Map-guided surgery for atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Although current surgical procedures result in a high success rate for atrial fibrillation, they are not guided by electrophysiologic findings in individual patients and thus might include unnecessary incisions in some patients or be inappropriate for other patients. We sought to determine whether intraoperative mapping is beneficial for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A 256-channel 3-dimensional dynamic mapping system with custom-made epicardial patch electrodes was used to examine the atrial activation during atrial fibrillation and to determine the optimal procedure in 37 patients with continuous and 9 patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation intraoperatively. RESULTS: Surgical intervention for atrial fibrillation was not indicated in 3 patients in whom the atrial electrograms had a low voltage over a broad area. Concurrent, multiple, and repetitive activations arising from the pulmonary veins or left atrial appendage were observed in all patients. A simple left atrial procedure consisting of pulmonary vein isolation and left atrial incisions without any right atrial incisions was performed in 8 patients in whom the right atrial activation was passive, and all (100%) were cured of atrial fibrillation. The radial procedure was performed in the remaining 35 patients, and 31 (89%) of the patients were cured of atrial fibrillation. In this subset of patients, 10 exhibited reentrant or focal activation in the posterior left atrium between the right and left pulmonary veins and required an additional linear ablation on the posterior left atrium. The total amount of postoperative bleeding after the simple left atrial procedure was significantly less than after the radial procedure (378 +/- 135 vs 711 +/- 364 mL, P = .03). The right and left atrial transport functions were well preserved after both the radial and simple left atrial procedures. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative mapping facilitates determining the optimal procedure for atrial fibrillation in each patient.     

Primary osteosarcoma of left atrium: complete surgical excision

A patient with primary osteogenic sarcoma of the left atrium with clinical features of severe congestive heart failure is described. The operative procedure required excision of the posterior atrial wall in continuity with the left pulmonary veins. The resultant defect in the atrium was reconstructed with the left atrial appendage. The left pulmonary artery was ligated, and the lung was removed at a subsequent procedure. The patient survived operation but subsequently was found to have distant metastasis. He died seven months after the operation.     

Improved Surgical Approach to Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysm

Left atrial appendage aneurysm is a rare anomaly, which usually presents with arrhythmia or cerebral embolism. Diagnostic evaluation traditionally required cardiac catheterization, and surgical resection required cardiopulmonary bypass. Utilizing intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and surgical stapling devices, we have streamlined our operative technique, allowing resection of a left atrial appendage aneurysm without cardiopulmonary bypass. This report of two cases treated over the past decade demonstrates the evolution of our surgical technique.     

Subtotal cholecystectomy: for the difficult gallbladder in portal hypertension and cholecystitis

An easy, safe, and definitive operation for the "difficult gallbladder" is described and has been termed subtotal cholecystectomy. Eighteen patients underwent subtotal cholecystectomy during a 30-month period, which constitutes approximately 7% of cholecystectomies performed at our institution. The indications were cholecystitis with severe fibrosis or inflammatory changes that prevented safe dissection in Calot's triangle in 11 patients and portal hypertension in seven patients (liver cirrhosis [two patients] and segmental portal hypertension caused by chronic pancreatitis [five patients]) to prevent massive blood loss from the gallbladder bed. The operation entails leaving the posterior wall of the gallbladder attached to the liver and securing the cystic duct at its origin from within the gallbladder with a purse string technique. The latter obviates the need for dangerous dissection in Calot's triangle. Control of bleeding from the remaining gallbladder edge is greatly facilitated by the use of a running suture after each stage of piecemeal excision of the gallbladder. All patients survived the operation and wound infection occurred in only two patients (11%). One patient required a laparotomy 1 month after surgery for adhesive small bowel obstruction related to the remaining gallbladder wall and site of a liver biopsy. No patients have so far developed postcholecystectomy symptoms (median follow-up 12.2 months; range 3 to 31 months). Subtotal cholecystectomy is a definitive operation that prevents recurrent gallstone formation, as no residual diseased gallbladder mucosa is left in continuity with the biliary system. It provides a simple, safe option in patients in whom cholecystectomy could be hazardous.     

Bilateral single lung transplantation. Complications and results in 14 patients.

