Acute ascending aortic dissection complicating open heart surgery: cerebral perfusion defines the outcome

Objective: This retrospective study was designed to assess the risks of acute ascending aorta dissection (AAD) as a rare but potentially fatal complication of open heart surgery. Method: Among 8624 cardiac surgical procedures under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic myocardial protection from 1978 to 1997, 10 patients (0.12%) presented with a secondary or so called ‘iatrogenic' AAD. There were seven men and three women, mean age 64±9 years, ranging from 47 to 79. The original procedures involved five coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG), one repeat CABG, one aortic valve replacement (AVR), one AVR and CABG, one mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) and CABG and one ascending aorta replacement. We retrospectively analyzed their hospital records. Results: Group I consisted of seven patients with AAD intraoperatively and group II consisted of three patients who developed acute AAD 8-32 days after cardiac surgery. In group I, treatment consisted of the original procedure, plus grafting of the ascending aorta in six patients and closed plication and aortic wrapping in one. In group II, two patients received a dacron graft and one patient developed lethal tamponnade due to aortic rupture before surgery. Postoperatively, six patients responded well and three died (33%), two patients from group I on the 2nd postoperative day with severe post-anoxic encephalopathy, and one from group II with severe peroperative cardiogenic shock. Conclusion: Preventing AAD with the appropriate means remains standard practice in cardiac surgery. If AAD occurs, it requires prompt diagnosis and interposition graft to allow a better prognosis. Intraoperative AAD happens at the beginning of CPB jeopardizing perfusion of the supra-aortic arterie

Primary isolated aortic valve surgery in octogenarians

Objectives: We reviewed our surgery registry, to identify predictive risk factors for operative results, and to analyse the long-term survival outcome in octogenarians operated for primary isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods: A total of 124 consecutive octogenarians underwent open AVR from January 1990 to December 2005. Combined procedures and redo surgery were excluded. Selected variables were studied as risk factors for hospital mortality and early neurological events. A follow-up (FU; mean FU time: 77 months) was obtained (90% complete), and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to determine survival rates. Results: The mean age was 82±2.2 (range: 80-90 years; 63% females). Of the group, four patients (3%) required urgent procedures, 10 (8%) had a previous myocardial infarction, six (5%) had a previous coronary angioplasty and stenting, 13 patients (10%) suffered from angina and 59 (48%) were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV. We identified 114 (92%) degenerative stenosis, six (5%) post-rheumatic stenosis and four (3%) active endocarditis. The predicted mortality calculated by logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was 12.6±5.7%, and the observed hospital mortality was 5.6%. Causes of death included severe cardiac failure (four patients), multi-organ failure (two) and sepsis (one). Complications were transitory neurological events in three patients (2%), short-term haemodialysis in three (2%), atrial fibrillation in 60 (48%) and six patients were re-operated for bleeding. Atrio-ventricular block, myocardial infarction or permanent stroke was not detected. The age at surgery and the postoperative renal failure were predictors for hospital mortality (p value ≪0.05), whereas we did not find predictors for neurological events. The mean FU time was 77 months (6.5 years) and the mean age of surviving patients was 87±4 years (81-95 years). The actuarial survival estimates at 5 and 10 years were 88% and 50%, respectively. Conclusions: Our experience shows good short-term results after primary isolated standard AVR in patients more than 80 years of age. The FU suggests that aortic valve surgery in octogenarians guarantees satisfactory long-term survival rates and a good quality of life, free from cardiac re-operations. In the era of catheter-based aortic valve implantation, open-heart surgery for AVR remains the standard of care for healthy octogenarian

