P. Ketonen

Diagnosis and treatment of subclavian artery aneurysms

The diagnostic features and operative results in 13 patients with subclavian artery aneurysms were analysed. Symptoms related to subclavian artery aneurysms were present in seven patients, whereas six patients were asymptomatic and the aneurysm was discovered incidentally on chest X-ray. Angiography was the most valuable diagnostic examination and was also necessary in planning the operation. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in five of six patients with computed tomography. Resection of the aneurysm was performed in nine and aneurysmal exclusion in the latest four patients. Direct reconstruction was used in nine and in four cases an extra-anatomic carotico-subclavian bypass was performed. Postoperative complications arose in two symptomatic and in four asymptomatic patients (46%: two strokes, two wound infections demanding extirpation of the prosthesis in one patient, two pareses of the recurrent nerve and one postoperative haemorrhage). Operative mortality was one patient. Follow-up data was available for all patients for periods of 6 months to 14 years. The vascular graft was patent in all patients. The authors conclude that subclavian artery aneurysm must be included in the differential diagnosis of all obscure upper mediastinal masses as seen on the chest X-ray and examined with CT and angiography. Exclusion of the aneurysm with extra-anatomical reconstruction is technically easier and gives the same postoperative long-term results as resection of the aneurysm and direct reconstruction. A relatively high complication rate after operation on asymptomatic subclavian aneurysms indicates a need for re-evaluation of operative indications in asymptomatic patients.

Traumatic rupture of the right hemidiaphragm

Sixteen cases of traumatic disruption of the right hemidiaphragm are presented. Six tears were treated in the acute post-trauma phase and ten were detected from late manifestations. The causal trauma was penetrating in 11 cases and blunt in five. Rupture of the right hemidiaphragm not uncommonly occurs without serious associated injuries. Bowel often herniates through such tears, unhindered by the liver, though the liver is the most commonly herniating organ. No recurrence of hernia was found after standard repair techniques (mean follow-up 5.2 years). Three of the 16 patients died, one from associated injury, one from strangulation of herniated bowel and one from postoperative myocardial infarction. To demonstrate diaphragmatic tearing and subsequent organ herniation, serial chest radiographs and computed tomography are useful, and exploratory laporotomy should be done without delay after penetrating injury to the trunk. The treatment of diaphragmatic tear is surgical, with better results from early than from late repair.

Indications for and risks in reoperation for coronary artery disease

Seventy-one coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reoperations were performed during a 17-year period, comprising 2.7% of all CABG operations. The main indication (in 87%) was vein graft failure alone or combined with other causes. Progression of disease in native coronary arteries was the sole indication in only 4 of the 71 cases. There were seven perioperative deaths, mainly due to myocardial infarction. Significant perioperative complications arose in 36 cases, including intraoperative lesion of a previous left internal mammary graft (16.2%) or of the right ventricle or anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery (2.8%). Postoperative low output syndrome appeared in 13 patients (18.3%), in seven of whom myocardial infarction was verified. Postoperative bleeding required resternotomy in six cases (9.1%). Because of the heightened operative mortality and morbidity risks, indications for redo CABG should be individualized. A well functioning internal mammary artery graft may be a relative contraindication. Accurate knowledge of the previous operation is essential and, especially in young patients, the possibility of reoperation should be taken into consideration at initial CABG.

Primary tumours of the ribs

Thirty-four primary rib tumours (24 benign, 10 malignant) were surgically treated in 1966-1985. The mean age was higher and the tumour diameter was greater in the patients with malignant, than in those with benign neoplasm. The benign tumours were excised without operative death. At follow-up after a mean of 12.3 years there was no recurrence of benign growth, but in two cases with initial diagnosis of chondroma a regrowth at the same site proved to be chondrosarcoma. Among the cases of malignant tumour there was one operative death from pulmonary embolism, after radical resection of sarcoma. None of the four patients with chondrosarcoma had recurrence 6-13 years after surgery. There was no long-term survival among the patients with other forms of sarcoma or malignant tumour of the reticuloendothelial system.

Local anaesthesia in carotid surgery. A prospective study of 111 endarterectomies in 100 patients

A prospective study was carried out on 100 patients consecutively undergoing carotid endarterectomy in local anaesthesia, in order to evaluate the usefulness of clinical signs in awake patients for monitoring of cerebral function and to determine the need for internal shunt in carotid surgery. The indications for operations were transient ischemic attacks in 67 patients and major or minor stroke in 24 (16 with persistent neurologic deficit). In nine asymptomatic patients the endarterectomy was prophylactic, following detection of bruit and angiographic stenosis. Bilateral stenosis was present in 47 patients, including 13 with total occlusion of the contralateral vessel, and 60 patients had significant vertebral artery stenosis. The carotid artery was first tentatively occluded and, if this was well tolerated for 5 min, endarterectomy was done without an internal shunt. Neurologic deficit signs during the trial occlusion necessitated such shunt in 16 patients with pressure in the internal carotid stump ranging from 0 to 40 (mean 22.4) mmHg. On the other hand, 11 additional patients with stump pressure less than 35 mmHg tolerated the trial occlusion well, underwent carotid endarterectomy without internal shunt and had no deficit symptoms during or after operation. One patient died postoperatively. Hemiparesis appeared in two more patients, but resolved completely in one and gave only minor sequelae in the other. These complications were related to the preoperative condition (stroke) and the postoperative residual pressure gradient. It is concluded that trial occlusion of the carotid artery and observation of the awake patient provide reliable information on the need for an internal shunt during carotid endarterectomy.

