Primary repair minimizing the use of conduits in neonates and infants with tetralogy or double-outlet right ventricle and anomalous coronary arteries

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review our results with an approach of early primary repair for tetralogy of Fallot or double-outlet right ventricle with anomalous coronary arteries, using several techniques to minimize the use of a conduit. METHODS: Twenty consecutive neonates and infants with anomalous coronary arteries crossing an obstructed right ventricular outflow tract underwent primary repair. Median age was 5.5 months and mean weight 6.22 kg. The anomalous coronary arteries included the left anterior descending from the right coronary artery (n = 10), the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending (n = 1), the left anterior descending from the right sinus (n = 1), and a significant conal branch from the right coronary artery (n = 7) or left anterior descending (n = 1). Two neonates had pulmonary atresia. The right ventricular outflow tract was reconstructed without a conduit in 18 patients, including those with pulmonary atresia. Surgical techniques included main pulmonary artery translocation in 4 patients, transannular repair under a mobilized left anterior descending coronary artery in 2 patients, and displaced ventriculotomy with subcoronary suture lines in 8 patients. In 4 patients the right ventricular outflow tract was repaired via the ventriculotomy and/or pulmonary arteriotomy. A homograft was used as the sole right ventricle-pulmonary artery connection in 1 patient and in another a homograft was added to a hypoplastic native pathway. RESULTS: There have been no early or late deaths. The right ventricular/left ventricular pressure ratio within 48 hours of the operation was 0.47 +/- 0.10. There were 2 reoperations at 8 and 11 years after the operation, during a mean follow-up of 5.2 years (1-11.3 years). CONCLUSIONS: Primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot or double-outlet right ventricle with anomalous coronary arteries can be done in neonates and infants with excellent results. Alternative surgical techniques for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, such as main pulmonary artery translocation, can avoid the use of a conduit in most patients.     

Outcome after reconstruction of discontinuous pulmonary arteries

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine outcomes of and optimal treatment strategies for reconstruction of congenital or acquired discontinuity of branch pulmonary arteries. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2000 pulmonary artery continuity was established in 102 patients with discontinuous central pulmonary arteries and normal peripheral arborization. Data were obtained retrospectively. RESULTS: Techniques to connect both pulmonary arteries included direct pulmonary artery-pulmonary artery anastomosis (n = 33), tube graft interposition (n = 47), or pulmonary arterial implantation in right ventricular-pulmonary arterial conduits (n = 22). Among patients with biventricular repair (n = 66), survival was 85% +/- 8% at 5 years, and freedom from surgical or interventional pulmonary arterioplasty was 31% +/- 11%. At most recent follow-up, mean branch pulmonary arterial z scores were -0.5 +/- 1.6 (right pulmonary artery) and -1.4 +/- 1.3 (left pulmonary artery). Mean right to left ventricular pressure ratio was 0.61 +/- 0.26, and this value was more than 0.75 in 13 of 58 cases. Fifteen of 51 had a lung perfusion mismatch of more than 75:25, and in 9 of 58 one branch pulmonary artery was occluded. Twenty-two patients who underwent primary establishment of antegrade pulmonary artery flow without previous shunt procedures had comparable survival and reintervention rates, with a tendency toward higher pulmonary arterial z scores and lower right to left ventricular pressure ratios. Among patients with single-ventricle repair (n = 33), 5-year survival was 93% +/- 8% and freedom from pulmonary arterioplasty was 39% +/- 9%. Ten of 19 patients had a lung perfusion mismatch, and one branch pulmonary artery was occluded in 4 of 31. Overall, a direct pulmonary artery anastomosis was associated with better survival (P =.006). The presence of aortopulmonary collaterals was a risk factor for pulmonary artery occlusion (P =.03). CONCLUSION: Good survival can be achieved for patients with pulmonary artery discontinuity, but this requires frequent reinterventions. Direct pulmonary artery- pulmonary artery anastomoses and control of all collateral vessels may further improve outcome.     

