Bifurcated Endovascular Grafting for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

x = 55.4 mm) underwent bifurcated endovascular grafting (Guidant/EVT, Menlo Park, CA) over an 18-month period. We concluded that bifurcated endovascular grafting with the EVT? device provides reliable and reproducible aneurysm exclusion with short hospital recovery and low morbidity.     

Endovascular Stent Grafting of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

In an effort to decrease the morbidity of conventional open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, we have witnessed in the last 10 years an expansion in the use of stent grafts as an alternative treatment option. This approach has provided a treatment option for patients with multiple medical comorbidities who may otherwise have been considered excessively high risk for standard open reconstruction. Results have identified promising procedural success while limiting complications and mortality rates. A review of contemporary results as well as patient and device characteristics is the focus of this article.     

Endovascular Stent Grafting for Acute Thoracic Aortic Pathology

Abstract   Background: Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta has shown reduced morbidity and mortality compared with open surgery. We describe our experience with endovascular stent grafting in the treatment of acute thoracic aortic pathology. Methods: From October 2003 to January 2008, 25 patients underwent endovascular stent graft repair of the thoracic aorta. The underlying pathology was a complicated Stanford type B dissection (n = 13), a symptomatic or ruptured thoracic aorta aneurysm (n = 6), a symptomatic penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (n = 5), or a traumatic aortic injury (n = 1). There were 21 males and four female patients with a mean age of 61.3 years (30–91 years). Routine surveillance included clinical evaluation and contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography scans before discharge and at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. Results: Stent graft placement was technically successful in all patients. There was no intraoperative mortality. Hospital mortality was of two patients (8%). Paraparesis occurred in one patient (4%). Average intensive care unit and hospital stay was 1 and 10 days, respectively. The mean follow-up was 30 months (range, 7–53). Late mortality was in one patient (4%), due to a type A dissection. During the follow-up, four patients (16%) required a second procedure for type I endoleak. Conclusions: Mortality and morbidity in our small series were low. Close follow-up is mandatory and long-term results have to be awaited.     

Closed-Chest Decannulation of Transthoracically Inserted Aortic Balloon Catheter without Grafting

A method is presented which allows removal of a balloon assist catheter inserted directly (without a graft) through the ascending aorta in the course of heart surgery without the need for reopening the sternotomy incision. The catheter is inserted through the aortic wall under the protection of two purse string sutures which are temporarily tightened using implantable grade silastic rubber tourniquet. The end of the tourniquet is placed subcutaneously in a subxiphoid position. At the time of discontinuation of balloon assist, the balloon can be removed using local anesthesia without reopening the sternum by exposing the end of the tourniquet substernally, removing the catheter, and plugging the tourniquet. The silastic tourniquet may be left in indefinitely or removed through a similar exposure six to eight weeks after the procedure.     

正中切口解剖外旁路移植术一期治疗主动脉缩窄合并心脏畸形

目的总结正中切口解剖外旁路移植术一期治疗主动脉缩窄合并心脏畸形的外科治疗经验,以提高手术疗效。方法1997年7月至2008年7月,采用正中切口解剖外旁路移植术一期治疗主动脉缩窄合并心脏畸形31例,其中男20例,女11例;年龄31．9±11．7岁。合并的心脏畸形包括：主动脉瓣狭窄或关闭不全22例,二尖瓣狭窄或关闭不全9例,动脉导管未闭5例,升主动脉瘤4例,室间隔缺损3例,冠心病2例。解剖外旁路移植术包括升主动脉-腹主动脉旁路移植术22例,升主动脉-心包后降主动脉旁路移植术9例。同期手术包括主动脉瓣置换术16例,主动脉根部置换术6例,二尖瓣成形或置换术9例,升主动脉置换或成形术4例,动脉导管未闭缝合术5例,室间隔缺损修补术3例,冠状动脉旁路移植术2例。结果住院死亡1例（3．2％）,术后39d死于感染性中毒性休克。术后上、下肢收缩压压差较术前明显下降（13．7±10．2mmHg vs．64．2±25．3mmHg,P〈0．05）。随访27例,随访时间4～73个月,无晚期死亡、与人工血管相关的并发症和再次手术患者。结论正中切口解剖外旁路移植术是一期治疗成人及青少年主动脉缩窄合并心脏畸形的一种安全有效的手术方法。升主动脉腹主动脉旁路移植术及升主动脉-心包后降主动脉旁路移植术均可获得满意疗效。     

冠状动脉旁路移植术中主动脉近端吻合装置的临床应用

目的评价主动脉近端吻合装置在冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）中应用的初步疗效,进一步论证其安全性及可行性。方法自2006年1月至2007年5月我们共对50例冠心病患者在施行CABG主动脉近端吻合时使用吻合装置[Novare Enclose Ⅱ系统（Novare Surgical System,Cupertino,CA）]吻合。术前合并高血压病28例、糖尿病17例、陈旧性心肌梗死18例、陈旧性脑梗死15例。其中行体外循环CABG（CABG）16例,非体外循环CABG（OPCAB）34例。共使用主动脉近端吻合装置吻合175次（3.2±1.37）,其中静脉吻合152次、游离左乳内动脉（LIMA）12次、桡动脉11次。结果术中移植血管经即时血流仪测量血流满意。未出现与近端吻合装置有关的并发症,无院内死亡。术后2例因胸腔引流量偏多而二次开胸止血,2例因呼吸功能不全行气管切开,1例因糖尿病、肾病、肾功能不全而行血液透析,5例患者经过积极治疗,治愈出院。术后未出现脑部相关并发症,未出现严重的心脏事件。术后1-3个月对50例患者通过电话以及信件随访,生存率为100%,心脏相关事件豁免率100%。结论主动脉近端吻合装置初步应用临床安全、有效,但其中、远期效果尚需进一步观察。     

