Early and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment of ebstein's anomaly

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to evaluate Ebstein's anomaly surgical correction and its early and long-term outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 62 consecutive patients who underwent surgical repair of Ebstein's anomaly in our institution from January 2000 to July 2016. The following long-term outcomes were evaluated: survival, reoperations, tricuspid regurgitation, and postoperative right ventricular dysfunction. Results: Valve repair was performed in 46 (74.2%) patients - 12 of them using the Da Silva cone reconstruction; tricuspid valve replacement was performed in 11 (17.7%) patients; univentricular palliation in one (1.6%) patient; and the one and a half ventricle repair in four (6.5%) patients. The patients' mean age at the time of surgery was 20.5±14.9 years, and 46.8% of them were male. The mean follow-up time was 8.8±6 years. The 30-day mortality rate was 8.06% and the one and 10-year survival rates were 91.9% both. Eleven (17.7%) of the 62 patients required late reoperation due to tricuspid regurgitation, in an average time of 7.1±4.9 years after the first procedure. Conclusion: In our experience, the long-term results of the surgical treatment of Ebstein's anomaly demonstrate an acceptable survival rate and a low incidence of reinterventions.

Coronary artery bypass surgery in Brazil: analysis of the national reality through the bypass registry

Abstract Introduction: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most frequently performed heart surgery in Brazil. Recent international guidelines recommend that national societies establish a database on the practice and results of CABG. In anticipation of the recommendation, the BYPASS Registry was introduced in 2015. Objective: To analyze the profile, risk factors and outcomes of patients undergoing CABG in Brazil, as well as to examine the predominant surgical strategy, based on the data included in the BYPASS Registry. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2292 patients undergoing CABG surgery and cataloged in the BYPASS Registry up to November 2018. Demographic data, clinical presentation, operative variables, and postoperative hospital outcomes were analyzed. Results: Patients referred to CABG in Brazil are predominantly male (71%), with prior myocardial infarction in 41.1% of cases, diabetes in 42.5%, and ejection fraction lower than 40% in 9.7%. The Heart Team indicated surgery in 32.9% of the cases. Most of the patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (87%), and cardioplegia was the strategy of myocardial protection chosen in 95.2% of the cases. The left internal thoracic artery was used as a graft in 91% of the cases; the right internal thoracic artery, in 5.6%; and the radial artery in 1.1%. The saphenous vein graft was used in 84.1% of the patients, being the only graft employed in 7.7% of the patients. The median number of coronary vessels treated was 3. Operative mortality was 2.8%, and the incidence of cerebrovascular accident was 1.2%. Conclusion: CABG data in Brazil provided by the BYPASS Registry analysis are representative of our national reality and practice. This database constitutes an important reference for indications and comparisons of therapeutic procedures, as well as to propose subsequent models to improve patient safety and the quality of surgical practice in the country.

Use of 3d printing in preoperative planning and training for aortic endovascular repair and aortic valve disease

Abstract Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has become an affordable tool for assisting heart surgeons in the aorta endovascular field, both in surgical planning, education and training of residents and students. This technique permits the construction of physical prototypes from conventional medical images by converting the anatomical information into computer aided design (CAD) files. Objective: To present the 3D printing feature on developing prototypes leading to improved aortic endovascular surgical planning, as well as transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and mainly enabling training of the surgical procedure to be performed on patient's specific condition. Methods: Six 3D printed real scale prototypes were built representing different aortic diseases, taken from real patients, to simulate the correction of the disease with endoprosthesis deployment. Results: In the hybrid room, the 3D prototypes were examined under fluoroscopy, making it possible to obtain images that clearly delimited the walls of the aorta and its details. The endovascular simulation was then able to be performed, by correctly positioning the endoprosthesis, followed by its deployment. Conclusion: The 3D printing allowed the construction of aortic diseases realistic prototypes, offering a 3D view from the two-dimensional image of computed tomography (CT) angiography, allowing better surgical planning and surgeon training in the specific case beforehand.

Thrombocytopenia after transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation: prognostic marker or mere finding?

