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A 74-year-old woman with severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) was admitted with New York Heart Association functional class III with signs of right-sided heart failure. She had a medical history of hepatitis B–related liver disease, permanent atrial fibrillation, and previous stenting

Objective: To verify the reliability of different markers of fluid-responsiveness during off-pump cardiac surgery (OPCAB). Design: A clinical prospective, nonblinded, nonrandomized study. Setting: A community hospital. Participants: Nineteen patients. Interventions: Pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), LiDCO (LiDCO, London, UK), and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) parameters were measured before (t0) and after (t1) a fluid challenge was performed 20 minutes after induction of anesthesia, but before sternotomy and without inotropic infusion. A Student t test and Spearman test were performed for statistical analysis. Measurements and Main Results: According to the variation of cardiac index after the fluid challenge (ΔCI%), 2 groups of patients were identified: the responders (Re, ΔCI% > 15%) and the nonresponders (nRe). Mean pulse pressure variation (PPV) and mean stroke volume variation (SVV) before the fluid challenge (t0) were significantly different between the 2 groups. No significant differences were shown in systolic pressure variation (SPV), left ventricular end-diastolic area, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and peak changes of aortic flow (ΔVAo). A statistically significant correlation was observed between ΔCI% and PPV ( R = 0.793), ΔCI% and SVV ( R = 0.809), and ΔCI% and SPV ( R = 0.766). No correlation with central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was found. Conclusions: Dynamic parameters of fluid responsiveness by LiDCO are highly sensitive for assessment of intravascular volume status during OPCAB surgery. In contrast, even if static parameters by TEE reflect changes in ventricular diastolic volume, they are poor indicators of fluid responsiveness. Surprisingly, no significant correlation between ΔVAo (TEE) and ΔCI% was found.

International audience; OBJECTIVE: To verify the rate of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications during the first 6 months after mitral valve repair and to assess whether the type of antithrombotic therapy influenced clinical outcome. METHODS: Retrospective data were retrieved from 19 centers. Inclusion criteria were isolated mitral valve repair with ring implantation. Exclusion criteria were ongoing or past atrial fibrillation and any combined intraoperative surgical procedures. The study cohort consisted of 1882 patients (aged 58 +/- 15 years; 36% women), and included 1517 treated with an oral anticoagulant (VKA group) and 365 with antiplatelet drugs (APLT group). Primary efficacy outcome was the incidence of arterial thromboembolic events within 6 months and primary safety outcome was the incidence of major bleeding within 6 months. Propensity matching was performed to obtain 2 comparable cohorts (858 vs 286). RESULTS: No differences were detected for arterial embolic complications in matched cohort (1.6% VKA vs 2.1% APLT; P = .50). Conversely, patients in the APLT group showed lower incidence of major bleeding complications (3.9% vs 0.7%; P = .01). Six-month mortality rate was significantly higher in the VKA group (2.7% vs 0.3%; P = .02). Multivariable analysis in the matched cohort found VKA as independent predictor of major bleeding complications and mortality at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin K antagonist therapy was not superior to antiplatelet therapy to prevent thromboembolic complications after mitral valve repair. Our data suggest that oral anticoagulation may carry a higher bleeding risk compared with antiplatelet therapy, although these results should be confirmed in an adequately powered randomized controlled trial

