[Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: Report of two cases]. / Disección coronaria espontánea: comunicación de 2 casos tratados quirúrgicamente.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare condition that usually causes a coronary syndrome, but may also cause sudden death. It is more common in women and is associated with factors such as the peripartum period and oral contraceptive use. We report two cases. A 45-year-old woman with hepatitis C, presenting in the emergency room with angina. An intravascular ultrasound showed a dissecting hematoma involving the left, anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries. She was initially managed with nitroglycerin, anticoagulation and anti-platelet drugs but due to persistence of symptoms, she required surgical revascularization. A 32-year-old woman presenting in the emergency room with angina. A coronary angiogram revealed a dissection of the anterior descending coronary artery. Eight days later an intravenous ultrasound showed a retrograde progression of the dissection and she was subjected to a surgical revascularization.

Disección coronaria espontánea: comunicación de 2 casos tratados quirúrgicamente / Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: report of two cases

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare condition that usually causes a coronary syndrome, but may also cause sudden death. It is more common in women and is associated with factors such as the peripartum period and oral contraceptive use. We report two cases. A 45-year-old woman with hepatitis C, presenting in the emergency room with angina. An intravascular ultrasound showed a dissecting hematoma involving the left, anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries. She was initially managed with nitroglycerin, anticoagulation and anti-platelet drugs but due to persistence of symptoms, she required surgical revascularization. A 32-year-old woman presenting in the emergency room with angina. A coronary angiogram revealed a dissection of the anterior descending coronary artery. Eight days later an intravenous ultrasound showed a retrograde progression of the dissection and she was subjected to a surgical revascularization.

[Mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral insufficiency: likelihood of success, early and-long term results at 20 years]. / Reparación valvular mitral en insuficiencia mitral degenerativa: reparabilidad, resultados inmediatos y seguimiento hasta 20 años.

BACKGROUND: The 2014 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease require to know the probability of success and operative mortality of Mitral Valve Repair (MVR) for Degenerative Mitral Insufficiency (DMI) at a given institution. AIM: To assess the probability of success, operative mortality and long-term results of MVR for DMI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Service was reviewed for the period December 1991 to December 2013. Long-term survival information was obtained from death certificate records of the Chilean Identification Service. RESULTS: One hundred forty seven patients with DMI were identified, all operated by one author (RZ). In 28 (19%) the mitral valve was replaced, including three patients in whom a MVR was intended without success. A successful MVR was performed in 119 patients (81%). The probability of a successful MVR was 97.5% (119 of 122). Prolapsed posterior leaflet was present in 81% and annulus dilatation in 60% of cases. The most frequent surgical procedures were quadrilateral resection (83%) and chordal transfer (13%). A mitral annuloplasty was performed in 92% of cases. Operative mortality was 0.8%. At the end of a 9.9 (0 - 22.7) years follow-up, 87 patients (73%) were alive and mean survival was 16.9 years. Survival rates at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years were 91%, 78%, 71% and 50%, respectively. Six patients were re-operated, due to mitral valve dysfunction in three. Mean re-operation free survival was 21.4 years. Echocardiographic follow-up was 75% completed at an average of 64 months; 84% of cases had no or only 1+ mitral regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, MVR for DMI had an operative mortality below 1% and a probability of success greater than 95%, with excellent long-term results.

Reparación valvular mitral en insuficiencia mitral degenerativa: reparabilidad, resultados inmediatos y seguimiento hasta 20 años / Mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral insufficiency: likelihood of success, early and-long term results at 20 years

Background: The 2014 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease require to know the probability of success and operative mortality of Mitral Valve Repair (MVR) for Degenerative Mitral Insufficiency (DMI) at a given institution. Aim: To assess the probability of success, operative mortality and long-term results of MVR for DMI. Patients and Methods: The database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Service was reviewed for the period December 1991 to December 2013. Long-term survival information was obtained from death certificate records of the Chilean Identification Service. Results: One hundred forty seven patients with DMI were identified, all operated by one author (RZ). In 28 (19%) the mitral valve was replaced, including three patients in whom a MVR was intended without success. A successful MVR was performed in 119 patients (81%). The probability of a successful MVR was 97.5% (119 of 122). Prolapsed posterior leaflet was present in 81% and annulus dilatation in 60% of cases. The most frequent surgical procedures were quadrilateral resection (83%) and chordal transfer (13%). A mitral annuloplasty was performed in 92% of cases. Operative mortality was 0.8%. At the end of a 9.9 (0 - 22.7) years follow-up, 87 patients (73%) were alive and mean survival was 16.9 years. Survival rates at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years were 91%, 78%, 71% and 50%, respectively. Six patients were re-operated, due to mitral valve dysfunction in three. Mean re-operation free survival was 21.4 years. Echocardiographic follow-up was 75% completed at an average of 64 months; 84% of cases had no or only 1+ mitral regurgitation. Conclusions: In our experience, MVR for DMI had an operative mortality below 1% and a probability of success greater than 95%, with excellent long-term results.

