Results after partial left ventriculectomy in a European heart failure population

BACKGROUND: Forty-nine consecutive patients undergoing partial left ventriculectomy (Batista) surgery between January 1995 and June 1998 were studied. METHODS: Patient ages ranged from 12 to 85 years, and all patients were in New York Heart Association functional Class III or IV. Thirty-three patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy, and 16 had idiopathic myopathy. Inclusion criteria were left ventricular end diastolic volume index of > 150 mL/m2, left ventricular ejection fraction of < 20%, or left ventricular end-diastolic diameter of > 70 mm. Sixteen patients were transplant candidates. Partial left ventriculectomy and mitral valve repair by means of a Cosgrove annuloplasty ring plus the Alfieri repair constituted only part of the complex cardiac reconstruction in 38 patients. RESULTS: Five patients died early and five patients died late between 3 and 30 months postoperatively. The actuarial 1-year survival rate was 81%. Twenty-seven patients with coronary artery disease underwent one to five bypass grafts when appropriate. In addition, three patients received aortic valve replacement, four received tricuspid valve repair, two received mitral valve replacement, and two underwent dynamic cardiomyoplasty. Left ventricular (LV) diameter could be reduced from a preoperative mean of 71 to 56 mm postoperatively. LV ejection fraction increased to 36% postoperatively. Ninety percent of patients are in New York Heart Association functional Class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with end-stage idiopathic or ischemic cardiomyopathies can be improved considerably with partial left ventriculectomy. Any cardiac comorbidity should be repaired simultaneously.     

Serial assessment of ventricular performance after valve replacement for aortic stenosis

The purpose of this investigation was to examine changes in cardiac function after aortic valve replacement in patients with chronic aortic stenosis. Eleven consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis were studied by radionuclide angiocardiography before; after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 18 to 24 hours; and late after operation. Measurements of cardiac output, mean systemic blood pressure, heart rate, and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar before and immediately after operation. Significant early changes were observed in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (27 to 13 mm Hg; p less than 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (214 to 166 ml; p less than 0.01), pulmonary blood volume (700 to 462 ml/m2; p less than 0.01), and right ventricular ejection fraction (0.54 to 0.68; p less than 0.001). A radionuclide angiocardiogram acquired a mean of 3.5 months after operation revealed increased resting left ventricular ejection fraction (0.49 to 0.58; p = 0.05), decreased end-systolic volume (91 to 59 ml; p less than 0.05), and decreased end-diastolic volume (166 to 135 ml; p less than 0.02) compared with measurements before operation. Improved exercise tolerance occurred in nine patients. The significant change in function during the early period after valve replacement was a maintenance of baseline cardiac output at a reduced level of left ventricular filling. Several months after operation, left ventricular volumes decreased further, resting ventricular performance was improved, and improved maximal exercise function was demonstrated. These changes probably reflected morphologic normalization after aortic valve replacement.     

Ischemic cardiomyopathy treated with overlapping ventriculoplasty

A 58-year-old man was admitted due to congestive heart failure. Left ventriculography showed end-diastolic volume index (EDVI) of 172 ml/m2 and ejection fraction (EF) of 16%. Coronary angiography showed severe double vessel disease (the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery). Echocardiography showed dilated heart [left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) of 74 mm] and severe mitral regurgitation due to tethering of the leaflets. The patient underwent our original left ventricular volume reduction operation, termed overlapping ventriculoplasty (OLVP) combined with mitral annuloplasty, papillary muscles plication (PMP) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The postoperative course was excellent. Postoperatively, the EDVI decreased to 96 ml/m2, the LVDd diminished to 67 mm, and the EF improved to 34%. This case implies the role of left ventricular remodeling procedure of OLVP and PMP in the ischemic cardiomyopathy with ischemic mitral regurgitation.     

