Elective operations for post-infarction left ventricular aneurysms.

During a two-year period (February 1973 to February 1975) 20 consecutive patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm, seen at the Wessex Cardiac and Thoracic Centre, underwent aneurysmectomy with or without aorta-to-coronary artery saphenous vein bypass grafts, ventricular septal defect closure, or valve replacement. The diagnoses were established by clinical means, plain chest radiographs, left ventriculography, and selective coronary arteriography. The indications for surgery were uncontrollable congestive heart failure and angina, ventricular arrhythmias, or a rapidly growing aneurysm. Low cardiac indices or high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were not considered to be contraindications to operation. Resection of the left ventricular aneurysm was performed with the use of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with haemodilution. In addition to the aneurysmectomy, four of these patients had concomitant closure of post-infarction ventricular septal defects; four had valve replacements; two had grafts to coronary arteries; and one had both replacement of the mitral valve and a right coronary vein graft. There were two hospital deaths (10%) and two late deaths (10%), making an overall mortality of 20%. All but one of the deaths were related to coronary artery disease. The survivors are active, and their rehabilitation was satisfactory. The longest survivor is doing well two years after left ventricular aneurysmectomy, ventricular defect closure, and tricuspid valve replacement. It is evident from our experience and from the reports of others that surgery has an established place in the management of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm.     

非体外及体外循环下左心室运动异常型室壁瘤切除术的临床疗效比较

目的比较非体外循环（off-pump）室壁瘤折叠术与体外循环（CPB）室壁瘤线形切除术治疗左心室运动异常型室壁瘤的临床疗效,以提高室壁瘤的治疗效果。方法2003年9月至2007年9月,手术治疗32例左心室前壁或心尖部运动异常型室壁瘤患者,其中男23例,女9例;年龄46～70岁,平均年龄63岁。根据手术中是否采用CPB,将32例患者分为两组,off-pump组（n=17）：室壁瘤范围占左心室的25%～37%,在off-pump下行室壁瘤折叠术;常规体外循环（on-pump）组（n=15）：室壁瘤范围占左心室的27%～40%,在常规CPB下行室壁瘤线形切除术。两组均同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术。术后采用超声心动图测定左心室容积及收缩功能等指标,并进行比较,以评价临床效果。结果两组均无手术死亡。off-pump组无围术期并发症,术后心功能分级（NYHA）较术前有明显改善（1.0±0.8级vs.2.9±0.3级,P=0.001）,左心室射血分数（LVEF）明显提高（41.0%±4.5%vs.36.4%±4.8%,P=0.035）,左心室收缩期末容积指数（LVESVI）明显减小（52.6±27.7ml/m^2vs.79.7±21.4ml/m^2,P=0.003）。随访17例,随访时间12～53个月,平均随访29个月,随访期间无死亡。1例患者术后1年因二尖瓣重度反流再次手术治疗,1例患者于术后3年发生充血性心力衰竭,LVEF31%,仍在观察中;其余患者临床效果良好。on-pump组围术期发生并发症3例（神经系统并发症2例、呼吸功能不全1例）,术后心功能分级较术前有明显改善（1.0±0.6级vs.3.1±0.9级,P=0.001）,LVEF较术前明显提高（42.3%±3.2%vs.35.6%±6.5%,P=0.023）,LVESVI较术前明显减小（49.3±22.6ml/m^2vs.81.3±25.0ml/m^2,P=0.003）。随访15例,随访时间12～60个月,平均随访35个月,随访期间无死亡,临床效果良好。两组间临床指标比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论在off-pump下行室壁瘤折叠术治疗左心室运动异常型室壁瘤,可有效地减少左心室容积,提高左心室?     

