Chi-Ren Hung

Cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase, and its isoform release after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with or without stenting

BACKGROUND Cardiac troponin T is a sensitive and specific marker for the detection of minor myocardial injury. However, it has been rarely used to monitor myocardial injury after coronary stenting. The purpose of the study was to measure troponin T after apparently successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with or without coronary stenting and to compare its result with serum creatine kinase and its isoform, CKMB. METHODS The incidence of cardiac troponin T elevation was compared with that of creatine kinase or CKMB in 120 consecutive patients with symptomatic ischemia undergoing visually successful PTCA with (n = 59) or without stenting (n = 61). Troponin T, creatine kinase, and CKMB were measured before, immediately after, and 18 to 24 hours after the procedures were performed. RESULTS No patient had abnormal troponin T, creatine kinase, or CKMB levels before and immediately after the procedures. Moreover, no patient showed electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial infarction. Troponin T was elevated in 17 patients at 18 to 24 hours after coronary stenting and in eight patients after PTCA. Both creatine kinase and CKMB were elevated in five patients after coronary stenting and in three patients after PTCA. The frequency of abnormal troponin T levels was significantly higher than that of creatine kinase or CKMB after coronary interventions (21% vs 6.7%; p < 0.01), and it was significantly higher after stenting when compared with angioplasty alone (29% vs 13%; p < 0.05). Patients with abnormal troponin T levels were more likely to undergo repeat revascularization than those without (24% vs 6%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Cardiac troponin T is more sensitive than creatine kinase and CKMB in detecting minor myocardial injury after coronary interventions. The incidence of troponin T release is higher in the patients undergoing stent implantation than in patients treated with angioplasty alone.

Evolution of coronary artery pattern according to short-axis aortopulmonary rotation: A new categorization for complete transposition of the great arteries

OBJECTIVES We studied the correlation between coronary artery pattern and aortopulmonary rotation in complete transposition of the great arteries. BACKGROUND Classifications of the coronary arteries in complete transposition are puzzling and incomplete. METHODS Coronary artery anatomy and relation of the great arteries were identified at angiography, echocardiography, surgical intervention or autopsy in 76 patients with complete transposition from 1988 to 1993. Five main types (type 0 and Shaher types 1,2,4 and 9) and their similar variants of epicardial configuration were categorized into five patterns (O, I, II, IV and IX). In addition, data from 568 cases from published reports were collected for analysis. RESULTS As the aorta rotated from a left anterior to a directly anterior location relative to the pulmonary trunk, the left anterior descending coronary artery arose from the left-hand sinus together with the right coronary artery (type 0, one case decreased to no cases); then it gradually shifted to the left to have the same origin as the left circumflex coronary artery from the right-hand sinus (type 1, 10 cases increased to 146, p < 0.0003). When the aorta rotated farther clockwise from directly anterior to right anterior (type 1, 146 cases increased to 235; type 2, 9 cases increased to 50, p < 0.0006) or from right anterior to right lateral (type 1, 235 cases decreased to 6 cases; type 2, 50 cases decreased to 20, p < 0.00000), the left circumflex coronary artery tended to move retropulmonically and originated from the left-hand sinus with the right coronary artery (type 2). When the aorta moved from right anterior to right lateral (type 2, 50 cases decreased to 20; type 4, 13 cases increased to 14, p < 0.031) or from right lateral to right posterior (type 2, 20 cases decreased to 1; type 4, 14 cases increased to 16, p < 0.0003), the right coronary artery shifted to the right-hand sinus anteaortically to join the left anterior descending coronary artery (type 4). Finally, the left anterior descending coronary artery combined with the left circumflex coronary artery (type 9, 12 cases increased to 21, p = 0.407) to become the usual pattern for normally related great arteries. Eta-square analysis showed that the evolution from pattern O to IX was dependent on clockwise aortopulmonary rotation. CONCLUSIONS The coronary arteries in complete transposition of the great arteries can be classified into five patterns and their evolution deduced on the basis of aortopulmonary rotation. Dependence of coronary artery type on aortopulmonary rotation made it possible to anticipate the coronary pattern from the relation of the great arteries in transposition.

Clinical implications of atrial isomerism.