小左心室患者瓣膜置换术后早期心脏形态及功能的变化

目的 研究小左心室患者心脏瓣膜术后早期形态学及左心室收缩功能变化.方法 2003年1月至2008年8月,51例合并小左心室的风湿性瓣膜病患者接受二尖瓣置换术.男性7例,女性44例,年龄31～69岁,平均(48±5)岁.病程5～49年,平均(18±9)年.患者病变以重度二尖瓣狭窄为主.同期行主动脉瓣置换术6例,冠状动脉旁路移植术1例,三尖瓣成形术48例,左心房血栓清除术36例,左心房折叠术42例.结果 围手术期死亡2例(3.9%),1例因不能脱离辅助循环死亡,1例于术后10 d死于继发的多脏器功能衰竭.术后早期发生重度低心排血量14例(27.5%),多器官功能不全11例,频发室性心律失常5例.术前及术后早期(7～14 d)行超声心动图.左心室舒张末期内径术前(36.5±3.2)mm,术后(38.6±5.3)mm;左心室舒张末期容积指数术前(45.9±3.8)ml/m2,术后(48.2±7.4)ml/m2;差异无统计学意义.手术前后射血分数为48.6%±6.7%和52.8%±8.3%,缩短分数为25.5%±3.3%和27.1%±1.3%,差异无统计学意义.结论 小左心室患者瓣膜术后早期易发生低心排血量.左心室舒张末期内径术后早期一般不会立即恢复.     

Echocardiographic findings using tissue velocity imaging following passive containment surgery with the Acorn CorCap cardiac support device.

OBJECTIVE: To echocardiographically evaluate the effects of passive containment surgery using the CorCap Cardiac Support Device in heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Twelve patients with dilated cardiomyopathy subjected to cardiac surgery received the Cardiac Support Device. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=5) underwent coronary artery bypass surgery receiving 1-3 bypass grafts. In the idiopathic cardiomyopathy group (n=7), mitral valve annuloplasty was performed in five patients while two patients received the Cardiac Support Device only. RESULTS: Following surgery there was a gradual, sustained improvement in cardiac dimensions (decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic diameter) combined with an increase in functional status (6-min walk and NYHA class). Concomitantly there was a marked decrease in right ventricular function (decrease in tricuspid annular systolic and diastolic velocities) while the left ventricular function (mitral annular systolic and diastolic velocities) and output (ejection fraction, stroke volume) remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of the Cardiac Support Device to conventional cardiac surgery improves patient status and decreases left ventricular size in heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The positive effect on left ventricular dimensions is not accompanied by any improvement in cardiac output but rather right ventricular dysfunction, although the functional significance of this is unclear.     

Reversal of Advanced Left Ventricular Dysfunction Following Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis

A series of 12 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis complicated by severe left ventricular dysfunction was reviewed. Ventricular dysfunction was reflected by pulmonary congestion, edema, renal and hepatic dysfunction, and by severely depressed ejection fractions (mean, 13%; range=0-20%). Aortic valve replacement was accompanied by mitral commissurotomy in 1 patient and aortocoronary bypass in 5. Three of 5 patients with greater than 50% coronary obstruction died without reversal of heart failure, and 1 of the 5 died after a stroke. The 1 survivor of this group has done well.All 7 patients with minimal or no coronary disease survived operation and are now in New York Heart Association Class I or II. Postoperative catheterization (2 to 12 months) in 6 patients showed improved cardiac index and filling pressures. Left ventricular diastolic volume fell from 159 to 82 ml/m², and ejection fraction rose from 13 to 45%. We conclude that left ventricular dysfunction owing to aortic stenosis alone is reversible and that AVR results in great clinical improvement. When coronary disease is present, survival may be accompanied by great improvement but the operative mortality is much higher.     

