[Rare case of quadricuspid aortic valve].

Quadricuspid aortic valve is rare congenital anomaly. There are only 197 cases published in literature so far. That includes clinical and autopsy reports. This congenital anomaly occurs more often in pulmonary valve but function stays normal in 10 of lies. On the other side, in aortic position valve is malfunctioning in 50% of cases. Valve regurgitation is more likely to occur than stenosis In this kind of malformation, valves are prone to early dysfunction and endocarditis due to different valve architecture and unequal distribution of mechanical stress along valve cusps. Aortic valve replacement is indicated in younger population of these patients. This is a case report of rare congenital anomaly of big blood vessels--aortic valve with four cusps. This anomaly produced significant aortic regurgitation so this patient was indicated for aortic valve replacement.

Perfect angiographic patency of the arterial coronary-coronary conduit five years following surgery.

Five years ago, the left internal thoracic artery free segment was used as a coronary-coronary bypass over a single, distal lesion of the large left anterior descending coronary artery in a patient with triple vessel disease. The patient has recently been readmitted, complaining of chest discomfort. Although he was scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention due to disease progression on the circumflex coronary artery, the perfect angiographic patency of the arterial coronary-coronary conduit has been confirmed.

[Cardiac surgery in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT II)].

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) might be life-threatening in patients undergoing open heart surgery, due to thromboembolic events, thrombocytopenia and bleeding. If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is necessary, anticoagulation therapy will be based on usage of danaparoid or direct thrombin inhibitors. Female patient was switched from per oral anticoagulant therapy to low molecular heparin therapy preparing for reredo mitral valve replacement due to endocarditis and artificial valve thrombosis. In next 10 days, thrombocytopenia was obvious (Tr 302,000 mm3 to 11,000 mm3) , and diagnoses of HIT were done. Anticoagulant therapy was continued with danaparoid, 750 IU/12 h sc. During the surgery, reredo mitral valve replacement and aortocoronary bypass on anterior descending coronary artery, blood salvage technique with rhirudin (intravenous bolus 0.4 mg/kg, in CPB prajming solution 0.4 mg/kg and continuous infusion during CPB 0.15 mg/kg/h) during cardiopulmonary bypass was used. Active coagulation time and +++ were monitored, without any sign of micro thrombosis in circuit. Postoperatively, per oral anticoagulation therapy was initiated with prolonged postoperative treatment due to basic disease, endocarditis. Patient was discharged from hospital on 21st postoperative day without any complication.

Coronary-coronary bypass to reconstruct coronary artery bed following removal of a guidewire entrapped in a stent.

Cardiac surgeons are treating an increasing number of patients after different sorts of complications occurring during various percutaneous procedures. Wire entrapment has been described in the literature and numerous maneuvers have been developed to solve this complication. If they fail, surgical management is absolutely indicated. In such cases the operation can be very demanding. After hardware removal the artery quality is usually unsatisfactory and endarterectomy with adjacent revascularization is mandatory. We report a case in which we used a termino-terminal interposition of the greater saphenous vein to restore a disintegrated part of the coronary artery.

Comparison of valve annuloplasty and replacement for ischemic mitral valve incompetence.

OBJECTIVE: Mitral incompetence is a chronic sequela of myocardial infarction. It is caused by apical displacement and tethering of the mitral valve leaflets after myocardial infarction, resulting in incomplete coaptation. The consensus is for mitral valve surgery in the presence of significant ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Previously, the only option was mitral valve replacement (MVR) with a mechanical or tissue valve. The suboptimal results obtained prompted the development of several methods of mitral valve repair. Today, the most commonly used repair is undersized annuloplasty. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective nonrandomized study of all patients who underwent operation for coronary artery disease and IMR between 2000 and 2006. The surgeon chose the surgical method used for the mitral valve procedure. The most commonly used procedures were restrictive mitral valve annuloplasty (MVP) and MVR with a mechanical prosthesis. We collected all pertinent preoperative, intraoperative, and early-postoperative data. We followed up with phone interviews of the patients and their relatives and with complete clinical and echocardiography examinations. RESULTS: We carried out operations on 138 patients during the study period (MVR, 52 patients; MVP, 86 patients). The 2 groups had comparable demographic data and risk factors. The 2 groups were significantly different with respect to mean (+/-SD) New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (MVP, 2.72 +/- 0.62; MVR, 2.48 +/- 0.70; P < .01) and ejection fraction (MVP, 29.01% +/- 11.00%; MVR, 35.87% +/- 11.00%; P

