Sanae Yamauchi

Early and long-term outcome of total arch replacement using selective cerebral perfusion.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyze mortality and morbidity of patients undergoing total arch replacement. METHODS We analyzed data from 122 patients who underwent total arch replacement. Total arch replacement was performed using selective cerebral perfusion, with an open distal anastomosis using a trifurcated coated graft. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed concerning postoperative neurologic dysfunction and early mortality. Long-term mortality was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Permanent and temporary neurologic dysfunction were 4.1% (5 cases) and 5.7% (7 cases), respectively. Hospital mortality was 8.2% (10 cases). There was no significant difference in hospital mortality or neurologic dysfunction between the two groups divided by age less than or greater than 70 years old, emergency versus elective surgery, and dissection versus true aneurysm. After multivariate analysis, independent predictors for hospital mortality were found to be infection, operation time longer than 10 hours, and EuroSCORE greater than 15; whereas those for neurologic dysfunction were operation time longer than 10 hours and ischemic heart disease. Overall long-term survival was 80.4% at 5 years and 58.9% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS The early and long-term outcomes of total arch replacement using selective cerebral perfusion and appropriate establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass were satisfactory.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circulatory support after congenital cardiac surgery.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is widely used for circulatory support in pediatric cardiac patients with low cardiac output and hypoxemia after cardiac surgery. We evaluated retrospectively, the efficacy of postoperative ECMO support following congenital cardiac surgery in our hospital. From April 2002 to February 2008, seven patients (median age 30 months) received postoperative mechanical support. Three had complete repair including Fontan circulation and four had palliative repair. In four patients, ECMO was initiated in the operating room, in three patients in the intensive care unit, postoperatively. Of the seven patients, one died on ECMO (support withdrawn), one died shortly after ECMO was discontinued, and five were successfully weaned and survived to hospital discharge. One of the survivors died 4 months after the operation due to pneumonia and septic shock. The mean duration of ECMO support was 121 hours (in survivors). During ECMO, the major complication was bleeding, despite adequate control of activated clotting time. We conclude that ECMO support for heart failure and respiratory insufficiency after congenital cardiac surgery was effective, and the result of ECMO support for respiratory insufficiency was better than for heart failure.

Use of the Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure prevents increased ventricular strain in Fontan candidates

OBJECTIVES In Fontan candidates, we have recently been aggressively performing the Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure (DKS) to prevent increased afterload on the systemic ventricle. The present study investigated the efficacy of the DKS procedure in terms of the ventricular function following a Fontan operation. METHODS Patients undergoing a Fontan operation were divided into three groups: DKS performed at the time of the bidirectional Glenn or Fontan operation (DKS group, n = 25); DKS not performed at any stage due to mild pulmonary stenosis (PS) (PS group, n = 23) and DKS not performed due to pulmonary atresia (PA) or severe PS (PA group, n = 24). Ventricular function, afterload on the systemic ventricle and atrioventricular valve regurgitation were compared between groups. RESULTS Cardiac catheterization before a Glenn or Fontan operation and at 1-year following the Fontan revealed significantly decreased ventricular end-diastolic pressure in the DKS group. The ventricular ejection fraction was significantly deteriorated in the PS group. Effective arterial elastance, as an index of total ventricular afterload, was increased after a Fontan in all groups, with a substantial increase in the PS group. As an index of ventricular mechanical efficiency, ventriculoarterial coupling was significantly increased only in the PS group. Cardiac ultrasonography revealed atrioventricular valve regurgitation above grade 3 persisting in many patients from the PS group. Semilunar valve function after DKS operation did not progress to moderate or worse in any patients. CONCLUSIONS The proactive performance of the DKS procedure prevents increased ventricular afterload, avoiding deterioration of cardiac function and contributing to improved long-term results following a Fontan operation.

Acute myocardial infarction caused by a floating thrombus in the ascending aorta: A role of CD34-positive endothelial cells

A 49-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital with acute-onset chest pain. Her electrocardiogram showed complete atrioventricular block and bradycardia with ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads, and she presented with cardiogenic shock. She was diagnosed with inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and subsequent emergency cardiac catheterization was performed. Selective coronary angiography showed neither stenosis nor obstruction in any of the coronary arteries. Left ventriculography showed a large floating object located on the ascending aortic wall above the ostium of the right coronary artery (RCA). Chest enhanced computed tomography confirmed the floating object in the ascending aorta. These findings suggested that the floating object was associated with the RCA occlusion. To remove the floating object, emergency surgery was performed. The floating object was a large thrombus derived from the localized atheromatous plaque in the ascending aorta. Specialized immunostaining for surface antigen CD34 revealed that regenerated endothelial cells were present on the erosion, along the stalk, and on the floating thrombus. These findings indicate that the CD34-positive endothelial precursor cells strayed into the surface and/or inside of the thrombus, and consequently the floating thrombus supported by these regenerated endothelial cells occluded the RCA, causing AMI. <Learning objective: A free floating thrombus formed in the ascending aorta can cause obstruction of the coronary artery ostium, leading to AMI. This unusual cause of AMI mostly occurs in females, and shows high mortality rates. Although the risk factors are known to be current smoking, oral hormone therapy, and hypercoagulable state such as pregnancy, the underlying mechanism of thrombus formation is still unclear. This report describes a possible role of CD-34 positive regenerated endothelial cells in thrombus formation.>.

