Open mitral commissurotomy: long-term results with echocardiographic correlation

Over 11 years, 91 patients with isolated mitral stenosis underwent open mitral commissurotomy. Twenty-nine were 50 or more years old; 15 had had prior commissurotomies. Four (4.4%) died perioperatively; 87 were followed for one to nine years (average: five years). Overall actuarial survival was 94% at 5 years. Sixty-nine patients (79%) were NYHA Functional Class (FC) I or II at latest follow-up. Arterial embolism occurred in five patients; 14 patients (16%) had a second valve operation. Patients who remain in FC I or II and who are free of embolism and reoperation are classified as complication-free. Actuarial analysis demonstrated 76% to be so classified at five years after operation. Actuarial curves show that age older than 40 years, sex, previous commissurotomy, and "radical" versus simple open mitral commissurotomy did not influence survival or the incidence of good results. Follow-up M-mode and 2D echocardiograms were obtained in 42 patients. The estimated mitral orifice accurately separated FC I patients (orifice equal to or larger than 2 cm2) from FC II and FC III patients (orifice smaller than 2 cm2), and showed that echocardiographic evidence of a 2 cm2 or larger mitral orifice correlates with a good result.     

Consequence of atrial fibrillation and the risk of embolism after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy: the necessity of the maze procedure

Background

We sought to investigate the incidence and risk of embolism after percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy (PMC) and delineated the necessity of the maze procedure in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

Clinical records of 326 patients, who underwent PMC between April 1988 and March 2003, and 162 patients, who underwent mitral valve surgery (MVS) combined with the maze procedure (MVS/maze) in the same period, were reviewed. We examined the consequence of cardiac rhythm and the incidence and risk of embolism after PMC. Next our current criteria for indication of the maze procedure, which included duration of AF less than 10 years, voltage of f wave on electrocardiography greater than 0.1 mV, cardiothoracic ratio less than 70%, and left atrial dimension less than 70 mm, were applied to all patients. These criteria were satisfied by 190 patients of PMC (PMC group) and 114 patients of MVS/maze (MVS/maze group) and the early and late results of the two groups were compared.

Results

Thirty-eight patients suffered from embolic complications after PMC. Of these 33 patients experienced AF before intervention. The actuarial embolism-free rate at 10 years was 81.9% in patients with AF before PMC and 92.9% in patients with sinus rhythm before PMC (p = 0.01). Univariate predictors of embolism after PMC included previous embolic history (p = 0.01), AF (p = 0.01), pressure gradient (p = 0.01), age (p = 0.03), and mitral valve area (p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis identified AF as the independent predictor of embolism in the late follow-up period (p = 0.03). In a comparative study of the selected patients the actuarial AF-free rates after MVS/maze were 89.9% at 1 year and 85.7% at 5 years and were significantly higher than those of 17.3% at 1 year and 4.2% at 5 years after PMC (p < 0.0001). The actuarial embolism-free rate in the MVS/maze group was 98.0% at 5 years and was significantly higher than that of 84.8% at 5 years and 82.4% at 10 years in the PMC group (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

PMC alone is not sufficient with regard to sinus rhythm recovery and prevention of embolism. Surgical treatment concomitant with the maze procedure may be beneficial for patients with AF.     

Homograft replacement of the mitral valve: eight-year results

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess whether the mitral homograft represents a valuable alternative for complete or partial mitral valve replacement. METHODS: Since 1993, 104 patients underwent mitral homograft replacement surgery. The mean age was 38 +/- 15 years. The causes of mitral valve disease were rheumatic disease (n = 76), infective endocarditis (n = 24), and others (n = 4). Sixty-five of these procedures were total homografts, and 39 were partial homografts. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 52 +/- 35 months (maximum, 117 months). Overall hospital mortality was 4 (3.8%) of 104 patients and 2.5% versus 8.7% for patients without endocarditis and with endocarditis, respectively (P <.19). There were 9 late deaths (cardiac, 4; noncardiac, 5). There have been 5 early (<3 months) and 10 late reoperations. Of the remaining 77 patients, New York Heart Association class was I in 61, II in 14, and III in 2. Four patients had endocarditis, and 5 had an ischemic or hemorrhagic event. Freedom from major cardiac events was 71% +/- 6% at 8 years (partial at 81% vs total at 63%, P <.19). Among patients with a total homograft, freedom from major cardiac events was 61% +/- 9% and 85% +/- 8% at 6 years in patients younger than and older than 40 years, respectively (P =.09). CONCLUSION: The risk of early dysfunction related to a mismatch between the mitral homograft and the patient's valve is the main pitfall of the technique. Beyond that stage, the results were comparable with those of bioprostheses in a cohort of young patients.     

Mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy: indications, technique and results

The improvement of results and patients quality life is the aim of surgical technique. Mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy brings not only to a better cosmetic results, but also to a decrease of post operative pain, analgesic use, hospital stay and an early return to normal activities. In this study, Authors report their own experience about mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy using 5 mm and 3 mm trocar. Patients suffering from biliary sludge, microscopic lithiasis and mild or moderate gallbladder inflammation can undergo this procedure.     

