Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by annular infection and cerebral infarction

The surgical treatment of nine patients with infective endocarditis (IE) complicated by annular infection and five with IE complicated by cerebral infarction is described herein. In those with annular infection, after thorough débridement of the infected tissues, valve replacement was performed at the original position in five, at the supraannular position in three, and one underwent a translocation procedure. Aortic valve replacement was able to be performed at the original position in two patients by closing the defect at the aortic annulus with a patch after through débridement. The five patients who underwent original valve position replacement recovered well. Of the three who underwent supraannular position replacement, two died of septicemia after a redo operation, and one received pacemaker implantation. The patient undergoing the translocation procedure died of intestinal infarction. In the five patients who suffered cerebral infarction due to embolus of the vegetation, valve replacement was performed between 40 h and 5 months after its onset. Although one patient died of the rapid progression of brain damage, the other four are alive and well, including two who developed mycotic cerebral aneurysm in the infarcted areas. In conclusion, early surgery for IE is mandatory irrespective of active infection, due to the high mortality and morbidity associated with serious sequelae such as annular abscess or cerebral infarction.

Pericardiectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting for constrictive pericarditis after heart surgery

A 63-year-old male was operated on for chronic heart failure due to myocardial ischemia and constrictive pericarditis after heart surgery. He was in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III under a large dose of diuretics. He underwent a pericardiectomy and coronary bypass surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass. His cardiac function improved with a patent graft. He is now, 1 year after surgery, in NYHA class I under a tapering dose of diuretics.

Surgical treatment of ventricular septal perforation with right ventricular infarction

A 71-year-old woman underwent an emergency surgery for ventricular septal perforation together with right ventricular infarction. The perforation of the anterior septum was closed using. Dacron patch combined with a little larger bovine pericardium, the surplus of which was stitched in the surrounding viable muscle. This procedure was performed only through the infarct of the right ventricle. She has been doing well with no residual shunt and lives a normal life now.

[Graft replacement of a thoracic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass grafting using retrograde cerebral perfusion through left thoracotomy--a case report]

A 67-year-old woman having descending thoracic aneurysm and 90% stenosis of the obtuse marginal artery underwent a concomitant operation of graft replacement of a thoracic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass grafting. The operation was performed through left posterolateral thoracotomy with total cardiopulmonary bypass using femoral artery, femoral vein and the pulmonary artery cannulation, deep hypothermia and retrograde cerebral perfusion (RGCP). RGCP was performed by high central venous pressure (17-18 mmHg) resulted from low flow perfusion of the lower body under clamping of the descending aorta. Distal coronary anastomosis was done during an initial 100ling period and proximal anastomosis was put on the replaced thoracic graft after coming off extracorporeal circulation (ECC). ECC time was 167 minutes, and RGCP time was 27 minutes. The patient did well after the operation. Postoperative coronary angiography showed the patent coronary bypass graft. We conclude that this method provides good exposure of the thoracic aorta and the coronary artery, and satisfactory brain protection.

[A comparison of changes of cerebrovascular oxygen saturation in retrograde and selective cerebral perfusion during aortic arch surgery]

To evaluate the effect of retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) on brain protection, changes of cerebrovascular oxygen saturation (rSO2) were studied in 14 patients with aortic arch reconstruction during the procedure. The rSO2 was monitored with spectroscopy instrument (Invos 3100, Somanetics). The mean value of rSO2 measured just before cardiopulmonary bypass was 65.9 +/- 6.2% in 7 patients with RCP, and was 64.9 +/- 4.7% in 7 patients with SCP. The value of rSO2 during core cooling of cardiopulmonary bypass was increased step by step. Although RCP time with a mean of 38.9 +/- 9.7 min was statistically shorter than SCP time (80.7 +/- 45.1 min), the mean value of rSO2 during cerebral protection in RCP group was decreased from 80.3 +/- 8.1% to 63.4 +/- 10.2%, lowest 46% with a ratio of 21.1%. In contrast, the mean value of rSO2 in SCP group was well maintained from 79.9 +/- 6.5 to 75.6 +/- 6.8%, lowest 63% with a ratio of 5.4%. Although no neurological deficits were recognized after operation in both groups, rSO2 in SCP group was sustained above the control value (65% just before cardiopulmonary bypass) but rSO2 in RCP group was decreased below the control value after 35 min. So we conclude that with regard to brain protection assessed from rSO2 measured by Invos 3100 cerebral oximeter, there is no time limitation of SCP during the procedure but RCP had a limit of the duration.

