Immediate surgical coronary revascularisation in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction

Background: The number of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and being untreatable by interventional cardiologists increased during the last years. Previous experience in emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in these patients spurred us towards a more liberal acceptance for surgery. Following a prospective protocol, patients were operated on and further analysed. Methods: Within a two year interval, 127 patients (38 female, age 68 +/- 12 years, EuroScore (ES) II 6.7 +/- 7.2\%) presenting with AMI (86 non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), 41 STEMI) were immediately accepted for emergency CABG and operated on within six hours after cardiac catheterisation (77\% three-vessel-disease, 47\% left main stem stenosis, 11\% cardiogenic shock, 21\% preoperative intraaortic balloon pump (IABP), left ventricular ejection fraction 48 +/- 15\%). Results: 30-day-mortality was 6\% (8 patients, 2 NSTEMI (2\%) 6 STEMI (15\%), p=0.014). Complete revascularisation could be achieved in 80\% of the patients using 2 +/- 1 grafts and 3 +/- 1 distal anastomoses. In total, 66\% were supported by IABP, extracorporal life support (ECLS) systems were implanted in two patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed the ES II as an independent risk factor for mortality (p<0.001, HR 1.216, 95\%-CI-Intervall 1.082-1.366). Conclusions: Quo ad vitam, results of emergency CABG for patients presenting with NSTEMI can be compared with those of elective revascularisation. Complete revascularisation obviously offers a clear benefit for the patients. Mortality in patients presenting with STEMI and cardiogenic shock is substantially high. For these patients, other concepts regarding timing of surgical revascularisation and bridging until surgery need to be taken into consideration

Bilateral lung transplantation for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension: perioperative management and one-year follow-up

Background: Bilateral lung transplantation (LuTx) remains the only established treatment for children with end-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although PAH is the second most common indication for LuTx, little is known about optimal perioperative management and midterm clinical outcomes. Methods: Prospective observational study on consecutive children with PAH who underwent LuTx with scheduled postoperative VA-ECMO support at Hannover Medical School from December 2013 to June 2020. Results: Twelve patients with PAH underwent LuTx (mean age 11.9 years; age range 1.9–17.8). Underlying diagnoses included idiopathic (n = 4) or heritable PAH (n = 4), PAH associated with congenital heart disease (n = 2), pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (n = 1), and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (n = 1). The mean waiting time was 58.5 days (range 1–220d). Three patients were bridged to LuTx on VA-ECMO. Intraoperative VA-ECMO/cardiopulmonary bypass was applied and VA-ECMO was continued postoperatively in all patients (mean ECMO-duration 185 h; range 73–363 h; early extubation). The median postoperative ventilation time was 28 h (range 17–145 h). Echocardiographic conventional and strain analysis showed that 12 months after LuTx, all patients had normal biventricular systolic function. All PAH patients are alive 2 years after LuTx (median follow-up 53 months, range 26–104 months). Conclusion: LuTx in children with end-stage PAH resulted in excellent midterm outcomes (100% survival 2 years post-LuTx). Postoperative VA-ECMO facilitates early extubation with rapid gain of allograft function and sustained biventricular reverse-remodeling and systolic function after RV pressure unloading and LV volume loading

Intrapericardial migration of dislodged sternal struts as late complication of open pectus excavatum repairs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>We present a case of sternal steel strut dislodgement and migration in a patient undergoing Ravitch repair for pectus excavatum (PE) 37 years ago. Broken struts perforated the right ventricle and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and additionally migrated into the left upper lobar bronchus.</p> <p>Dislodged sternal struts represent rare complications after surgical repair of patients suffering from pectus excavatum. Reviewing the literature, only five cases of intrapericardial migration of dislodged sternal struts or wires have been reported so far.</p> <p>In our case, the first strut was removed from the airways through a left antero-lateral thoracotomy. Using cardiopulmonary bypass, a second strut was removed via ventriculotomy. These life-threatening sequelae underscore the importance of postoperative follow-up and early removal of osteosynthetic materials used in open PE repair. Accurate preoperative localization of migrated materials and availability of CPB support are crucial for successful surgical removal.</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The migration of dislodged sternal steel struts or wires into the pericardium and cardiac cavities is a rare but life-threatening complication of open pectus excavatum (PE) repair <abbrgrp><abbr bid="B1">1</abbr></abbrgrp>. Removal of these materials poses a challenge for cardiothoracic surgeons. Herein, the authors report a case of migration of dislodged steel struts through the right ventricle and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) into the left upper lobar bronchus in a patient who underwent Ravitch repair 37 years ago.</p

Matched comparison of decellularized homografts and bovine jugular vein conduits for pulmonary valve replacement in congenital heart disease