Abstract Objective: To analyze the behavior of platelets after transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation for the treatment of degenerated bioprosthesis and how they correlate with adverse events upon follow-up. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 28 patients who received a valve-in-valve implant, 5 in aortic, 18 in mitral and 5 in tricuspid positions. Data were compared with 74 patients submitted to conventional redo valvular replacements during the same period, and both groups' platelet curves were analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics(r) 20 for Windows. Results: All patients in the valve-in-valve group developed thrombocytopenia, 25% presenting mild (<150.000/µL), 54% moderate (<100.000/µL) and 21% severe (<50.000/µL) thrombocytopenia. The platelet nadir was on the 4th postoperative day for aortic ViV, 2nd for mitral and 3rd for tricuspid patients, with the majority of patients recovering regular platelet count. However, the aortic subgroup comparison between valve-in-valve and conventional surgery showed a statistically significant difference from the 7th day onwards, where valve-in-valve patients had more severe and longer lasting thrombocytopenia. This, however, did not translate into a higher postoperative risk. In our study population, postoperative thrombocytopenia did not correlate with greater occurrence of adverse outcomes and only normal preoperative platelet count could significantly predict a postoperative drop >50%. Conclusion: Although thrombocytopenia is an extremely common finding after valve-in-valve procedures, the degree of platelet count drop did not correlate with greater incidence of postoperative adverse outcomes in our study population.

Do We Need to Personalize Renal Function Assessment in the Stratification of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery? / É Necessário Personalizar a Avaliação da Função Renal na Estratificação de Pacientes Submetidos à Cirurgia Cardíaca?

Abstract Background: Renal dysfunction is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. For a better assessment of renal function, calculation of creatinine clearance (CC) may be necessary. Objective: To objectively evaluate whether CC is a better risk predictor than serum creatinine (SC) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: Analysis of 3,285 patients registered in a prospective, consecutive and mandatory manner in the Sao Paulo Registry of Cardiovascular Surgery (REPLICCAR) between November 2013 and January 2015. Values of SC, CC (Cockcroft-Gault) and EuroSCORE II were obtained. Association analysis of SC and CC with morbidity and mortality was performed by calibration and discrimination tests. Independent multivariate models with SC and CC were generated by multiple logistic regression to predict morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery. Results: Despite the association between SC and mortality, it did not calibrate properly the risk groups. There was an association between CC and mortality with good calibration of risk groups. In mortality risk prediction, SC was uncalibrated with values > 1.35 mg /dL (p < 0.001). The ROC curve showed that CC is better than SC in predicting both morbidity and mortality risk. In the multivariate model without CC, SC was the only predictor of morbidity, whereas in the model without SC, CC was not only a mortality predictor, but also the only morbidity predictor. Conclusion: Compared with SC, CC is a better parameter of renal function in risk stratification of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Resumo Fundamentos: Disfunção renal é preditor independente de morbimortalidade após cirurgia cardíaca. Para uma melhor avaliação da função renal, o cálculo do clearance de creatinina (CC) pode ser necessário. Objetivo: Avaliar objetivamente se o CC é melhor que a creatinina sérica (CS) para predizer risco nos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca. Métodos: Análise em 3285 pacientes do Registro Paulista de Cirurgia Cardiovascular (REPLICCAR) incluídos de forma prospectiva, consecutiva e mandatória entre novembro de 2013 e janeiro de 2015. Foram obtidos valores de CS, CC (Cockcroft-Gault) e do EuroSCORE II. Análise de associações da CS e do CC com morbimortalidade foi realizada mediante testes de calibração e discriminação. Por regressão logística múltipla, foram criados modelos multivariados independentes com CS e com CC para predição de risco de morbimortalidade após cirurgia cardíaca. Resultados: Apesar da associação entre a CS e morbimortalidade, essa não calibrou adequadamente os grupos de risco. Houve associação entre o CC e morbimortalidade com boa calibração dos grupos de risco. Na predição do risco de mortalidade, a CS ficou descalibrada com valores >1,35 mg/dL (p < 0,001). A curva ROC revelou que o CC é superior à CS na predição de risco de morbimortalidade. No modelo multivariado sem CC, a CS foi a única preditora de morbidade, enquanto que no modelo sem a CS, o CC foi preditor de mortalidade e o único preditor de morbidade. Conclusão: Para avaliação da função renal, o CC é superior que a CS na estratificação de risco dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca.

