Stent by stent crush: procedural outcome and angiographic follow-up

Rewiring of an occluded and incompletely deployed coronary stent with a sharp and/or tortuous entrance angle may be difficult in the emergency setting. We report the case of a patient who experienced subacute stent thrombosis in the proximal right coronary artery. Incorrect rewiring resulted in stent crush after conventional balloon angioplasty at lesion site. In order to improve the angiographic result parallel stent placement was performed. Repeat angiography at 6 months demonstrated vessel patency without restenosis.

[Surgical management of soft tissue sarcomas: principles of resection and reconstructive plastic procedures]

1. Adequate complete surgical resection with a oncologic radical or wide margin of normal tissue represents the most important measure to prevent a local recurrence. Limited excision with "shelling-out" of the tumor, through its "pseudocapsule" almost invariably means positive microscopic margins. The pathohistologically or macroscopically marginal or intralesional positive resection margins make a salvage surgery necessary. 2. A close safety margin of < 1 cm due to neighboured anatomic structures indicates a high risk of local recurrence and makes an adjuvant radiotherapy mandatory. Plastic-reconstructive surgery should prepare the radiotherapy fields, to avoid cavities or ulcerations. 3. Facts should be stated in the clinical record and the operation report, e.g. the safety margin should be defined by the surgeon and the pathologist; the histopathologic stage and grade are absolutely basic requirements. If necessary, a second histopathologic review should be asked for. 4. Tumor resection and reconstructive oncoplastic measures should correspond individually to the oncologic parameters, to the functional demands and to the age of the patient. 5. Multidisciplinary cooperation in a tumorboard is a precondition for an adequate treatment.

Randomised comparison of Micro Stent I with Palmaz-Schatz stent placement for the elective treatment of short coronary stenoses

This randomised trial compared the Micro Stent I and the Palmaz-Schatz stent for the elective treatment of short (<8 mm long), new-onset coronary stenoses. The primary endpoints were restenosis rate and minimal luminal diameter at 6 mo angiographic follow-up. The secondary endpoints were angiographic and procedural success of stenting and a composite clinical endpoint at 6 mo (death, myocardial infarction, and target site revascularisation). A total of 93 patients were randomised. Clinical and angiographic characteristics of the two groups were comparable. Angiographic success of stenting was 96% in both groups, and there were no complications so that the procedural success was also 96% in both groups. The restenosis rate was 29% for Micro Stent I and 27% for the Palmaz-Schatz stent (P = NS). The minimal luminal diameter at 6 mo was 1.75 +/- 0.72 mm in the Micro Stent I group and 1.84 +/- 0.59 in the Palmaz-Schatz group (P = NS). At 6 mo, a clinical endpoint was reached by 21% of the patients in the Micro Stent I group and by 11% in the Palmaz-Schatz group (P = NS). In conclusion, the elective treatment of short coronary stenosis with the Micro Stent I or the Palmaz-Schatz stent resulted in similar early and late outcomes. In particular, the late angiographic results were very similar.

Prognosis of medically treated patients referred for cardiac transplantation

OBJECTIVES

To assess prognosis and factors influencing survival of transplant candidates in whom continued medial therapy was recommended in comparison to that of immediately listed patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic data as related to survival or listing for transplantation of medically treated transplant candidates.

PATIENTS

160 patients considered 'too well' for cardiac transplantation and 133 patients immediately listed for transplantation.

RESULTS

Forty-one of the medically treated patients deteriorated clinically and were listed after 10.7+/-12.3 months after initial evaluation. Mid-term prognosis (2 years) of patients never listed was comparable to that of immediately listed patients (74% vs. 70%) but long-term prognosis (5 years) was worse (41% vs. 54%, p<0.001). Cardiothoracic ratio and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were independent predictors of survival (multivariate analysis) in patients whose NYHA class and physical working capacity improved and cardiothoracic ratio decreased significantly after adjustment of medical therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Mid-term prognosis of selected patients considered 'too well' for transplantation is comparable to patients immediately listed. Lower left ventricular filling pressures, smaller hearts on chest X-ray on initial evaluation, and improvement of symptoms during follow up may identify a subgroup of patients who do well on optimized therapy.

