RCAAP Repository

Previously described surgical treatment for ostial coronary artery stenosis relied on either venous or arterial bypasses or ostial patch angioplasty. These surgical procedures are performed with bovine pericardium, saphenous vein or internal thoracic artery. We describe a technique of right coronary artery re-implantation into the aorta. The procedure was performed in four patients with right coronary artery ostial stenosis along with other left coronary artery lesions.

We hereby present a technical modification for mitral-aortic annular enlargement. The mitral valve is replaced through the retro-septal approach, avoiding patches for left atrial roof closure. We report a mitral-aortic valve replacement in a patient whose original annuli would preclude adequate prostheses. The simultaneous annular enlargement may be necessary for avoiding patient-prosthesis mismatch and for reconstructing destroyed mitral and aortic annuli. The technique may minimize the risk of bleeding and of paravalvular leakage, using an approach well known to cardiac surgeons.

This is a report of an unusual case of a patient, with dextrocardia and a "situs inversus totalis". She presented angina pectoris during an ECG stress test. The coronary arteriography revealed severe obstruction in the main left coronary artery. The patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. We did not find a similar case in the national medical literature. The myocardial revascularization performed utilizing the right mammary artery for anterior descending artery and saphenous vein grafts for first diagonal branch and first marginal branch.

We report on three cases of mitral regurgitation in children at ages of 7 months, 5 months and 10 years old. In two of them, the etiology was congenital and the other it was rheumatic. The surgical technique used was valvuloplasty without support using the modified De Vega technique isolated or associated with other procedures. One of the children was re-operated seven years after the first surgery. All the patients were rated New York Association Class III before surgery. Following the surgery they were at Class I with good outcomes. All patients survived, without complications. According with the literature, mitral regurgitation can be treated with mitral valvuloplasty without support or using other surgical techniques, with excellent outcomes. We report here on one more option for its treatment especially in children and adolescents. This technique is easily performed and it permits growth of mitral valve during life.

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OBJECTIVE:To analyze the impact of the contraindications for heart transplantation in mortality and survival time after partial left ventriculectomy. METHOD: A prospective clinical study of a cohort of 43 patients submitted to partial left ventriculectomy, in whom there were contraindications for heart transplantation was performed. The following contraindications were analyzed: psychological, sociocultural, age of 65 years of age and older, elevated pulmonary arteriolar resistance and pulmonary arterial hypertension and the refusal or not for transplantation. These variables were tested for association with postoperative mortality and survival time after partial left ventriculectomy. Statistical analysis included the Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, non-parametric log-rank test, Cox regression model, 95% confidence intervals and p values (significant if less than 0.05). RESULTS: Higher postoperative mortality rates for partial left ventriculectomy were found when the following contraindications of heart transplantation were present preoperatively: poor sociocultural conditions (p = 0.037), psychological disturbances (p = 0.037) and in patients who accepted heart transplantation even when counseled against this procedure (p = 0.017). Survival time was significantly shortened in the presence of psychological disturbances (p = 0.0466), in patients older than 65 years (p = 0.0397) and in those who did not accept heart transplantation (p = 0.0306). Elevated pulmonary arteriolar resistance and pulmonary arterial hypertension were not associated with higher mortality rates or shortened survival time. CONCLUSION: Some of the contraindications for heart transplantation adversely affected the mortality and survival time after partial left ventriculectomy, thus revealing the ineffectiveness of this alternative procedure in this subset of patients.

INTRODUCTION: Glutaraldehyde-treated crimped bovine pericardial grafts are currently used in aortic graft surgery. These conduits have become good options for these operations, available in different sizes and shapes and at a low cost. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the results obtained with bovine pericardial grafts for aortic reconstruction, specially concerning late complications. METHOD: Between January 1995 and January 2002, 57 patients underwent different types of aortic reconstruction operations using bovine pericardial grafts. A total of 29 (50.8%) were operated on an urgent basis (mostly acute Stanford A dissection) and 28 electively. Thoracotomy was performed in three patients for descending aortic replacement (two patients) and aortoplasty with a patch in one. All remaining 54 underwent sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic resection. Deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest was used in acute dissections and arch operations. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 17.5%. Follow-up was 24.09 months (18.5 to 29.8 months confidence interval) and complication-free actuarial survival curve was 92.3% (standard deviation ± 10.6). Two patients lately developed thoracoabdominal aneurysms following previous DeBakey II dissection and one died from endocarditis. One "patch" aortoplasty patient developed local descending aortic pseudoaneurysm 42 months after surgery. All other patients are asymptomatic and currently clinically evaluated with echocardiography and CT scans, showing no complications. CONCLUSION: Use of bovine pericardial grafts in aortic reconstruction surgery is adequate and safe, with few complications related to the conduits.