Between November 1989 and April 1991, 14 bilateral single lung transplantations (BSLT) were performed at our institution using the technique we have described without omentoplasty and rarely cardiopulmonary bypass. The indications included emphysema (8), cystic fibrosis (3), infected fibrosis (1), alveolar microlithiasis (1) and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (1). Maximum mean pulmonary artery pressure was 53 mmHg and minimal right ventricular ejection fraction was 15%. Two patients experienced bronchial complications: 1 complete left bronchial dehiscence, 1 late partial stenosis which required a temporary insertion of a stent. One patient had a posterior dehiscence which healed spontaneously. Five patients died postoperatively (3 of infection, 1 after a volume mismatch and 1 after a circulating anticoagulant). BSLT is the technique of choice for double lung transplantation in adults and heart lung transplantation has very few indications in infected end-stage pulmonary disease. We hope that modification of our immunosuppressive regimen will decrease postoperative mortality.     

Cryosurgery for left atrial myxoma with coronary artery bypass grafting]

This is the first report of cryoblasion of atrial myxoma which was performed in conjunction with coronary artery bypass grafting. A 63-year-old man was admitted for left atrial tumor and ischemic heart disease. Following coronary artery bypass grafting and resection of left atrial myxoma, cryosurgery was carried out for the residual tumor on atrial septum and left atrial posterior wall. Ultrasonic cardiogram after 1 year revealed no signs of recurrence. Cryoablasion was effective in preventing the recurrence of atrial myxoma.     

A new aspect of coronary artery spasm induced by cardiac surgery

Five patients developed coronary artery spasm during open heart surgery in our institute between 1984 and 1988. One patient was undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and the other four valvular surgery or surgery for congenital heart disease. In one of the patients undergoing non-coronary surgery, the preoperative induction of right coronary artery spasm by ergonovine had been documented angiographically while the remaining three patients did not possess organic or functional coronary disease. All five patients exhibited a sudden onset of hemodynamic collapse with ventricular tachyarrhythmias or ST elevation during the early period of reperfusion, the time to onset being 89.2±84.8 minutes after unclamping of the aorta. In addition, contraction of the right ventricular free wall was severely impaired. Although one patient died due to left ventricular rupture caused by direct cardiac massage, the early mortality thus being 20 per cent, the other four were successfully treated with the intravenous administration of nitroglycerin and diltiazem. Three patients required the assistance of intraaortic balloon pumping for severe cardiac failure. Thus, during open heart surgery, coronary artery spasm can occur even in patients without organic coronary lesions and the possible mechanisms of this condition are discussed herein.     

A new aspect of coronary artery spasm induced by cardiac surgery

Five patients developed coronary artery spasm during open heart surgery in our institute between 1984 and 1988. One patient was undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and the other four valvular surgery or surgery for congenital heart disease. In one of the patients undergoing non-coronary surgery, the preoperative induction of right coronary artery spasm by ergonovine had been documented angiographically while the remaining three patients did not possess organic or functional coronary disease. All five patients exhibited a sudden onset of hemodynamic collapse with ventricular tachyarrhythmias or ST elevation during the early period of reperfusion, the time to onset being 89.2 +/- 84.8 minutes after unclamping of the aorta. In addition, contraction of the right ventricular free wall was severely impaired. Although one patient died due to left ventricular rupture caused by direct cardiac massage, the early mortality thus being 20 per cent, the other four were successfully treated with the intravenous administration of nitroglycerin and diltiazem. Three patients required the assistance of intraaortic balloon pumping for severe cardiac failure. Thus, during open heart surgery, coronary artery spasm can occur even in patients without organic coronary lesions and the possible mechanisms of this condition are discussed herein.     

Left atrial thrombus in an 80-year-old woman scheduled to have an operation for uterus cancer; report of a case

An 80-year-old woman was scheduled to have an operation for uterus cancer. Echocardiography revealed a giant mobile mass in the left atrium with a stalk at posterior wall of the left atrium. There was no significant mitral disease. Due to the risks of sudden circulatory collapse and systemic emboli, an emergency operation was indicated. Right side of the left atrium was opened under cardiopulmonary bypass following median sternotomy. The mass was attached to the posterior wall, 1.5 cm medial to the right upper pulmonary vein, with a thin stalk as diagnosed preoperatively. The mass (4.2 x 3.4 x 3.4 cm) was removed very easily. Pathological analysis revealed that the mass was a thrombus mixed with fibrin. A possible cause would be paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and/or hypercoagulative status due to malignancy. Anti-coagulation therapy was initiated postoperatively to prevent recurrence of thrombus. The patient recovered and discharged uneventfully.     