For decades, bovine jugular vein conduits (BJV) and classic cryopreserved homografts have been the two most widely used options for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in congenital heart disease. More recently, decellularized pulmonary homografts (DPH) have provided an alternative avenue for PVR. Matched comparison of patients who received DPH for PVR with patients who received bovine jugular vein conduits (BJV) considering patient age group, type of heart defect, and previous procedures. 319 DPH patients were matched to 319 BJV patients; the mean age of BJV patients was 15.3 (SD 9.5) years versus 19.1 (12.4) years in DPH patients (p = 0.001). The mean conduit diameter was 24.5 (3.5) mm for DPH and 20.3 (2.5) mm for BJV (p < 0.001). There was no difference in survival rates between the two groups after 10 years (97.0 vs. 98.1%, p = 0.45). The rate of freedom from endocarditis was significantly lower for BJV patients (87.1 vs. 96.5%, p = 0.006). Freedom from explantation was significantly lower for BJV at 10 years (81.7 vs. 95.5%, p = 0.001) as well as freedom from any significant degeneration at 10 years (39.6 vs. 65.4%, p < 0.001). 140 Patients, matched for age, heart defect type, prior procedures, and conduit sizes of 20–22 mm (± 2 mm), were compared separately; mean age BJV 8.7 (4.9) and DPH 9.5 (7.3) years (p = n.s.). DPH showed 20% higher freedom from explantation and degeneration in this subgroup (p = 0.232). Decellularized pulmonary homografts exhibit superior 10-year results to bovine jugular vein conduits in PVR

Bilateral lung transplantation for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension: perioperative management and one-year follow-up

BackgroundBilateral lung transplantation (LuTx) remains the only established treatment for children with end-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although PAH is the second most common indication for LuTx, little is known about optimal perioperative management and midterm clinical outcomes.MethodsProspective observational study on consecutive children with PAH who underwent LuTx with scheduled postoperative VA-ECMO support at Hannover Medical School from December 2013 to June 2020.ResultsTwelve patients with PAH underwent LuTx (mean age 11.9 years; age range 1.9–17.8). Underlying diagnoses included idiopathic (n = 4) or heritable PAH (n = 4), PAH associated with congenital heart disease (n = 2), pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (n = 1), and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (n = 1). The mean waiting time was 58.5 days (range 1–220d). Three patients were bridged to LuTx on VA-ECMO. Intraoperative VA-ECMO/cardiopulmonary bypass was applied and VA-ECMO was continued postoperatively in all patients (mean ECMO-duration 185 h; range 73–363 h; early extubation). The median postoperative ventilation time was 28 h (range 17–145 h). Echocardiographic conventional and strain analysis showed that 12 months after LuTx, all patients had normal biventricular systolic function. All PAH patients are alive 2 years after LuTx (median follow-up 53 months, range 26–104 months).ConclusionLuTx in children with end-stage PAH resulted in excellent midterm outcomes (100% survival 2 years post-LuTx). Postoperative VA-ECMO facilitates early extubation with rapid gain of allograft function and sustained biventricular reverse-remodeling and systolic function after RV pressure unloading and LV volume loading

Synthesis and studies of complex compounds of carboxyl-derivatives of methylphloroglucinol with metals

Ten new complexes of 2,4,6–trihydroxy-3-methyl benzoic acid (methylphloroglucinol, L1) and 2,4,6–trihydroxy benzoic acid (phloroglucinol, L2) are isolated in the solid state, and their formulae were detected.The spectroscopic methods indicate that the coordination of  L1 and L2 to the metallic ions occurs through one of the O-atom of the deprotonated carboxylic group and an O atom of the non-deprotonated neighboring hydroxy-group (bidentate chelating coordination). The schemes of the structure of complexes are proposed.The complex formation in solution is studied, and formation constants are calculated. It is shown that for the metal complexes of the 1st transitional series, the formation constants for the complexes are arranged as Mn(II) &lt; Co(II) &lt; Ni(II) &lt; Cu(II) &gt; Zn(II). The obtained results correlate with the Irving-Williams Series

On optimum temperature conditions for operation of portable aliminum-air batteries

For construction of portable aluminium-air batteries (AABs) for field applications the data on performance of such batteries at low temperatures are necessary. Such experimental data are presented in this article. Lower temperature limit for effective operation of portable AABs is estimated. Possibility of AABs self-heating to the desired temperature is also considered

On optimum temperature conditions for operation of portable aliminum-air batteries

For construction of portable aluminium-air batteries (AABs) for field applications the data on performance of such batteries at low temperatures are necessary. Such experimental data are presented in this article. Lower temperature limit for effective operation of portable AABs is estimated. Possibility of AABs self-heating to the desired temperature is also considered