The brazilian registry of adult patient undergoing cardiovascular surgery, the bypass project: results of the first 1,722 patients

Abstract Objective: To report the early results of the BYPASS project - the Brazilian registrY of adult Patient undergoing cArdiovaScular Surgery - a national, observational, prospective, and longitudinal follow-up registry, aiming to chart a profile of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery in Brazil, assessing the data harvested from the initial 1,722 patients. Methods: Data collection involved institutions throughout the whole country, comprising 17 centers in 4 regions: Southeast (8), Northeast (5), South (3), and Center-West (1). The study population consists of patients over 18 years of age, and the types of operations recorded were: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), mitral valve, aortic valve (either conventional or transcatheter), surgical correction of atrial fibrillation, cardiac transplantation, mechanical circulatory support and congenital heart diseases in adults. Results: 83.1% of patients came from the public health system (SUS), 9.6% from the supplemental (private insurance) healthcare systems; and 7.3% from private (out-of -pocket) clinic. Male patients comprised 66%, 30% were diabetics, 46% had dyslipidemia, 28% previously sustained a myocardial infarction, and 9.4% underwent prior cardiovascular surgery. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery were 54.1% and 31.5% to valve surgery, either isolated or combined. The overall postoperative mortality up to the 7th postoperative day was 4%; for CABG was 2.6%, and for valve operations, 4.4%. Conclusion: This first report outlines the consecution of the Brazilian surgical cardiac database, intended to serve primarily as a tool for providing information for clinical improvement and patient safety and constitute a basis for production of research protocols.

The descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is a good option in CABG with arterial grafts / Ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral femoral é boa opção para revascularização do miocárdio com enxertos arteriais

INTRODUCTION: The descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is an option for coronary artery bypass grafting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early patency and adaptation of lumen diameter using multidetector computed angiotomography. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were selected to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting using the descending branch of the lateral circumflex artery, the internal thoracic artery, and other grafts. Evaluations were carried out through high resolution computed tomography performed on the 7th and 90th postoperative day. Diameters of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex artery and the left internal thoracic artery were measured 3 cm before the distal anastomosis, in the middle portion, and 3 cm after the proximal anastomosis. Diameters were compared using paired t-test (P<0.05). RESULTS: Descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery wDescending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery was used in 26 patients, as its use was not viable in six patients (18%). It was used as composite graft in all cases. The anterior descending branch was revascularized by the left internal thoracic artery in all cases. Patency rates of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery were 96% and 92%, respectively. No occlusions were observed in the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and no ischemic events were observed in the descending branch of the lateral circumflex. Descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery increased the lumen diameter in the middle (P=0.001) and distal portions (P=0.006); the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) increased in the middle portion (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Similar to the left internal thoracic artery, the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery showed high patency rate and positive luminal adaptation. This early evaluation confirms the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery as a potential alternative for grafting. Due to anatomical variations, preoperative femoral angiographic evaluation appears to be mandatory.

INTRODUÇÃO: O ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral é um enxerto pouco avaliado e pode ser uma opção para a revascularização do miocárdio. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a perviabilidade e o remodelamento arterial do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral, em três meses de seguimento, por meio de angiotomografia de artérias coronárias. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 32 pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio com ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral, artéria torácica interna esquerda e outros enxertos. A avaliação foi realizada por meio da tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução, realizada no 7º e 90º dias de pós-operatório. O diâmetro do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral foi medido 3 cm antes da anastomose distal, na porção média e 3 cm após a anastomose proximal. As mesmas medidas foram realizadas para a artéria torácica interna esquerda. Os diâmetros foram comparados pelo método t de Student pareado (significância P<0,05). RESULTADOS: O ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral foi adequado para a utilização em 26 pacientes. Em seis (18%) pacientes, o ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral era inviável. Em todos os casos, o ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral foi empregado sob a forma de enxerto composto. Todos os pacientes receberam artéria torácica interna esquerda para o ramo descendente anterior. A perviabilidade do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral foi de 96% e 92%, em 7 e 90 dias de pós-operatório, respectivamente. Não foram detectadas oclusões da artéria torácica interna esquerda. Não foram detectados sinais de espasmo do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral. O ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral apresentou aumento de diâmetro nas porções média (P=0,001) e distal (P=0,006) e a artéria torácica interna esquerda, aumento na porção média (P=0,001). CONCLUSÃO: O remodelamento positivo sugere que o ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa lateral tem comportamento semelhante à artéria torácica interna esquerda e pode ser uma excelente opção para a revascularização do miocárdio com enxertos arteriais. Em virtude das variações anatômicas, estudos de pré-operatório podem auxiliar na seleção de casos.