BACKGROUND: The Vineberg procedure consists in inserting the internal thoracic artery in the ischemic left ventricle muscle. The main question is the ability of this artery to supply adequate flow for the isquemic miocardium. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate angiographic results of Vineberg procedure by the Vineberg technique modified by Lobo Filho, the morbidity and mortality in the imediate post operative period (POP) and analysis of the flow of the implanted left internal thoracic artery (LITA) at rest and under stress. METHOD: Between September 1999 and April 2002, in our service, eight patients were operated by the above describe technique, in which the implant of the internal thoracic artery in the intimacy of the left ventricle muscle is achieved using a kit used for the introduction of the endocardial leads of pacemakers through the subclavian vein. After six months, they went to angiographic and doppler evaluation. For the LITA study with the doppler we divided the sample into two groups: "Vineberg group", formed by the eigth patients mentioned above; and "control group" formed by 20 patients in whom the LITA recascularize directly the anterior interventricular artery. The angiographic study demonstrade patency of all the grafts in both groups. With the doppler, it was measured the output and flow velocity in the grafts. The analysis of data obtained was taken with T-test for paired and unpaired samples. RESULTS: There were no deaths or complications in imediate POP. The angiographic study showed 100% patency. The total output of Vineberg group was 55% of the ones in the Control group. In both groups, the total output increased with the stress. CONCLUSIONS: The Vineberg technique modified by Lobo Filho can be used with low rates of morbidity and mortality, high index of patency providing a significant blood flow at rest and under stress.

OBJECTIVE: With base in the studies cineangiocardiography of pacients with pulmonary atresia (PA) with ventricular septal defect (VSD), to identify in the groups proposed by BARBERO MARCIAL, subgroups with similar morphological characteristics, to measure their central pulmonary arteries (CPA) and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA), thereby establishing their implications in surgical treatment. METHOD: Sixty three patients were classified in groups A (15), B (40) and C (8) between january 1990 and june 2001. Patients with complete cineangiocardiograms prior to the first surgical intervention were included in this study, being calculated the pulmonary arterial index (PAI), the major aortopulmonary collateral arterial index (MAPCAI) and the total neopulmonary arterial index (TNPAI = PAI + MAPCAI). Surgical treatment was considered palliative (PT), definitively palliative (DPT) and definitive (DT). RESULTS: Nine subgroups were identified, A (A1 and A2), B (B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5) and C (C1 and C2). In group A, the PAI of patients for DT was higher than for PT patients (p=0,0092). In group B, the TNPAI of DT patients was greater than for PT patients (p=0,0959). In group C, the MAPCAI in DPT patients was lower than in PT and DT patients. In the group A was not mortality, in the group B was of 17,5% and in the group C was of 12,5%. CONCLUSIONS:Among the groups A, B e C was possible to identifiy nine subgroups, the morphologic and morphometric characteristics allowed to suggest the surgical treatment in the patients of the group A had larger chance of TD, the group B of TP and the group C of TPD. The mortality presented larger correlation with the morphologic characteristics that with the morphometric.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the late patency of the radial artery used as a conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting through a selective catheterization. METHOD:A group of 109 patients operated on for coronary artery bypass grafting used radial artery as grafts, from September 1995 to October 1996, were re-studied in the immediate post-operative period. Among these patients, 91 (83.5%) were contacted either by phone or through outpatient follow-ups, and 34 underwent a late angiographic study. Twenty-two patients were male (65%). The average age of the patients was 57.4 years old (37-70). The average time of the restudy was of 51.2 months (41-63). Thirty-eight distal anastomoses were performed using the radial artery, with an average of 1.12 distal anastomoses per patient. The analysis of these data is the basis for the present study. RESULTS: The radial artery was patent in 30 patients (34 distal anastomoses - 89.5%), and had a lesion in only one patient along with the proximal anastomosis in the aorta. Out of the four patients who presented total graft obstruction, two were male. We observed inadequate indications in two patients, and no justifiable occlusions in the others. From the 91 re-studied patients in the immediate post-operative period, there was late mortality in 6 patients (6.6%), one adenocarcinoma of the lung, and the others by cardiac causes. The only patient who presented a lesion at the radial artery underwent angioplasty with a stent implantation and had a satisfactory outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The radial artery, used as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting, shows satisfactory angiographic aspects and also a satisfactory patency, similar to those of the left internal thoracic artery, when evaluated in this time of follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: As fetal complete heart block with hydrops carries a poor prognosis, intrauterine pacing appears the most logical treatment. However, premature labor following hysterotomy remains a major obstacle to open procedures. Therefore, we developed a new lead for fetal pacing that avoids the need for intrauterine open surgical procedures. METHODS We successfully implanted a new T-bar-shaped lead into the myocardium of a fetus at 25 weeks gestation presenting with complete heart block (heart rate = 47 beats per minute), hydrops, and structural heart defects. The procedure was performed under ultrasound guidance, and the lead was introduced through the tip of a specially designed, 18G needle. The new lead was then connected to a Biotronik Actros pulse generator, which was implanted subcutaneously in the maternal abdominal wall. RESULTS: The stimulation resistance was 357 omega, and the sensed fetal R wave was 6.4 mV. The voltage strength-duration curve remained relatively constant at pulse widths > 0.6 msec. An echocardiogram on the first postoperative day revealed a mild pericardial effusion. The fetal heart rate was sTable , with low stimulation thresholds and no stimulation failures. No uterine contractions were observed during the postoperative period. However, the fetus died 36 hours after the procedure, probably due to cardiac tamponade. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of voltage strength-duration curves for the acute myocardial stimulation threshold of a human fetus that survived 36 hours after intrauterine pacemaker implantation. This case emphasizes that percutaneous fetal pacing with the new lead is feasible and may minimize the chances of premature labor.

