Retrograde Cerebral Perfusion May Decrease Stroke Risk During Elective Aortic Arch Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Controversy remains regarding the optimal neuroprotection strategy for elective hemiarch replacement (HEMI). This study sought to compare outcomes in patients who underwent HEMI utilizing the 2 most common contemporary methods of cerebral protection. METHODS: The ARCH international aortic database was queried, and 782 patients undergoing elective HEMI with circulatory arrest from 2007 to 2012 were identified. There were 418 patients who underwent HEMI using moderate hypothermia (nasopharyngeal temperature 20.1 to 28.0 °C) and antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA/ACP). There were 364 patients who underwent HEMI using deep hypothermia (nasopharyngeal temperature 14.1 to 20 °C) and retrograde cerebral perfusion (DHCA/RCP). Adverse outcomes were compared between the groups using both univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Patients who underwent MHCA/ACP were older (64 vs 61 years, P = 0.01) and more frequently had peripheral vascular disease than DHCA/RCP patients (28.5% vs 7.1%, P < 0.001). Patients in the DHCA/RCP group had a greater incidence of full aortic root replacement (55.8% vs 26.4%, P < 0.001) and more frequently had a central cannulation strategy (83% vs 55.7%, P < 0.001). Cardiopulmonary bypass (170 vs 157 min, P = 0.002) and aortic cross-clamp (134 vs 92 min, P < 0.001) times were significantly longer in the DHCA/RCP group. On univariable analysis, overall mortality was statistically similar between groups (MHCA/ACP 3.4% vs DHCA/RCP 2.3%, P = 0.47), but permanent neurologic deficits were significantly lower in the DHCA/RCP cohort (MHCA/ACP 3.9% vs DHCA/RCP 1.0%, P = 0.02). Multivariable analysis showed no difference in mortality nor perioperative stroke between perfusion cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Both MHCA/ACP and DHCA/RCP are excellent neuroprotective strategies that produce low mortality in patients undergoing elective HEMI. DHCA/RCP may demonstrate theoretically improved neurologic outcomes compared with MHCA/ACP, but this topic warrants further study.

Optimizing aortic valve prosthesis selection in patients with obesity: Institutional experience with multidisciplinary perspective.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve diseases are life-threatening conditions with increasing prevalence worldwide. Risk factors include gender, age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is closely related to these risk factors and has been linked to a higher risk of developing aortic valve diseases. However, there is no specific guideline for managing aortic valve disease in patients with obesity, and the choice of valve type remains uncertain. METHODS: A total of 130 patients with obesity who met the inclusion criteria underwent surgical aortic valve replacement. The patients were divided into two groups based on the type of prosthesis used. Among the study cohort, 50 patients received a bioprosthetic valve, while 80 patients received a mechanical valve. We compared these groups in terms of perioperative characteristics and follow-up results. Statistical significance was determined using a p-value threshold of 0.05. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, or cardiac comorbidities between the two groups. Preoperative blood results and echo findings also showed no significant differences. Intraoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes, including mortality and acute kidney injury, did not differ significantly between the groups. In addition, BHVG patients had shorter ICU stays compared to MHVG patients without significance. CONCLUSION: Deliberate consideration is crucial when selecting valves for obese patients, particularly those with class II obesity. This is due to the potential influence of obesity on valve types, as well as the need to account for the possibility of bariatric surgery and its potential effects.

The Reliability of the Use of Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Levels in the Assessment of Renal Functions after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of perioperative renal function is very important for early diagnosis and treatment of acute kidney injury after coronary artery bypass grafting. Serum creatinine levels, creatinine clearance, and estimated glomerular filtration rates used in determination of postoperative kidney injury can lead to late detection. Therefore, it is necessary to make a diagnosis earlier in clinical practice and to search for a reliable method. The reliability of the use of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in close follow-up of renal function was evaluated in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiopulmonary bypass in our study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiopulmonary bypass between September 2009 and February 2010 were included in the study. The reliability of the postoperative 1st day plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (Triage® NGAL Device; Biosite Inc.) measurements was evaluated in kidney injury developed in the first 5 days after operation that was detected using the Risk-Injury-Failure-Loss-End stage criteria. RESULTS: Ten (25%) women and 30 (75%) male patients were included in the study. The average age is 59 ± 8.6 years. Kidney injury according to Risk-Injury-Failure-Loss-End stage criteria developed in 8 patients (20%). For 150 ng/mL cutoff value of postoperative plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.965. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin's sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values were 100%, 93.8%, 100%, and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSION: It has been determined that plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels can be reliably used for early diagnosis of kidney dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Thoracoabdominal aortic mural and floating thrombus extending into superior mesenteric artery.

