Heart valve replacement with myocardial revascularization

Coexisting coronary artery insufficiency includes risks to patients with valvular heart disease, thus complicating management. In 15 patients requiring aortic or mitral valve replacement preoperative coronary angiography demonstrated severe coronary stenoses which were treated by bypass grafts with valve surgery. These combined operations turned out to be safe and effective.     

Concomitant aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization.

Twenty-six consecutive patients underwent combined aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization at the Emory University Affiliated Hospitals between May, 1973 and March, 1976. Acute myocardial infarction resulted in two operative deaths (8%). There have been four late deaths, all Class IV preoperative. The age range was 37 to 79 years with an average age of 60. Preoperatively all patients were Class IV or late Class III. Twenty-three patients had symptoms of angina pectoris; congestive heart failure was evident in 56%. Postoperatively, 70% are now Class 1 or II. Single coronary bypass was performed in 16 patients, double in 6, and triple in three. Double bypass plus mitral valve replacement was required in two with aneurysmectomy in one. The rate of intraoperative infarction was 27% for the series but only 7% in the last year. The methods of intraoperative myocardial preservation and the technical approach for the operative procedures were variable. Results with each method are correlated, and currently preferred techniques are presented and discussed. Best results were obtained in patients who presented early in their symptomatic course with isolated proximal coronary lesions and good renoff vessels. Excellent results could be achieved despite advanced age of patients, requirement for multiple bypass grafts, and correction of other associated cardiac lesions. Poorest results were obtained when long-standing ventricular failure was combined with poor vessels distal to coronary stenoses.     

Combined aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization. Experience with a cold cardioplegic technique.

The authors reviewed their experience with combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting using a standardized cold cardioplegic technique for intraoperative myocardial protection in 54 consecutive patients during a 5-year interval ending in May 1982. Calcific aortic stenosis was the most common indication for aortic valve replacement. Thirty-seven patients (69%) had greater than 50-60% stenoses in at least two of the three major coronary arterial systems. No patient with combined aortic valvular and coronary artery disease had only valve replacement during the study interval, and no patient was refused operation. The mean number of arteries grafted was 2.4. There was one hospital death (1.9%), and one patient (1.9%) had electrocardiographic evidence for perioperative myocardial infarction. One additional patient required postoperative intra-aortic balloon pumping. There have been four late deaths in the followup period extending to 65 months. Survival at 3 years for the entire group was 87%, for the patients with aortic stenosis was 95%, and for the patients with aortic regurgitation or mixed lesions was 65%. There were no cardiac-related deaths among the patients with aortic stenosis and one non-fatal myocardial infarction in the follow-up period. The results with this technique of intraoperative myocardial protection are superior to those reported with previously employed methods (coronary perfusion, hypothermic ischemic arrest) and indicate that coronary artery bypass grafting should be performed in all patients with coexisting aortic valvular and coronary artery disease who require valve replacement. A substantial benefit (increased survival, decreased late myocardial infarction) may exist for the subgroup of patients with aortic stenosis.     

The importance of myocardial protection in combined aortic valve replacement and myocardial revascularization.

To determine the importance of different methods of myocardial protection for combined aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization, we analyzed the records of 82 consecutive patients who underwent the combined procedure between 1973 and 1978. Sixty-three (77%) had angina and 63 (77%) were in New York Heart Association Functional Class III or IV. Moderate to severe left ventricular impairment was present in 59%, and the mean number of diseased vessels was 1.9 per patient. Group I consisted of 18 patients with intermittent ischemia, almost all of whom had operation between 1973 and 1976. Group IIa consisted of 24 patients operated on between 1973 and December, 1976, with coronary perfusion, and Group IIb had 18 patients in whom a similar technique was used in 1977 and 1978. Group III consisted of 22 patients operated on in 1977 and 1978 in whom cold chemical cardioplegia was used. The early mortality (less than 30 days) for Group I was 50% and for Group IIa 29%. There were no deaths in Group IIb and Group III. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 21% in Group I, 6% in Group IIa, 11% in Group IIb, and zero in Group III. The incidence of cardiogenic shock requiring prolonged inotropic support and intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was significantly less in Group III (9%) than in Group IIb (50%) (p less than 0.05). If other manifestations of myocardial injury, such as perioperative infarction and cardiogenic shock requiring intraaortic balloon counterpulsation or inotropic support, are taken into consideration, cold chemical cardioplegia appears to provide better myocardial protection than coronary perfusion of the fibrillating heart.     

