Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To investigate in a retrospective study the technical aspects of using the in situ bilateral internal mammary arteries (IMAs), with the right IMA (RIMA) used for revascularisation of the circumflex system, and to evaluate early and late outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Between January 1997 and July 2003, 552 consecutive patients underwent grafting of the circumflex artery system with an in situ skeletonised RIMA routed through the transverse sinus (eventually retrocaval). Mean (SD) age was 63.8 (11) years. 331 (60%) patients underwent total arterial myocardial revascularisation. Mean follow up was 26 (9) months. RESULTS:The success rate of skeletonised RIMA grafting to the circumflex branch was 100%. There were 19 (3.4%) in-hospital deaths. Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred in 12 (2.2%) patients. In 155 patients undergoing postoperative angiography, two had an occluded RIMA and a string-like phenomenon was seen in three RIMA and one left IMA (LIMA). Three RIMA and three LIMA had stenotic lesions. The patency rates of RIMA and LIMA were 94% and 97.4%, respectively. Strong predictors of non-functional IMA grafts were a recipient coronary artery diameter of < 1.5 mm (p = 0.022), < 60% stenosis of the recipient coronary artery (p = 0.015), diffuse stenotic lesions of the recipient coronary artery (p = 0.018), and a small IMA calibre (p = 0.0001). Cumulative actuarial survival at three years was 96.4% and event-free cumulative survival was 93.8%. CONCLUSIONS:Use of the bilateral IMAs offers the possibility of constructing various configurations, making total arterial myocardial revascularisation possible with a minimum number of arterial conduits. Use of the skeletonised RIMA through the transverse sinus and eventually retrocavally can reach most branches of the circumflex system and is associated with an excellent patency rate. Patients who received bilateral IMA grafts for left coronary system revascularisation had improved early and late outcomes and decreased risk of death, reoperation, and angioplasty.

BACKGROUND:We examined the impact of concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on hospital survival after aortic root replacement. We sought to determine whether CABG procedures that were not originally planned but rather added after the aortic root procedure was completed (CABG/bailout) skewed the results to shift patients with bad outcomes to the CABG group, making the non-CABG group appear undeservedly low risk. METHODS:Between May 1992 and January 2001, 369 consecutive patients underwent aortic root replacement. Concomitant CABG was required in 95 patients (26%). Indications for CABG were significant coronary artery disease in 73 patients (20%), active endocarditis or acute aortic dissection involving the coronary orifices in 14 patients (4%), and difficulty weaning from bypass because of regional wall motion abnormality from presumed but unconfirmed coronary artery disease or technical error at coronary ostial reimplantation (CABG/bailout) in 8 patients (2%). RESULTS:Operative mortality for the entire cohort was 5.7% (21 patients). The operative mortality rate for the non-CABG group was 0.4% (1 of 274 patients), and for the CABG group, 21% (20 of 95 patients; p < 0.001). Independent predictors of operative mortality in the CABG group were New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 14.5), active endocarditis (odds ratio, 9.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.06 to 41.5), acute aortic dissection (odds ratio, 7.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.81 to 32.0), and failure to use retrograde cardioplegia (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 38.8). The use of CABG/bailout was not a predictor. CONCLUSIONS:Adding CABG at the end of an aortic root procedure is a rare event, and because it is rare, there is no significant shift of risk as a result of the CABG/bailout patients on the overall CABG group.