Prognostic factors in valvotomy for critical aortic stenosis in infancy

Aortic valvotomy for critical aortic stenosis in infancy has had a high mortality. To determine the factors that influence survival, we reviewed the cases of 24 infants who underwent aortic valvotomy in the first 6 months of life (mean 4 1/2 weeks) for aortic stenosis from 1978 to 1984. Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in all patients. Operative mortality was 21% (5/24), four of the five deaths occurring from low cardiac output. Analysis of preoperative factors affecting survival versus nonsurvival revealed that low ejection fraction (60% +/- 17% in survivors versus 36% +/- 2% in nonsurvivors), high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (16 +/- 7 mm Hg in survivors versus 30 +/- 14 mm Hg in nonsurvivors), and presence of endocardial fibroelastosis (25% in survivors versus 100% in nonsurvivors) all were predictive of a poor outcome, although the small sample size indicated caution in interpreting results. Factors that did not appear to influence survival included peak systolic gradient (79 +/- 30 mm Hg in survivors versus 60 +/- 15 mm Hg in nonsurvivors) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (37 +/- 17 cm3/m2 in survivors versus 36 +/- 7 cm3/m2 in nonsurvivors). Four patients with a left ventricular end-diastolic volume below 26 cm3/m2 survived. Postoperative gradients averaged 25 +/- 21 mm Hg at 3.4 +/- 2 years' follow-up in nine recatheterized patients. Ejection fraction of these patients increased from 45% +/- 10% to 70% +/- 11% and left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased from 37 +/- 17 to 58 +/- 5 cm3/m2. Two of 17 patients have required apical-aortic conduits; all other patients are asymptomatic. We conclude that infants with critical aortic stenosis benefit from valvotomy even with impaired left ventricular function and severely reduced left ventricular dimensions and many have nearly normal hemodynamics on late follow-up.     

Poor correlation between pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The authors studied 12 surgical patients in the intensive care unit post coronary artery bypass graft surgery and ten nonsurgical patients in the coronary care unit with chronic heart failure to determine the usefulness of the pulmonary arterial wedge pressure as an indicator of left ventricular preload. Left ventricular end diastolic volume was derived from concomitant determination of ejection fraction (gated blood pool scintigraphy) and stroke volume (determined from thermodilution cardiac output). In the nonsurgical patients, there was a significant correlation between changes in pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (P less than 0.05, r = 0.57). In the 12 patients studied during the first few hours after surgery, there was a poor correlation between changes in pulmonary wedge pressure (range = 4-32 mmHg) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (range = 25-119 ml/m2), and a poor correlation between pulmonary arterial wedge pressures and stroke work index. In contrast, there was a good correlation between left ventricular end-diastolic volume and stroke work index. The poor correlation between the pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume was not explained by changes in systemic or pulmonary vascular resistance. The altered ventricular pressure-volume relationship may reflect acute changes in ventricular compliance in the first few hours following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. While measurement of pulmonary arterial wedge pressure remains valuable in clinical management to avoid pulmonary edema, it cannot reliably be used as an index of left ventricular preload while attempting to optimize stroke volume in patients immediately following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.     

A comparison of nitroglycerin and nitroprusside: I. Treatment of postoperative hypertension