Left ventricular aneurysm complicated by congestive heart failure: an analysis of long-term results and risk factors of surgical treatment

The results of surgical treatment of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysms in 49 patients with congestive heart failure preoperatively were analyzed. Average patient age was 55 years. Preoperative total ejection fraction averaged 30.5 +/- 1.5% (mean +/- SEM), contractile segment ejection fraction was 42.5 +/- 1.1% and end-diastolic volume of aneurysm was 81.4 +/- 10.4 ml. Seventy eight percent of patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting concomitantly with aneurysmectomy. Mean follow-up after operation was 41.5 +/- 3.5 months. Hospital mortality was 8.2%, the 5 year survival rate was 70 +/- 7% and the 5 year complication free rate was 52 +/- 8%. Mean functional class of dyspnea improved significantly from 2.9 +/- 0.1 preoperatively to 1.6 +/- 0.1 at late follow-up (p less than 0.001). Likewise, isotopic ejection fraction at rest increased from 13.7 +/- 1.3% preoperatively to 30.9 +/- 3.0% postoperatively (p less than 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis isolated two factors which influenced postoperative survival independently: contractile segment ejection fraction (p = 0.045) and myocardial score of left anterior descending coronary artery (p = 0.035). Combining these two risk factors, it was possible to identify a low risk group of patients with a 5 year survival probability of 93 +/- 6%, contrasting with a high risk group of patients having a 5 year survival of 57 +/- 9% (p less than 0.02). Thus, resection of left ventricular aneurysms complicated by congestive heart failure provides improvement in left ventricular function and clinical status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass. Results in 1,492 patients, with particular reference to patients with complicating features

During a 33-month period ending June, 1972, 1,492 patients underwent aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass (ACB). The early mortality with ACB alone was 7.1%, while mortality was more than double (14 of 86 patients died) when ACB was combined with resection or plication of a ventricular aneurysm. Twenty of 84 patients died in the early period following combined ACB and valve resection. One patient among 8 who had concomitant resection of an ascending aortic aneurysm died after operation. Factors that increased mortality in this series were advanced age, female sex, high coronary artery scores, left main coronary artery lesions, high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular dysfunction, congestive heart failure, the requirement for endarterectomy to perform the anastomosis, and recent acute myocardial infarction. Actuarial data from patients who underwent ACB without concomitant procedures show an annual attrition rate of 2.7% per year, which compares to rates of 4, 6, and 10% for patients with single, double, and triple coronary disease treated without operation. In 311 men and women under the age of 70 who had a coronary artery score below 13 and none of the other risk factors, the early mortality was 1.6% (5 patients) and the late mortality was 1.0% (3 patients).     

Left ventricular aneurysm resection: indications and long-term follow-up.

Forty-four patients had resection of a chronic postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm. Operative indications were heart failure, angina, and ventricular arrhythmias. Twenty-six patients (59%) had coronary grafting in addition to aneurysmectomy. The operative mortality rate was 4.5% (2/44), and late mortality (mean follow-up, 31 months) was 17.9% (7/39). Preoperatively all patients were in New York Heart Association Functional Class III or IV; 91% were Class I or II postoperatively. Coronary bypass grafting did not increase the operative mortality rate, and long-term survival was similar between those receiving coronary grafts and those not receiving grafts. Postoperative ventriculograms were evaluated in 10 patients by means of a system of internal grids. Amount of regional myocardial contraction correlated well with the patient's postoperative functional capacity. It is concluded that ventricular aneurysmectomy in combination with coronary bypass grafting is safe and effective, resulting in marked improvement in the patients' functional capacity and longevity.     

Left ventricular aneurysm. Preoperative risk factors and long-term postoperative results.

The results of operative treatment of postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm in 169 patients undergoing operation since 1970 are analyzed in this report. Maximum follow-up extended to 7 year (average 2.9 years). Average patient age was 56 years (range 34 to 82 years). Nearly all patients (94%) had left anterior descending coronary artery disease with anterior aneurysm formation and 73% had multivessel disease. Sixty-eight percent of patients underwent aorta-coronary bypass grafting (ACBG) and/or mitral valve replacement (MVR) concomitantly with aneurysmectomy. The over-all operative mortality rate was 17.8%. Preoperative factors that correlated significantly (p less than 0.05) with increased operative risk reflected primarily the quality of left ventricular function, and included functional classification, cardiac index, contractile function of residual myocardium not involved by aneurysm, and mitral regurgitation. Patients whose primary preoperative disability consisted of angina pectoris (42 patients) exhibited significantly higher over-all survival rates (actuarial 5 year survival 75%) than those undergoing operation because of congestive heart failure (86 patients) or ventricular tachyarrhythmias (38 patients), whose 5 year survival rates were 52 and 57%, respectively. Concomitant ACBG (+/- MVR) was associated with a higher operative mortality rate than aneurysmectomy alone (21.1 versus 10.9%), but late postoperative attrition was similar. The over-all 5 year survival rate, including operative death, was 60%, and 90% of surviving patients were in Functional Class I or II at follow-up evaluation. We conclude from this analysis that the long-term prognosis of patients with symptomatic postinfection left ventricular aneurysms, although determined importantly by preoperative left ventricular function, is enhanced by surgical treatment.     