Double-barrel technique for preservation of aortic arch branches during thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) may involve either planned or inadvertent coverage of aortic branch vessels when stent grafts are implanted into the aortic arch. Vital branch vessels may be preserved by surgical debranching techniques or by placement of additional stents to maintain vessel patency. We report our experience with a double-barrel stent technique used to maintain aortic arch branch vessel patency during TEVAR. Seven patients underwent TEVAR using the double-barrel technique, with placement of branch stents into the innominate (n = 3), left common carotid (n = 3), and left subclavian (n = 1) arteries alongside an aortic stent graft. Gore TAG endografts were used in all cases, and either self-expanding stents (n = 6) or balloon-expandable (n = 1) stents were utilized to maintain patency of the arch branch vessels. In three cases the double-barrel stent technique was used to restore patency of an inadvertently covered left common carotid artery. Four planned cases involved endograft deployment proximally into the ascending aorta with placement of an innominate artery stent (n = 3) and coverage of the left subclavian artery with placement of a subclavian artery stent (n = 1). TEVAR using a double-barrel stent was technically successful with maintenance of branch vessel patency and absence of type I endoleak in all seven cases. One case of zone 0 endograft placement with an innominate stent was complicated by a left hemispheric stroke that was attributed to a technical problem with the carotid-carotid bypass. On follow-up of 2-18 months, all double-barrel branch stents and aortic endografts remained patent without endoleak, migration, or loss of device integrity. The double-barrel stent technique maintains aortic branch patency and provides additional stent-graft fixation length during TEVAR to treat aneurysms involving the aortic arch. Moreover, the technique uses commercially available devices and permits complete aortic arch coverage (zone 0) without a sternotomy. Although initial outcomes are encouraging, long-term durability remains unknown.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement for recurrent carotid artery stenosis

OBJECT: Treatment consisting of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent placement has recently been proposed as an alternative to surgical reexploration in patients with recurrent carotid artery stenosis following endarterectomy. The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience after performing 25 procedures in 21 patients to assess the safety and efficacy of PTA with or without stent placement for carotid artery restenosis. METHODS: The mean interval between endarterectomy and the endovascular procedures was 57 months (range 8-220 months). Seven arteries in five patients were treated by PTA alone (including bilateral procedures in one patient and repeated angioplasty in the same vessel in another). Early suboptimum results and recurrent stenosis in some of these initial cases prompted the authors to combine PTA with stent placement in the treatment of 18 arteries over the past 3 years. No major periprocedural deficits (neurological or cardiac complications) or death occurred. There was one periprocedural transient neurological event, and in one patient a pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery (at the access site) required surgical repair. In the 16 patients who each underwent at least 6 months of follow-up review, no neurological events ipsilateral to the treated artery had occurred after a mean follow-up period of 27 months (range 6-57 months). Three of five patients who underwent PTA alone developed significant (>50%) asymptomatic restenoses that required repeated angioplasty in one and PTA with stent placement in two patients. Significant restenosis (55%) was observed in only one of the vessels treated by combined angioplasty and stent placement. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular PTA and stenting of recurrent carotid artery stenosis is both technically feasible and safe and has a satisfactory midterm patency. This procedure can be considered a viable alternative to surgical reexploration in patients with recurrent carotid artery stenosis.     

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery. A twenty-year review of surgical management.

Children with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery are at risk for myocardial infarction and death. Surgical management of this condition in children has evolved significantly during the past 20 years. Between 1970 and 1990, a total of 20 of these patients underwent surgical intervention at two institutions. Age at operation ranged from 3 weeks to 11 years (mean, 26 months). Twelve patients had congestive heart failure, three were in cardiogenic shock, and two had cardiac murmurs. Operative techniques included ligation (n = 9), subclavian artery anastomosis (n = 5), aortic implantation (n = 3), internal mammary artery anastomosis (n = 1), intrapulmonary tunnel from aortopulmonary window to coronary artery (n = 1), and cardiac transplantation (n = 1). The three deaths in the series occurred at 3 weeks, at 2 months, and at 9 years after ligation. There have been no deaths after establishment of a two coronary artery system or after transplantation. Two of the five patients who had subclavian artery anastomosis to the anomalous coronary artery have severe anastomotic stenosis and collateralization. For patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, we recommend direct aortic implantation of the anomalous coronary artery at the time of diagnosis. Intrapulmonary tunnel from aortopulmonary window to coronary artery, or aorta-coronary bypass with internal mammary artery are recommended for children in whom aortic implantation is not anatomically feasible. Left coronary artery ligation is not indicated for these patients; those who have survived ligation should be considered for elective establishment of a two coronary artery system because of the risk of late death.     

