[Heart rupture as a complication of myocardial infarct in the acute stage. Case contributions and clinical course of survivors]

Heart rupture was found in 25 (4.4%) of 560 patients with myocardial infarction admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of the Department of Cardiology, Padua Medical School. Ten (40%) of them had a breaking of the free wall, 10 the interventricular septum, 4 (16%) a papillary muscle and 1 (4%) the ventricular wall with formation of a pseudoaneurysm. Thirteen patients died suddenly, the other 12 (48%) had cardiac catheterisation and later surgery. Four patients with interventricular defect died immediately after surgery, the other patients were discharged. Mortality was 68%; 30% on the patients with VSD as well as those with papillary muscle rupture and pseudo aneurysm survived.

Results of reoperation for primary tissue failure of porcine bioprostheses

Results of reoperation for primary tissue failure of porcine bioprostheses were evaluated in 574 patients discharged from the hospital from 1970 to 1981. A total of 413 had undergone isolated mitral valve replacement and 161 isolated aortic valve replacement. Through March, 1984, 88 patients (15%) had required reoperation: 59 had undergone mitral and 29, aortic valve replacement. Primary tissue failure was the main cause of bioprosthetic dysfunction; it occurred in 64 patients (46 mitral and 18 aortic) at a mean postoperative interval of 93 +/- 4 months (range 34 to 158). During the same period, 11 patients required reoperation for bioprosthetic endocarditis, 11 for paravalvular leak, and two for thrombosis. These patients are not included in this review. Reoperation for primary tissue failure was performed after a mean interval of 72 +/- 6 months (range 38 to 158) for patients with aortic bioprostheses and after 101 +/- 5 months (range 34 to 153) for those with mitral bioprostheses (p less than 0.05). Overall mortality at reoperation was 12.5%: 11% for the mitral group and 16% for the aortic group. In 62 patients (45 mitral and 17 aortic) primary tissue failure was caused by calcification of the cusps, associated with severe fibrous tissue overgrowth in seven. Bioprosthetic failure was caused by an intracuspal hematoma in one patient with mitral valve replacement and by lipid infiltration of the cusps in one patient with aortic valve replacement. Actuarial freedom from bioprosthetic primary tissue failure at 12 years is 61% +/- 5% for the mitral group and 69% +/- 7% for the aortic group. On the basis of our long-term follow-up of patients after mitral or aortic replacement with a porcine bioprosthesis, we conclude: primary tissue failure is the most frequent indication for reoperation in patients with a porcine bioprosthesis; calcification of the cusp tissue is the leading cause of primary tissue failure; reoperation for primary tissue failure may be a major concern, although mortality for elective cases is low; and the limited durability of porcine bioprostheses suggests their use be restricted to selected patients.

The risk of surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot: an appraisal

The risk of surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot was analyzed with multivariate statistical techniques in a recent surgical series (1975-1983) of 159 corrected and 59 palliated patients. The overall mortality of correction was 12.6% and that of palliation was 15.3%. The significant and independent risk factors that increased the mortality of palliation were the use of a shunt other than the Blalock or its modifications (mostly Waterston) (P = 0.01), and very young age (P = 0.02). Risk factors that increased the mortality of correction were high left over right ventricular pressure ratio (P-RV/LV) (P = 0.02), persistent patency of the arterial duct (P = 0.02), other major associated lesions (P = 0.02), and the use of a transannular patch (P = 0.04). Cardioplegia significantly decreased the risk (P = 0.03). With present techniques, correction can be performed in favorable cases with a mortality approaching zero. Staged procedures neutralized the age related risk of correction, but Blalock shunts carried a mortality rate ranging from 9.5% at 1 month to 1.7% at 12 months of age. This was due to the lack of prostaglandins along with technical faults. Predicted two-stage mortality rates ranged in infants (less than 12 months) from 6.2 to 16% and compared favorably with our observed 27% mortality of primary correction. Our results show that the transannular patch becomes a fully expressed risk only in those patients with restrictive pulmonary arteries or isolated branch stenosis. This is because it decreases the force the right ventricle can generate in maintaining the cardiac output. The chances of survival, when compared with those of patients without transannular patch, are significantly less when the P-RV/LV is between 0.6 and 1.0. We therefore discuss the measures to decrease or neutralize this risk related to insertion of a transannular patch. Among the associated lesions, we discuss briefly the potential for residual right outflow tract stenosis, anomalous origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery and anomalous muscle bundle of the right ventricle.