Surgical treatment of postinfarction ventricular aneurysm.

We have operated on 62 consecutive patients for postinfarction ventricular aneurysm since coronary bypass grafting became available. Analysis of hemodynamic and angiographic data reveals that the prognosis of operation is favorable if mean pulmonary artery pressure is less than 45 mm Hg and cardiac index is greater than 2.0 L/min/m2; such factors as the preoperative New York Heart Association Functional Class, number of coronary grafts, aneurysm size, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and coronary score were not closely related to the outcome of operation. Hospital mortality was 6.5% (4 patients) and late mortality, with a mean follow-up of two years, was 11% (7 patients). The prognosis among survivors was good: 82% (46) achieved NYHA Class I or II status, whereas 87% (54) had been in Class III or IV preoperatively. Concomitant vein grafting with aneurysmectomy did not significantly enhance operative or late survival, nor did it add appreciably to the risk of operation. Long-term benefits of revascularization in addition to aneurysmectomy are expected but not yet proved.     

Surgical treatment of aneurysm of the ascending aorta with aortic insufficiency. A selective approach

The selection of an appropriate surgical technique for repair of aneurysm of the ascending thoracic aorta with associated aortic insufficiency is unsettled. Placement of a supracoronary graft (separate G/V) is a compromise if the coronary ostia are displaced cephalad by the aneurysm, whereas insertion of a valved conduit is difficult and unnecessary if the coronary ostia are normally placed. From June, 1979, to December, 1982, 140 patients underwent repair of ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic valve replacement (AVR). Mean age was 46 years. Annuloaortic ectasia was the most common indication for repair (71/140, 50.7%), followed by acute and chronic dissection (47/140, 33.6%). Twelve patients had undergone previous operations on the ascending aorta or aortic valve, including five separate G/V repairs. Eighty-nine patients (63.6%) underwent composite replacement with coronary reimplantation and 51 (36.4%) had separate G/V repair or primary repair of the aneurysm. Cardiopulmonary bypass methods, times, and postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups. Hospital mortality for the whole series was 7.9% (11/140), with 5.6% (5/89) in patients having conduit replacements and 13.7% (7/51) in patients having separate G/V repair. Mortality correlated with separate G/V repair in patients with annuloaortic ectasia (p = 0.005) and with conduit repair of atherosclerotic aneurysms (p = 0.05). Among 90 patients followed up a total of 1,778 patient-months, there were seven late deaths: three new dissections, two sudden deaths without autopsy, and two patients with chronic congestive heart failure unimproved or made worse with the operation. Notably, no patient has required reoperation for conduit malfunction or has required repair of aneurysm or paravalvular leak below a supracoronary graft. Clinical anatomic assessment at operation should determine the technique of repair employed, based on the degree of displacement of the coronary ostia relative to the aortic anulus.     

