Severity of coronary artery disease and echocardiographic parameters of ventricular diastolic function.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the relation between the severity of the coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patient with stable CAD and normal LV ejection fraction. METHODS: Sixty patients with stable CAD were included in the study. All angiographic variables pertinent to SYNTAX Score (SS) and Gensini score (GS) calculation were computed by two experienced interventional cardiologists. All patients underwent echocardiographic examination. RESULTS: We divided the patients into 4 groups according to median of SS and GS. It was observed that LV diastolic function was impaired in 26 patients (86.7%) in under group of SS, 23 patients (76.7%) in upper group of SS, and 27 patients (87.1%) in under group of GS, and 22 patients (75.9%) in upper group of GS. There was no significant difference between the SS, GS, clinical, and echocardiographic findings. CONCLUSION: The diastolic function did not demonstrate any impairment according to the severity of the CAD in patients which coronary angiography performed with the diagnosis of stable CAD.

Early outcomes of radial artery use in all-arterial grafting of the coronary arteries in patients 65 years and older.

We retrospectively evaluated early clinical results of coronary revascularization using none but arterial grafts in patients aged 65 years and older. The cases of 449 consecutive patients who had undergone isolated myocardial revascularization were divided into 2 groups: the arterial conduit group (n=107) received a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft and 1 or both radial arteries (RAs), while the mixed-conduit group (n=342) received a LIMA graft and 1 or more saphenous vein grafts (SVGs), with or without an RA. There was no significant difference between the groups' rates of mortality. The arterial conduit group had a significantly shorter overall postoperative hospital stay than did the mixed-conduit group (mean, 6.6 +/- 0.9 vs 7.2 +/- 5 days; P=0.04). Linear regression analysis revealed that the presence of hypertension (beta=0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.054-0.759; P=0.02) and high EuroSCORE (beta=0.24; 95% CI, 0.053-0.283; P=0.004) were the major predicting factors for long hospital stay. Graft-harvest-site infection was statistically more frequent in the mixed-conduit group than in the arterial conduit group (6.4% vs 0, respectively; P=0.007). Angiography was performed postoperatively (mean, 24.9 +/- 16.3 mo; range, 11-65 mo) in 21 patients. In these patients, all LIMA grafts were patent, as were 86.9% of the SVGs and 90.9% of the RA grafts. Myocardial revascularization using all arterial grafts (at least 50% RAs) in patients aged 65 years and older is safe and reliable, produces short-term results equal to those of saphenous vein grafting, and can reduce graft-harvest-site infections.

Air within the aneurysm sac following endovascular management of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with acute pancreatitis.

A 44-year-old man with an abdominal aortic aneurysm presented with acute pancreatitis with abundant peripancreatic fluid and was successfully treated with endovascular stent graft. Early post-procedural radiological examinations showed air inside the aneurysm sac. Due to the possible infection from pancreatitis, antibiotic treatment was initiated, and he was closely monitored. Serial radiological examinations showed gradual decrease and eventual resolution of air at the end of one month. Follow-up computed tomography 10 months post-implantation revealed no problems. The presence of air inside the aneurysm sac could be a sign of graft infection. Although the air usually resolves spontaneously, close surveillance is necessary for cases with higher risk of infection.

Axillary artery perfusion in acute type A aortic dissection repair.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated our experience with axillary artery perfusion technique in acute type A aortic dissection repair. METHODS: Between September 2000 and July 2006, 41 consecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent surgical repair. In 35 of 41 patients (85.4%), arterial perfusion was performed through right axillary artery and in the remaining six patients (14.6%), arterial perfusion site was femoral artery. Indication for femoral artery perfusion was cardiac arrest and ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in one and pulselessness of right upper limb in five patients. Mean age was 54.9 +/- 15.3 (16 to 90 years) and 28 were male. Unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (perfusate temperature 22 to 25 degrees C) through axillary artery was performed in all axillary artery perfused patients and in three patients who had femoral artery perfusion. RESULTS: Five patients died postoperatively (hospital mortality 12.2%). All of them had evidence of single or multiple organ malperfusion preoperatively. We did not experience any new transient or permanent neurologic deficit after the procedure in the unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion patients. Complications related to axillary artery cannulation were observed in two patients (5.3%). One patient with femoral artery cannulation experienced femoral arterial thrombosis, postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Right axillary artery cannulation for repair of acute type A aortic dissection is a simple and safe procedure. In the case of pulselessness of right upper limb, femoral artery is still the choice of cannulation site.

A case of a large intrapericardial lipoma occupying pericardial space: an unusual complication of a coronary artery bypass surgery.

Although cardiac lipomas are quite rare, they represent the second most common primary benign cardiac tumors. In this case report we present a 71-year-old man with a large intrapericardial lipoma originating from pericardium. In this case, intrapericardial lipoma was diagnosed by echocardiographic methods (transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography) and imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery. She is currently asymptomatic and has no evidence of recurrence at 12 months follow-up.

Left ventricular aneurysmal repair within 30 days after acute myocardial infarction: early and mid-term outcomes.

