Altered right ventricular function in the long-term follow-up evaluation of patients after delayed aortic reimplantation of the anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

This study aimed to evaluate regional and global ventricular functions in the long term after aortic reimplantation of the anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) and to assess whether the time of surgical repair influences ventricular performance.The study examined 20 patients with a median age of 15 years (range 3-37 years) who had a corrected ALCAPA and 20 age-matched control subjects using echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The median follow-up period after corrective surgery was 6 years (range 2.6-15 years). Seven patients underwent surgery before the age of 3 years (early-surgery group), whereas 13 patients had surgery after that age (late-surgery group). The TDI-derived myocardial strain of the interventricular septum (IVS), lateral wall of the left ventricle (LV), and lateral wall of the right ventricle (RV) in the basal and mid regions were examined, and a mean was calculated. The pulsed Doppler-derived Tei index was used to assess global left ventricular function. No significant differences were found between the early-surgery group and the control group regarding the regional myocardial strain or the Tei index. Compared with the early-surgery group, the late-surgery group had a significantly higher Tei index (mean 0.37; range 0.31-0.42 vs. mean 0.52; range 0.39-0.69; p < 0.005), a lower strain percentage of the lateral wall of the LV (mean 29; range 17-30 vs. mean 9; range 7-23), IVS (mean 23; range 21-31 vs. mean 19; range 13-25), and lateral wall of the RV (mean 23; range 21-31 vs. mean 19; range 13-25). The age at operation correlated significantly with the Tei index (r = 0.84, p < 0.001) and inversely with the mean strain of the lateral wall of the LV (r = -0.53, p = 0.028), IVS (r = -0.68, p = 0.003), and lateral wall of the RV (r = -0.68, p = 0.003). At the midterm follow-up evaluation after corrective surgery of ALCAPA, not only the left but also the right ventricular function seemed to be affected in patients with delayed diagnosis and late surgical repair but preserved among the younger patients with early diagnosis and corrective surgery.

Pre-explant stability of unloading-promoted cardiac improvement predicts outcome after weaning from ventricular assist devices.

BACKGROUND: Detection of cardiac recovery that allows long-term cardiac stability after ventricular assist device (VAD) explantation is a major goal. After normalization of ventricular diameters during unloading, the pre-explant left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) allows the detection of patients with the potential to remain stable after VAD explantation. However, some patients with LVEF >45 before VAD explantation show early recurrence of heart failure (HF). We aimed to find out if unstable improvement can be recognized before VAD explantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 96 patients weaned from VADs since 1995, a relatively homogenous group of 53 patients with nonischemic chronic cardiomyopathy (CCM) was selected for the study. The pre-explant stability of major parameters of LV function, size, and geometry that were measured by echocardiography during serial "off-pump" trials was tested for relationship with cardiac stability after VAD explantation. LVEF, systolic peak wall motion velocity (Sm), end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), end-diastolic relative wall thickness (RWT(ED)) and end-diastolic short/long-axis ratio (S/L(ED)) were selected for evaluation. In postweaning unstable patients, the selected parameters showed relevant instability already before VAD explantation during the time period between best cardiac improvement and VAD explantation and also during the final off-pump trial just before VAD explantation. For all parameters, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in pre-explant changes between patients with and without postweaning cardiac stability. Using the optimal cutoff values obtained from receiver-operating characteristic analysis, we found for our selected parameters predictive values for postexplant cardiac stability of ≥1 year, ≥3 years, and ≥5 years, ranging between 94 and 100, 92, and 100, and 78 and 100, respectively. Using for all parameter changes the cutoff value of 10, we found similar predictive values for cardiac stability of ≥1 year, ≥3 years, and ≥5 years, ranging between 93 and 97, 90 and 96, and 83 and 92, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest the possibility to improve the prediction of postexplant transplant/VAD-free outcome in CCM patients with cardiac improvement during VAD support by analyzing the pre-explant stability of several LV off-pump echocardiographic parameters during serial off-pump trials.

Temporary right ventricular mechanical support in high-risk left ventricular assist device recipients versus permanent biventricular or total artificial heart support.