A modified maze procedure performed only on the left atrium for chronic atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease: Report of a case

We describe herein the successful treatment of a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation, achieved by performing a modified maze procedure on the left atrium alone. The patient was a 51-year-old man who had suffered from intractable AF for 17 years, causing multiple cerebral emboli and palpitations. He had undergone open mitral commissurotomy and balloon commissurotomy 15 and 7 years ago, respectively. On admission, an echocardiogram revealed mitral valve restenosis and thrombosis in the left atrial appendage. Prosthetic valvular replacement was performed following isolation of all pulmonary veins with cryoablation to the posterior wall of the left atrium and excision of the left atrial appendage. Postoperatively, the AF disappeared and echocardiogram demonstrated a left atrial kick in the mitral valvular inflow without any evidence of thrombosis in the left atrium. Thus, we believe that our modified left side only maze procedure is a simple and efficient method for the treatment of chronic AF with mitral valve disease.     

Computerized global electrophysiological mapping of the atrium in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The activation sequence of the human atrium has been inferred previously from a limited number of atrial electrograms recorded sequentially with a single-point mapping system. In 10 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, three form-fitted, flexible templates containing a total of 156 bipolar electrodes were fixed to the epicardial surface of both atria. Data were recorded continuously from all 156 electrodes simultaneously during normal sinus rhythm, left atrial pacing, right atrial pacing, and reciprocating tachycardia. In all 10 patients, the site of the accessory pathway correlated with the results of the preoperative electrophysiological study and of the standard intraoperative band electrode mapping. The accessory pathway was located in the left free wall position in 8 patients, the right free wall position in 1 patient, and the posterior septal position in 1 patient. In 4 of the 8 patients with left free wall pathways, activation maps of retrograde atrial activation during reciprocating tachycardia demonstrated a broad base of initial atrial depolarization. This finding suggests that some accessory pathways may have a broad band of insertion on the atrium, and supports our practice of wide dissection of the entire anatomical space associated with each pathway to avoid recurrences of WPW syndrome. Simultaneous global atrial-activation mapping in patients with WPW syndrome provides a clearer understanding of atrial activation during reciprocating tachycardia.     

血栓闭塞性脉管炎合并动脉硬化闭塞导致下肢缺血的手术治疗

目的 探讨下肢血栓闭塞性脉管炎(thmmboangiitis obliterans,TAO)合并动脉硬化闭塞症(arteriosclerosis obliterans,ASO)手术治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析2007年治疗的TAO合并ASO 6例患者的资料.2例行腹主动脉切开取栓+内膜剥脱+腹主动脉-股深动脉人工血管旁路移植-胭动脉人工血管-小腿动脉自体大隐静脉旁路移植术,1例行腹主动脉切开取栓+内膜剥脱+腹主动脉-右股深动脉人工血管旁路移植-膝下胭动脉人工血管旁路移植术;1例行左髂总动脉-左股深动脉人工血管旁路移植一胫前动脉自体大隐静脉原位移植术,1例行左侧人工血管切开取栓+左股深动脉成形-膝下腘动脉人工血管旁路移植术,1例行右股总动脉-左股总动脉人工血管旁路移植-胫后动脉自体大隐静脉旁路移植术.结果 5例患者术后恢复顺利,1例于术后当天出现股动脉-腘动脉人工血管和远段的大隐静脉桥血栓形成,立即再次手术行人工血管和大隐静脉切开取栓术,并同时行胫后动静脉吻合.6例患者均痊愈出院,无死亡病例.5例患者的下肢远端静息痛完全缓解,1例部分缓解.足部溃疡的2例创面明显缩小,无感染发生.所有患者得到随访,平均随访为6.5个月,3例足部溃疡愈合.1例术后3个月出现左股部切口感染,最终行膝上截肢处理,残端一期愈合.其他5例患者的移植血管通畅,症状缓解.结论 对TAO合并ASO患者如果手术治疗方式恰当,可以取得比较好的疗效.     

34例非体外循环冠状动脉搭桥术

目的：报告３４例非体外循环下的冠状动脉搭桥术，。方法：秣在全麻常温下进行，正中切口２１例，左前外侧切口１１例，右前外侧切口和左胸骨旁切口各１例。单支病变１７例，双支病变１１例，三支病变６例；平均每例搭桥１．４支，其中１例同时激光打孔心肌血运重建。结果：全组无手术死亡平均手术时间３．１小时，平均带气管插管时间１０．９小时，２２例病人（６４．７％）不需输血，平均住院花费３．４万元。术后ＵＦＣＴ或ＭＲＩ     

Circulatory support with a centrifugal pump as a bridge to cardiac transplantation