Endothelial cell injury in cardiac surgery: salicylate may be protective by reducing expression of endothelial adhesion molecules

OBJECTIVE

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass induces ischemia to the heart, hypoxemia to various tissues and release of endotoxins. The endothelial cell may suffer from hypoxia and trigger cascades of adverse reactions by activation of neutrophils through adhesion molecules. The authors measured expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), during hypoxia and normoxia and hypothesized that salicylate, which inhibits the nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB), an hypoxia-dependent transmission factor, could reduce this expression.

METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured and exposed to normoxia and hypoxia in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The endothelial cells were thereafter treated with salicylate or indomethacin under the same conditions. The surface expression of ICAM-1 was measured by whole cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the NFkappaB expression by Western blotting.

RESULTS

In the presence of LPS and under hypoxic conditions, the endothelial cells produced a 300 +/- 41% increased expression of ICAM-1 compared with normoxia. The addition of salicylate (0.02-20 mM) completely inhibited the enhanced expression of ICAM-1, the addition of indomethacin at equivalent concentrations did not reduce ICAM-1 expression under either condition.

CONCLUSION

ICAM-1 expression is greatly enhanced by the hypoxic endothelial cell in the presence of circulating endotoxin. Pre-treatment with salicylate completely abolishes the enhanced expression. The study suggests that salicylate administered before cardiopulmonary bypass might protect the heart against ischemic/reperfusion injuries and reduce the load of the overall inflammatory reaction.

Composite graft replacement of the aortic root in acute dissection

OBJECTIVE

In acute type A dissection the indication for composite graft replacement of the aortic root and the optimal implantation technique are a matter of debate. In this study early and late results of root replacement in acute dissection are determined and compared with supracoronary graft replacement. Two implantation techniques (open vs. inclusion) are evaluated.

METHODS

Between 1985 and 1995, 207 consecutive patients (mean age 58 +/- 12 years, 78% men) were operated for acute type A dissection of the aorta. Root replacement in 50 patients (inclusion technique in 34/50 patients with Cabrol shunt in 15/34 patients, open technique in 16/50 patients) was compared with more conservative procedures in 157 patients: supracoronary graft replacement in 143 patients (with aortic valve replacement in 23 patients) and local repair without graft interposition in 14 patients. Preoperative risk factors, like hemodynamic instability, renal failure, neurologic disorder and coronary artery disease did not differ in the two treatment groups.

RESULTS

Early results, survival and reoperation-free survival after 5 years were insignificantly better after root replacement: mortality 10/50 (20%) vs. 38/157 (24%) P = n.s.; hemorrhage 10/50 (20%) vs. 39/157 (25%) P = n.s.; stroke 5/50 (10%) vs. 27/157 (17%) P = n.s.; survival 70 +/- 7% vs. 63 +/- 4%, reoperation free survival 92 +/- 6% vs. 78 +/- 5% P = 0.0815). For the open technique, early mortality was 18.8 vs. 20.6%, P = n.s. and reoperation free survival at 5 years was 80.7 vs. 65.2%, P = n.s. Perioperative complications did not differ in the two technical groups and a single pseudoaneurysm occurred in the Bentall group.

CONCLUSION

In acute dissection composite graft replacement of the aortic root can be carried out with good early and late results not inferior to more conservative procedures. The open technique is the implantation method of choice and the modified Bentall technique is indicated in situations with increased risk of bleeding.

Endobronchial lipomatous hamartoma: a rare cause of bronchial occlusion

A 74-year-old man presented with shortness of breath and vague chest pain. A chest roentgenogram showed subtotal atelectasis of the upper lobe of the left lung and a CT scan revealed an occlusion of the bronchus of the upper lobe of the left lung by an intraluminal tumor. A well-circumscribed yellow tumor obstructing the bronchus of the upper lobe of the left lung was seen by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Biopsies revealed mature fat tissue and small areas with bone consistent with the diagnosis of an endobronchial predominantly lipomatous hamartoma.

