Benny Johansson

No touch vein harvesting technique for CABG improves the long-term clinical outcome.

Objectives. To investigate the long-term clinical outcome, averaging 8.5 years, of two saphenous vein harvesting techniques for CABG; no touch (NT) versus conventional (C). Design. In a randomized study, 49/52 in group NT and 44/52 in group conventional were evaluated for reangina, myocardial infarction, new revascularization, functional class, risk factors and medical treatment. The vein grafts and the native coronary arteries were correlated to the occurrence of reangina. Results. There were significantly more patients free from angina and in NYHA class I (67.3 versus 43.2%; p =0.02) in group NT compared to group C. No cardiac death was found in group NT versus three in group C. There were trends towards fewer patients with cardiac death or myocardial infarction (3.8 vs. 13.4%; p =0.16), more patients free from angina (75.5 vs. 63.6%; p =0.26) and fewer patients with graft occlusion (24.3 vs. 43.2% (p =0.14) in group NT. Conclusions. The results of the NT-technique are encouraging with no cardiac deaths, significantly more asymptomatic patients and a trend towards impact on hard clinical endpoints compared to the conventional technique.

The no-touch vein graft for coronary artery bypass surgery preserves the left ventricular ejection fraction at 16 years postoperatively: long-term data from a longitudinal randomised trial

Objectives To assess the left ventricular heart function and the clinical outcome 16 years after coronary artery bypass surgery. Design In a randomised trial, the no-touch (NT) vein graft in coronary artery bypass surgery has shown a superior patency rate, a slower progression of atherosclerosis and better clinical outcome compared to the conventional (C) vein graft at 8.5 years. All patients at mean time 16 years were offered an echocardiographic and clinical examination. Results In the NT-group 34 patients and in the C-group 31 patients underwent an echocardiography examination. A significantly better left ventricle ejection fraction was seen in the NT-group compared to the C-group (57.9% vs 49.4%; p=0.011). The size of the left atrium in NT was 21.7 cm2 compared to 23.9 cm2 in C; p=0.034. No patient in NT had atrial fibrillation compared to five patients in C (p=0.021). Patients with a brain natriuretic peptide value (BNP) ≥150 was 30% in NT compared to 38% in C. Total mortality was 25% in NT vs 27% in C. Cardiac-related deaths were 8% and 12% in NT and C respectively. Conclusions The NT vein graft preserves the left ventricular ejection fraction after 16 years. A smaller left atrium, a lower BNP and no atrial fibrillation indicates an improved diastolic left ventricular function in the NT-group. Trial registration The study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01686100) and The Research and Development registry in Sweden (no. 102841).

E/a´ ratio a simple detector of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with decreased ejection fraction

Abstract Objectives. Could a diastolic dysfunction and an increased LV-filling pressure according to ASE/EACVI guidelines be detected or ruled out by the E/a´ratio in patients with decreased ejection fraction. Design. We retrospectively evaluated the diastolic function of 113 unselected in-hospital patients, aged 40–84 years, in sinus rhythm and with no or mild valve disease, having a decreased systolic function (EF ≤50%) using the new ASE/EACVI guidelines and compared these results with the E/a´ratio derived from the E wave in the mitral flow and the a´velocity in the tissue Doppler. Results. The average E/a´ ratio is a strong predictor of a grade II-III diastolic dysfunction and an elevated left atrial pressure according to ASE/EACVI guidelines with an AUC of 0.92. An average E/a´ ratio with a cut-off >10 had a sensitivity of 97.6% and a negative predictive value of 98.2% in detecting or ruling out a grade II–III diastolic dysfunction and an elevated left atrial pressure according to the current guidelines. Conclusion. The average E/a´ ratio might be useful as a fast screening tool of a left ventricular dysfunction and an increased left ventricular filling pressure in patients with a decreased ejection fraction.

The a´ velocity in the tissue Doppler predicts S/D ratio <1 in patients with a normal ejection fraction

Abstract Objectives. To compare the ability of the a´ velocity and the e´ velocity in predicting a dominant diastolic pulmonary vein flow (S/D ratio <1) in patients with normal ejection fraction. Design. We retrospectively evaluated the diastolic function according to the ASE/EACVI guidelines, the S/D ratio and the septal, lateral and average a´ velocity in 293 unselected in-hospital patients, aged 39–86 years, in sinus rhythm and with no or mild valve disease, having a normal systolic function (EF >50%). Results. There was a good linear correlation between the S/D ratio and the a´ velocity, but a tendency towards a negative correlation between the S/D ratio and the e´ velocity. S/D ratio <1 was seen in 43 patients. These patients had a significantly lower a´ velocity compared to those with S/D-ratio ≥1, septal (6,1 ± 2,4 v 8,8 ± 2,1 cm/s; p < .001) and lateral (6,0 ± 2,6 v 9,3 ± 2,5 cm/s; p < .001) No significant difference was seen in the septal e´ velocity (6,8 ± 2,4 v 6,8 ± 2,1 cm/s), lateral e´ velocity (9,4 ± 2,6 v 9,1 ± 2,8 cm/s) or in the ejection fraction (58,6 ± 4,4% v 58,7 ± 4,0%). A diastolic dysfunction was present in 62 patients, normal diastolic function in 231 patients. The a´ velocity was significantly lower in patients with S/D ratio <1 in both groups (p < .01). Conclusion. The a´ velocity is superior to the e´ velocity in predicting S/D ratio <1 in patients with normal ejection fraction regardless the ASE/EACVI diastolic classification. A failing left atrium seems to be the explanation.