InsCor: um método simples e acurado para avaliação do risco em cirurgia cardíaca / InsCor: a simple and accurate method for risk assessment in heart surgery

FUNDAMENTO: Escores de risco apresentam dificuldades para obter o mesmo desempenho em diferentes populações. OBJETIVO: Criar um modelo simples e acurado para avaliação do risco nos pacientes operados de doença coronariana e/ou valvar no Instituto do Coração da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor-HCFMUSP). MÉTODOS: Entre 2007 e 2009, 3.000 pacientes foram operados consecutivamente de doença coronariana e/ou valvar no InCor-HCFMUSP. Desse registro, dados de 2/3 dos pacientes foram utilizados para desenvolvimento do modelo (técnica de bootstrap) e de 1/3 para validação interna do modelo. O desempenho do modelo (InsCor) foi comparado aos complexos 2000 Bernstein-Parsonnet (2000BP) e EuroSCORE (ES). RESULTADOS: Apenas 10 variáveis foram selecionadas: Idade > 70 anos; sexo feminino; cirurgia de revascularização coronariana + valva; infarto de miocárdio < 90 dias; reoperação; tratamento cirúrgico da valva aórtica; tratamento cirúrgico da valva tricúspide; creatinina < 2mg/dL; fração de ejeção < 30%; e eventos. O teste de Hosmer Lemeshow para o InsCor foi de 0,184, indicando uma excelente calibração. A área abaixo da curva ROC foi de 0,79 para o InsCor, 0,81 para o ES e 0,82 para o 2000BP, confirmando que os modelos são bons e similares na discriminação. CONCLUSÕES: O InsCor e o ES tiveram melhor desempenho que o 2000BP em todas as fases da validação; pórem o novo modelo, além de se identificar com os fatores de risco locais, é mais simples e objetivo para a predição de mortalidade nos pacientes operados de doença coronariana e/ou valvar no InCor-HCFMUSP.

BACKGROUND: Risk scores show difficulties to attain the same performance in different populations. OBJECTIVE: To create a simple and accurate risk assessment model for patients submitted to surgery due to coronary and/or valvular disease at Instituto do Coração da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor-HCFMUSP). METHODS: Between 2007 and 2009, 3,000 patients were submitted to surgical procedure due to coronary artery and/or valvular disease at InCor-HCFMUSP. From this record, data of 2/3 of the patients were used for model development (bootstrap technique), and 1/3 for internal validation of the model. The performance of the model (InsCor) was compared to the 2000 Bernstein-Parsonnet (2000BP) and EuroSCORE (ES) complexes. RESULTS: Only 10 variables were selected: age > 70 years, female sex; coronary revascularization + valve, myocardial infarction < 90 days; reoperation; surgical treatment of aortic valve; surgical treatment of tricuspid valve; creatinine < 2mg/dL; ejection fraction < 30%, and events. The Hosmer Lemeshow test for the InsCor was 0.184, indicating excellent calibration. The area under the ROC curve was 0.79 for the InsCor, 0.81 for the ES and 0.82 for 2000BP, confirming that the models are good and have similar discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: The InsCor and ES performed better than 2000BP at all stages of validation, but the new model, in addition to showing identification with the local risk factors, is simpler and more objective for mortality prediction in patients undergoing surgery due to coronary and/or valvular disease at InCor-HCFMUSP.

Efficacy of aneurysmectomy in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction: favorable short-and long-term results in ischemic cardiomyopathy

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to (1) identify the functional results after aneurysm surgery in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and (2) identify predictors of favorable outcomes. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Patients (n = 169) with angiographic left ventricular ejection fraction of 22±5 percent underwent aneurysm surgery and were prospectively followed for three years. Prior to surgery, 40 percent and 60 percent of the patients were in congestive heart failure NYHA class I/II and III/IV, respectively. Concomitant revascularization was performed on 95 percent of the patients. RESULTS: Cumulative in-hospital and 36-month mortalities were 7 percent and 15 percent, respectively. These respective rates varied according to preoperative parameters: CHF class I-II, 4 percent and 13 percent; CHF class III-IV, 8 percent and 16 percent; LVEF,20 percent, 12 percent and 26 percent; LVEF 21-30 percent, 2 percent and 6 percent; gated LVEF exercise/rest .5 percent, ,1 percent and 4 percent; and gated LVEF exercise/rest #5 percent, 17 percent and 38 percent. Higher LVEF ex/rest ratio (p = 0.01), male sex (p = 0.05), and a higher number of grafts (p = 0.01) were predictive of improvement in CHF class at follow-up based on the results of a multivariate analysis. After three years of follow-up, 84 percent of the patients were in class I/II, LVEF was 45±7 percent, and gated LVEF ex/rest ratio was 13 percent higher (p,0.01) compared to the beginning of the study. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that aneurysmectomy among patients with severe LV dysfunction result in shortand long-term favorable functional outcome and survival. Selection of appropriate surgical candidates may substantially improve survival rates among these patients.