Graft-Enteric Fistulas and Erosions, Complications of Synthetic Aortic Grafting

Operative results of 12 patients with graft-enteric fistula (GEF) and two patients with graft-enteric erosion (GEE) operated on at our department be tween 1974 and 1984 were analyzed. Preoperative gastrointestinal bleeding was noted in all patients and pre sented as melena in 11 (79%), hematemesis in 10 (71 %), and hematochezia in 7 (50%). Eleven of 14 patients had signs of infection with fever, leukocytosis and hy persedimentation. Preoperative aortography or barium contrast studies were performed in 10 patients, but none of these investigations were diagnostic. Extirpation of prosthesis and closure of the bowel was performed in 10 pa tients. Operative mortality was 64,3%. It is concluded that GEF or GEE must be suspected in all patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding after reconstructive aortic surgery. Immediate laparotomy with extensive and careful exploration of the graft region is the best and safest diagnostic procedure. Fibre-optic endoscopy of the upper gastroin testinal tract performed on the operating table is a reasonable investigation to rule out other causes of bleeding. Total graft excision with axillofemoral recon struction gives the best survival rates.

Extrathoracic Approach for Reconstruction of Subclavian and Vertebral Arteries

One hundred extrathoracic arterial reconstructions were performed on 98 patients with occlusions or stenoses of the subclavian or vertebral arteries: 52 bypasses, 18 transpositions of the subclavian artery to the common carotid artery, 13 endarterectomies and 17 operations involving two or more simultaneous reconstructions. The operative mortality was 1% (one patient). In 2 patients hemiplegia occurred as a complication of carotid-subclavian bypass operation. Six patients had a nerve injury as an operative complication: 1 lesion of the brachial plexus, 3 lesions of the recurrent nerve, and two lesions of the phrenic nerve (one patient also had Horners syndrome). Immediate thrombosis of the operated arteries developed in 7 patients, 2 of whom were re-operated on. During the follow-up period (mean 4.5 years), six additional operations were performed because of failure of the first operation: the bypass graft was thrombosed in 5 of these cases and in one case a venous bypass graft with insufficient flow was replaced by a prosthesis. One patient underwent reconstruction of the contralateral side because of residual symptoms. In addition, 1 carotid endarterectomy, 2 thoracic sympathectomies, 4 coronary artery reconstructions and 8 lower limb arterial reconstructions were performed during the follow-up period. There were 17 late deaths, 9 of which were due to coronary artery disease. Of the 80 survivors 79% were satisfied with the operative result. The bypass was considered patent in 68%.

Surgical technique and operative mortality in coronary artery bypass. A postmortem analysis with castangiography.

Post-mortem analysis with castangiography was performed on 54 patients who died within 30 days of coronary artery bypass surgery. Myocardial failure was the cause of 85% of the deaths. There were 215 coronary anastomoses (4.0 +/- 1.1/patient), 24% of which were non-functioning. Most of the occlusions were due to various technical failures. The most striking features were 1) high occlusion rate (25%) in sequential vein grafts and 2) disastrous complications of coronary endarterectomies. Compared with preoperative angiographic data, only 15 (28%) of the 54 patients were found to have complete revascularization, with patent grafts and all stenosed coronary arteries bypassed. The need for recognition and avoidance of technical complications is stressed: Failures of surgical technique constitute a major risk factor in coronary artery surgery.

Primary tumours of the sternum

In 1966-1986, two men and four women (mean age 47.5 years) underwent surgery for primary sternal tumour. Three of the tumours were benign (two condromata, one osteochondroma) and three were malignant (two chrondrosarcomata, one reticulum cell sarcoma). Inflammatory or degenerative lesions impeded differential diagnosis in three additional cases (without tumour). The tumours were treated with radical resection of the affected part of the sternum, including the relevant attached structures. Marlex-mesh reconstruction of the defect was necessary in four cases. There was no operative mortality. One Marlex graft became infected. At follow-up (average 11.1 years, range 9.0-14.7 years), five patients were alive without recurrence of tumour and the sixth had died of unrelated cause.

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Popliteal Artery: A Case Report

A case of intermittent claudication in a young otherwise healthy non-smoker caused by cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery is presented. Other possible causes of calf claudication in a young non-smoker as well as etiology, clinical findings and modes of operative treatment are discussed.