Michel Hurni

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.

A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Stenting to Internal Mammary Artery Grafting for Proximal, Isolated De Novo Left Anterior Coronary Artery Stenosis: The SIMA Trial

OBJECTIVE To compare coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with proximal, isolated de novo left anterior descending coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%. PATIENTS AND METHODS In the multicenter Stenting vs Internal Mammary Artery (SIMA) study, patients were randomly assigned to PTCA and stent implantation or to CABG (using the internal mammary artery). The primary clinical composite end point was event-free survival, including death, myocardial infarction, and the need for additional revascularization. Secondary end points were functional class, antianginal treatment, and quality of life. Analyses were by intention to treat. RESULTS Of 123 patients who accepted randomization, 59 underwent CABG, and 62 were treated with stent implantation (2 patients were excluded because of protocol violation). At a mean ± SD follow-up of 2.4±o.9 years, a primary end point had occurred in 19 patients (31%) in the stent group and in 4 (7%) in the CABG group (P P =.90). The functional class, need for antianginal drug, and quality-of-life assessment showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS Both stent implantation and CABG are safe and highly effective treatments to relieve symptoms in patients with isolated, proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Both are associated with a low and comparable incidence of death and myocardial infarction. However, similar to PTCA alone, a percutaneous approach using elective stent placement remains hampered by a higher need for repeated intervention because of restenosis.

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.

10-Year Follow-Up of a Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Bare-Metal Stenting With Internal Mammary Artery Grafting for Proximal, Isolated De Novo Left Anterior Coronary Artery Stenosis The SIMA (Stenting versus Internal Mammary Artery grafting) Trial

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to compare the long-term clinical outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with intracoronary stenting of patients with isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. BACKGROUND Although numerous trials have compared coronary angioplasty with bypass surgery, none assessed the clinical evaluation in the long term. METHODS We evaluated the 10-year clinical outcome in the SIMA (Stent versus Internal Mammary Artery grafting) trial. Patients were randomly assigned to stent implantation versus CABG. RESULTS Of 123 randomized patients, 59 underwent CABG and 62 received a stent (2 patients were excluded). Follow-up after 10 years was obtained for 98% of the randomized patients. Twenty-six patients (42%) in the percutaneous coronary intervention group and 10 patients (17%) in the CABG group reached an end point (p < 0.001). This difference was due to a higher need for additional revascularization. The incidences of death and myocardial infarction were identical at 10%. Progression of the disease requiring additional revascularization was rare (5%) and was similar for the 2 groups. Stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients (3%). Angina functional class showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Both stent implantation and CABG are safe and highly effective in relieving symptoms in patients with isolated, proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Stenting with bare-metal stents is associated with a higher need for repeat interventions. The long-term prognosis for these patients is excellent with either mode of revascularization.

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.

Surgery for aortic coarctation: a 30 years experience

OBJECTIVE A retrospective study to review the experience of a single center with surgery for aortic coarctation over a period of 30 years (1970-1999). METHODS Criteria for inclusion: (a) aortic coarctation, isolated or associated with congenital heart defect; (b) surgery between 1970 and 1999. Data recorded: (1) date of surgery; (2) age at surgery; (3) associated lesions; (4) surgical technique; (5) simultaneous surgical procedures; (6) early and late surgical results in term of: (a) deaths; (b) need for reoperation because of re-coarctation or other cardiac lesion; (c) residual/recurrent pressure gradient, evaluated at cuff/Doppler at rest; (d) systemic hypertension, requiring medical treatment. RESULTS One hundred and forty-one patients underwent surgery for aortic coarctation: 30 neonates, 29 infants, 45 children and 37 adults. Associated lesions were found in 8/37 (=21.6%) adults and in 73/104 (=70.1%) pediatric patients. There were no hospital deaths. During the follow-up there were one late death in the adults group (1/37=2.7%) and three late deaths in the pediatric group (3/104=2.9%), all unrelated with aortic coarctation. Re-operation because of re-coarctation occurred only in ten late survivors of the pediatric group (10/101=9.9%), 9/10 operated on before 1980 (P<0.00001). End-to-end anastomosis, enlarged to the aortic arch in neonates, was associated with the lowest incidence of re-coarctation (P<0.005). A significant (>20 mmHg at rest) pressure gradient was found in none of the adults, and in seven of the 91 pediatric patients (7/91=7.7%) late survivors. Three adults (3/36=8.3%) late survivors are on medical treatment to control systemic hypertension. CONCLUSIONS The long-term results of our retrospective study confirm that surgery has to be considered the gold standard for the treatment of aortic coarctation. The interventional angioplasty techniques have to provide long-term outcome at least similar to the results obtained with surgery.