Early planned institution of temporary right ventricular assist device (RVAD) support with the CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA, USA) in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients was compared with permanent biventricular assist device (BVAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) support. Between 2007 and 2011, 77 patients (age range: 25-70 years) with preoperative evidence of biventricular dysfunction (University of Pennsylvania score >50; University of Michigan score >5) were included. Forty-six patients (38 men; median age 54.5 years, range: 25-70 years) underwent LVAD placement combined with temporary RVAD support (group A); in 31 patients (25 men; median age 56.7 years, range: 28-68 years), a permanent BVAD or TAH implantation (group B) was performed. Within 30 days, 12 patients from group A (26.08%) and 14 patients from group B (45.1%) died on mechanical support (P = 0.02). Thirty patients (65.2%) in group A were weaned from temporary RVAD support and three (6.5%) underwent permanent RVAD (HeartWare, Inc., Framingham, MA, USA) placement. A total of 26 patients (56.5%) were discharged home in group A versus 17 (54.8%) in group B (P = 0.56). Three patients (8.5%) received heart transplantation in group A and six (19.3%) in group B (P = 0.04). In group A, 90-day and 6-month survival was 54.3% (n = 25) versus 51.6% (n = 16) in group B (P = 0.66). In group A, 1-year survival was 45.6% (n = 21) versus 45.1% (n = 14) in group B (P = 0.81). The strategy of planned temporary RVAD support in LVAD recipients showed encouraging results if compared with those of a similar permanent BVAD/TAH population. Weaning from and removal of the temporary RVAD support may allow patients to be on LVAD support only despite preoperative biventricular dysfunction.

Further experience with the "no-react" bioprosthesis in patients with active infective endocarditis: 11-year single center results in 402 patients.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated early, midterm, and long-term results following valve replacement with the "No-React" bioprosthesis in patients with active infective endocarditis (AIE).Patients and Methods Between February 2000 and February 2011, a total of 402 patients (median 61 years, 17 to 91 years) received "No-React" bioprostheses due to single valve AIE in 315 (aortic valve replacement n = 158, aortic conduit n = 30, mitral valve replacement n = 116, tricuspid valve replacement n = 11) and double valve AIE in 87 cases. Prosthetic AIE was found in 105 patients (26.1%). Mean follow-up was 2.8 ± 3.2 years (1 month to 11.4 years) with 1,124 patient years, completed in 97.1%. This retrospective study analyzes both prospectively updated data (n = 255) and patients recently operated upon (n = 147). RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in the survival between patients operated on urgently and patients operated on in an emergency (30-day, 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival were 80.9 ± 2.3%, 63.8 ± 2.9%, 48.3 ± 3.3%, and 39.7 ± 4.1% vs. 61.3 ± 4.5%, 45.0 ± 4.7%, 33.1 ± 4.6%, and 14.0 ± 5.1%, respectively, p < 0.001), due to native versus prosthetic AIE (p = 0.032), single versus double valve replacement (p = 0.005), and with or without abscess formation (p < 0.001). Thirty-day, 1-, 5-, and 10-year freedom from reoperation due to recurrent endocarditis were 100%, 95.1 ± 1.4%, 86.4 ± 2.6%, and 82.1 ± 3.6% and due to structural valve deterioration (SVD) were 100%, 100%, 98.9 ± 0.8%, and 91.4 ± 4.0%, respectively. There was no difference in prosthesis durability between the older (> 60 years) and the younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience in the use of "No-React" bioprostheses in patients with native and prosthetic AIE shows satisfactory early, midterm, and long-term results, in particular low rates of reoperation due to recurrent endocarditis and SVD. Because these prostheses are readily available and their implantation straightforward, we strongly recommend their use in patients with AIE. Patients' survival differed significantly depending on their surgical urgency. Early mortality was independently predicted by septic shock, abscess formation, and number of implanted valves besides age per 10 years.

Heart failure reversal by ventricular unloading in patients with chronic cardiomyopathy: criteria for weaning from ventricular assist devices.

