Rachid Hacini

Emergency endovascular stent graft repair for acute blunt thoracic aortic injury: a retrospective case control study

ObjectiveTo compare surgical and endovascular stent graft (ESG) treatment of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BAI) in the emergency setting.Design and settingRetrospective case control study in two surgical intensive care units of axa0university hospital.Patients30 patients who presented with BAI between 1995 and 2005: 17 treated surgically and 13 by ESG. The two groups were comparable for the severity of trauma and mean delay before treatment; the mean age was higher in the ESG group (46u202f±u202f18 vs. 35u202f±u202f15u202fyears).ResultsIn the surgical group time spent in the operating theater was longer (310u202f±u202f130 vs. 140u202f±u202f48u202fmin) and blood losses higher (2000u202f±u202f1300 vs. no significant bleeding); aortic clamping time was 48u202f±u202f20u202fmin. The mortality rate was 15% with ESG (nu202f=u202f2) and 23% with surgery (nu202f=u202f4). Complications of the procedure were more frequent in the surgical group (1 vs. 7). In the ESG group there was one pulmonary embolism. In the surgical group there were three neurological complications, one acute aortic dissection, one perioperative rupture, one periprosthetic leak, and one septic shock. Two complications (postoperative aortic dissection and paraplegia) appeared in the same patient in the surgical group. Intensive care unit length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and catecholamine support were similar in the two groups.ConclusionsStent graft for emergency treatment of BAI is efficient and is associated with fewer complications than surgical treatment.

Coronary artery bypass grafting with left internal mammary artery and right gastroepiploic artery, with and without bypass

BACKGROUNDnTotal arterial and off-pump revascularization are increasingly used in coronary artery bypass grafting. This study describes our experience with the exclusive use of both left internal thoracic artery and gastroepiploic artery by means of a median sternotomy, with and without cardiopulmonary bypass, in a subgroup of patients with two-vessel disease.nnnMETHODSnFrom January 1995 to July 2000, 171 consecutive patients were reviewed in a prospective database. Ninety-one patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass (group A), and 80 patients were operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass with aortic cross-clamp and cardioplegia (group B).nnnRESULTSnPatient data were similar in both groups except for the Euroscore (mean; 3.4+/-6.1, group A versus 2.5+/-4.5, group B; Euroscore > 6: 26.4%, group A versus 10%, group B; p < 0.05) and ejection fraction (mean, 54.6%+/-15.8%, group A versus 63.1%+/-12.7%, group B; p < 0.001). Severe aortic calcification was present in 6 group A patients, versus no patient in group B. Operative time was shorter in group A (185 versus 213 minutes, p < 0.0001), with less distal anastomoses (2.26 versus 2.5, p < 0.05). Conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass occurred in 1 patient, who was excluded from the study. Bleeding was higher in group A (852.6+/-288 mL versus 712.4+/-274 mL, p < 0.05), but transfusion was similar in both groups. Atrial fibrillation, postoperative inotropic support, and hospital stay were similar in both groups. Myocardial infarction was less frequent in group A (1 versus 4). Postoperative intraaortic balloon pump was used in 2 patients (group B). One patient died (group A) and 1 had an embolic stroke (group B). After discharge, 2 more patients died (group A, day 91; group B day 141), and 1 patient suffered an embolic stroke (group B). One patient in each group presented with dysfunction of the gastroepiploic artery graft requiring successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty on the right posterolateral artery.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThese results suggest that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using the left internal thoracic artery and gastroepiploic artery is safe even in high-risk patients. This approach allows an absolute no-touch technique of the aorta.

Endovascular Stent-graft Management of Aortic Intramural Hematomas

PURPOSEnTo report initial experience with endovascular stent-grafting in aortic intramural hematoma (IMH).nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnFrom 2000 to 2006, 15 patients (mean age, 67 years; range, 54-83 y) underwent endovascular treatment of aortic IMH. Thirteen patients were admitted for acute aortic syndrome and two for traumatic aortic injury. An endovascular procedure was performed as primary treatment for four patients (type A IMH, n = 3; type B IMH, n = 1) and as a second-line therapy in 11 patients because of unfavorable evolution (type A IMH, n = 1; type B IMH, n = 10). All stent-grafts were placed in the descending aorta, even for type A IMH. The mean follow-up was 21 months (range, 6-72 months).nnnRESULTSnThe primary success rate was 93%, with complete exclusion of the lesion (n = 14). Exclusion was partial for one patient with a type I endoleak (7%). The 30-day mortality rate was zero. IMH evolution was favorable in all cases, with decreased aortic wall thickening (n = 8) or complete regression (n = 7). Complications associated with endovascular repair were mainly related to aneurysm formation (20%). The late death rate was 7%.nnnCONCLUSIONSnEndovascular stent-graft treatment can be performed in the management of complicated IMH, even in some cases of type A IMH, when an intimal lesion is located in the isthmus or descending aorta with contraindications to surgery. This procedure offers low morbidity and mortality rates, representing a feasible therapeutic option especially for elderly patients with comorbidities. Further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary results.