Thrombus in the thoracic aorta not related to aneurysm or atherosclerosis is a rare clinical entity with a limited number of cases reported. Floating thrombus is defined as non-adherent part of the thrombus floating within the aortic lumen. Herein, we present a 48-year-old woman who presented with progressive midline dull, aching abdominal pain of 2-day duration. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography revealed a free floating thrombus extending from the aortic arch into the superior mesenteric artery. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the findings of a thrombus extending through the aortic arch. Floating thrombus within the aortic lumen in a morphologically normal descending thoracic and abdominal aorta is a rare entity.

The Surgical Treatment of Primary Cardiac B-Cell Lymphoma of Clinically Unstable Patient.

The incidence rate of primary cardiac tumors is 13.8 per 1 million inhabitants per year, and 2.4% of them consist of primary cardiac lymphoma. Primary cardiac lymphoma is a fatal malignancy. Echocardiography and whole-body computed tomography are useful tools for diagnosis. Although chemotherapy has been previously described as the standard treatment for primary cardiac lymphoma, surgical treatment can be used for clinically unstable patients. Herein we report the first surgically treated case of a 57-year-old man with biatrial involvement of primary cardiac B-cell lymphoma.

Relaxant effect of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost on isolated human radial artery: An approach for the reversal of graft spasm.

Radial artery graft spasm in the perioperative or postoperative period of coronary bypass surgery necessitates urgent treatment due to risk of graft failure and mortality. Herein, we evaluated the effect of iloprost, a prostacyclin (PGI2) analogue, against the contractions produced by noradrenaline and potassium chloride on isolated human radial artery. Following the determination of endothelial and vascular relaxing capacities of the arteries, iloprost (10-9M-10-6M) was cumulatively applied on rings precontracted submaximally with the spasmogens. In some rings, the response to iloprost was assessed following pretreatment with nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, l-NAME (3×10-4M,30min). Iloprost produced complete relaxations on radial artery rings precontracted with noradrenaline whereas, only moderate relaxations against the contractions induced by potassium chloride. Notably, the relaxation to iloprost was remarkably blunted in radial arteries with impaired endothelial function. Moreover, the relaxation to iloprost was unchanged in rings pretreated with l-NAME. Our results demonstrated that iloprost could be a potent relaxant agent in reversing radial artery spasm, particularly initiated by noradrenaline, possibly acting via an endothelium-mediated mechanism unrelated to NO.

Central venous catheter insertion into the false lumen of a complicated aortic dissection.

Thoracic endovascular repair is considered the first-line treatment in complicated acute type B dissection. Central venous catheters provide valuable vascular access during endovascular treatments. However, central venous catheters are not without complications. Herein, we report a case of central venous catheter insertion into the false lumen of a complicated acute type B aortic dissection by direct aortic puncture. The tip of the central venous catheter was in the false lumen. The central venous catheter was left in place initially and was removed after graft stent deployment. This case illustrates the importance of image guidance during central venous catheter insertion, which may further complicate an already complicated aortic dissection case.