AIMS: Unloading-promoted reversal of heart failure (HF) allows long-term transplant-free outcome after ventricular assist device (VAD) removal. However, because few patients with chronic cardiomyopathy (CCM) were weaned from VADs (the majority only recently), the reliability of criteria used for weaning decisions to predict long-term post-weaning success is barely known. After 15 years of weaning experience, we assessed this issue. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 47 patients with CCM as the underlying cause for HF, who were part of a total of 90 patients weaned from bridge-to-transplant-designed VADs since 1995, we analysed data on cardiac morphology and function collected before VAD implantation, echocardiographic parameters recorded during 'off-pump' trials, duration of HF before implantation, and stability of recovery before and early after VAD removal. Post-weaning 5 year freedom from HF recurrence reached 66%. Only five patients (10.6%) died due to HF recurrence or weaning-related complications. Pre-explantation off-pump left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥50 and ≥45% revealed predictive values for cardiac stability lasting ≥5 years after VAD removal of 91.7 and 79.1%, respectively. With each unit of LVEF reduction, the risk of HF recurrence became 1.5 times higher. The predictive value of LVEF ≥45% also became >90% if additional parameters like pre-explantation LV size and geometry, stability of unloading-induced cardiac improvement before VAD removal, and HF duration before VAD implantation were also considered. Definite cut-off values for certain parameters (including tissue-Doppler-derived LV wall motion velocity) allowed formulation of weaning criteria with high predictability for post-weaning stability, also in patients with incomplete cardiac recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular assist device removal in CCM patients is feasible and can be successful even after incomplete cardiac recovery. Parameters of pre-explantation cardiac function, LV size and geometry, their stability during final off-pump trials, and HF duration allow detection of patients with the potential to remain stable for >5 post-weaning years.

[Technical possibilities and limitations of mechanical circulatory support]. / Herzinsuffizienz - Technische Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Mechanischen Kreislaufunterstützung.

Ventricular assist devices (VAD) to support the left (LVAD), the right (RVAD) or both ventricles (BVAD) have emerged as one standard of care for advanced heart failure patients. Initially used to bridge patients to transplantation (BTT) they are now more frequently implanted as permanent support (destination therapy, DT). Bridge to recovery (BTR) is a valid option for only a small number of patients. Although there are different devices available, patient selection, preoperative and intraoperative management, and the timing of VAD implantation are the elements critical to successful circulatory support.

Surgery for active infective mitral valve endocarditis: a 20-year, single-center experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the early and long-term results of mitral valve repair (MVRep) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) in patients with isolated infective mitral valve endocarditis. METHODS: Between May 1986 and December 2007, a total of 1,163 patients with active infective endocarditis (AIE) were operated on. Of these patients, 497 showed an endocarditic involvement of the mitral valve. Sixty-one of these patients underwent MVRep and 219 MVR, with 24% cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The patients' perioperative characteristics, cumulative survival, freedom from recurrence and reoperation and independent risk factors for early mortality were analyzed. Follow up (0-21 years) was complete in 96.5% of cases; the total follow up was 348 and 810 patient-years (pt-yr) in the MVRep and MVR groups, respectively. RESULTS: Typically, the MVR patients were significantly older (p < or = 0.001), preoperatively more often intubated (p = 0.008) and in cardiogenic shock (p = 0.045), and more often underwent emergency surgery (p = 0.023). MVRep was associated with a significantly better survival, with 30-day, one-, five- and 10-year survival rates of 90.1 +/- 3.9%, 83.2 +/- 4.8%, 77.0 +/- 5.7% and 60.5 +/- 8.0%, respectively (p = 0.002). Survival after MVR was significantly worse with abscess formation (p = 0.0002) and PVE (p = 0.038). Freedom from reoperation due to reinfection after 10 years was 89.4 +/- 7.0% after MVRep, with early endocarditis recurrence in two patients (3%), and 91.0 +/- 2.5% after MV, with early recurrence in four patients (2%) (p = 0.46). Multivariate analysis identified preoperative ventilation (OR = 6.3), mitral valve abscess formation (OR = 5.3), PVE (OR = 3.1) and age > or = 60 years (OR = 2.8) as independent risk factors for early mortality. CONCLUSION: Compared to the MVRep group, patients requiring MVR had more advanced endocarditis and were more critically ill. These results suggest that the early outcome might have been improved if patients had been operated on before either heart failure or the development of septic shock. MVRep for AIE showed a low operative mortality and provided satisfactory freedom from recurrent infection and repeat operation. If all infected material could be resected such that the remaining tissue would allow the re-shaping of a competent valve, then MVRep could be performed also in infective endocarditis, in line with the general recommendations for mitral valve surgery.