Late Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Infrarenal Aortic Grafting: A 16-Year Experience

Purpose To review the manifestation and management of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding caused by secondary aortoenteric fistula (AEF) after infrarenal aortic grafting. Methods Between 1991 and 2006, nine patients underwent emergency treatment for secondary AEF localized in the duodenum (78%), ileum (11%), or sigmoid colon (11%). Three (33%) patients suffered hypovolemic shock. There were two (22%) real fistulas and seven (78%) paraprosthetic fistulas. Graft infection was confirmed in four (45%) patients and four (45%) had proximal sterile pseudoaneurysms. Surgical management consisted of graft removal with (n = 5) or without simultaneous extra-anatomic bypass (n = 1), in situ Dacron graft interposition (n = 3), ileo-duodenorrhaphy (n = 8), sigmoidectomy with colostomy (n = 1), and segmentary ileectomy (n = 1). Endografting was used only as a temporary measure to control bleeding in two patients. Results The mortality rate was 55% (n = 5). There were no intraoperative deaths, but 75% of the septic patients, 66% of those with preoperative hemodynamic instability, 50% of those with pseudoaneurysms, and 100% of those who required bowel resection died during the early postoperative period. Moreover, all of the surviving patients suffered early postoperative morbidity, resulting in prolonged intensive care unit stay and hospitalization. Conclusions Secondary AEF is life-threatening, difficult to treat, and associated with high morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with sepsis or hemodynamic instability and those requiring bowel resection.     

Rescue Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) after Aortic Composite Graft Replacement

Abstract Background: Aortic root replacement (ARR) has been recognized as the standard therapy for diseases of the aortic root since its introduction into clinical practice. ARR currently provides excellent long‐term benefit with acceptable perioperative risk and excellent long‐term morbidity and mortality. During ARR, coronary button misalignment may produce myocardial ischemia, ventricular arrhythmias, and pump failure leading to death if unrecognized. Here we review our experience with coronary insufficiency after ARR. Methods: Between January 1995 and March 2006, 139 consecutive patients underwent ARR at Yale‐New Haven Hospital. A retrospective review of their medical records was conducted. The mean age of the patients was 54.5 years. Aortic root aneurysm was the indication for surgery in 123 patients, acute type A dissection in 14, and endocarditis in two. Results: All patients underwent a modified Bentall operation with a mechanical (87%) or biological (13%) valve prosthesis and coronary artery button reimplantation. The overall 30‐day mortality was 4.3% (six patients). Three patients (2.2%) underwent rescue coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to the left, right, or both coronary arterial systems for ischemia due to presumed coronary button misalignment. These patients presented with ventricular arrhythmias or hemodynamic compromise. All three showed excellent response to rescue CABG and remain alive and well in late follow‐up. Conclusion: Coronary insufficiency after reconstruction of the aortic root is an uncommon but acutely life‐threatening occurrence. This lethal condition may present with difficulty in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass; echocardiographic signs of major wall motion abnormalities; and electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia, pump failure, and ventricular arrhythmias. Rescue CABG in this situation is life‐saving. Immediate rescue CABG should be performed if coronary ischemia is suspected after composite graft replacement of the aortic root.     

Aortic Valve Replacement Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using Bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries

Abstract Aortic valve replacement in patients with a patent internal mammary artery grafts poses two main challenges: Sternal reentry and myocardial protection. Beating heart procedures have been well described in coronary and valve surgery. Herein, we describe a simple reproducible technique of aortic valve replacement that circumvents the main issues highlighted above.     

Coronary‐Coronary Bypass Grafting to Reduce the Risk of Aortic Atheroembolism

Abstract Coronary‐coronary bypass grafting refers to making anastomoses between two segments of the same coronary artery or between different coronary arteries, and provides less “touch” to the aorta, which is important for the patients with severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta. In this report we represent a case of a patient with extensive atherosclerotic aorta, in whom a saphenous vein graft was placed between the acute marginal and the posterior‐descending branches of the right coronary artery during an off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. (J Card Surg 2010;25:167‐169)     

联合股-股动脉旁路移植术的单臂支架腔内修复腹主动脉瘤的经验

目的探讨联合股-股动脉旁路移植术(cross-femoral bypass grafting,CFBG)的单臂支架型血管(aortouniiliac,AUI)腔内修复腹主动脉瘤(endovascular aneurysm repair,EVAR)的疗效。方法1997年5月~2007年2月,对8例因髂动脉的特殊解剖条件无法应用分叉支架型血管的腹主动脉瘤采用联合CFBG的AUI支架型血管进行EVAR治疗。术后观察内漏、缺血并发症、股股旁路血管的通畅性以及下肢血供情况等。结果围手术期无死亡,1例因急性心肌梗死于术后15个月死亡。3例原发性内漏分别于术后1、3、6个月自愈。8例平均随访24个月(3~72个月),旁路均通畅,1例于术后1年吻合口轻微狭窄但无下肢缺血症状。结论因髂动脉解剖条件复杂不能应用分叉支架型血管的腹主动脉瘤采用联合CFBG的AUI支架型血管进行EVAR是安全、有效的。