The dose-related effects of dexmedetomidine on renal functions and serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values after coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a serious complication that increases morbidity and mortality rates. Early detection and prevention of this complication are very important. A novel biomarker named neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can play an important role in early diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Recent studies on the favourable effects of Dexmedetomidine on cardiac surgery have been published. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a dose-dependent positive effect of Dexmedetomidine on neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels and renal functions when used after CABG. METHODS: Our randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted among 295 patients scheduled for CABG surgery between August 2009 and March 2011 in a tertiary cardiac and vascular surgery clinic. A total of 90 consecutive patients who met inclusion criteria were randomized and divided into three groups. The first group received a placebo. The second and the third groups received 4 and 8 µg/cc concentration of the Dexmedetomidine infusion, respectively. Infusion rates were regulated to obtain sedation with a Ramsey sedation score of 2 or 3. Patients were regrouped according to the total Dexmedetomidine dose. Statistical analyses of variables including serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values and conventional renal function tests were made for all six possibilities before the blind was broken. RESULTS: Results of conventional renal function tests were not significantly different. However, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels for the first postoperative day for placebo, low-dose and high-dose Dexmedetomidine groups were 176.8 ± 145.9, 97.7 ± 63.4 and 67.3 ± 10.9 ng/ml, respectively. These values were significantly different among the groups (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that Dexmedetomidine infusion for sedation after CABG under cardiopulmonary bypass can be useful in the prevention of kidney injury. Conventional renal function tests, including blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, urine output and creatinine clearance rate measurements typically may not detect the development of acute kidney dysfunction in the first 48-h postoperative period. Differences were detected in renal function in the early postoperative period and the development of acute kidney injury, as determined by measurements of blood NGAL levels, was significant and dose-dependent.

Intraoperative use of recombinant activated factor VII during complex aortic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative bleeding is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after complex aortic surgery. Intraoperative coagulopathy is a well-known culprit in this process. Recombinant activated factor VII is increasingly used for the postoperative management of such bleeding. We report our experience with the intraoperative use of this agent. METHODS: We performed a propensity-matched analysis on 376 retrospectively identified patients who underwent aortic root, arch, or ascending aortic replacement surgeries from 1999 to 2010. We matched a total of 58 patients: recombinant activated factor VII-treated group (n = 29) and nonrecombinant activated factor VII-treated group (n = 29). We compared the matched patients on re-exploration, mortality, bleeding-related events, use of blood and blood products, length of intensive care unit stay, duration of hospitalization, and thrombotic complications. RESULTS: Propensity-matched patients had similar preoperative and intraoperative characteristics. The mean dose of recombinant activated factor VII group was 23 ± 12 µg/kg. We found significantly lower rates of surgical re-exploration (P = .004), fewer prolonged intubations (P = .004), less total chest tube output (P = .01), and fewer units of packed red blood cells (P = .01) and fresh-frozen plasma (P = .04) transfused postoperatively in the recombinant activated factor VII group. There was no significant difference in mortality (P = 1), duration of intensive care unit stay (P = .44) or hospital stay (P = .32), or thrombotic complications between the groups (P = .5). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the intraoperative administration of low-dose recombinant activated factor VII but limited to the management of persistent, nonsurgical, mediastinal bleeding in aortic surgery. Further prospective randomized studies and larger cohorts are needed to verify these findings.

Coronary artery and mitral valve surgery in Takayasu's arteritis: a case report.

Concomitant coronary artery disease and mitral valve disease are rare in Takayasu's Arteritis. Our patient had Takayasu's Arteritis diagnosed 9 years ago. She had an inferior myocardial infarction and double stent implantation 8 months ago. She was admitted to the hospital for chest pain, and 3 vessel diseases were diagnosed with significant mitral regurgitation due to anterior leaflet prolapse. In this report, we present perioperative management of our patient who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement.

Large cardiac hydatid cyst in the interventricular septum.

Cystic hydatid disease results from infection with the larval or adult form of the Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm. Cardiac involvement is seen in 0.5% to 2% of patients with hydatid disease, and involvement of the interventricular septum is even rarer. Herein, we report our surgical treatment of a large cardiac hydatid cyst in the interventricular septum. A 39-year-old woman presented with dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large cyst in the apical part of the interventricular septum. Thoracic computed tomography showed a cystic lesion in that site, and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of a 50 × 55-mm mass. The patient was placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. Hypertonic saline solution-soaked sponges were distributed within the pericardial cavity to prevent local invasion of the parasite intraoperatively. Through an incision parallel to the left anterior descending coronary artery, and without opening adjacent cardiac chambers, we aspirated the entire contents of the cyst, removed its germinative membrane, and washed the cavity with 20% hypertonic saline solution. The patient recovered uneventfully. She had begun taking albendazole 5 days preoperatively, and this therapy was continued for 12 weeks postoperatively. In cases of an interventricular cardiac hydatid cyst, the combination of surgical resection, washout of the remaining cavity with hypertonic saline solution, and albendazole therapy typically yields excellent results.

