A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of Celsior for flush and hypothermic storage of cardiac allografts.

BACKGROUND: A multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Celsior when used for flush and hypothermic storage of donor hearts before transplantation. METHODS: Heart transplant recipients were randomized to one of two treatment groups in which donor hearts were flushed and stored in either Celsior or conventional preservation solution(s) (control). Study subjects were followed for 30 days after transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 131 heart transplant recipients were enrolled (Celsior, n = 64; control, n = 67). The treatment groups were evenly distributed in donor and recipient base line characteristics. Graft loss rate was lower in the Celsior group on day 7 (3% versus 9%) and on day 30 (6% versus 13%), but the difference was not statistically significant based on 95% confidence interval analysis. No significant difference was measured between the Celsior and control groups in 7-day patient survival (97% versus 94%) and the proportion of patients with one or more adverse events (Celsior, 88%; control 87%) or serious adverse events (Celsior, 38%; control, 46%). Significantly fewer patients in the Celsior group developed at least one cardiac-related serious adverse event (13% versus 25%). CONCLUSIONS: Celsior was demonstrated to be as safe and effective as conventional solutions for flush and cold storage of cardiac allografts before transplantation.

Advances in lung transplantation.

Success in lung transplantation (LT) has been attributed to proper patient and donor selection, better preservation and surgical techniques, and experience in postoperative management. In 1995, we refined our perioperative management by implementing newer perioperative strategies with critical pathways and have reduced use of cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB), thereby improving survival after LT. We compared survival, use of CPB, intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospital times between PRE (prior to 1995) and POST cohorts to analyze our changes in LT. The 1-and 3-year survival rates were 57% and 29% for PRE, and 86% and 62% for POST, p < 0.01. The intubation time and ICU and hospital length of stay were significantly reduced in the POST cohort. Also, the need for CPB was reduced by about 40% in the POST group.

Atrial replacement and tricuspid valve reconstruction after angiosarcoma resection.

A cardiac angiosarcoma was resected and successfully managed by replacement of the right atrium and bileaflet reconstruction of the tricuspid valve by conserving non-involved valvular tissue. Competency of the new valve was confirmed intraoperatively by transesophageal echocardiography and reconfirmed at discharge. Evaluation 3 months postoperatively revealed no evidence of valvular insufficiency or right heart failure. In selected patients, resection of extensive primary cardiac neoplasms may be possible without necessitating prosthetic valve replacement.

Management of cardiac allograft vasculopathy by transmyocardial laser revascularization.

Transmyocardial laser revascularization provides a unique and effective intervention for symptomatic relief and improvement of myocardial perfusion in diffuse cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

The incidence, morbidity, and mortality of surgical procedures after orthotopic heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The authors present their experience with patients having undergone orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in whom surgical conditions subsequently developed that required operative intervention. The incidence, morbidity, and mortality of these procedures are reported. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies have evaluated the management options of biliary tract disease after OHT. Multiple reports of patients having undergone OHT who subsequently underwent peripheral vascular reconstructions, plastic reconstructive, and thoracic procedures also have been published. METHODS: A chart review of 349 patients who underwent OHT between 1985 and 1996 was conducted to identify surgical procedures that were required in the post-transplant period. Their outcomes are reported. RESULTS: Of 349 patients who underwent OHT, conditions requiring 94 surgical procedures developed in 54 patients (15%). Biliary tract disease developed in 17 patients (5%) who required cholecystectomy, 2 of the 5 patients with acute cholecystitis died. Eight patients (2%) underwent orthopedic procedures with no operative mortality. Flap advancements for sternal wound infections were performed in five patients and four deaths occurred. Seventeen thoracic procedures were performed in 11 patients with an overall mortality of 45%. Twenty-one vascular procedures were performed on 17 patients with 1 delayed death due to a malignancy. Seven patients underwent procedures of the colon and rectum with no mortality. Seven patients underwent repair of inguinal or incisional hernias with no mortality. Various infections occurred with one resultant death after operative intervention. Six procedures were performed for diseases of the small intestine with no resultant mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Patients having undergone OHT and chronic immunosuppression are at increased risk of having complications develop from infection. Acute cholecystitis and sternal wound infection caused an inordinate risk of complications and death. Malignancies developed in four patients who required surgical intervention. A heightened awareness of coexisting peripheral vascular disease in patients transplanted for ischemic cardiomyopathy should exist. Close screening before surgery and surveillance after surgery to identify risk factors for infection and vascular disease and to screen for malignancies are essential.

