Suspicion of intraoperative left main coronary artery extrinsic compression with Perceval® sutureless bioprosthesis.

We present an uncommon case of intraoperative transient myocardial ischemia related to suspicion of left main stem artery extrinsic compression caused by the radial force of the stent of Perceval® bioprosthesis. No other cases have been described, but some similarities can be found with extrinsic coronary compression in percutaneous pulmonary valves. Surgeons should be aware of this complication in patients with coronary anomalies or with bicuspid anatomy.

Supervivencia a medio plazo de los pacientes operados en cirugía cardiaca mayor / Mid-term survival of patients undergoing major cardiac surgery

Introducción y objetivos. La supervivencia en cirugía cardiaca es un parámetro de calidad de la cirugía realizada. Este estudio analiza la supervivencia y los factores de riesgo asociados con la mortalidad a medio plazo en la cirugía cardiaca del Hospital Universitario Son Dureta. Métodos. Desde noviembre de 2002 hasta diciembre de 2007, se intervino a 1.938 pacientes, que fueron estratificados en cuatro grupos de edad. De los 1.900 dados de alta vivos, se pudo realizar el seguimiento de 1.844 (fecha de corte, 31 de diciembre de 2008). La supervivencia se estimó mediante curvas de Kaplan-Meier y las variables asociadas con la mortalidad a medio plazo, mediante un análisis de regresión de Cox. Resultados. La mortalidad hospitalaria de los 1.938 pacientes fue del 1,96% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,36-2,6%). La supervivencia acumulada a 1, 3 y 5 años fue del 98, el 94 y el 90%, respectivamente. La media del tiempo de seguimiento fue de 3,2 (0,01-6,06) años. La supervivencia de los pacientes de 70 años o más fue menor que la de los menores de dicha edad (log rank test, < 0,0001). La mortalidad observada al final del seguimiento fue del 6,5% (IC del 95%, 5,4-7,7%) y se asoció de forma independiente con la edad ≥ 70 años, el antecedente de función ventricular muy deprimida (fracción de eyección < 30%), hipertensión pulmonar severa, diabetes mellitus, anemia preoperatoria, accidente cerebrovascular postoperatorio y estancia hospitalaria. Conclusiones. Los pacientes dados de alta vivos presentaron una supervivencia excelente a medio plazo. La tasa de mortalidad varió en función de la edad y de otros factores presentes antes y después de la cirugía cardiaca (AU)

Introduction and Objectives. Evaluating patient outcomes following cardiac surgery is a means of measuring the quality of that surgery. The present study analyzes survival and the risk factors associated with mid-term mortality of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in Son Dureta University Hospital (Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain). Methods. From November 2002 thru December 2007, 1938 patients underwent interventions. Patients were stratified in 4 age groups. Of 1900 patients discharged from hospital, 1844 were followed until December 31, 2008. Following discharge, we constructed Kaplan-Meier survival curves and performed Cox regression analysis to determine which variables associated with mid-term mortality. Results. In-hospital mortality of the 1,938 patients was 1.96% (CI 95%, 1.36%-2.6%). Survival probability at 1, 3 and 5years follow-up was 98%, 94% and 90%, respectively. Mean follow-up was 3.2 (0.01-6.06) years. Patients aged ≥70years showed a lower survival rate than those aged <70 log="" rank="" test="" i=""> P<.0001). At the end of follow-up, mortality was 6.5% (CI 95%, 5.4%-7.7%). Age ≥70years, a history of severe ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction<30 severe="" pulmonary="" hypertension="" diabetes="" mellitus="" preoperative="" anemia="" postoperative="" stroke="" and="" hospital="" stay="" were="" independently="" associated="" with="" mid-term="" mortality="">. Conclusions. Mid-term survival after discharge was highly satisfactory. Mid-term mortality varied with age and other pre- and postoperative factors (AU)

[Mid-term survival of patients undergoing major cardiac surgery]. / Supervivencia a medio plazo de los pacientes operados en cirugía cardiaca mayor.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluating patient outcomes following cardiac surgery is a means of measuring the quality of that surgery. The present study analyzes survival and the risk factors associated with mid-term mortality of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in Son Dureta University Hospital (Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain). METHODS: From November 2002 thru December 2007, 1938 patients underwent interventions. Patients were stratified in 4 age groups. Of 1900 patients discharged from hospital, 1844 were followed until December 31, 2008. Following discharge, we constructed Kaplan-Meier survival curves and performed Cox regression analysis to determine which variables associated with mid-term mortality. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality of the 1,938 patients was 1.96% (CI 95%, 1.36%-2.6%). Survival probability at 1, 3 and 5 years follow-up was 98%, 94% and 90%, respectively. Mean follow-up was 3.2 (0.01-6.06) years. Patients aged ≥ 70 years showed a lower survival rate than those aged <70 (log rank test, P <.0001). At the end of follow-up, mortality was 6.5% (CI 95%, 5.4%-7.7%). Age ≥ 70 years, a history of severe ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 30%), severe pulmonary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, preoperative anemia, postoperative stroke, and hospital stay were independently associated with mid-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-term survival after discharge was highly satisfactory. Mid-term mortality varied with age and other pre- and postoperative factors.

Bartonella as a cause of blood culture-negative endocarditis. Description of five cases.