Surgical management of double-outlet right ventricle

From 1977 to 1983, 32 consecutive patients, ranging in age from 15 days to 24 years, underwent operations for double-outlet right ventricle. Twenty patients had a palliative operation either to increase (12 cases) or to reduce (eight cases) pulmonary blood flow: Ten of them have subsequently undergone total repair, and in another six correction was delayed because of possible incremental operative risk factors, such as multiple ventricular septal defects or the need for an extracardiac conduit. Four patients with multiple, complex associated intracardiac anomalies are currently considered to have uncorrectable defects. A total of 22 patients underwent correction either primarily (12) or after palliation (10). Intraventricular tunneling was performed in 16 patients with a subaortic ventricular septal defect and in one with a doubly committed ventricular septal defect. Seven of these had pulmonary stenosis and five had reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow by means of a patch (three) or a conduit (two); among this group, five also had enlargement of the ventricular septal defect. In three patients with a subpulmonary defect and in one with a remote ventricular septal defect, all of them without pulmonary stenosis, total repair was achieved by a Senning, a Mustard, or an arterial switch operation. Finally, the only patient with atrioventricular discordance and pulmonary stenosis had insertion of a left ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit. No operative deaths were observed after palliation, but one patient died of intrapulmonary hemorrhage after total repair (4.5%). Major postoperative complications included detachment of the ventricular septal defect patch in one patient and late progression of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease in another. No late deaths have been recorded. Surgical repair of double-outlet right ventricle can be accomplished with gratifying early and late results, the risk of operative death being below 5%. The outcome in patients with subaortic ventricular septal defect appears particularly favorable, despite the extensive intracardiac procedures required for total correction. An early intervention is recommended to prevent development of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease and to avoid massive cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, which may cause late rhythm disturbances and impede the intracardiac repair.

[In vitro action of a new antifungal agent, naftifine, on dermatophytes]

Naftifine is a new antifungal agent derived from naphtalenemethane amine and highly active in vitro against dermatophytes. We studied this action against more than 100 strains belonging to 16 different species of the Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton genera. MICs were determined in a liquid or solid medium using YMA and YMB Sabouraud broths. Yeasts (Candida, Torulopsis) and certain molds such as Scopulariopsis brevicaulis showed little susceptibility. In contrast, MICs for dermatophytes ranged from 0.01 to 0.2 microgram/ml on agar (YMA Sabouraud) and from 0.2 to 2 microgram/ml in broth (YMB Sabouraud). These values are lower than those obtained under similar conditions with imidazoles and equivalent to those obtained with tolnaflate or griseofulvin.

Prevention of prosthetic disc immobilization by prolapsed sutures

Disc immobilization by prolapsed sutures is a rare but potential risk after prosthetic heart valve replacement. We present here a simple technical modification used during prosthetic valve insertion, which can prevent the occurrence of such a complication.

Isolated mitral valve replacement with the Hancock bioprosthesis: a 13-year appraisal

Four hundred seventy-six patients underwent isolated mitral valve replacement (MVR) with the glutaraldehyde-preserved porcine Hancock bioprosthesis from March, 1970, through December, 1981. There were 312 female and 164 male patients ranging in age at operation from 9 to 68 years (average, 53 years). Associated surgical procedures were performed in 35 patients. Hospital mortality was 13%, the main cause of death being low-output syndrome. The survivors were followed from 1.6 to 13.2 years (mean, 5.2 years). Cumulative duration of follow-up is 2,180 patient-years and is 97% complete. Overall late mortality is 3.1 +/- 0.3% per patient-year, and actuarial survival is 73.8 +/- 3.4% at 13 years. Embolic accidents occurred in 45 patients and were fatal in 13; the linearized incidence of postoperative systemic thromboemboli is 2.1 +/- 0.3% per patient-year. Reoperation was necessary in 49 patients: in 4 because of valve endocarditis, with 3 deaths; in 6 because of perivalvular leak, with no deaths; in 2 because of left atrial thrombosis; and in 37 because of valve dysfunction due to primary tissue failure, caused mainly by calcific degeneration of the tissue, with 5 operative deaths. Actuarial freedom from primary tissue failure is 58 +/- 6.6% at 13 years. Extended follow-up after MVR with the Hancock bioprosthesis confirms the satisfactory performance and low thrombogenicity of this device up to 13 years after operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tetralogy of Fallot after surgery: autopsy review of 14 cases

