Benign Intravalvular Strut Leak After Placement of the Inspiris Resilia Valve.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of intravalvular leak after aortic valve replacement with the Inspiris Resilia valve. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective chart review. SETTING: This study used data from a single tertiary care academic center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 81 patient charts and echo images were reviewed. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent an aortic valve replacement using the Inspiris Resilia valve. Pediatric patients and patients receiving an aortic valve conduit were excluded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) images were reviewed independently by 2 echocardiographers for the incidence and severity of intravalvular leak after Inspiris Resilia valve placement. Outpatient follow-up imaging was then compared to intraoperative findings. Valve size and mean gradients were documented as well. Of the 81 TEEs that were reviewed, 56 (69.1%) were found to have a strut leak at the time of implantation. Among these 56 cases, 30 were classified as trace regurgitation, 21 as mild regurgitation, and 5 as moderate regurgitation. Only 1 case necessitated a return to cardiopulmonary bypass owing to persistent intravalvular leak. Follow-up transthoracic echocardiography reports were available for 50 of the patients with no persistent leaks. CONCLUSIONS: This pattern of intravalvular leak is unique to the Inspiris Resilia valve and is commonly found in the intraoperative period. While many hypotheses exist for the origin of this leak, the exact mechanism is unclear. Given the high frequency of this postprocedure finding, it is essential that intraoperative echocardiographers be able to distinguish this clinically insignificant leak based on its origin, severity, and direction and to provide appropriate recommendations to our surgical colleagues.

Anesthetic Considerations for a Novel Method of Surgical Ventricular Remodeling Using the BioVentrix Revivent TC System.

Surgical ventricular remodeling (SVR) is an invasive method of treating patients with heart failure who also have ischemic cardiomyopathy and reduced ejection fraction (EF). Introduced in the mid-1980s, this technique was met with varying success and relatively high morbidity and mortality despite its theoretical benefits. The development of the BioVentrix Revivent TC System (BioVentrix, Inc., San Ramon, CA) as a less-invasive method of surgical ventricular remodeling has created a novel, multidisciplinary approach to heart failure management, which necessitates multiple subspecialties. Currently in the trial phase in the United States and widely used in Europe, the positive results to date appear promising for the rapid adoption of this procedure. For the cardiac anesthesiologist, a thorough understanding of the patient population, procedural goals, and intraoperative management is essential. This overview discusses the advancement in surgical ventricular remodeling, the pertinent surgical steps of the BioVentrix Revivent TC System placement, and specific anesthetic considerations for this novel procedure.

Rat Bite Fever: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Cases of rat-bite fever (RBF) were reported in the literature for more than 2000 years. Not until recently, however, were attempts made to differentiate between RBF and Streptobacillus moniliformis septic arthritis, 2 arguably different clinical entities. There are limited data regarding S moniliformis septic arthritis and the features that distinguish it from RBF, and most conclude that although clinically disparate diseases, it is difficult to differentiate between them. We report a case of a 17-year-old girl who presented with S moniliformis bacteremia and symptoms that spanned both RBF and S moniliformis septic arthritis. This case emphasizes the difficulty in differentiating the 2 clinical entities and the importance of early diagnosis, proper clinical suspicion, and prompt treatment to achieve positive outcomes.

Maintaining a Bloodless Field for HeartMate 3 Placement: Splicing an RVAD Outflow Cannula into the CPB Venous Reservoir for Complete LV Emptying.

ABSTRACT: Over the previous 20 years, the use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) increased significantly. Additionally, emerging literature has demonstrated a protective effect of biventricular decompression while on ECMO, with one such strategy including a temporary LVAD and right ventricular assist device (RVAD). The complexity of these operations is increased by the frequency of re-sternotomies, which result in adhesions and difficult access to traditional cannulation sites. In this case report, we present a patient presenting for a re-sternotomy for dLVAD on biventricular support in whom the RVAD outflow cannula was spliced into the cardiopulmonary bypass venous reservoir by the cardiac anesthesiologist. This innovative cannulation strategy allowed for continuation of RVAD flows to prevent thrombosis and active venting of the pulmonary artery to facilitate a bloodless surgical field.

Interposition Arthroplasty of the Elbow Utilizing a Lateral Epicondyle Osteotomy.

Management of severe elbow arthritis in young or active patients presents a challenging problem. Interposition arthroplasty is a useful salvage procedure for these patients but has a significant failure rate associated with postoperative instability. Previous studies have sought to preserve the integrity of the medial elbow ligament complex to decrease postoperative instability and the need for external fixation. Our lateral epicondylar osteotomy technique preserves the native lateral elbow ligament complex. Potential advantages include bone-to-bone healing of the osteotomy, decreased postoperative instability, and the decreased need for and associated costs and potential complications of supplemental external fixation.

Septic Arthritis of the Pediatric Shoulder: From Infancy to Adolescence.

Background. Septic arthritis of the glenohumeral joint in the pediatric population (<18 yo) is not commonly described in the literature. There is a corresponding paucity of information regarding its presentation and treatment. Methods. An IRB approved review of patients treated with irrigation and debridement by the Orthopaedic Department was completed. This retrospective study includes four patients, presenting from 2005 to 2015, with septic arthritis of the shoulder. Results. The mean age (M age) at presentation was 5 years, with a range of 1 month to 15 years. Patients presented on average after 7 days with pain and a mean temperature of 39°C, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 66 mm/hr, a C-reactive protein level of 11.17 g/dL, and a white blood cell count of 20.2 × 10(3)/mcL. Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cultured from the wounds. All cases were treated operatively with irrigation and debridement and with antimicrobial therapy. Patients received antibiotics for an average of 6 weeks. Conclusion. Septic arthritis of the shoulder occurs in all pediatric ages. Successful treatment of septic arthritis of the shoulder was accomplished in four cases without division of the biceps sheath, with an average follow-up of 8 months.

Orthopaedic fellowship selection criteria: a survey of fellowship directors.

BACKGROUND: The pursuit of a fellowship has become increasingly popular over the past several years, with >90% of graduating orthopaedic residents applying for a fellowship position. Despite the ample literature available pertaining to the selection of orthopaedic residents, there is no similar research for the selection of fellows. METHODS: Four hundred and fifteen of 475 orthopaedic fellowship program directors in the United States were surveyed on selection criteria used to choose fellows. The survey asked fellowship directors to rank the importance of various criteria on a Likert scale of 1 through 5 points (with 1 point denoting most important and 5 points denoting least important). RESULTS: The overall response rate was 193 (46.5%) of 415 orthopaedic fellowship program directors. The most important criteria in selecting an applicant for an interview were a letter of recommendation from subspecialty faculty (1.38 points), quality of residency program (2.02 points), and a letter of recommendation from the residency program director (2.12 points). The most important criteria in completing the rank order list following the interview were the interview (1.17 points), a letter of recommendation from subspecialty faculty (1.46 points), a letter of recommendation from the residency program director (2.16 points), and expressed interest in program (2.16 points).