Nitroglycerin improves perfusion to ischemic myocardial regions and therefore has theoretical advantages over sodium nitroprusside to treat hypertension (mean arterial pressure [MAP] greater than 95 mm Hg) following coronary bypass operation. Thirty-three hypertensive patients were randomized to an initial infusion of either nitroglycerin or nitroprusside in a crossover trial designed to reduce MAP to 85 mm Hg. Thermodilution cardiac output measurements permitted calculation of left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI), and nuclear ventriculograms permitted estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), and left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI). Coronary sinus blood flow was measured by the continuous thermodilution technique, and arterial and coronary sinus lactate measurements permitted calculation of myocardial lactate flux (MVL). Both nitroglycerin and nitroprusside reduced MAP (-25 +/- 12 mm Hg and -20 +/- 10 mm Hg, respectively; not significant [NS]). Nitroglycerin reduced LVSWI more than did nitroprusside (-15 +/- 13 gm-m/m2 and -7 +/- 9 gm-m/m2, respectively; p less than 0.01). Both agents increased left ventricular ejection fraction (nitroglycerin, +8 +/- 8%, and nitroprusside, +10 +/- 7%; NS), and decreased LVEDVI (-20 +/- 22 ml/m2 and -11 +/- 17 ml/m2, respectively; NS) and LVESVI (-13 +/- 14 ml/m2 and -10 +/- 12 ml/m2, respectively; NS). Coronary sinus blood flow decreased with both drugs (NS), but MVL increased with nitroglycerin (+0.02 +/- 0.14 mmol/min) and decreased with nitroprusside (-0.02 +/- 0.02 mmol/min) (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Long-term function of human cardiac allografts assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated increasing left ventricular mass in cyclosporine-treated cardiac allograft recipients over 30 days after transplantation, but the long-term evolution of this process and possible effects on allograft function are unknown. Accordingly, quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography was performed 2 and 23 days and 15 months postoperatively in 14 recipients treated with cyclosporine and prednisone. Changes in left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, mass, and end-systolic wall stress were analyzed. Comparison of studies at 2 and 23 days revealed significant (p less than 0.01) increases in ejection fraction (54% +/- 8% [standard deviation] to 62% +/- 4%), end-diastolic volume (84% +/- 32 ml to 96 +/- 31 ml), and left ventricular mass (118 +/- 45 gm to 136 +/- 41 gm). Comparison of studies at 23 days and 15 months revealed no significant change in end-diastolic volume or left ventricular mass, whereas ejection fraction decreased slightly (62% +/- 4% to 57% +/- 4%, p less than 0.01). End-systolic wall stress decreased when data at 2 days and 15 months were compared (83 +/- 24 gm/cm2 versus 66 +/- 18 gm/cm2, p less than 0.05), but no change in contractility was apparent from the ejection fraction/end-systolic stress relation. We conclude that left ventricular mass and end-diastolic volume increase early after transplantation in cyclosporine-treated cardiac allograft recipients, but these changes are not predictive of long-term results, which are characterized by no significant late variation in left ventricular mass, end-diastolic volume, or contractility.     

Efficacy of left ventricular restoration with mitral valve surgery for endstage ischemic cardiomyopathy

Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) are at an extremely high risk of death and ischemic events. This study aims to evaluate the impact of left ventricular restoration (LVR) and mitral valve surgery on the cardiac and clinical functional status of the patients with ICM. Twenty-six patients (46-80 years, mean: 64 years) with severely dilated heart (left ventricular end-systolic volume index: LVESVI > or = 100 ml/m2) who had coronary artery bypass grafting (2.8+/-1.3), mitral valve surgery, and LVR were enrolled in this study. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and LVESVI significantly decreased (from 169+/-44 to 130+/-41 ml/m2, P=0.0005, from 120+/-33 to 89+/-43 ml/m2, P=0.0012). Left ventricular ejection fraction showed no change. MR showed significant improvement (from 2.7+/-0.6 to 1.0+/-0.4, P<0.0001) and NYHA functional class showed improvement (from 3.2+/-0.8 to 1.5+/-0.9, P<0.0001). A 5-year survival rate was 71.2%. In conclusion, this aggressive approach with LVR aiming to treat end-stage ICM by relief of ischemia, reduction of LV wall tension by decreasing LV volume and stopping mitral leak, is effective for LV volume reduction and improvement of clinical functional status.     

Heart rate-right ventricular stroke volume relation with myocardial revascularization

Whether increasing pacing frequency in cardiac surgical patients effectively improves right ventricular cardiac index depends on the interrelationships between heart rate, stroke volume index, and end-diastolic volume index. If an inverse relation exists between heart rate and right ventricular volume then the decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction described after bypass may be due, in part, to changes in heart rate. We evaluated the effects of pacing at 80, 95, and 110 beats/min using a thermodilution volumetric catheter in 16 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. End-diastolic volume index, stroke volume index, and stroke work index were significantly greater after bypass than before bypass, whereas right ventricular ejection fraction remained constant. Before and after bypass, sequentially increasing pacing frequency from 80 to 110 beats/min decreased stroke volume index by 28% to 35% (p less than 0.001), end-diastolic volume index by 12% to 14% (p less than 0.001), and right ventricular ejection fraction by 18% to 24% (p less than 0.001). Right ventricular performance, assessed by comparing the stroke volume index to end-diastolic volume index and stroke work index to end-diastolic volume index relations generated during pacing, was not altered by bypass. We conclude that sequentially increasing heart rate from 80 to 110 beats/min fails to improve stroke volume index and consequently cardiac index before or after cardiac operations. Intraoperatively, in patients with normal left ventricular function, increasing pacing frequency decreases right ventricular ejection fraction due to simultaneous reductions in stroke volume index and end-diastolic volume index.     

