosis. Unexpectedly, the impact on his left ventricle was absent with normal dimensions and systolic function. He underwent a successful on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with uneventful postoperative course and good recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery is a rare condition, the fact that the left ventricle retains a normal size and systolic function makes it exceptional, which must be kept in mind to avoid dangerous examinations and delayed treatment. Coronary artery bypass surgery should be considered the main treatment of total chronic occlusion of the left main coronary artery.

Reoperation for isolated rheumatic tricuspid regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: The reoperation for isolated tricuspid regurgitation in rheumatic population is rare and still unclear and controversial because of the rarity of publications. The aim of this study was to analyze short and long-term results and outcome of tricuspid valve surgery after left-sided valve surgery in rheumatic patients. METHODS: Twenty six consecutive rheumatic patients who underwent isolated tricuspid valve surgery after left-sided valve surgery between January 2000 and January2017 were retrospectively registered in the study. The mean age was 48.2 ± 8.6 years with 8.3% as sex-ratio (M/F). EuroSCORE was 6.1 ± 5 (range 2.5 to 24.1). The mechanism of tricuspid regurgitation was functional and organic in respectively 14 (53.8%) and 12 cases (46.2%). Ten patients (38.5%) had previous tricuspid valve repair. Surgery consisted of 15 ring annuloplasty and 11 tricuspid valve replacement (5 bioprostheses and 6 mechanical prostheses). Follow-up was 96.1% complete, with a mean follow-up of 55.6 ± 38.8 months (range 1 to 165). RESULTS: The operative mortality rate was 15.4% (n = 4) and the cumulative survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was respectively 80% ± 8%, 75.6% ± 8.7% and 67.2% ± 11.1% with no significant difference at 8 years between tricuspid valve replacement (80% ± 12.6%) and repair (57.6% ± 16.1%) (p = 0.5). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that ascites (HR, 5.8; p = 0.01), and right ventricular dysfunction (HR, 0.94; p = 0.001) were predictors of major adverse cardiac events. There were no recurrence of tricuspid regurgitation and no structural or non-structural deterioration of valvular prostheses. CONCLUSION: The reoperation of rheumatic tricuspid regurgitation should be considered before the installation of complications such as right ventricular dysfunction and major signs of right heart failure. Despite the superiority of repair techniques, tricuspid valve replacement should not be banished.

Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm: Atypical presentation.

Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm is a rare condition caused by dysplasia of the atrial muscles. We report a case of a 14-year-old boy, with a 5-month history of cough and in sinus rhythm. Transthoracic echocardiography and computerized tomographic angiography confirmed the aneurysm of the left atrial appendage which was resected through median sternotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass. This case is presented not only for its rarity but also for its atypical clinical presentation.

[Myxoma involving posterolateral leaflet: about a case]. / Myxome de la petite valve mitrale: à propos d'un cas.

Cardiac myxomas are the most common type of primary cardiac tumors. They mainly affect the interatrial septum and exceptionally the heart valves. Surgical excision remains the only therapeutic alternative. We here report the case of a 69-year old patient with no significant pathological history suffering from NYHA class II-III dyspnea associated with lipothymia. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a tight calcified aortic narrowing with aortic valve gradient of 58 mmHg. A sessile mass of 15mm diameter inserted into the posterolateral leaflet, without stenosis or mitral regurgitation evoking an atypical localization of myxomaor or fibroelastoma was detected at the level of the mitral valve. The examination was supplemented by ETO which confirmed the diagnosis of a mass involving the posterolateral leaflet. The patient underwent surgery via median sternotomy, under conventional extracorporeal circulation. Left atriotomy allowed to objectify a sessile mass of 15mm of diameter involving the auricular wall of the friable and easily cleavable posterolateral leaflet. Cauterization of the implant base via electric scalpel was then performed without any additional gesture on the posterolateral leaflet. Anatomopathologic analysis of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. The patient also underwent aortic valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8. Cardiac myxoma involving the mitral leaflet is very rare. Surgical procedure attempting to resect the widest possible surgical margins remains the only therapeutic option to avoid the risk of recurrence.

Early results for active infective endocarditis.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac surgery is frequently needed during active phase of infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of this study was to analyze the immediate and late results and determine the risk factors for death. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 101 patients with IE operated in the active phase. The mean age was 40.5 ± 12.5 years. 16 patients (15.8%) were diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). 81 (80.9%) were in NYHA functional class III-IV. Blood cultures were positive in only 24 cases (23.9%). RESULTS: in-hospital mortality rate was 17.9% (18 cases). Multivariate analysis indentified five determinant predictor factors: congestive heart failure (CHF), renal insufficiency, high Euroscore, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (> 120 min) and long ICU stay. The median follow-up period was 4.2 (2-6.5) years. Overall survival rate for all patients who survived surgery was 97% at 5 years and 91% at 10 years. CONCLUSION: Despite high in-hospital mortality rate, when patients receive operation early in the active phase of their illness, late outcome may be good.

[Subaortic diaphragm surgery]. / La chirurgie du diaphragme sous aortique.

Subaortic diaphragm is characterized by a certain clinical latency and low morbi-mortality. Surgery remains the treatment of choice despite the real risk of long-term recurrence. Our study involved 18 patients with subaortic diaphragm operated between April 1994 and March 2011. The average age was 18.1 ± 9.7 years, 11 patients were male. The diaphragm was fibrous in 13 patients and fibromuscular in 5 patients. All patients underwent diaphragm resection associated with myectomy, aortic plasty, closure of ventricular septal defect and permeable ductus arteriosus ligation in 3, 3, 2 and 2 patients respectively. Operative mortality was zero and there were no cases of postoperative conduction disorder. With a median follow-up of 44.3±36.8 months, there was no late death. Two patients had a diaphragm recurrence which required reoperation with good evolution. The current trend in diaphragm surgery is towards early interventions and more extensive resections. However, the risk of recurrence requires a systematic and close ultrasound monitoring.