Since January 1985, the Heart Transplant Program at Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, has performed 89 heart transplantations in 86 patients. Twenty patients (23%) have required preoperative mechanical support of circulation or respiration prior to transplantation. The Bio-Medicus centrifugal pump (Bio-Pump) formed the basis of our circulatory support system during the period of this report. Nine patients were placed on the Bio-Pump with the intention of bridging them to transplantation. Six patients required left ventricular assistance; in 2, the device was inserted because they could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. Two patients required biventricular assistance, 1 because she could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass at the end of a cardiac operation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was necessary in 1 patient for right ventricular decompensation and cardiac arrest four hours after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. One of these 9 patients died on circulatory support, and in another, a complication developed that precluded transplantation. The remaining 7 patients (78%) underwent a successful transplant procedure after an average of 1.6 days of circulatory support (range, 0.5 to three days), and all are long-term survivors of transplantation. There has been 1 late death at 17 months from a cerebrovascular hemorrhage. In summary, the centrifugal pump provides excellent short-term circulatory support for individuals who would otherwise die before cardiac transplantation.     

Atrial reduction plasty Cox maze procedure: extended indications for atrial fibrillation surgery

BACKGROUND: The Cox maze procedure yields good results for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, patients with predictors of failure-chronic long-standing AF, low amplitude fibrillatory waves, and large left atriums-are generally thought not to benefit from a maze procedure. We report an aggressive approach for these patients, utilizing biatrial reduction plasty concomitantly with the Cox maze procedure for AF. METHODS: A complete Cox maze procedure utilizing supplemental RF ablation was performed in 36 patients. All underwent resection of both atrial appendages and biatrial reduction plasty encompassing resection of the left atrial posterior wall from left to right pulmonary veins and from inferior pulmonary veins to the mitral annulus, as well as removal of the right atrial lateral wall. Mitral or tricuspid valve repair, or both, was performed on 32 patients. RESULTS: These patients had a mean AF duration of 45 +/- 89 months. Their preoperative left atria measured 66 +/- 16 mm, with mean AF waves of 0.74 +/- 0.3 mm. Mean preoperative New York Heart Association class was 2.7 +/- 0.7 and left ventricular ejection fraction was 48 +/- 9. Cross clamp and bypass times were 91 +/- 35 minutes and 124 +/- 33 minutes, respectively. The average posterior left atrial tissue resected was 5.4 x 2.1 cm, and mean resected atrial weight was 10.3 +/- 2 g. There were no deaths and length of stay was 5.5 +/- 2 days. At a follow-up time of 19 +/- 16 months, 32 of the 36 patients were in normal sinus rhythm and New York Heart Association class I. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive biatrial reduction plasty Cox maze procedure was effective in 89% of these "low success" AF patients. This simple procedure can extend utilization of the Cox maze procedure to more patients with chronic AF.     

Mitral valve replacement for a severely calcified mitral annulus

We herein describe a surgical technique in a mitral valve replacement for a hemodialysis patient presenting with mitral valve stenosis and severe mitral annular calcification. Mitral annular calcification extending to the left ventricular myocardium was resected using a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) to make a flat plane from the left atrium to the left ventricle. An autologous pericardium was secured to the posterior left ventricular wall and to the left atrial wall covering the mitral annulus for annular reconstruction. In the posterior mitral annulus, the prosthetic valve was fixed onto this pericardial patch. After the operation, the patient recovered well without any embolic complications. The prosthetic valve functions normally without any perivalvular leakage. Decalcification using the CUSA and the annular reconstruction with a pericardial patch is therefore indicated in valve replacement for patients with severe mitral annular calcification.     

Anatomical problems with identification and interruption of posterior septal Kent bundles

To gain insight into the cause of the complex anatomical problems associated with posterior septal Kent bundles, 20 cadaver hearts were carefully examined and the operative results in 22 patients analyzed. The following important anatomical relationships were noted. The posterior right atrium overlies the left ventricle and muscular septum. The coronary sinus wall contains myocardium continuous with both atria. The posterior superior process of the left ventricle connects the mitral annulus to the muscular septum. The epicardium of the crux can be 2.5 to 3.5 cm from the right fibrous trigone. A Kent bundle can originate in either atrium, the atrial septum, or the coronary sinus and connect with the left ventricle or muscular septum. At operation, antegrade and retrograde activation sequences were used for identification. Antegrade maps could not be recorded in 4 patients. Two operations were used, right atrial and left atrial. The initial right atrial operation was successful in 12 patients--all 7 with earliest antegrade activation over the midpart of the muscular septum or its right side and 3 with activation on its left side. Among the 6 patients with more than one operative approach, 5 had Kent bundle division. One of the patients probably had a left free wall pathway. Two pathways thought to be free wall turned out to be septal. The Kent bundles were divided in 18 patients and missed in 4, 2 of the latter having His interruption. There were no deaths. The conclusions are that the right atrial operation is reliable when the pathways are clearly posterior septal. Surgical problems occur because Kent bundles in the posterior left free wall sometimes cannot be separated from Kent bundles in the posterior septal area. Both right atrial and left atrial operations are needed if there is doubt about the location of a pathway.     