Endovascular treatment of the descending thoracic aorta.

OBJECTIVES: to report our initial experience with endovascular stent graft repair of a variety of thoracic aortic pathology. DESIGN: retrospective single center study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: between February 2000 and January 2002, endovascular stent graft repair was performed in 26 patients: traumatic aortic isthmus rupture (n=3), Type B dissection (n=11) and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (n=12). The deployed stent graft systems were AneuRx-Medtronic (n=1), Talent-Medtronic (n=13) and Excluder-Gore (n=12). RESULTS: successful deployment of the stent grafts in the intended position was achieved in all patients. No hospital mortality neither paraplegia were observed. Late, non procedure related, death occurred in four patients (15%). Access artery complications with rupture of the iliac artery occurred in two patients and were managed by iliac-femoral bypass. The left subclavian artery was overstented in seven patients (27%). Only the first patient received a carotido-subclavian bypass. The mean maximal aortic diameter decreased significantly in patients treated for descending thoracic aneurysm. Only one patient had an endoleak type II after 6 months without enlargement of the aneurysm. Complete thrombosis of the thoracic false lumen occurred in all but one patient treated for Type B dissection 6 months postoperatively. Two patients underwent a consecutive stent graft placement, due to a large re-entry tear distal to the first stent graft. CONCLUSIONS: endovascular stent graft repair for Type B dissection, descending thoracic aneurysm and aortic isthmus rupture is a promising less-invasive alternative to surgical repair. Further studies are mandatory to determine its long-term efficacy.     

Thoracic aortic aneurysms: treatment with endovascular self-expandable stent grafts

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of endovascular stent graft placement in the treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Between November 1996 and February 1999, endovascular stent graft repair was used in 21 patients. There were 5 women and 16 men with a mean age of 67 years (range, 41 to 87 years). An atherosclerotic aneurysm with a diameter of more than 6 cm was the indication for intervention in 19 patients (90.5%). In 2 patients (9.5%), a localized aortic dissection with a diameter of more than 6 cm was treated. In 71.4% (15 of 21) of patients, multiple stents were necessary for aneurysm exclusion. To allow safe deployment of the stent graft, preliminary subclavian-carotid artery transposition was performed in 9 patients (42.9%). Vascular access was achieved through a small incision in the abdominal aorta (n = 6), an iliac artery (n = 8), or a femoral artery (n = 7). Talent and Prograft stent grafts were used. RESULTS: Successful deployment of the endovascular stent grafts was achieved in all patients. Two patients died postoperatively (mortality rate, 9.5%), 1 of aneurysmal rupture and the other of impaired perfusion of the celiac axis. Repeat stenting was done in 3 patients because of intraoperative leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular stent graft repair is a promising and less invasive alternative to exclude the aneurysm from blood flow. This technique allows treatment of patients who are unsuitable for conventional surgical procedures. An exact definition of inclusion criteria and technical development of stent grafts should contribute to further improvements in clinical results.     

