THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL CORONARY TO PULMONARY ARTERY FISTULA

Six patients with coronary to pulmonary artery fistula underwent surgical treatment between January 1973 and August 1975. All fistulee terminated in the main pulmonary artery just distal to the pulmonary valve. Two patients had severe coronary artery disease associated with the fistula. In all patients, the fistula was over-sewn from ivithin the pulmonary artery in addition to ligation of the fistulous vessel on the surface of the pulmonary artery or heart, cardiopulmonary bypass being employed. Two patients underwent concomitant aortocoronary artery saphenous vein bypass for occlusive coronary artery disease. Follow-up data revealed that three patients were free of symptoms and two were improved, while one was lost to follow-up.     

Surgical treatment of coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula with coronary aneurysm]

We experienced 4 cases of coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula with coronary aneurysm, three patients had symptoms of chest pain, and 1 patient had cardiac murmur. Coronary arteriography showed that three patients had fistulas from the left coronary artery to the pulmonary artery; and that 1 patient had a fistula from both the right and left coronary arteries to the pulmonary artery. Moreover, 1 patient had 90% diameter stenosis of segment 7. The maximum diameter of the coronary aneurysm ranged from 12 to 20 mm (average: 15.3 mm). One patient underwent closure of the opening of the fistula, 2 patients underwent multiple ligatures of fistulas, and 1 patient underwent multiple ligatures of fistulas with coronary artery bypass grafting. The postoperative course of every patient was uneventful. There have been 42 reports on this abnormality in Japan. We should treat the fistula as early as possible to prevent cardiac complications such as myocardial ischemia and rupture of coronary aneurysm.     

Ligation of a fistula between the left main coronary artery and both the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle

The frequency of coronary artery fistula among all coronary angiography patients is 0.1% to 0.2%; however, involvement of both the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle is a rare clinical entity. A 53-year-old man patient was admitted to our clinic with rarely occurring chest pain, palpitations, and dyspnea. A coronary angiogram showed a fistula between the left main coronary artery and both the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle. We performed a ligation of this fistula without cardiopulmonary bypass. Aorta and right ventricle sutures were made, and the proximal and distal portions of the fistula were obliterated with 5-0 Prolene sutures and previously prepared Teflon felt. The patient recovered and was discharged without any complications. The surgical indications for coronary artery fistulas are symptomatic disease, an aneurysmic coronary artery, signs of heart failure, and ischemia. The surgical options in such cases--depending on whether the fistula is complicated or not--are simple ligation or transarterial ligation under cardiopulmonary bypass.     

Surgical treatment of airway obstruction associated with congenital heart disease in infants and small children

In the last 12 years, 21 patients age 1 month to 5 years (median, 7 months) underwent surgical treatment for severe airway obstruction associated with congenital heart disease. Plico-suspension of the pulmonary artery was carried out in 14 patients with documented severe left bronchial compression by a distended pulmonary artery together with repair of ventricular septal defects (11 patients), repair of large coronary artery fistula (1), division of ductus (1) and pulmonary artery banding (1), with subsequent significant relief of compression. Aortopexy was used in 2 patients with documented severe tracheal compression by a right aortic arch. Five patients had congenital tracheal stenoses (3 extensive, 2 localized). Two of 3 patients with associated complex intracardiac anomalies underwent concomitant repair of both lesions with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and 1 had a tracheoplasty and pulmonary artery banding. Tracheal reconstruction with a cartilaginous graft together with repair of pulmonary artery sling was carried out in 2 infants. Nineteen patients are alive and well, at a mean follow-up of 87 months. In conclusion, we advocate early aggressive surgical intervention to both lesions to obtain a better result in the management of infants and small children with this difficult and often fatal combination.     

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas with giant aneurysm: two case reports.

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas are rare, particularly in association with coronary aneurysms. Two rare cases of patients with coronary arteriovenous fistulas and giant aneurysmal formation are described. A right coronary fistula that drained into the superior vena cava was demonstrated in one patient. The remaining patient had a documented left coronary fistula that drained into a main pulmonary artery and had evidence of several plexal vessels that transversed through the pulmonary trunk and toward the pericardial reflex. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, the fistulas and plexal vessels were successfully ligated without any injury to the native coronary circulation.     