Results of combined valve replacement and myocardial revascularization. Relation to method of myocardial protection

One hundred and twenty-three patients underwent combined valve and coronary artery bypass surgery, between 1974 and 1985. Seventy patients had aortic valve replacement, 53 had mitral valve replacement; 63.4% were male and 45% were over 60 years (mean 59 +/- 2 years). Ischaemic cardiac arrest was used in 21 patients (Group I), cold crystalloid cardioplegia in 51 (Group II), and cold blood cardioplegia in 51 (Group III). Group III had a greater number of patients with poor preoperative functional status and left ventricular function. Early mortality was 19%, 17.6% and 11.7% in Groups I, II and III respectively (NS), and was not influenced by patients age, number of vessels with critical coronary artery disease and the type of the valve procedure. There was a significant decrease in the release of LDH and AST in Group III when compared with Group II (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.01) respectively. The linearized rate of recurrence of angina (% per patient year) was 0.4, 0.95 and 0.07; and late mortality (% per 100 years) was 5.8, 3.2 and 2.6 in Groups I, II and III respectively. Patient survival and the quality of life has been improved since the introduction of cold blood cardioplegic protection.     

Combined myocardial and mesenteric surgical revascularization

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is a rare disorder that is frequently associated with coronary artery disease. Myocardial ischemia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after revascularization of the splanchnic arteries. The optimal treatment of concomitant chronic mesenteric ischemia and myocardial ischemia is unknown. We report a case of this condition in a 57-year-old man who required revascularization of both the left anterior descending coronary and superior mesenteric arteries with venous grafts anastomosed to the ascending aorta. The patient remains asymptomatic after a 3-year follow-up. This good result argues for one-stage combined myocardial and mesenteric revascularization in selected symptomatic patients.     

Combined carotid endarterectomy and myocardial revascularization

From February 1971 through December 1987, 95 patients underwent combined carotid endarterectomy and myocardial revascularization. Mortality and postoperative stroke rates were 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively, for the 16-year experience. From 1980 to 1987, when 89 percent of patients had their operation, mortality and stroke rates were 1 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Follow-up carotid duplex scan in 41 patients revealed that 25 percent had more than 50 percent restenosis. Only two in this group were symptomatic. We conclude that the combined approach to concomitant carotid and coronary artery atherosclerosis can be done safely. Continued study with noninvasive testing is important to document restenosis rates.     

Preservation of the posterior leaflet during mechanical valve replacement for ischemic mitral regurgitation and complete myocardial revascularization

Between 1980 and 1987, 40 patients with ischemic mitral insufficiency underwent mitral valve replacement (with a mechanical prosthesis) and coronary bypass grafting, 3.5 grafts per patient. The posterior mitral leaflet was preserved in 17 and resected in 23. Five arrived at operation in cardiogenic shock, 15 after recurrent episodes of pulmonary edema, and 20 electively, but in congestive heart failure. Twenty-five had unstable angina, and the remaining had chronic angina. Perioperative and early deaths occurred only in patients with an ejection fraction less than 35%. None of the 21 patients with an ejection fraction greater than 35% died, whereas eight of 19 with an ejection fraction less than 35% died, whereas eight of 19 with an ejection fraction less than 35% died (p less than 0.001). When causes of death in patients with an ejection fraction less than 35% were studied, operative and early mortality was zero of seven with preservation of the posterior mitral leaflet versus eight of 11 with excision of the leaflet (p = 0.035). We concluded that the high mortality in mitral valve replacement for ischemic mitral insufficiency is linked to an ejection fraction less than or equal to 35% and, in this particular group of patients, is due to the surgical destruction of the left ventricular chordae tendineae supportive apparatus. Preservation of this apparatus by preservation of the posterior mitral leaflet drastically reduces operative and early mortality. Preoperative cardiogenic shock, left ventricular aneurysmectomy, and multiple grafting (up to five grafts per patient) did not increase the risk of operation. Extensive revascularization (3.5 grafts per patient) provides improved long-term results.     

Aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Cardiac surgery in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), which is an acquired hemolytic anemia associated with thrombocytopenia and an abnormal susceptibility to venous thromboses, requires special perioperative measures. PNH is based on a clonal defect of hematopoietic stem cells characterized by deficiency in glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored surface proteins. The major mechanism of hemolysis consists of unregulated complement activation. In cardiac surgery, PNH-induced granulocytopenia increases the risk of postoperative infection. PNH-induced complement activation is further exaggerated by extracorporeal circulation in cardiac surgery leading to putative hemolytic crisis. Here, we report on a patient who developed PNH after severe aplastic anemia undergoing aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization using extracorporeal circulation and discuss the special perioperative management and the relevant literature on this issue. Special emphasis should be given to optimal preoperative patient preparation including G-CSF administration and red blood pack transfusions, perioperative platelet substitution, fluid management, and antibiotic prophylaxis.     

Factors influencing early and late survival in patients with combined mitral valve replacement and myocardial revascularization and in those with isolated replacement

During a 5 1/2-year period, 251 patients underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) at our institution: 76 had combined MVR and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and 175 without major coronary artery disease (CAD) had isolated MVR. In-hospital mortality for MVR + CABG was 13.2% (10/76); it was 8.6% (6/70) when patients with preoperative mechanical support were excluded, 7.9% (5/63) for elective operations, and 8.2% (5/61) for nonischemic mitral disease. Overall, in-hospital mortality for isolated MVR was 6.3% (11/175); it was 4.4% (7/161) excluding patients requiring mechanical support and 3.1% (5/157) for elective operations. Of a host of clinical characteristics in patients with MVR +CABG, few were found to influence in-hospital mortality: age greater than 60 years, degree of incapacitation (New York Heart Association Functional Class IV), previous history of myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure, cardiac enlargement (cardiothoracic index greater than 50%), and ischemic mitral disease (33.3% in-hospital mortality; p less than 0.05). Of the invasive variables, only one influenced in-hospital mortality: wall motion score greater than 10 (31.6% in-hospital mortality; p less than 0.01). Of the operative variables studied, the number of grafts (3 or more: 33.3% in-hospital mortality; p less than 0.05), the need for mechanical support (47.4% in-hospital mortality; p less than 0.0001), and emergency operation (38.5% in-hospital mortality; p less than 0.005) had a significant effect on mortality. The type of mitral lesion, the type of prosthesis, the extent of CAD or the completeness of revascularization, the presence of pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation appeared to have no influence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Combined myocardial revascularization and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Myocardial infarction remains the leading cause of early and late deaths after abdominal aortic reconstruction in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. Our approach for the past 4 years has been combined myocardial revascularization with abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with good left ventricle performance. From July 1984 through June 1989, 128 patients underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Seventeen patients underwent combined abdominal aortic reconstruction with coronary artery bypass grafting. One patient died (5.9%). The remaining patients are all well at current follow-up. Our experience shows that patients with coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm may have both lesions safely repaired as a single operative procedure.     

Impact of simultaneous myocardial revascularization on operative risk, functional result, and survival following mitral valve replacement

A cohort of 282 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement with a xenograft bioprosthesis was strictly segregated according to etiology of mitral dysfunction and analyzed regarding the impact of arteriographic coronary artery disease (CAD) and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on operative risk, functional result, and survival. CAD was present in 21% of the 122 patients with predominant mitral stenosis (MS) and 59% of the 155 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR); moreover, discordance between the presence of angina and anatomic CAD was found in 27% (33 of 122) of the MS subgroup and 36% (56 of 155) of the MR subgroup.Etiology of the valvular dysfunction was rheumatic in 148 patients, myxomatous degeneration in 83, and ischemic in 32. Within these subgroups, 41 patients (27%), 40 patients (48%), and 32 patients (100%), respectively, had CAD. Of those patients with CAD, 85% of the rheumatic subgroup, 90% of the degenerative subgroup, and 81% of the ischemic subgroup underwent concomitant CABG at the time of valve replacement. Within each subgroup no statistically significant (P greater than 0.05) differences in operative mortality rate, perioperative myocardial infarction rate, incidence of late angina or late infarction, or late actuarial survival were evident when compared on the basis of CAD, and/or CABG, with one exception. The exception was the 10% incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction in the rheumatic subgrohp with coronary disease versus 2% in the rheumatic subgroup without coronary disease (P = 0.05). Within the time constraints of this study (mean follow-up = 2.3 years; maximum follow-up = 5.9 years), these results support simultaneous MVR and CABG when hemodynamically appreciable CAD is found. Moreover, the overall 43% incidence of arteriographic CAD warrants routine coronary angiography in most adults undergoing preoperative catheterization for mitral valvular disease.     