Background. The increasing use of off-pump bypass grafting (OPCABG), requires an evaluation of its effects on left ventricular (LV) performance. Methods. In 8 patients with multivessel coronary disease who were undergoing to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, LV performance was analyzed from the pressure-volume (P-V) plane by the conductance catheter technique. Measurements were performed at base line, after the exposure of the vessels, after the application of the stabilization system, and at the end of the procedure. Results. No significant changes in heart rate, LV end-systolic volume, LV end-diastolic pressure, mean pulmonary artery, and mean systemic blood pressure were observed in the various stages of the procedure. Cardiac index decreased during left anterior descending coronary artery grafting after application of the stabilizer with a concomitant decrease in LV end-diastolic volume, together with decreases in LV peak negative -dP/dt and increases in τ, indicating an impairment of LV relaxation but without a change in preload recruitable stroke work, indicating preserved LV contractile state. Exposure of posterior and lateral vessels induced a decrease in cardiac index and preload recruitable stroke work without a decrease in LV preload, indicating a decrease in LV contractile state together with a decrease in peak -dP/dt and increase in τ, indicating an impairment in LV relaxation. Conclusions. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed without decreasing LV performance. Major cardiac displacement like that used for posterior and lateral exposure induces acutely significant decrease in LV contractile state. © 2002 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Background . Mortality after deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) ranges between 5% and 47%. Variables predicting hospital mortality and prolonged hospital stay are still to be assessed. Methods . Among 13,420 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in our institution between 1979 and 1999, DSWI developed in 112 cases (0.8%). Multiple variables were recorded prospectively and analyzed retrospectively as predictors of hospital death and prolonged (>30 days) hospital stay. The analyzed variables were divided into three groups: (1) related to the patient, including demographic variables and preoperative conditions; (2) related to cardiac operation; and (3) related to infection. Predictive variables were assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results . Hospital mortality was 16.9%. The hospital stay of the 93 discharged patients ranged between 16 and 180 days (mean 31.3 ± 15.2). Length of cardiac operation, length of stay in intensive care unit, interval between symptoms of DSWI and wound debridement were found to be the most significant predictors of bad outcome following DSWI. Conclusions . In our study demographic variables and preoperative conditions did not affect the prognosis of DSWI. Lower mortality rate and shorter hospital stay could be achieved with earlier and aggressive treatment of DSWI.

Heart valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis is associated with mild intravascular hemolysis. In this study we evaluated the incidence of hemolysis in patients with different combinations of two mechanical valves. Between 1974 and 1996, 680 patients underwent mitral and aortic valve replacement with mechanical prostheses; we selected 90 patients, divided into six groups according to the prosthetic model (Group A, ball and tilting disc; Group B, ball and bileaflet; Group C, tilting disc and tilting disc; Group D, tilting disc and bileaflet; Group E, bileaflet and tilting disc; Group F, bileaflet and bileaflet; respectively, in mitral and aortic position). Blood tests were performed to check blood hemoglobin, serum lactic dehydrogenase, percent-correlated reticulocyte fraction, serum haptoglobin, and schistocytes. Chi square test was performed for categorical data. ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were performed in order to evaluate significant statistical differences between media and variance of the hematological data. A mild degree of intravascular hemolysis was observed in 30% of patients with double mechanical prostheses. LDH values were above the normal values in all groups, although a significant difference was found only between Group B versus Groups C and D. Reticulocytes and schistocytes and serum haptoglobin values were within the normal range and no differences were found between the groups. Low levels of blood hemoglobin were found in Groups D and F. The difference was statistically significant when compared with Groups A and E. In conclusion, hemolysis is frequent but never severe in patients with mitral and aortic mechanical prostheses. A higher incidence of subclinical hemolysis was found in patients with bileaflet valves regardless of the position of the implant.

