Smolinsky A

Colchicine for the Prevention of Postpericardiotomy Syndrome

Background: Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a troublesome complication of cardiac surgery, occurring in 10–45% of cases. Accepted modalities of treatment include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and pericardiectomy in severe cases. The optimal method for prevention of PPS has not been established. Recent trial data have shown that colchicine is efficient in the secondary prevention of recurrent episodes of pericarditis. The iam of the present study was to evaluate the possible benefit of colchicine for the primary prevention of PPS in patients after cardiac surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study addressing this issue. Patients and Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind design was used. The initial study group included 163 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in two centers in Israel between October 1997 and September 1998. On the 3rd postoperative day, the patients were randomly assigned to receive colchicine (1.5 mg/day) or placebo for 1 month. All were evaluated monthly for the first 3 postoperative months for development of PPS. Results: 52 of the 163 patients were excluded because of postoperative complications, noncompliance, or gastrointestinal side effects of treatment. Of the 111 patients who completed the study, 47 (42.3%) received colchicine and 64 (57.7%) placebo. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in clinical or surgical characteristics. PPS was diagnosed in 19 patients (17.1%), 5/47 cases (10.6%) in the colchicine group and 14/64 (21.9%) in the placebo group. The difference showed a trend toward statistical significance (p < 0.135). Conclusions: Colchicine may be efficacious for the prevention of PPS in patients after cardiac surgery. Further evaluations in larger clinical trials are warranted.Hintergrund: Das Postperikardiotomie-Syndrom (PPS) ist eine Folgeerscheinung nach Herzoperationen und tritt bei 10–45% der Patienten auf. Die Behandlung kann mit nichtsteroidalen Entzündungshemmern, Kortikosteroiden und in schweren Fällen durch eine Perikardektomie erfolgen. Ein optimales Verfahren zur Vermeidung des PPS gibt es noch nicht. Neuere klinische Studien zeigten, dass Colchicin bei der Sekundärprävention einer wiederauftretenden Perikarditis wirksam ist. Es war das Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung, die Wirkung von Colchicin bei der Primärprävention des PPS zu überprüfen. Eine vergleichbare Untersuchung gibt es unseres Wissens noch nicht. Patienten und Methoden: Die Untersuchung erfolgte prospektiv, randomisiert und doppelblind. In der ursprüglichen Studiengruppe wurden 163 Patienten mit geplanter Herzoperation in zwei Zentren in Israel zwischen Oktober 1997 und September 1998 eingeschlossen. Am 3. postoperativen Tag erhielten die Patienten randomisiert über 1 Monat entweder täglich 1,5 mg Colchicin oder Plazebo. Bei allen Patienten wurde das Auftreten des PPS nach 1, 2 und 3 Monaten überprüft. Ergebnisse: 52 der 163 Patienten wurden wegen postoperativer Komplikationen. Non-Compliance oder gastrointestinalen Nebenwirkungen von der Studie ausgeschlossen. Von den 111 verbliebenen Patienten erhielten 47 (42,3%) Colchicin und 64 (57,7%) Plazebo. Es gab keinen statistisch signifikanten Unterschied in klinischen oder operativen Parametern. Das PPS trat bei insgesamt 19 Patienten (17,1%) auf. In der Colchicin-Gruppe trat es bei 10.6% (5/47) und in der Plazebo-Gruppe bei 21.9% (14/64) der Patienten auf. Der Unterschied war aber nicht statistisch signifikant (p < 0,135). Schlussfolgerung: Weitere klinische Studien sind erfolgreich um die Wirksamkeit von Colchicin bei der Verhinderung des PPS bei Patienten nach Herzoperationen zu sichern.

Primary coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass in impaired left ventricular function

BACKGROUND Conventional coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass carries relatively high mortality and morbidity for patients with left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS Seventy-five patients with ejection fraction less than or equal to 0.35 underwent primary coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass between December 1991 and December 1994. Thirty-two patients (43%) had congestive heart failure, 11 (15%) were referred for operation within the first 24 hours of evolving myocardial infarction, and 21 (28%) up to 1 week after acute myocardial infarction. Eighteen patients (24%), 6 of whom were in cardiogenic shock, underwent emergency operations. RESULTS Mean number of grafts/patient was 1.9 (range, 1 to 4), and internal mammary artery was used in 66 patients (85%). Only 17 patients (23%) received a graft to a circumflex marginal artery. Two patients (2.7%) died perioperatively, and 1 (1.3%) sustained stroke. At mean follow-up of 28 months, 13 patients had died, and angina had returned in 7 (10.5%). One- and four-year actuarial survival was 96% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass is a viable alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting particularly for patients with extreme left ventricular dysfunction or those with coexisting risk factors, such as acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

