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Osteomyelitis of the sternoclavicular joint is a rare yet challenging problem. It is commonly treated by resection and a muscle flap. We report a case that was treated with single-stage resection of both the sternoclavicular joint and part of the sternum followed by implantation of calcium sulfate beads impregnated with antibiotics and primary closure without a muscle flap. A single-stage debridement with resection for osteomyelitis of the sternoclavicular joint and primary closure with calcium sulfate beads impregnated with antibiotics may be an option when dealing with this difficult clinical problem.

Continuous retrograde warm blood cardioplegia was compared with two widely used hypothermic myocardial protection techniques in a canine model of acute regional myocardial ischemia with subsequent revascularization. Animals (n = 30) underwent 45 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion then cardioplegic arrest (60 minutes), followed by separation from cardiopulmonary bypass and data collection. The cold oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegia group (CC; n = 8) and the cold blood cardioplegia group (CC; n = 10) had cardiopulmonary bypass at 28 degrees C, antegrade arrest, and intermittent retrograde delivery. The warm blood cardioplegia group (WB; n = 12) had normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, antegrade arrest, and continuous retrograde delivery. Overall ventricular function (preload recruitable stroke work relationship; ergs x 10(3)/mL) was significantly (p0.001) better for WB (WB, 80 +/- 11; CB, 67 +/- 13; CC, 57 +/- 12). Systolic function (maximum elastance relationship; mm Hg/mL) was also significantly (p0.001) better for WB (WB, 11.6 +/- 3.6; CB, 8.6 +/- 2.7; CC, 6.2 +/- 1.3). Diastolic function (stress-strain relationship; dynes x 10(3)/cm2) revealed significantly (p0.001) decreased compliance for CC (WB, 20 +/- 6; CB, 19 +/- 7; CC, 27 +/- 11). Left anterior descending coronary artery regional adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate ratios were significantly (p = 0.02) worse for CC (WB, 10.2 +/- 2.3; CB, 9.4 +/- 2.6; CC, 5.6 +/- 1.5). Myocardial edema significantly (p = 0.03) increased over time only in the CC animals (WB, 0.4% +/- 2.3%; CB, -0.3% +/- 3.6%; CC, 5.5% +/- 2.3%). In this model of acute regional myocardial ischemia and revascularization, continuous retrograde warm aerobic blood cardioplegia provided superior myocardial protection compared with cold oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegia with intermediate results for cold blood cardioplegia.

Background . Standard cannulation of the femoral artery in preparation for repair of a dissection involving the ascending aorta carries a high risk of malperfusion. Arterial perfusion through the right axillary artery is more likely to perfuse the true lumen and should be advantageous in acute dissections involving the ascending aorta. Methods . Thirteen patients underwent repair of acute ascending aortic dissections and were perfused through the right axillary artery. All had deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Results . There was one mild intraoperative cerebrovascular accident with complete recovery and one operative death secondary to low cardiac output. There were no intraoperative problems with perfusion through the axillary artery, and there were no postoperative problems or complications involving the axillary artery, axillary vein, or brachial plexus. Conclusions . Arterial perfusion through the right axillary artery is a safe and effective means of more reliably perfusing the true lumen. In this regard, it may be superior to femoral artery perfusion and could lead to improved outcomes with repair of acute deBakey type I and II aortic dissections.

Background . Combined cardiac operation and carotid endarterectomy using our technique is an acceptable approach to simultaneous correction of both carotid and cardiac disease. Methods . From August 1989 to March 1998, 121 consecutive patients underwent combined operations. Of these patients, 112 had coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy, and 9 had coronary artery bypass grafting, carotid endarterectomy, and valve repair or replacement. All patients had a critical stenosis of 85% or more of the carotid artery. Mean age of the patients was 69.2 years; 80 patients were 65 years old or older. There were 88 men and 33 women. Notable risk factors included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19.8%), congestive heart failure (28%), preoperative myocardial infarction and unstable angina (66.9%). Of the patients, 20.7% had a stenosis of greater than 50% of the left main coronary artery. The technique used was correction of both the carotid and coronary lesions during a single aortic cross-clamp period using retrograde continuous blood cardioplegia for myocardial protection. Systemic hypothermia to 25°C was used for cerebral protection. Results . Mean cross-clamp time was 118 minutes. Seven patients (5.8%) sustained perioperative cerebrovascular accidents. Two patients had transient ischemic attacks. The procedure-related mortality rate was 5.8%. Conclusions . The described technique is a good method for simultaneous repair of coronary and carotid lesions in a high-risk group of patients with concomitant disease. We will continue to use it.

Aminooleic acid treatment has been demonstrated to prevent porcine valve calcification and to protect valvular hemodynamic function. Initial enthusiasm was tempered by histologic studies of these AOA valves, which showed cuspal hematomas, structural loosening, and surface roughening. This prompted a systematic review of the AOA treatment process. Unsolubilized particles of alpha aminooleic acid present in the treatment solution were identified as the cause of mechanical abrasion of valve cusps during processing. These particles were eliminated with a revamped protocol, which included filtration of the AOA solution before valve preparation.Porcine aortic valve cusps treated with this modified AOA protocol (AOA II) were studied in a rat subdermal implant model of mineralization. A juvenile sheep trial was then used to confirm the antimineralization effects of AOA II on glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine aortic roots in a circulatory model of accelerated calcification.Retrieved AOA II-treated cusps from the subdermal model were markedly less calcified than control cusps (AOA II, 1 +/- 0, 17 +/- 4, 23 +/- 6, and 17 +/- 10 versus control, 189 +/- 14, 251 +/- 16, 250 +/- 14, and 265 +/- 10 mg calcium/mg sample at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks, respectively; p0.0001). Morphologic examination of the AOA II cusps of the valves retrieved from the sheep demonstrated freedom from the structural loosening, surface roughening, and hematoma formation that had limited the utility of the original AOA preparation technique. Cusps from AOA II-treated porcine roots had significantly less calcium than control cusps (AOA II, 5.5 +/- 3.0 mg/g; control, 91.2 +/- 19.5 mg/g; p = 0.0004). The aortic walls had similar levels of calcification (AOA II, 156 +/- 73 mg/g; control, 159 +/- 10 mg/g; p = not significant).These data suggest that the modified AOA technique warrants further evaluation as an antimineralization treatment for glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine bioprostheses.