Urgent coronary artery bypass graft operation of a patient with acute anterior myocardial infarction,congenital right coronary artery to main pulmonary artery fistula and left hilar hamartoma of the lung

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery fistulas are rare congenital or acquired coronary artery anomalies that can originate from any of the three major coronary arteries and drain into all the cardiac chambers and great vessels. METHODS (CASE REPORT): A 67-year-old male patient administered to the emergency department with a severe unstable angina pectoris. Patient underwent a three-vessel coronary artery bypass graft surgery, liga-clip occlusion of coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula and a direct diagnostic punch biopsy from the left hilar mass lesion. RESULTS: No complications were encountered postoperatively. The patient was discharged on postoperative day eleven with a referral to the thoracic surgery department for further treatment of his lung tumor. CONCLUSIONS: In this report we present successful combination of an urgent coronary artery bypass graft operation in acute anterior myocardial infarction status with concomitant pathologies of congenital right coronary artery to main pulmonary artery fistula and left hilar mass lesion of the lung.     

Surgical management of the coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas; a case of a large ruptured aneurysm

Three patients were treated for coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. Each was asymptomatic due to a coronary artery fistula. There was one instance each of myocardial infarction, mitral stenosis and a large closed ruptured aneurysm including a thrombus. All the fistulas were comprised of several small plexiform arranged vessels. The left to right shunt ratio was approximately 8 per cent or less. A surgical operation was performed to close the drainage orifice of the fistulas through pulmonary arteriotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass in two patients while one patient underwent a ligation of a large abnormal vessel to the aneurysm followed by a resection of the aneurysm without cardiopulmonary bypass. A large saccular aneurysm of such fistulas is rare and a rupture of such an aneurysm is even more rare. The surgical management of coronary artery fistulas is also discussed herein.     

Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic surgery in patients with coronary artery disease was investigated. METHODS: Between 1990 and April 2003, 330 patients underwent elective thoracic aortic surgery. Fifty-six patients who underwent aortic root reconstruction were excluded and 274 patients were examined. Fifty-four (20%) patients showed concomitant coronary artery disease. Ten had undergone coronary revascularization previously; and 3 underwent coronary revascularization [2 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 1 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)] before aortic surgery. Twenty-three patients underwent elective CABG simultaneously and 2 patients had additional coronary artery bypass because of cardiac ischemia during operation. The number of patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery including Asc Ao+AVR was 2, hemi arch 1, total arch 15, distal arch 5, distal arch+LV aneurysmectomy 1, and thoracoabdominal Ao 1. Two patients underwent coronary revascularization with arterial grafts and the others with SVG grafts. RESULTS: There was one hospital death (4%). In patients without coronary bypass, 2 patients suffered cardiac ischemic events. CONCLUSION: Our thoracic aortic operations with concomitant CABG using SVG were overall successful. Our current strategies for thoracic aortic surgery in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease include conducting a dipyridamole myocardial perfusion-imaging test first in patients not at risk of coronary artery disease, and if the test is positive, coronary angiography is performed and aggressive coronary revascularization is conducted where possible.     

Concomitant peripheral artery disease and asymptomatic coronary artery disease: a management strategy

The present study examines the use of routine coronary angiography (CAG) before elective peripheral artery disease (PAD) surgery and the early outcome and technical features of simultaneous coronary revascularization and PAD surgery in PAD patients with asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). We performed preoperative CAG in 82 patients who were undergoing elective peripheral arterial bypass surgery and who had no diagnosis or symptoms of ischemic heart disease. The 82 patients were grouped according to the criteria of <70% stenosis, >70% stenosis, and no coronary stenosis. In patients with >70% coronary artery stenosis, we performed simultaneous peripheral artery bypass surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), while the other patients underwent peripheral artery bypass only. Preoperative coronary angiography revealed CAD in 69.5% (n = 57) of patients. Patients with CAD were more likely to be older, hypertensive, and diabetic than patients without CAD (all p < 0.05). Preoperative electrocardiography showed that only 3/57 (5.3%) patients with CAD had ischemic heart disease. Of the 61 patients who underwent peripheral artery bypass, 27 (47.4%) underwent simultaneous CABG. Of the patients with CAD, 78.9% (45/57) required peripheral artery bypass, whereas 64.0% (16/25) of patients without CAD required peripheral artery bypass (p = 0.11). Comparing simultaneous CABG and peripheral artery bypass in PAD patients with CAD and isolated peripheral artery bypass in PAD patients regardless of CAD, the only significant difference was in operating time (362.00 +/- 79.18 vs. 246.55 +/- 79.15 min, p = 0.00). When compared with PAD patients with CAD who underwent isolated peripheral artery bypass, the results were similar. Two patients who had CAD and underwent isolated peripheral artery bypass died (p = 0.16). Patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease should be examined for CAD using CAG, regardless of whether they have symptomatic ischemic heart disease, and simultaneous CABG and peripheral artery bypass is safe and feasible.     

