[Effects of video information in patients undergoing coronary angiography]. / Intérêt d'un film d'informations pour les patients avant coronarographie.

BACKGROUND: informed consent is a fundamental and legal obligation for each interventional cardiologist. The effect of consent form describing risks of invasive procedure on anxiety is controversial. This trial was aimed to assess the added value of video information to the standard informed consent process. METHODS: 200 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. The first one hundred were assigned to conventional education conducted by the physician (no video group) and the second one hundred had consent obtained in the conventional manner assisted by video information (video group). The outcome variables for this comparison consisted of a standard anxiety score (Spielberger Statement Anxiety Inventory questionnary) plus hemodynamics measurements of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained at baseline and immediately after written informed consent In addition, before discharge, patients graded the tolerability and satisfaction on a 4-point scale. RESULTS: The groups were similar with regard to their baseline characteristics and anxity score (37+23 vs 37+23). Patients who had not had prior experience of catheterization had higher baseline anxiety than those who had prior angiography (45 + 22 vs 31 + 20; p = 0.027). Patients who watched the video were significantly less anxious after informed consent (28 + 21 vs 34 + 22; p = 0.048) and had a significantly lower heart rate (65 + 10 vs 71 + 12; p = 0.03). The benefits of video information were especially prominent in those with higher anxiety scores at baseline (score after 45 + 24 vs 57 + 26; p = 0.046). Tolerability were higher in the video group compared with no video group (98% vs 86%; p = 0.003). Finally, satisfaction of information for informed consent process was higher in video group than in no video group (99% vs 76%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: a video information decreased anxiety level after written informed consent and improved tolerability and satisfaction scales in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The most likely to benefit from video information are patients with higher anxiety level at baseline. Beneficial effect on informed refusal should be investigated in larger population.

Myocardial cell death in fibrillating and dilated human right atria.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine if myocytes can die by apoptosis in fibrillating and dilated human atria. BACKGROUND: The cellular remodeling that occurs during atrial fibrillation (AF) may reflect a degree of dedifferentiation of the atrial myocardium, a process that may be reversible. METHODS: We examined human right atrial myocardium specimens (n = 50) for the presence of apoptotic myocytes. We used immunohistochemical and Western blotting analysis to examine the expression of a final effector of programmed cell death, caspase-3 (CASP-3) and of regulatory proteins from the BCL-2 family. RESULTS: Sections from atria in AF contained a high percentage of large myocytes with a disrupted sarcomeric apparatus replaced by glycogen granules (64.4 +/- 6.3% vs. 12.2 +/- 5.8%). These abnormal myocytes, which also predominated in atria from hearts with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (42.3 +/- 10.1%), contained large nuclei, most of which were TUNEL positive, indicating a degree of DNA breakage. None of these abnormal myocytes expressed the proliferative antigen Ki-67. A small percentage of the enlarged nuclei (4.2 +/- 0.8%) contained condensed chromatin and were strongly TUNEL positive. Both the pro- and activated forms of CASP-3 were detected in diseased myocardial samples, which also showed stronger CASP-3 expression than controls. Expression of the antiapoptotic BCL-2 protein was decreased in diseased atria, whereas that of the proapoptotic BAX protein remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: In fibrillating and dilated atria, apoptotic death of myocytes with myolysis contributes to cellular remodeling, which may not be entirely reversible.

[French modalities of myocardial revascularisation in 2001]. / Modalités de la revascularisation myocardique en France en 2001.

UNLABELLED: French modalities of myocardial revascularization were unknown, whereas beneficial effect on outcome was controversial. The study describes current practices in 2001 and analyzes those data according to regional coronary heart disease incidence and mortality. METHODS: Data are obtained from the French hospital national database (PMSI). Mortality is obtained from French mortality registry, and myocardial infarction incidence is estimated with French registries of MONICA project. RESULTS: Myocardial revascularization utilization fluctuate from 25% of patients hospitalized for coronary disease in Limousin to more than 40% of patients in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA), Languedoc-Roussillon and Ile-de-France. Standardized rate per 100,000 individuals is 109 in Pays de la Loire and 309 in Corse. Medical care offers seem to influence the practice. In the six regions where the rates are the lower, the density of interventional unit and on-pump center are below the national average, and the cardiologist density is very low. Consequences on regional clinical outcome of coronary heart disease are discussed based on mortality rate and levels of evidenced based medicine in myocardial revascularization. CONCLUSION: For the first time, we describe a wide variation of regional practices for myocardial revascularization in France. A part of those variations can be attributed to regional differences in medical care offers. Finally, the impact on clinical outcome appears clearly but seems limited. Cardiovascular prevention strategy remains of first line importance and emphasizes this main mission of cardiologists.