We present a series of 405 consecutive patients aged > or =80 years who underwent isolated or combined valve surgery over a 5-year period. Our results demonstrate that valve surgery in the elderly can be performed with acceptable early mortality, good late survival, and excellent late functional outcome.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of weight less than 5 kg at operation on mortality and morbidity in patients with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSDc) undergoing total correction. METHODS:Between January 1990 and December 2002, 190 consecutive patients with AVSDc underwent total biventricular correction. They were divided into two groups: group I (n = 64 patients weighing < 5 kg) and group II (n = 126 patients weighing > 5 kg). Associated major cardiac malformations were found in 49 (25.8%) patients. Associated left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) malformations were found in 35 (18.4%) patients. The mean follow-up time was 4.1 +/- 2.9 years (range 2 months-10.7 years). RESULTS:The in-hospital mortality in group I was 7.8% (5 patients) versus 8.7% (11 patients) in group II (p = 0.95). Major associated cardiac malformations (p < 0.001) and pulmonary hypertension (p = 0.006) were found to be strong predictors for poor postoperative survival. At discharge the mean LAVVR grade in group I was 1.45 +/- 1.2 versus 1.2 +/- 1 in group II (p = 0.13). The actuarial overall survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 96.5%, 92.5%, 91.5%, and 89% respectively and the actuarial overall reoperation free survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 95%, 87%, 84%, and 73%. Twenty-three patients underwent reoperation due to severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation (LAVVR). Strong predictors for overall reoperation free survival were the operation year before 1995 (p < 0.001), postoperative LAVVR greater than or equal to 2 (p = 0.006), major associated cardiac malformations (p = 0.00034), associated LAVV malformations (p = 0.0044), and non or partial LAVV cleft closure (p = 0.012). The actuarial survival rates between patients weighing less than 5 kg versus patients weighing more than 5 kg were similar (p = 0.51); instead the overall reoperation free survival was significantly lower in patients weighing less than 5 kg (p = 0.022) according to the log-rank test. Weight less than 5 kg (p = 0.023, beta = -0.6) was one of the predictors for reoperation due to severe LAVVR in this series. CONCLUSIONS:We may conclude that in the current era repair of AVSDc can be carried out successfully in patients less than 5 kg, however, weight less than 5 kg at initial complete repair seems to be a predictor for late reoperation due to LAVVR. Suture separation at the cleft site or between the leaflets of the newly created mitral valve and the patch remain the main causes of postoperative LAVVR in patients weighing less than 5 kg.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The aim was to review our experience with the surgical repair of the anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery (AORPA) from the aorta. MATERIALS AND METHOD/METHODS:Between January 1991 and March 2001, five patients with AORPA underwent surgical correction. One patient presented isolated AOPA from the aorta. Implantation of the anomalous PA to the main PA trunk was performed by (1). direct anatomosis employing an autologous pericardial patch in two patients; (2). using an aortic flap in two patients with AORPA; and (3). using an aortic and pulmonary flaps in another patient. The mean follow-up time was 27 months. RESULTS:One patient died due to progressive heart failure unresponsive to inotropic support. Early postoperative pulmonary hypertension crisis was identified in patient 4, that was managed by intravenous prostacyclin. The same patient necessitated mechanical ventilation for 11 days. The mean residual gradient for all survivors was 9.5 +/- 4 mmHg. The postoperative Tc-99 m scintigraphy demonstrated 72 +/- 4.5(%) lung perfusion. At follow-up the survival was 100%. None of the followed patients required reoperation. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The AORPA from the aorta is a rare but important entity, necessitating a scrupulous preoperative and intraoperative evaluation. The techniques employing autologous tissues for enlarging and lengthening the AORPA seem to be associated with better results in terms of postoperative restenosis.

BACKGROUND:This study evaluates the significance of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on long-term survival as detected by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography at the time of orthotopic heart transplantation. Although significant (2+ to 4+) TR after orthotopic heart transplantation is rare, its influence on long-term survival is unknown, warranting further investigation. METHODS:Between January 1992 and July 2001, 181 consecutive patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation. Tricuspid regurgitation was graded by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography after final separation from cardiopulmonary bypass in 130 of 181 patients (72%). RESULTS:Although 80% (104/130) of patients had either no (0, n = 77) or trace (1+, n = 27) TR, 9% (12/130 patients) had mild (2+), 10% (13/130 patients) had moderate (3+), and 0.8% (1/130 patients) had severe (4+) TR. The severity correlated strongly with the presence of right ventricular dysfunction (p < 0.001). In a multivariate regression model, gender mismatch (p = 0.002) and right ventricular dysfunction (p < 0.001) were independent predictors for equal to or greater than mild (2+ to 4+) TR (p = 0.015). Although the degree of recipient pulmonary vascular resistance did not influence the grade (p = 0.600), higher pulmonary vascular resistance tended to increase the severity of TR in the setting of prolonged donor ischemic times (p = 0.054). Proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated significantly decreased survival for patients with mild or greater (2+ to 4+) TR detected by transesophageal echocardiography at the time of transplantation (p < 0.001) and RV dysfunction (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS:Even mild (> or = 2+) TR identified by transesophageal echocardiography at the time of orthotopic heart transplant predicts poor late survival, suggesting a possible role for concomitant tricuspid valve repair at the time of transplant. Whether or not tricuspid valve repair will improve long-term survival is unknown.