[A case of type A acute aortic dissection successfully treated with a ringed intraluminal graft: a new technique of graft insertion]

A-77-year old woman was hospitalized at our hospital presenting with severe chest and back pain. A computed tomographic scan revealed acute type A aortic dissection and intraoperative ultrasound showed an entry near the brachiocephalic artery. Selective cerebral perfusion using flexible 12 Fr balloons was performed for brain protection. The distal aorta was trimmed just proximal to the entry using felt strips and a 24 mm ringed intraluminal graft (ILG) was inserted under it successfully. The patient did well after the operation. Insertion of a ringed ILG is a simple and easy technique, however if an entry is located near the aortic arch, insertion is difficult because of intimal retraction to the arch. And an additional intimal tear sometimes occurs at the site of tape ligation. The method which we presented seemed to provide safer insertion of the proximal ring without these problems.

[Mitral valve repair for the treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation]

Twenty-six patients with moderate and severe ischemic mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle dysfunction underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) or mitral annuloplasty (MAP) using modified Kay method. Emergent operation was performed in 12 patients of whom 11 had severe congestive heart failure even under IABP, 5 had cardiogenic shock and 9 needed respiratory care with intubation preoperatively. Elective operation was performed in 14 patients of whom 6 had history of congestive heart failure and 1 had episodes of ventricular tachycardia. As intraoperative findings of mitral valve, mural annular dilatation in 84.6%, prolapse of anterior leaflet in 23.1%, papillary muscle scar in 15.4%, chordal elongation in 15.4% and chordal rupture in 3.8% were seen separately or in combination. In 22 patients MAP using modified Kay method and CABG were performed, but in 4 patients MVR was needed because of the prominent prolapse of the anterior leaflet. Fourteen patients who underwent MAP with CABG and one MVR with CABG survived. Hospital mortality was higher in emergent (58.5%) than elective operation (28.6%). In the 15 survivors, mitral regurgitation decreased below Sellers 2, pulmonary wedge pressure decreased significantly (p < 0.01) and NYHA functional class improved to I or II postoperatively. During the follow up period of 15-100 (mean 38.7 +/- 21.6) months, 2 MAP+CABG patients died suddenly, but the remaining 13 patients were in NYHA class I or II and no progression of MR was seen. These results indicated that MAP+CABG is recommendable in the treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle dysfunction, in order to preserve cardiac function and to reduce valve related complications.

Mitral valve repair using an annuloplasty ring made of artificial woven Dacron graft

A woven Dacron ring made of artificial graft was successfully used in combination with a modified Kay's annuloplasty for mitral valve repair. In this procedure, after excision and repair of the redundant prolapsed leaflets, Kay's annuloplasty was performed at both commissures to reduce the posterior annulus and to coapt the leaflets. A woven Dacron ring was then seated and tied to the annulus to provide long-term stabilization and prevent its further dilatation. The mitral orifice of the patient was reduced from 33 mm to 21 mm in diameter, and neither mitral regurgitation nor stenosis was found in the postoperative evaluation.

[Efficacy of terminal warm blood cardioplegia against the reperfusion injury]

The effect of terminal warm blood cardioplegia (TWBC) was evaluated from the incidence of ventricular fibrillation and myocardial metabolism after release of aortic clamping in 70 patients (group I) who underwent open heart surgery using TWBC compared with 70 patients (group II) without TWBC. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation after unclamping in group I was 19.7% which was statistically less than 68.6% in group II. Both excess lactate (delta XL) and redox potential (delta Eh) demonstrated that anearobic myocardial metabolism after reperfusion was restored more rapidly in group I than in group II. Multivariate analysis showed the incidence of ventricular fibrillation after reperfusion was related to high concentrations of both calcium and sodium and low concentration of potassium in reperfused blood in group II. But it was only related to left ventricular myocardial temperature in group I. High concentration of calcium and low concentration of potassium in reperfused blood, and low myocardial temperature were most related to anearobic metabolism of myocardium following reperfusion in group II, whereas only pH value was closely related to recovery for myocardial metabolism in group I. In conclusion, TWBC was useful for improving microcirculation in myocardium and avoiding calcium-overload to myocardial cells, and resulted in reducing reperfusion injury in myocardium. Furthermore, acid content of TWBC and enough amount to raise myocardial temperature would provide more efficacy on myocardial preservation.

Surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect and its sequelae in adults

We operated on 20 adult patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD). In 7 of these cases (aged 36 to 51 years, average 42.6 years), VSD was accompanied by sequelae other than pulmonary hypertension. Concomitant procedures in type-I VSD included a suspension of the prolapsed aortic cusp in 2 patients, a repair of the ruptured sinus of Valsalva in 2, and a new procedure for active infective endocarditis, described below, in 2. In this latter procedure, the aortic valve and infected Valsalva sinus were excised, and the pulmonary valve and the right ventricular wall to which the infection had extended were thoroughly debrided. The resulting defect was closed with a single patch, and a prosthetic valve was inserted in the position of the original aortic valve using this patch as part of the annulus. Another patient with the type-II VSD underwent concomitant tricuspid valve replacement for infective endocarditis. In the mean follow-up period of 77.1 months, 6 patients have been doing well in New York Heart Association class I, and the remaining patient with Valsalva repair remained in class II due to dilated cardiomyopathy.

The problems of surgical treatment for cardiac myxoma and associated lesions

Twenty-four patients with cardiac myxomas consisting of 22 left and 2 right atrial myxomas were operated on. All myxomas were removed with an excision of the attachment walls using a cardiopulmonary bypass. Two myxomas required a partial cardiopulmonary bypass from the femoral vein to the artery prior to operation because they were on the verge of becoming stuck in the atrioventricular valves and potentially causing shock. For embolic complications of myxoma, the embolus of the external carotid artery was extirpated before undergoing cardiac surgery. In a patient with pulmonary infarction, the infarcted lung was resected simultaneously. Another patient with a cerebral infarction received a clipping of an aneurysm which later appeared in the infarcted area. For associated cardiac lesions, two patients underwent a coronary artery bypass graft and one mitral valve replacement with tricuspid annuloplasty. In the former two cases, the myxoma was removed prior to coronary artery bypass grafting because the use of retrograde coronary perfusion was considered to be sufficient to protect the heart. In the latter case, the removal of the myxoma first disclosed a significant mitral lesion which had been masked by the huge myxoma. All patients but one, who died of pneumonia, showed a good recovery. In this series, the problems of surgical treatment for cardiac myxoma and associated lesions are also discussed.

Surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect and ruptured sinus of Valsalva associated with infective endocarditis

Two patients with ventricular septal defect of Kirklin type I and ruptured right coronary sinus of Valsalva associated with infective endocarditis were operated on. Both had bacillus vegetation clinging to the aortic and pulmonary valves and the right ventricular intimal wall around the septal defect. Aortic and pulmonary regurgitation were also found. The surgical approach included vertical incision of the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary trunk and transverse aortotomy. The right coronary sinus of Valsalva showed distinct aneurysmal change in one patient. The aortic valve and infected Valsalva sinus were excised in both cases, and the pulmonary valve and right ventricular wall where infection extended thoroughly débrided. The resulting defect, including the ventricular septal defect and excised right Valsalva sinus and aortic annulus, was closed with one patch, and the prosthetic valve inserted in the position of the original aortic valve using this patch as part of the annulus. Both patients had a good postoperative course and are doing well, although slight pulmonary regurgitation persists.

[Mitral valve replacement and right ventricular outflow repair for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy]

A 44-year-old male with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) was operated on. He was in NYHA class III with a chief complaint of exertional dyspnea refractory to medical treatment. Echocardiography showed asymmetric septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve, which caused obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. It also showed obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract due to septal hypertrophy. Cardiac catheterization showed a systolic pressure gradient of 70 mmHg at the LV outflow tract and that of 30 mmHg at the RV outflow tract. He underwent mitral valve replacement and patch enlargement of the RV outflow tract. Postoperative course was uneventful. Postoperative catheterization showed a remarkable decrease of pressure gradient to 10 mmHg at the both outflow tracts.

The efficacy of non-clamping selective cerebral perfusion in distal aortic arch aneurysm repair: report of a case

Successful repair of a distal aortic arch aneurysm without aortic cross-clamping was carried out in a 74-year-old man, using a combination of special separate cerebral perfusion and retrograde coronary perfusion, termed non-clamping selective cerebral perfusion. We believe that satisfactory results following aortic arch surgery in elderly patients can only be achieved through the prevention of emboli derived from an aortic cross-clamping site, and shortened ischemic time of the vital organs.

[Change of mitral regurgitation before and after myocardial revascularization--is mitral repair required for ischemic mitral regurgitation?]