[Twenty years of mitral valve repair. An experience in 322 patients]. / Veinte años de cirugía reparadora de la válvula mitral.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair is the preferred procedure for the surgical treatment of mitral valve insufficiency (MI), procedure that we initiated 20 years ago. AIM: To assess our experience and long-term results of mitral valve repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The database of the cardiology department was reviewed for the period between December 1991 and December 2012. A total of 322 patients aged 18 to 89 years (62% males) undergoing mitral valve repair were identified. Long-term survival information was obtained consulting death certificate records of the Chilean Identification Service. The latest echocardiogram available was analyzed. RESULTS: MI was degenerative in 144 patients (45%) and ischemic in 104 (32%). A prosthetic ring was used in all ischemic and in 92% of non-ischemic MI. Operative mortality was 7.5%, 13% in ischemic and 4.4% in non-ischemic MI (p < 0.01). Overall long-term survival was 14.1 years; 9.3 and 16 years for ischemic and non-ischemic MI, respectively (p < 0.001). Survival at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years was 79, 63, 54 and 42%, respectively. For degenerative MI survival at 5 and 10 years was 90 and 76% and for ischemic MI, it was 64 and 44%, respectively (p < 0.001). On a multivariate analysis the main predictors of late mortality were age, associated valvular disease and ischemic etiology. Echocardiographic follow-up was available for 223 patients; MI was absent in 53% and was mild in 29%. CONCLUSIONS: In a 20 years follow-up, mitral valve repair for MI had excellent long-term survival and echocardiographic results. The most common etiologies of MI were degenerative and ischemic diseases. The latter had a worst prognosis. The main predictors of long term mortality were age, associated valvular disease and ischemic etiology.

Veinte años de cirugía reparadora de la válvula mitral / Twenty years of mitral valve repair. An experience in 322 patients

Background: Mitral valve repair is the preferred procedure for the surgical treatment of mitral valve insufficiency (MI), procedure that we initiated 20 years ago. Aim: To assess our experience and long-term results of mitral valve repair. Patients and Methods: The database of the cardiology department was reviewed for the period between December 1991 and December 2012. A total of 322 patients aged 18 to 89 years (62% males) undergoing mitral valve repair were identified. Long-term survival information was obtained consulting death certificate records of the Chilean Identification Service. The latest echocardiogram available was analyzed. Results: MI was degenerative in 144 patients (45%) and ischemic in 104 (32%). A prosthetic ring was used in all ischemic and in 92% of non-ischemic MI. Operative mortality was 7.5%, 13% in ischemic and 4.4% in non-ischemic MI (p < 0.01). Overall long-term survival was 14.1 years; 9.3 and 16 years for ischemic and non-ischemic MI, respectively (p < 0.001). Survival at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years was 79, 63, 54 and 42%, respectively. For degenerative MI survival at 5 and 10 years was 90 and 76% and for ischemic MI, it was 64 and 44%, respectively (p < 0.001). On a multivariate analysis the main predictors of late mortality were age, associated valvular disease and ischemic etiology. Echocardiographic follow-up was available for 223 patients; MI was absent in 53% and was mild in 29%. Conclusions: In a 20 years follow-up, mitral valve repair for MI had excellent long-term survival and echocardiographic results. The most common etiologies of MI were degenerative and ischemic diseases. The latter had a worst prognosis. The main predictors of long term mortality were age, associated valvular disease and ischemic etiology.

