Frank Stumpe

Five-Year Outcome in Patients With Isolated Proximal Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Stenosis Treated by Angioplasty or Left Internal Mammary Artery Grafting A Prospective Trial

BACKGROUND Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) improve the clinical status of patients with isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. At 2 years, only additional revascularization was more frequently required after PTCA. METHODS AND RESULTS We monitored 134 patients randomized to PTCA (n=68) or CABG (n=66) for </=5 years. End points were death, myocardial infarction, need for additional revascularization, clinical status, and medical treatment. At 5 years, 6 patients (9%) had died in the PTCA group versus 2 (3%) in the CABG group (P=0.12). One patient in each group died of a cardiac cause. Myocardial infarction was more frequent after PTCA (15% versus 4%; P=0.0001), but Q-wave infarction was not (6% in the PTCA group versus 3% in the CABG group; P=0.8). Additional revascularization was required in 38% of patients in the PTCA group versus 9% in the CABG group (P=0.0001). Functional status was comparable, with 6% of patients after PTCA and 3% after CABG in functional class III or IV. Finally, after PTCA or CABG, 62% and 91% of patients, respectively, were free of events (P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The 5-year prognosis of patients with isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis is good. Both PTCA and CABG improve clinical status, but revascularization was needed more frequently after PTCA. There is an excess incidence of non-Q-wave myocardial infarction in the PTCA group that does not affect the vital or symptomatic outcome.

Incidence of deep and superficial sternal infection after open heart surgery. A ten years retrospective study from 1981 to 1991.

Between January 1981 and December 1991, 4137 adult patients underwent various cardiac procedures via a median sternotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. The overall infection rate was 1.33%, including superficial wound infections (SWI) (1.18%) and deep sternal infection (DSI) (0.145%). Pericardial and retrosternal suction drains with a vent allowed a better drainage of blood and serosities and probably contributed to our low DSI rate. Eleven factors predisposing to infection were evaluated by Fishers exact test. Only the operative urgency (P = 0.006), reexploration for bleeding (P = 0.00001) and preoperative renal failure (P = 0.0005) were statistically significant. Twenty of our infected patients had no risk factors for infection. When the risk factors described in the literature were applied to our infected patients, only one had no risk factor.

Impact of duration of chest tube drainage on pain after cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to analyze the duration of chest tube drainage on pain intensity and distribution after cardiac surgery. METHODS Two groups of 80 cardiac surgery adult patients, operated on in two different hospitals, by the same group of cardiac surgeons, and with similar postoperative strategies, were compared. However, in one hospital (long drainage group), a conservative policy was adopted with the removal the chest tubes by postoperative day (POD) 2 or 3, while in the second hospital (short drainage group), all the drains were usually removed on POD 1. RESULTS There was a trend toward less pain in the short drainage group, with a statistically significant difference on POD 2 (P=0.047). There were less patients without pain on POD 3 in the long drainage group (P=0. 01). The areas corresponding to the tract of the pleural tube, namely the epigastric area, the left basis of the thorax, and the left shoulder were more often involved in the long drainage group. There were three pneumonias in each group and no patient required repeated drainage. CONCLUSIONS A policy of early chest drain ablation limits pain sensation and simplifies nursing care, without increasing the need for repeated pleural puncture. Therefore, a policy of short drainage after cardiac surgery should be recommended.

Long-term results of mitral-aortic valve operations

OBJECTIVE We analyzed the long-term morbidity and mortality of our experience with combined mitral-aortic surgery, as well as their determinants. METHODS Among 2109 consecutive patients undergoing valve operations, 200 had mitral-aortic valve procedures with at least implantation of a mechanical prosthesis: 163 of 200 (81.5%) patients had double valve replacement and 37 of 200 (18.5%) had mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement. All mechanical valves were bileaflet prostheses. Preoperatively, 171 of 200 (85.5%) patients were in New York Heart Association class III-IV. Event-free survivals were determined by means of the Kaplan-Meier method and determinants of survivals with the Cox proportional hazards model (p < 0.05) entering 39 preoperative and perioperative factors. Follow-up was complete for 96% of the patients (192/200). RESULTS Overall survivals at 5, 10, and 15 years were 88.5% +/- 0.55%, 73.5% +/- 4%, and 53.3% +/- 8.9%, and rates of freedom from valve-related mortality were 92.9% +/- 1.5%, 85.8% +/- 3.5%, and 85.8% +/- 3.5%. The rates of freedom from permanent valve-related impairment were 91.5% +/- 1.7%, 85.4% +/- 3.5%, and 79.3% +/- 6.7%, and those from all valve-related mortality and morbidity were 74.1% +/- 2.3%, 53.8% +/- 5%, and 49% +/- 5.6%. At last follow-up, 90% (139/154) of the survivors were in New York Heart Association class I-II. Left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50%, age older than 70 years, and preoperative ventricular arrhythmias were independent risk factors for valve-related late deaths. Diabetes, ejection fraction less than 50%, and coronary artery disease were independent determinants of all valve-related events. CONCLUSIONS Functional results of survivors of combined mitral-aortic surgery are excellent. However long-term valve-related morbidity and mortality are substantial. In the patient population studied, the predictors are determined by patient-related factors, mainly myocardial factors, but not by valve-related factors.