For safe resection, left ventricular aneurysmal repair after acute myocardial infarction is usually delayed. However, delaying surgery may not be possible or prudent in some patients who are clinically unstable after acute myocardial infarction. We retrospectively reviewed the early and mid-term outcomes of left ventricular aneurysmal repair in patients who had experienced acute myocardial infarction <30 days before the repair. From September 2001 through May 2006, 127 consecutive post-infarction patients underwent concurrent anteroapical left ventricular aneurysmal repair and coronary artery bypass grafting. In Group I (38 clinically unstable patients), the surgery was performed <30 days after myocardial infarction. In Group II, 89 patients underwent the surgery > or = 30 days after infarction. The mean follow-up period was 26.16 +/- 16.41 months. One Group I patient (2.6%) died in the hospital due to graft-versus-host reaction. Three Group II patients (3.4%) died: 2 of low cardiac output and 1 of multiple-organ failure. Hospital mortality rates were not statistically significant between groups (P=0.582). All patients required similar perioperative inotropic support, intra-aortic balloon pump support, and re-exploration for bleeding or cardiac tamponade. The actuarial survival rates were 94.7% (Group I) and 94.4% (Group II). Postoperative New York Heart Association functional class improved similarly in both groups. We infer that left ventricular aneurysmal repair with coronary revascularization < 30 days after a recent myocardial infarction is a feasible procedure, with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Our mid-term results were comparable with those for patients who underwent this surgery > or = 30 days after acute myocardial infarction.

Surgical approach for Stanford type A aortic dissection in a patient with Marfan syndrome and pectus excavatum.

Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection in a patient with severe pectus excavatum constitutes a surgical emergency and presents a major challenge for the surgeon. Decisions must be made regarding the operative approach and whether the pectus excavatum should be corrected during the same session. Herein, we describe a case of acute aortic dissection in a patient who had Marfan syndrome with severe pectus excavatum. Combined partial upper sternotomy and left anterior thoracotomy provided excellent surgical exposure, and the aortic root and ascending aorta were completely replaced. The procedures were successful, and the patient recovered. Technical and surgical considerations led us to postpone concomitant correction of the pectus excavatum.

Effects of pretreatment with different topical vasodilators on blood flow in the internal mammary artery: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate how brief pretreatments with 4 different vasodilators applied topically at normal body temperature affect blood flow in the internal mammary artery. METHODS: One hundred patients who had an internal mammary artery mobilized as a pedicle for coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to one of 5 groups of equal size (20 subjects in each). Each group of pedicles was treated with a different topical solution: normal saline (control), nitroglycerin, diltiazem, papaverine, or adenosine. Internal mammary artery flow and hemodynamic measurements were recorded immediately after harvesting and after 5 minutes of immersion in a tube filled with test solution (50 mL at 37 degrees C). Results for each study variable were compared within and between groups, and posttreatment-to-pretreatment ratios were also calculated and compared. RESULTS: All 4 vasodilator groups showed a significant increase in internal mammary artery flow rate from pretreatment to posttreatment, whereas the saline group did not. There were no significant differences among the 5 groups' pretreatment flow rates (P = .526) or posttreatment flow rates (P = .194). The mean ratio values (posttreatment-to-pretreatment) for flow rate were 1.08 +/- 0.17 in the saline group, 1.74 +/- 0.17 with nitroglycerin, 1.77 +/- 0.49 with diltiazem, 1.82 +/- 0.59 with papaverine, and 1.57 +/- 0.54 with adenosine. Post hoc analysis revealed that the mean ratio values for flow rate in the 4 vasodilator groups were significantly higher than the corresponding ratio in the saline group. CONCLUSIONS: Brief treatment of the internal mammary artery with topical vasodilators at normal body temperature significantly increases blood flow in this vessel. The data from this study are particularly valuable in relation to off-pump surgery, in which this vessel is usually anastomosed soon after it is harvested.

Topical vasodilators for preventing radial artery spasm during harvesting for coronary revascularization: comparison of 4 agents.

BACKGROUND: There is still controversy about which vasodilator solution is best for storing radial artery (RA) conduits prior to coronary artery bypass grafting. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate how 4 different topical vasodilators applied during RA harvesting affect blood flow with the vessel in situ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 85 patients who underwent RA harvesting in preparation for coronary artery bypass grafting. Each case was assigned to 1 of 5 groups (17 RAs each) that were treated with different solutions: normal saline (control), nitroglycerin, diltiazem, papaverine, and adenosine. Standard clinical concentrations were used. The RA was partially harvested (pedicle attached proximally) and flow rates and hemodynamic parameters (mean arterial pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure) were recorded at 2 time points: (1) pretreatment and (2) after 5 minutes of immersion in 60 mL of treatment solution. Results were compared within and between groups, and post-treatment-to-pretreatment ratios were calculated for each variable. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the groups' mean pretreatment flow rates (P = .979) or mean posttreatment flow rates (P = .069). All except the diltiazem group showed a significant rise in mean flow rate from pretreatment to posttreatment. The mean posttreatment-to-pretreatment ratios for RA flow rate were 1.28 +/- 0.39 in the saline group, 1.85 +/- 0.72 in the nitroglycerin group, 1.31 +/- 0.48 in the diltiazem group, 1.37 +/- 0.64 in the papaverine group, and 1.23 +/- 0.42 in the adenosine group. Only the mean flow ratio in the nitroglycerin group was significantly higher than that in the saline group (P = .003). The mean flow ratios in the other vasodilator groups were not statistically different from the flow ratio in the saline group. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results indicate that topical application of nitroglycerin solution effectively prevents perioperative spasm of the RA in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The authors recommend this solution for preparation and storage of RA grafts. Randomized controlled trials with power analysis will give more definitive information.