Sites of recurrence and long-term results of redo surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined whether carotid endarterectomy in patients with recurrent stenosis could provide durable stroke prevention with acceptable perioperative risk. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Balloon angioplasty and stenting are being advocated for recurrent stenosis because of the presumption that reoperation is unsafe with poor results. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience with 67 patients undergoing 74 operations for recurrent stenosis in a recent 11-year period. This represented 8.4% of 883 endarterectomies performed during the same period. RESULTS: At original operation, 55% had primary closure and 45% were patched. Reoperation was performed for amaurosis fugax and transient ischemic attack (45%), post-stroke (7%), global ischemia (10%), and asymptomatic severe occlusive disease (35%). Four patients (6%) undergoing simultaneous cardiac procedures were excluded from further analysis. Mean duration between primary and first redo operation was 78 months (range, 1-240 months). The 30-day combined mortality and stroke morbidity was 2.8%, evenly divided with 1.4% stroke and 1.4% mortality rates. Recurrent disease occurred predominantly (69%) in the previous endarterectomy site. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 162 months (mean, 48.2). Seventeen deaths occurred, of which 10 (59%) were cardiac. Two late ipsilateral neurologic events and four late contralateral events occurred. Two patients required third ipsilateral reoperation. Life-table analysis shows the ipsilateral stroke-free rate at 5 years to be 93.6% CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent stenosis occurs either proximal to or in the previous endarterectomy site in the majority of patients. Recurrent stenosis can be treated surgically with low morbidity and mortality and durable long-term stroke prevention. The presumption that results of redo carotid surgery are poor is disproved.

Technique of right heart protection and deairing during heartmate vented electric LVAD implantation.

Continued experience with the TCI Heartmate Ventricular Assist System has led to improvements in our ability to avoid and manage right heart dysfunction during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. The advent of the electric device has intensified the need for these techniques because of its elevated minimal heart rate (50 beats/min) at start-up and the demands this places on the native right heart. We have developed and here describe a technique we have used successfully in our last 8 patients to assist in deairing and filling of the ventricular assist device, to partially support the right heart during the initial wean from cardiopulmonary bypass, and to avoid occasional overdistention of the right heart during early high left ventricular assist device flow.

Aprotinin for primary coronary artery bypass grafting: a multicenter trial of three dose regimens.

BACKGROUND: High-dose aprotinin reduces transfusion requirements in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, but the safety and effectiveness of smaller doses is unclear. Furthermore, patient selection criteria for optimal use of the drug are not well defined. METHODS: Seven hundred and four first-time coronary artery bypass grafting patients were randomized to receive one of three doses of aprotinin (high, low, and pump-prime-only) or placebo. The patients were stratified as to risk of excessive bleeding. RESULTS: All three aprotinin doses were highly effective in reducing bleeding and transfusion requirements. Consistent efficacy was not, however, demonstrated in the subgroup of patients at low risk for bleeding. There were no differences in mortality or the incidences of renal failure, strokes, or definite myocardial infarctions between the groups, although the pump-prime-only dose was associated with a small increase in definite, probable, or possible myocardial infarctions (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose and pump-prime-only aprotinin regimens provide reductions in bleeding and transfusion requirements that are similar to those of high-dose regimens. Although safe, aprotinin is not routinely indicated for the first-time coronary artery bypass grafting patient who is at low risk for postoperative bleeding. The pump-prime-only dose is not currently recommended because of a possible association with more frequent myocardial infarctions.

Comparison of surgical bypass and percutaneous balloon dilatation with primary stent placement in the treatment of central venous obstruction in the dialysis patient: one-year follow-up.