Jatene Correction of the Ventricular Geometry in Postinfarction Left Ventricular Aneurysm: Results of 62 Operations

Jatene correction of left ventricular aneurysm was performed on 62 patients (including 11 emergency operations) with mean age 60 years, 80% of them in NYHA class 3–4, with mean left ventricular ejection fraction c. 30% and mean left ventricular end-diastolic pressure c. 24 mm. Concomitant bypass grafting was performed in 58 cases (mean grafts per patient 3.7). Perioperative mortality was 12.9%. One patient had peroperative myocardial infarction. Postoperatively 13 patients had low cardiac output, requiring intra-aortic balloon pump in seven cases. There were no bleeding problems and 28 patients (45%) had no postoperative complications. The average hospital stay was 10.2 days. Left ventricular cavity size (echocardiography) showed significant reduction 1 week postoperatively, which was unchanged after 1 month. The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased 1 month postoperatively. After follow-up averaging 15 months there was significant improvement in mean NYHA class. One patient underwent heart transplantation and died, but there were no other late deaths or cardiac-related complications. Jatene correction of left ventricular aneurysm is simple, carries acceptable mortality and low morbidity and significantly improves left ventricular function.     

Biventricular pacing with coronary bypass and Dor's ventriculoplasty

We applied biventricular pacing to a patient with severe ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction 19%, LV end-diastolic volume 360 mL, and complete left bundle branch block). An epicardial LV lead was surgically implanted concomitant with on-pump beating coronary artery bypass grafting and Dor's endoventricular circular patch plasty. Biventricular pacing immediately achieved the resynchronization of the LV contraction, and improved cardiac function as well as reducing mitral regurgitation. Biventricular pacing combined with cardiac surgery for patients with cardiomyopathy and complete left bundle branch block may produce beneficial effects on LV function.     

Surgical ventricular restoration based on evaluation of myocardial viability with delayed-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the determination of myocardial viability by preoperative delayed-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) would be useful for planning surgical ventricular restoration (SVR). METHODS: Eight consecutive patients with poor cardiac function (ejection fraction < 30%) due to ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent surgical treatment based on findings of preoperative cine-MRI and DE-MRI. Our surgical strategy consisted of (1) complete revascularization on viable segments; (2) SVR in a patient with extensive nonviable segments; and (3) mitral valve plasty in a patient with a more than moderate degree of mitral regurgitation. Based on the MRI assessments, four of the patients (group A) underwent isolated coronary bypass surgery, and the other four (group B) underwent SVR and mitral valve plasty concomitantly with coronary bypass surgery. Perioperative changes in ventricular function were quantitatively assessed in each group. RESULTS: The mean end-diastolic volume index was reduced from 115 +/- 29 ml/m2 to 95 +/- 14ml/m2 in group A and from 163 +/- 35ml/m2 to 125 +/- 28ml/m2 in group B. The mean end-systolic volume index was reduced from 91 +/- 25ml/m2 to 68 +/- 16ml/m2 in group A and from 135 +/- 36ml/m2 to 98 +/- 28 ml/m2 in group B. The mean ejection fraction increased from 20% +/- 6% to 28% +/- 9% in group A and from 17% +/- 6% to 22% +/- 5% in group B. The mean New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was reduced from 3.0 +/- 0.8 to 1.8 +/- 0.6 in group A and from 3.5 +/- 0.5 to 2.2 +/- 0.2 in group B. CONCLUSION: DE-MRI was highly effective in helping to select which patients and which areas of the left ventricle are indicated for SVR, which contributed to excellent early clinical outcomes.     