Coronary artery bypass with ventricular restoration is superior to coronary artery bypass alone in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass is an acceptable therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, it has been demonstrated that patients with increased left ventricular volume have a worse outcome than patients with normal ventricular volume. Our hypothesis was that ventricular restoration plus coronary artery bypass provides improved outcome compared with coronary artery bypass alone in ischemic cardiomyopathy with ventricular enlargement. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction <30%) who underwent operation between 1998 and 2002. Patients with enlarged ventricles (end-diastolic dimension > or =6.0 cm) who underwent either coronary artery bypass alone or coronary artery bypass with ventricular restoration were compared. Preoperative and postoperative ejection fraction, morbidity, mortality, and freedom from heart failure (hospitalization secondary to heart failure) were assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients were included in the study. Thirty-nine patients had coronary artery bypass alone, whereas 56 patients had ventricular restoration with coronary artery bypass. Both groups demonstrated an improved postoperative ejection fraction; however, the improvement was significantly greater in the ventricular restoration plus coronary artery bypass group (P <.01). There were no hospital deaths in either group; however, late mortality was higher in the coronary artery bypass group. Freedom from heart failure was achieved in all but 2 of the ventricular restoration plus coronary artery bypass patients (2/56, or 3.6%) versus 7 in the coronary artery bypass group (7/39, or 18%). The combined outcomes of freedom from failure and late mortality were significantly improved in the ventricular restoration plus coronary artery bypass group (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular restoration affords significant improvement in ejection fraction compared with coronary artery bypass alone, without added mortality. Most importantly, left ventricular restoration reduces late morbidity and mortality compared with coronary artery bypass alone in patients with large ventricles.     

The association of patent foramen ovale and atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with considerable morbidity and increased resource utilization after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In this study, we sought to determine whether patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysm are associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF in this patient population. We performed a database study on 1008 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery. All patients were assessed for the development of postoperative AF from the day of surgery to hospital discharge. Atrial septal defects were identified during comprehensive intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic examination. Postoperative AF was present in 124 (12.3%) patients. Patients with AF were significantly older and had a more frequent incidence of preoperative congestive heart failure, longer cross-clamp time, and prolonged hospital length of stay. PFO was present in 72 (7.1%) and atrial septal aneurysm in 23 (2.3%) patients. In these patients, postoperative AF was present in 14 (19.4%) patients with PFO and 8 (34.8%) patients with atrial septal aneurysm. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that PFO (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 1.007-3.778; P = 0.047), age (OR, 1.03; 1.015-1.053; P = 0.0004), and history of congestive heart failure (OR, 2.55; 1.671-3.900; P < 0.0001) were predictive of postoperative AF. IMPLICATIONS: The presence of patent foramen ovale is associated with new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This finding requires further validation in future prospective trials.     

Surgery for Chronic Left Ventricular Aneurysm: Benefits and side effects

Seventy patients who underwent elective resection of symptomatic postinfarction apico-anterior left ventricular (LV) aneurysm with or without coronary revascularization are reviewed. The early (?30 day) mortality was 5.7%. Mural thrombosis occurred in 29 cases (41.4%), unrelated to the degree of preoperative LV impairment and predictable from preoperative LV angiography in only seven cases. The response to surgery comprised significant overall improvement of global LV ejection fraction (LVEF) during rest and of all variables in stress testing. This LVEF recovery correlated significantly with that of peak ejections rate, a variable of myocardial contractility. Contrastingly, right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) at rest decreased slightly but significantly without correlation to preoperative RVEF or LVEF. In comparisons between patients with congestive heart failure or angina at rest as dominant symptom, the former group showed greater depression of preoperative watt and LVEF but better postoperative recovery of these variables, while right ventricular deterioration was significant only in the latter. Postoperative recovery was best in patients with poor preoperative LV function (LVEF ? 20%), even when surgery comprised only aneurysmectomy in isolated but ungraftable LAD disease (5 cases). The observed RV deterioration may be ‘nonspecific', but it must be kept in mind as a side effect of the operation, as it detracts unpredictably from postoperative ventricular recovery. Patients with well preserved preoperative LVEF, small LV aneurysm and marginal expected postaneurysmectomy changes according to LaPlace's law are probably at risk, and surgery should then instead be directed towards preserving the remaining viable myocardium by direct revascularization.     