Right atrial isomerism or left atrial isomerism is frequently diagnosed as situs ambiguous without further discrimination of the specific morbid anatomy. Thirty six cases of right atrial isomerism and seven cases of left atrial isomerism were collected from the records and pathological museum at the National Taiwan University Hospital. There was a necropsy report for 18 cases. In all patients one or more of the following conditions was met: (a) isomeric bronchial anatomy, (b) echocardiographic and angiocardiographic evidence of isomerism, and (c) surgical or necropsy evidence of abnormal atrial anatomy. An anomalous pulmonary venous connection was present in 55% of patients with right atrial isomerism; in left atrial isomerism one case (14%) had a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Forty per cent of cases of anomalous pulmonary venous connection with right atrial isomerism had obstruction. Six (86%) of seven cases with left atrial isomerism had an ambiguous biventricular atrioventricular connection. In contrast, univentricular atrioventricular connection (26 of 36, 72%) was significantly more common in right atrial isomerism. A common atrioventricular valve was the most frequent mode of connection in both forms. Two discrete atrioventricular valves were significantly more common in left atrial isomerism. Atrioventricular valve regurgitation was detected in 14 cases. Double outlet right ventricle was the most common type of ventriculoarterial connection. The most commonly cited causes of death after either palliative or definitive operation were undetected anomalous pulmonary venous connection, pulmonary venous stricture, and uncorrected atrioventricular valve or aortic regurgitation complicated by abnormal coagulation. Although the prognosis is poor, successful operation depends on knowledge of the precise anatomical arrangement associated with atrial isomerism.

Ventricular septal defect in Chinese with aortic valve prolapse and aortic regurgitation

SummaryThe incidence of aortic valve prolapse and aortic regurgitation (AR) among Chinese with ventricular septal defect (VSD) has not been studied, and controversies still exist regarding optimal surgical treatment and timing of operation for this condition. A prospective study of 332 consecutive patients with VSD showed that aortic valve prolapse and AR occurred in 43 (11.9%) patients. Valve lesions occurred more commonly among patients with subpulmonic VSD (28.0%) than with subaortic VSD (8.8%) (P<0.005). A retrospective study of another 306 patients revealed that 37 (12.1%) had valve complications. Of the 80 patients with valve lesions, 60 were males and 20 were females. The youngest ages of prolapse and AR in subpulmonic VSD were 7 months and 3 years 8 months, respectively; those in subaortic VSD were 2 years and 3 years 6 months, respectively. Valve prolapse occurred mostly before the age of 6–10 years, leading progressively to AR. The coronary cusps prolapsed in subpulmonic VSD were limited to the right cusp; and those in subaortic VSD were the right cusp, noncoronary cusp, or both. The magnitude of left-to-right shunts was small and the pulmonary artery pressure was normal in the majority of patients. Seventy-two patients underwent open-heart closure of the VSD, with additional valvuloplasty in 15 and valve replacement in three patients. It is concluded that Chinese with VSD are prone to develop aortic valve complications. Surgical closure of the subpulmonic VSD may restore the prolapsed valve to normal. Closure of the subaortic VSD has little effect. Valvuloplasty in subaortic VSD may palliate AR, but in all probability cannot restore valve competency.

Influence of aortopulmonary rotation on the anomalous coronary artery pattern in tetralogy of fallot.

Three main patterns of aortic sinus rotation were defined on 517 lateral angiograms of tetralogy of Fallot with 14 cases of anomalous coronary artery pattern occurring only in patients with a right anterior or right lateral aorta. The significant dependence of coronary artery types on the aortic sinus pattern made it possible to predict the predisposing coronary artery pattern in tetralogy of Fallot based on the aortic sinus pattern.

Malalignment-type ventricular septal defect in double-chambered right ventricle.

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is commonly associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD). In this study, an assessment was made of the relevance of a malalignment-type VSD to hemodynamic and morphologic features in DCRV. During an 8.5-year period, 53 patients with DCRV were enrolled after study with echocardiography, catheterization, and angiography. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included 40 patients, aged 3.7 +/- 3.2 years, with a malalignment-type VSD; group II consisted of 13 patients, aged 8.6 +/- 2.7 years, without a malalignment-type VSD. History of congestive heart failure in infancy was present in 21 group I and 2 group II patients (53% vs 15%, respectively, p <0.05). The mean pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio was significantly higher in group I than in group II (1.89 +/- 0.74 vs 1.14 +/- 0.21, respectively, p <0.05). The mean pressure gradient across the right ventricular outflow tract was lower in group I than in group II (41 +/- 16 vs, 73 +/- 33 mm Hg, respectively, p <0.05). Among 42 patients who had a series of echocardiograms recorded, progression of pressure gradient was evident in 35: 28 in group I and 7 in group II. A subaortic ridge was present exclusively in 29 group I patients (73%). Prolapse of the aortic valve was present in 26 (49%): 20 group I (50%) and 6 group II (46%) patients. Aneurysm formation of the septal defect was found in 17 (43%) and 7 (54%) group I and II patients, respectively. It can be concluded that a history of congestive heart failure was more common in DCRV patients with a malalignment-type VSD. Malalignment-type VSD is significantly associated with a larger pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio and subaortic ridge.

Infundibular pulmonic stenosis with intact ventricular septum: a report of 15 surgically corrected patients.