Long-Term Survival After Minimal Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB) Surgery in Patients With Low Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVE: : The long-term survival after minimal invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery to any coronary territory in patients with ejection fraction of ≤30% was investigated for the first time in literature. METHODS: : Seventy-three patients with primary MIDCAB and 89 patients with reoperative MIDCAB were studied including preoperative risk factors, operative details, early postoperative complications, and survival up to 10 years postoperatively. RESULTS: : Despite the high-risk profile of the patients, the MIDCAB approach for targeted revascularization resulted in excellent short-term results. Ventricular arrhythmia contributed to four of six early deaths. Survival at 5 years postoperatively was 62.5% for primary MIDCAB and 43.2% for reoperative MIDCAB and at 10 years was 36.9% and 29.5%, respectively. Functionally complete vascularization correlates with significantly better long-term survival particularly in primary MIDCAB procedures. CONCLUSIONS: : MIDCAB is a valuable option for targeted revascularization in high-risk patients with low ejection fraction and reoperation.

Extraordinary cause of ischemic chest pain in a young man: congenital ostial atresia of the right coronary artery.

Chest pain in a young person without cardiovascular risk factors is usually attributed to noncoronary causes; however, if the history suggests ischemic pain, the potential presence of unusual cardiovascular abnormalities should not be disregarded. The present case describes a young man with solitary congenital ostial atresia of right coronary artery, who to our knowledge is only the second case in the medical literature. Manifestation of ischemic symptoms in a relatively advanced age in patients with coronary artery atresia may mislead clinicians to interpret them as signs of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Therefore congenital coronary artery atresia should be a part of the differential diagnosis particularly in young patients with ischemic symptoms and no cardiovascular risk factors.

Factors associated with long-term survival following cardiac transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: By improving short and long-term survivals, cardiac transplantation would be a more realistic curative treatment modality. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with the long-term survival following cardiac transplantations in our center. METHODS: Forty-four patients were operated on cardiac transplantation between 1989 and November 2006. The study was designed in a retrospective manner and all data were collected from hospital records. Our study population consisted of 16 patients (Group A) who survived >1 month, but died <2 years after cardiac transplantation and 17 patients (Group B) who survived more than 2 years. All patients had triple immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporine, azathioprine, corticosteroid). Statistical analyses were performed using Fischer's exact and Mann Whitney U tests, and multivariate regression analysis. Survival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: Group B patients had lower pre-transplant creatinine levels (0.93+/-0.28 mg/dl vs. 1.16+/-0.21 mg/dl, p=0.033) younger donor age (24.5+/-6.3 years vs. 30.1+/-8.1 years, p=0.017) and more male donors (82.3% vs. 50%, p=0.05) as compared with Group A patients. The perioperative and follow-up analysis showed that patients with long-term survival had shorter ischemic time (141.5+/-33.2 min vs. 182.5+/-49.2 min, p=0.007), aortic cross clamp time (65.9+/-10.2 min vs. 83.6+/-7.9 min, p<0.001), less amount of blood transfusion (3.4+/-1.6 units vs. 5.0+/-1.5 units, p=0.01), better NYHA status after operation (1+/-0 vs. 1.63+/-0.72, p=0.014) and less frequent acute rejection episodes (11.8% vs. 68.8%, p<0.001) than those with short-term survival after operation. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed higher preoperative creatinine level (HR=42.6, 95% CI 4.67-388.21, p=0.001), acute rejection (HR=4.45, 95% 1.44-13.77, p=0.01), early postoperative functional status (HR=4.84, 95% CI 1.9-12.27, p=0.001) and unsatisfactory rejection surveillance protocol in the first 6 months after transplantation (HR=0.2, 95% CI 0.07-0.67, p=0.008) were prominent factors associated with the long-term survival. CONCLUSION: The availability of the donor hearts from younger male donors with the shortest ischemic times is identified as the most significant factor improving long-term survival. The main strategy in cardiac transplantation should be shortening ischemic times and applying strict postoperative follow-up.