[Drug eluting stents: from evidence based medicine to clinical practice]. / Les stents a elution de médicaments: preuves, incertitudes et pratiques.

Drug eluting stents have been developed in order to reduce in-stent restenosis observed with a 20 to 40% rate in bare-stents. Neoinitimal smooth muscular cells proliferation have been characterized as the corner stone of in-stent restenosis. Consequently, many anti-mitotic and anti-inflammatory drugs have been evaluated in a new stent generation, so called coated stents or drug eluting stents. Three major components must be considered to evaluate the beneficial effects: the bare-stent, the drug, and the deliverance system, most usually a polymer. For the present, sirolimus eluting stent and paclitaxel eluting stent are available in the market with the european conformity label considering evidence based medicine established in randomized trials. Both stents have been shown to reduce in-stent restenosis incidence to less than 7%. Long-term follow-up still remain expected and would give answers to two safety queries: what is about the incidence of late stent thrombosis, what is about mal-apposition consequences in clinical feature. Utilization of drug eluting stent in clinical practice must considered materials with european conformity and must applied French society of cardiology guidelines restricting implantation to patients who meet high-risk restenosis criteria. Medicoeconomic approach must be considered beneficial at the present only in patients with high restenosis risk. Long-term antiplatelet regimen of aspirin and clopidogrel must be considered to avoid late stent thrombosis.

[Management of acute coronary syndromes in a new French coronary intensive care unit. The first four years of activity in the GRACE registry (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events)]. / Evaluation des quatre premières années d'activité d'une unité de soins intensifs cardiologiques pour la prise en charge des syndromes coronaires aigus comparativement aux données régionales du registre GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events).

UNLABELLED: The GRACE registry provides the opportunity to analyse management of acute coronary syndromes in the real word and the impact of hospital characteristics. In this setting, we compare the activity of a new coronary intensive care unit with regional data. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2003, 376 eligible patients were involved (22% of regional inclusion). GRACE standard diagnosis were the following, for our centrer (for the cluster): ST elevation myocardial infarction 28% (37%), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction 32% (31%), unstable angina 33% (24%). Demographic characteristics were similar with a median age of 64 (vs 66) and a large majority of male (74 vs 81%). Medical history and cardiovascular risk factors were comparable. Predictors of hospital mortality were observed at the same rate: cardiogenic shock (3 vs 3%), congestive heart failure > Killip 2 (4 vs 4%), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) lower than 40% (17 vs 16%), recurrent ischemic symptoms (8 vs 8%). Coronary artery bypass grafts were required in 5% (vs 2%). RESULTS: Drugs prescription rates were similar: aspirin at admission (95%) and at discharge (95%), betablocker at admission (70%) and at discharge (85%), statin at admission (< 30% in 2000, > 60% in 2003) and at discharge (< 60% in 2000 and > 80% in 2003), ticlopidin-clopidogrel at admission (< 20% in 2000 and > 40% in 2003), ACE inhibitor for LVEF < 40%, intravenous GPIIblIIa, and low molecular weight heparin (90%). Cardiac catheterisation (90%) and percutaneous coronary interventions (80%) were performed at the same rates in our center and in the cluster. Hospital death was similar (2 vs 4%). Discharge status was home for a large majority of patients (63 vs 76%). The median length of stay was five days and shorter than three days for patients with unstable angina. CONCLUSION: Based on GRACE registry data, the present evaluation revealed that our new center offered evidence-based medical and interventional therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes at the same level than experienced institutions with similar results for hospital death and length of stay.

Effects of the self-myocardial retroperfusion with aortic-coronary sinus shunt on cardiac output and ischemic events in high-risk patients undergoing OPCAB surgery.