Right and left ventricular performance during and after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

To evaluate the effect of aortic occlusion and limb reperfusion on global and regional function of the right and left ventricle during infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, 23 patients underwent five intraoperative first-pass radionuclide angiocardiograms: 1) before the skin incision, 2) at aortic cross-clamp, 3) 20 minutes after aortic occlusion, 4) at unclamping, and 5) after skin closure. A subset of twelve patients had simultaneous transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular wall stress. Parameters measured included the electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, the cardiac output, the left and right ventricular ejection fractions, left ventricular volumes, and left ventricular wall stress. Significant changes (p less than 0.01) were observed at aortic clamping in the left ventricular ejection fraction (from 0.56 to 0.48), end-diastolic volume (from 171 to 225 ml), end-systolic volume (from 85 to 127 ml), mean blood pressure (from 82 to 91 mmHg), and meridional end-systolic wall stress (from 53 to 67 10(3) dyne/cm2). Once the clamp was removed, significant variations were seen in the left ventricular ejection fraction (from 0.51 to 0.58), end-diastolic volume (from 205 to 187 ml), end-systolic volume (from 105 to 94 ml), mean blood pressure (from 84 to 69 mmHg), and meridional end-systolic wall stress (from 67 to 46 10(3) dyne/cm2). No differences were observed between the two aortic occlusion studies, and the baseline level of function was recovered in all parameters during the last study. These data quantify the changes in heart function that occur during abdominal aortic aneurysm operation and demonstrate that the majority of the adaptations that occurred were due to a variation in afterload.     

Results from coronary artery bypass surgery combined abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Complication from coronary artery disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. We report our results from coronary artery bypass surgery performed in combination with abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm, each being an indication for an emergency operation. METHODS: Seventeen patients underwent combined coronary artery bypass surgery and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The mean age of the patients was 67.6 +/- 5.2 years. Four had left main disease, 8 patients had triple-vessel disease, and 12 had a prior myocardial infarction. The average left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.49 +/- 0.13. The average abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter was 6.2 +/- 1.0 cm (range 4.5-8.0 cm). Thirteen patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery followed by abdominal aortic aneurysm repair after discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass. In the remaining four patients, including one patient with severe left ventricular dysfunction, cardiopulmonary bypass was continued as a circulatory assist until the abdominal aortic aneurysm repair was completed. The left internal thoracic artery was used in 14 patients, and the right internal thoracic artery in one patient. RESULTS: Postoperative surgical complications occurred in three patients (bleeding in one patient requiring reoperation, abdominal subcutaneous wound infection in another and transient neural disorder in the others). There were no surgical or in-hospital death. There was no late cardiac complication and no late cardiac death after a mean of 29 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that combined surgery was reasonable for selected patients with combined coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm, each of which is an indication for an urgent operation. The aortic aneurysm repair during cardiopulmonary bypass for patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction was safe and effective.     

Predicting outcome after myocardial revascularization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

In order to identify the risk factors which could predict outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, 80 consecutive patients with an ejection fraction ≤30%, who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at the authors' centre between January 1994 and May 1996 were evaluated. Preoperatively, mean(s.d.) ejection fraction was 27.1(3.8)%, 56 patients (70%) had angina, and 56 (70%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV. There were five operative deaths, with a hospital mortality rate of 6.3%. Significant risk factors for hospital death were NYHA class IV, preoperative ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index >110 ml/m². At mean follow-up of 15(7) (range 6–30) months, there were six late deaths, five of which were from cardiac causes. Actuarial survival rate at 2 years was 82(5)% and freedom from cardiac death 84(5)%. Risk factors for overall mortality from cardiac causes were preoperative grade 2 mitral regurgitation, associated with left ventricular dilatation, and renal dysfunction (creatininaemia ≥180 μmol/l). At follow-up, mean ejection fraction was 37.5(8.4)%, and the overall functional status had improved: 12 patients (18%) had angina and eight (12%) were in NYHA class III and IV. Myocardial revascularization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction can be performed with acceptably low operative risk, good survival rate at 2 years, and functional status improvement. Patients with extensive ventricular dilatation, associated with significant mitral regurgitation, have a lower life expectancy and less functional benefits from coronary artery bypass grafting. These patients are better treated by cardiac transplantation.     