Role of coronary angiography and coronary artery bypass surgery prior to abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy

It is well recognized that patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms have a high incidence of coronary artery disease, and that the major cause of death in patients undergoing aneurysmectomy has been acute myocardial infarction. In order to assess the incidence of significant coronary artery disease, cardiac catheterization was performed on 42 consecutive patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Thirty-six patients (85.7%) had significant anatomic coronary artery disease. Interestingly, all 8 patients with ejection fractions of less than 50% had triple vessel disease or left main disease, and 12 of 34 patients with ejection fractions greater than or equal to 50% had triple vessel disease or left main disease. Of the 30 patients who were NYHA Class I or Class II, 14 (46.7%) had triple vessel disease or left main disease. All 20 patients with triple vessel disease or left main disease underwent myocardial revascularization 7 to 10 days prior to abdominal aneurysmectomy. No patients had a perioperative myocardial infarction either following coronary artery bypass surgery or abdominal aortic aneurysm resection, and there were no operative mortalities. Although this was not a randomized study, it would seem from these results that in selected patients, myocardial revascularization prior to abdominal aneurysmectomy can decrease the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and also decrease operative mortality. It is presently recommended that all symptomatic patients, patients with ejection fractions of less than 50%, and asymptomatic patients with ejection fractions of greater than or equal to 50% with positive exercise radionuclide angiography undergo cardiac catheterization prior to aneurysmectomy, and those patients with left main disease or severe coronary artery disease undergo myocardial revascularization prior to aneurysm resection.     

Evaluation for left ventricular aneurysm resection: a prospective study of clinical and haemodynamic characteristics

A consecutive series of 97 patients with a left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) was evaluated for aneurysmectomy. A wide range in left ventricular (LV) function was found. Angina pectoris was the primary indication (51%) in 55 patients who were operated upon, whereas poor LV function was the main reason (67%) for rejecting surgery in 42 patients. Operative mortality was 9% and exclusively seen in patients with congestive heart failure and/or sustained ventricular arrhythmias. Functional status improved from (NYHA) 3.0 +/- 0.7 to 2.3 +/- 0.5 (P less than 0.0001) after surgery, while haemodynamics at rest remained unchanged. In the medically treated group, 10 patients underwent heart transplantation without mortality during follow-up. Of the remaining 32, 7 had died (22%), all with severely impaired LV function. The best prognosis with no deaths was observed in the 14 medically treated patients with moderate complaints and well preserved LV function. Those with poor LV function and/or ventricular arrhythmias had a poor prognosis whether they were treated medically or by conventional aneurysm surgery. In young selected patients with a short life expectancy, heart transplantation may represent an alternative.     

Incidence of postinfarction aneurysm within one month of infarct. Experiences with sixteen patients in Hawaii.

BACKGROUND: We report on sixteen patients with a left ventricular aneurysm presenting at less than a month following myocardial infarction. METHODS: All patients had significant left anterior descending coronary artery disease, and in eight cases (50%), this was the only significant pathology. Two patients who were treated conservatively, died within three months of infarction. RESULTS: Of the fourteen surgically treated patients, one died. There have been two late deaths, one at ten months and the other at four years postinfarction. Patients who present early after infarction, usually have a large anterior aneurysm, requiring early surgical repair with ventricular aneurysmectomy and revascularization. This group of patients showed a higher risk for major complications (such as thrombo-embolism, arrhythmias) and/or death. Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery may prove beneficial in the prevention of aneurysm formation by revascularizing the viable but ischemic tissue in that area.     

Treatment of a giant coronary artery aneurysm in an adult with a history of Kawasaki disease by resection and bypass grafting: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 22-year-old man with a history of Kawasaki disease who developed a giant calcified aneurysm of the left main coronary artery. The aneurysm was successfully resected and coronary bypass surgery was performed using the bilateral internal thoracic arteries. The resected aneurysm, the maximal diameter of which was 27 mm, showed heavy calcification of the inner layer and extended into the adjacent coronary arteries, producing a significant narrowing of the lumen of both the left main trunk (50%) and the anterior descending branch (50%). Extensive intimal calcification presumably prevented normal luminal development and produced a significant narrowing as the patient grew into adulthood. A cause for stenotic lesions developing in the coronary artery adjacent to a coronary aneurysm in adults with a history of Kawasaki disease is suggested here by the resected aneurysm seen in this patient. Thus, adult patients with giant coronary artery aneurysms and significant stenotic lesions of the coronary artery associated with Kawasaki disease may require aneurysmectomy in addition to bypass surgery.     

Does the clinical evaluation of the cardiac status predict outcome in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms?