[How to do: initial experiences with a new device in minimally invasive heart surgery]

A special surgical technique is required for minimal-invasive cardiac surgery. The view for the coronary artery anastomosis under beating heart conditions is important and coronary artery blood might prevent a clear view of the opened coronary artery vessel. A new system called VisoFlo promises to improve visualisation at the surgical site. VisoFlo delivers a column of air to help provide a clear view of anastomosis site and in addition has a controllable mist to help prevent desiccation of the graft and surrounding tissue. This system was tested on 45 patients with coronary-artery-bypass graft surgery under beating heart conditions and at 65 patients with standard coronary-artery-bypass graft surgery. Our conclusions are, that the VisoFlo system is easy to use, guarantees a clear view of the anastomosis site and the surgical work will not be impaired.

Molecular diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis by broad-range PCR amplification and direct sequencing

Broad-range PCR amplification of part of the 16S rRNA gene followed by single-strand sequencing was applied to samples of 18 resected heart valves from patients with infective endocarditis. The PCR results were compared with those of cultures of valves and with those of previous blood cultures. For two patients there was agreement with the cultures of the valves; for nine patients there was agreement with the previous blood cultures, which were positive, while the cultures of the valves were negative; a Streptococcus sp. and Tropheryma whippelii each were found in one patient with negative cultures (valve and blood); for two patients the cultures of the valves as well as the PCR results were negative but the blood cultures were positive; for one patient amplification was inhibited; and for two patients the PCR results were positive but the amplicons could not be sequenced. It is concluded that broad-range PCR is a promising tool for patients with culture-negative endocarditis and allows the detection of rare, noncultivable organisms.

VATS resection of an oesophageal leiomyoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis Recklinghausen

A series of reports in the literature suggest an association of neurofibromatosis Recklinghausen with intestinal tumors as carcinoids, leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. We present a case of a 23-year-old man with severe cutaneous manifestation of neurofibromatosis. Dysphagia was the main symptom. CT scan suggested the diagnosis of an oesophageal leiomyoma. The oesophageal muscle layers were split and the tumor was enucleated by video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was drinking liquids from day 1 and was eating a normal diet from day 3 postoperatively. He was dismissed from the hospital on the 4th postoperative day. We conclude that in patients with neurofibromatosis and oesophageal symptoms an intestinal manifestation of the disease in the oesophagus has to be considered and that VATS resection of intramural and extrinsic oesophageal leiomyomas is the treatment of choice.

New approach to patency and flow assessment after left internal thoracic artery hypoperfusion syndrome with additional saphenous vein graft to the left anterior descending artery with phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography

OBJECTIVE

Perioperative and early postoperative flow reduction of a left internal thoracic artery conduit is a rare complication of myocardial revascularization and may lead to the potentially fatal left internal thoracic artery hypoperfusion syndrome. It has been advocated that an additional vein graft be placed to the distal left anterior descending artery to provide sufficient myocardial perfusion. Some evidence exists, however, that this high-flow vein might lead to competing or even backward flow through the internal thoracic artery.

METHODS

In the past 2 years, 21 patients received an additional vein graft to the distal left anterior descending artery for left internal thoracic artery hypoperfusion syndrome. Nineteen of these patients were available for magnetic resonance imaging. Early (< 6 months) and late (> 12 months) postoperative flow measurements, both in the left internal thoracic artery and in the saphenous vein grafts, were performed by means of conventional and a segmented k-space phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography technique.

RESULTS

Early magnetic resonance examinations indicated that all conduits had adapted to the coronary flow type with predominant diastolic perfusion. Patency rate both at the early and at the late study was 100%. No concurrent flow, flow reversal, or steal phenomena were observed. Mean flow rates were 49.2 ml/min for the left internal thoracic artery and 72.6 ml/min for the saphenous vein graft.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the flow data obtained with magnetic resonance angiography, the use of an additional saphenous vein graft as the treatment of choice in left internal thoracic artery hypoperfusion syndrome does not lead to occlusion of the artery. Conduit flow adaptation to the diastolic predominance occurs in the first 6 months after operation.