Coronary artery surgery and direct coronary artery thrombolysis during acute myocardial infarction

Twelve patients underwent direct coronary artery streptokinase thrombolysis during acute evolving myocardial infarction. Ten patients had restoration of orthograde pulmonary blood flow. Eight patients had significant myocardial salvage and clinical stabilization. Nine patients had subsequent coronary artery bypass surgery with no major hematological or cardiac complications. Five of these had surgery performed immediately. Two patients with no myocardial salvage after streptokinase had urgent surgery because of other critical coronary lesions. Seven patients with thrombolytic salvage of myocardium underwent urgent coronary artery bypass surgery without incident. The occurrence of two reinfarctions in streptokinase-improved patients waiting for surgery suggests that delay is unwarranted and coronary bypass surgery is needed to insure success.     

Congenital fistula between the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and the pulmonary artery: cause of LIMA bypass occlusion?

Congenital fistulas from the left internal mammary artery to the pulmonary artery are rare. We describe a 49-year-old patient with severe aortic valve regurgitation and coronary artery disease. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenting had been performed because of a significant proximal LAD lesion. Repeated coronary angiogram 3 months later revealed a patent stent but severe sclerosis up to a 40% stenosis of the LAD after the area of stenting. An aortic valve replacement and a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) bypass to LAD were performed during standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Because of patient chest pain, a control angiogram was carried out 2 years after surgery and revealed a LIMA-bypass occlusion and a large fistula deriving from the proximal part of the LIMA to the pulmonary artery. The fistula was occluded by coils during an interventional cardiological procedure. Diminished flow in the LIMA bypass due to the fistula in combination with a nonsignificant proximal LAD stenosis are possible reasons for IMA-bypass occlusion. From this case we conclude that angiography of the IMA to detect malformations preoperatively should be mandatory in all cases of arterial coronary revascularization using IMA bypasses.     

Simultaneous cardiac operations with pulmonary resection for lung carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: A procedure remains to be established for managing patients with both cardiac and pulmonary diseases requiring surgical interventions. We review our experience with 6 patients having cardiac disease and lung cancer surgically treated simultaneously to determine whether simultaneous surgery is safe and effective. METHODS: Subjects were 6 men with a mean age of 64 +/- 10 years undergoing cardiac surgery combined with pulmonary lobectomy from January 1986 through June 2000. Cardiac procedures consisted of coronary artery bypass in 3, coronary artery bypass plus left ventricular aneurysm repair, aortic valve replacement, and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery in 1 patient each. All underwent lobectomy. RESULTS: No early deaths occurred. Bleeding complications occurred in 2 patients and lymph node dissection was incomplete in 3. Two died of carcinoma-related events, 1 at 28 and the other at 84 months after surgery. One died suddenly from a cardiac-related event 42 months after surgery. Only 1 patient is currently alive and disease-free at 104 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous surgery can be conducted with acceptable mortality. The occurrence of bleeding complications and incomplete lymph node dissection, however, indicates combined procedures only in patients requiring simultaneous surgery due to their disease or unable to tolerate a second operation.     

Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease

Objective: Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic surgery in patients with coronary artery disease was investigated. Methods: Between 1990 and April 2003, 330 patients underwent elective thoracic aortic surgery. Fifty-six patients who underwent aortic root reconstruction were excluded and 274 patients were examined. Fifty-four (20%) patients showed concomitant coronary artery disease. Ten had undergone coronary revascularization previously; and 3 underwent coronary revascularization [2 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 1 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)] before aortic surgery. Twenty-three patients underwent elective CABG simultaneously and 2 patients had additional coronary artery bypass because of cardiac ischemia during operation. The number of patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery including Asc Ao+AVR was 2, hemi arch 1, total arch 15, distal arch 5, distal arch+LV aneurysmectomy 1, and thoracoabdominal Ao 1. Two patients underwent coronary revascularization with arterial grafts and the others with SVG grafts. Results: There was one hospital death (4%). In patients without coronary bypass, 2 patients suffered cardiac ischemic events. Conclusion: Our thoracic aortic operations with concomitant CABG using SVG were overall successful. Our current strategies for thoracic aortic surgery in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease include conducting a dipyridamole myocardial perfusion-imaging test first in patients not at risk of coronary artery disease, and if the test is positive, coronary angiography is performed and aggressive coronary revascularization is conducted where possible.     