Ligadura de la arteria coronaria descendente anterior izquierda en ratas: técnica quirúrgica / Ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery: surgical technique

Background: An experimental model for ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (ADA) in rats has been commonly used in research into ischemic cardiopathy. However, this procedure is very difficult, with a high mortality rate. There is little information in the literature regarding its technical aspects. Our objective was to describe a surgical technique for ADA ligation in rats. Material and Method: Fifty-one Sprague-Dawley male rats weighting 230 +/- 20 gr were anaesthetized and connected to mechanical ventilation. Through a left-side thoracothomy we ligated the ADA 2 mm below the junction of the pulmonary artery and the left atrial appendage. The next day we performed transthoracic echocardiography to confirm our results. Results: The mortality rate was 7.8 percent (4 out of 51). The main cause of death was hemorrhage during surgery. The average time for the procedure was 45 +/- 5 min. We confirmed hypokinesia of the anterior lateral wall in 100 percent of the surviving rats. Discussion: This procedure was reproducible and safe, with less than 10 percent mortality.

Introducción: El modelo experimental de ligadura de la arteria coronaria descendente anterior izquierda (ADA) en ratas, ha sido de gran ayuda para el estudio de la cardiopatía isquémica. Sin embargo, es un procedimiento difícil de realizar y con alta mortalidad operatoria. Existe poca información de sus aspectos técnicos. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue describir en detalle la técnica quirúrgica de la ligadura de la ADA en ratas. Material y Método: Se utilizaron 51 ratas machos Sprague-Dawley 230 +/- 20 gr de peso anestesiadas y conectadas a ventilación mecánica. A través de una toracotomía izquierda se ligó la ADA, 2 mm debajo de la intersección entre la arteria pulmonar y la orejuela izquierda. Al día siguiente se realizó una ecocardiografía transtorácica para confirmar la presencia de hipocinesia. Resultados: La mortalidad operatoria fue de 7,8 por ciento (4 de 51). La principal causa de muerte fue la hemorragia en el intraoperatorio durante la curva de aprendizaje. El tiempo operatorio promedio fue de 45 +/- 5 min. Se confirmó la presencia de una hipocinesia de la pared anterolateral en el 100 por ciento de las ratas supervivientes. Discusión. Esta técnica es un procedimiento reproducible y seguro, con una mortalidad menor al 10 por ciento.

Resultados alejados de la cirugía reparadora de la insuficiencia mitral isquémica / Long-term results of mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral insufficiency

Background: The preferred treatment for ischemic mitral insufficiency is mitral valve repair with a prosthetic ring, because it does not deteriorate left ventricular function, allowing better immediate and long-term results. Aim: To assess long-term results of mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring for ischemic mitral insufficiency. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients (68 men), with a mean age of 65.7 ± 8.6 years were included. They underwent a mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring to treat ischemic mitral insufficiency, between February 1992 and May 2009. Fortyfour had a history of prior myocardial infarction and 46 had an evolving acute coronary syndrome. The inferior left ventricular wall was involved, exclusively or associated with an adjacent wall, in 72 cases. Coronary artery bypass grafts were performed in 92 patients and 32 required intra-aortic balloon pumping at some time during the peri-operative period. Results: Operative mortality was 10% (10 patients). During follow-up 30 patients died, at an average of 39 months after surgery (range: 3-142 months). Actuarial long-term survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 79%, 72% and 64.5%, respectively. Trans esophageal echocardiogram performed in the operating room showed none or minimal residual mitral insufficiency in 96% of the cases. Echocardiographic follow-up was completed in 80% of the survivors; 79% of them had no or minimal mitral insufficiency. Only one patient was re-operated on due to severe mitral insufficiency and 4 required a permanent pacemaker. Conclusions: Considering the critical illness of these patients, good long-term results were observed after treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation performing a mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring.

