Rapidly increasing prostheto-prosthetic pseudo aneurysm 26 years after cabrol procedure in a patient with Marfan syndrome: a case report.

A 63-year-old female with Marfan syndrome had undergone an initial operation of replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with a composite graft and reconstruction of the coronary artery by the Cabrol procedure for aortic root dilatation and aortic valve regurgitation. During a follow-up of 16 years, a decreased ejection fraction was observed on transthoracic echocardiography with the onset of chest pain and dyspnea. Computer tomography angiography revealed a prostheto-prosthetic pseudoaneurysm, initially measured 21x16x23 mm, rapidly increased at 1-year follow-up at 27x24x33 mm. Coronary angiography showed the presence of turbulent flow inside the pseudoaneurysm with a decreased coronary perfusion. We resected the pseudoaneurysm and a new prostheto-prosthetic anastomosis was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful without any complications. We report this case because in literature there has been few reports regarding prostheto-prosthetic pseudoaneurysm after Cabrol procedure.

Interrupted aortic arch associated with aortic coarctation, bicuspid aortic valve and moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation in an adult patient: a case report.

Interrupted aortic arch is a rare congenital abnormality with a high mortality rate in infancy conditioning only a few cases reported in adult patients. The principal finding is a complete loss of continuity between the ascending and descending portions of aorta, and is usually associated with other cardiac defects. In this case report, we present a 22-year-old male patient with refractory hypertension and diagnosis of interrupted aortic arch associated with aortic coarctation, bicuspid aortic valve and moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation. We decided to perform a surgical correction and the patient underwent to bypass grafting of the ascending-to-descending aorta, and mitral valve repair. Interrupted aortic arch must be considered in the differential diagnosis of adult patient with refractory hypertension and a careful physical examination is crucial for ensuring the correct diagnosis of rare congenital abnormality non made until adulthood.

Relative Adrenal Insufficiency Is Associated With Prolonged Postoperative Hemodynamic Instability.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the hypothesis that a significant proportion of patients undergoing cardiac surgery have postoperative relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI), and that this puts them at higher risk of persistent hemodynamic instability. METHODS: A prospective study included 135 patients who underwent cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass between July 2006 and December 2007. Adrenal function was assessed 36 hours after surgery using a 1-µg cosyntropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]) stimulation test. Relative adrenal insufficiency was defined as a peak cortisol level inferior to 500 nmol/L or an increase in cortisol of less than 250 nmol/L, or both, compared with baseline. The primary endpoint was hemodynamic instability at 48 hours after surgery, defined as persistent requirement for any vasoactive drug. The secondary endpoint was long-term survival. RESULTS: Postoperative RAI was diagnosed in 75 patients (56%). Compared with patients who showed a normal response to the ACTH stimulation test, patients with RAI had significantly higher rates of hemodynamic instability at 48 hours (40% versus 22%, p = 0.03). On multivariable analysis, adrenal response to the ACTH test was a significant independent predictor of hemodynamic instability at 48 hours after surgery (odds ratio 1.06 [95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.11] per 10 nmol/L cortisol decrease; p = 0.002). At a mean follow-up of 8.3 ± 2.8 years, patients without perioperative RAI had survival equivalent to that of the general population, whereas patients with RAI had lower than expected survival. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative RAI is common among patients undergoing cardiac surgery and is associated with an increased risk of persistent hemodynamic instability.

Comparison of the ability of esCCO and Volume View to measure trends in cardiac output in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac output (CO) is a physiological variable that should be monitored during cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the trending ability of two CO monitors, esCCO (Nihon Kohden™, Tokyo, Japan) and Volume View (VV) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, USA). METHODS: A total of 19 patients were included in the study. Before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), CO was measured simultaneously using both esCCO and VV devices before and after three CO-modifying manoeuvres (passive leg raise [PLR], the end expiratory occlusion test [EEOT] and positive end expiratory pressure [PEEP] at 10 cm H2O). Five CO values for esCCO and three for VV were averaged and compared during a one-minute period of time before and after each manoeuvre. RESULTS: A total of 114 paired readings were collected. Median CO values were 4.3 L min⁻¹ (IQR: 3.8; 5.2) and 3.8 L min⁻¹ (IQR: 3.5; 4.5) for esCCO and VV, respectively. The precision error was 1.4% (95% CI:1.0-1.7) for esCCO and 2.2% (95% CI: 1.8-2.7) for VV. The bias between esCCO and VV values was normally distributed (P = 0.0596). Between esCCO and VV, the mean bias was +0.6 L min⁻¹ with a Limit of Agreement (LOA) of -1.8 L min⁻¹ and +3.0 L min⁻¹. The concordance rate was 43% (95% CI: 29-58) between esCCO and VV. CONCLUSION: Both single and trended measurements of CO using esCCO and VV were not in agreement. This large discrepancy leads one to the conclusion that any outcome study conducted with one of these devices cannot be applied to the other.

Unusual 30-year durability of Hancock II porcine bioprosthesis in tricuspid position.

INTRODUCTION: We describe an unusual durability of a Hancock II porcine bioprosthesis in tricuspid position. Sustainability of bioprostheses is known to be limited especially in young patients. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 52-year old Caucasian woman with a history of multiple valve interventions. Her clinical presentation of dyspnoea and lower limb oedema led to the diagnosis of severe tricuspid valve stenosis and right heart failure, and was managed by the replacement of the tricuspid bioprosthesis by another bioprosthesis 30-years after the initial implantation. DISCUSSION: Calcification is the leading cause of bioprosthesis structural deterioration. This immune-induced phenomenon is more pronounced in young patients. Although several patient-related and valve-related factors influence the durability of a xenograft, unknown factors may be of some importance. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a 30-year durability of tricuspid bioprosthesis in a young recipient. In the absence of extensive calcifications, pannus formation covering the whole prosthesis, peculiar hemodynamics and other unknown factors might have contributed to an extended durability in this young patient.

Gonococcal ascending aortic aneurysm with penetrating ulcer and bovine arch.

We describe a patient with ascending aorta aneurysm and bovine aortic arch who initially presented with fever. A 65-year-old man with a 2-month history of intermittent fever was referred to our hospital and diagnosed as having a gonococcal ascending aorta aneurysm with penetrating ulcers. He was successfully treated by resection of the ascending aorta and ulcers, replacement of the aortic valve, and prolonged postoperative antibiotic therapy.