Long-term outcome after mitral valve repair: a risk factor analysis

Objective: Mitral valve repair is the gold standard to restore mitral valve function and is now known to have good long-term outcome. In order to help perioperative decision making, we analyzed our collective to find independent risk factors affecting their outcome. Methods: We retrospectively studied our first 175 consecutive adult patients (mean age: 64±10.4 years; 113 males) who underwent primary mitral valve repair associated with any other cardiac procedures between January 1986 and December 1998. Risk factors influencing reoperations and late survival were plotted in a uni- and multivariate analyses. Results: Operative mortality was 3.4% (6 deaths, 0-22nd postoperative day (POD)). Late mortality was 9.1% (16 deaths, 3rd-125th POM). Reoperation was required in five patients. Kaplan-Meier actuarial analysis demonstrated a 96±1% 1-year survival, 88±3% 5-year survival and a 69±8% 10-year survival. Freedom from reoperations was 99% at 1 year after repair, 97±2% after 5 years and 88±6% after 10 years. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that residual NYHA class III and IV (p=0.001, RR 4.55, 95% CI: 1.85-14.29), poor preoperative ejection fraction (p=0.013, RR 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18), functional MR (p=0.018, RR 4.17, 95% CI: 1.32-16.67), and ischemic MR (p=0.049, RR 3.13, 95% CI: 1.01-10.0) were all independent predictors of late death. Persistent mitral regurgitation at seventh POD (p=0.005, RR 4.55, 95% CI: 1.56-20.0), age below 60 (p=0.012, RR 8.7, 95% CI: 2.44-37.8), and absence of prosthetic ring (p=0.034, RR 4.76, 95% CI: 1.79-33.3) were all independent risk factors for reoperation. Conclusions: Mitral valve repair provides excellent survival. However, long-term outcome can be negatively influenced by perioperative risk factors. Risk of reoperation is higher in younger patients with a residual mitral regurgitation and without ring annuloplast

MR and CT imaging of pulmonary valved conduits in children and adolescents: normal appearance and complications

Background: The Contegra® is a conduit made from the bovine jugular vein and then interposed between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It is used for cardiac malformations in the reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract. Objective: To describe both normal and pathological appearances of the Contegra® in radiological imaging, to describe imaging of complications and to define the role of CT and MRI in postoperative follow-up. Materials and methods: Forty-three examinations of 24 patients (17 boys and 7 girls; mean age: 10.8years old) with Contegra® conduits were reviewed. Anatomical description and measurements of the conduits were performed. Pathological items examined included stenosis, dilatation, plicature or twist, thrombus or vegetations, calcifications and valvular regurgitation. Findings were correlated to the echographic gradient through the conduit when available. Results: CT and MR work-up showed Contegra® stenosis (n = 12), dilatation (n = 9) and plicature or twist (n = 7). CT displayed thrombus or vegetations in the Contegra® in three clinically infected patients. Calcifications of the conduit were present at CT in 12 patients and valvular regurgitation in three patients. The comparison between CT and/or MR results showed a good correlation between the echographic gradient and the presence of stenosis in the Contegra®. Conclusion: CT and MR bring additional information about permeability and postoperative anatomy especially when echocardiography is inconclusive. Both techniques depict the normal appearance of the conduit, and allow comparison and precise evaluation of changes in the postoperative follow-up

Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Cardiac Congenital Surgery

Persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a relatively frequent finding in congenital cardiac malformation. The scope of the study was to analyze the timing of diagnosis of persistent LSVC, the timing of diagnosis of associated anomalies of the coronary sinus, and the global impact on morbidity and mortality of persistent LSVC in children with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery. Retrospective analysis of a cohort of children after cardiac surgery on bypass for congenital heart disease. Three hundred seventy-one patients were included in the study, and their median age was 2.75years (IQR 0.65-6.63). Forty-seven children had persistent LSVC (12.7%), and persistent LSVC was identified on echocardiography before surgery in 39 patients (83%). In three patients (6.4%) with persistent LSVC, significant inflow obstruction of the left ventricle developed after surgery leading to low output syndrome or secondary pulmonary hypertension. In eight patients (17%), persistent LSVC was associated with a partially or completely unroofed coronary sinus and in two cases (4%) with coronary sinus ostial atresia. Duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter in the control group (1.2 vs. 3.0days, p=0.04), whereas length of stay in intensive care did not differ. Mortality was also significantly lower in the control group (2.5 vs. 10.6%, p=0.004). The results of study show that persistent LSVC in association with congenital cardiac malformation increases the risk of mortality in children with cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass. Recognition of a persistent LSVC and its associated anomalies is mandatory to avoid complications during or after cardiac surgery