AIM: Despite controversies, off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery has become a routine procedure. Obvious advantages have been demonstrated in high-risk patients. However, OPCAB surgery has limitations in specific high-risk situations with hazards of operative deleterious events. We describe an innovative procedure of self-myocardial retroperfusion (SMR) with an aortic-coronary sinus shunt (ACSS). We prospectively evaluated the protective effects and benefits of SMR in high-risk coronary patients with impaired LVEF. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive high-risk (ES>10) coronary patients (mean age: 65.94 years; range: 34-85; mean ES: 26.97%) with LVEF≤35% who were not eligible for IABP were assigned for OPCAB surgery. Following sternotomy, the cardiac indexes (CI) were measured before, during SMR and after completion of coronary artery bypasses. Operative events with and without SMR were accurately collected, and postoperative cardiac Troponin T release was measured. RESULTS: OPCAB procedures were performed in all patients. Intraoperative use of SMR significantly increased CI (P=3.1041810.10-8) and reversed deleterious operative events (ECG changes/low cardiac output). Hospital mortality was 0%. Incidence of transient atrial fibrillation was 33.33%. Neither stroke nor renal insufficiency was observed. The mean graft number/patient was 2.05. Mean postoperative cardiac Troponin T value was 0.79 µg/L. Beating heart preservation optimized by SMR contributed to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury, as validated by an immediate increase of CI after completion of coronary bypasses (P=3.35009.10-9). CONCLUSION: The concept of SMR with an ACSS during OPCAB procedures definitely improved CI and reversed ischemic features in high-risk patients and should be considered as an operative temporary myocardial assistance.

Coronary-coronary bypass graft: an arterial conduit-sparing procedure.

From May 1989 to December 1995, 143 patients underwent myocardial revascularization with one (138 patients) or two (five patients) coronary-coronary bypass grafts in addition to other bypass grafts, for a total of 463 distal anastomoses (mean 3.2 +/- 0.6 per patient). Coronary-coronary bypass grafts were chosen for the following reasons: arterial conduit-sparing procedure, inadequate length for in situ graft, calcified ascending aorta, and stenosed or occluded subclavian arteries. One hundred eleven arterial grafts (75%) were used: 85 right internal thoracic arteries, 18 left internal thoracic arteries, and eight radial arteries. Saphenous vein grafts were used in 37 cases (25%, mostly in our early experience). Coronary-coronary bypass grafts were performed on the right coronary artery in 134 cases (90.5%), on the circumflex artery in five cases (3.3%), on the left anterior descending coronary artery in four cases (2.7%), and between two different coronary arteries in five cases (3.3%). Three patients (2%) died of myocardial infarction. Early postoperative angiography showed a patency rate of 98.6% (72/73). During the mean follow-up of 34.6 +/- 20.8 months, two patients died and two underwent reoperation. Results of exercise testing were normal at 2 months in 97% of patients (90/92), at 1 year in 96% (81/84), and at 3 years in 93% (30/32). In conclusion, the coronary-coronary bypass graft provides good results with a variety of conduits and allows the expanded use of arterial grafts, particularly the internal thoracic artery. This can lead to a sparing of arterial conduit and allow complex myocardial revascularization with a liberal use of internal thoracic arteries.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical interruption: the technique of choice for patent ductus arteriosus. Routine experience in 230 pediatric cases.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical interruption for patient ductus arteriosus is a well-standardized procedure already described. We present our entire series of such cases, from the first case (performed on Sept. 5, 1991) to March 1, 1995. Two hundred thirty patients in a variety of age groups underwent video-assisted interruption: younger than 6 months (70 patients, 30%), 6 to 48 months (123 patients, 54%), and older than 48 months (37 patients, 16%). The mean weight was 12.6 kg (range 1.2 to 65 kg). Thirty-nine patients had symptomatic pulmonary hypertension. Associated intracardiac anomalies included atrial septal defect (three), ventricular septal defect (five), and anomalous pulmonary venous return (one). All patients underwent video-assisted interruption of the patient ductus arteriosus with two titanium clips. Closure was evaluated by postoperative echocardiography before extubation. Five patients had a persistent patent ductus after video-assisted interruption, all early in our experience and related to insufficient dissection resulting in inadequate clip placement. Four patients had successful immediate clip repositioning (three by video-assisted interruption and one by thoracotomy). Subsequent echocardiography revealed persistent closure in these patients. A persistent patent ductus arteriosus with minimal flow was discovered in one patient without symptoms after discharge. Recurrent laryngeal nerve dysfunction was noted in six patients (2.6%, five transient and one persistent). There were no deaths, hemorrhages, transfusions required, or chylothoraces in this series. Mean operative time was 20 +/- 15 minutes, and hospital stay averaged 48 hours for patients younger than 6 months and 72 hours for patients older than 6 months. This is a safe, rapid, cost-effective technique that results in excellent results and a shortened hospital stay. Video-assisted interruption represents the technique of choice for closure of a patient ductus arteriosus.

