Comparison of the waveforms of transit-time flowmetry and intraoperative fluorescence imaging for assessing coronary artery bypass graft patency.

PURPOSE: An intraoperative fluorescence imaging (IFI) system, which can provide visual images, could be the common method for assessing graft patency intraoperatively. We conducted a prospective comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of both the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis of transit-time flowmetry (TTFM) waveform and the IFI system to determine graft failure. METHODS: The study included 10 saphenous vein grafts (SVGs), all of which were aortocoronary grafts. Each patient underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including conventional CABG or off-pump CABG, and then underwent X-ray angiography after CABG. When intraoperative hemodynamics had stabilized, the grafts were evaluated with both the IFI system and TTFM. Based on the obtained flow profile of TTFM, certain variables were calculated. The waveforms of TTFM were analyzed with the FFT series. Harmonic distortion (HD) was calculated from the amplitudes, and the fundamental frequency was thus determined using the FFT series. RESULTS: The IFI system demonstrated a satisfactory flow of all grafts. X-ray angiography demonstrated that one SVG was 75% stenosed, and the others were patent. The mean graft flow (MGF) and the pulsatility index (PI) of the patent SVGs were not significantly different from those of the stenosed SVG. The HD of the patent SVGs was significantly different from that of the stenosed SVG. CONCLUSION: The HD of the TTFM waveform can provide better diagnostic accuracy for detecting clinically significant grafts than MGF and PI of TTFM and the IFI system.

Total cavopulmonary connection with straight conduit for apicocaval juxtaposition.

If the heart is malpositioned with apicocaval juxtaposition (ACJ), what constitutes the ideal course for the conduit pathway of a total cavopulmonary connection must be considered. When the conduit is positioned between the inferior vena cava and the same side of the pulmonary artery behind the ventricle, potential stenosis of the conduit due to compression by the ventricle or obstruction of the pulmonary vein due to compression by the conduit must be recognized. We reported two cases of ACJ in which a straight conduit pathway behind the ventricle was accomplished. Comprehensive dissection of the heart, especially the posterior side of the ventricle, to make a wide opening into the thoracic cavity is needed to obtain enough space behind the ventricle. Postoperative catheter studies performed 6 months after the operations showed no obstruction or deformity of the conduit or the pulmonary veins, and the mean pulmonary artery pressure measured 9 mmHg in both patients.

Pulmonary arterial reconstruction for pulmonary coarctation in early infancy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary atresia with pulmonary coarctation may complicate diminished and unbalanced pulmonary development. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of pulmonary arterial reconstruction with cardiopulmonary bypass in early infancy for sufficient and balanced pulmonary development. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 15 patients with pulmonary coarctation younger than 4 months of age who underwent pulmonary arterial reconstruction between 2001 and 2005. The mean age and weight were 42.2 days and 3.62 kg, respectively. The patient population included 5 biventricular repair candidates and 10 Fontan candidates. To evaluate the pulmonary arterial development, the preoperative and postoperative pulmonary arterial index and minimum diameter of the pulmonary artery were compared. RESULTS: No early or in-hospital deaths occurred, and there was no nonconfluent pulmonary artery development or segmental mal-development after a mean follow-up period of 14.9 months. Immediate pulmonary flow regulation was required in 2 patients because of excessive pulmonary flow. The mean pulmonary arterial index increased significantly from 103 mm2/m2 to 343 mm2/m2, and the mean minimum diameter of the pulmonary artery increased significantly from 2.02 mm to 4.45 mm. Four biventricular repair candidates completed definitive repair, and 2 required surgical reintervention in the pulmonary artery. Six Fontan candidates completed the Glenn procedure, and 1 completed the Fontan procedure. Three required surgical reintervention in the pulmonary artery. Two late deaths occurred after the Glenn procedure because of ventricular dysfunction and respiratory infection. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary arterial reconstruction in early infancy provides sufficient and balanced pulmonary arterial development for pulmonary atresia with pulmonary coarctation.

Atrial septal defect repair through limited lateral thoracotomy in children.

OBJECTIVE: We have developed a surgical method for atrial septal defect repair through a limited right lateral thoracotomy in which the incision line begins 2 cm caudal from the lower angle of the scapula and ends at the midaxial line, thereby improving patient satisfaction with the cosmetic results of treatment. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 28 patients who underwent isolated atrial septal defect repair through a limited right lateral thoracotomy between January 2002 and August 2004. The mean age and mean body weight at the time of the operation were 85.8 months (range 9-236 months) and 23.0 kg (range 8.0-56.0 kg), respectively. All repaired defects were the ostium secundum type. RESULTS: There was no operative or late mortality and no late morbidity after a mean follow-up of 26 months (range 12-41 months). Echocardiography showed no residual shunt in any of the patients. The mean length of the skin incision was 7.8 cm (range 5.0-11.0 cm), and almost all the patients had satisfactory cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: The atrial septal defect repair through a limited right lateral thoracotomy in pediatric patients showed satisfactory surgical results and excellent cosmetic results.

Successful repair of traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation.

Isolated traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation is an uncommon complication of blunt chest trauma. Tricuspid valve replacement has been ordinarily managed for this lesion. Herein, we report two cases of successful repair for traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation, 11 and 40 years following blunt chest trauma, respectively. Tricuspid valve repairs were performed using an artificial chordae implantation with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (CV-5) sutures and ring annuloplasty. Postoperative echocardiography revealed that the tricuspid valve regurgitation improved to mild and trivial respectively in two patients. They are presently doing well, 4 and 2 years after the repair, respectively.

Ultrasonographic measurement of intima-media thickness of the carotid artery before coronary artery bypass grafting.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of measuring intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery by ultrasonography before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Seventy-three patients who underwent carotid ultrasonography before CABG were selected for this study. The maximum IMT (max IMT) in the bilateral common carotid artery was used as the index of carotid ultrasonography. As a quantitative measure of coronary atherosclerosis, we calculated Gensini's coronary score (GCS) from the preoperative coronary angiography. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the max IMT and the GCS. Furthermore, the max IMT of the patients with myocardial infarction was significantly greater than that of the patients with angina pectoris. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid ultrasonography before CABG is useful, not only for the morphological evaluation of the stenotic lesions of the neck vessels, but also for the quantitative prediction of atherosclerosis in the native coronary artery. The max IMT may predict the progression of atherosclerotic change of the native coronary artery from angina pectoris to myocardial infarction.

Aortic root replacement with a freestyle stentless valve for aortitis syndrome with ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation.

A 47-year-old woman who had been diagnosed as having aortitis syndrome underwent aortic root replacement for an ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation. Because the patient has been treated with steroids for more than 20 years, a Freestyle stentless valve was used to avoid the risk of valve detachment. There were no complications observed during the postoperative course. Although long-term follow-up will be necessary to observe the valve durability, the Freestyle stentless valve seems to be useful for aortic root replacement in patients at high risk of valve detachment due to aortitis syndrome.

Successful repair of a large pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle late after mitral valve replacement due to rupture of the papillary muscle following acute myocardial infarction.

We present a rare case demonstrating a large pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle late after mitral valve replacement due to rupture of the papillary muscle following acute myocardial infarction. A 52-year-old man, who had undergone mitral valve replacement 7 months previously, presented with severe congestive heart failure. Echocardiography and computed tomography of the chest demonstrated a large pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle. The patch repair of the orifice of the pseudoaneurysm was successfully performed.