[Alternative arterial cannulation site in acute aortic dissections].

INTRODUCTION: Acute aortic dissection is an urgent surgical disease. Often, due to hemodynamic instability, that is an indication for emergent surgical intervention. Majority of surgeons uses Femoral or Axillary artery as arterial inflow site forextracorporal circulation. Both approaches have disadvantages that potentially may cause devastating complications. Some of them have been described in literature such as inadequate flow on heart-lung machine, retrograde dissection and malperfusion syndrome. AIM OF STUDY: Aim of study is to show, that by using transventricular cannulation we are eliminating all technical problems and lowering peroperative morbidity and mortality. METHOD: Between 1996-2006 at Institute for Cardiovascular Disease "Dedinje" 107 patients were operated for acute ascending aortic dissection Femoral artery was used for arterial cannulation in 91 patients. Last 16 patients were operated by using transventricular approach to establish extracorporeal circulation. We used retrograde cerebral perfusion in 21 cases at the beginning of our experience. RESULTS: In group of patients where transapical cannulation was used, no neurological incidents were noticed. We didn't have any other problems related to extracorporeal circulation or placement of arterial cannula. Is this series we had only one death case. Patient passed away on eight postoperative day due to multiorgan insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Transapical cannulation is very simple and safe method for quick establishment of extracorporeal circulation. It always gives patient sufficient antegrade, physiological flow on heart-lung machine. This is the way to minimize possibility of malperfusion syndrome and to significantly diminish risk of neurological complication. By using this method all negative effects of other cannulation sites will be avoided.

Transaortic double valve replacement in difficult mitral valve exposure.

Adequate open exposure of the mitral valve is necessary to accomplish reconstruction or replacement of the diseased mitral valve apparatus. The technique employed by most cardiac surgeons for mitral valve access involves median sternotomy and vertical left atriotomy posterior to the interatrial sulcus. However, certain conditions can somethimes make this approach very difficult. Different approaches are discussed with particular emphasis on our case in which the transaortic double valve replacement have been performed.

The radial artery for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced coronary artery disease. CABG surgery has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and, in specific subgroups of patients, to prolong life. Despite its success, the long-term outcome of coronary bypass surgery is strongly influenced by the fate of the vascular conduits used. Previous long-term studies have shown unsatisfactory patency of saphenous vein grafts used for myocardial revascularisation, compared with internal mammary artery grafts. Recently, the use of radial artery for CABG has enjoyed a revival, on the basis of the belief that it will help improving long-term results of coronary operations. The recent reports of encouraging mid-term and long-term patency rates of the radial artery, supports its continued use as a bypass conduit. In this paper, we review the current knowledge about the radial artery as a bypass graft, with special emphasis on the clinical results.

Foley catheter and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest to control bleeding in redo cardiac surgery.

Two cases with catastrophic hemorrhage in redo cardiac surgery are described. In the first one tearing of right ventricle with uncontrolled bleeding occurred during sternal reentry. In the second one, tearing of the right atria occurred while the patient was on cardiopulmonary bypass. In both cases we were able to control bleeding using Foley catheter, which enabled us to proceed to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest to repair heart chambers (due to dense adhesions it was impossible to manage it in any other way). We have found this combined technique to be extremely useful tool to control catastrophic hemorrhage during redo cardiac surgery.

Postcardiotomy assisted circulation with roller pump--early and late results.