Drawback of aortoplasty for aneurysm of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease.

BACKGROUND Aortoplasty has been advocated for moderate dilatation of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease. We report our results with this conservative approach. METHODS Seventeen consecutive patients with unsupported aortoplasty were reviewed. Twelve patients had aortic valve regurgitation and 5 had stenosis. The aortic wall was analyzed histologically in 14 patients. Follow-up was complete, with a mean time of 6 years (range, 2.3 to 10.5 years). RESULTS Two patients among the 15 hospital survivors died during follow-up of causes unrelated to aortic pathology. Survival at 7 years was 86.7% (+/- 8.8%). Recurring aortic aneurysms developed in 4 patients after a mean time of 63 months, with an event-free survival at 7 years of 41% (+/- 21%). All of these 4 patients had aortic valve regurgitation and cystic medial necrosis. CONCLUSIONS The recurrence rate of aneurysms after unsupported aortoplasty and aortic valve replacement is high in patients with aortic regurgitation. This strongly suggests that in these patients, the aortic dilatation is related to an underlying wall deficiency, associated with the aortic valve pathology, rather than to the hemodynamic stress imposed by the aortic valve disease.

Gastrointestinal disease following heart transplantation.

Abstract. With advances in heart transplantation, a growing number of recipients are at risk of developing gastrointestinal disease. We reviewed our experience with gastrointestinal disease in 92 patients undergoing 93 heart transplants. All had follow-up, with the median time 4.8 years (range 0.5–9.6 years). During the period of the study we progressively adopted a policy of low immunosuppression aiming toward monotherapy with cyclosporine. Nineteen patients (20.6%) developed 28 diseases related to the gastrointestinal tract. Thirteen patients required 18 surgical interventions, five as emergencies: closure of a duodenal ulcer, five cholecystectomies (one with biliary tract drainage), a sigmoid resection for a diverticulitis with a colovesical fistula, a colostomy followed by a colostomy takedown for an iatrogenic colon perforation, appendectomy, two anorectal procedures, and six abdominal wall herniorrhaphies. At the onset of gastrointestinal disease, 8 patients were on standard triple-drug immunosuppression, all of them within 6 months of transplantation; 13 were on double-drug immunosuppression; and 7 were on cyclosporine alone. All the patients with perforations/fistulas were on steroids. Among the 11 infectious or potentially infectious diseases, 10 were on triple- or double-drug immunosuppression. One death, a patient who was on triple-drug immunosuppression, had a postmortem diagnosis of necrotic and hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Except for an incisional hernia following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there was no morbidity and, importantly, no septic complications. We concluded that a low immunosuppression policy is likely to be responsible for the low morbidity and mortality of posttransplant gastrointestinal disease, with a lower incidence of viscous perforation/fistula and infectious gastrointestinal disease.

Active cooling during open repair of thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms improves outcome.