Surgical management of acute complications and critical restenosis following carotid artery stenting

Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) is being increasingly used in the treatment of extracranial carotid artery stenosis. As in other catheter-based approaches to the treatment of arterial disease, surgical intervention may be required because of either acute complications or correct critical restenosis. We have reviewed our experience managing early complications and critical in-stent restenoses after CAS in a tertiary care university hospital and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During the last 5 years, 22 carotid arteries (21 patients) underwent CAS. One patient developed thrombosis and rupture of the carotid artery during stenting. Two other patients (3 arteries) developed critical restenosis within 12 months. Subsequent surgical reconstructions included an internal carotid artery (ICA)–to–external carotid artery (ECA) transposition and a common carotid artery (CCA)–to–ICA bypass with reversed saphenous vein (RSV). The patient who underwent CCA–to–ICA bypass later required subclavian–to–ICA bypass because of rapidly progressive intimal hyperplasia and subsequent occlusion of the CCA. The other patient has not had surgical repair because of his deteriorating condition and significant co-morbidities. During the same time period, two additional patients were referred from outside institutions specifically for surgical intervention after carotid stenting. One had delayed rupture of the carotid artery 1 day after stenting and underwent urgent surgical repair. Another patient had early, critical restenosis within the stent and underwent placement of a CCA–to–ICA interposition graft using RSV. Acute treatment failures after CAS can be successfully managed using standard surgical techniques. Patients who develop critical in-stent restenosis requiring surgical repair may need more challenging surgical reconstructions to maintain cerebral perfusion.     

Intraoperative stents to rehabilitate severely stenotic pulmonary vessels

BACKGROUND: Patch enlargement of severe branch pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) or pulmonary vein ostial stenosis (PVS) can be technically challenging. Recurrences are common and exposure may require long periods of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Since 1993, we performed 31 procedures on 27 patients with endovascular stents placed intraoperatively under direct surgical vision: 22 patients with tight PAS and 5 patients with PVS. Selection for intraoperative (vs catheterization laboratory) stent placement was prompted by: (1) the need for a concomitant cardiac surgical procedure (16 cases); (2) limited vascular access for catheterization laboratory stent placement (11 cases); or (3) "rescue" of patients with complications after attempted placement of stents (4 cases). RESULTS: In this group of very complex and challenging patients there were 5 hospital deaths (hospital survival, 81%). Follow-up of survivors has ranged from 1 month to 7 years (mean 2.8 +/- 1.7 years). There have been 3 late deaths (late "series" survival, 70%). No complication or death was related to stent placement. Surviving patients have had significant clinical improvement. Mean pulmonary gradient (postoperative vs preoperative echo) has fallen in all survivors and has decreased from a mean of 66 mm Hg preoperatively to 28 mm Hg postoperatively (p = 0.01). All pulmonary arteries are appreciably enlarged and will be easier to deal with at a later date if necessary. One patient (DORV, HLHS ) with pulmonary vein stents has gone on to a successful Glenn procedure. The other two surviving patients with PV stents have occlusion of their proximal PVs on follow-up catheterization; thus only 1 of 5 patients with stents for PVS has had a successful outcome. Four patients have had repeat surgery. Stents have produced no impediment to subsequent surgical procedures, and the pulmonary arteries were easy to work with. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative stenting provides an attractive option for "rehabilitation" of pulmonary vessels. Direct vision insertion on CPB is extremely quick and immediately effective, limiting the CPB exposure required to treat this problem. Once stented, vessels remain open and are amenable to future surgical intervention as necessary. Outcome is better for patients with PAS versus those with PVS.     

A reconsideration of risk factors for the Fontan operation.

We reviewed our experience in 38 patients who underwent a Fontan operation. In the first five patients ages 7.5 to 23 years (mean, 15 years), a conduit was placed from the right atrium to the small right ventricle or the pulmonary artery (PA). The remaining 33 patients, ages 7 months to 14 years (mean, 4.8 years), had a modified Fontan operation with direct systemic venous or right atrial to PA anastomosis. The diagnoses were tricuspid atresia (n = 14), single ventricle (n = 10), hypoplastic right or left ventricle (n = 9), double-outlet right ventricle with inlet ventricular septal defect and pulmonary atresia or stenosis (n = 3), criss-cross ventricles and transposition of the great arteries (n = 1), and atrioventricular canal and anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 1). Thirty-two patients had previous surgery. Other procedures included PA banding (n = 7), systemic to PA shunts (n = 25), Norwood operation (n = 3), and a Damus-Kaye-Stansel anastomosis (n = 1), repair of total anomolous pulmonary venous connection (n = 1), a Blalock-Hanlon atrial septectomy (n = 1), and enlargement of a restrictive ventricular septal defect (n = 1). There were four operative deaths (10.5%), three from low cardiac output and one from subaortic obstruction. There were no deaths in patients younger than 3 years of age (n = 13). Subaortic obstruction developed in six of the seven patients who had pulmonary artery banding and resulted in three deaths. In our experience, diagnosis, previous surgery, type of previous operation, PA pressure, and younger age are not risk factors for early or late death. Subaortic obstruction is a major risk factor for late death. Accordingly we now perform a Damus-Kaye-Stansel anastomosis combined with a systemic to PA shunt in those children with excessive pulmonary blood flow who anatomically are likely to develop subaortic obstruction. A modified Fontan operation can be performed any time after 1 year of age and in some patients after 6 months of age, providing the anatomy and physiology of the patient are acceptable.     

