Transvenous, intracardial cardioversion for the treatment of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) following cardiac surgery is an important factor contributing to postoperative morbidity. Transvenous, intracardial cardioversion (TIC) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic AF, but is an invasive and cost-intensive procedure. However, TIC would definitely be a beneficial approach if recurrence of AF following TIC is low and pharmacological treatment could be avoided. Thus, we hypothesised that TIC would be superior to conventional treatment with amiodarone with respect to the conversion rate and recurrence of AF. We compared TIC and conventional amiodarone therapy in a prospective, randomised and controlled trial in patients who developed AF following cardiac surgery. Twenty-three patients developed AF out of a total of 76 patients who gave written informed consent. Eighteen of these AF patients could be randomised into two equally sized groups to receive either an ALERT pulmonary artery catheter and TIC, or a standard pulmonary artery catheter and treatment with amiodarone. Haemodynamic parameters were registered before intervention to exclude pulmonary hypertension or fluid overload. Rates of cardioversion were compared by a Likelyhood ratio test. Out of the nine ALERT patients, AF in five cases converted to sinus rhythm (SR) with a median of two shocks (6 J). After 24 hours however, only two patients remained in sinus rhythm. On the other hand, six of the nine patients treated with amiodarone were still in SR after 24 hours. Whereas no difference was detectable in the conversion rate, persistence of SR following TIC was low. Thus, TIC without antiarrhythmic treatment is not recommendable for the treatment of postoperative AF.

Combined surgical and endovascular repair of complex aortic pathologies with a new hybrid prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the application of a new combined surgical and endovascular technique for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. The technique is used to treat extensive aortic disease by a single-stage procedure. Surgical outcomes and follow-up data are summarized and analyzed. METHODS: Between August 2005 and December 2006, 7 patients (2 women), aged 62 +/- 11 years, with aortic pathologies (5 dissections, 2 aneurysms) underwent replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch and simultaneous stent graft implantation into the descending aorta. The stent graft used was the E-vita open endoluminal stent graft (Jotec Inc, Hechingen, Germany), which was implanted using the technique of circulatory arrest and moderate hypothermia with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. The stent graft was deployed under visual guidance through the open aortic arch into the true lumen. RESULTS: Intraoperative antegrade stenting of the descending aorta combined with the distal ascending aorta and aortic arch repair was performed successfully in all patients. The survival rate was 100%. One patient had a postoperative neurologic deficit but recovered completely. Four patients had fully thrombosed perigraft spaces within 11 days, whereas 1 patient showed complete obliteration of the false lumen at the 3-month control. CONCLUSIONS: The combined surgical and endovascular technique described in this report proved feasible for the treatment of extended aortic lesions. It serves as an additional option for aortic repair in a single-stage method and is associated with no elevated risk for the patient.

Treatment of chronic aortic type A dissection with a new designed hybridprosthesis.

This report describes the use of a new combined surgical and endovascular treatment for chronic type A aortic dissection after Cabrol operation. Intraoperative antegrade stenting of the descending aorta combined with distal ascending aorta and aortic arch repair was performed using the E-vita open endoluminal stentgraft. The stentgraft was deployed under direct vision into the true lumen. Postperative CT scan revealed a partially thrombosed false lumen. This report shows that a combined surgical and endovascular approach of chronic type A aortic dissection in a single stage procedure is a feasible option and extends aortic repair without increase of risk.