In which patients should sheathless IABP be used? An analysis of vascular complications in 1211 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to compare the results of the sheathed and sheathless techniques for intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion and to determine the rate of vascular complications in both conditions. METHODS: A total of 1211 patients were examined representing a period of 19 years. Three hundred five sheathless (Group I) and 906 sheathed (Group II) IABP catheters were evaluated retrospectively. Data were analyzed with univariate analysis and logistic regression. Relative risk (RR) values were calculated in order to examine the effect of sheath. RESULTS: Limb ischemia was seen in 129 patients (10.9%). Although the incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was relatively higher in Group I (11.1% vs. 3.6%), the ischemic complication rate was lower in Group I (5.2% vs. 12.4%; p = 0.001). Presence of PAD (p = 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.007) was found to be the risk factors of ischemia related to IABP use in all cases. In logistic regression analysis, presence of PAD, DM, and sheathed method was found to be the risk factors of ischemia. The patients who had all of these risk factors suffered from limb ischemia (RR value: 35.17). CONCLUSION: PAD, DM, and sheathed insertion technique are the major risk factors of ischemia during IABP use. Among all these risk factors, the only modifiable risk factor is the use of introducer sheath. With the presence of PAD and DM, the choice of sheathed method would increase the probability of ischemia almost 35 times. Sheathless method of insertion should be preferred in patients with DM and PAD.

Ultrafast computed tomography in management of post-bentall aortic root pseudoaneurysm repair.

A giant pseudoaneurysm adjacent to the sternum was diagnosed in a patient who had undergone aortic root replacement with use of the Bentall operation 10 years earlier. Electron-beam computed tomography showed that the right coronary artery, which could not be seen on angiography, originated from the pseudoaneurysm itself. At reoperation, we found that both coronary ostia were detached and that the right coronary ostium was totally detached. The source of the right coronary artery blood flow was the pseudoaneurysm itself The defect at the left coronary artery attachment site was repaired primarily. A vein graft was interposed between the ostium of the right coronary artery and the native aorta, distal to the graft anastomosis.

Sequential radial artery grafting three-vessel coronary artery disease.

Our objective was to compare the results of revascularization by sequential radial artery (RA) grafting with a left anterior descending left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-RA t-composite grafting technique. Patients were grouped as those with proximal anastomoses performed on the ascending aorta (Group A; n = 38), and those with proximal anastomoses performed on the LIMA as t-grafts (Group T; n = 13). Neither of the two groups revealed any mortality. The average number of grafts was lower in Group T (2.23 +/- 0.43 in group T and 2.85 +/- 0.69 in group A, p < 0.05). The results of the control coronary artery angiographies were superior in Group A. The patency rate of the RA grafts was 96.8% in Group A. Of the 20 distal anastomoses performed with RA grafts in 8 patients from Group T, nine (45%) were found to be patent. The patency rates of RA grafts with sequential distal anastomoses were found to be better when the proximal anastomosis was performed on the ascending aorta rather than on the LIMA. In conclusion, sequential distal anastomosis of RA grafts seem to be safe and effective when proximal anastomoses are performed on the ascending aorta.

Reverse "U" aortotomy for aortic valve replacement after previous coronary artery bypass grafting.

The presence of patent vein grafts on the proximal aorta may give technical difficulties during exposure to aortic valve replacement after previous coronary artery bypass operations. A tongue or reverse "U" shape aortotomy allows excellent exposure of the aortic valve and antegrade cardioplegic administration without mobilizing vein grafts. This approach may facilitate uni- or bidirectional aortic root enlargement in patients with small aortic root.