Infundibular pulmonic stenosis with intact ventricular septum of primary origin is an uncommon condition. We report 15 such patients (nine males and six females, aged 7-36 years) who had undergone surgical correction for the anomaly during the period between 1975 and 1992. The occurrence of this clinical setting represents 0.19% (15/7826) of all cardiac operations and 0.46% (15/3222) of congenital heart diseases undergoing surgical correction during that period of time. The lesion was of discrete fibromuscular hypertrophy of the infundibulum in all 15 patients. The presenting symptoms of most patients were exertional dyspnea and syncope; however, five patients with severe obstruction were asymptomatic. The peak systolic pressure gradient across the infundibulum ranged from 71 to 230 mmHg. There was only one operative death; the remainder had remained well following the surgery over a mean follow-up period of 35 months. Surgical correction for infundibular pulmonic stenosis is rewarding in the absence of heart failure.

Is the sinus node visible grossly? A histological study of normal hearts

The sinus node is said to be occasionally visible in the human heart, while some have denied this visibility. This histological study of the normal sinus node was made on 11 adults and 10 infants. The node was always located subepicardially along the terminal groove at the junction of the superior caval vein and the right atrium. When no fatty infiltration (all infants and 2 adults) or minimal fatty tissue (2 adults) was found over the epicardial side of the node, it was not visible grossly. When fatty infiltration was obvious, then the node could be identified grossly as a yellowish spindle-shaped structure along the terminal groove. This arrangement was observed in 7 adults. The majority of nodes were in lateral position, but the so-called horseshoe arrangement was seen in 2 infants and 2 adults. The artery to the sinus artery was located centrally or eccentrically in the majority of cases, but the artery ramified through the nodal substance in 1 infant and 4 adults. We conclude that the node is not visible grossly in either the infant hearts or in those adult hearts without fatty infiltration. The whole cephalic part of the terminal groove should be carefully avoided to be sure of preventing the injury to the node during cardiac surgery.

A minimal transverse incision with low median sternotomy for pediatric congenital heart surgery

OBJECTIVES Median sternotomy is the incision of choice for most cardiac surgical procedures, but the full-length vertical skin incision generally leaves an unsightly scar. In certain patients undergoing short, low-risk procedures, cosmetic considerations are of relatively greater importance. METHODS A minimal transverse curvilinear skin incision with low median sternotomy is described which gives adequate exposure for selected open-heart procedures. Since September 1997, this approach has been used in 22 pediatric patients undergoing open-heart surgery including five cases of Fallots tetralogy. We also compared the operation time and result with other approaches. RESULTS Using this modified method, the exposure of the heart was good enough, and there were no difficulties in cannulating the ascending aorta for cardiopulmonary bypass. Although it took a longer time to close the wound, the operation time was similar to the standard approach. The small transverse wound was not visible under conventional clothes. CONCLUSIONS A minimal transverse incision with low median sternotomy provides an alternative approach for small wound open-heart surgery in patients with a simple congenital cardiac defect. It is technically feasible and has a good cosmetic result.

Clinical Implications of Short‐Axis Aortopulmonary Rotation on Juxtacommissural Origin of the Coronary Artery in Transposition of the Great Arteries and Surgical Strategy

Abstract Background: The relationship of short‐axis aortopulmonary rotation (APR) with juxtacommissural origin of the coronary arteries (JOCA) in transposition of the great arteries (TGA) has never been elucidated. The surgical outcome of arterial switch operation (ASO) is influenced by the presence of JOCA. Methods: Fifteen patients with TGA who presented to our institution between 1988 and 1995, and 23 cases from the literature, all with documented JOCA and APR, were analyzed. Each coronary arterial type was assigned to one of five patterns, according to similarities of epicardial configuration. All our patients underwent an ASO with various techniques to deal with JOCA. Results: JOCA near the facing commissure (FC, 35 cases), were more frequent with anterior TGA (29/31, 94%) except types 5cj and 9j that were seen with posterior and right lateral TGA (4/4,100%); whereas JOCA near the right‐hand nonfacing commissure (RNC, 3 cases) were related with posterior TGA. Eta‐square analysis showed significant correlation between various JOCA and short axis APR. Thirteen of our cases had JOCA near FC, two near RNC. Five of the former in whom the coronary artery was excised as a single button had a superior trapdoor; using a two‐button technique three of the former had a lateral funnel and one of the latter had a medial trapdoor for the JOCA; all survived although one late noncoronary death was noted. In the remaining six cases without augmentation, only one survived (8/1 vs 1/5, p < 0.02). Conclusion: JOCA in TGA was related to short axis APR, generally near FC in anterior TGA (except types 5cj and 9j), and near the RNC in posterior TGA. A superior (lateral) or medial flap, to augment the coronary button for JOCA near FC or RNC is helpful for a successful ASO.