OBJECTIVE: Early reports showed a high incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality after coronary endarterectomy, and its value is still controversial. With technical improvement the role of coronary endarterectomy has been reviewed. In this study we evaluate our results of coronary endarterectomy, and show our strategy for patients with diffuse coronary artery disease. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 278 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, between January 2000 and December 2001, separated in two groups. The endarterectomy group - 32 patients (11.5%) who underwent coronary endarterectomy and the control group of patients characteristics similar to the first group. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 9.9 months. Both groups only demonstrated a statistical difference in the number of previous myocardial infarctions. The coronary endarterectomy was performed on 38 vessels, 78.75% in the left coronary system, and 21.05% in the right system. In the postoperative follow-up no significant differences were detected, but in the coronary endarterectomy group the incidence of intra-aortic balloon pump insertion was higher. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that coronary endarterectomy should be used to achieve complete revascularization in patients with diffuse coronary disease, and the results are similar to conventional surgical treatment. A long-term follow up is necessary to demonstrate the future performance of these vessels and grafts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The current techniques of anesthesia employed in cardiac surgery leading to immediate extubation depend on adequate analgesia and titration of anesthetic drugs. We sought to determine the best possible moment of extubation, using the bispectral index of the electroencephalogram. METHOD: Twelve ASA III patients were analyzed. Seven (58.4%) were children (Group I), submitted to correction of congenital cardiac defects with ages ranging from 0 to 7 years. Five adults (Group II), with ages ranging from 30 to 75 years, underwent coronary artery bypass grafts. In Group I spinal anesthesia (L5-S1) using hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine (0.5mg/kg) and morphine (5µg/kg) was chosen. In Group II epidural anesthesia (T3-T4) with catheter placement plus ropivacaine (60mg) and morphine (2mg) were employed. For the induction of anesthesia fentanila (4µg/kg), muscle relaxant and propofol (to bring the bispectral index value down to 30) were utilized. General anesthesia was maintained with sevofluorane, maintaining the bispectral index value between 40 and 60. Extubation was programmed at a bispectral index value of 90. RESULTS: All patients were extubated up to one hour after the end of the surgical procedure, 91.6% of them in the operating room. All had the cognitive functions preserved without history of explicit memory or pain (adults and children who were able to speak), nor facial expression of pain (small children). Four (57%) patients in Group I and one (20%) in Group II had post-operative pruritus. Two patients (28%) in Group II had emesis. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the technique employed is safe and effective, as long as the criteria for its use are strictly observed.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our paper was clinical and echocardiographic characterisation of patients with cardiac tumours and the evaluation of the surgery and tumour recurrence. METHOD: The first part of research was a retrospective investigation to identify cardiac tumours identification and to collect data from patients' records of the Messejana Hospital and Walter Cantídio University Hospital, from 1981 to 2001. In this period, 19 cases of cardiac tumours were discovered. The patients were submitted to clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic re-evaluation from March to July 2002. RESULTS: Congestive symptoms and thoracic pain were the most frequent symptoms. The location in which most of the tumours were identified was left atrium. Among patients submitted to surgery, all of them had the tumour extracted from atrium. The most common histopathologic type was myxoma (78%). Surgical mortality was 14%. Tumour recurrence occurred in one patient. CONCLUSION: Cardiac tumours were more frequent in left atrium, benign tumours were more frequent than malignant tumours, and the most frequent histopathologic type was myxoma.