Hemodynamic changes during off-pump coronary artery bypass anastomosis in patients with coexisting mitral regurgitation: improvement with milrinone

We hypothesized that mitral regurgitation (MR) would be exacerbated, cardiac index (CI) decreased, and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) increased in patients with coexisting MR during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) anastomosis, and that milrinone could ameliorate increases in MR that occur during OPCAB anastomosis. Subjects comprised 140 patients scheduled for elective OPCAB divided into three groups: patients without MR (MR(-) group; n = 57), patients with MR (MR(+) group; n = 41), and patients with MR who received milrinone (M+MR(+) group; n = 42). Patients with grade 1+ or 2+ MR were included, whereas those with grade 3+ or 4+ MR were excluded. Hemodynamic variables were measured after the induction of anesthesia and during anastomosis. IV infusion of milrinone (0.5 microg . kg(-1) . min(-1)) started immediately after the induction of anesthesia in the M+MR(+) group. CI was significantly decreased (P < 0.0001), and MPAP and MR were significantly increased (P < 0.001) during left coronary anastomosis in the MR(+) group compared with the MR(-) group. CI was significantly higher (P < 0.001), and neither MPAP nor MR were increased (P < 0.05) during left coronary artery anastomosis in the M+MR(+) group compared to the MR(+) group. In patients with MR, anastomosis of the left coronary artery branches was associated with decreased CI and increased regurgitation and MPAP. In such patients, treatment with milrinone helps to stabilize hemodynamics during anastomosis.     

Surgical Correction of Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) Is a rare congenital anomaly seen in 0.26% of all congenital heart defects. From 1978 to the present, we have encountered 11 such cases in patients ranging from 3 months to 60 years of age. A variety of procedures have been performed, such as ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery (n = 1), saphenous vein bypass (n = 2), subclavian to left coronary artery anastomosis (n = 4), Takeuchl repair (n = 1), and revascularizatlon using a 6-mm Gore-Tex tube (n = 1). No of these patients were children who also had prosthetic mitral valve replacements with a #1 M Starr-Edwards valve and left subclavian to left coronary artery anastomosis. Three patients died postoperatively, one Immediately after surgery due to low cardiac output, another on the eighth postoperative day due to renal failure, and the third was a child who died 3 months later due to bacterial endocarditis of the prosthetic valve. The surviving patients have been and are in NYHA Class I after a mean follow-up of 9 years. One patient, revascularized with a prosthetic graft, was lost for follow-up after 3 years. A two-coronary system appears more physiological and Is reported to be favored by most surgeons. Left subclavian to left coronary artery anastomosis has also been observed to give excellent results, with which we also agree. The mitral valve replacement In addition to this procedure, reported here, has not been described before in the literature.     

