Coronary artery spasm following coronary artery surgery

Coronary artery spasm during the early postoperative period following cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery surgery can be an unrecognized cause of sudden, severe cardiopulmonary collapse. The literature regarding perioperative coronary artery spasm is reviewed, and methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are suggested. Preoperative angina at rest appears to be an important identifying factor in patients who experience postoperative coronary spasm. Anatomically, the presence of a relatively normal, dominant right coronary may also indicate increased risk for early post-coronary bypass spasm. Acute hypotension is often the first sign of coronary artery spasm, and conventional treatment methods may only worsen the vasospastic reaction. Peripheral intravenous nitroglycerin infusion has often been unsuccessful treatment while intragraft or intracoronary nitroglycerin injection or administration of calcium channel-blocking drugs, or both, has proven to be effective in reversing the coronary artery spasm and ventricular dysfunction. Reluctance to use vasodilating agents must be overcome, even in the face of hypotension, when evidence of spasm is present.     

Internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula

A rare case of arteriovenous fistula between an internal mammary artery and a pulmonary artery is presented. The clinical history of recurrent bronchitis and dyspnoea during exercise, the presence of right parasternal murmur with normal heart size and normal blood gases justified the execution of an arteriovenous thoracic angiography which revealed the presence of a cirsoid aneurysm supplied by the internal and external mammary arteries. Diagnostic investigation and surgical indication in patients with the rare fistulous communication between the internal mammary artery and the systemic or pulmonary circulation are analysed.     

Iliac artery pseudoaneurysm following umbilical artery catheterization

We report a case of a large iliac artery pseudoaneurysm in a newborn infant following umbilical artery catheterization. The aneurysm was excised and a primary repair was performed with limb salvage and reestablishment of normal blood flow to the foot. While these aneurysms are rare, prompt surgical repair should be performed as soon as the diagnosis is made because the associated mortality is high.     

Coronary artery spasm following coronary artery revascularization

Coronary artery spasm is a well-documented phenomenon in patients undergoing medial treatment. We describe coronary artery spasm occurring in the immediate postoperative period following coronary artery bypass operation. The spasm occurred in a vessel that was not operated on and that had no apparent lesion. The diagnosis of spasm was made by coronary angiography immediately after operation. Complications associated with this spasm are discussed. Emphasis is placed on early postoperative angiography for patients whose condition is inexplicably unstable after operation.     

Superficial temporal artery to superior cerebellar artery anastomosis for distal basilar artery stenosis

The conceptualization, rationale and surgical technique involved with a superficial temporal artery to superior cerebellar artery anastomosis for midbrain ischemia in a patient with symptomatic mid-basilar artery stenosis is described and discussed.     

Persistent trigeminal artery with internal carotid artery occlusion

A patient with a persistent trigeminal artery and occlusion of the internal carotid artery is presented. The development and protective hemodynamic significance of this persistent embryological anastomosis are briefly discussed.     

Right pulmonary artery agenesis and coronary-to-bronchial artery aneurysm

Isolated unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly that may be complicated with hemoptysis, recurrent pulmonary infections or pulmonary hypertension. To our knowledge the occurrence of a coronary syndrome associated with a coronary-to-bronchial artery saccular aneurysmal collateralization has never been described before. A 44-year-old female presented a congenital right pulmonary artery agenesis associated with a hypotrophic and multicystic right lung complicated with recurrent bronchitis. This patient had a coronary syndrome for which the coronary artery imaging showed a coronary-to-bronchial artery collateralization with an aneurysm at this level. It gives rise to a coronary syndrome by coronary steal. Two bronchial collaterals arising from a diaphragmatic artery and the subclavian artery were also found on the computed tomography (CT)-scan. This last collateral also showed another saccular aneurysm. We first performed an embolization of those two aneurysms in order to decrease the risk of hemorrhage and coronary steal, before performing a right pneumonectomy. In this case, the surgery was indicated because of the pathological lung and the risk of postembolization ischaemia. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was doing well six months later.     

The radial artery for coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced coronary artery disease. CABG surgery has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and, in specific subgroups of patients, to prolong life. Despite its success, the long-term outcome of coronary bypass surgery is strongly influenced by the fate of the vascular conduits used. Previous long-term studies have shown unsatisfactory patency of saphenous vein grafts used for myocardial revascularisation, compared with internal mammary artery grafts. Recently, the use of radial artery for CABG has enjoyed a revival, on the basis of the belief that it will help improving long-term results of coronary operations. The recent reports of encouraging mid-term and long-term patency rates of the radial artery, supports its continued use as a bypass conduit. In this paper, we review the current knowledge about the radial artery as a bypass graft, with special emphasis on the clinical results.     

Coronary artery bypass using bovine internal mammary artery

Among 760 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) 8 received one or two bovine internal mammary artery grafts. The surgical procedures were 4, 3 and 3 CABG respectively in 1, 3 and 4 cases with greater saphenous veins in 4 cases, internal mammary artery in 4 cases and bovine internal mammary artery in 11 cases. The 3 mm bioflow grafts were used to revascularize the left coronary artery in 6 cases (to the left anterior descending, circumflex artery) and the right coronary artery in 5 cases. The indications for the use of bovine mammary artery grafts were lack of suitable autologous vessels because of bilateral saphenous vein stripping in 4 cases, bilateral varicose veins in 3 cases and inadequate length of vein in 1 case. Post-operative angiographic studies of these bovine mammary grafts with a maximum follow-up of 11 months showed 5 occluded grafts, 2 grafts with proximal stenosis, one graft which remained patent until the patient died and 3 grafts still under evaluation. Bovine internal mammary artery grafts provide a solution for the acute stage of coronary disease, but do not achieve total and durable revascularization. Their use must remain exceptional.     

锁骨下动脉、腋动脉、肱动脉血管广泛血栓形成1例

1病例资料患者,男,44岁。右上肢肿胀刺痛1个月加重伴手指麻木发凉5d,于2007年12月13日18：00急诊入院。患者自述于1个月前出现右侧手指指尖麻木,近5d右上肢麻木、胀痛明显加重,自测不到脉搏,右上肢皮肤苍白,皮温低,呈持续性,伴胸闷、气短、大汗。心电图：窦性心率（正常心电图）;右上肢血管超声：右侧锁骨下动脉下段、腋动脉、肱动脉血管闭塞（完全性血栓形成）;血压16／10kPa;血糖正常。以“左上肢动脉栓塞”收住入院。患者既往有小儿麻痹症病史,右下肢发育短小、无力,长期扶双拐行走;常伴有右上肢苍白,皮肤发凉,肱动脉、桡动脉、尺动脉脉搏测不到。     

Pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking a pulmonary artery aneurysm

Pulmonary artery sarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm, and its clinical and radiological presentation usually simulates chronic thromboembolic disease. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman admitted with dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis. A chest computed tomographic scan showed moderate right-sided pleural effusion and a saccular dilatation of the interlobar portion of the right pulmonary artery, which was filled with contrast and surrounded by an irregular soft-tissue attenuation mass, suggesting a ruptured pulmonary artery aneurysm. The patient was operated on. Intraoperatively, a pseudoaneurysm and a solid mass were identified within the oblique fissure around the interlobar artery. Therefore, a right pneumonectomy was performed. Definitive pathologic examination was consistent with pulmonary artery sarcoma. The patient had a good outcome and is free of disease 2 years after surgery.