A cost-effective method to reduce mortality rates after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair centers on selecting and investigating only those patients at risk for cardiac-related death. All 146 patients undergoing asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm repair over a 5-year period (1986 to 1990) were retrospectively placed into one of the three following groups on the basis of a clinical evaluation. Group I: no history of myocardial infarction or angina, no congestive heart failure, and no ischemic changes on electrocardiogram (ECG). Group II: history of myocardial infarction or class I-II angina or ischemic changes on ECG. Group III: presence of congestive heart failure or class III-IV angina. Patients in group I had no further cardiac work-up; patients in group II with angina had left ventricular ejection fraction assessment by multiple gated acquisition (all greater than 37%) and were cleared for operation by a cardiologist; patients in group II without angina had no further cardiac work-up; patients in group III had coronary angiography and then coronary revascularization. The overall mortality rate was 4.8%, with a cardiac mortality rate of 3.4%. The mortality rate in group I (n = 64) was 1.8%, with no cardiac-related deaths; the mortality rate in group II (n = 63) was 9.5% (8% cardiac-related deaths). No deaths occurred in group III (n = 19). The difference between the cardiac mortality rates in groups I and II was significant (p = 0.02) as was the postoperative cardiac morbidity: total myocardial infarctions (p less than 0.001); congestive heart failure (p = 0.02); tachyarrhythmias (p = 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Resection of left ventricular aneurysm during hypothermic fibrillatory arrest without aortic occlusion

From December, 1977, through September, 1984, 100 consecutive patients had ventricular aneurysmectomy during hypothermic fibrillatory arrest without aortic occlusion. In the series were 83 men and 17 women, mean age 57.2 years. Primary indications for operation were angina pectoris in 42 patients, congestive heart failure in 23, angina plus congestive failure in 22, and refractory ventricular irritability in 13. Emergency operation was required for 13 patients with an intra-aortic balloon pump. Mean New York Heart Association Class was 3.1. Mean left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was 19.5 mm Hg, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.37. Concomitant coronary artery grafting was performed in 97 patients (mean 3.2 grafts/patient). Pressor agents were used in 21 patients and an intra-aortic balloon pump in two patients. Perioperative myocardial infarction was documented in one patient (1%). There were two hospital deaths (2%), both in patients with refractory ventricular irritability. At late follow-up (mean 38.5 months), 13 additional patients (13.3%) had died. Actuarial survival rate at 73 months was 77.0%. Survival rate was better for 93 patients with anterior aneurysms if the left anterior descending and/or diagonal coronary arteries were grafted with aneurysmectomy (p less than 0.03). Although only ventricular arrhythmias predicted early death (p less than 0.03), ejection fraction (p less than 0.01) and ventricular arrhythmias (p = 0.03) predicted late death. Ventricular aneurysmectomy during hypothermic fibrillatory arrest without aortic occlusion can be performed with low hospital mortality and good long-term results. When possible, left anterior descending and/or diagonal coronary arteries should be grafted when anterior aneurysms are resected.     

Left ventricular aneurysm. Ten years' experience in surgical treatment of 244 cases. Improved clinical status, hemodynamics, and long-term longevity