[Immediate and mid-term clinical and angiographic results after implantation of AVE intracoronary micro-stents in 140 consecutive cases. An experience in Lausanne]

Two hundred AVE (Arterial Vascular Engineering) microstents measuring 4 to 30 mm were implanted in 140 patients aged 62 +/- 10 years with Class II to IV angina of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification. The indications were: de novo lesions (30%), suboptimal angioplasty results (54%), acute occlusion (8%) or restenosis (8%). The stents of 3.0 to 4.0 mm diameter were implanted in the left main coronary artery (1%) the left anterior descending artery (20%), the left circumflex artery (19%), the right coronary artery (44%) or a venous bypass graft (7%) after intravenous injection of 15,000 IU of heparin. Daily treatment with aspirin 100 mg and ticlopidine 500 mg was instituted from the day of the procedure. The success rate was 98.5% with only 3 technical failures. The minimal luminal diameter and percentage stenosis ranged from 0.80 +/- 0.2 mm and 74 +/- 13% before to 2.66 +/- 0.38 mm and 15 +/- 7% after the procedure in vessels with an average reference diameter of 3.05 +/- 0.35 mm. There were 3% of stent-related immediate clinical complications. In February 1996, 97 patients had survived 6 months. With a 97% follow-up rate, the clinical event rate was 18%. The angiographic follow-up rate was 70% and the restenosis rate was 27%. The authors conclude that the AVE microstents are easy to implant and provide excellent immediate angiographic results with a low complication rate.

Cardiac surgery in a high-risk group of patients: is prolonged postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis effective?

OBJECTIVE

In a prospective, randomized study, postoperatively prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis is evaluated in a high-risk group of patients undergoing cardiac operations. These patients had postoperative low cardiac output necessitating inotropic support and intraaortic balloon pumping.

METHODS

Between January 1991 and 1994, 53 patients were enrolled in the study (42 men, mean age 65 years). All patients received the usual perioperative (24 hours) cefazolin prophylaxis. In the study group (n = 28) a prolonged regimen of prophylaxis with ticarcillin/clavulanate was performed for 2 days and vancomycin was added in a low dose until removal of the intraaortic balloon pump. The control group (n = 25) did not receive a prolonged regimen of prophylaxis. Follow-up ended at hospital discharge.

RESULTS

Early mortality was 7 of 28 patients (25%) in the prophylaxis group and 8 of 25 patients (32%) in the control group (p = 0.397). Defined infections (pneumonia, n = 22; sepsis, n = 8; deep sternal wound infection, n = 2) occurred in 50% of the study group and 68% of the control group (p = 0.265). In all patients with septicemia, only coagulase-negative staphylococci could be isolated from the bloodstream (5 patients in the prophylaxis group vs 3 in the control group). Infectious parameters were controlled daily and did not differ significantly between groups. A total of 1158 bacteriologic tests were performed (blood cultures, n = 389; intravascular catheters, n = 208; bronchial aspirates, n = 411; intraaortic balloon pumps, n = 42; wound secretions, n = 108) showing bacterial growth in 322 (28%) without a significant difference between the groups. In the prophylaxis group, 13 intravascular catheters and intraaortic balloon pumps showed bacterial growth versus 11 in the control group. No side effects were seen.

CONCLUSIONS

In a high-risk group of patients undergoing cardiac operations, infectious outcome could not be effectively influenced by an additional and prolonged postoperative prophylaxis regimen with low-dose vancomycin and ticarcillin/clavulanate. Low-dose vancomycin did not reduce the rate of infections or colonizations of intravascular catheters with gram-positive organisms.

Aortobronchial and aortoesophageal fistulae as risk factors in surgery of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Assess outcome of patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms complicated by aortobronchial and aortoesophageal fistulae in comparison to patients undergoing repair of aortic aneurysms without fistulae.

METHODS

In a consecutive series of 145 patients (age 60 +/- 12 years) with repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, 11 patients (8%; age 63 +/- 9; NS) primarily presented for hematemesis and/or hemoptysis. In 8/11 patients (73%) an aortobronchial fistula was identified, and 3/11 patients (27%) suffered from an aortoesophageal fistula. Five of 11 patients (45%) had undergone previous aortic surgery in the same region.