Subtalar arthroscopy: indications,technique, and results

The purpose of this study was to present the indications, technique, and results for subtalar arthroscopy in 50 consecutive patients. In each case, ankle arthroscopy was performed concomitantly to assess the exact source of the patient's pain. Surgical indications included chronic pain, swelling, buckling, and/or locking that failed conservative treatment. Arthroscopy of the ankle and subtalar joints were performed using both 2.7- and 1.9-mm arthroscopes through standard and accessory portals; distraction was used in all cases. All patients were followed-up for an average of 48 months (range, 36 to 70 months). Group 1 included 21 patients (42%) with chronic lateral ankle pain following an inversion injury. In this group, the subtalar joints were completely normal and the pathology was found to be limited only to the ankle joint. In group 2, 29 patients (58%) had the following diagnoses at arthroscopy: synovitis, 7; degenerative joint disease, 5; subtalar dysfunction, 5; chondromalacia, 4; nonunion of os trigonum, 4; arthrofibrosis, 2; loose bodies, 1; and osteochondral lesions of the talus, 1. Overall, the results were 86% good-to-excellent in group 2.Arthroscopy 1998 May-Jun;14(4):373-81     

Open mitral commissurotomy in pregnancy. A case report

Correction of severe mitral stenosis by open commissurotomy during the second trimester of pregnancy is reported. The further course of the pregnancy was uneventful and at 34 weeks a healthy boy was vaginally delivered. Mother and child were in good health on discharge from hospital one month later.     

Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy: indications,technique, results

61 gastrojejunostomies were constructed between 1981-1999 in 58 cases (43 cases were operated between 1991-1999). 30 cases have previously suffered various gastric operations; in 28 cases the Roux-en-Y was the first gastric operation (27 operated on between 1991-1999). Radiologic and endobioptic studies were routine for diagnostic and follow-up evaluation, but various scintigraphic studies were performed in selected cases. The surgical technique was tailored for each case, according to the preoperative strategy. The indications for surgery were the following: 19-reflux disease; 14-severe peptic disease (9-reccurence, 3-postbulbar lesion, 2-juxtacardial ulcer); 8-peptic disease associated to reflux disease; 8-gastric cancer; 8-various early or late complications after gastrectomy; 1-lymphocytic gastritis. There were 4 early reoperations and 3 deceased. In 3 cases late reintervention was mandatory (for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, peptic ulcer secondary to gastrectomy for cancer, Roux-stasis syndrome) and the Roux pattern was preserved; in 2 cases the antireflux effect of the operation was lost after the reoperation.     

Completion pneumonectomy: current indications, complications, and results

OBJECTIVE: Completion pneumonectomy is reported to be associated with high morbidity and mortality, especially when done in patients with benign disease. We review our 9 years of experience with this operation to evaluate the postoperative outcome and long-term results of various indications. METHODS: Between January 1990 and December 1998, 66 consecutive patients underwent completion pneumonectomy (6.8% of all pneumonectomies), and their cases were retrospectively reviewed. The indication was benign disease in 17 patients and malignant disease in 49 patients. In patients with malignant indications there were 14 local recurrences, 4 second primary tumors, 5 metastatic diseases, and 26 indications because of incomplete initial resection. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative deaths, and the postoperative mortality rate was 7.6%. Complications were encountered in 32 (53%) patients, without any significant difference between benign indication (71%) and malignant indication (47%; P =.0923). Bronchopleural fistula was encountered in 5 (7.6%) patients, and empyema was encountered in 7 (11%) patients. The actuarial 5-year survival was 57% for all patients, 65% for those with benign indications, and 54% for those with malignant indications (60% for local recurrence, 50% for second primary tumor, and 56% for incomplete resection), without any difference between benign and malignant indications (P =.9478). CONCLUSIONS: Completion pneumonectomy can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity, even in patients with benign disease. Patients with preoperative infection can be managed with bronchial stump covering and adequate postoperative drainage. Although complications are common, they can successfully be managed with a proper understanding of them.     

Cricotracheal resection in children: indications, technique and results

The most significant advance in the surgical treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis has been the changes in external procedures, notably in laryngotracheoplasty aimed at widening the regional stenosis with prosthetic material. In opposition with this therapeutic method, cricotracheal resection which removes the regional stenosis, and a large portion of the cricoid cartilage, has been proven to be a reliable technique in adults. Between June 1993 and June 1998, 10 children underwent cricotracheal resection. There were 5 boys and 5 girls with 9 acquired and 1 congenital stenosis (grade II =5, grade III =2, grade IV =3). At the time of the procedure, the patients' mean weight was 19 kg and mean age was 7.5 years. A tracheotomy present in 5 children prior to the procedure was left in situ postoperatively. In these children a rolled silastic sheet was used to maintain the caliber for 23 days and the tracheotomy canula was removed a mean 58 days later. In the 5 children operated on without tracheaotomy, the nasotracheal tube was removed a mean 2.5 days after the procedure. Mean follow-up was 43 months, with clinical and endoscopic surveillance. No growth retardation was observed among the 5 children presenting 4.5 years after the procedure. The choice between laryngotracheoplasty enlargement and cricotracheal resection is not based on documented evidence but on case-by-case decision making. We discuss here the points which appear to us to be the most relevant in terms of indication, surgical procedure, potential complications, and outcome.