Sameer Shrivastava

Redo Mitral Valve Surgery Using the Port-Access System

Redo mitral valve surgery is hazardous, hence we explored an alternative approach using a port-access system that avoids reentry. Between October 1997 and December 2000, 32 patients underwent mitral reoperation using the system. All patients had previous cardiac operations. This procedure consisted of a right anterolateral minithoracotomy and femorofemoral cannulation using special port-access instruments and endoaortic clamping in 24 patients or direct transthoracic sliding-rod aortic clamping in 8. The valve disease was of rheumatic etiology in 28 patients and degenerative in 4. The valve was replaced in 31 cases and a paravalvular leak after mitral valve replacement was closed in 1. In 2 cases, the tricuspid valve was repaired along with mitral valve replacement. Mean total operating time was 4.5 ± 1.2 hours, cardiopulmonary bypass time 162 ± 72 minutes, and aortic crossclamp time 62 ± 21 minutes. There was no mortality, and mean stay in the intensive care unit was 22 ± 7 hours and hospital stay 6.4 ± 1.2 days. Postoperative blood transfusion was required in 12 patients. In view of the favorable results, we recommend using the port-access system as a standard approach for mitral reoperation.

Transesophageal Echocardiography in Hypotensive Post-Coronary Bypass Patients:

The utility of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of hypotension in the postoperative period after coronary artery bypass was assessed in 126 patients in the intensive care unit. There were 86 men and 40 women, with a mean age of 58.3 years. The indication for transesophageal echocardiography was hypotension refractory to conventional treatment. Valuable diagnostic information was obtained in 103 patients (82%). Based on the echocardiographic findings, 24 patients (19%) underwent urgent surgical intervention. The mean time required to obtain a diagnosis was 9.6 ± 2.8 min. No significant complications were noted. Our experience suggests that transesophageal echocardiography is highly specific in diagnosing the cause of postoperative hypotension, thus preventing unnecessary surgical intervention and facilitating decision making in cardiac surgical emergencies.

Robotically controlled video-assisted port-access mitral valve surgery.

From 1997 to 2000, 221 patients underwent mitral valve surgery through a mini-thoracotomy, using a port-access endovascular cardiopulmonary bypass system in 38 and a transthoracic clamp in 183. In 120 patients, exposure of the mitral valve was facilitated by an endoscope attached to a voice-controlled robotic arm (AESOP 3000). The mitral valve was repaired in 26 patients and replaced in 195; 24 were redo cases. Operating time was 3.5 ± 1.2 hours, aortic crossclamp time was 58 ± 16 minutes, intensive care unit stay was 22 ± 7 hours, and hospital stay was 6.4 ± 1.2 days. Median postoperative blood loss was 332 ± 104 mL. There was 1 hospital death. On follow-up at 16.4 ± 12.2 months, there was no late death or reoperation. New York Heart Association functional class improved from 2.6 ± 0.5 to 1.4 ± 0.8. Use of video and robotic assistance minimized incision length and allowed visualization of the whole mitral valve apparatus. The transthoracic clamp facilitated aortic crossclamping and injection of cardioplegia. These findings indicate that the procedure is safe and effective and suggest advantages over conventional surgery in terms of cost, cosmesis, blood loss, postoperative discomfort, intensive care unit and hospital stay.

Multimodality Targeted Approach in Redo Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Records of 86 patients who underwent off-pump redo coronary revascularization between December 1997 and December 2000, were analyzed. Approaches included median sternotomy (47), anterolateral thoracotomy for left anterior descending artery and diagonal targets (35), posterolateral thoracotomy for the obtuse marginal with proximal anastomosis on descending aorta (3), and a combined subxiphoid-anterior thoracotomy approach (1) for right gastroepiploic artery-to-left anterior descending artery anastomosis. The mean age was 61.82 years. There were 2 (2.3%) operative deaths. Complications included perioperative myocardial infarction in 4 patients and reexploration for bleeding in one. Blood transfusion was required in 12 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 5 ± 2 days. A multimodality targeted approach for off-pump redo coronary artery bypass offers a less invasive but safer method of myocardial revascularization, with decreased complications, lower blood product requirement, and early hospital discharge.

Left circumflex to right atrial coronary arterio-venous fistula - role of multimodality imaging for diagnosis.

We report an interesting case presenting with progressive dyspnea and palpitations. The patient underwent multimodal imaging procedures consisting of two dimensional echocardiography, MRI, cardiac catheterization and also a three dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic reconstruction. All the investigations taken together helped us in finally arriving at accurate anatomical diagnosis of a coronary AV fistula from the left circumflex artery to the right atrium. The patient finally underwent a successful non-surgical closure using an Amplatzer device. The role of three-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation in defining the anatomy for planning the treatment is emphasized.

Three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography guided transcatheter closure of mitral paraprosthesis regurgitation – A case report

The last two decades have witnessed vast advances in the field of cardiac intervention, particularly with regard to nonsurgical closure of structural heart diseases including para prosthetic valvular leaks. The use of imaging techniques to guide even well-established procedures enhances the efficiency and safety of these procedures. The present case report aims to highlight the role of three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in pre, intra and post operative management of patients with mitral para prosthetic valvular regurgitation.