RESULTS

Extent of aortic segments (range 1-8) replaced was 3.1 +/- 1.4 for all versus 2.6 +/- 0.9 for fistulae (NS). Aortic cross clamp time was 38 +/- 22 min for all versus 45 +/- 15 min for fistulae (NS). Mortality at 30 days was 18/145 (12%) for all versus 16/134 (12%) without fistulae versus 2/11 (18%) with fistulae (NS). Paraparesis and or paraplegia was observed in 11/145 (8%) for all versus 10/134 (7%) without fistulae versus 1/11 (9%) for cases with fistulae (NS). Nine additional patients died after hospital discharge, seven without fistulae and two with fistulae (days 80, and 120) bringing the 1-year mortality up to 23/134 (17%) without fistulae versus 4/11 (36%) with fistulae (NS). Further analysis shows that the 1-year mortality accounts for 1/8 patients (13%) with aorto-bronchial fistulae versus to 3/3 patients (100%) with aorto-esophageal fistulae (esophageal versus bronchial fistula: P = 0.018; esophageal versus no fistula: P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Outcome of patients suffering from descending thoracic aortic aneurysms complicated by aorto-bronchial fistulae can be similar to that without fistulae, whereas for cases complicated by aorto-esophageal fistulae the prognosis seems to remain poor even after successful hospital discharge.

Effect of high intensity exercise training on central hemodynamic responses to exercise in men with reduced left ventricular function

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high intensity exercise training on left ventricular function and hemodynamic responses to exercise in patients with reduced ventricular function.

BACKGROUND

Results of studies on central hemodynamic adaptations to exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure have been contradictory, and some research has suggested that training causes further myocardial damage in these patients after a myocardial infarction.

METHODS

Twenty-five men with left ventricular dysfunction after a myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomized to an exercise training group (mean age +/- SD 56 +/- 5 years, mean ejection fraction [EF] 32 +/- 7%, n = 12) or a control group (mean age 55 +/- 7 years, mean EF 33 +/- 6%, n = 13). Patients in the exercise group performed 2 h of walking daily and four weekly sessions of high intensity monitored stationary cycling (40 min at 70% to 80% peak capacity) at a residential rehabilitation center for a period of 2 months. Ventilatory gas exchange and upright hemodynamic measurements (rest and peak exercise cardiac output; pulmonary artery, wedge and mean arterial pressures; and systemic vascular resistance) were performed before and after the study period.

RESULTS

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) increased by 23% after 1 month of training, and by an additional 6% after month 2. The increase in VO2max in the trained group paralleled an increase in maximal cardiac output (12.0 +/- 1.8 liters/min before training vs. 13.7 +/- 2.5 liters/min after training, p < 0.05), but maximal cardiac output did not change in the control group. Neither stroke volume nor hemodynamic pressures at rest or during exercise differed within or between groups. Rest left ventricular mass, volumes and EF determined by magnetic resonance imaging were unchanged in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

High intensity exercise training in patients with reduced left ventricular function results in substantial increases in VO2max by way of an increase in maximal cardiac output combined with a widening of maximal arteriovenous oxygen difference, but not changes in contractility. Training did not worsen hemodynamic status or cause further myocardial damage.

[Reconstructive plastic surgery of thoracic wall defects]

Full-thickness defects of the thoracic wall following tumor resection, irradiation damage or secondary wound healing in thoracic surgery require early interdisciplinary cooperation to achieve patient-specific treatment modalities. Plastic surgical differential therapy allowing for sufficient soft tissue coverage, stabilisation of the thoracic wall and space filling in intrathoracic cavities, is presented and critically discussed.

[Long-term prognosis for patients undergoing thrombolysis during the acute phase of myocardial infarction]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to analyse the long-term mortality and morbidity of a group of patients undergoing thrombolysis during the acute phase of myocardial infarction and to determine the factors influencing the prognosis. One hundred and seventy five patients (149 mean and 26 women, mean age: 54 years) were included in a randomized study, comparing the efficacy of 2 thrombolytic substances administered during the acute phase of myocardial infarction. A standard questionnaire was sent to the various attending physicians to follow-up of these 175 patients.