Continuous hemodiafiltration in children after cardiac surgery.

Acute renal failure (ARF) after congenital cardiac surgery remains a serious complication and leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) is presently accepted for pediatric applications. We retrospectively evaluated the effects of CHDF against ARF after congenital cardiac surgery at our hospital. We analyzed data from seven patients aged 23 days to 9 years and weighing 1.7-22.4 kg requiring dialysis therapy using CHDF after congenital cardiac surgery between April 2002 and January 2009. One patient who died could not be weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and another died of multiple organ failure. Renal function recovered to normal in the other five (71%) patients. Treatment by CHDF lasted from 14 to 680 h and net ultrafiltration was 3.5 ± 1.4 mL/kg/h. Serum creatinine and urea concentrations were, respectively, 2.3 ± 1.6 and 43.7 ± 17.0 mg/dL before, and 0.5 ± 0.2 and 13.5 ± 8.1 mg/dL, after CHDF (P < 0.05). Thrombocytopenia developed in all patients, and platelet concentrates (0.76 ± 0.7 mL/kg/h) were infused during CHDF. Hypotension developed after changing the CHDF set in one patient. We suggest that CHDF is an effective alternative strategy for treating renal dysfunction after congenital cardiac surgery.

Risk Factors for Semilunar Valve Insufficiency After the Damus-Kaye-Stansel Procedure

BACKGROUND Cardiac function and survival after the Damus-Kaye-Stansel (DKS) procedure are encouraging, but only limited data exist related to postprocedural semilunar valve function. We investigated postprocedural midterm to long-term outcomes and changes in semilunar valve function and identified risk factors of semilunar valve function deterioration. METHODS Between 1996 and 2012, 63 patients with a single functional ventricle underwent the DKS procedure. Of them, 50 had previously undergone pulmonary artery banding. Cardiac function was measured by catheter examination 5.3 months (interquartile range, 2.6 to 9.7) preoperatively and 1.2 years (interquartile range, 1.0 to 1.4) postoperatively. Echocardiographic examination of the semilunar valve was performed concurrently with the catheter examination and at the last follow-up (5.3 years [interquartile range, 3.1 to 9.2] postoperatively). RESULTS The overall survival rate at 1, 5, and 10 years postoperatively was 0.97, 0.92, and 0.89, respectively. Aortic and pulmonary valve regurgitation grade 1 year postoperatively and at the last follow-up increased compared with the preoperative grade. There was no significant difference between regurgitation at 1 year and the last follow-up. The duration from pulmonary artery banding to the DKS procedure was longer in the group with at least mild regurgitation (n = 6) than in the group with less than mild regurgitation (n = 54). CONCLUSIONS Although the duration from pulmonary artery banding to the DKS procedure was associated with postoperative regurgitation, neither postprocedural aortic nor pulmonary valve regurgitation increased over time, and there were no deleterious effects on the clinical conditions.

Right Pulmonary Artery Obstruction Is a Long-term Complication of Aortopulmonary Window Repair

The early outcomes of transaortic patch repair closure for aortopulmonary window are satisfactory, but the lifelong fate of the aorta and pulmonary artery remains unknown. We describe a 40-year-old patient with right pulmonary artery occlusion accompanied by aneurysmal dilation of the ascending aorta 38 years after transaortic repair of an aortopulmonary window. Operative findings revealed patch shrinkage and thrombotic occlusion of the right pulmonary artery. The dilated ascending aorta firmly adhered to the right pulmonary artery. After pulmonary artery thrombectomy, the right pulmonary artery was reconstructed and the dilated ascending aorta was replaced.

Bidirectional Cavopulmonary Shunt with Additional Pulmonary Blood Flow

There are some controversies regarding the usefulness of leaving additional pulmonary blood flow when establishing a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt. From April 2002 to September 2008, 13 patients (mean age, 24 ± 16 months) underwent a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt procedure with fine adjustment of additional pulmonary blood flow, as an intermediate step before the Fontan operation. There were no hospital deaths. Modified Blalock-Taussig shunts were left during the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt operation in 7 patients, and pulmonary bands were tightened in 4. The main pulmonary artery with a previous pulmonary band was left open in one case. Oxygen saturation increased from 74.5% ± 7.4% to 84.6% ± 1.9% after the operation, cardiothoracic ratio decreased from 55.9% ± 6.1% to 53.2% ± 3.4%, Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased from 11.0 ± 2.6 to 7.8 ± 3.0 mm Hg, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 14.7 ± 7.5 to 10.2 ± 3.1 mm Hg. Pulmonary artery index did not change significantly. In our experience, additional pulmonary blood flow with adjustment in each patient at the time of shunt construction was an excellent temporary palliation prior to the Fontan operation.

Right atrial aneurysm with downward displacement of the anterior leaflet that resembled Ebstein’s anomaly

A 13-year-old boy presented with right atrial aneurysm and downward displacement of the anterior leaflet in the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, without tricuspid valve regurgitation. Paroxysmal atrial flutter was caused by an abnormal electrical re-entry circuit, which could not be treated using catheter radiofrequency ablation. Therefore, the patient underwent surgical ablation and resection of the enlarged right atrial wall. The anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve was plastered and displaced downward into the right ventricle, which resembled Ebstein’s anomaly. Pathological evaluation revealed a thin wall that contained fibrous tissue with lipomatous degeneration and few muscular elements. No postoperative arrhythmia was observed.