Modified repair in patients with Ebstein's anomaly.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Since 1988, a modified repair technique has been used at the authors' institution to treat patients with Ebstein's anomaly. This technique restructures the valve mechanism at the level of the true tricuspid annulus by using the most mobile leaflet for valve closure, without plication of the atrialized chamber. A total of 19 patients had additional attachment of the anterior right ventricular wall to the interventricular septum (Sebening's stitch) and reconstruction of the tricuspid valve as a double-orifice valve. The long-term results of the study are presented. METHODS: Between 1988 and 2008, tricuspid valve repair was performed in 50 patients with Ebstein's anomaly (33 females, 17 males; median age 22 years; range: 0.6 to 60 years), at the authors' institution. The median follow up was 68 months (range: 5 to 238) months. Details of the survival rate, reoperations, NYHA class, maximal VO2, right ventricular function (velocity-time integral pulmonary artery (VTI-PA)), and tricuspid valve insufficiency were documented. RESULTS: No patient deaths occurred during surgery; the early mortality was 7.1%, and late mortality 2.4%. Those patients who died were all aged > 50 years, and in NYHA class III or IV. No additional patient deaths have occurred since 2004. Four reoperations were necessary. Both, the NYHA class and tricuspid valve insufficiency were improved significantly (from 3.1 to 1.8; p < 0.001 and from 3.2 to 1.9; p < 0.001, respectively). The VTI-PA was increased significantly, with a stable heart rate (p = 0.01). No aneurysm of the right ventricle was observed. CONCLUSION: The long-term follow up demonstrated good clinical results in tricuspid repair, without plication of the right ventricle, even in cases where tricuspid valve replacement was discussed. Modifications seemed to support these results. Surgery in older patients with a progressive NYHA class seemed to carry a higher operative mortality.

Prediction of cardiac stability after weaning from left ventricular assist devices in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: During ventricular assist device (VAD) unloading, cardiac recovery is possible even in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). We sought parameters predictive of cardiac stability after VAD removal. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 81 patients weaned since March 1995, a homogenous group of 35 with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy weaned from left VADs was selected. We evaluated echo data obtained before left VAD implantation and during "off-pump" trials before explantation, histological changes, and serum anti-beta1-adrenoceptor-autoantibody disappearance during unloading, duration of unloading, and HF duration. Postweaning 10-year survival with native hearts reached 70.7+/-9.2%. During the first 5 years, HF recurred in 13 patients (37.1%). Only 6 (17.1%) died after HF recurrence or noncardiac complications related to left VAD explantation. Comparison of patients with and without long-term cardiac stability showed that stable patients were younger, HF history and recovery time during unloading shorter, and preweaning left ventricular assessment revealed higher left ventricular ejection fraction, lower short/long axis ratios, and higher end diastolic relative wall thicknesses. For left ventricular ejection fraction >/=45% at end diastolic diameter of /=5-year cardiac stability was 87.5%. Left ventricular ejection fraction time course during the first 6 postweaning months appeared predictive for long-term stability. HF history >5 years and preweaning instability of cardiac improvement appeared predictive for HF recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, left VAD removal can be successful for >12 years even with incomplete cardiac recovery. Pre-explantation left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end diastolic diameter and relative wall thicknesses, stability of unloading-induced cardiac recovery, duration of left VAD support, and HF duration before left VAD insertion allow identification of patients able to remain stable for >5 years. Time course of left ventricular ejection fraction during the first 6 postweaning months allows prognostic assessment.

Staged surgical palliation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome and its variants.