Adult cardiac myocytes survive and remain excitable during long-term culture on synthetic supports.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiomyocytes can be transplanted successfully into skeletal and cardiac muscle. Our goal was to determine the feasibility of grafting cardiomyocytes onto various synthetic supports to create an excitable and viable tissue for implantation. METHODS: Adult rat cardiomyocytes were cultured over an 8-week period onto different substitutes, including human glutaraldehyde-treated pericardium (n = 3), equine glutaraldehyde-treated pericardium (n = 3), polytetrafluoroethylene (n = 8), Dacron polyester (n = 16), and Vicryl polyglactin (n = 8). RESULTS: Only the cells seeded on the Dacron survived, with the synthetic fibers colonized at 8 weeks. On the other supports, the number of myocytes progressively decreased from the first week, with their density (number of cells per square millimeter) being, after 20 days, 17 +/- 2 on the polytetrafluoroethylene and 5 +/- 1 on the human or equine pericardium compared with 45 +/- 3 on the Dacron. After 8 weeks of culture on Dacron, the sarcomeric protein (sarcomeric alpha-actinin) was detected in all cells. In addition, the staining was regularly arranged and well aligned in a striated pattern. Spontaneous beating activity was obtained. Moreover, electrical stimulation of the cell preparation resulted in the generation of calcium transients, the frequency of which followed the frequency of the electrical stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adult cardiac myocytes remain viable and excitable during long-term culture on a 3-dimensional Dacron support, which might constitute a new synthetic cardiac tissue.

Videothoracoscopic surgical interruption of patent ductus arteriosus.

A videothoracoscopic surgical technique for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in children is described. Only three ports of access are necessary to dissect the patent ductus arteriosus from the surrounding tissues and to apply the two titanium clips. The advantages given are the technique's low morbidity, lack of mortality, and reliable closure. We believe that the videothoracoscopic surgical approach is the technique of choice for patent ductus arteriosus closure in children.

Pericarbon pericardial bioprosthesis: an experience based on the lessons of the past.

BACKGROUND: The Pericarbon pericardial bioprosthesis, at the time of its creation, showed a breakthrough in terms of low calcification deposit rate, absence of valvular tears, and durability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate results after 10 years. METHODS: From September 1988 to December 1997, 277 patients received a total of 287 Pericarbon pericardial valves. There were 224 (80.8%) isolated aortic valve replacements (AVR), 39 isolated mitral valve replacements (MVR), 1 tricuspid valve replacement, 3 pulmonary valve replacements, and 10 aortic and mitral valve replacements. The total cumulative follow-up was 1,221.42 patient-years (mean 4.9+/-2.6 years). RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 10.1%. The overall patient survival at 10.8 years was 55.8%+/-4.2%, for AVR it was 60.0%+/-4.5%, and for MVR it was 46.5%+/-11.9%. The freedom from valve-related death for the overall population at 10.8 years was 98.0%+/-1.0%, for AVR 97.6%+/-1.1%, and for MVR 100%. The overall freedom from structural valve deterioration was 96.6%+/-2.4%, for AVR 96.1%+/-2.7%, and for MVR 100%. The overall freedom from embolic events was 96.0%+/-1.5%, for AVR 96.0%+/-1.6%, and for MVR 100%. The overall freedom from reoperation was 88.1%+/-3.8%, for AVR 89.9%+/-4.2%, and for MVR 80.6%+/-7.3%. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that over a period of up to 10 years, the Pericarbon pericardial bioprosthesis is an excellent and safe valve substitute. Developing a detoxification process aimed at improving the biological behavior of the glutaraldehyde-tanned valve may increase those advantages.

Calcified embolus of the left coronary ostia after aortic valve replacement.

A patient with a left coronary calcified embolus causing acute myocardial dysfunction immediately after aortic valve replacement is described. Prompt diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiogram was made, which led to removal of the embolus and a subsequent satisfactory course.

Right anterolateral thoracotomy for repair of atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: To procure a cosmetic incision in female patients, we performed operation on atrial septal defects through a right anterolateral thoracotomy. METHODS: From 1984 to 1994, 80 female patients with a mean age of 24 +/- 13 years (ranging from 12 to 62 years) underwent right anterolateral thoracotomy for atrial septal defect repairs. Defects repaired included 62 ostium secundum, 12 sinus venosus, 2 low septal defect, and 4 ostium primum. The right iliac external artery was systematically used for arterial cannulation, through a cosmetic incision. Repairs were always performed under fibrillation, except in the 4 ostium primum defects, for which cardioplegia was used. RESULTS: There was no operative or late mortality, and no morbidity directly related to the thoracotomy approach. CONCLUSIONS: The right thoracotomy incision appears to be a safe and effective alternative to median sternotomy for repair of atrial septal defects.