The incidence of postcardiotomy myocardial failure (PMF) requiring mechanical circulatory support beyond IABP is reported to be 0.2% to 1.2%. From Dec. 1989 through Dec. 1995, 18 patients (0.3% of the total pump cases) were supported with roller pump type of LVAD. Assisted flow ranged from 3.5 up to 5 L/min with average support time of 35.5 hours. Six (33.3%) patients died while on LVAD. The causes of additional seven deaths (pts weaned of LVAD) were: myocardial failure (4), stroke (2) and intractable bleeding during removal of the LVAD (1). Overall, five patients (27.8%) were successfully discharged from the hospital. Two out of five long-term survivors died later, 6 months and 4 years postoperatively, both of cardiac causes. The actuarial survival rate of long-term survivors was 60% at 7 years, all of them being in NYHA functional class II. These results have proved efficiency of roller pump driven LVAD for short-term circulatory support in pts with PMF. Results are comparable to so far published data on postcardiotomy support with the same, as well as other types of more versatile and costly devices.

[Surgical revascularization of the myocardium]. / Hirurska revaskularizacija miokarda.

It has been 45 years ago when Longmire (1958.) used internal thoracic artery (ITA) for the first time in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). In this review, we are presenting novel surgical approaches in CABG surgery. We have also been summarized the best of knowledge, up to date, regarding histology, pharmacology and pathophysiology of conduits (VSM, ITA and alternative venous and arterial grafts) which have been used in CABG surgery, as well as factors influence on its short and long-term patency.

[Role of the Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery (PA) catheter in evaluation of hemodynamic changes during myocardial revascularization in patients with low left ventricular function]. / Uloga Swan-Ganz PA katetera u proceni hemodinams-kih promena tokom hirurske revaskularizacije miokarda u bolesnika sa oslabljenom funkcijom leve komore.

Coronary artery bypass surgery in patient with bad left ventricular function is a challenge for surgical time. Specially important is monitoring of haemodynamics. We performed this open, prospective, randomized study with the aim to assess haemodynamics and oxygen profile monitoring. 34 pts for coronary surgery (EF < 40%) were divided in two groups. Group A, 17 pts. Received glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solution. Group B, 127 pts. Received Ringer solution. Haemodynamic and oxygen metabolism parameters were measured in four time points. I after the induction in anesthesia; II after the operation; III 6 hours post op.; IV 24 hour post op. Data are expressed as mean +/- SD, Anova for repeated measures followed by Newman-Keuls testing were used. In both groups were evident deterioration of cardiac function during first 6 h as well as VO2 and DO2, more prominent in Group B. Significant recovery and improvement of cardiac function were evident in Group A after 24 h. CI during the time in Group A improves significantly (2.14 +/- 0.36 v. 3.05 +/- 0.55; p = 0.0002) and difference during the time between groups was p = 0.005. LVSWI improved significantly during the time him Group A (AIII vs. AIV) p = 0.007. Simultaneously. VO2 improves significantly in Group A (103 +/- 21 vs. 164 +/- 30, p = 0.00001) while difference between groups in DO was p = 0.037. Importance of oxygen metabolism monitoring for both, left ventricular function and haemodynamics assessment was evident in our study.

[Assisted circulation. I. Systems with short-term mechanical circulatory support]. / Asistirana cirkulacija I--sistemi za kratkotrajnu mehanicku potporu cirkulacije.

The concept of artificial circulatory support has been established almost 200 years ago. It has only been within the last four decades that physicians and engineers have developed mechanical assist devices that can temporarily support the circulation until the native heart recovers from a reversible injury. If the heart does not recover sufficient function to maintain adequate hemodynamics, long-term circulatory support or permanent replace (biologically--heart transplant or permanent mechanical circulatory support) is needed. In this paper we describe the devices (intraaortic balloon pump, roller, centrifugal and axial pumps), that are in current clinical use for temporary (short-term) mechanical circulatory support.

Tension-free left ITA graft -- the pericardial strip technique.