We describe the 70- month follow up of a child with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and end-stage congestive heart failure (NYHA III/IV) who underwent partial left ventriculectomy - the Batista operation when he was two and half years old. The clinical follow up was performed in the outpatient clinic by electrocardiography, echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography to better analyse the left ventricular ejection fraction. The left ventricular diameter increased. Echocardiograms showed enlargement mainly in the systolic left ventricular diameter and slow decrease in fractional shortening (delta D). The child was in class I (NYHA) during the follow-up. His exercise endurance was better than before surgery and hospitalization was not necessary. For these reasons, we believe that this procedure can be considered as a therapeutic option in children with severe dilated cardiomiopathy who are waiting for heart transplantation, as the shortage of donors is a fact.

OBJECTIVE:To report the surgical results obtained with the surgical correction of fistulae of coronary arteries in the pulmonary artery branch. METHOD: From 1995 to 1999, three female patients with diagnoses of isolated fistulae of coronary arteries confirmed by cinecoronariography underwent surgery. RESULTS: No other associated heart diseases were observed in the patients. The main symptom of all patients was angina pectoris. After closing the coronary fistulae the patients progressed with event-free post-operative periods and with total recovery from the angina. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment should be considered for all patients diagnosed as having isolated fistulae, due to the low morbid-mortality rate in addition to the technical simplicity of closing and performing the ligature of fistulae.

We report the case of a 44-year-old diabetic woman who was a smoker using synthetic progestagen, with previous history of suspected thrombotic cerebral ischemia. She was admitted with clinical evidence of acute myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram showed normal coronary arteries and distal occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery. An ascending aorta angiogram and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a free floating mass attached to the aortic wall. The pedunculated thrombotic mass was surgically removed. Histological examination of the resected structure confirmed the macroscopic findings and revealed a recent thrombus. The patient was prescribed oral anticoagulant and released from hospital.

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INTRODUCTION: The authors describe their experience with the implantation of endovascular self-expanding stent-grafts for the treatment of descending aortic thoracic diseases. METHOD: From June 1996 to April 2002, 14 endovascular self-expanding stent-grafts were implanted, 10 in acute type B dissections, 3 in atherosclerotic aneurysms and 1 in a penetrating aortic ulcer. The patient's ages varied between 43 and 77 years (mean = 63.3 years). In the majority of cases the procedure was performed under general anesthesia. The delivery of the stent-graft endoprostheses was performed using the trans-femoral system. RESULTS: There was one death on the sixth postoperative day by pulmonary thromboembolism. One patient was operated on for the implantation of an endovascular self-expanding stent-graft through the aortic arch under deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest, and died eight months after operation. All the survivors were well and imaging studies showed adequate correction of the aortic disease. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results suggest that this technique will contribute to improve surgical results in the treatment of descending thoracic aortic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to demonstrate the possibility of applying the alternative tactic of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery to left main coronary artery disease and to assess the long-term results over a 5-year follow-up period. METHODS: Among 210 subjects submitted to off-pump coronary artery bypass, 119 (56.7%) were male. Their ages ranged from 32 to 81 years with a mean age of 59.7. A left coronary artery branch lesion of at least 70% was demonstrated in 48 (22.8%) of the individuals and a right coronary lesion was associated in 10 (20.8%) of the cases. RESULTS: A breakdown of the number of grafts per patient was: 2 for 52.1%, 3 for 43.5% and 4 for 4.4% of the surgeries. All of the patients were extubated in the intensive care unit after a 6-hour stay. No left ventricular dysfunction was evidenced after a seven-day total hospitalization period. One death, due to cardiac problems, occurred after one month. Follow-up with clinical cardiac evaluation was total until 60 months with a survival rate at 5 years of 96.0% ± 3.9%. CONCLUSION: In left main coronary artery disease, which is feared by cardiac surgeons, we believe that the technique of off-pump coronary artery bypass could be very useful. If the patients are hemodynamically stable and undergo an elective operation, the operative period can be passed in a safe and tranquil manner.