RESULTS

The hospital mortality was 5% (9 patients) and 14 patients (9%) died after a mean follow-up of 4.3 +/- 2.1 years. The 5-year actuarial survival was 81%. Fourteen patients (8%) were lost to follow-up and 49 patients (32%) underwent surgical or percutaneous revascularization during follow-up. Revascularized patients had a significantly better survival than non-revascularized patients. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction of patients who died was lower (48% versus 71%) than that of survivors. Patients with an ejection fraction < 40% also had a significantly lower survival (p = 0.01). Patency of the vessel after thrombolysis was associated with a slightly better survival; this difference was not significant. The ejection fraction at 6 month was also significantly higher (60 +/- 10% versus 49 +/- 11%) for patients with a patent artery. Three risk factors for death or reinfarction were identified: age > 65 years at the time of infarction, disease in more than one coronary vessel and absence of angina pectoris before infarction. The probability of a coronary accident varied from 2 to 88% according to the number of risk factors present. At the time of follow-up, 60% of patients presented hypercholesterolaemia versus only 7% before infarction 73% of patients received anticoagulant or antiaggregant treatment and 81% of patients were asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

The mortality and the acute and long-term morbidity of myocardial infarction remain high, as only 34% of our patients did not develop any events during follow-up, despite serious medical management and follow-up. The ejection fraction has an important prognostic value. Patient management should take the abovementioned risk factors into account.

Effect of exercise training on myocardial remodeling in patients with reduced left ventricular function after myocardial infarction: application of magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND

There are conflicting reports on the effects of training on the remodeling process in post-myocardial infarction patients with ventricular damage.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-five patients with reduced ventricular function (mean ejection fraction, 32.3+/-6%) after an anteroseptal or inferolateral myocardial infarction were randomized to an exercise group (n=12) or a control group (n=13). Patients in the exercise group resided in a rehabilitation center for 2 months and underwent a training program consisting of two 1-hour sessions of walking daily, along with four monitored 45-minute sessions of stationary cycling weekly. Before and after the study period, maximal exercise testing and cardiac MRI were performed. Oxygen uptake increased 26% at maximal exercise (19.7+/-3 to 23.9+/-5, P<.05) and 39% at the lactate threshold (P<.01) in the exercise group, whereas control values did not change. No differences were observed within or between groups in MRI measures of end-diastolic (187+/-47 pre versus 196+/-35 mL post in the exercise group and 179+/-52 pre versus 180+/-51 mL post in the control group), end-systolic volume (118+/-41 pre versus 121+/-33 mL post in the exercise group and 119+/-54 pre versus 116+/-56 mL post in the control group), or ejection fraction (38.0+/-9 pre versus 38.2+/-10% post in the exercise group and 37.0+/-10 pre versus 38.3+/-13% post in the control group). Myocardial wall thickness measurements at end diastole and end systole and their difference in 80 myocardial segments determined by MRI yielded no significant interactions between groups. When myocardial wall thickness measurements were classified by infarct or noninfarct areas, no differences were observed between groups over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

A high-intensity, 2-month residential cardiac rehabilitation program resulted in substantial increases in exercise capacity among patients with reduced left ventricular function. In contrast to some recent reports, the training program had no deleterious effects on left ventricular volume, function, or wall thickness regardless of infarct area.

Salivary gland-like tumors of the sellar region

Herein we present a group of rare tumors of the sella region that have not been previously recognized. Although clinically and radiographically the tumors resemble nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, their histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features differ and indicate a salivary gland origin. The lesions cover a morphologic spectrum that includes cellular pleomorphic adenoma, monomorphic adenoma, oncocytoma, and low-grade adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland. All tumors except the oncocytoma were immunoreactive for cytokeratin and were negative for pituitary hormones and synaptophysin. Ultrastructural characteristics in the cases examined include hypodense stromal material, basal lamina, and tonofilament bundles. The single oncocytoma was packed with mitochondria and lacked membrane-bound secretory granules. DNA ploidy based on image analysis and MIB-1 labeling indices showed diversity within this group of tumors, with labeling indices ranging from 0.06% to 15%. The presumed origin of these rare neoplasms is from salivary gland rests related to the normal pituitary gland. Despite their varied morphology, such tumors are easily confused with pituitary adenoma. Although rare, tumors of salivary gland origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unusual adenohypophyseal tumors.