Reemplazo valvular aórtico con prótesis biológica en pacientes mayores de 70 años con estenosis aórtica / Aortic valve replacement with bioprosthesis in patients 70 years old or older with aortic stenosis

Background: Aortic valve stenosis is the most prevalent valvulopathy in the elderly, but it is frequently undertreated. Aim: To assess early and long term results of valve replacement with bioprostheses in patients 70 years old or older with aortic stenosis. Patients and Methods: A review of the database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Service of our hospital, for the period 1990-2007, identified 156 patients with aortic valve stenosis, aged 76.7 ± 4.5 years (67 percent males), that were subjected to an aortic valve replacement with bioprosthesis. Seventy eight (50 percent) were in functional class III-IV. Six patients had emergency surgery. In 67 patients (43 percent) coronary artery bypass graft were performed. Long term mortality was ascertained obtaining death records from Chilean death registry. Results: Operative mortality was 3.2 percent (5 patients). Four patients (2.6 percent) required a reoperation due to bleeding. The mean follow up was 66 ± 41 months. The survival rate at 1, 3 and 5years was 94 percent, 88 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Forty two patients (27 percent) were 80years old or older. In this sub-group, 1 patient (2.3 percent) died during the peri operative period and the estimated survival rate at 1, 3 and 5years was 97 percent, 92 percent, and 80 percent, respectively. Multivariate risk analysis, for the whole group, identified low ejection fraction and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery as predictors of late mortality. Conclusions: Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis with bioprostheses in patients 70 years old or older had low perioperative mortality and morbidity and a good long term survival.

[Long-term results of mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral insufficiency]. / Resultados alejados de la cirugía reparadora de la insuficiencia mitral isquémica.

BACKGROUND: The preferred treatment for ischemic mitral insufficiency is mitral valve repair with a prosthetic ring, because it does not deteriorate left ventricular function, allowing better immediate and long-term results. AIM: To assess long-term results of mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring for ischemic mitral insufficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (68 men), with a mean age of 65.7 ± 8.6 years were included. They underwent a mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring to treat ischemic mitral insufficiency, between February 1992 and May 2009. Forty four had a history of prior myocardial infarction and 46 had an evolving acute coronary syndrome. The inferior left ventricular wall was involved, exclusively or associated with an adjacent wall, in 72 cases. Coronary artery bypass grafts were performed in 92 patients and 32 required intra-aortic balloon pumping at some time during the peri-operative period. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 10% (10 patients). During follow-up 30 patients died, at an average of 39 months after surgery (range: 3-142 months). Actuarial long-term survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 79%, 72% and 64.5%, respectively. Trans esophageal echocardiogram performed in the operating room showed none or minimal residual mitral insufficiency in 96% of the cases. Echocardiographic follow-up was completed in 80% of the survivors; 79% of them had no or minimal mitral insufficiency. Only one patient was re-operated on due to severe mitral insufficiency and 4 required a permanent pacemaker. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the critical illness of these patients, good long-term results were observed after treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation performing a mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring.

[Complete repair in a single period of circulatory arrest of a ruptured atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm. Report of one case]. / Aneurisma del cayado aórtico roto. Reparación exitosa en un solo período de paro circulatorio.

The aortic arch aneurysm is a complex disease with a growing incidence in our population. We report a 64 year-old female with an atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 9.4 cm and evidence of contained rupture. We performed a complete aortic arch replacement in a single period of 100 minutes of circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia and brain protection with anterograde cerebral perfusion through the right axillary artery. The patient had a complete recovery without evidence of neurological damage and was extubated on the next morning. One year later, the patient is asymptomatic and the peri-aortic haematoma was completely reabsorbed.

[Sixty years of mitral valve surgery]. / 60 años de cirugía de la válvula mitral: Una historia de exploradores, pioneros, héroes y conquistadores de nuestros tiempos.

On June 10, 1948, Charles Bailey, MD, operated successfully a mitral valve stenosis in Philadelphia and six days later, Dwight Harken, MD, performed the same operation in Boston, marking the onset of cardiovascular surgery. These successful operations were preceded by several failures and even deaths, that had to be overcome by both pioneers. This manuscript reviews several cases and situations that these surgeons had to face during the development of cardiovascular surgery, that changed the natural history of cardiac diseases. The history culminates with the successful mitral valve replacement, performed by Albert Starr using a mechanical valve designed by him and Lowell Edwards, a retired engineer whose primary interest was to develop an artificial heart. The first mitral commissurotomy in Chile was performed by Svante Tornvall, MD, and Pedro Uribe, MD, at van Buren Hospital in Valparaiso in December, 1950. The first mitral valve replacement was performed by Hugo Salvestrini, MD, in 1964 at the Catholic University Hospital.