This report reviews 244 patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm operated upon between 1971 and 1980. The location of the left ventricular aneurysm was anteroapical (64.7%), apical (21.3%), posteroinferior (8.6%), or lateral (5.3%). The aneurysm was caused by a significant lesion of two coronary arteries in 38.9%, of three in 33.6%, and of a single left anterior descending artery in 26.6%. The indication for operation was angina (61.1%), congestive heart failure (9.8%), intractable ventricular arrhythmias (7.8%), or a combination of the above (20.9%). Of the 218 patients who survived the perioperative period (mean 56.5 months' follow-up), 85.3% were relieved of angina and 70.5% were in Class I or II of the New York Heart Association, as compared to 16% prior to operation. Cardiac index increased from 2.4 +/- 0.7 L/min/BSA before left ventricular aneurysmectomy to 3 +/- 0.5 L/min/BSA (p less than 0.001) at 1 to 12 weeks' follow-up. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume decreased from 111.4 +/- 55.4 ml/m2 before left ventricular aneurysmectomy to 73 +/- 21.7 ml/m2 (p less than 0.001) 1 year or more later. Mean velocity of circumflex fiber shortening of the contractile portion had increased from 0.7 +/- 0.3 circ/sec before left ventricular aneurysmectomy to 0.94 +/- 0.29 circ/sec (p less than 0.05) at 1 year or more. Left ventricular aneurysmectomy alone was performed in 10.7% patients, with an operative mortality of 7.7% and an actuarial 10 year survival rate of 56.8% +/- 10.6%. Left ventricular aneurysmectomy with coronary artery bypass was done in 89.3% of the patients, with an operative mortality of 11% and an actuarial 10 year survival rate of 69% +/- 3.6%. Operative mortality after grafting of the left anterior descending artery, its diagonal branch, and the circumflex artery was 9.5%, 11.3%, and 11.9%, respectively, and the actuarial 10 year survival rate was 72.8% +/- 3.8%, 70.7% +/- 7%, and 66.3% +/- 6%, respectively. Left ventricular aneurysmectomy combined with procedures on the mitral, aortic, or tricuspid valves or closure of a ventricular septal defect was done in 8.2%, with an operative mortality of 20% and an actuarial 10 year survival rate of 60% +/- 10.9%.     

Survival and Cardiac Performance After Left Ventricular Aneurysmectomy

Reconstruction of the left ventricle was performed in 24 consecutive male patients with symptomatic, paradoxically expanding post-infarction ventricular aneurysms during the 13-year-period ending 1973. One patient also required prosthetic mitral valve replacement because of papillary muscle dysfunction and another patient patch closure of a post-infarction septal perforation. Four other patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in addition to the aneurysmectomy. All patients except 3 were seriously limited functionally, corresponding to capacity groups III and IV (N.Y.H.A.), and congestive heart failure refractory to medical therapy dominated the clinical status in most patients. A rather pronounced cardiomegaly, low physical working capacity, hypokinetic central circulation with small effective stroke volume and low cardiac output, elevated filling pressure and moderate pulmonary hypertension reflected serious impairment of LV-pump function.

Hospital mortality was 21% (5/24 patients) and closely related to the condition of the residual myocardium. There was no early mortality among patients undergoing combined procedures. All long-term survivors improved by at least one functional capacity group. The major late haemodynamic effects of aneurysmectomy were an increase in effective stroke volume and a decrease in LV-filling pressure at rest and during exercise, accompanied by a reduction or normalization of pulmonary hypertension, whereas the circulation usually remained hypokinetic. After surgery, the heart had regained much of its ability to increase stroke work during exercise, although cardiac performance was not restored to normal in the majority of patients. None of the patients suffered from thrombo-embolism postoperatively. The 5-year actuarial survival of 50% indicates a definite improvement over the natural history of left ventricular aneurysm.

It is evident from our experience and from the reports of others that surgery has a well-established position in the treatment of post-infarction LV-aneurysms with paradoxical expansion. Aneurysmectomy offers beneficial symptomatic and haemodynamic improvement and increases the chance of survival. The size of the residual LV-chamber, its blood supply and performance are important factors in the selection of candidates for surgery.     

Heterotopic heart transplantation and recipient heart operation in ischemic heart disease.

The role of heterotopic heart transplantation in coronary heart disease has not been defined. Between 1983 and 1988, 28 patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease were managed by heterotopic heart transplantation and adjunctive operation on the recipient heart: coronary artery bypass grafts and aneurysmectomy, 20; coronary artery bypass grafts, 5; and aneurysmectomy, 3. Indications were feasibility of operative procedures to the recipient heart and small donor size (61% of the donors were less than 15 years). The 1-year and 5-year actuarial survival was 79% and 63%. Of the 22 patients who survived to 2-year follow-up, all of whom had been severely limited (New York Heart Association grade III/IV) preoperatively, 20 were in grades I or II at 2-year follow-up (p less than 0.001). In 14 of 22 patients (64%), the recipient heart augmented the donor cardiac output substantially, and in 4 the recipient heart supported the patient when the donor heart failed to eject. In conclusion, this series demonstrates the efficacy of heterotopic transplantation combined with operation to the recipient heart in the management of patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease.