Retrograde autologous priming RAP reduces deep hemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass CPB

Immediate hemodilution and rapid decrease in osmotic pressure at the time of CBP onset are associated with the aforementioned organic dysfunctions. Decreased osmotic pressure increases effective filtration pressure and microvascular filtration. Consequently, an increase in pulmonary interstitial fluid and myocardial edema is observed after discontinuation of CBP. Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) is a means to effectively and safely restrict the hemodilution caused by the direct homologous blood transfusion and reduce the blood transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery.   Materials and Methods The study included 40 patients scheduled to undergo coronary surgical revascularization, divided into two groups: the RAP group and the non-RAP group. The average age in both groups is 55 years (SD 5).   Conclusion A significant benefit was observed between the two groups in the study regarding the amount of transfused blood (1.55 -SD 0.88) / (2.15 -SD 0.81). This is a very important fact in favor of using the RAP technique, taking into account the reduction of the risk for complications carried by heterologous transfusion. Also, a significant reduction in the use of donated blood at a time when the problems of blood insufficiency in the collection centers are known, is equally important. The hospitalization (days of staying) in the ICU is also significantly lower in the RAP group (2.6 -SD 0.68) / (3.1-SD 0.64). This should be related to the faster activation of RAP in patients as a result of faster return to normal weight (with less fluid load), better ventilator function, and faster decline of cerebral edema. Keywords: Retrograde autologous priming (RAP), hemodilution, cardiopulmonary bypassCPB)   DOI: 10.7176/ALST/81-04 Publication date: August 31st 202

Diagnostic Yield of Non-Invasive Testing in Patients with Anomalous Aortic Origin of Coronary Arteries : A Multicentric Experience

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a congenital heart disease with a 0.3%-0.5% prevalence. Diagnosis is challenging due to nonspecific clinical presentation. Risk stratification and treatment are currently based on expert consensus and single-center case series. Methods: Demographical and clinical data of AAOCA patients from 17 tertiary-care centers were analyzed. Diagnostic imaging studies (Bidimensional echocardiography, coronary computed tomography angiography [CCTA] were collected. Clinical correlations with anomalous coronary course and origin were evaluated. Results: Data from 239 patients (42% males, mean age 15 y) affected by AAOCA were collected; 154 had AAOCA involving the right coronary artery (AAORCA), 62 the left (AAOLCA), 23 other anomalies. 211 (88%) presented with an inter-arterial course. Basal electrocardiogram (ECG) was abnormal in 37 (16%). AAOCA was detected by transthoracic echocardiography and CCTA in 53% and 92% of patients, respectively. Half of the patients reported cardiac symptoms (119/239; 50%), mostly during exercise in 121/178 (68%). An ischemic response was demonstrated in 37/106 (35%) and 16/31 (52%) of patients undergoing ECG stress test and stress-rest single positron emission cardiac tomography. Compared with AAORCA, patients with AAOLCA presented more frequently with syncope (18% vs. 5%, P = 0.002), in particular when associated with inter-arterial course (22% vs. 5%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Diagnosis of AAOCA is a clinical challenge due to nonspecific clinical presentations and low sensitivity of first-line cardiac screening exams. Syncope seems to be strictly correlated to AAOLCA with inter-arterial course.Peer reviewe

Surgery for anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries : a multicentre study from the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association

OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe early and late outcomes in a large surgical series of patients with anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicentre study including surgical patients with anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries since 1991. Patients with isolated high coronary takeoff and associated major congenital heart disease were excluded. RESULTS: We collected 156 surgical patients (median age 39.5 years, interquartile range 15-53) affected by anomalous right (67.9%), anomalous left (22.4%) and other anatomical abnormalities (9.6%). An interarterial course occurred in 86.5%, an intramural course in 62.8% and symptoms in 85.9%. The operations included coronary unroofing (56.4%), reimplantation (19.2%), coronary bypass graft (15.4%) and other (9.0%). Two patients with preoperative cardiac failure died postoperatively (1.3%). All survivors were discharged home in good clinical condition. At a median follow-up of 2 years (interquartile range 1-5, 88.5% complete), there were 3 deaths (2.2%), 9 reinterventions in 8 patients (5 interventional, 3 surgical); 91.2% are in New York Heart Association functional class CONCLUSIONS: Surgical repair of anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries is effective and has few complications. Unroofing and coronary reimplantation are safe and are the most common procedures. The occurrence of late adverse events is not negligible, and long-term surveillance is mandatory. Most young athletes can return to an unrestrained lifestyle.Peer reviewe

Anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries : Early results on clinical management from an international multicenter study

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries (AAOCA) is a rare abnormality, whose optimal management is still undefined. We describe early outcomes in patients treated with different management strategies. Methods: This is a retrospective clinicalmulticenter study including patients with AAOCA, undergoing or not surgical treatment. Patients with isolated high coronary take off and associated major congenital heart disease were excluded. Preoperative, intraoperative, anatomical and postoperative data were retrieved from a common database. Results: Among 217 patients, 156 underwent Surgical repair (median age 39 years, IQR: 15-53), while 61 were Medical (median age 15 years, IQR: 8-52), inwhomAAOCA was incidentally diagnosed during screening or clinical evaluations. Surgical patients were more often symptomatic when compared to medical ones (87.2% vs 44.3%, p b 0.001). Coronary unroofing was the most frequent procedure (56.4%). Operative mortality was 1.3% (2 patients with preoperative severe heart failure). At a median follow up of 18 months (range 0.1-23 years), 89.9% of survivors are in NYHA Conclusions: Surgery for AAOCA is safe andwith low morbidity. When compared to Medical patients, who remain on exercise restriction and medical therapy, surgical patients have a benefit in terms of symptoms and return to normal life. Since the long term-risk of sudden cardiac death is still unknown, we currently recommend accurate long term surveillance in all patients with AAOCA. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Papillary fibroelastoma of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve mimicking vegetation

Introduction: The papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a rare and benign primary cardiac tumor, and the mostly frequently found tumor occurring in cardiac valves. Case presentation: We describe a 52 year old female presenting a history of 2 weeks of fever due to wound infection after breast’s surgery. A preoperative echocardiography demonstrated a mass >1 cm2 originating from the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve mimicking vegetation. The patient underwent successful surgical removal of the PFE. The histologic evaluation demonstrated a PFE. Discussion: With the introduction of echocardiography, the diagnosis of these tumors in living patients has been reported sporadically. PFE have been found most often on valve leaflets, chordae tendineae, and both ventricles. The differential diagnosis of PFE includes other cardiac tumors, thrombus, vegetation, and Lambl’s excrescences. Conclusion: To summarize, we report a PFE of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination after surgical removal. Finally, careful echocardiographic analyses during evaluation of valvular masses are strongly recommended for differential diagnosis

A Challenging Diagnosis of Unroofed Coronary Sinus, Myxoma and Left Atrial Aneurysm

An unroofed coronary sinus is a malformation that leads to a shunt between the coronary sinus and the left atrium. In our case, the shunt led to the formation of a gigantic left atrial aneurysm compressing the left atrium on transesophageal echocardiography. During surgery, a myxoma was incidentally discovered

A Challenging Diagnosis of Unroofed Coronary Sinus, Myxoma and Left Atrial Aneurysm

An unroofed coronary sinus is a malformation that leads to a shunt between the coronary sinus and the left atrium. In our case, the shunt led to the formation of a gigantic left atrial aneurysm compressing the left atrium on transesophageal echocardiography. During surgery, a myxoma was incidentally discovered

Surgical Outcomes of Three Repair Techniques for Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection in Adult Patients

Objectives: To investigate primary and secondary surgical outcomes following transcaval repair (TCR), modified Warden repair, and transatrial repair techniques for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections (PAPVCs) and sinus venosus atrial septal defects (ASDs). Methods: This is an observational cohort clinical study. Patients who underwent TCR, modified Warden repair, and transatrial surgical repair for PAPVC and ASD between January 2003 and October 2019 at our institution were included in the study. Patients had one of the surgical procedures based on the anatomy of the defect. Results: Ten patients, seven (70%) males and three (30%) females, were included in the analysis. Seven patients underwent TCR, two patients the modified Warden technique, and one patient underwent transatrial surgical repair. Mean age was 57 years ± 14.7. Mean EuroScore II was 3.4 ± 3.5. The baseline left ventricle ejection fraction was 45 ± 6.5%. No patient had previous stroke, pacemaker (PM) implantation, or myocardial infarction. Total cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamping time were 123 ± 72.5 and 100 ± 48.5 min, respectively. Mean mechanical ventilation, mean intensive care unit, and mean hospital length of stay for the transcaval, modified Warden, and transatrial groups were 4.6 ± 10.7, 5.7 ± 8.8, and 10.5 ± 9.2 days, respectively. Superior caval or pulmonary venous obstruction, sinus node dysfunction, and PM implantation were not present at follow-up. The patient who underwent transatrial repair had died at 5.5-year follow-up due to myocardial infarction. Total survival rate at 6 years was 90%. Conclusions: The findings from this study elicit that all three techniques have low postoperative morbidity and are feasible and reliable procedures

Surgical Outcomes of Three Repair Techniques for Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection in Adult Patients

Objectives: To investigate primary and secondary surgical outcomes following transcaval repair (TCR), modified Warden repair, and transatrial repair techniques for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections (PAPVCs) and sinus venosus atrial septal defects (ASDs). Methods: This is an observational cohort clinical study. Patients who underwent TCR, modified Warden repair, and transatrial surgical repair for PAPVC and ASD between January 2003 and October 2019 at our institution were included in the study. Patients had one of the surgical procedures based on the anatomy of the defect. Results: Ten patients, seven (70%) males and three (30%) females, were included in the analysis. Seven patients underwent TCR, two patients the modified Warden technique, and one patient underwent transatrial surgical repair. Mean age was 57 years &plusmn; 14.7. Mean EuroScore II was 3.4 &plusmn; 3.5. The baseline left ventricle ejection fraction was 45 &plusmn; 6.5%. No patient had previous stroke, pacemaker (PM) implantation, or myocardial infarction. Total cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamping time were 123 &plusmn; 72.5 and 100 &plusmn; 48.5 min, respectively. Mean mechanical ventilation, mean intensive care unit, and mean hospital length of stay for the transcaval, modified Warden, and transatrial groups were 4.6 &plusmn; 10.7, 5.7 &plusmn; 8.8, and 10.5 &plusmn; 9.2 days, respectively. Superior caval or pulmonary venous obstruction, sinus node dysfunction, and PM implantation were not present at follow-up. The patient who underwent transatrial repair had died at 5.5-year follow-up due to myocardial infarction. Total survival rate at 6 years was 90%. Conclusions: The findings from this study elicit that all three techniques have low postoperative morbidity and are feasible and reliable procedures