OBJECTIVE Evaluate impact of active cooling with partial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and low systemic heparinization during open repair of thoracoabdoninal aortic aneurysms. METHODS Prospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients undergoing surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Partial CPB and normothermic (36 degrees C) or hypothermic (29 degrees C) perfusion was selected in accordance to the surgeons preference. In the hypothermic group, aortic cross clamp was applied when the target temperature of the venous blood was achieved and rewarming was started after declamping. RESULTS 52/100 patients (62.2+/-10.9 years) received normothermic and 48/100 patients hypothermic perfusion (63.8+/-10.6 years: NS). Emergent procedures accounted for 18/52 (35%) with normothermia vs. 21/48 (44%: NS) with hypothermia. The number of aortic segments (eight = maximum including arch and bifurcation) replaced was 3.9+/-1.5 with normothermia vs. 4.1+/-1.5 with hypothermia (NS); Crawford type II aneurysms accounted for 21/52 patients (40%) for normothermia vs. 20/48 (42%:NS) for hypothermia. Total clamp time was 38+/-21 min with normothermia vs. 47+/-28 min with hypothermia (P=0.05). Pump time was 55+/-28 min with normothermia vs. 84+/-34 min with hypothermia (P=0.001). Mortality at 30 days was 8/52 patients (15%) with normothermia vs. 2/48 (4%) with hypothermia (P=0.06; odds ratio = 4.1). Parapareses/plegias occurred in 4/52 patients (8%) with normothermia vs. 4/48 (8%) with hypothermia (NS). Revisions for bleeding were required in 4/52 patients (8%) with normothermia vs. 2/48 patients (4%) with hypothermia (P=0.38). Revisions for distal vascular problems were necessary in 5/52 patients (10%) with normothermia vs. 2/48 (4%) with hypothermia (P=0.25). Freedom from death, paraplegia, and surgical revision was 89.9% with normothermia vs. 94.8% with hypothermia (P=0.04; odds ratio 2.0). CONCLUSIONS Active cooling during repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms allows for longer cross-clamp times, more complex repairs and improves outcome.

Silver-coated prosthetic heart valve: a double-bladed weapon

A St. Jude Medical Silzone was implanted in a 72-year-old female, suffering from mitral valve disease. Four months later, the patient had acute cardiac failure due to partial detachment of the prosthetic valve. The mitral annulus was ulcerated and there were multiple erosions in the myocardial tissue in contact with the prosthetic valve. Histological examination revealed chronic inflammation with hemosiderine deposits and giant cells. No allergy to silver ions was found. The silver-coated sewing cuff had caused a chronic inflammatory reaction due to a toxic reaction to silver. The Silzone valve was withdrawn from the market on January 2000.

Trillium coating of cardiopulmonary bypass circuits improves biocompatibility.

Coating of cardiopulmonary bypass circuits may be a solution to prevent adverse effects induced by contact of blood elements with foreign surfaces. Using an animal model, we investigated the Trillium™ coating of cardiopulmonary bypass circuits (a new process involving polyethylene oxide, sulphonate groups and heparin) at low systemic heparinization, focusing on haemolysis and clot formation. Cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated through jugulo-carotid acess with ACT maintained around 180 sec. Treated circuits (Trillium group) were evaluated in 3 calves (mean weight of 66.0±8.7 kg), vs. untreated circuits in 3 control calves (mean weight of 60.7±7.5 kg). Blood samples were drawn at regular intervals for biochemical, hematological and blood gas analyses. After 6 consecutive hours, the animals were weaned from CPB and were awakened. The circuits were analyzed for clot deposits. After 7 days the animals were sacrificed and an autopsy was carried out. Red cell and white cell counts did not change over the 6 hours. Platelet counts dropped to 75.9±7.3% of the baseline value in the Trillium group after 6 hours whereas counts dropped to 57.2±26.0 in the control group (p<0.05). Plasma free Hb remained constant in the Trillium group but increased significantly to 280±65% of baseline value in the control group (p<0.05). The amount of clots were significantly higher in the control group, in the connectors, the reservoir, the heat exchanger, and the oxygenator. No renal emboli were seen in the Trillium group whereas the mean number of emboli was 3.0±2.4 in the control group. We conclude that Trillium coating significantly improves the biocompatibility of artificial surfaces exposed to blood.

Right ventricular rupture due to recurrent mediastinal infection with a closed chest

Right ventricular (RV) rupture in cases of mediastinitis following cardiac surgery is a rare and dangerous complication. Bleeding from the right ventricle occurs mainly after sternal reopening, due to either iatrogenic manipulation (wire removal, lesions due to wiring maneuvers) or mechanical shearing forces, producing direct injury. We present a case of RV wall perforation due to infection in a recurrent postoperative mediastinitis with a closed chest. The current literature on treatment of postoperative mediastinitis is also reviewed.