Repair of transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Repair of transposition of the great arteries in patients with intact ventricular septum and fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction has been restricted to atrial baffle procedures, with or without attempts to relieve or bypass the left ventricular outflow obstruction. However, the suboptimal results of these procedures, coupled with excellent functional results with the arterial switch operation in patients without obstruction, has made anatomic correction the goal in repairing these anomalies. We report a technique for the anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries, intact ventricular septum, and fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Its consideration in these difficult cases is advocated.

Gastrointestinal anastomoses. Factors affecting early complications.

A retrospective review of gastric and colonic anastomoses during a recent 12-month period was performed at the Mayo Clinic. One hundred sixty-nine patients had gastroduodenal or gastrojejunal anastomoses (Group I). Five hundred nineteen patients had ileocolonic or ileorectal (222) and colocolonic or colorectal (297) anastomoses (Group II). Major anastomotic complication rates for Group I patients were: leaks, 1%; hemorrhage, 2%; and stenosis or obstruction, 2%. Reoperations and deaths secondary to anastomotic complications during the postoperative period were 2% and 0.6%, respectively. Corresponding rates for Group II were 2%, 1%, and 4%, with reoperative and anastomotic death rates of 1% and 0.2%, respectively. In Group I patients, length of operation had a significant effect (p less than 0.01) on anastomotic complications. In Group II patients, a significant increase in complications was related to the presence of obstruction (p less than 0.001), recent weight loss (greater than 10 pounds) (p less than 0.02), malignancy (p less than 0.04), and sepsis (p less than 0.05).

Repair of ascending aortic dissection. Influence of associated aortic valve insufficiency on early and late results.

Operative treatment of dissections of the ascending aorta differs from that for the descending aorta, not only because of the need for cardiopulmonary bypass, but also because of the frequent occurrence of aortic valve insufficiency. To determine the early and late results of operative repair, we have reviewed the case histories of 121 consecutive patients who underwent repair of ascending aortic dissections between 1962 and 1985. Ages ranged from 16 to 79 years (mean 56 +/- 14 years); 54 patients had operation within 2 weeks of onset of symptoms (acute), and the remainder had later repair (chronic). Seventy patients (58%) had clinical evidence of aortic insufficiency at the time of admission. During repair of acute dissection, 10 patients (19%) had aortic valve resuspension and 15 patients (28%) had aortic valve replacement. During repair of chronic dissection, eight patients (12%) had resuspension and 43 patients (64%) had replacement. Overall operative mortality was 22%, significantly higher for patients with acute than for those with chronic dissections (39% versus 9%, p less than 0.01). Operative risk was similar for patients who underwent repair of ascending aortic dissections without valve resuspension or replacement (31%) versus those who had repair with aortic valve resuspension (17%) or replacement (17%). During a follow-up period ranging from 1 to 208 months, aortic regurgitation developed in only two patients who did not have aortic insufficiency at the time of repair. Late aortic regurgitation necessitating reoperation developed in one of the 15 survivors who had aortic valve resuspension. Eight patients undergoing aortic valve replacement had complications of their prostheses, including one periprosthetic leak and four mechanical failures. We conclude that resuspension or replacement of the aortic valve does not increase the risk of repair of ascending aortic dissections. Selective management of aortic insufficiency (with valve repair whenever possible) yields satisfactory long-term results.

Early and late results following repair of dissections of the descending thoracic aorta.

Management of dissections of the descending thoracic aorta remains controversial, especially with regard to timing and method of repair. To clarify these and other issues we have reviewed our total experience with repair of descending aortic dissections between 1962 and 1983. The 44 men and 20 women had a mean (+/- SEM) age of 59 +/- 2 years (range, 19 to 83 years), and in all patients the dissection originated in and was limited to the aorta distal to the left carotid artery (Stanford type B, DeBakey types IIIa and IIIb). Twenty-nine patients underwent operation within 2 weeks of the onset of symptoms (acute), and the remainder had later repair (chronic). During repair, circulation distal to the aortic cross-clamp was supported with cardiopulmonary bypass or shunt in two thirds of patients. Overall, 18 deaths occurred less than or equal to 30 days postoperatively (operative risk 28%), and risk was higher in acute (45%) than in chronic (14%) dissections. Operative risk was not significantly related to protection of the distal circulation. The most serious postoperative complication was spinal cord ischemia manifested by paraplegia in five patients (8%) and transient or permanent paraparesis in six patients (9%). Risk of spinal cord ischemia was significantly lower in patients who had protection of the distal circulation during operative repair (8% vs. 44%, p = 0.003). Late survival, including hospital deaths, was 49% +/- 7% at 5 years after operation; 22 of the 46 patients who survived repair were found to have aneurysms involving the thoracic and/or abdominal segments of the aorta. Our results indicate that repair of chronic dissection of the thoracic aorta has a lower operative risk than repair of acute dissections, and initial medical management of acute dissection may be indicated if no early complications occur. Risk of spinal cord ischemia is significantly reduced by cardiopulmonary bypass or shunt and is preferred over aortic cross-clamping alone. Finally, these patients require careful long-term follow-up because of the high incidence of residual or recurrent aortic aneurysms.

Ectopic ACTH syndrome. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Twenty-five patients were identified with non-pituitary, nonadrenal ACTH-secreting tumors (bronchial carcinoid, bronchial small cell carcinoma, pancreatic islet cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, thymic carcinoids, metastatic adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic cystadenoma). Clinical features were weakness, hypertension, cushingoid appearance, peripheral edema, personality disorders, and hyperpigmentation. Biochemical features were a markedly increased urinary free cortisol level (all patients), hypokalemia (71 percent of patients), and an elevated ACTH level (72 percent of patients). Surgical therapy consisted of bilateral total adrenalectomy (56 percent of patients). Twelve percent underwent transsphenoidal hypophysectomy and 36 percent had excision of their tumor. No surgical therapy was undertaken in 28 percent. Bilateral total adrenalectomy in patients with a slow-growing malignancy or an unknown tumor secreting ACTH is beneficial in relieving symptoms and prolonging life. Excision of nonmalignant ACTH-producing tumors yields an excellent long-term prognosis.