Quality of mitral valve repair: Median sternotomy versus port-access approach

OBJECTIVES We sought to compare early and late clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair by means of the port-access and median sternotomy approaches. METHODS Between 2000 and 2009, 503 patients had mitral valve repair, of whom 143 underwent surgical intervention for isolated posterior leaflet pathology: 61 through port access and 82 through median sternotomy. The port-access group had better preoperative New York Heart Association functional class (P = .007) and a higher rate of elective cases (97% vs 87%, P = .037). Other preoperative characteristics were similar between the groups, including mitral valve pathology and repair techniques. RESULTS Operative, bypass, and clamp times were significantly longer in the port-access group. Mean hospital stay was 5.3 +/- 2.5 days in the port-access group versus 5.7 +/- 2.5 days in the median sternotomy group (P = .4). Early postoperative echocardiographic analysis showed that most patients in both groups had none or trivial mitral regurgitation and none of the patients had greater than grade 2 mitral regurgitation. Follow-up extended for up to 100 months (mean, 34 +/- 24 months). New York Heart Association class improved in both groups (P = .394). Freedom from reoperation was 97% and 95% in the port-access and median sternotomy groups, respectively. Late echocardiographic analysis revealed that 82% (49/60) in the port-access group and 91% (73/80) in the median sternotomy group were free from moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (P = .11). CONCLUSIONS In isolated posterior mitral valve pathology, quality of mitral valve repair with the port-access approach can compare with that with the conventional median sternotomy approach.

Treatment of deep sternal wound infections post-open heart surgery by application of activated macrophage suspension

Postoperative sternal wound infection remains a significant complication and generally causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Macrophages play a major role in the process of wound healing. In order to evaluate the efficacy of local injection of activated macrophage suspensions into open infected sternal wound space, a retrospective case‐control study was conducted. Sixty‐six patients with deep sternal wound infection treated by activated macrophages (group 1) and 64 patients with deep sternal wound infection treated by sternal reconstruction surgery with various regional flaps (group 2), were matched for gender, age, and risk index. In up to 54 months of follow‐up of group 1, 60 patients (91%) achieved complete wound closure. Two (3%) late deaths occurred unrelated to the procedure. Mortality rate in group 2 was 29.7% (19/64). Duration of hospitalization was 22.6 days in group 1 vs. 56.2 days in group 2. Patients with deep sternal wound infection following open heart surgery that were treated by activated macrophages had significantly less mortality as well as significant reduction of hospitalization in comparison to the surgically treated group. These results illustrate the advantages of using a biologically based activated macrophage treatment.

Epidural anesthesia with the Trendelenburg position for cesarean section with or without a cardiac surgical procedure in patients with severe mitral stenosis: a hemodynamic study.

The hemodynamic effects of epidural anesthesia (EA) with the Trendelenburg position were studied in seven patients with severe mitral stenosis undergoing emergency cesarean section (CS) because of hemodynamic deterioration. In six patients, the CS was immediately followed by an open mitral commissurotomy under general anesthesia, whereas in one patient, the CS was performed alone. A significant reduction in heart rate (120 +/- 5 to 83 +/- 7 beats/min; P less than 0.001) was observed after induction of EA. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased (78 +/- 9 to 55 +/- 5 mm Hg; P less than 0.01) simultaneously with reduction of the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (37 +/- 4 to 15 +/- 4 mm Hg, P less than 0.001) and cardiac index (CI) (2.4 +/- 0.3 to 1.8 +/- 0.32 L/min/m2; P less than 0.001). However, PCWP could be adjusted by selecting the appropriate angle of the Trendelenburg position. When the PCWP was approximately 25 mm Hg, MAP and Cl increased to 72 +/- 7 mm Hg and 3.1 +/- 0.4 L/min/m2, respectively, and a satisfactory hemodynamic state was achieved. Systemic vascular resistance decreased after induction of EA (2,250 +/- 250 to 1,750 +/- 450 dyne.s.cm-5; P less than 0.001), and remained unchanged during the perioperative period. It is concluded that the combination of epidural anesthesia with tilting of the table is a safe method for urgent CS in pregnant women with critical mitral stenosis in whom termination of pregnancy is indicated because of hemodynamic deterioration.

