[Simple surgical method for intraoperative evaluation of adequacy of tricuspid annuloplasty]. / Egyszeru sebészi módszer a tricuspidalis annuloplasztika eredményének mutét alatti értékelésére.

In tricuspid annuloplasty intraoperative "real time" evaluation using transoesophageal echocardiography requires normal flow to get reliable result. It means that the patient has to be already weaned from the cardiopulmonary bypass by the time of evaluation. In the authors' experience a well functioning tricuspid annuloplasty prevents back-flow through the valve. It can be observed on on-pump beating heart. If the tricuspid valve is competent, it is unnecessary to suck the blood flowing back through the coronary sinus while closing the right atrium. This observation seems to correlate well with post cardiopulmonary bypass transoesophageal echocardiography measurements and the control transthoracic echocardiography right before discharging the patients. These statements are based on a group of 72 patients. Sixty-nine patients (95.8%) were discharged (early mortality 4.2%). Only in one case we could observe a discrepancy between the intraoperative surgical observation and the postoperative echocardiographic finding. Development of functional tricuspid regurgitation in left-sided heart disease is a warning sign for myocardial impairment, which is an indication for surgery. Tricuspid annuloplasty can be performed even with moderate to medium grade regurgitation because it improves the early and late outcome. The described method is an adequate method for intraoperative evaluation of the repaired tricuspid valve competency.

[Ebstein's anomaly--experiences with surgical treatment in adulthood]. / Ebstein-anomália--a felnottkorban végzett mutétekkel kapcsolatos tapasztalatok.

INTRODUCTION: Long time results with operative treatment of Ebstein anomaly were examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1985 to March 2001 16 patients with Ebstein anomaly were operated on. Ages ranged from 16 to 49 years at the time of operation. In 7 cases tricuspid valve repair was possible, and in 9 cases prosthetic valve was inserted. In all but one biological prosthesis has been used. In 15 cases atrial septal defect occurred as a concomitant anomaly, which was closed by direct suture in 9 cases and with patch (2 Dacron, 4 pericardium) in 6 cases. RESULTS: There was no early death (30 days postoperatively). 1 patient following tricuspid repair was reoperated on at the 9th postoperative day because of significant tricuspid insufficiency. Tricuspid valve replacement was performed with a biological prostheses. There were 3 late deaths: 2 patients (12.5%) in the first postoperative year (1 cardiac cause, 1 unknown), 1 patient died 6 years postoperatively following reoperation. There were 3 more patients requiring reoperation (total reoperation rate 28.6%) one of them a few days after the primary operation and two others 9 and 11 years following the first operation. 13 patients were recalled to control investigations. The authors could not contact 2 patients, 1 patient living abroad could not appear at our clinic. 10 patients have been investigated 6 months to 16 years after the operation. There were 9 patients in New York Heart Association class I or II. 2 patients had their own repaired valve; both had tricuspid insufficiency grade III. Both were completely active. 8 patients had previously tricuspid valve replacement and good valve function, but six of them have not been working any more. There were 5 female patients under 35 at the time of operation and 2 of them had successful pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Ebstein anomaly in NYHA stage III-IV. can be successfully treated surgically.

[Surgery of aortic valve stenosis with porcelain aorta under hypothermic circulatory arrest]. / Porcelánaortával szövódött aortabillentyú-hiba mútéte teljes keringésmegállítással.

This is a case report of a 52 year-old male patient with severe calcific aortic valve stenosis, associated with extended circular calcification of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch. Six months ago the patient underwent an explorative sternotomy in another institute, but the aortic valve replacement was not performed regarding the great risk of the porcelain aorta. The patient's complaints became more severe, so the authors recommended the excision both of the stenotic aortic valve and the calcified ascending aorta and replacement with a mechanical valve and vascular prosthesis. The operation was performed in deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest with help of cardiopulmonary bypass. The calcified ascending aorta was excised without crossclamping. The vascular graft used for replacement of the ascending aorta was anastomosed to the proximal part of the aortic arch, then it was clamped and the extracorporal circulation was started again with rewarming of the patient. The aortic valve was replaced with a 21 mm St. Jude HP mechanical valve prosthesis in the usual manner. At last, the graft was anastomosed supracoronary to the proximal stump of the ascending aorta. Extracorporal circulation was discontinued without any difficulties. Apart from a few days of somnolence, the patient's recovery was uneventful, he was discharged from hospital on the 12th postoperative day. Three months after the surgery he had no complaints and returned to work without any problems.