Surgical management of symptomatic coronary artery fistulae in the adult.

We describe the surgical management of adult symptomatic coronary artery fistulae. The technique is a fundamental approach entailing cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest with the goal of fully identifying the epicardial course of the coronary fistulae as well as that of the intrapulmonary artery ostial shunt. The more accurate the localization of these primary components of the fistulous tract, the more precise and successful is the ligation of the aberrant coronary connections. This result subsequently enhances the successful surgical obliteration of the symptomatic left-to-right shunt inherent in these congenital coronary fistulae that may not manifest symptoms until adulthood. With conventional cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection and arrest, the main pulmonary artery is opened between the pulmonary valve and its bifurcation. Additional antegrade cardioplegia is administered, and the ostial connection of the coronary fistulae can be identified in the wall of the main pulmonary artery and internally ligated. After this, the epicardial course of the coronary fistulae can be identified and doubly ligated as close as possible to the native coronary from which they originate as well as their approximate external connection to the main pulmonary artery.

Recurrent ventricular fibrillation: experience with first responders prior to advanced life support interventions.

AIM: Following defibrillation, ventricular fibrillation (VF) frequently recurs during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Prior studies have reported conflicting results regarding its association with survival. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of recurrent VF in the presence of first responders before advanced life support (ALS) interventions. METHODS: Electrocardiographic data from first responder automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were analyzed. A successful shock was defined as termination of VF for 5s or longer. Recurrent VF was defined as any VF that occurred after a successful shock. The primary outcome was neurologically intact survival to hospital discharge (CPC 1-2). RESULTS: 108 patients within our emergency system experienced a witnessed VF arrest. Of these, 73 (68%) had at least one recurrence of VF. Median time to recurrence of VF was 25s [interquartile range (IQR) 11-66s]. Median time in recurrent VF was 180s (IQR 105-266s). Survival was observed in 25 (71%) of patients with no recurrent VF and in 36 (49%) who had recurrence. Recurrent VF was associated with a lower odds of survival on univariate analysis (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.92, p=0.0325). After adjusting for bystander CPR, gender and age, recurrent VF had a similar direction of effect but was no longer significantly associated with neurologically intact survival (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.17-1.11, p=0.081). CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of first responders, VF recurred in 68% of patients. Recurrent VF was associated with a lower odds of survival, though its prognostic significance appeared to be blunted when considered in light of confounding variables. Recurrent VF may have significant survival implications, and further studies to assess its prognostic significance should be performed.

Awake cardiopulmonary bypass to prevent hemodynamic collapse and loss of airway in a severely symptomatic patient with a mediastinal mass.

Management of a large mediastinal mass causing respiratory and hemodynamic compromise represents a major challenge during induction of anesthesia and surgical resection. The hemodynamic changes associated with anesthetic induction and initiation of positive-pressure ventilation can lead to acute hemodynamic collapse or inability to ventilate, or both. Initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass before anesthetic induction represents a safe alternative. We present a 37-year-old woman who underwent successful resection of a large anterior mediastinal mass through sternotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted using the right femoral vessels under local analgesia to allow safe anesthetic induction. Her postoperative course was uneventful. This represents an example of a team approach to the management of a complex patient to achieve a successful outcome.