Off-pump complete revascularization through a left lateral thoracotomy (ThoraCAB): the first 200 cases

BACKGROUND: Conventional coronary bypass surgery is associated with substantial morbidity caused by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and median sternotomy. This report describes an innovative technique to perform complete revascularization through a lateral thoracotomy without CPB (thoraCAB). METHODS: From February 2000 to April 2001 a total of 200 patients underwent thoraCAB. The patient is positioned with the left side elevated to 45 degrees. A 5- to 6-inch incision is made over the left fourth or fifth intercostal space from just medial to the nipple to the anterior axillary line. The left internal thoracic artery is harvested as a pedicle graft under vision. Proximal anastomoses are first completed on the ascending aorta, followed by the distal coronary anastomoses on the beating heart using a stabilizer. Intercostal nerve freezing is done using a cryoprobe. RESULTS: Complete revascularization was achieved in all patients. The number of grafts averaged 2.9 +/- 1.08 per patient. One patient (0.5%) died of renal failure. Two patients (1%) were converted to CPB. No strokes were observed. Three patients (1.5%) required prolonged ventilation (>48 hours). Five patients (2.5%) had postoperative bleeding requiring reexploration. Of the patients, 16 (8%) developed new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: ThoraCAB has been feasible in the vast majority of patients requiring coronary bypass surgery. The prevalence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was low. Postoperative pain maybe lessened with intercostal nerve freezing.     

Surgical repair of coronary sinus type partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage with intact atrial septum

We experienced a rare form of PAPVD without atrial septal defect. The patient was a 33-year-old male and he was referred to our institute because of mild right pulmonary congestion detected by a routine chest X-P. Enlarged coronary sinus, right atrium and right ventricle were documented by UCG. The Qp/Qs was 1.9 and pulmonary artery pressure was 38/7 mmHg (mean: 17 mmHg) by cardiac catheterization. Selective pulmonary angiogram showed that all right pulmonary veins drained into the coronary sinus without evidence of an atrial septal defect. Enhanced chest CT clearly demonstrated the connection between the right pulmonary vein and the coronary sinus. Intracardiac repair without atrial baffle was carried out under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Under cardiac arrest with cardioplegia, the common wall between the right pulmonary vein and the left atrium was incised and the connection between the right pulmonary vein and the left atrium was established. The flap made by this incision was brough posterior to close the right pulmonary vein opening to the coronary sinus. The postoperative course was uneventful and the minimum diameter of the right pulmonary vein was found to be 15.5 mm by a postoperative pulmonary artery angiogram. This operative method without an atrial baffle could be an alternative procedure for coronary sinus type PAPVD.     

Surgery for the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The Groote Schuur Hospital experience

Surgical division of accessory atrioventricular (AV) connections has been performed on 9 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome at Groote Schuur Hospital. All patients had symptomatic paroxysmal tachycardia. The indication for surgery in 5 patients was poor control on antiarrhythmic drugs. Surgery was performed on a 15-year-old boy to prevent lifelong dependence on drugs, although his atrial fibrillation (ventricular rate greater than 300/min) was controllable with sotalol 1,280 mg daily. The remaining 3 patients required cardiac surgery for other indications and therefore their accessory pathways (APs) were divided concurrently. The AP was localised by pre-operative endocardial mapping and intra-operative epicardial mapping. There were 4 posteroseptal, 3 left free-wall and 2 right free-wall pathways. An endocardial approach was used to divide the pathways. All 5 free-wall APs were successfully divided without complications or recurrence. However, 1 patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and severe unstable angina due to coronary artery disease died unexpectedly 10 days after 4-vessel coronary bypass grafting and division of a posteroseptal AP. Postoperative complications occurred in a further 2 patients with posteroseptal APs. One patient developed complete heart block and is now asymptomatic with a DDD pacemaker, while the other had recurrence of retrograde bypass conduction postoperatively, but is now successfully controlled on sotalol. Therefore 7 of the 8 survivors are free of recurrence of tachycardia on no anti-arrhythmic drugs after a mean follow-up of 14.3 months. New insights into the surgical technique, particularly for division of posteroseptal pathways, can be expected to improve the outlook.