BACKGROUND: Surgical options for infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and/or its variants are cardiac transplantation or the heart-preserving staged palliation with Norwood operation,followed by a two-staged Fontan procedure. We describe our 17-year experience with staged palliation of HLHS and/or its variants. METHODS: Between December 1989 and December 2006, 64 patients with HLHS and/or its variants underwent a Norwood procedure (mean age/weight, 11.8+/-2.5 days/3.4 kg). Forty-four patients had classical HLHS. Twenty-eight percent had associated congenital cardiac, structural, and genetic anomalies. Subsequently, 25 patients underwent a bidirectional Glenn procedure (stage II) and 11 patients a modified Fontan procedure (stage III). Others await stage II and/or stage III. The follow-up was 143.2 patient-years. RESULTS: Including the learning curve, overall early mortality from 1989 to 1999 after the Norwood procedure was 39.06%. This decreased tremendously for the last seven years, and reduced to 12.8% in 2000 to 2003 until 0% in 2004 to 2006 (p < 0.005). The causes of mortality were sepsis, capillary leak,or heart failure. Three patients died between stages II and III. One patient underwent heart transplantation after the second stage because of heart failure. Among 34 Norwood survivors, four are slightly tachypneic from a mild pulmonary hyperperfusion; one presents symptoms of minimal brain disease. CONCLUSION: This report identified an outcome improvement after staged palliation of HLHS, attributed to an increase in experience and expertise gained over time. Lower operative weight, ascending aortic size, prolonged duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, and hypothermic circulatory arrest were identified to significantly influence early mortality after the Norwood procedure.

A right-sided aortic arch with Kommerell's diverticulum of the aberrant left subclavian artery presenting with syncope.

A right-sided aortic arch with an aneurysm of the aberrant subclavian artery is a rare disease. We report a case of Kommerell's diverticulum of an aberrant left subclavian artery in a patient with a right-sided aortic arch. Fewer than 50 cases have been reported in the literature. A number of operative strategies are described. Right thoracotomy provides good exposure and avoids the morbidity associated with bilateral thoracotomy or sternotomy and thoracotomy. In our patient with symptoms of dysphagia, syncope, and left subclavian steal syndrome, a left thoracotomy was used. The repair was accomplished by division of a left ligamentum arteriosum, obliteration of the Kommerell's aneurysm, and an aorto-subclavian bypass. Postoperative complications included left vocal cord palsy and Horner's syndrome. Hoarseness and left ptosis recovered spontaneously 3 months after surgery, and the patient remained symptom-free at the 1-year follow-up. We believe a left thoracotomy for direct repair of Kommerell's diverticulum is a simple and safe method without the increased morbidity found in other procedures.

Conventional surgical repair and endovascular treatment of acute traumatic aortic rupture.

OBJECTIVE: Endoluminal aortic stent grafting offers a potentially less invasive alternative to open chest surgery, especially in patients with polytrauma. We compare the results of conventional surgical repair and endovascular treatment of traumatic aortic rupture. METHODS: Retrospectively, 74 patients with acute traumatic aortic rupture were analyzed. Most of the patients had a rupture limited to the isthmus, and severe associated injuries. Thirty-five patients (6 female, 29 male, mean age 36 years) underwent surgical repair. Two patients were operated upon without cardiopulmonary bypass. In 39 patients (5 female, 34 male, mean age 36 years) thoracic endografts were implanted. The delay between trauma and treatment was comparable in the two groups. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 20% (7 of 35 patients) in the surgical group and 7.7% (3 of 39 patients) in the endovascular group. The most common cause of death in the surgical group was brain death in severe traumatic patients. Ten surgical complications occurred in 5 patients: respiratory insufficiency (n=3), pulmonary infection (n=2), recurrent nerve palsy (n=2), repeat thoracotomy (n=2), and compartment syndrome (n=1). No patient in this group had paraplegia. Except for one case, which required conversion to conventional surgery, stent-graft implantation was successful in all cases, without peri-interventional complications or procedure-induced paraplegia. In 9 patients the left subclavian artery was covered with the device. Two patients underwent surgical repair 15 days and 4 months after endografting because of injury of the aortic wall by the stent and development of a spurious aneurysm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic rupture, the early outcome of patients treated with endovascular stent grafts appears to be better than that with conventional surgical repair. The new technique allows safe and successful repair of this life-threatening injury in the early phase of trauma management. How far this potential benefit is sustained in the long term remains unclear at present.