Primary repair of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals: a useful approach

BACKGROUND: The ultimate goal of surgical therapy for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries is to create unobstructed and separate in series pulmonary and systemic circuits. Our preference has been a 1-stage complete unifocalization technique, avoiding collateral anastomosis with either the native pulmonary arteries or other aortopulmonary collateral vessels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Since 1998, 5 patients (median age 29.6 months) with pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries have undergone surgical correction, consisting of (1) exclusion of a descending thoracic aortic segment from which all major aortopulmonary collateral arteries originate, and (2) connection of this aortic segment to the native pulmonary artery using an interposition polytetrafluoroethylene conduit. The ventricular septal defect was closed in all patients, and the right ventricle was connected to the unifocalized pulmonary artery with a valved conduit. All patients survived the operation. Two patients required reexploration for postoperative bleeding. One patient remained on mechanical ventilation for 17 days due to a pulmonary infection. During follow-up (12-21 months), no patient required additional interventions. The postoperative right ventricular/left ventricular pressure ratio was 0.55 median. No significant stenosis within the reconstructed pulmonary circuit was identified. All patients remain free of symptoms, requiring no medications. CONCLUSION: Intracardiac repair of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries can be accomplished by a midline 1-stage repair including complete unifocalization of all pulmonary blood supply without individual collateral anastomosis in selected patients. This approach offers a convenient and satisfactory surgical option.     

Mediastinitis after pediatric cardiac surgery: a 15-year experience at a single institution

BACKGROUND: The spectrum of sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery ranges from superficial infections to a deep sternal infection known as mediastinitis. Mediastinitis is a rare but clinically relevant source of postoperative morbidity and mortality in adult and pediatric patients after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients diagnosed with mediastinitis after cardiac surgery from January 1987 to December 2002 (17 patients/7,616 surgeries = 0.2%). Demographic data, cardiac diagnosis, cardiac surgery, hospital length of stay, associated medical diagnosis, and surgical treatment for mediastinitis were collected. RESULTS: Fifteen pediatric patients (age < 18 years) were diagnosed with mediastinitis (mean age at diagnosis 37.5 months, range 21 days to 17 years. The median postoperative day of diagnosis was 14 days (6 to 50 days). The most common organism was Staphylococcus species (n = 9). Six patients had an associated bacteremia. The median hospital length of stay for all patients was 42.5 days (range 16 to 163 days). The hospital mortality was 1 of 15 (6%). Each patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics; sternal debridement; and rectus abdominus flap reconstruction (n = 7), pectoralis muscle flap reconstruction (n = 3), omentum reconstruction (n = 1), or primary sternal closure (n = 4). Three patients have undergone redo-sternotomy with orthotopic heart transplantation, bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis, and replacement of a right ventricle to pulmonary artery homograft. CONCLUSIONS: Timely diagnosis, aggressive sternal debridement, and liberal use of rotational muscle flaps can potentially minimize the morbidity and mortality in pediatric postoperative cardiac patients. Subsequent redo-sternotomy has not been problematic.     

Adjunctive primary stenting of Zenith endograft limbs during endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: implications for limb patency

OBJECTIVE: Endograft limb occlusion is an infrequent but serious complication of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The insertion of additional stents within the endograft limb may prevent future occlusion. This study evaluates limb patency with and without adjunctive stenting of endograft limbs at the time of endovascular AAA repair. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 248 patients who underwent endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with the Zenith AAA endovascular graft between 1999 and 2004. Among these patients, two groups were identified: 64 patients with adjunctive stents placed in 85 limbs and 184 patients without additional bare stent placement in endograft limbs at the time of endovascular AAA repair. RESULTS: Women comprised 23% of stented and 11% of unstented patients (P = .02). The mean length of follow-up in the stented and unstented groups was 2.0 years. There were 13 instances of limb thrombosis in 13 patients (5.2% of patients, 2.7% of limbs), all in the unstented group. No limb occlusions occurred in the presence of adjunctive bare metal stents. Seventy-three percent of the occlusions occurred < or = 6 months of endovascular AAA repair. Two patients (15%) had no symptoms of lower-extremity ischemia despite graft limb occlusion and did not undergo intervention. The others underwent thrombectomy (n = 2), thrombectomy with bare stent placement (n = 3), femoral-femoral bypass (n = 4), thrombolysis (n = 1), and thrombolysis with bare stent placement (n = 1). Of the seven who underwent thrombectomy or thrombolysis, three had no additional stents placed at the secondary procedure, and two of these three went on to rethrombose. By life-table analysis, primary patency at 3 years in the stented and nonstented limbs was 100% +/- 0% and 94% +/- 3%, respectively (P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: The intraoperative insertion of additional bare metal stents appeared to eliminate the risk of thrombosis and was without complication. Of the 85 stented limbs in this series, not one occluded. The overall rate of limb thrombosis was low, with most limb occlusions occurring < or = 6 months of stent-graft insertion, and would probably have been even lower had we been able to identify all high-risk cases for prophylactic adjunctive stenting. Limb occlusion denotes an underlying problem with the graft, which if left untreated after thrombectomy or thrombolysis will lead to rethrombosis. Postoperative imaging was of little value in detecting impending limb occlusion. Based on these findings, we believe one should identify and stent any limbs that appear to be at risk for thrombosis, but this study lacks the data to predict which limbs need stenting.     