Central venous stenosis and occlusion are complications that are being observed with increasing frequency as a result of the use of long-term central venous catheters. These complications are especially problematic in patients with end-stage renal disease and functioning ipsilateral arteriovenous (AV) grafts or fistulas (AV grafts). We have previously demonstrated that the 1-year patency rate for simple balloon angioplasty in these patients is less than 10%. To compare the results of surgical treatment vs. percutaneous dilatation with stent placement, we undertook this retrospective study. All patients underwent multiple central venous catheter placements and had functioning ipsilateral AV grafts. Twenty-six patients were divided into two groups. The surgical treatment group included 13 patients: 10 with subclavian vein thrombosis and three with innominate vein thrombosis. All patients in the surgical group had arm swelling and edema. Surgical bypass procedures were performed in these patients using either polytetrafluoroethylene or saphenous vein. The stent group also included 13 patients; all of them had a diagnosis of subclavian or innominate vein obstruction and were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and placement of either a self-expanding rigid stent (n = 6) or a balloon-expandable flexible stent (n = 7). Two patients required multiple stent placements. No significant complications occurred in either group. The 1-year mortality rate in both groups was 31%. The percentages of patients who were symptom free at 6 and 12 months were also similar in the two groups. We conclude that surgical bypass and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement are both efficacious in the treatment of central venous obstruction.

Repletion of high energy phosphates in the postischemic neonatal heart.

Milrinone improves function in failing adult hearts, but it has not been examined in the immature myocardium. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of milrinone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on immature hearts, and compare these to dobutamine, a commonly used catecholamine inotrope. One hundred isolated working neonatal rabbit hearts were used. Hearts were made ischemic (37 degrees C) for 1 hour and reperfused for 0, 10, 40, or 70 minutes. In separate groups, infusion of milrinone (1.0 microg/mL) or dobutamine (0.1 microg/mL) was begun after reperfusion for 10 or 40 minutes. High energy phosphates, total nondiffusable nucleotides, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and the percent recovery of cardiac output were determined. Cardiac output returned to normal, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total nondiffusable nucleotide levels did not decline when dobutamine or milrinone were begun after 10 minutes of reperfusion. In hearts receiving inotropes after 40 minutes of reperfusion, when high energy phosphates were low, ATP increased, and total nondiffusable nucleotide repletion was observed. Cardiac output did not improve when inotropes were begun after 40 minutes. cAMP was higher in milrinone hearts compared to dobutamine, but there was no simple relation between cAMP and ventricular function. Inotropes may increase purine salvage pathway activity. Deriving maximum benefit from inotropes may depend on beginning infusions early, before the appearance of irreversible changes.

Posterior dislocation of a posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty. A report of two cases.

Two patients had posterior dislocation of a posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty. In both cases, the patients required general anesthesia during the procedure to unlock the components and reduce the dislocations. The surgical technique and design considerations are discussed.

Fatal pulmonary embolus after knee arthroscopy.

We report a case of fatal pulmonary embolus after arthroscopy of the knee to heighten awareness of this potentially fatal complication. A literature search was conducted to review the reported complications of knee arthroscopy.

Pericardiectomy for pericardial constriction.

Constrictive pericarditis is a pathologic condition that may lead to significant morbidity. Definitive management of constrictive pericarditis requires pericardiectomy. A retrospective review of pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis at the Ochsner Clinic was undertaken. Twenty-one patients (17 male, four female) underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis between January 1969 and June 1994. Ages ranged from 15 to 66 years (mean 41.5 years). Pedal edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and chest pain were the most common symptoms. Fifteen patients had important comorbidities. Preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was I (2), II (8), III (6), IV (5). Mean preoperative catheterization data, available in 17 patients (81%), demonstrated elevated intracardiac pressures (right atrial 17.4 mm Hg, right ventricular end-diastolic 22.4 mm Hg, pulmonary artery 26.2 mm Hg, pulmonary capillary wedge 20.2 mm Hg, left ventricular end-diastolic 20.1 mm Hg). A total pericardiectomy was performed in nine patients (sternotomy 8, thoracotomy 1). Pericardiectomy limited anteriorly to the phrenic nerves was performed in 11 patients (sternotomy 9, thoracotomy 2). One partial pericardiectomy was performed through a sternotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in six patients (29%). Mean hospital stay was 12 days (preoperative 4.2, postoperative 7.67). All patients achieved NYHA Class I postoperatively. Sixteen patients were discharged in sinus rhythm. No early mortality (<30 days), or major postoperative complications were observed. Pericardiectomy for pericardial constriction can be performed safely low morbidity and mortality and can favorably impact the natural history of this debilitating condition.

