What is necessary for improvement of arterial switch operation?

We report long-term results of the arterial switch operation (ASO) and postoperative complications related to operative procedure. Between 1998 and 2007, ASO were performed in 42 patients [transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with intact ventricular septum:21, TGA with ventricular septal defect (VSD):13, Taussig-Bing anomary (TBA):7, and double outlet right ventricle with noncommitted VSD:1]. Hospital death occurred in 1 patient (2.4% mortality rate) due to low cardiac output syndrome (LOS) caused by prolonged aortic clamp, who had TGA with VSD, coactation of aortic arch and right ventricular outflow obstruction. Four patients required re-operation (freedom from re-operation rate was 84.7%). Two had pulmonary stenosis and 1 needed right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction with transannular patch. His pulmonary valve used for previous VSD closure was diminished. The other required muscle resection of RVOT. Five patients presented grade II or more neo-aortic insufficiency and 2 of them were TBA. Both these TBA, rerouting of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) to the aorta was challenging, they showed LVOT obstruction postoperatively. One underwent aortic valve plasty and the other had residual VSD closure. None had coronary event or abnormality in coronary arteriography. Selection of surgical procedure should be based on morphologic features in order to improve surgical outcome.     

Does a balloon atrial septostomy performed before arterial switch surgery increase adverse neurological outcomes?

This best evidence topic in congenital cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether the use of balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) before the arterial switch surgery for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) improved the final outcome. Altogether more than 251 papers were found using the reported search, of which 12 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The search was further limited to recent articles since the results have improved compared with previous years, due to newer equipment and techniques. This narrowed the search to five papers that have focused on this issue since 2006 when a study of 29 term neonates identified BAS as major risk factor for focal brain injury and reinvigorated the debate of adverse neurological outcome especially in the context of the fact that total correction by the arterial switch procedure is routine in neonates now. Subsequently, a prospective study of 64 newborn infants followed by another study of 26 neonates with TGA, have shown no association between BAS and brain injury. Similarly, in a study of more than 2000 cases of dTGA, no association has been found between BAS and increased risk of clinical stroke either in the neonatal period or in follow-up hospitalizations. On the other hand, another nationwide data analysis of 8681 patients with TGA, has shown increased risk of stroke in patients undergoing BAS but it could only show association and not establish causation of the complication. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated.     

Eine Klumpfußoperation

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Lower extremity arterial evaluation: Are segmental arterial blood pressures worthwhile?

Purpose: Physiologic observations with blood flow waveform analysis and pressure measurements can document the severity of lower extremity arterial disease. Segmental blood pressures (SEGPs) taken at the thigh, calf, and ankle are commonly used, but their utility has seldom been studied. We quantified improvements in accuracy compared with arteriography when ankle pressures alone (ABI) or SEGP data were added to velocity waveforms obtained by Doppler ultrasound. Methods: Continuous-wave Doppler velocity waveforms were recorded at common femoral (CFA), popliteal (POP), and dorsal pedal and posterior tibial (TIB) arterial levels. Systolic SEGP data were obtained with appropriately sized upper thigh, upper calf, and ankle cuffs. Waveforms, waveforms plus ABI, and waveforms plus SEGP data from 81 patients were randomly interpreted by 14 technologists or physicians from four institutions blinded to clinical and arteriographic data. Arteriograms were assigned negative or significant, severe (≥75% diameter stenosis) values for four segments: iliofemoral (CFA), superficial femoral (SFA), popliteal (POP), and infrapopliteal (TIB) arteries. A total of 9072 segmental interpretations were analyzed. Results: Compared with arteriography, the accuracy of waveform analysis was 83% for severe disease at and proximal to the CFA, 79% for SFA disease, 64% for POP disease, and 73% for TIB disease. Adding ABI improved the accuracy significantly (p < 0.01) to 88% (CFA), 86% (SFA), 70% (POP), and 85% (TIB). Accuracy was inferior when SEGP data replaced ABI: 86% (CFA), 85% (SFA), 70% (POP), and 80% (TIB). Conclusions: ABIs significantly improved Doppler waveform accuracy at all levels. Compared with ABI, the addition of segmental pressure to waveform data failed to improve accuracy. Pressure measurements above the ankle may lack cost effectiveness and clinical utility. (J Vasc Surg 1998;27:831-9.)     