Dor operation combined with redo coronary artery bypass grafting; report of two successful cases

Case 1. A 69-year-old male, who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting with saphenous vein graft for acute myocardial infarction 16 years previously, was admitted into our hospital for heart failure and recurrent angina. Coronary angiography showed occlusion of the graft and 75% stenosis in the proximal circumflex artery. Left ventriculography showed end-diastolic volume of 216 ml and ejection fraction of 24%. Dor operation combined with redo coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. Postoperatively, the ejection fraction improved to 53% and the cardiac index improved from 1.8 to 2.2 l/min/m2. Case 2. A 67-year-old male, who had undergone double coronary artery bypass grafting using saphenous vein grafts for acute myocardial infarction 8 years previously, was admitted into our hospital for heart failure and recurrent angina. Coronary angiography showed occlusion of the 2 grafts and 99% stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery. Although the left ventricle was slightly dilated, echocardiography demonstrated a thrombus in the left ventricle. Dor operation was performed concomitantly with removing of the thrombus and redo coronary artery bypass grafting. Postoperatively, the ejection fraction improved to 68% and the cardiac index improved from 1.6 to 2.3 l/min/m2. When the patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery with saphenous vein grafts for acute myocardial infarction, they could be susceptible to left ventricular asynergy and graft failure on the long run. Therefore, the patients who need redo coronary revascularization may be potential candidates for Dor operation, and they require close examination regarding the myocardial viability, volume and shape of the left ventricle.     

Effects of passive cardiac containment on left ventricular structure and function: verification by volume and flow measurements.

BACKGROUND: The cardiac support device (CSD, Acorn) is a compliant, textile-mesh graft placed around the ventricles to prevent further dilatation and to improve function in congestive heart failure. The aim of this study was to verify post-operative changes in left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, blood flow, and myocardial mass. METHODS: Fourteen patients underwent contrast-enhanced, electrocardiography-triggered electron-beam computerized tomography before and 6 to 9 months after CSD implantation. We measured volume and flow using the slice-summation method and the indicator-dilution technique. RESULTS: We found significant changes for the following parameters: end-diastolic volume decreased from 382.9 +/- 140.2 ml to 311.3 +/- 138.7 ml, end-systolic volume from 310.4 +/- 132.4 ml to 237.4 +/- 133.8 ml, end-diastolic diameter from 75.3 +/- 7.8 mm to 70.7 +/- 11.6 mm, end-systolic diameter from 65.8 +/- 7.8 mm to 60.0 +/- 14.0 mm, and myocardial mass from 298.6 +/- 79.6 g to 263.1 +/- 76.8 g. Ejection fraction increased from 20.3% +/- 6.4% to 27.8% +/- 13.1%. We found no significant differences for stroke volume (from 72.5 +/- 24.6 ml to 73.8 +/- 23.6 ml), heart rate (from 80.5 +/- 11.0 beats per minute to 76.5 +/- 6.8 beats per minute), and total cardiac output (from 5.8 +/- 1.9 liter/min to 5.6 +/- 1.8 liter/min). Mitral regurgitation fraction decreased from 30.5% +/- 15.5% to 15.6% +/- 12.8%, increasing antegrade cardiac output from 3.8 +/- 0.9 liter/min to 4.7+/-1.5 liter/min. For most parameters, pre- and post-operative values in these patients differed significantly from those in an age- and gender-matched control group. In each patient, we observed a small hyperdense stripe along the pericardium after surgery, but we observed no local complications. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional structural and functional data obtained by computerized tomography volume and flow measurements confirm the safety and efficacy of CSD implantation.