Assessment of stroke and concomitant cerebrovascular disease with heart disease requires invasive treatment: analysis of 249 consecutive patients with heart disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), heart problems, and stroke in patients who required an invasive cardiac procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 249 consecutive patients who required to or underwent invasive cardiac treatment and divided into a non-CVD group (n = 116) and a CVD group (n = 133). The latter group was divided into a coronary artery disease (CAD) group (n = 118) and a non-CAD group such as cardiac structural lesions (n = 15). RESULTS: No significant relationship with significant cerebrovascular stenosis was observed in either the CADs or non-CADs. The incidence of past stroke was significantly higher in the CVD group than that in the non-CVD group (12.8 vs. 3.4%; p = 0.017). Previous stroke event had increased odds of having significant cerebrovascular stenosis (odds ratio, 3.919, p = 0.006). In patients with both cardiac disease and the CVD, perioperative stroke was only one case (0.9%). The main source of stroke was cardiogenic in the immediate results and cerebrovascular lesions in the delayed results (1-12 months). CONCLUSION: The risk of perioperative stroke was very low in combined cardiac disease and the CVD. However, for preventing ischemic stroke due to the predetected cerebrovascular lesions, precautionary efforts could be needed for patients undergoing an invasive cardiac procedure, and concomitant cerebrovascular lesions should be considered as main source of delayed ischemic stroke.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor minimizes negative remodeling of decellularized small diameter vascular graft conduits but not medial degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Poor endothelialization and intimal hyperplasia are major causes of small diameter vascular conduit (SDVC) failure. The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on inhibiting adverse remodeling of decellularized SDVCs. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats implanted with allograft infra renal abdominal aortic conduits were divided into 2 groups according to whether they were treated with G-CSF (+G-CSF group; n=6) or without (Decell group; n=6). The conduits were harvested at 8 weeks after surgery and examined for intimal hyperplasia, collagen deposition, and -actin-staining cells. The medial layer was also examined for signs of cellular repopulation and changes in the elastic fiber morphology. RESULTS: Intergroup comparison of the intimal composition showed relatively sparse collagen content and predominance of -actin-staining cells in the +G-CSF group. The medial layer in the 2 groups showed similar degrees of elastic fiber degeneration and wall thinning relative to the normal aortic wall. However, the enhanced staining for von Willebrand factor and CD31, along with transmission electron microscopy findings of superior cellular and ultrastructural preservation, suggested that the remodeling and endothelialization in the +G-CSF conduits were superior to those in the Decell conduits. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that G-CSF exerts a positive influence on inhibiting adverse vascular remodeling of decellularized vascular conduit implants. However, whether G-CSF administration may also effectuate an improved ability to preserve the medial structural integrity is unclear.

Comparison of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft-First and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-First Approaches for 2-Stage Hybrid Coronary Revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) was developed to combine the advantages of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, it is still controversial whether it is more optimal to perform CABG or PCI first. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of these 2 approaches. METHODS: Eighty patients who underwent HCR from May 2010 to December 2015 were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The CABG-first group comprised 12 patients and the PCI-first group comprised 68 patients. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital perioperative factors, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), and the incidence of repeated revascularization, especially for the target vessel lesion. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the amount of postoperative bleeding (p=0.239). The incidence of MACCEs was similar between the CABG-first and PCI-first groups (1 of 12 [8.3%] vs. 5 of 68 [7.4%], p>0.999). Repeated revascularization was performed on 3 patients (25%) in the CABG-first and 9 patients (13.2%) in the PCI-first group (p=0.376). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in postoperative and medium-term outcomes between the CABG-first and PCI-first groups. Based on these results, it can be inferred that it is safe to opt for either CABG or PCI as the primary procedure in 2-stage HCR.

Early Outcomes of Endoscopic Vein Harvesting during the Initial Learning Period.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) method has been used in coronary artery bypass surgery in many countries. We started using the EVH method recently, and investigated the results during the early learning period. METHODS: Between March 2012 and June 2014, 75 patients (31 patients in the EVH method group, and 44 patients in the open method group) who underwent isolated first-time coronary artery bypass grafting using vein grafts were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the early outcomes including graft patency and risk factors for leg wound complications. For assessing the patency of vein graft, we performed coronary computed tomography angiography during the immediate postoperative period and 6 months later. RESULTS: Mean harvesting time of endoscopic method was about 15 minutes. Patency rate during the immediate operative period and the 6-month patency rate were similar between the two groups (postoperative period: EVH 100% vs. open method 94.4%, p=0.493; at 6 months: EVH 93.3% vs. open method 90.9%, p=0.791). Leg wound complications occurred more frequently in the open method group (EVH 3.2% vs. open method 13.6%, p=0.127). According to the analysis, age was an independent risk factor for leg wound complications. CONCLUSION: EVH is a feasible method even for beginners and can be performed satisfactorily during their learning period.

Hybrid coronary revascularization using limited incisional full sternotomy coronary artery bypass surgery in multivessel disease: early results.

BACKGROUND: There are several modalities of coronary artery revascularization for multivessel coronary artery disease. Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting was introduced for high-risk patients, and recently, many centers have been using it. Limited incisional full sternotomy coronary artery bypass (LIFCAB) involves left internal thoracic artery (LITA)-to-left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) anastomosis through a sternotomy with a minimal skin incision; it could be considered another technique for minimally invasive LITA-to-LAD anastomosis. Our center has performed HCR using LIFCAB, and in this paper, we report our short-term results, obtained in the past 3 years. METHODS: The medical records of 38 patients from May 2010 to June 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. The observation period after HCR was 1 to 37 months (average, 18.3±10.3 months). The patency of revascularization was confirmed with postoperative coronary angio-computerized tomography or coronary angiography. RESULTS: There were 3 superficial wound complications, but no mortalities. All the LITA-to-LAD anastomoses were patent in the immediate postoperative and follow-up studies, but stenosis was detected in 3 cases of percutaneous coronary intervention. CONCLUSION: HCR using LIFCAB is safe and yields satisfactory results from the viewpoint of revascularization for multivessel disease.