The operative problem of small left atrium in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: report of 5 patients.

A moderately small left atrium is a common finding in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). In most patients in whom the common pulmonary vein is anastomosed to the left atrium, the small size of this chamber does not interfere with good operative results. Recently a patient was encountered in whom the left atrium measured less than 2 cm in its greatest dimension. This atrium was too small to take an anatomosis with the common pulmonary vein. Therefore the common pulmonary vein was anastomosed primarily to the right atrium, the floor of the fossa ovalis was excised, and a pericardial conduit was constructed. Subsequently, 4 additional patients have been similarly treated. The problem of small left atrium in TAPVC is discussed.

Left superior vena cava to the left atrium: do we have to change the traditional approach?

Left superior vena cava (LSVC) to the left atrium is a rare congenital cardiac complex, which may appear as an isolated anomaly, or as part of more complex cardiac anomalies. Traditionally, an intraatrial baffle was the preferred surgical technique. Although this technique has proved reliable and successful, acute ligation and extracardiac repair are simpler and easier solutions, requiring less myocardial ischemic time. We present 3 patients who underwent simple ligation and discuss the literature for other extracardiac options of surgical repair. Our patients had short transient congestion in the left upper part of their body that resolved completely after a few weeks, without further complications. We believe that either acute ligation or extracardiac repair is a much simpler yet effective solution to divert the left caval flow to the lesser circulation.

Percutaneous closure of a Blalock-Taussig shunt.

The technique used in the percutaneous closure of a Blalock-Taussig shunt in a 4-year-old child is described. After selective catheterization of the subclavian artery leading to the shunt, a spring coil was inserted which completely occluded the shunt.

End-tidal CO2 levels are a reliable indicator of band tightness in pulmonary artery banding

BACKGROUND Monitoring of end-tidal CO2 levels, performed routinely nowadays in most operating rooms, is obligatory in our hospital for all anesthesia patients. Levels are dependent on pulmonary blood flow, ventilation, and CO2 content of blood. When ventilation is kept constant, the end-tidal CO2 closely follows pulmonary blood flow. METHODS Reduction of end-tidal CO2 in the expired air was used to adjust tightness of the pulmonary band in 10 patients with complex cardiac anomalies, all including ventricular septal defect, who underwent pulmonary artery banding. Other parameters were systemic blood pressures and distal pulmonary artery pressures. RESULTS There were no operative deaths. Average reduction was 3.8 mm Hg (range, 2 to 10 mm Hg; p < 0.001 by paired t test), average increase in systolic blood pressure was 14 mm Hg (range, 4 to 20 mm Hg; p < 0.03 by Wilcoxon sign rank test), distal pulmonary artery pressure was reduced from 56 mm Hg (range, 37 to 79 mm Hg) to 29 mm Hg (range, 20 to 38 mm Hg; p < 0.03 by t test), and postoperative pulmonary artery to systemic pressure ratio averaged 0.36 mm Hg (range, 0.24 to 0.49 mm Hg, difference from preoperative value, p < 0.06). CONCLUSIONS End-tidal CO2 tension is a simple and convenient, yet highly reliable parameter for adjusting pulmonary artery band tightness.

Calculated Preoperative Mean Left Atrial Pressure as a Guide to Volume Load at the Termination of Aortocoronary Bypass Operation

The routine use of an arbitrary fixed left atrial (LA) pressure during volume load after aortocoronary bypass operation was compared with use of an individualized postoperative target LA pressure according to a calculated preoperative LA pressure in two groups of consecutive patients. The preoperative LA pressure of each patient was calculated from the preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) by the formula: mean LA pressure = 1.16 x LVEDP - 8.53. Left atrial pressure, mean arterial pressure, mean right atrial pressure, and cardiac output were measured simultaneously on arrival at the intensive care unit and 60 minutes later. Cardiac index (CI) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were calculated from the variables already mentioned. Results indicated a significantly higher CI and significantly lower SVR in patients in whom volume load was aimed at the calculated preoperative LA pressure. It was concluded that the optimal postoperative LA pressure is specific for each patient and depends on the preoperative LVEDP.