The possible determinants of a fatal outcome following surgical repair of the tetralogy of Fallot were analyzed by postmortem examination in 14 cases. Only one patient died late in the postoperative period, due to patch detachment; the others died shortly after undergoing surgery. Death could not be explained in three cases. In three patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defects, complete atrioventricular block occurred as a consequence of traumatic disruption of the branching bundle. In four cases residual stenosis of the pulmonary outflow tract was shown; in one of these cases adequate relief of obstruction had been prevented by a large conal coronary artery. A residual mitral cleft was found in one patient. Death was not related to the cardiac conditions in two cases; one of these patients died of brain apoplexy and the other of tracheal hemorrhage. These findings stress the need for accurate preoperative diagnosis and precise knowledge of the surgical anatomy of this malformation.

Operative risk of correction of atrioventricular septal defects

Between 1 January 1975 and 31 December 1982, 111 patients with atrioventricular septal defect underwent surgical repair. Of these, 43 had the complete, 11 the intermediate, and 57 the partial form. The postoperative mortality rate was 37%, 9%, and 6% respectively. To determine which factors were independently responsible for the operative risk multivariate analysis of the surgical mortality was applied simultaneously to all three forms of the malformation. The form of defect, although strongly influencing the natural history and clinical presentation, was not by itself an operative risk factor. The risk was related primarily to failure to obtain a well functioning atrioventricular valve, to the presence of left ventricular dominance, to the degree of pulmonary vascular resistance, and, finally, to the technique of reconstructing a two leaflet left atrioventricular valve. The small size of the patient was also a significant incremental risk factor, but if the other factors were not unfavorable good results could be achieved in small infants with mortality rates less than 10%. Multivariate analysis showed that severe postoperative left atrioventricular valve malfunction was related to the technique used to reconstruct a "normal" two leaflet left atrioventricular valve. These findings support the policy of reconstructing the left atrioventricular valve as a three leaflet valve. Nevertheless, the implicit beneficial effect of this technique has not as yet proved to be statistically significant.

Dehiscence of aortic valve prostheses: analysis of a ten-year experience

Up to the end of 1982, reoperation for dehiscence of an aortic prosthesis was necessary in 5% of patients operated on for primary aortic valve replacement in the previous decade at the University of Padova Cardiac Surgery Center. This complication occurred early (median time to diagnosis 4 months) and was associated with an elevated 30-day operative mortality (27%, 70% CL 19-37%). This is probably (P = 0.09) related to preoperative heart failure. The follow-up of the traced surviving patients (92%) indicates a continuing poor prognosis with a 6-year survival rate of only 13.5% (70% CL 5.0-30%). All the events were cardiac related and directly or indirectly connected with the persistence or recurrence of dehiscence that was observed in 72% of the cases. In the face of these results, a retrospective study has been performed to identify, on the basis of the available data, the subsets of patients more prone to develop this complication. Our results suggest that a significant increased risk (P less than 0.001) can be identified in patients presenting with bacterial endocarditis (12.2% rate), in patients with concomitant aneurysm of the ascending aorta (10.9%) and in patients with degenerative regurgitation or severe calcifications of their native valve, with rates of 7.0 and 6.0 respectively. In these situations particular care is required to avoid undue stress on the annular tissue. We also suggest the use of buttressed interrupted sutures.

Cardiac myxomas: results of 14 years' experience

From January 1968 to July 1983, 38 patients with an intracardiac myxoma underwent surgical excision of the tumor at our Institution. There were 15 males and 23 females, ranging in age from 17 to 68 years (mean 47.7). In all but 2 patients, the presence of an intracardiac myxoma was documented preoperatively by angiographic and/or echocardiographic study. The first 2 patients of this series were referred with the diagnosis of mitral stenosis, and the myxoma was an unexpected surgical finding. In 32 cases (84.2%) the myxoma was located in the left atrium, in 4 (10.5%) in the right atrium and in 2 (5.3%) in the right ventricle. Surgery was performed on an emergency basis in 36 patients. Two patients (5.2%) both with a left atrial myxoma, died after surgery: one died intraoperatively of hemorrhage and the other after one month of bowel infarction. Follow-up of the 36 survivors ranges from 3 months to 14.5 years (average 5.2 yr); all were controlled by means of clinical and echocardiographic investigations, and no evidence of tumor recurrence was detected. Surgery for intracardiac myxoma, which should be undertaken on an emergency basis, carries a low operative risk; excision of the tumor appears to be curative with no recurrences at long-term follow-up; non-invasive tools are of the utmost importance in both the preoperative assessment and follow-up of these patients.