Effect of topical vasodilators on gastroepiploic artery graft.

BACKGROUNDnMobilization of the gastroepiploic artery (GEA) often results in a vasospasm with reduction of early graft flow. In order to prevent or suppress this highly reactive arterys spasm, we have compared the effect of 4 vasodilators, used in external application to prepare the GEA graft, prior to myocardial revascularization.nnnMETHODSnWE performed a double-blind clinical study to compare the effects of external application of vasodilators on gastroepiploic artery grafts. Fifty patients, whose gastroepiploic artery was used for coronary artery bypass grafting, were randomized into 5 groups of 10 patients. Gastroepiploic artery free flow and hemodynamic measurements were evaluated immediately after harvesting, before any pharmacological manipulation, and 10 minutes after the topical application of vasodilators, respectively: papaverine, linsidomine, nicardipine, glyceryl trinitrate, and normal saline solution.nnnRESULTSnA significant increase in free flow occurred in all groups except for the normal saline solution group with measurements from 26.1+/-3.6 mL/min to 26.4+/-6.5 mL/min; p = 0.9. The most important increase in flow before and after local application occurred with glyceryl trinitrate and papaverine: from 25.5+/-2 mL/min to 50+/-6.1 mL/min (p < or = 0.01) and from 36.8+/-3.2 mL/min to 62+/-7.8 mL/min (p < 0.01) respectively. Nicardipine and linsidomine produced a less significant increase in flow: from 33.1+/-3.6 mL/min to 47.7+/-8.9 mL/min (p < 0.05) and from 28+/-3.8 mL/min to 39.8+/-7.5 mL/min (p < 0.05) respectively. When comparing percentage of flow increase, glyceryl trinitrate appeared to be significantly more efficient than nicardipine and linsidomine (p < 0.01 versus both groups). Although papaverine was more efficient than nicardipine and linsidomine, it did not reach statistical significance.nnnCONCLUSIONSnDuring intraoperative preparation of the GEA graft, glyceryl trinitrate and papaverine to a lesser extent, used as topical vasodilators, appear to be more efficient in external application to increase the free flow of the GEA.

Giant intracardiac neoplasic thrombus of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung

Cardiac invasion by lung cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. We describe the case of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung with left intra-atrial extension in a patient presenting with a catastrophic nutritional status.

Giant aneurysm of the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery in a patient with Behçet's disease – a combined approach

Behçets disease is an autoimmune, multisystem disease presenting with recurrent oral and genital ulceration as well as ocular involvement. Aneurysmal degeneration of coronary arteries remains a rare phenomenon in Behçets disease. The case of a patient with Behçets disease who presented with severe stenosis of the left anterior descending artery associated with a giant aneurysm of the proximal segment is described. Surgical revascularization was proposed, followed by percutaneous embolization of the aneurysm.

Percutaneous Drainage of Postoperative Pericardial Effusion in Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDYnu2002Postoperative pericardial effusion is frequent and can be complicated by cardiac tamponade. Although the different drainage techniques are well described in the setting of medical effusion, there is not a standard postoperative effusion treatment. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the percutaneous pericardial drainage.nnnMETHODSnThis a retrospective study involving 197 patients from 1990 to 2008. Drainage was performed by subxiphoid puncture (91.9%) or left parasternal puncture (8.1%) between 3 and 690 days following a cardiac procedure via median sternotomy. Effusion thickness was at least 10 mm in the subcostal echocardiography view.nnnRESULTSnNo deaths directly related to the procedure were observed. Complete and enduring drainage was achieved in 158 patients (80.2%). The procedure failed for 22 patients (11.2%) because no fluid was drained in 14 cases (7.1%) and a right ventricular puncture in 8 cases (4.1%). Recurrence of the effusion, which occurred for 17 patients (8.6%), was more frequent if an effusion of more than 5 mm persisted after the first drainage (Pu2003=u20030.024) and if the drainage was performed outside the operating room because of emergency (Pu2003=u20030.046). Risk factors for mortality were recurrence of the effusion (Pu2003=u20030.04) and drainage performed outside the operating room (P =u20030.007).nnnCONCLUSIONSnPercutaneous pericardial drainage is effective to treat postoperative pericardial effusion. When the effusion is thicker than 10 mm and accessible, it can be the initial strategy and surgical drainage can serve as an alternate strategy in case of failure and complications of this procedure.