Emphysematous lung occupying the whole dome of the left pleural cavity and expanding well over the midline may occasionally present a significant problem for positioning of the left internal thoracic artery, although the graft has been mobilized up to its origin. To avoid an undue tension on it, we combined a well known technique of the pericardial incision with the pericardial strip technique, enabling the lung to expand freely.

[Assisted circulation II--systems for intermediate and long-term mechanical circulatory support]. / Asistirana cirkulacija II--sistemi za intermedijarnu i dugotrajnu mehanicku potporu cirkulacije.

The concept of artificial circulatory support has been established almost 200 years ago. It has only been within the last four decades that physicians and engineers have developed mechanical assist devices that can temporarily support the circulation until the native heart recovers from a reversible injury. In patients who do not regain native heart function, long-term circulatory support or permanent replace (biologically--heart transplant or permanent mechanical circulatory support) is indicated. In this paper we describe the devices (ABIOMED BSV 5000, Thoratec, HeartMate, Novacor and CardioWest TAH), that are in current clinical use for intermediate and long-term mechanical circulatory support.

[History of surgical treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries--the first 100 years]. / Istorijat hirurskog lecenja aterosklerotskog oboljenja koronarnih krvnih sudova--prvih 100 godina.

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been doubled in our country during the period 1980 through 1996. Surgical treatment of the atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is already a century old, ever since Francois-Franck (in 1899) tried to achieve sympathetic denervation of the cervical ganglion. After the interim period of indirect myocardial revascularization, during the last 30 years, direct surgical revascularization has reached excellent early and long-term results, and became one of the most frequently performed procedures in the surgical practice. Use of arterial grafts and, introduced recently, procedures on the beating heart, minimally invasive procedures and, so called, port-access procedures became a daily routine in many centers. Surgical revascularization of the ischaemic cardiac muscle is the rapidly changing entity, along with diagnostic, technical and other improvements. We present a brief historical overview of the efforts of cardiac surgeons to combat the "disease of the century" atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

[Occlusion of a calcified ascending aorta with a Foley catheter in aortocoronary bypass--case report]. / Okluzija kalcifikovane ascendentne aorte Foley-kateterom tokom aorto-koronarnog premoscenja--prikaz slucaja.

Heavily calcified ascending aorta predisposes to aortic injury and distal embolization during total or partial cross-clamping, during the performance of open-heart procedures. Placement of the arterial cannula may be particularly difficult, occasionally virtually impossible using the standard technique, while placing the clamp on such aorta may be extremely risky. We present a case where we have used a Foley-balloon catheter to occlude the densely calcified ascending aorta, during a aorta-coronary bypass procedure, thus completely avoiding the use of the total aortic clamp.

[Myocardial revascularization using the internal thoracic artery: pro and con]. / Revaskularizacija miokarda unutrasnjom torakalnom arterijom: "pro et contra".

Internal thoracic artery (ITA) has superior histological, physiological and pharmacological properties over the venous grafts, and it is considered to be the graft of choice for myocardial revascularization. It has low incidence of late atherosclerotic lesions, and excellent long-term patency. Usage of ITA yields improved clinical results in all subgroups of patients with coronary artery disease, including patients with poor left ventricular function (EF%), left main stenosis, diffuse coronary artery disease and octogenarians. Since superior long-term results (to be expected only 10-15 years after the operation) may be outweighed with slightly higher incidence of early morbidity and mortality, many cardiac surgeons are reluctant to use it routinely. However, this attitude is difficult to justify, since early operative results in patients that have received ITA graft are superior as well, compared to patients that have received vein grafts only.

Combined carotid and coronary artery surgery: what have we learned after 15 years?