Hipertensão pulmonar na doença tromboembólica crônica / Pulmonary hypertension in chronic thromboembolic disease

Hipertensão pulmonar crônica tromboembólica é observada em até 3,8 por cento dos pacientes que sobreviveram a embolia pulmonar aguda. O desenvolvimento da técnica da tromboendarterectomia possibilitou a melhora significativa da sobrevida dos pacientes portadores de hipertensão pulmonar tromboembólica, com resolução do quadro hipertensivo na maioria dos pacientes operados. Nos últimos anos, tornou-se possível a definição de critérios mais claros para a indicação cirúrgica, assim como de marcadores de prognóstico, o que determinou significativa diminuição do risco cirúrgico associado ao procedimento. Atualmente tratamento médico com drogas está sendo feito em pacientes em que a tromboendarterectomia não apresentou bons resultados ou foi contra-indicada.

Análise da remodelação vascular na isquemia pulmonar experimental, nas fases aguda e crônica / Analysis of acute and chronic vascular remodeling in an experimental model of pulmonary ischemia

INTRODUÇAO: Alterações estruturais da circulação pulmonar traduzem processo de remodelação vascular e têm relação provável com variações locais de fluxo e isquemia. OBJETIVO: Definir as alterações histológicas na circulação pulmonar após obstrução experimental da artéria pulmonar. Correlacioná-las com os padrões de redistribuição sangüínea e remodelação vascular. MÉTODO: Foram submetidos à toracotomia esquerda 48 ratos Wistar, alocados aleatoriamente em dois grupos, com ligadura da artéria pulmonar e controle, e sacrificados com 1, 7, 30 e 60 dias. Nos pulmões retirados avaliou-se presença de sinais de injúria no parênquima e mensurou-se diâmetro externo e espessura da parede das arteríolas de bronquíolos terminais, respiratórios e alveolares. Diâmetro interno e porcentagem de espessura da parede foram calculados. RESULTADOS: Só ocorreu infarto, necrose e hemorragia no pulmão isquêmico. No não isquêmico houve aumento mantido dos diâmetros externo e interno das arteríolas, com redução inicial da espessura no 1º dia e valores semelhantes aos do grupo controle no 60º dia. No pulmão isquêmico houve redução transitória nos diâmetros externo e interno das arteríolas de bronquíolos terminais e respiratórios, com aumento, inicial e transitório, na sua espessura. As arteríolas alveolares apresentaram aumento do diâmetro externo e espessura da parede, com redução do diâmetro interno, mantida e progressiva. CONCLUSAO: Este modelo reproduz arteriopatia distal em pacientes com tromboembolismo pulmonar crônico. A resposta vascular no pulmão não isquêmico é compatível com padrão de remodelação de hiperfluxo; a no pulmão isquêmico com hipofluxo e isquemia. Nas arteríolas de bronquíolos terminais e respiratórios a resposta foi transitória. Nas alveolares foi progressiva e mantida, pela provável ocorrência tardia de hiperfluxo local.

Cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio minimamente invasiva com utilização da videotoracoscopia / Minimally Invasive Myocardial Bypass Surgery Using Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy

PURPOSE: In order to associate the major benefits of the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with a less aggressive procedure minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (MICABG) has been utilized. The aim of the work is to report our initial experience with this technical approach, using video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to facilitate the operation. METHODS: Twenty-six patients, 19 males with ages from 44 to 83 years old, and having isolated lesion of the anterior descending artery were operated upon. Left anterior minithoracotomy of 8-10 cm was performed at the fourth intercostal space. Through this incision the optical device for VATS as well as the surgical instruments were placed in order to provide the complete left internal mammary artery (LIMA) dissection. Bypass circulation was not used and cardiac rate was decreased with the use of intravenous betablockers. For LIMA--anterior descending artery anastomosis, proximal and distal tourniquets were used and 1.5 mg/kg of heparin was intravenously administered. RESULTS: All patients presented satisfactory postoperative evolution, being discharged from the hospital at 72 h after surgery in the majority of the cases. There were delay in two patients healing of incisions and 25 patients have remained asymptomatic, with a mean in postoperative follow-up of four months. One patient died in the second postoperative month due to stroke. CONCLUSION: MICABG makes the surgery possible with better esthetic effect, lower cost and enables faster recovery than the conventional one. The use of VATS through the thoracotomy itself, allows the LIMA dissection without other incisions. It also permitted more ample dissection of the LIMA when compared to minithoracotomy without VATS.