Aortic arch reconstruction with pulmonary autograft patch aortoplasty

OBJECTIVE: The optimal technique for aortic arch reconstruction through median sternotomy is still under debate. We have introduced the technique of pulmonary autograft patch aortoplasty as a reliable alternative. METHODS: The outcomes of 51 infants who underwent neonatal repair of interrupted aortic arch (n = 28) or coarctation associated with ventricular septal defect (n = 23) since 1992 were analyzed. The patients were reviewed in three groups according to the aortic arch reconstruction technique: group I underwent direct anastomosis (n = 23), group II underwent homograft or pericardial patch aortoplasty (n = 8), and group III underwent pulmonary autograft patch aortoplasty (n = 20). The pulmonary autograft patch consisted in the anterior wall of the main pulmonary artery, between the supracommissural level and the divided ductus arteriosus. The created defect was replaced with fresh autologous pericardium. RESULTS: All patients except 1 were discharged without significant residual gradient at the level of the aortic arch. At a median delay of 7 months (range 2-51 months), 11 patients (22%) had recurrence of arch obstruction and underwent balloon angioplasty (n = 8) or surgical correction (n = 3). One patient who had undergone direct anastomosis required reoperation for bronchial compression. At a median follow-up of 29 months, the actuarial freedoms from recurrent arch obstruction were 81% for direct anastomosis, 28% for homograft or pericardial patch aortoplasty, and 100% for pulmonary autograft aortoplasty (P =.03 for group III vs group I and P <.0001 for group III vs group II). CONCLUSIONS: The aortic arch repair associated with pulmonary autograft patch augmentation resulted in superior midterm outcomes and therefore constitutes a reliable alternative to the direct anastomosis technique. It allowed complete relief of anatomic afterload and diminished the anastomotic tension, thus reducing the risk of restenosis and tracheobronchial compression. We observed a significantly higher rate of recurrence after patch aortoplasty with other materials.     

Conventional surgical repair and endovascular treatment of acute traumatic aortic rupture.

OBJECTIVE: Endoluminal aortic stent grafting offers a potentially less invasive alternative to open chest surgery, especially in patients with polytrauma. We compare the results of conventional surgical repair and endovascular treatment of traumatic aortic rupture. METHODS: Retrospectively, 74 patients with acute traumatic aortic rupture were analyzed. Most of the patients had a rupture limited to the isthmus, and severe associated injuries. Thirty-five patients (6 female, 29 male, mean age 36 years) underwent surgical repair. Two patients were operated upon without cardiopulmonary bypass. In 39 patients (5 female, 34 male, mean age 36 years) thoracic endografts were implanted. The delay between trauma and treatment was comparable in the two groups. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 20% (7 of 35 patients) in the surgical group and 7.7% (3 of 39 patients) in the endovascular group. The most common cause of death in the surgical group was brain death in severe traumatic patients. Ten surgical complications occurred in 5 patients: respiratory insufficiency (n=3), pulmonary infection (n=2), recurrent nerve palsy (n=2), repeat thoracotomy (n=2), and compartment syndrome (n=1). No patient in this group had paraplegia. Except for one case, which required conversion to conventional surgery, stent-graft implantation was successful in all cases, without peri-interventional complications or procedure-induced paraplegia. In 9 patients the left subclavian artery was covered with the device. Two patients underwent surgical repair 15 days and 4 months after endografting because of injury of the aortic wall by the stent and development of a spurious aneurysm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic rupture, the early outcome of patients treated with endovascular stent grafts appears to be better than that with conventional surgical repair. The new technique allows safe and successful repair of this life-threatening injury in the early phase of trauma management. How far this potential benefit is sustained in the long term remains unclear at present.     