Objective: Although many studies in medical literature are comparing percutaneous trans-septal mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) and open mitral commissurotomy (OMC), very few long-term comparative follow-ups are available. Methods: Between January 1991 and December 1997, 193 patients with isolated mitral stenosis were assigned either to PTMC (111 cases) or to OMC (82 cases). PTMC was performed in all cases with Inoue Ballon, OMC was performed with standard techniques. Categorial values were compared by chi square analysis, whereas continuous data were compared by Mann‐Whitney test. Univariate survival and event free analysis (Kaplan‐Meier ^ SE and log rank) were performed. Recurrent stenosis was classified any mitral valve area (MVA) less than 1.2 cm 2 and whenever post-op. echo showed a loss more than 50% of the initial gain. Data were reported as mean ^ SD. Data concerning late echocardiographic assessment were studied with linear and logistic regression analysis. Results: The two groups were homogenous as far preoperative variables as sex, mean age, MVA, echo score and incidence of left atrial thrombosis were concerned. Mean NYHA was preoperatively higher in OMC (2.79 ^ 0.58) versus PTMC (2.42 ^ 0.5) (Pa 0:001). There was no hospital mortality in both groups. Incidence of hospital complications was similar (4/ 111 after PTMC and 1/82 after OMC; Pa 0:3). Seven year survival: 95.41 ^ 0.02 (PTMC) and 98.05 ^ 0.01 (OMC) (Pa 0:3) and freedom from late complications did not show statistical differences: Embolism 98.78 ^ 0.01 in PTMC and 98.78 ^ 0.01 in OMC (Pa 0:8); Recurrent stenosis 71.89 ^ 0.13 in PTMC versus 82.89 ^ 0.08 in OMC (Pa 0:2); Reoperation 88.43 ^ 0.08 in PTMC versus 96.25 ^ 0.02 in OMC (Pa 0:4). A larger MVA was found in patients undergone to OMC (2.05 ^ 0.35) versus PTMC (1.81 ^ 0.33) (Pa 0:001). Furthermore mean NYHA was lower in OMC (1.14 ^ 0.3) versus PTMC (1.39 ^ 0.7) (Pa 0:001). Conclusions: Both techniques achieve with a low operative risk and low incidence of complications a good palliation of rheumatic mitral stenosis. Incidence of complications in the follow-up is similar. OMC allows a larger mitral valve area, a better functional recovery and a lower incidence of late mitral regurgitation. q 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

We report a rare subtype of quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) associated with moderate aortic regurgitation in a 17-year old woman symptomatic for palpitations. The patient was admitted to our department for cardiac evaluation due to a previous diagnosis of bicuspid aortic valve; she underwent a new two-dimensional echocardiography revealing a rare type of quadricuspid aortic valve with a moderate regurgitation. For further investigating potentially associated abnormalities, patient was referred to Cardiac MRI; MRI showed no other abnormalities and confirmed echocardiographic findings. Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare form of congenital valvular anomaly often occasionally diagnosed. In most cases this malformation causes a valve dysfunction, commonly aortic regurgitation, and can be associated with other cardiac abnormalities such as ventricular or atrial septal defect, anomalies of coronary arteries, patent ductus arteriosus, subaortic fibromuscolar stenosis and mitral valve malformation. We report a rare subtype of quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) associated with moderate aortic regurgitation in a 17-year old woman symptomatic for palpitations. The patient was admitted to our department for cardiac evaluation due to a previous diagnosis of bicuspid aortic valve; she underwent a new two-dimensional echocardiography revealing a rare type of quadricuspid aortic valve with a moderate regurgitation. For further investigating potentially associated abnormalities, patient was referred to Cardiac MRI; MRI showed no other abnormalities and confirmed echocardiographic findings. Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare form of congenital valvular anomaly often occasionally diagnosed. In most cases this malformation causes a valve dysfunction, commonly aortic regurgitation, and can be associated with other cardiac abnormalities such as ventricular or atrial septal defect, anomalies of coronary arteries, patent ductus arteriosus, subaortic fibromuscolar stenosis and mitral valve malformation.