Tratamento cirúrgico da embolia pulmonar crônica: análise da experiência inicial / Surgical treatment of chronic pulmonary embolism: analysis of the initial experience

Após a tromboembolia pulmonar aguda, na maioria dos casos, ocorre lise com recanalizaçao dos ramos pulmonares. Entretanto, em pequeno, mas indeterminado número de pacientes (pts) com embolia pulmonar (EP) crônica, a incompleta resoluçao do material embólico pode resultar em grave hipertensao pulmonar. A tromboendarterectomia pulmonar (TP) é uma opçao, especialmente quando a obstruçao é proximal e os pts apresentam falência ao tratamento clínico. Dentre as técnicas cirúrgicas já empregadas, a que utiliza, atualmente, a esternotomia com circulaçao extracorpórea (CEC) e parada circulatória total (PCT) é a que tem apresentado melhores resultados. Até janeiro/95 foram operados 15 pts portadores de EP recurrente. A arteriografia pulmonar mostrou comprometimento bilateral em 66,7 por cento dos casos. Esternotomia foi realizada em 73,3 por cento dos pts. Nestes pts, a técnica utilizada foi a TP por traçao retrógrada dos trombos. Circulaçao extracorpórea foi utilizada em todos os pts, com tempo médio de 124,8 min, sendo em 66,7 por cento dos casos realizada PCT, com tempo médio de 34,2 min. Os valores pressóricos médios na artéria pulmonar eram 91/32/55 mmHg no pré e apresentaram queda para 52/15/27 mmHg no pós-operatório. Houve l (6,7 por cento) óbito hospitalar por coagulopatia e l tardio devido a problemas nao relacionados à operaçao. Dos 13 pts vivos, l (7,7 por cento) apresentou reobstruçao e 12 (92,3 por cento ) encontram-se assintomáticos sob anticoagulaçao oral, tendo retornado às atividades habituais, em um período de seguimento de até 165 meses (média 47m). Em conclusao, a TP realizada por esternotomia e, quando necessário, com auxílio de PCT é procedimento viável e seguro para resoluçao de EP crônica, levando à remissao da sintomatologia destes pts e à manutençao do resultado a longo prazo.

Evoluçäo tardia da operaçäo de Cox para fibrilaçäo atrial em valvopatia mitral / Late follow-up of the Cox operation for atrial fibrillation in mitral valvuloplasty

A operaçao de Cox para fibrilaçao atrial (FA), descrita inicialmente para os casos de FA crónica e ou paroxística, vem tendo, em nosso meio, emprego freqüente em pacientes (pts) valvopatas mitrais portadores de FA, com controle da arritmia a médio e longo prazo. Entre julho 91 e outubro 94, 32 pts (25 femininos) portadores de FA crônica e valvopatia mitral foram operados. A idade média foi de 5O,2 anos (35 a 68), sendo a valvopatia de origem reumática em 30 pts e mixomatosa em 2; 81,2 por cento dos pacientes encontravam-se em CF IV (NYHA), sendo que 9 haviam sido previamente operados e 4 tiveram episódio prévio de embolia sistêmica. O diâmetro médio do AE era de 5,5 cm e a PSAP de 55 mmHg. Todos os pts foram operados por esternotomia mediana, seguindo a técnica original descrita por Cox (Cox I) em 18 pts e a técnica modificada (Cox III) em l4 pts. Crioablaçao dos anéis mitral, tricúspide e seio coronário foi utilizada em 25 pts. Em 17 pts a valva mitral foi substituída por bioprótese de PB e conservada em 15 pts. Foram observados 2 óbitos hospitalares (baixo débito e insuficiência hepática); 14 pts fizeram uso de MP temporário no pós-operatório imediato e 4 apresentaram insuficiência respiratória com boa evoluçao. Um paciente apresentou morte súbita domiciliar, uma semana após a alta. Em 25 pts com evoluçao superior a 6 meses (média 25 m), 24 encontram-se em ritmo regular (sinusal em 19 e juncional em 5), assintomáticos e com FC média de 71,5 bpm. Contraçao atrial foi demonstrada pelo ECO, sendo menos efetiva no AE. Um paciente foi submetido a implante de MP definitivo por bradicardia sinusal no 2 mês de PO. Em conclusao, a operaçao de Cox vem mostrando resultados reprodutíveis na FA associada à doença mitral, com obtençao de ritmo regular e contraçao atrial presente. Nao houve recorrência de FA no período avaliado.