A technique to control bleeding from an inaccessible part of an aortic end-to-end anastomosis

A simple technique is presented for the control of bleeding from the posterior aspect of an aortic end-to-end anastomosis.

Thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation for traumatic chylothorax

Traumatic chylothorax requires surgical intervention when conservative medical management fails to reduce chyle leakage. This usually entails thoracotomy or laparotomy. We report a case in which successful ligation of a torn thoracic duct was achieved using a video-assisted thoracoscopic technique.

Influence of atrial fibrillation on outcome following mitral valve repair

BACKGROUND

To investigate the outcome of patients in atrial fibrillation (AF) following mitral valve repair, clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was undertaken in 400 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valvuloplasty from 1987 to 1999.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The main indications for surgery were degenerative (81.4%), endocarditis (7.1%), rheumatic (6.6%), ischemic (4.6%), and traumatic (0.3%) mitral valve disease. After excluding 6 paced patients and 1 patient in nodal rhythm, we compared the outcomes of 152 patients in AF against 241 patients in sinus rhythm. For patients in AF versus those in sinus rhythm, more AF patients were older (mean age 67.2+/-8.8 versus 61.9+/-11.8 years, respectively; P<0.001), more were assigned to a poorer New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (77.6% versus 66.0% in NYHA III/IV, respectively; P=0.01), and more demonstrated impaired ventricular function (78.9% versus 46.2% with moderate or severe impairment, respectively; P<0.001). For patients in AF versus those in sinus rhythm, there was no difference in 30-day mortality (2.0% versus 2.1%, respectively; P=0.95), repair failure (5.4% versus 3.6%, respectively; P=0.41), stroke (5.4% versus 2.2%, respectively; P=0.11), or endocarditis (2.3% versus 0.9%, respectively; P=0.27) on follow-up at a median of 2.8 years (interquartile range 1.1 to 6.0). On echocardiography, the proportion of patients with mild regurgitation or worse was 13.3% (AF patients) versus 10.8% (patients in sinus rhythm) (P=0.70). Patients in AF versus those in sinus rhythm had lower survival at 3 years (83% versus 93%, respectively) and 5 years (73% versus 88%, respectively). Univariate analysis identified factors affecting survival as AF (P=0.002), age >70 years (P=0.041), and poor ventricular function (P<0.001). However, by use of a multivariate model, only poor ventricular function remained significant (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

AF does not affect early outcome or durability of mitral repair. The onset of AF may be indicative of disease progression because of its association with poor left ventricular function.

The anatomy of the septal perforating arteries in normal and congenitally malformed hearts

BACKGROUND

Many cardiac operations involve incisions and sutures on or near the ventricular septum. These jeopardize the septal perforating arteries. Our aim was to provide guidelines for the surgeon to predict the site of these vessels.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We dissected 50 hearts. In 16 of these we also conducted histologic examination of the area of the septum containing the atrioventricular node, the penetrating bundle (of His), and the branching atrioventricular bundle to elucidate the source of the vascular supply to these structures. The major perforating septal arteries arise from the superior interventricular artery or, in hearts with a rudimentary right ventricle, from the superior delimiting artery. The first is usually the largest. The location of this artery can be predicted relative to the position of the medial papillary muscle. In abnormal hearts, holes within the ventricular septum in the presence of a well-developed muscular outlet septum were found to deviate the path of the septal perforating arteries in a predictable manner. The triangular area bordered by the margin of the ventricular septal defect, the muscular outlet septum, and the medial papillary muscle is free of major perforating arteries. The histologic studies showed that the conduction tissues at the base of the ventricles tend to receive their blood supply from arteries arising from the inferior interventricular artery, except in double-inlet left ventricle, in which the arterial supply is from the right-sided delimiting artery.

CONCLUSION

The location of the first superior septal perforating artery is predictable in many cases. Its course leaves a triangular area on the muscular ventricular septum that is free of major arteries.

Conservative surgical treatment of valvular injury after blunt chest trauma

BACKGROUND

Blunt injury to the cardiac valves leads to progressive ventricular failure often requiring surgical management. Most frequently, prosthetic replacement is the chosen management.

METHODS

Three consecutive patients presenting to one surgeon with blunt traumatic valve lesions formed the study group.

RESULTS

At operation, the valvular pathology was assessed, and reparative techniques were used to correct the defects. All the patients had an excellent outcome at follow-up periods of 2 to 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative operation to repair traumatic valve lesions is feasible and has potential advantages over replacement.

Spontaneous cardioversion and mitral valve repair: a role for surgical cardioversion (Cox-maze)?

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are to describe: (1) The incidence of change in pre-operative rhythm (cardioversion) with mitral valve repair early and at 1 year's review after surgery (late). (2) The characteristics of those patients who remain in atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR) at late follow up. (3) The characteristics of those patients whose rhythm is seen to change (cardiovert) from SR to AF, or AF to SR and to remain so at 1 year. In this way it is hoped to more clearly define those patients who would benefit from the combination of mitral valve repair and surgical cardioversion (Cox-maze procedure).

METHODS

Retrospective study was made of the case notes of all patients undergoing mitral repair at our hospital during the 3 years between January 1st, 1991 and December 31st, 1993. Early (hospital discharge) and late (1 year) post operative e.c.g. rhythm was compared to pre-operative e.c.g. rhythm. The study explored the association of cardioversion with pre-operative rhythm, patient age, aetiology of mitral valve lesion (mitral regurgitation or stenosis) and echo cardiographic estimations of left atrial size and left ventricular dimensions.

RESULTS

Patients (89) underwent repair with a 30 day mortality of 2.2% (2 of 89). Of these, 55 were male with an average age of 65 +/- 12 years. Regurgitation was the valvular lesion in 93% and 18% were associated with coronary artery disease, 48 (55%) were in SR before surgery. Both deaths occurred in patients with AF as a pre-operative rhythm. Of the 39 survivors originally in AF, only one was of recent onset ( < 6 months). The frequency of an enlarged left atrium (> or = 5.0 cm) was significantly greater in those with AF compared to SR (P < 0.001). Atrial fibrillation was also associated with increasing age (P = 0.006) and increasing left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD; P = 0.018). Spontaneous cardioversion of pre-operative rhythm was common at the time of hospital discharge (AF to SR: 46% and SR to AF: 25%). At the 1 year review after mitral repair only 8 (21%) of those originally in AF were then in sinus rhythm. Eight (17%) of those originally in SR were in AF. A lower left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) was associated with spontaneous cardioversion of AF to SR by one year (P = 0.005). Similarly, patients originally in SR with a lower LVESD continued in SR. Those with a higher value were seen to cardiovert to AF (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Immediately prior to surgery the presence of AF was associated with a tendency to larger left atrial size, older age and a greater LVESD. Cardioversion was common for both patients in AF (46%) and SR (25%) early following conservative mitral surgery. The prevalence of late cardioversion was of a similar order in both those originally in AF (21%) and SR (17%). The maintenance of, or cardioversion to SR seemed to be characterised only by the LVESD. This analysis captures many of the problems of retrospective review. A multi-centre, prospective study is proposed to achieve the aim of an accurate formula predicting long standing cardioversion with mitral valve surgery.