John Kokotsakis

Effect of Skeletonization of the Internal Thoracic Artery for Coronary Revascularization on the Incidence of Sternal Wound Infection

Use of the internal thoracic artery in coronary revascularization confers excellent benefit. We assessed the impact of skeletonization on the incidence of postoperative sternal wound infection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. We also investigated whether there is an advantage in using this technique when harvesting both internal thoracic arteries in high-risk groups, such as diabetic patients. Skeletonization was associated with beneficial reduction in the odds ratio of sternal wound infection (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.64). This effect was more evident when analyzing diabetic patients undergoing bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting (odds ratio, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.34).

The Significance of One-Station N2 Disease in the Prognosis of Patients With Nonsmall-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND A retrospective study was conducted to define the characteristics and the prognosis of N2 disease subgroups according to their patterns of spread. METHODS From January 1993 to December 2004, 1,329 patients underwent lung resection for bronchogenic carcinoma The records of all patients with positive mediastinal lymph nodes at the surgical specimen (pIIIA/N2) after radical resection were analyzed, and the pattern of mediastinal lymphatic spread was classified according to regional spread, to skip metastasis, and to one or two or more lymph node stations, in relation to primary tumor location. Age, sex, type of resection, right or left lesion, T status, primary tumor location, tumor size, tumor central or peripheral location, histology, and survival were recorded and analyzed. Survival was analyzed according to regional spread or not, number of mediastinal lymph node stations involved, and skip metastasis status. RESULTS Among 302 cases (22.7%) with positive mediastinal lymph nodes pIIIA/N2, 66 (22%) were skip metastases, 72 (24%) had a nonregional mode of spread, and 199 (66%) included two or more stations of mediastinal lymph node invasion. Cox regression analysis of all cases disclosed malignant invasion in only one mediastinal lymph node station as the only favorable factor of survival (p < 0.001, odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval: 0.42 to 0.78). CONCLUSIONS The presence of one-station mediastinal lymph node metastasis in patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer who underwent major lung resection with complete mediastinal lymph node dissection proved to be a good prognostic factor that should be taken into account in the future.

Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Coronary Revascularization: Meta-Analysis of Mid- and Long-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND Early outcomes for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) have been extensively compared with on-pump coronary revascularization (ONCAB); however, the long-term effects of OPCAB continue to be debated. This study aims to compare the mid-term (>1year; ≤5 years) and long-term (>5 years) survival and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events of OPCAB versus ONCAB. METHODS A systematic search identified 32 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. These were analyzed using random effects modeling, with subgroup evaluation according to study type. Primary outcomes were mid- and long-term survival over a follow-up period greater than 1 year. Secondary outcomes were mid- and long-term events including repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure, and cerebrovascular accidents. RESULTS Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting confers similar overall mid-term survival when compared with ONCAB (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.95 to 1.19; p=0.31). On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with a significant trend towards a long-term survival advantage (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.13; p=0.05); however, this was no longer present when subgroup analysis of only randomized controlled trials, registry-based studies, and propensity-matched studies was performed. There was an increase in angina recurrence among two studies after OPCAB, but no difference was seen in 11 other studies reporting data as odds ratio. No significant differences were observed in other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS This analysis demonstrates comparable mid-term mortality and mid- to long-term morbidity between OPCAB and ONCAB. On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting may be associated with improved long-term survival when all study types are analyzed; however, analysis of only randomized controlled trials and propensity-matched studies demonstrates comparable long-term mortality between OPCAB and ONCAB.

Endovascular repair for blunt thoracic aortic injury: 11-year outcomes and postoperative surveillance experience

OBJECTIVE Surveillance for patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) varies. Annual chest computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is often recommended but concerns about the risks and costs have emerged. The aim of this study was to examine the optimal follow-up frequency based on 11-year outcomes and surveillance experience. METHODS Seventy-six patients with BTAI received TEVAR from May 2002 to July 2013. Demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, Injury Severity Score (ISS), types, sizes, timing, and outcomes of stent grafts were collected retrospectively. RESULTS Mean age was 39.7 years (range, 17-85 years); 8 (11%) were women. Mean ISS was 46.2 ± 18.5 (deceased, 61.0 ± 19.2; surviving, 44.2 ± 17.6; P = .023). Technical success was achieved in 71 patients (93.4%). All-cause mortality was 7 (9.2%), 1 (1.3%) of which was related to the procedure. Six were lost to follow-up (8%). To examine the effect of surveillance frequency on outcomes, after excluding the 2 most recent (<1 year) surviving patients, we arbitrarily divided the remaining 61 with stable repairs based on the timing of their follow-up: 36 underwent timely follow-up (within ± 6 months of the scheduled annual visit; clinical examination, CTA, magnetic resonance angiography, and echocardiography); 25 had delayed follow-up (>6 months after scheduled annual visit). No significant differences were found for survival, graft-related complications, need for reintervention, except for postoperative hypertension, which was higher in the first group. All surviving patients had excellent outcomes, with no cerebrovascular accidents, paraplegia, or paraparesis; the median follow-up for both groups was 3 years (interquartile range 2.0-3.5, 1.5-5.4 years). CONCLUSIONS Midterm outcomes of TEVAR for patients with stable repair after BTAI are excellent, both with timely (1.0-1.5 years) and delayed (>1.5 years) follow-up intervals after a median surveillance period of 3 years. A larger prospective randomized study could lead to a more relaxed, but equally safe surveillance schedule for these patients, lowering risks and costs.