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for locally advanced thoracic malignancies is highly controversial. The purpose of this study was to document the techniques and results of CPB to facilitate the resection of complex thoracic malignancies and to identify common themes that provided for successful outcomes. This was a retrospective study that took place from January 1992 to September 2002. Fourteen consecutive patients (median age, 59 years; age range, 18 to 69 years; seven men and seven women) underwent CPB during the resection of locally advanced thoracic malignancies at two Boston hospitals. CPB was planned in 8 of 14 patients (57%) with centrally located tumors, while 6 of 14 patients (43%) required emergent institution of CPB due to injury of the superior vena cava (2 patients), inferior vena cava (2 patients), or pulmonary artery (2 patients). Complete microscopic resection was achieved in 12 of 14 patients (86%). The operative mortality rate was 1 of 14 patients (7%) due to pulmonary embolism (ie, the elective group). The median ICU and hospital lengths of stay were 5 and 9 days, respectively. The overall 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 57%, 36%, and 21%, respectively. The planned use of CPB to facilitate complete resection of thoracic malignancies should be considered only after careful patient selection. The availability of CPB also provides a safety net in the event of injury to vascular structures during tumor resection.

OBJECTIVE:Vasoplegia syndrome after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) is a rare but highly lethal syndrome of unknown etiology, characterized by severe refractory hypotension, metabolic acidosis, and decreased systemic vascular resistance (SVR). The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the risk factors contributing to the development of vasoplegia syndrome after OHT in order to provide potential algorithms for its management. METHODS:Between October 1992 and July 2001, 187 consecutive patients underwent OHT. Complete pre- and post-data were available in 147 patients (78%). Mean age was 49+/-11 years, 82% (120/147) were male, and donor ischemic time was 117+/-62 min. Twenty-eight of 147 (19%) developed vasoplegia syndrome, defined as SVR <800 dyns per cm(5) with serum bicarbonate <20 mEq/l. RESULTS:Patients who developed vasoplegia syndrome demonstrated greater hospital mortality (25 vs. 9%, P=0.031) compared to those who did not. Multivariate logistic regression identified pre-operative use of intravenous heparin (OR 2.8, CI 1-7.4, P=0.039) and body surface area >1.9 m(2) (OR 7, CI 0.98-50, P=0.052) as independent predictors for the development of post-operative vasoplegia syndrome. Pre-operative use of inotropic support conferred protection against the development of post-operative vasoplegia syndrome (OR 0.25, CI 0.08-0.79, P=0.018). Pre-operative use of ACE inhibitors was not associated with increased risk (55 vs. 59%, P=0.441). CONCLUSIONS:Vasoplegia syndrome following OHT is associated with high early mortality. The development of a risk stratification profile may help in patient selection as well as the post-operative management of vasoplegia syndrome following OHT.

Coronary artery aneurysms are a rare condition with left-main trunk aneurysms occurring in only about 0.1 % of the population. We report on a giant left-main coronary artery aneurysm in a young male status post two previous open-heart operations. The aneurysm was successfully treated by patch occlusion of the ostial orifice and coronary revascularization of the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries.

Percutaneous coronary interventions have progressed from angioplasty and intracoronary stents to the more aggressive rotational atherectomy devices. These technically complex procedures are typically performed on the more diseased anatomy, which causes the likelihood of complications to be more common. In this report, we present our experience with three unusual complications and their surgical management.