Calcific degeneration as the main cause of porcine bioprosthetic valve failure

Sixty-seven glutaraldehyde-processed porcine bioprostheses (PBs), recovered at autopsy or reoperation from 65 patients, were evaluated by roentgenologic and pathologic examination. Seven patients with 8 PBs were younger than 20 years of age. The time interval of function was 2 to 138 months (average 62). Pathologically, 53 explants had signs of intrinsic dysfunction, which was ascribed to calcification in 36 (68%). By x-ray examination, calcific deposits were found in 55 of 67 PBs (82%). The mean duration of function was 70 +/- 32 months in calcified PBs vs 27 +/- 18 months in noncalcified PBs (p less than 0.001). All 26 PBs that had been in place for longer than 6 years were calcified. In 45 PBs the Ca++ deposits were considered severe (mean time of function 76 +/- 32 months) and mild in 10 (mean time of function 44 +/- 22 months) (p less than 0.005). The Ca++ deposits were located at the commissures in 54 PBs (98%), at the body of cusps in 41 (75%), at the free margin in 37 (67%) and at the aortic wall in 37 (67%). When mild, Ca++ deposits involved the commissures in 90% of cases, the body of cusps in 30% and the free margin only in 10%. Forty-seven calcified PBs were mounted on a flexible stent, and 8 had a rigid stent, with an average time of function of 63 +/- 28 and 113 +/- 18 months, respectively (p less than 0.00001). Ca++ dysfunction occurred earlier in the aortic than in the mitral position (59 +/- 19 vs 86 +/- 35 months, p less than 0.05). All the PBs explanted from young patients and 47 of 59 PBs removed from adult patients were calcified, with an average time of function of 50 +/- 21 vs 73 +/- 33 months, respectively (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Progress in the surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect: an analysis of a twelve years' experience

Two hundred sixty-seven patients underwent surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) over a 12-year period between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1982. In 152 patients (57%) an associated lesion was present complicating the treatment of the primary lesion: 7 patients had multiple VSDs and among those with single defects, 189 were large (unrestrictive). The median age was 5.2 years ranging from 1 month to 46 years. Sixty-nine were infants under 10 kg of weight. The 30-day operative mortality was 8.6% (23 cases). The main cause of death was a low output syndrome in 16 cases. Thirty-two variables have been collected and their relationship with the death of the patients has been analyzed with univariate and multivariate methods. Logistic analysis has identified the independent significant incremental effect on hospital mortality of low weight (P greater than 0.00001), early operative date (P greater than 0.00001), multiplicity of defects (P = 0.0008), presence of major associated lesions (P = 0.019); the large size of the defect was only probably significant (P = 0.18). Inspection of the nomograms, relating the probability of operative death to weight and age in patients with a large defect, shows that the risk is significantly higher in the 3 kg baby (median age 3.3 months), particularly if major associated lesions are present. In infants with multiple VSDs the risk of operation remains, at the end of 1982, significantly higher than in single defects. However, our data suggest that the risk of open correction in patients over 12 kg of weight approaches that of single VSD if concomitant lesions do not complicate the surgical treatment.

Palliative surgery for single ventricle heart malformations

During a 6-year period, 24 patients, aged 7 days to 18 years, underwent palliative surgery for single-ventricle heart malformations; 22 has single-left ventricle with outlet chamber (14 with L-transposition); only two had type C malformation (van Praagh). They were subdivided according to physiology into two groups: the first included 15 patients with decreased pulmonary blood flow, whose main clinical feature was arterial desaturation; the second consisted of nine patients with increased pulmonary blood flow, who presented early with unmanageable heart failure. The first group was treated with a Blalock-Taussig shunt (typical or modified) in 12 cases (one death due to preoperative acute renal failure), with a Waterston or Potts shunt in two cases (both died early postoperatively), and by enlargement of the bulbo-ventricular foramen in one (who died at operation). No late deaths were seen and the clinical status of the survivors is judged optimal. Patients of the second group received a pulmonary artery banding plus a number of associated procedures: coarctation repair (2), ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus (2), Blalock-Hanlon atrial septectomy (1), tricuspid valve replacement (1). There was only one early death due to critical subaortic stenosis produced by a restrictive outlet foramen; however, there were five late deaths and two cases of surgical failure with persistent pulmonary hypertension. An analysis of the best palliative approach in patients with single-ventricle heart malformations is made, based upon the results of this series and taking into consideration the possibility of future intracardiac repair.