Aortopulmonary fenestration with pulmonary artery septation for single ventricle and subaortic obstruction.

A neonate with functional single ventricle and severe subaortic obstruction received a palliative procedure that involved a side-to-side anastomosis of the aorta and pulmonary artery, placement of a patch in the main pulmonary artery to divide the systemic and pulmonary circulations, and creation of a small opening in the patch to provide pulmonary blood flow. The patient recently underwent a bidirectional Glenn procedure at 10 months of age. This procedure obviates the need for a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and may provide a more reliable source of blood to promote growth of both pulmonary arteries.

Myoblast transplantation in the porcine model: a potential technique for myocardial repair.

The use of transgenic cells transplanted in syngeneic rodents has shown modest success, but allogeneic and xenogeneic transplants have not been uniformly successful. To assess the feasibility of xenogeneic and allogeneic myoblast transplantation, we subjected seven adult swine to transplantation of murine atrial tumor cells (xenogeneic), neonatal porcine myocytes (allogeneic), and human fetal cardiomyocytes into the left ventricular wall. After general anesthesia, isolated cells were injected along the anterior and posterior walls of the porcine left ventricle. All the animals were immuno-suppressed and observed for 1 month after injection, at which time they were killed and analyzed. This report will present results primarily concerned with the success of human cell transfers. In all injected sites examined, the transplanted cells thrived within the host myocardium with no significant rejection. Transplant cells formed close associations with host myocytes that resembled nascent intercalated disks on electron microscopy. These cells also contained myofibrils and other cell architecture resembling the transplanted cell lines. Additionally, these cells appeared to produce an angiogenic influence resulting in the proliferation of the surrounding microvasculature. We believe that these findings indicate successful xenogeneic and allogeneic myoblast cell transplantation in a large animal model. These experiments set the stage for future studies to assess the ability of these cells to form a syncytium, contract, and potentially repair failed myocardium.

Early results with a new procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and aortic atresia.

One patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and another with aortic atresia and a complex form of functional single ventricle, who were candidates for the Norwood operation, received a new palliative procedure. This involved anastomosis of the dome of the pulmonary artery to the undersurface of the transverse arch of the aorta with placement of a fenestrated patch in the main pulmonary artery to divide the systemic and pulmonary circulations. Both patients have survived this initial procedure and will receive second stage palliation at 6 months of age. Shorter circulatory arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass times are required, and this procedure may be a safer alternative than the Norwood for neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and aortic atresia.

Pharmacologic support with high-energy phosphate preservation in the postischemic neonatal heart.

Milrinone improves function in failing adult hearts. This study examined its effect on immature myocardium. Using an isolated working neonatal rabbit heart preparation, we measured myocardial function, high-energy compounds, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Hearts were subjected to 1 hour of normothermic ischemia, 10 minutes of reperfusion with Ringer's solution, and 30 minutes of reperfusion with either unaltered Ringer's, Ringer's with dobutamine (0.1 microgram/mL), or Ringer's with milrinone (1 microgram/mL). These hearts were compared with each other, with a control group continuously perfused for 70 minutes, and with a group of hearts that were made ischemic and reperfused for only 10 minutes. There was a progressive decline in adenosine triphosphate levels measured in hearts from the groups receiving 10 and 40 minutes of reperfusion with unaltered perfusate, and cardiac output fell to 82% +/- 4% of preischemic control in the latter group. When either dobutamine or milrinone was added to the reperfusion solution, postischemic myocardial function was restored completely, and the loss of adenosine triphosphate with reperfusion was halted. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate level was highest in ischemic/40-minute reperfused hearts, and there was no measurable increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate level in the group of hearts receiving milrinone. The mechanism of preservation of high-energy stores with inotropic agents is not known but may involve potentiation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spontaneous torsion of the right lung: a case report.

Pulmonary torsion is an uncommon event and may occur spontaneously or after trauma or surgery. It may involve the entire lung or individual lobes. Early recognition with prompt intervention is required to prevent hemorrhagic infarction or gangrene and salvage parenchyma. Surgical options of detorsion or resection are dependent upon tissue viability. A case of spontaneous torsion of the entire right lung is presented that reflects the first successful nonresectional management of this entity to be reported. Guidelines for appropriate management are discussed based on an understanding of the etiology, pathophysiology, and natural history.