UNLABELLED: Optimal surgical strategy in patients with concomitant coronary and carotid artery disease is debatable. We have analysed 15-years of experience (January 1981-August 1996) with 195 consecutive patients in whom we have used two different surgical approaches. Group A consisted of 48 patients who underwent a single-stage surgical procedure, and group B (147 patents) underwent a two-stage procedure, either as carotid endarterectomy followed by coronary artery bypass surgery (group B1, 97 patients), or as coronary artery bypass surgery followed by carotid endarterectomy (group B2, 50 patients). Overall, there were 40 (20.5%) patients with left main coronary artery disease, 49 (25.1%) with poor left ventricular function, 128 (65.6%) with previous myocardial infarction, 134 (68.7%) were in New York Health Authority (NYHA) functional class III or IV, and bilateral carotid involvement was present in 57 patients (29.2%). Unstable angina was more frequent in groups A and B2 (P < 0.0001), NYHA class III-IV was more frequent in group A (versus B1, P = 0.001 and versus B2, P = 0.02), low ejection fraction (EF) was more frequent in groups A and B2 (P < 0.0001 for both), bilateral carotid stenosis in groups A and B1 (P = 0.02 and P = 0.0001, respectively) and ulcerated plaque in group B1 (versus A, P = 0.0001). These differences dictated the surgical strategy, which resulted in different protocols for clinical and operative management. RESULTS: Early mortality for the entire group was 4.6% (9/195-6.2% in group A, 6.2% in group B1 and 0% in group B2, respectively P > 0.05). Serious morbidity occurred in 7.3% of patients (14/195-8.3% in group A, 7.2% in group B1 and 6% in group B, respectively P > 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed only bilateral carotid stenosis as a predictor of outcome (P = 0.04). Follow-up was completed for 156 patients (80.0%) and averaged 84.1 +/- 13.3 months (range 1-180 months). Kaplan-Meier survival estimate for the entire group was 81% and event-free survival was 76% at 5 years. Actuarial and event-free survivals were similar for all groups. Early and late outcome in these patients were influenced more by their preoperative clinical status than by the surgical strategy itself. It is therefore concluded that surgical approach should be individualized for the majority of patients.

Cardiac events after combined surgery for coronary and carotid artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serious cardiac events after combined (either single or two stage) coronary artery surgery (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for concomitant coronary and carotid artery disease. METHODS: We have analyzed our 15 year experience (January 1981-September 1996) with 201 consecutive patients operated on using both approaches. Group A consisted of 48 patients with the single-stage procedure, while in group B (153 patients), two stage procedure was carried out, either as carotid endarterectomy (CEA), followed by coronary artery bypass surgery (CAS) (group B1- 103 patients), or as CAS followed by CEA (group B2- 50 patients). Five patients from B1 group died after the CEA procedure, but were included, despite the fact they never reached the second stage. Left main coronary artery disease was found in 41 patients (20.4%), poor left ventricular function in 49 (24.4%) previous MI in 133 (66.2%), while 136 (67.7%) were in NYHA functional class III or IV. Bilateral carotid involvement was present in 61 patients (30.3%). Unstable angina was more prevalent in groups A and B2 (P < 0.0001). NYHA class III/IV in group A (versus B1, P = 0.001 and versus B2, P = 0.02), low ejection fraction in groups A and B2 (P < 0.0001), bilateral carotid stenosis in group B1 (versus A, P = 0.003 and versus B2, P < 0.0001), and ulcerated plaque in group B1 (P < 0.0001). These differences dictated the surgical strategy, which resulted in different protocols for clinical and operative management. RESULTS: Early mortality for the entire group was 5.5% (11/201) 6.2% in group A, 7.8% in group B1 and 0% in group B2, respectively; (P > 0.05). Serious morbidity occurred in 7.5% of patients (8.3% in group A, 7.8% in group B1 and 6% in group B2, respectively; P > 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed only bilateral carotid stenosis to influence early outcome (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Patients with concomitant coronary and carotid artery disease have relatively good immediate operative results, providing all existing lesions are corrected. Despite it did not reach the statistical significance, cardiac events were less frequent in groups A and B2 indicating possible protective effect of prior CAS in patients with concomitant disease.