冠状动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的 介绍冠状动脉瘤的临床表现及治疗经验。方法 1996年10月－2000年5月,对6例患者行冠状动脉瘤手术,3例为川崎病,3例为冠状动脉瘘;均行冠状动脉旁路移植术,3例冠状动脉瘘患者同时切除冠状动脉瘤,修补冠状动脉瘘口,1例行主动脉瓣置换术。结果 6例患者无住院死亡和严重并发症。随访无异常。结论 冠状动脉瘤是一较为罕见的心脏病,预后差,应尽早手术治疗。手术原则是切除冠状动脉瘤,行冠状动脉旁路移植术并处理好合并病变。     

Surgical treatment of giant coronary artery aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: Giant coronary artery aneurysm is an extremely uncommon disease. Most previous reports have involved only single cases. This report describes 6 patients with giant coronary artery aneurysm, examines its causes, and aims to establish the optimal surgical strategies for this exceptional and rare pathology. METHODS: From July 1996 to October 2004, a total of 30,268 patients underwent heart surgery at Fuwai Hospital in Beijing. Among these, 6 patients had giant coronary artery aneurysm diagnosed and underwent operation. Various surgical strategies were used for the operations of these 6 patients, such as coronary artery aneurysm resection, coronary artery reconstruction, and concomitant coronary bypass. Additional procedures, such as fistula closure, aortic valve replacement, aortoplasty, and embolectomy, were done at same time for the patients with complications of coronary fistula, aortic valve insufficiency, or thrombus. Patients were followed up from 8 to 87 months, with a mean of 48 months. Doppler echocardiography, ultrafast computed tomography, and 3-dimensional aerial image studies were performed during follow-up. RESULTS: Five of these six cases were found combined with coronary artery fistula, and the cause for these giant coronary artery aneurysms was congenital. The remaining case was caused by atherosclerosis. After surgery, all patients recovered uneventfully, without in-hospital mortality. None died during the follow-up, nor did any have recurrence of the symptoms or giant coronary artery aneurysm. CONCLUSION: Giant coronary artery aneurysm is a rare entity that is commonly caused by congenital malformation and combined with other cardiac anomalies. An optimal surgical operation should be based on the specific cardiac anomaly of the individual patient.     

Propensity case-matched analysis of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with atheromatous aortic disease

OBJECTIVE: Atheromatous aortic disease is a risk factor for excessive mortality and stroke in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with severe atheromatous aortic disease were compared by propensity case-match methods. METHODS: Routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography identified 985 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with severe atheromatous disease in the aortic arch or ascending aorta. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 281 patients (28.5%). Propensity matched-pairs analysis was used to match patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 245) with patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed decreased hospital mortality (16/245, 6.5% vs 28/245, 11.4%; P =.058) and stroke prevalence (4/245, 1.6% vs 14/245, 5.7%; P =.03) in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Freedom from any postoperative complication was higher in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (226/245, 92.2% vs 196/245, 80.0%; P <.001). Multivariable analysis of preoperative risk factors showed that increased hospital mortality was associated with coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (odds ratio = 2.7; P =.01), fewer grafts (P =.05), acute myocardial infarction (odds ratio = 11.5; P <.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio = 2.4; P =.03), previous cardiac surgery (odds ratio = 10.2, P =.05), and peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio = 2.1; P =.05). Cardiopulmonary bypass was the only independent risk factor for stroke (odds ratio = 3.6, P =.03). At 36 months' follow-up, comparable survival was observed in the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass groups (74% vs 72%). Multivariable analysis revealed that renal disease (P <.001), advanced age (P <.001), previous myocardial infarction (P =.03), and lower number of grafts (P =.02) were independent risks for late mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe atherosclerotic aortic disease who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting have a significantly lower prevalence of hospital mortality, perioperative stroke, and overall complications than matched patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography identifies severe atheromatous aortic disease and directs the choice of surgical technique.     

Surgical treatment for innominate artery aneurysm with a coronary pulmonary artery fistula: a case report.