Experience with operation for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in infancy

Twenty patients presenting with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in infancy underwent cardiac repair. Four had associated major intracardiac anomalies (complex TAPVC) and 16 had isolated TAPVC. All patients with complex lesions died during or shortly after the operation; they all had pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). The associated malformations were critical pulmonary stenosis (one case), multiple ventricular septal defects (VSDs) (one case), mitral atresia (one case), and asplenia syndrome with common atrioventricular valve, double-outlet right ventricle, and pulmonary stenosis (one case). Among the patients with isolated lesions there were two surgical deaths, both in infants less than 1 month of age, with severe PVO and subdiaphragmatic drainage. Statistical analysis of these data shows a strongly incremental risk of surgical death due to the presence of associated malformations. Analysis of just isolated TAPVC shows a possible incremental effect due to neonatal age (less than 1 month) and PVO, these two factors being not clearly separated. There have been no late deaths and no late complications among the 14 survivors followed from 7 months to 10 years (mean 44 months). An aggressive surgical approach regardless of the age, degree of pulmonary hypertension, and type of anatomic connection is advised for isolated TAPVC. Some caution is recommended for complex TAPVC, in which a much higher risk is anticipated, particularly when a palliative pulmonary vein-to-left atrium anastomosis is performed.

Mitral valve prosthesis dehiscence necessitating reoperation. An analysis of the risk factors involved

Between January 1970 and December 1981, a total of 21 reoperations for periprosthetic leak were performed on 20 patients out of 999 with previously implanted prosthetic mitral valves. In most of them reoperations were performed within the first year, since the initial procedure and the leading indications were intractable congestive heart failure or infection of the mitral prosthesis. The mortality rate was 30% and was related to the preoperative cardiac functional status. The preoperative variables significantly related to an increased incidence of dehiscence of the mitral prosthesis necessitating reoperation were a degenerative disease (P = 0.016) or an infective endocarditis (P = 0.0006) of the native valve, both causing mitral regurgitation. Rheumatic disease, type of prosthesis, supra- or subannular insertion, age of the patient, and operative year, were not significant, neither were calcifications that are probably neutralized by the routine use of special surgical techniques. It is suggested that the use of techniques specifically designed to eliminate periprosthetic leak in patients affected by mitral regurgitation due to degenerative or infective disease of the native valve, might lead to a further reduction of reoperations for this complication.

Glutaraldehyde-preserved porcine bioprosthesis. Factors affecting performance as determined by pathologic studies

The causes of porcine valve failure were evaluated pathologically in 129 bioprostheses (BP) removed at surgery or necropsy. Fifty-one BP had been in place for less than two months (early explants); most of the complications of this group were observed in the mitral position: left ventricular outflow obstruction (43 percent), thrombosis (23.5 percent), myocardial dysruption (20 percent), cardiac rupture (10 percent), and perivalvular leak (3.5 percent). Among the 78 explants in place for more than two months (late explants), 66 had evidence of dysfunction. Calcification was the leading cause of failure (46 percent), followed by thrombosis (17 percent), endocarditis (12 percent), fibrous tissue overgrowth (10 percent), perivalvular leak (9 percent), and primary cusp tears (6 percent). Calcific degeneration is a hallmark of the phenomenon of biodegradation, and experimental animal models are encouraged since they may represent the clue to preventing calcification and therefore enhancing performance and durability of the porcine BP.

Mural papilloma of the left ventricle and floppy mitral valve: report of an unusual association

A 49-year-old man, with the diagnosis of floppy mitral valve and fibromyxomatous papilloma of the left ventricular outflow tract, underwent prosthetic valve replacement and excision of the tumor with good results. Although a left ventricular angiogram failed to visualize it, the intracardiac mass was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography.

Surgical treatment of mitral-aortic incompetence and aneurysm of the ascending aorta in a child with Marfan's syndrome: case report

A 7-year-old girl with Marfan's syndrome developed severe mitral and aortic valve incompetence and aneurysmatic dilatation of the ascending aorta. She underwent successful replacement of the mitral valve, aortic valve, and ascending aorta with coronary reimplantation. After 3 months of follow-up, she continues to be asymptomatic.