Diagnosis and management of blunt great vessel trauma

Traditionally, thoracic aortic rupture, suspected after blunt thoracic trauma, is characterized by a chest radiograph showing a widened mediastinum. The diagnostic machinery consecutively activated still depends heavily on the pressure as additional traumatic lesions. A patient with additional cranio-cerebral trauma would typically undergo contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of head, chest, and other regions. In a number of patients these analyses would confirm the presence of blood in the mediastinum without formal proof of an aortic disruption. This is because mediastinal hematomas may be caused not only by an aortic rupture, but also by numerous other blood sources including fractures of the spine and other macro- and microvascular lesions providing similar images. Therefore, aortic angiography became our preferred diagnostic tool to identify or rule out acute traumatic lesions of not only the aorta but with great vessels. However recently, a number of traumatic aortic transsections have been identified by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). TEE has the additional advantage of being a bed-side procedure providing additional information about cardiac function. The latter analysis allows for identification and quantification of cardiac contusions, post-traumatic myocardial infarctions, and valvar lesions which are of prime importance to develop an adequate surgical strategy and to assess the risk of the numerous emergency procedures required in patients with polytrauma. The standard approach for repair of isthmic aortic rupture is through a lateral thoracotomy. Distal and proximal control of the aorta can be achieved in a substantial number of cases before complete aortic rupture occurs and a higher proportion of direct suture repair can be achieved under such circumstances. Most proximal descending aortic procedures are performed without cardiopulmonary bypass (clamp and go) but paraplegia may occur before, during, or after the procedure. Ascending aortic lesions and disruption of the aortic arch, the supra-aortic vessels, the main pulmonary arteries, the great veins as well as cardiac lesions are best approached through a sternotomy, which may have to be extended. Cardiopulmonary bypass allowing for deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest is often required and carries its own complications. It is not clear whether the increasing proportion of ascending aortic and cardiac lesions which are observed nowadays are due to a change in trauma mechanics (i.e., speed limits, seat belts, air-bags), an improvement of the diagnostic tools or both.

The infected aorta

BACKGROUND

Despite the improvements achieved in antibiotic therapy, severe aortic infection resulting in mycotic aneurysms is still a highly lethal disease and surgical management remains a challenging task.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 43 patients with severe aortic infections were analyzed and separated in four groups: (1) Infections of the aortic root Ventriculo-aortic disconnection due to deep aortic infection (6 patients). Two patients were operated using homo-composit grafts. Of the 6 patients total, one died early and two died late during a mean follow-up of 6 years. The two patients with homografts are still alive. (2) Infections of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch. In situ repair for mycotic aneurysmal lesions of the ascending aorta was performed in 6 patients using synthetic graft material in 4/6, biological material in 1/6 and direct suture in 1/6. Two patients had to be reoperated; one of them died early. There was no recurrent infection during a mean follow-up of 6 years. (3) Infections of the descending thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aorta in-situ repair for mycotic aneurysmal lesions of the descending and thoraco-abdominal aorta was performed in 12 patients using homografts in five. Two patients died early and two other patients died late during a mean follow-up of 6 years. (4) Infections of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. In this series of 19 patients with mycotic infrarenal aortic aneurysms, in situ reconstruction was performed in 12 (5/12 with homografts) and extra-anatomic reconstruction (axillo-femoral bypass) was performed in 7. Hospital mortality was 5/19 patients and another 5/19 patients died during a mean follow-up of 6 years. One of the early deaths was due to aortic stump rupture. Two patients with axillo-femoral reconstructions were later converted to descending-thoracic-aortic-bifemoral bypasses. Five thromboses of axillo-femoral bypasses were observed in three of the seven patients with extra-anatomic repairs.

RESULTS

Infections of the aortic root, the ascending aorta and the aortic arch are approached with total cardio-pulmonary bypass, using cardioplegic myocardial protection and deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest if necessary. Proximal unloading and distal support using partial cardiopulmonary bypass is preferred for repair of infected descending and thoracoabdominal aortic lesions, whereas no such adjuncts are required for repair of infected infrarenal aortic lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

The anatomical location of the aortic infection and the availability of homologous graft material are the main factors determining the surgical strategy.