A 50-year-old woman complained of hoarseness and chest X-ray demonstrated a widening of the superior mediastinum. Computed tomography scanning and aortography demonstrated aneurysmal dilatation at the innominate artery. Coronary arteriography showed a coronary pulmonary artery fistula originating from the left anterior descending artery. The surgical procedure was prosthetic bifurcated bypass grafting from the ascending aorta to the right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery. During the period of innominate artery occlusion, the patient was cooled to 25 degrees C with selective cerebroperfusion and circulatory arrest. Pathologic diagnosis of the specimen was that of a true aneurysm with atherosclerotic plaque and calcification. The coronary pulmonary artery fistula was closed inside the pulmonary artery. There were no signs of neurologic deficit noted. Innominate artery aneurysm is uncommon and the surgical approach varies in each case. A coronary artery fistula is also an uncommon congenital malformation but has been recognized more often with the improvement in diagnostic techniques such as selective coronary arteriography. We performed successful surgical treatment for a rare case of innominate artery aneurysm with a coronary pulmonary artery fistula.     

Staged coronary artery bypass grafting after percutaneous angioplasty for intracranial vascular stenosis

OBJECTIVE: Cerebrovascular disease is commonly associated with coronary artery disease and is a major risk factor for cardiac surgery. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy may reduce the risk of stroke; however, this staged operation is effective only for extracranial lesions. The strategy for on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with intracranial vascular stenosis is still controversial. METHODS: The subjects were 157 consecutive candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting who underwent computed tomography and digital subtraction cerebral angiography preoperatively to check for cerebrovascular disease. Additional single-photon emission computed tomography was performed to evaluate cerebral ischemia, according to the neurologist's request. Patients with diffuse intracranial vascular stenosis impossible to treat with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients with a circumflex coronary artery lesion first underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for cerebral vascular stenosis followed by secondary on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: Three patients were selected for staged operations. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed for 4 intracranial stenotic lesions. All lesions were dilated successfully, and no complications developed during or after the procedure. All patients tolerated staged coronary artery bypass grafting and were extubated within 1 day without any mental disturbance. No further neurologic complication occurred, and computed tomography performed postoperatively revealed no significant changes. CONCLUSION: Staged on-pump coronary bypass after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for cerebrovascular disease may reduce the risk of stroke during cardiopulmonary bypass, and it is useful especially in patients with intracranial cerebrovascular disease.     

采用双冠状动脉导丝法建立先天性心脏病介入治疗复杂路径轨道

目的探讨以双冠状动脉导丝法建立先天性心脏病(简称先心病)介入治疗复杂路径轨道的价值。方法回顾性分析12例应用双冠状动脉导丝法建立介入治疗轨道的先心病患儿的临床资料,其中肺动脉闭锁伴室间隔缺损(PA/VSD)矫治术后肺动脉狭窄5例,法洛四联症(TOF)矫治术后肺动脉狭窄1例,大动脉转位(TGA)术后肺动脉狭窄1例,粗大体肺侧支(MAPCAs)3例,复杂型肺动静脉瘘1例及左冠状动脉回旋支-右心房瘘1例;分析先心病介入治疗复杂路径特点。结果采用双冠状动脉导丝均成功建立输送轨道。对PA/VSD矫治术后肺动脉狭窄、TOF术后肺动脉狭窄、TGA术后肺动脉狭窄患儿成功进行球囊扩张,对MAPCAs、复杂型肺动静脉瘘及左冠状动脉回旋支-右心房瘘患儿均封堵成功,未出现瓣膜损伤、血管损伤、心包填塞及死亡等严重并发症。结论以双冠状动脉导丝法建立先心病介入治疗复杂路径轨道方法安全、有效,可调控性强,能提供足够支撑力通过纡曲段,有利于提高介入治疗成功率,值得临床推广应用。     

Wrist-enhanced instrumentation: moving toward totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: With the introduction of the da Vinci robotic surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA) into minimally invasive cardiac operations the outlook for performing coronary artery bypass operations "closed chest" became a reality. METHODS: Between May 1999 and December 1999 this new wrist-enhanced instrumentation was used in 61 patients. Six patients suffering from single-vessel coronary artery disease and one female patient with double-vessel disease underwent totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass. Thirty-seven patients with single-vessel disease underwent a minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass procedure. Seventeen patients with double-vessel disease were treated using the robotic-enhanced Dresden technique. RESULTS: Perioperative survival was 100%. In all patients the internal mammary arteries were safely harvested endoscopically and had excellent quality. In both totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass groups all patients were operated on through three stab incisions. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience with this new surgical technique using robotic-enhanced minimally invasive methods for coronary artery disease promotes optimism regarding further development of these procedures and application in patients with coronary artery disease.