In twenty seven patients, intraoperative change of ischemic mitral regurgitation before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was assessed using transesophageal echocardiography. The size of mitral regurgitation (MR) was determined by the area of MR color flow on the doppler echocardiogram. After CABG, MR area decreased in 20 patients (average: 3.7 cm2-->1.5 cm2), unchanged in one patient and increased in 6 patients (average: 17 cm2-->2.9 cm2). The change of MR area corresponded with the change of mitral annular diameter in 23 patients but uncorresponded in 2 patients. MR areas correlated exponentially with mitral annular diameters and the fair linear relation was observed between the postoperative to preoperative ratio of MR area and the postoperative increase in mitral annular diameter with the correlation of r = 0.81. When the larger MR area or mitral annular diameter before CABG was observed, the larger MR area after CABG remained, but annular diameter before CABG had more effect on postoperative MR area. No significant correlation was found between MR area and infarcted region, revascularized region, segmental wall motion etc. In conclusion, when the moderate or marked mitral annular dilatation was found in association with prominent ischemic mitral regurgitation, mitral annuloplasty with CABG should be considered.

[Surgical treatment of incomplete endocardial cushion defect in elderly patients]

We experienced 5 surgical cases of incomplete endocardial cushion defect who were 50 years old or older. Preoperatively, 3 cases were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and 2 in class III. Catheterization study showed that systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was 24 to 48 (average; 38) mmHg and pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio was 3.4 to 8.1 (average; 5.2). Left ventriculography showed mitral valve regurgitation (grade I-1 cases, grade II-3, grade III-1) with cleft and goose neck sign in all cases. Single atrium and patent foramen ovalis were associated in each one case. At operation, suture of mitral cleft and patch closure of ostium primum defect from mitral valve side were performed. Postoperatively, NYHA class, cardiomegaly, pulmonary arterial pressure and mitral regurgitation improved remarkably in all patients. During the follow-up period from 18 to 126 months (average; 57), right bundle branch block and supraventricular arrhythmia in electrocardiogram disappeared in 3 of 4 and 4 of 5 cases, respectively. Surgical treatment and postoperative course of incomplete ECD were reviewed in over-50-year-old patients, in reference to 17 surgical cases in Japan.

[Aortic arch reconstruction without aortic cross-clamping using separate extracorporeal circulation]

Between March 1991 and October 1992, 21 consecutive patients underwent aortic arch reconstruction without aortic cross-clamping using separate extracorporeal circulation in combination with retrograde blood cardioplegia (Non-clamping selective cerebral perfusion). Twelve patients had true arch aneurysm, 3 had acute aortic dissection and 6 had chronic aortic dissection including 2 redo cases. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was instituted with an arterial cannula in the femoral artery and 2 cannulae in both vena cavae. When tympanum temperature was lowered to 20 degrees C by central cooling, CBP was stopped temporarily. As soon as the aortic arch was incised longitudinally together with aneurysm, flexible 12 Fr. balloon cannulae were inserted into the three arch arteries via their orifices and selective cerebral perfusion was started. The perfusion flow was kept between 0.3 L/m2/min and 0.35 L/m2/min with the pressure of catheter tip from 30 to 60 mmHg to keep tympanum temperature 18 degrees C. Heart was protected by retrograde continuous cold blood cardioplegia. During arch correction, the descending aorta was occluded by a balloon then abdominal viscera were perfused via a femoral return cannula and rewarming to 25 degrees C was started to prevent visceral organ failure and coagulopathy. The time of separate perfusion ranged 20 to 161 minutes with a mean of 99.9 minutes. Except one patient who died of pneumonia, 20 patient (95.2%) were discharged and doing well. No cerebral complication, myocardial infarction, lung bleeding and coagulopathy occurred. In order to prevent the infarction by debris and to protect vital organs, this method is reliable for aortic arch reconstruction.

[Surgical treatment of coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula]

We experienced 4 cases of left coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. Two cases had small fistulas associated with atherosclerotic coronary lesions, and the other 2 had large fistulas with aneurysmal enlargement. In the former 2 cases, ligation of the fistulas and closure of the opening of fistula into the pulmonary artery through pulmonary arteriotomy were performed together with coronary artery bypass grafting and left ventricular aneurysmectomy. In one of the latter 2 cases, the fistula arising from the anterior descending branch was ligated and the opening of fistula draining into the pulmonary artery was closed through pulmonary arteriotomy. In another case, both openings of the fistula into the anterior descending branch and the pulmonary artery were closed from inside through incision of the dilated fistula. In all 4 cases, operations were performed using cardiopulmonary bypass and retrograde coronary perfusion, which could afford good heart protection even in cases with coronary lesions and coronary steal phenomenon. All cases went an uneventful postoperative course. Postoperative angiograms showed disappearance of the fistulas in 3 cases. In one case, however, residual fistula was found because a fine fistula might be overlooked. In such a case with complicated fistulas with aneurysmal enlargement, fistulas should be examined carefully through incision of the enlarged anomalous vessels. In this paper, diagnosis, operative indication and treatment for coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula were discussed.

Surgical treatment of cardiac myxoma and its complications

A total of 20 patients (15 women, five men) were operated on for cardiac myxoma. Their ages ranged from 17 to 74 (mean 56) years. Myxoma was located in the left atrium in 18 patients and in the right in two. Systemic embolism occurred in eight patients, causing cerebral infarction in three, ischaemia of the extremities in two, occlusion of the external carotid artery with cerebral infarction in one, myocardial infarction in one and pulmonary infarction in one. Five patients with severe congestive heart failure required emergency surgery. All myxomas were removed using cardiopulmonary bypass with excision of the attachment walls. Details are given of additional surgery performed on some of the patients. Two patients died, one from pulmonary insufficiency after emergency surgery and the other from an unrelated problem. The remaining 18 patients showed a good recovery and are doing well with no intracardiac recurrence, although one with cerebral infarction underwent clipping of an aneurysm, which was detected later in the infarcted area.

[Surgical treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm during partial cardiopulmonary bypass]

We operated on 3 patients with thoracic or thoracoabdominal aneurysm using partial cardiopulmonary bypass with right atrial drainage. The first patient was in the preshock state with severe chest and back pain. The aortography and enhanced computed tomography showed a thoracic aneurysm of 70 mm in maximum diameter ruptured into the extrapleural space and an emergency surgery was performed. The second patient was also in the preshock state with chest and back pain. The enhanced computed tomography showed a thoracoabdominal aneurysm of 120 mm in maximum diameter ruptured into the bilateral pleural spaces and an emergency surgery was performed. The third patient had a thoracoabdominal aneurysm of 60 mm in maximum diameter with a low pulmonary function. In all 3 cases, a perfusion cannula was inserted in the femoral artery and a drainage cannula was placed in the right atrium through the femoral vein. In the first case, an additional perfusion cannula was inserted into the axillary artery in order to secure the cerebral flow even at the time of intraoperative massive bleeding from the aneurysm. In all 3 cases, the approach for aneurysm was through spiral incision and aneurysms were replaced by graft inclusion technique. All 3 patients had an uneventful postoperative course and are doing well. In surgical treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm, usefulness of partial cardiopulmonary bypass using right atrial drainage was discussed.

Development of an all-in-one percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system

This paper deals with development of an all-in-one percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) system. In recent years, PCPS has been used for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. A prototype of a compact all-in-one PCPS system was developed. The system contains a centrifugal pump and an extra-capillary flow-type membrane lung in one body. The system has a priming volume of 250 ml, which allows for PCPS with no additional blood. The in vitro tests and an ex vivo test were conducted. The system produces 1.6-5 L/min of flow in the experiments. The O2 transfer rate was 310 ml/min, and the CO2 transfer rate was 300 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 5 L/min. This device is compact, requires less priming volume than a standard system, and is easy-to-handle in the experiments. The system is considered applicable to percutaneous cardiopulmonary support.

[Surgical treatment of left atrial myxoma with concomitant acquired heart disease]

Among 21 patients with left atrial myxoma treated during the past 11 years in our institute, 3 patients had associated acquired heart disease which required concomitant cardiac surgery. Two patients had atherosclerotic coronary arterial disease, and underwent single coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 4 CABGs in addition to removal of myxoma, respectively. Both of them received CABGs after removal of myxoma, because the intraoperative heart protection using retrograde coronary perfusion could afford the situation. Another patient had a huge left atrial myxoma associated with mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. She suffered from sudden heart failure caused by tumor obstruction of blood flow across the mitral valve, and an emergency surgery was performed. She underwent mitral valve replacement for annular dilatation with prolapse of both leaflets and tricuspid annuloplasty for annular dilatation, in addition to removal of myxoma. All of these 3 patients went a good postoperative course and are doing well now with no local recurrence. In this paper, preoperative and intraoperative evaluation, and surgical treatment of associated heart disease with left atrial myxoma were discussed.

[Medtronic model 6500 temporary myocardial pacing lead: a report of clinical assessment until three weeks after cardiac surgery]

Medtronic model 6500 heart wire as a right ventricular electrode was assessed in 41 postoperative cases. R-wave amplitude, slew rate, peak-to-peak, output, current, and resistance were measured by Medtronic A-V pacing system analyser, model 5311, for three weeks after open heart surgery. These parameter changed until the 7 th postoperative day, but did not change significantly thereafter. Output and current did not exceed beyond 10 V and 20 mA respectively, where there is limitations of usually available pacemaker. No complication was encountered. These results showed that this heart wire was reliably useful even until 3 weeks after open heart surgery.