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.

Primary isolated aortic valve surgery in octogenarians

OBJECTIVES We reviewed our surgery registry, to identify predictive risk factors for operative results, and to analyse the long-term survival outcome in octogenarians operated for primary isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS A total of 124 consecutive octogenarians underwent open AVR from January 1990 to December 2005. Combined procedures and redo surgery were excluded. Selected variables were studied as risk factors for hospital mortality and early neurological events. A follow-up (FU; mean FU time: 77 months) was obtained (90% complete), and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to determine survival rates. RESULTS The mean age was 82+/-2.2 (range: 80-90 years; 63% females). Of the group, four patients (3%) required urgent procedures, 10 (8%) had a previous myocardial infarction, six (5%) had a previous coronary angioplasty and stenting, 13 patients (10%) suffered from angina and 59 (48%) were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV. We identified 114 (92%) degenerative stenosis, six (5%) post-rheumatic stenosis and four (3%) active endocarditis. The predicted mortality calculated by logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was 12.6+/-5.7%, and the observed hospital mortality was 5.6%. Causes of death included severe cardiac failure (four patients), multi-organ failure (two) and sepsis (one). Complications were transitory neurological events in three patients (2%), short-term haemodialysis in three (2%), atrial fibrillation in 60 (48%) and six patients were re-operated for bleeding. Atrio-ventricular block, myocardial infarction or permanent stroke was not detected. The age at surgery and the postoperative renal failure were predictors for hospital mortality (p value <0.05), whereas we did not find predictors for neurological events. The mean FU time was 77 months (6.5 years) and the mean age of surviving patients was 87+/-4 years (81-95 years). The actuarial survival estimates at 5 and 10 years were 88% and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our experience shows good short-term results after primary isolated standard AVR in patients more than 80 years of age. The FU suggests that aortic valve surgery in octogenarians guarantees satisfactory long-term survival rates and a good quality of life, free from cardiac re-operations. In the era of catheter-based aortic valve implantation, open-heart surgery for AVR remains the standard of care for healthy octogenarians.

Adequate left ventricular preparation allows for arterial switch despite late referral

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of the arterial switch for surgical repair of transposition, defined as the combination of concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connections, after late referral. METHODS From March 2000 to August 2001, six children underwent an arterial switch procedure following left ventricular preparation because of late referral. The mean age at referral was 8.3 months, with a range from 3 to 25 months, and mean body weight was 5.3 kg, with a range from 3.7 to 9.3 kg. The mean saturation of oxygen was 57%, with a range from 50 to 72%. Associated defects included a restrictive ventricular septal defect in three patients, aortic coarctation in one, and partially anomalous pulmonary venous connection in one. The mean interval between referral and the arterial switch procedure was 3.7 months, within a range from 1 to 7 months. A mean of 1.5 surgical procedures were undertaken to prepare the left ventricle, the most being 3 procedures, including combinations of creation of an inter-atrial communication in four patients, banding of the pulmonary trunk in five, and creation of a systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt in three. We evaluated left ventricle ejection and shortening fractions, left ventricular diastolic diameter and volume, right and left ventricular wall thicknesses, and the ratio of right to left ventricular values by echocardiography at referral, immediately before, and one week after the arterial switch procedure. RESULTS All children are alive and well, with a mean follow-up of 17 months, ranging from 9 to 26 months. Echocardiography showed a statistically significant decrease of the ratio between right and left ventricular wall thicknesses, from 1.33 +/- 0.26 at referral to 0.79 +/- 0.08 before the switch procedure (p < 0.005). Left ventricular function was adequate after arterial switch, with a mean ejection fraction of 79.3%, ranging from 66 to 87%, and a mean shortening fraction of 41.7%, ranging from 30 to 49%. CONCLUSIONS Despite late referral, and initially inadequate left ventricular volume and mural thickness, children with transposition can successfully be treated with the arterial switch procedure, provided that the left ventricle is adequately prepared, using echocardiography to monitor left ventricular morphology and function.