There is evidence that Bartonella is an etiologic factor in human endocarditis. The objective of this article was to describe cases of endocarditis due to Bartonella observed at a tertiary-care hospital during 1995-2006. Overall, 140 cases of infective endocarditis were seen, of which 10 were blood culture-negative endocarditis, with five being due to Bartonella. In four cases, there had been contact with cats. Only two patients had pre-existing cardiac valvular disease. Three had extracardiac disease manifestations. In three cases, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on cardiac valvular tissue gave positive results. Two patients had positive serology test results for Chlamydophila and another two, positive results for Coxiella burnetii. All five patients needed surgery, and the outcome was favorable in all five. The presence of Bartonella must be considered in patients with blood culture-negative endocarditis. Although serological testing is essential for the diagnosis, cross-reactions between Bartonella and C. burnetii or Chlamydophila are frequent, and PCR tests on cardiac valvular tissue, therefore, play an important diagnostic role.

Bartonella como causa de endocarditis con hemocultivos negativos. Descripción de 5 casos / Bartonella as a cause of blood culture-negative endocarditis. Description of Five cases

Bartonella está implicada como agente etiológico de la endocarditis en humanos. El objetivo del artículo es describir los casos de endocarditis por Bartonella diagnosticados en un hospital de tercer nivel durante el periodo 1995-2006. Hubo 140 casos de endocarditis infecciosa, de los cuales 10 cursaron con hemocultivos negativos (5 por Bartonella). Se había producido contacto con gatos en 4 casos; sólo 2 pacientes presentaban valvulopatía previa; 3 tuvieron clínica extracardiaca; en 3 se realizó PCR de tejido valvular, con resultado positivo; 2 pacientes tenían además serología positiva para Chlamydophila y otros dos, para Coxiella burnetii. Los 5 precisaron tratamiento quirúrgico. La evolución fue favorable en todos. Se debe sospechar infección por Bartonella ante un paciente con endocarditis y hemocultivos negativos. La serología es fundamental para el diagnóstico, pero es habitual encontrar reacciones cruzadas entre Bartonella y C. burnetti o Chlamydophila, por lo que la PCR del tejido es importante para el diagnóstico (AU)

There is evidence that Bartonella is an etiologic factor in human endocarditis. The objective of this article was to describe cases of endocarditis due to Bartonella observed at a tertiary-care hospital during 1995-2006. Overall, 140 cases of infective endocarditis were seen, of which 10 were blood culture-negative endocarditis, with five being due to Bartonella. In four cases, there had been contact with cats. Only two patients had pre-existing cardiac valvular disease. Three had extracardiac disease manifestations. In three cases, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on cardiac valvular tissue gave positive results. Two patients had positive serology test results for Chlamydophila and another two, positive results for Coxiella burnetii. All five patients needed surgery, and the outcome was favorable in all five. The presence of Bartonella must be considered in patients with blood culture-negative endocarditis. Although serological testing is essential for the diagnosis, cross-reactions between Bartonella and C. burnetii or Chlamydophila are frequent, and PCR tests on cardiac valvular tissue, therefore, play an important diagnostic role (AU)

[Axillary artery cannulation with a Dacron graft for surgery of the aortic arch and ascending aorta]. / Canulación axilar mediante prótesis de Dacron en cirugía del arco y la aorta ascendente.

Cannulation of the axillary artery is one possible means of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. Use of a Dacron graft for cannulation has a number of advantages. In this article, we report our experience with this technique in seven consecutive patients in whom we performed an ascending aorta replacement. The associated procedures involved were aortic root reconstruction using David's procedure in two patients, the Bentall procedure in one, the hemi-arch technique in two, the complete arch and elephant trunk technique in one, aortic valve repair in one, and Valsalva sinus reconstruction in one. Circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion was carried out in three cases. There was no in-hospital mortality, and there were no vascular or infectious complications related to axillary access. One patient presented with transient paresthesia of the brachial plexus. In all cases, cardiopulmonary bypass flow was adequate.

Canulación axilar mediante prótesis de Dacron en cirugía del arco y la aorta ascendente / Axillary artery cannulation with a Dacron graft for surgery of the aortic arch and ascending aorta

La canulación de las arterias axilares para instaurar la circulación extracorpórea es una alternativa en la cirugía del arco y la aorta ascendente. Su canulación mediante una prótesis de Dacron presenta ciertas ventajas. En el presente trabajo comunicamos nuestra experiencia con esta técnica en 7 pacientes consecutivos. En todos se realizó un recambio de la aorta ascendente. Se asociaron los siguientes procedimientos: reconstrucción de la raíz aórtica según técnica de David en 2 pacientes, intervención de Bentall en uno, hemiarco en dos, arco completo y trompa de elefante en uno, resuspensión de velos aórticos en uno y reconstrucción de senos de Valsalva en uno. Se realizó parada circulatoria con perfusión anterógrada en 3 casos. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue nula. No hubo complicaciones vasculares ni infecciosas del abordaje axilar. Un paciente presentó una parestesia transitoria por afección del plexo braquial. El flujo de la circulación extracorpórea fue adecuado en todos los casos

Cannulation of the axillary artery is one possible means of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. Use of a Dacron graft for cannulation has a number of advantages. In this article, we report our experience with this technique in seven consecutive patients in whom we performed an ascending aorta replacement. The associated procedures involved were aortic root reconstruction using David's procedure in two patients, the Bentall procedure in one, the hemi-arch technique in two, the complete arch and elephant trunk technique in one, aortic valve repair in one, and Valsalva sinus reconstruction in one. Circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion was carried out in three cases. There was no in-hospital mortality, and there were no vascular or infectious complications related to axillary access. One patient presented with transient paresthesia of the brachial plexus. In all cases, cardiopulmonary bypass flow was adequate