Familial adenomatous polyposis--which operation?

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) syndromes are well recognized entities that benefit from surgical treatment which should not be delayed. Screening of first degree relatives is important. The aim of removing the colorectal mucosa with significant potential of malignant transformation can be achieved by means of three distinct procedures: pan-proctocolectomy and ileostomy, subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal anastomosis. In a series of eight patients with FAP we performed mostly subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis. Of five patients who underwent a form of subtotal colonic resection, one was lost from follow up and two developed carcinoma in the remaining rectal mucosa, which necessitated completion of the resection with proctectomy and permanent ileostomy. Nevertheless, in the increasing number of patients amenable to regular outpatient supervision, there are strong points for recommending sphincter-saving operations.     

Digital arterial occlusion in scleroderma: is there a role for digital arterial reconstruction?

A 47-year-old patient with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to scleroderma developed long finger ischaemic pain. This was successfully treated with a palmar sympathectomy and a long finger digital artery reconstruction using a reversed small calibre vein graft between a perforator from the deep palmar arch and the radial digital artery at the level of the distal interphalangeal joint.     

Pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients--a safe operation?

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of age in mortality and morbidity after duodenopancreatectomy (DPC), setting the age of 70 as a cut-off. A retrospective study was made of two groups of patients (under 70 and over 70 years old) who underwent DPC in the Center of General Surgery and Hepatic Transplantation, Fundeni, Bucharest between 2001 and 2006 for malignant and benign tumors of the pancreatic head, distal biliary tract, duodenum, Vater's ampulla and chronic pancreatitis. 245 DPC were performed, 207 in patients under 70 years old (group A) and 38 in patients over 70 years old. Postoperative global morbidity rate was 58% in group B vs 49,9 % in group A. Postoperative mortality rate was 5,2% in group B and 4,8 % in group A. No significant differences were recorded in survival when comparing the two groups, both in pancreatic head cancer or distal biliary tract cancer. Under these circumstances, increased age is not determining an increase in postoperative mortality after DPC, but is associated with a higher risk of postoperative medical complications.     

Paraesophageal hernias: operation or observation?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that elective laparoscopic repair should be routinely performed on patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The management of asymptomatic paraesophageal hernias is a controversial issue. Most surgeons believe that all paraesophageal hernias should be corrected electively on diagnosis, irrespective of symptoms, to prevent the development of complications and avoid the risk of emergency surgery. METHODS: A Markov Monte Carlo decision analytic model was developed to track a hypothetical cohort of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernia and reflect the possible clinical outcomes associated with two treatment strategies: elective laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (ELHR) or watchful waiting (WW). The input variables for ELHR were estimated from a pooled analysis of 20 published studies, while those for WW and emergency surgery were derived from the 1997 HCUP-NIS database and surgical literature published from 1964 to 2000. Outcomes for the two strategies were expressed in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). RESULTS: Analysis of the HCUP-NIS database showed that published studies overestimate the mortality of emergency surgery (17% vs. 5.4%). The mortality rate of ELHR was 1.4%. The annual probability of developing acute symptoms requiring emergency surgery with the WW strategy was 1.1%. For patients 65 years of age, ELHR resulted in reduction of 0.13 QALYs (10.78 vs. 10.65) compared with WW. The model predicted that WW was the optimal treatment strategy in 83% of patients and ELHR in the remaining 17%. The model was sensitive only to alterations of the mortality rates of ELHR and emergency surgery. CONCLUSIONS: If ELHR is routinely recommended, it would be more beneficial than WW in fewer than one of five patients. WW is a reasonable alternative for the initial management of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias, and even if an emergency operation is required, the burden of the procedure is not as severe as was thought in the past.