A new cannula for antegrade selective cerebral perfusion.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to perform antegrade selective cerebral perfusion with a different surgical technique using a new type of cannula. METHODS: This cannula has been designed to be introduced in the supra-aortic vessels directly using a standard guidewire technique (Seldinger technique). The cannula can also be inserted from the ostia of a vessel if preferred. Furthermore, this device can be introduced before the institution of hypothermic circulatory arrest and opening the aortic arch. RESULTS: We have performed operations on 5 patients so far using this cannula. No stroke or spinal cord injuries were detected. At the moment, both intraoperatively and at computed tomography scan follow-up, no significant stenosis of the cannulation sites were noted. Follow-up at 2 years found that patients are alive and free from new major neurological events. CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial introduction using the Seldinger technique of our cannula (AV Flow; MedEurope Srl, Bologna, Italy) represents an alternative to the current well-established techniques. The major advantages we describe are complete cerebral protection throughout the hypothermic circulatory arrest and easier arch vessels reimplantation or hemiarch operations.

Performing Antegrade Selective Cerebral Perfusion Using the AV Cannula: A Novel Approach.

Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion has become the preferred choice for brain protection during aortic arch surgery. To perform antegrade selective cerebral perfusion, cannulas have been introduced directly into the ostia of the supra-aortic vessels (SAV) after institution of hypothermic circulatory arrest and opening the aortic arch. We describe a different surgical technique with a new type of cannula for antegrade selective cerebral perfusion. This cannula, called AV (Andrea Venturini) cannula, has been designed to be introduced in the SAV directly using a standard guidewire technique (Seldinger's technique). The AV cannula can also be introduced from the ostia of the SAV if preferred. The AV cannula can be introduced before the institution of hypothermic circulatory arrest and before opening the aortic arch. One great advantage of this technique is that the ostia of the SAV remain free from a cannula, allowing the operator easier access and a faster anastomosis or reimplantation.

Left atrial wall hematoma as a consequence of percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Intramural left atrial dissection and hematoma as a complication of a coronary stenting procedure is a very rare entity. We report the case of a 73-year-old man who underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty for a severe stenosis of the left circumflex coronary artery, complicated by a left atrial intramural hematoma, and was successfully treated with via a minimally invasive port-access surgical approach.

Aortic valve replacement with the Sorin Pericarbon Freedom stentless prosthesis: 7 years' experience in 130 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic stentless pericardial valves were introduced into clinical practice to combine properties of both stentless and pericardial prostheses. The aim of this single-center retrospective study was to assess midterm clinical and hemodynamic results of aortic valve replacement with the Sorin Pericarbon Freedom stentless bioprosthesis. METHODS: From July 1999 through November 2005, 130 consecutive patients (73 [56.1%] male patients) underwent aortic valve replacement with the Sorin Pericarbon Freedom bioprosthesis at our institution. Mean age was 76 +/- 5 years (range, 42-86 years), and associated procedures were performed in 50 (38.4%) patients; of these, 41 were coronary artery bypass grafts. Surgical intervention under urgent/emergency conditions and reoperations were performed in 18 (13.8%) and 7 (5.3%) patients, respectively. Mean crossclamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 82 +/- 24 and 125 +/- 40 minutes, respectively. All patients underwent clinical and echocardiographic follow-up (100% complete), and the total cumulative follow-up was 324 patient/years (mean, 2.5 +/- 1.8; range, 6 months-7 years). RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 8.4%. Overall patient survival was 63% +/- 6% and 50% +/- 10% at 5 and 7 years, respectively. Late deaths occurred in 23 patients, and 6 of them were valve related (1.8% patient/years). Freedom from valve-related death and reoperation was 91% +/- 4% and 94% +/- 4%, respectively, at 7 years. No structural valve deterioration was observed. Endocarditis, thromboembolism, and hemorrhagic complications occurred in 2 (0.6% patient/years), 1 (0.3% patient/years), and 1 (0.3% patient/years) patients, respectively. Mean transprosthetic gradients for valve sizes 23, 25, and 27 were 12.1 +/- 3.8, 10.8 +/- 3.8, and 9 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Sorin Pericarbon Freedom stentless bioprosthesis provides good early and midterm results in terms of hemodynamic performance, survival, and freedom from valve-related complications.