Objective: The assessment of the role of transesophageal echocardiography and invasive tests with pulmonary modified catheter to monitor the preload indexes in patients in intensive- care-unit after cardiac coronary surgery. Materials and Methods: Between January and December 2004 24 patients (14 male, 10 female) with coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled for preload assessment during off-pump myocardial revascularization. Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP), Left Ventricular End Diastolic Indexed Area (LVEDAI), Δ Aortic Velocity (ΔVAo), Right Ventricular End Diastolic Volume (RVEDVI) as preload indexes were evaluated. Transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary modified catheter monitoring were performed during the preoperative period at T1 and after fluid infusion (T2). Patients were considered Responders (R) or No Responders (NR) if the Stroke Volume Index increase at T2 was >20% with respect to T1. Results: Mean T1 PCWP was similar in both groups (12.8±2.2 in R vs. 11.4±3 mmHg in NR; p=NS) and mean increase of PCWP at T2 was similar in both groups (1.5±0.3% in R vs. 1.2±3% in NR; p=NS). Mean T1 RVEDVI was similar in both groups (97.33±34 in R vs. 101±21 ml/m2 in NR; p=NS); T2 RVEDVI was similar in R and NR Groups (122.11±49 vs. 138.54±30 ml/m2; p=NS); mean T1 and T2 LVEDAI was similar in R and NR (11.2±3.5 vs. 10.2±2.3 at T1 and 14.04±3.35 vs. 14.67±2.1 cm2/m2 at T2 respectively; p=NS). Higher mean value of T1 ΔVAo (20±7% in R vs. 10±2% in NR; p=0.006) were recorded while similar mean value of T2 ΔVAo were observed (11±3% in R vs. 5±2% in NR; p=0.743). Correlation index between T1 and T2 ΔVAo (R=0.82) in R was significant (p=0.0002), while correlation index between T1 and T2 ΔVAo (R=0.11) in NR was not significant. Conclusions: Our study showed in patients soon after coronary cardiac surgery ΔVAo is the only predictor of “fluid responsiveness” and of ventricular compliance.

The development of minimally invasive cardiac surgery has shown good clinical results with shorter recovery time and better cosmetic results. The introduction of the robotic systems can further reduce the surgical trauma and improve the surgical dexterity. We report seven cases of complete closed chest atrial septal defect closure using the "da Vinci" Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA).Following peripheral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), aortic occlusion and cardioplegia delivery, five patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) and two patients with patent forame ovale (PFO) with atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) were successfully treated using the robotic system. Two robotic arms and an endoscopic camera were inserted through ports in the right hemithorax and an accessory port was placed for blood suction and ancillary instruments insertion. The defect closure was carried out with interrupted stitches in one patient and with a continuous suture in the others.Mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cross clamp time were 101.8 +/- 39.6 and 63.4 +/- 21.9 minutes respectively. Extubation was carried out within the seventh postoperative hour. All patients returned to normal lifestyle in one week.Complete closed chest ASD closure can be carried out using robotic technique with rapid postoperative recovery and excellent cosmetic result.

Objective: We reviewed our experience with aortic valve replacement using 19-mm St Jude Medical prostheses (St Jude Medical, Inc, St Paul, Minn) in 119 patients, among which 68 (group A) had a Standard model and 51 (group B) had a Hemodynamic Plus model. Methods: Comparison between the 2 models included analysis of early and late mortality and all valve-related complications. Postoperative echocardiography was performed to evaluate the hemodynamic performance of both prosthetic models. Laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the amount of red blood cell damage caused by the transprosthetic turbulent flow. Results: Average body surface area was 1.66 ± 0.14 m 2 in group A and 1.65 ± 0.16 m 2 in group B ( P =.72). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of preoperative variables (sex, cardiac rhythm, body surface area, preoperative gradients, and New York Heart Association class). Five-year follow-up was 100% complete. Although group A patients had significantly higher postoperative peak and mean gradients ( P =.0001) and a lower effective orifice area ( P =.0001), no statistical differences were found in terms of late (5-year) survival ( P =.6) and postoperative complications ( P =.09). Moreover, postoperative left ventricular mass was found to be similar in the 2 groups ( P =.18). Hematologic evaluation did not show any significant difference between the 2 groups as to incidence of hemolysis. Conclusions: Aortic valve replacement with 19-mm aortic prostheses in patients with a body surface area of less than 1.7 m 2 allows good results. Although Hemodynamic Plus models have better hemodynamic results, no significant difference was found in terms of clinical results and clinical hemolysis. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;121:723-8)