Surgical therapy in patients with active infective endocarditis: seven-year single centre experience in a subgroup of 255 patients treated with the Shelhigh stentless bioprosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated outcomes after surgical therapy in patients with active infective endocarditis (AIE) with regard to survival in relation to surgical urgency, valve position, number of valves implanted and abscess formation. We aimed to identify independent risk factors for early mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients received Shelhigh bioprostheses between February 2000 and March 2007. A total of 74.1% had native and 25.9% prosthetic AIE. Surgery was regarded as urgent in 57.3% and as an emergency procedure in 38.4%. There was a highly significant difference in survival rate between patients who were operated on urgently versus in an emergency (p<0.0001), between single and double valve replacement (p=0.0206) and between patients with and without abscess formation (p=0.0245). There were two cases of early reinfection (0.78%) and six of late reinfection (2.35%) leading to re-operation. CONCLUSIONS: The survival of patients differs significantly in dependence on their surgical urgency. Better outcome could have been achieved if patients had been referred earlier for surgery and operated upon before heart failure or septic shock developed. Long-term survival was better in patients without abscess formation. The low reinfection rate of Shelhigh bioprostheses in AIE is promising and the early and mid-term results achieved need to be verified in the long-term course.

Explantation of INCOR left ventricular assist device after myocardial recovery.

OBJECTIVES: Myocardial recovery in patients supported by the INCOR left ventricular assist device (LVAD; Berlin Heart GmbH, Berlin, Germany) is seen in 5% of patients on this device worldwide. We describe improved surgical techniques for INCOR LVAD explantation. METHODS: The outcome of INCOR LVAD implantation at our center and the operative techniques of device explantation were studied. The patients weaned from the device were followed up. RESULTS: Out of 121 patients supported by the device, five (4.1 %) were weaned from the device, whereas 34 patients (28.1 %) underwent heart transplantation. In explantation surgery, the inflow cannula was removed (one case) or remained in the left ventricle after occlusion with an inflow cannula plug, with transection of the inflow cannula at its curve (two cases) or without transection (two cases). When the inflow cannula was occluded without the support of cardiopulmonary bypass (two cases), operative time (180 min and 210 min) was shorter than that with other explantation procedures. After mean follow-up of 2.4 years (range two months-four years) after device explantation, all five patients are alive, have not required heart transplantation and are in New York Heart Association class I (one case) or class II (four cases). After weaning from the device, no cerebrovascular complication was observed in any of the five patients. CONCLUSIONS: There is a possibility of weaning after INCOR implantation and surgical techniques for the removal of the INCOR LVAD should be further developed.

Right ventricular failure following heart transplantation--recovery after extended mechanical support.

Early graft failure, particularly right ventricular dysfunction, remains a significant determinant of early morbidity and mortality in heart transplant recipients. If conservative medical management fails to help recover cardiac allograft function, mechanical circulatory support either bridging to recovery or retransplantation remains the last option. We report on a 16-year-old patient with hypertropic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy who was weaned successfully from a right ventricular assist device (RVAD) after extended right ventricular mechanical support for three months following heart transplantation.