Surgical management of superior vena cava syndrome following pacemaker lead infection: a case report and review of the literature

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is a known but rare complication of pacemaker lead implantation, accounting for approximately less than 0.5% of cases. Its pathophysiology is due to either infection or endothelial mechanical stress, causing inflammation and fibrosis leading to thrombosis, and therefore stenosis of the SVC. Due to the various risks including thrombo-embolic complications and the need to provide symptomatic relief, medical and surgical interventions are sought early. We present the case of a 48-year Caucasian male who presented with localised swelling and pain at the site of pacemaker implantation. Inflammatory markers were normal, but diagnostic imaging revealed three masses along the pacemaker lead passage. A surgical approach using cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest was used to remove the vegetations. Culture from the vegetations showed Staphylococcus epidermidis. The technique presented here allowed for safe and effective removal of both the thrombus and infected pacing leads, with excellent exposure and minimal post-procedure complications.

Surgical treatment of innominate artery and aortic aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature

Innominate artery (IA) aneurysms represent 3% of all arterial aneurysms. Due to the risk of thromboembolic complications and spontaneous rupture, surgical repair is usually recommended on an early elective basis. We present the case of 81-year-old Caucasian male presenting with atypical anterior chest pain secondary to a large innominate artery aneurysm who underwent successful open surgical repair at our institution. In our experience, open correction via median sternotomy with extension into the right neck provides excellent exposure and facilitates rapid reconstruction with good short and long-term outcomes. Minimally invasive and endovascular approaches provide emerging alternatives to open IA aneurysm repair, however further research is required to better define optimal patient selection criteria and determine the long-term outcomes of these novel therapies.

Postoperative residual pleural spaces: characteristics and natural history.

This study was conducted in order to re-define the incidence and natural history of postresectional residual pleural spaces (PRS). From 1997 to 2005, 966 patients who were subjected to less than entire lung resections, were followed and any cases of PRS were recorded. The records of these patients were retrospectively analyzed for age, gender, type of resection, side, apical or basal location, size, PRS wall thickness, empyema as well as for bronchopleural fistula occurence, management, and outcome. Postresectional residual pleural spaces outcome was correlated with space characteristics. A total of 92 cases (9.5%) of PRS were documented which developed frequently (p < 0.001) after upper lobectomies, malignant disease, at an apical location, and on the right side. Unfavorable outcome was strongly correlated with age > 70 years (p < 0.001), air leak (p < 0.001), empyema (p < 0.001), and thickened pleura (p < 0.001). Good prognosis of PRS was strongly correlated with male gender, apical location, right side, normal pleura thickness, and small size. Postresectional residual pleural spaces of small size without any associated complications should not prolong hospitalization time.

Emergent Endovascular Repair as Damage Control Step of Aortic Injury After Posterior Spinal Instrumentation

atrogenic injury of the aorta is a rare, but serious complication of spine fixation surgery. A 59-year-old woman as transferred to our service in profound shock (ie, hypoensive with severe metabolic acidosis). The patient had ndergone posterior spine fixation surgery at the levels T3, 4, T6, and T7 just 1 month prior). Despite the artifact due o the metallic tip, which masquerades the aortic lesion, the omputed tomographic scan (CT) of the chest revealed masive left hemothorax with active extravasation of contrast edium in the pleural cavity (Fig 1) due to aortic perforation rom a pedicle screw at the level of the fourth thoracic vertera. Initial left chest tube output was 1,650 mL. Because the eneral condition of the patient precluded any major surgical ntervention due to high expected mortality, an emergent ndovascular aortic stent-graft was decided on as a damage ontrol step. A Valiant (32 150 mm) thoracic endovascular raft (Medtronic Vascular, Santa Rosa, CA) was introduced hrough the right common femoral artery into the descending horacic aorta at the region of the perforation under direct uoroscopic guidance. Chest tube output became minimal, ndicating cessation of bleeding. The patient was transferred n the intensive care unit where she was hemodynamically tabilized with blood transfusion and vasoactive drugs. As oon as the metabolic acidosis was reversed and her hematorit was more than 30%, the patient received complete ortho-

Surgical management of infected cardiac implantable electronic devices

The growing use of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) has led to infections requiring intervention. These are traditionally managed using a percutaneous transvenous approach to fully extract the culpable leads. Indications for such strategies are well-established and range from simple traction to the use of powered extraction tools including laser sheaths. Where such attempts fail, or if there are further complications, then there may be need for a cardiothoracic surgical approach. Limited evidence is currently available on the merits of individual strategies, and these are mainly drawn from case reports or series. Most utilise cardiopulmonary bypass, cardioplegic arrest and entry within the right atrium to allow direct visualisation of any vegetation and safely explant all CIED components whilst avoiding perforation, valvular and paravalvular damage. In this review, we describe a number of these and the unique challenges faced by surgeons when attempting to extract CIED. It is clear that future work should concentrate on creating clear consensus and guidelines on indications, risks and measures of efficacy outcomes for various surgical techniques.

Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair using a four-branched thoracoabdominal graft: a case series.

Revascularization of the visceral arteries during thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair is usually performed sequentially by an anastomosis between a prosthetic graft and an aortic patch. There are immediate operative risks such as bleeding and distortion. In the longer term, aneurysm, pseudo-aneurysm and rupture may occur. These require reoperation and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.We present our experience with Crawford IV thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair in four patients, using a prefabricated four-branched graft (Coselli graft). At two years there were no deaths, no complications and no vessel abnormalities on computed tomography. We recommend its use as the graft of choice in young patients with an aortic tissue disorder requiring total resection of the aortic wall at the level of the visceral vessels.