Surgical treatment of diffuse supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Diffuse supravalvular aortic stenosis can be treated by a variety of surgical approaches. In this case of severe diffuse supravalvular aortic stenosis in a child, we used the combination of an apicoaortic conduit followed 6 years later by aortic valve replacement, replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, and an ascending to thoracic descending aorta bypass graft.

Technical modification for anastomosis of low-lying coronary ostia in Bentall procedure.

Bentall procedure is not advisable when the origins of the coronary artery ostia cannot reach the composite valve graft at a satisfactory level for direct reimplantation. The other alternatives to coronary artery ostia reimplantation have some disadvantages. A technical modification of the Bentall procedure, successfully used in 3 patients and allowing direct coronary reimplantation without any tension on the suture line, is described.

Valved conduit bypass for extensively calcified tricuspid valve stenosis.

A case of calcified tricuspid valve stenosis resulting from a complication of ventriculoatrial shunt implantation is presented. Tricuspid valve repair or replacement was not possible because of the prohibitive risk of damaging the right atrioventricular junction and conductive pathways. This rare lesion was treated successfully by insertion of an external right atrial-right ventricular valved conduit. The role of echocardiography in the detection of such a lesion is emphasized and the etiologic and therapeutic aspects are discussed.

Bypass graft for complex forms of isthmic aortic coarctation in adults.

BACKGROUND: Bypass grafting for complex forms of coarctation has been poorly documented as an alternative to decrease the high complication rate associated with anatomic repair. METHODS: Between mid-1980 and the end of 1994, 16 patients underwent bypass grafting for complex forms of isthmic aortic coarctation. Age ranged from 11 to 49 years (mean age, 28.4 +/- 13 years). Indications were atypical anatomic forms of coarctation (n = 12) and reoperation after multiple or complicated previous coarctation repair (n = 4). Lateroisthmic bypass grafts were performed in 14 patients and ascending aorta-descending aorta bypass grafts in 2. RESULTS: There was no hospital mortality. Morbidity consisted of postoperative paradoxical hypertension in 3 patients. There were no spinal cord complications. One death 10 years postoperatively was unrelated to the surgical technique. One patient successfully underwent ascending aorta-descending aorta bypass grafting for a false aneurysm 10 years after lateroisthmic grafting. All patients were asymptomatic and all grafts, patent after a mean follow-up of 5.7 +/- 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, bypass grafting appears to be a safe alternative in this select group of patients. The lateroisthmic bypass graft is the procedure of first choice, and the ascending aorta-descending aorta bypass graft should be reserved for failure of previous lateroisthmic bypass grafting.

A new percutaneously adjustable, thoracoscopically implantable, pulmonary artery banding: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: In patients who undergo left ventricular retraining, multiple reoperations are often necessary to adjust the pulmonary artery banding. The availability of a percutaneously adjustable band would be very useful. METHODS: Ten lambs (10 to 25 kg) underwent pulmonary artery banding using a new device, 7 by thoracotomy and 3 by thoracoscopy. The possibility of percutaneously adjusting the band was evaluated immediately after operation in 10 animals and at 3 months in 8 animals. RESULTS: One death occurred on the day of the procedure from displacement of the device and another death was from infection. Immediate hemodynamic studies proved the feasibility of increasing right ventricular afterload in a precise and reversible way. After 3 months the band could still be precisely loosened or tightened in all but 1 animal. Autopsy revealed that all the devices were in the correct position and no fibrosis or adhesions were present around the devices, and there was no residual stenosis noted on the pulmonary artery. CONCLUSIONS: This new device may be a valuable alternative to the repeated pulmonary artery banding needed for ventricular preparation.

Bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt.

BACKGROUND: Bidirectional superior vena cava-pulmonary shunt is widely used as an interim palliation for patients with univentricular hearts. Bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt, as an alternative approach of partial Fontan circulation, may offer the advantage of performing the complete Fontan circulation more easily due to the already constructed inferior vena cava lateral tunnel. METHODS: We used bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt in 2 patients. Contraindications to a complete Fontan circulation were due to, respectively, a volume-overloaded systemic ventricle and an irregular pulmonary arterial tree. RESULTS: Postoperative courses were uneventful. There were no significant pleural effusions. Transcutaneous oxygen saturations were 77% and 78%. Pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratios were 0.57 and 0.63. A complete Fontan circulation was safely performed 8 and 12 months later, without any "Fontan-related" complications. CONCLUSIONS: Bidirectional inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery shunt can be useful in selected patients with univentricular hearts, although its place in the field of "partial Fontan operations" cannot be determined as yet.