Heart valve operations in solid organ recipients: an 18-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of heart valve operations in solid organ recipients, who were referred for operation to our institution. METHODS: Over an 18-year period, 23 heart (group 1) and 16 renal (group 2) transplant recipients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes III and IV underwent valve operation. The mean interval from the time of transplantation to cardiac surgery was 77.9 months with a mean follow-up time of 34.6 months in group 1 and 87.2 months with a mean follow-up time of 39.2 months in group 2. RESULTS: Group 1 underwent tricuspid valve replacement (n=12), tricuspid valve reconstruction (n=7), aortic valve replacement (AVR, n=3), and mitral valve replacement (MVR, n=1). In group 2, mechanical valve replacement was performed in 14 patients (9 AVR, 3 MVR, 2 AVR and MVR) and tricuspid or mitral valve reconstruction in two patients. There was no operative death. During hospitalization, multiorgan failure due to sepsis was the main cause of mortality (2 in both groups). In the mean follow-up period of 41.2 months, there were four late non-cardiac-related deaths in group 1. Currently 29 surviving transplant recipients (16 heart, 69.6% and 13 renal, 81.3%) are in NYHA classes I and II. CONCLUSION: In heart and renal recipients, valve operations can be performed effectively and safely with acceptable mortality, low cardiac morbidity, and excellent clinical results, although infection is the most serious complication.

Mid-term follow-up in patients with diaphragmatic plication after surgery for congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Diaphragmatic palsy (DP) is a rare but severe complication after surgery for congenital heart disease. Transthoracic diaphragmatic plication is an effective means of treatment for those with respiratory impairment due to DP, but little is known about the mid-term effects of diaphragmatic plication. DESIGN: We performed a study in 24 patients with history of DP. Diaphragm movement was assessed using ultrasound. Patients with DP who were old enough were additionally followed-up with lung function and exercise testing. A group of patients with similar age, diagnoses and operations served as controls. RESULTS: Ultrasound showed that in the majority of cases with history of DP the paralysed diaphragm was static, independently of whether it was plicated or not. Patients with DP had a more restrictive lung function pattern (VC: 54.3 vs. 76.4% predicted, p<0.001; FEV(1): 58.4 vs. 86.2% predicted, p<0.001) and a lower exercise capacity compared with the control group (peak VO2: 24.5 vs. 31.3 ml/kg/min, p=0.03). Comparing patients with and without plication for DP, only a tendency towards lower lung function values in patients after diaphragmatic plication, but no differences regarding exercise capacity, could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that DP is a serious surgical complication with a reduction in lung function and exercise capacity, even at mid-term follow-up; however, diaphragmatic plication, a useful tool in treating post-surgical DP in children with respiratory impairment, seems to be without mid-term risk in terms of recovery of phrenic nerve function, lung function values, and exercise capacity.

Coronary atherosclerosis of the donor heart--impact on early graft failure.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the shortage of donor hearts, the criteria for organ acceptability have been considerably extended and donor grafts with coronary atherosclerosis are among those offered. This study evaluated whether and to what degree pre-existing coronary atherosclerosis may be acceptable. METHODS: A total of 1253 consecutive HTx recipients were investigated retrospectively for donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis (DCAS). Donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis was defined as focal atherosclerosis with stenosis of at least 50%. Inclusion criteria were absence of pre-HTx angiogram but performance of angiogram or autopsy within 6 months after heart transplantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were used. RESULTS: Eighty-five out of 1253 (6.8%) cases were excluded, since coronary evaluation was not performed within 6 months (n=45) or hearts had undergone pre-transplant angiography (n=40). In 1086 patients no donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis was found (NDCAS group) and in 82 patients (7%) donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis was diagnosed by angiography (n=49) or autopsy (n=33). Single-vessel donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis was found in 53/82 patients (DCAS1 group) and double- or triple-vessel donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis in 26/82 patients (DCAS2/3 group). Three of the 82 patients with donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis were excluded since the autopsy report was unclear regarding degree of atherosclerosis. Early after heart transplantation the 30-day mortality in the NDCAS and DCAS1 groups was 12.2% versus 13.2% whereas in the DCAS2/3 group it was 61.5%. Beyond the first year the annual decrease with and without donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis (single-vessel disease) is comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Donor screening without coronary angiogram overlooks significant atherosclerotic lesions in a considerable number of cases (7.0%). Therefore, angiographic donor screening should be performed. Donor grafts with single-vessel coronary atherosclerosis may be accepted as marginal hearts; however, in our opinion, revascularisation (CABG, PTCA) should be considered. Grafts with two- or even three-vessel coronary atherosclerosis seem to have a serious risk for early graft failure. Beyond the first year the outcome of healthy grafts and grafts with donor-transmitted coronary atherosclerosis seems to be comparable.