Clinical outcomes from hepatic artery stenting in liver transplantation.

Hepatic artery stenosis after liver transplantation may affect liver function and result in hepatic artery thrombosis. Surgical reconstruction has been the first choice for treatment. Interventional radiologic technique can be used, but there is no report on long-term outcome. The aim of this paper is to assess current outcome and complications of hepatic artery stenting. Twenty-six adult patients were stented for hepatic artery stenosis between 1998 and 2003. Nine patients had previous surgical reconstruction for hepatic artery stenosis. Seventeen patients suffered newly developed hepatic artery stenosis. Three patients were retransplanted. After stenting, the patients were followed by Doppler ultrasound at day 1, 1 month, and 6 months. Angiography was scheduled in 6 months. Four patients died within 2 months. The other 22 patients were followed for mean 31 +/- 14 months (8-71 months). One of 22 patients died from renal failure 2 years later. Twelve patients' hepatic arteries looked normal after stenting. Restenosis was seen in 8 patients (36%). Other complications were artery thrombosis (n = 1) and long segment stricture (n = 1). In 2 patients (25%) restenosis resulted in thrombosis. Six of the 8 patients who developed recurrent stenosis were successfully treated interventionally: restent (n = 5) and balloon dilation (n = 3). However, 3 patients (38%) restenosed. Kaplan-Meier complication-free survival was 54% at 1 year after stenting. In conclusion, hepatic artery stenting is a viable treatment for hepatic artery stenosis with reasonable results. Stenting is useful as adjuvant treatment after surgical revision.     

Outcomes in patients with interrupted aortic arch and associated anomalies: a 20-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical results for the repair of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) have evolved in recent years. We report our results for staged repair of this complex congenital malformation. METHODS: Sixty-five patients (mean age, 16.9+/-41.7 days) were diagnosed with IAA and referred for surgical therapy. The surgical management strategy at our institution between 1982 and 2005 has been one-stage complete repair (n=13) or staged repair (n=52) in selected patients. Non-complex patients (group I, n=51) had a ventricular septal defect (87%), aortopulmonary window (8%), and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (27%). Group II (n=14) were patients with Taussig-Bing double outlet right ventricle (n=6) or truncus arteriosus (n=8). Method of staged repair of IAA was to transect and turn down the left carotid artery and anastomosis it to the descending aorta (n=41) or graft interposition (n=2) combined with a pulmonary artery (PA) banding followed in a few months by delayed ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure and PA de-banding. RESULTS: There were 5 early and 10 late deaths. The actuarial survival including early mortality was 92% at 1 year, 81% at 5 years, and 76% at 10 and 15 years. There was an 81% 15-year survival for children in group I compared with a 54% for children in group II (p<0.001). Risk factors for increased mortality by univariate analysis were as follows: (1) primary aortic anastomosis (p=0.03), (2) presence of complex anomalies (p=0.05), and (3) initial IAA repair performed before 1994 (p=0.05). Actuarial freedom from any type of aortic reoperation or intervention was 86% at 1 year, 69% at 5 years, and 60% at 10 and 15 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified no tested variables as risk factors for reoperation. The majority (86%) was in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, and 14% remained in NYHA class II. During the postoperative course there were no neurologic deficits, seizures, and growth disturbances in any patient. CONCLUSION: Staged repair of IAA using a left carotid artery turn down can be safely applied in IAA patients with and without other intracardiac anomalies with good results. Use of the left carotid artery for arch reconstruction did not result in any detectable neurological events or growth disturbances later in life. Associated anomalies played an important role in outcomes. The long-term probability for reoperation and/or reintervention remains high regardless of operative technique.