Aortic valve replacement combined with myocardial revascularization. Late results and determinants of risk for 471 in-hospital survivors

Among 500 patients consecutively undergoing primary aortic valve replacement combined with coronary bypass grafting from 1967 to 1981, there were 29 (5.8%) perioperative deaths. Follow-up of the late survivors ranged from 43 to 181 months (mean 85 months); actuarial survival rates were 88%, 77%, and 52% and event-free survival rates were 80%, 65%, and 32% at 2, 5, and 10 postoperative years. Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to identify determinants of late risk. Patient-related variables associated with decreased late survival rates included advanced age, cardiothoracic ratio 50% or greater, and preoperative New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms. Moderate or severe impairment of left ventricular function as determined by angiography and advanced age were variables that decreased late event-free survival rates. Patients with bioprostheses had better survival rates (p less than 0.001) and event-free survival rates (p = 0.012) than did patients with mechanical valves. Analyses of subgroups according to the type of valve and postoperative anticoagulant management showed that both survival and event-free survival rates were decreased for patients with mechanical valves who were not taking warfarin and were enhanced for patients with bioprostheses who were not taking warfarin.     

Combined myocardial and cerebral revascularization. A ten year experience

We report on the results of combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting in 82 patients. Vascular pathology was severe in these cases: 94% of patients had extensive multivessel coronary artery disease, 29% had unstable angina, 30% had severe left main stem stenosis and all patients had hemodynamically significant stenosis of at least one carotid artery, 13% had an additional occlusion of the contralateral internal or common carotid artery and 26% had severe bilateral carotid artery stenosis. The carotid lesion was asymptomatic in 64% of cases, 24% of the patients experienced previous transient cerebral ischemia and 12% of the patients had a history of completed stroke. Hospital mortality was 7.3%. Neurological deficit occurred in 7.3% but functional impairment was not permanent. Late results have been obtained for 76 survivors at a mean postoperative interval of 29 months. Five year life table survival rate was 86%. Follow-up showed that 3 patients (4%) have died and that 3 patients (4%) experienced a late neurologic event (one TIA; two strokes) but none of these events involved the cerebral cortex on the side of the carotid endarterectomy. The cumulative 5 year stroke free survival rate is 91%. We conclude that combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting can be done with an acceptable mortality rate in these critically ill patients and that the postoperative incidence of neurological events is low.     

联合实施心脏瓣膜置换术和肾移植术治疗心脏瓣膜病合并慢性肾功能衰竭

目的 探讨有心脏手术指征但合并肾功能衰竭的患者的手术治疗途径。方法 为1例患有严重的风湿性心脏瓣膜病（心功能Ⅲ-Ⅳ级）,同时合并慢性肾功能衰竭（血尿素氮19.1mol/L。血肌酐442umol/L)的28岁男性患者,联合实施心脏瓣膜置换术和同种异体肾移植术,术后经过抗心衰、抗排异、纠正水电解质平衡紊乱及抗炎治疗。结果 患者心、肾功能恢复良好（心功能Ⅰ-Ⅱ级,血尿素氮6.8mmol/L,血肌酐70.7umol/L),术后2个月出院。结论 联合手术能够为以往因合并肾衰而不能耐受心脏手术的心脏疾病患者提供一个有效的治疗方案。     

The clamshell incision provides adequate exposure for aortic valve replacement and coronary revascularization

The standard median sternotomy provides ready access to all surfaces of the heart and the ascending aorta. When cosmetic considerations, associated medical conditions, such as an esophageal stoma, or tracheostomy preclude use of the median sternotomy, a bilateral transverse sternotomy will provide excellent exposure of the entire ascending aorta and the lateral and inferior walls of the heart.