Background . Totally endoscopic procedures have been introduced into cardiac surgery with the application of telemanipulating robotic systems. We report 6 cases of closed-chest atrial septal defect (ASD) closure using a robotic device. Methods . After deflating the right lung, the endoscopic camera and two robotic arms were inserted into the right hemithorax through 8-mm ports. An accessory port was placed for blood suction and for introduction of ancillary endoscopic instruments. After femoral-femoral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), aortic occlusion, and cardioplegia delivery, the intracardiac correction was carried out in 5 patients with an ostium secundum ASD and in 1 patient with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA). The ASDs were closed with a continuous braided polyester suture. The PFO closure with septal aneurysm plication was carried out with interrupted stiches. Results . Mean CPB and cross-clamp times were 106 ± 22 and 67 ± 13 minutes, respectively. Extubation was carried out within the seventh postoperative hour. All patients returned to normal function within the first postoperative week. Conclusions . Totally endoscopic ASD closure can be carried out safely using robotic techniques with rapid postoperative recovery and an excellent cosmetic result.

The authors report their 18-year experience in the surgical treatment of infective tricuspid endocarditis. Between January 1981 and January 1999, 238 cases of infective endocarditis were seen. with a tricuspid involvement in 21 cases (8.8%). Tricuspid valve repair was performed in 9 patients with infective lesions involving one single leaflet. The surgical principle of the repair was to avoid any prosthetic material implantation. Posterior leaflet vegetectomy was performed in another 2 patients with infected intracavitary leads. Tricuspid valve replacement was performed in 10 patients with involvement of the whole valvular apparatus. One patient died of septic shock 3 days postoperatively. All the other patients had a good postoperative recovery. Follow-up ranged between 12 and 155 months (mean 68.9 +/- 55 months). Five cases of late mortality were observed: 3 for cardiac reasons and 2 of cancer. All the other patients are alive. Late postoperative echocardiography in the patients with tricuspid repair showed tricuspid regurgitation to be absent in 6 patients, mild in 2, moderate in 1, and severe in 1. No recurrent infections were observed either in patients with valve repair or in those with valve replacement. Good early and long-term results can be achieved in the surgical treatment of tricuspid endocarditis as long as complete excision of the infected tissue is performed and risk factors are controlled.

Objective: Despite the achievements of third generation mechanical cardiac valve prostheses, conservative procedures are still considered the best surgical option for rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. To compare long-term results of open mitral commissurotomy (Group A) and mitral valve replacement with bileaflet prostheses (Group B) a 15-year follow-up study was carried out. Methods: From January 1981 to May 1996, 540 consecutive patients with pure isolated rheumatic mitral stenosis underwent mitral valve surgery: 300 had mitral commissurotomy and 240 valve replacement. The follow-up was 99.05% complete and ranged between 1 and 185 months in Group A and from 1 to 171 months in Group B. Results: Hospital mortality was 2% in Group A and 2.08% in Group B. Late mortality was 1% in Group A and 3% in Group B. The 10-year survival rates were 98.7% ± 1% in Group A and 93.7% ± 3% in Group B. There was a statistically significant difference of freedom from reoperation in Group B (97.7% ± 1%) versus Group A (88.1% ± 2%) (P = 0.04). In group A 14 embolic events occurred (93.7% ± 2%) and 15 (6.52%) in Group B (83.9% ± 7%). Haemorrhagic events were observed in 2 patients (0.68%) of Group A (99.3% ± 0.5%) and in 3 patients (1.3%) of Group B (98.4% ± 1%). Conclusions: Long term results of mitral commissurotomy were more satisfactory than those obtained with bileaflet valves. Reoperation rate was higher in mitral commissurotomy.