Surgical treatment of right-sided active infective endocarditis with or without involvement of the left heart: 20-year single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to review the 20-year experience of surgical treatment of right-sided infective endocarditis at our institution, and in particular to compare the outcome of isolated right-sided endocarditis to right-sided endocarditis with involvement of the left heart. METHODS: Between April 1986 and April 2006, 84 operations had to be performed in 79 patients (49 men, median age 43.5 years). There were 72 (85.7%) cases of native and 12 (14.3%) of prosthetic valve endocarditis. In 57 (67.9%) cases, operation was for isolated right-sided endocarditis (RSE) and in 27 (32.1%) cases for combined right and left-sided endocarditis (RLSE). Follow-up was completed in all 91% of survivors. The median follow-up time at 448 patient years was 3.59 years (range 6 months-19.27 years). RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference between the survival rates of patients operated on due to RSE compared to RLSE: the 30-day, 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-year survival rate after RSE operation was 96.2%, 88.4%, 73.5%, 70.4% and 70.4%, respectively, compared to 72.0%, 67.8%, 50.8%, 35.6% and 35.6% after operation for RLSE (p=0.0093). Patients with RLSE more often underwent emergency operations (p<0.001), preoperatively were more often on high-dose catecholamines (p<0.006) and intraoperatively showed more abscess formation (p<0.001). Freedom from reoperation at 30 days, 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-year was 97.4%, 95.9%, 92.2%, 88.6% and 88.6%, respectively. Risk factors for early mortality were priority of surgery with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.13, age over 40 years (OR 1.04 and 3.24) and left heart involvement (or 2.54). CONCLUSIONS: Our surgical strategy for right-sided infective endocarditis is based on three principles: (1) debridement of the infected area or vegetectomy; (2) valve repair whenever possible, avoiding artificial material; (3) if valve replacement is unavoidable, use of a biological substitute without any artificial material that might become infected. Following these strategies surgery of right-sided infective endocarditis with or without left-side involvement can be performed with good early, mid-term and long-term results. Patients with involvement of the left side showed not only worse preoperative conditions but also a significantly poorer clinical outcome than those with isolated right-sided infective endocarditis.

Long-term results in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy after weaning from left ventricular assist devices.

BACKGROUND: Since our first successful left ventricular assist device (LVAD) explantation in a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) in 1995, an additional 31 IDCM patients have been weaned in our department. Echocardiographic evaluations during repeated "off-pump" trials were the cornerstone for weaning decisions. After 9 years of experience, we assessed the reliability of our weaning criteria in light of the long-term results. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated all of the IDCM patients who were weaned between March 1995 and March 2004 with regard to preservation of cardiac function without LVAD support and survival after weaning. Additionally, we reviewed our echocardiographic data to assess their predictive value for long-term stability of cardiac function after weaning. The 32 weaned IDCM patients showed a survival rate of 78.3%+/-8.1 at 5 years after LVAD explantation. Heart failure (HF) recurred during the first 3 years after weaning in 31.3%. Only 2 patients died because of HF after weaning; the other patients with HF recurrence were successfully transplanted. Off-pump LV end-diastolic diameter >55 mm and/or LVEF <45% before LVAD removal, as well as history of HF > or =5 years before LVAD implantation, appeared to be major risk factors for early recurrence of HF. Patients without any of these 3 risk factors showed no HF recurrence during the first 3 years after weaning, but at the same time, all of those with at least 2 of these 3 risk factors developed early recurrence of HF. In patients with HF recurrence during the first 3 postweaning years, a significant LVEF decrease already occurred during the first month after weaning, whereas in those with long-term stable cardiac function even at the end of the sixth postweaning month, the LVEF was not different from that before LVAD removal. CONCLUSIONS: For selected patients with IDCM, weaning from LVADs is a clinical option with good results over >9 years and should, therefore, be considered in those with cardiac recovery after LVAD implantation. Off-pump echocardiographic data are reliable for the detection of LV recovery and prediction of long-term cardiac stability after weaning.