Actualización sobre endocarditis infecciosa en válvula protésica / Up-date in prosthetic valve endocarditis

La endocarditis en válvulas protésicas es aún tema de controversia, en especial en referencia al tipo de tratamiento que se debe elegir. Debido a que los conocimientos actuales sobre esta patología están basados principalmente en la literatura y por ende, en sus variados exponentes (experiencias clínicas, revisiones sistemáticas, guía clínicas de diferentes sociedades de cardiología, estudios observacionales, entre otros), es necesario hacer una actualización continua de la información. Esta revisión bibliográfica se centra en la incidencia, etiología, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la endocarditis protésica. En ella se llega la conclusión de que los principales microorganismos productores de esta patología son el Estafilococo aureus y el Estafilococo coagulasa-negativo. También se reconocen aquellos factores de riesgo para los cuales la cirugía es mandatoria, entre los que destacan las infecciones por S. aureus y la endocarditis protésica complicada, ya sea por insuficiencia cardíaca, alteración de la conducción, formación de abscesos y/o embolias recurrentes. De esta manera, con la información recopilada, se identificaron aquellos pacientes con opción a tratamiento médico, y aquellos con indicación de manejo quirúrgico. Para presentar mejor nuestras conclusiones, se construyeron esquemas de fácil consulta y lectura, para apoyar la decisión del tipo de manejo frente a una endocarditis en válvulas protésicas.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis is still a matter of controversy especially the type of treatment that should be chosen for an individual patient. Since the current knowledge of this pathology is based mainly on the literature and in its many and varied exponents (clinical experience, systematic review, practice guidelines of cardiology associations, observational studies, etc), it is necessary to update the information continuously This review is focused mainly in the incidence, etiology diagnostics and treatment of prosthetic endocarditis. The principal microroganisms related to this pathology are Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphyloccoco. Risk factors were identified for witch surgery is mandatory, such us Staphylococcus aureus infection and a complicated prosthetic valve endocarditis (cardiac failure, conduction abnormalities, abscess formation and recurrent embolism). With this information, patients that could have a medical treatment option can be recognized, as well as those who will require surgery. In order to present in a better way our conclusions, easily reading diagrams were included to facilitate the decision process when facing up a prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Aneurisma del cayado aórtico roto: Reparación exitosa en un solo período de paro circulatorio / Complete repair in a single period of circulatory arrest of a ruptured atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm: Report of one case

The aortic arch aneurysm is a complex disease with a growing incidence in our population. We report a 64 year-old female with an atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 9.4 cm and evidence of contained rupture. We performed a complete aortic arch replacement in a single period of 100 minutes of circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia and brain protection with anterograde cerebral perfusión through the right axillary artery. The patient had a complete recovery without evidence of neurological damage and was extubated on the next morning. One year later, the patient is asymptomatic and the peri-aortic haematoma was completely reabsorbed.

60 años de cirugía de la válvula mitral: una historia de exploradores, pioneros, héroes y conquistadores de nuestros tiempos / Sixty years of mitral valve surgery

El 10 de junio de 1948 Charles P. Bailey operó por primera vez con éxito una estenosis de la válvula mitral, en la ciudad de Filadelfia. Seis días más tarde, el 16 de junio del mismo año, Dwight E. Harken, en Boston, operó otro caso exitoso de estenosis mitral. Con estas 2 intervenciones pioneras se inició la cirugía de corazón propiamente tal, ya que si bien en 1896 Ludwig Rehn, en Francfort, había suturado una herida de corazón, Robert Gross, en Boston, en 1938 había ligado un ductus arterioso persistente; Clarens Crafoord, en Estocolmo, en 1944, había operado una coartación aórtica, y, más tarde, en 1945, Alfred Blalock, en Baltimore, había efectuado la anastomosis de una rama del cayado aórtico a la arteria pulmonar en un paciente con una tetralogía de Fallot, la cirugía cardiovascular era, en la práctica, hasta 1948, una cirugía "extracardiaca".Para tener una idea de lo que hasta ese entonces significaba ser portador de una valvulo-patía mitral es oportuno releer lo que José Luis Arraño, interno del Hospital San Juan de Dios a comienzos de los años 30, en un librillo titulado "Morbus", publicado en 1934, escribió acerca de un paciente portador de una valvulopatía mitral.