Effects of coronary revascularization and concomitant aneurysmectomy on QT interval duration and dispersion.

A reduction in QT dispersion (QTd) has been previously shown in patients receiving thrombolytics and undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes occurring in corrected QT intervals or QT dispersion after CABG and concomitant aneurysmectomy in the same session. The study population included 43 patients with coronary artery disease with left ventricular aneurysm (LVA). The control group included 32 patients with coronary artery disease without LVA. The study patients underwent CABG and aneurysmectomy in the same surgical session. Corrected maximum and minimum QT interval duration (QTcmax and QTcmin) and corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) were measured in the study patients before and after surgery. QTcmax and QTcd in the patients with LVA were significantly higher than in the patients without LVA (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). QTcmax and QTcd in the patients with LVA were significantly shortened after surgery (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). This study showed that QTcmax and QTcd values are significantly reduced after CABG and concomitant aneurysmectomy. We have suggested that coronary revascularization and left ventricular reconstruction in the same session have beneficial effects on QT interval duration and dispersion.

A case of left atrial myxoma associated with atrial septal defect.

Cardiac myxoma is the most frequent primary tumor of the heart. However, it is rarely associated with congenital cardiac anomalies such as atrial septal defect in the literature. We present a 72-year-old woman referred to the emergency department with loss of consciousness and finally diagnosed as a pedinculated mobile left atrial myxoma and concomitant occurrence of an ostium secundum type atrial septal defect. The mass was successfully excised, and atrial septal defect was safely repaired by primary suture. The patient is currently well after surgery. Atrial myxoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients present with neurological consequences of systemic embolization.

Complete left-sided absence of the pericardium in association with ruptured type A aortic dissection complicated by severe left hemothorax.

We report an unusual clinical presentation of an acute type A aortic dissection as a left hemothorax in a patient with a congenital pericardial defect. Although the pericardial defect was diagnosed preoperatively, we could not exclude the possibility of a ruptured descending aorta until we discovered the site of the rupture during operation. The presence of a pericardial defect would at first appear to be a fatal disadvantage in such a situation as this, due to massive bleeding into the pleural space; but we believe that in our patient spontaneous drainage of blood into the pleural cavity prevented severe cardiac tamponade. The only reason for his deteriorating hemodynamic status was hypovolemia, which was corrected with volume replacement.

Effect of posterior pericardiotomy on early and late pericardial effusion after valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: Pericardial effusion (PE) after cardiac surgery is frequent. It is more frequently seen after valve replacement or other types of heart surgery. Oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents may induce effusion development after open heart surgery. Our objective was to determine the efficiency of posterior pericardiotomy (PP) after cardiac valve operation for reducing the incidence of early and late PE and tamponade. METHODS: This prospective randomized study was carried out in 100 consecutive patients undergoing mechanical valve replacement between August 2001 and May 2003 in our institution. Patients were divided into two groups; each group consisted of 50 patients. Longitudinal incision was made parallel and posterior to the left phrenic nerve, extending from the left inferior pulmonary vein to the diaphragm in Group 1. Posterior pericardiotomy was not done in Group 2. RESULTS: Early PE was detected in four patients (8%) and in 19 patients (38%) in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (p < 0.001). No late PE effusion was developed in Group 1 despite nine (18%) late PE developing in Group 2 (p < 0.003). The rate of delayed pericardial tamponade was lower in Group 1, but this difference was not statistically significant (0% vs 10%; p < 0.056). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that PP is an easy, feasible, and beneficial technique for reducing both the occurrence of early and late PE or pericardial tamponade in patients undergoing valve replacement.

Acute abdominal aorta embolism caused by rupture of a cardiac hydatid cyst.

We report a case of an abdominal aortic embolism due to rupture of a cardiac hydatid cyst. This report emphasizes the diagnostic, preventative, and treatment options for hydatid cyst embolism of abdominal aorta. Echocardiography should be routinely performed in all patients with hydatid disease for possible involvement of the heart. This enables early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac echinococcus before life-threatening complications occur.

Arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral radial artery 17 years after right pneumonectomy.

We report the case of a 51-year-old man who underwent arterial myocardial revascularization with the use of bilateral radial arteries, 17 years after undergoing a right pneumonectomy. We used a fast-track anesthesia protocol for the procedure. There was no perioperative complication, and postoperative recovery was uneventful. The patient was discharged from the hospital 5 days after the operation.