经右胸—右心房途径微创室间隔缺损封堵术

目的 探讨经右胸—右心房途径微创封堵室间隔缺损(VSD)的可行性、安全性和优势.方法 2011年5月至2012年7月,采用经右胸—右心房途径微创封堵VSD 47例(经右心房组),分年龄段随机选取同期经胸骨正中—右心室途径行微创封堵术的膜周部VSD 47例作为对照(经右心室组).经右心房组手术于胸骨右缘第4或第3肋间、长1.5 ～2.0 cm的切口进胸,于右心房表面缝荷包,穿刺,插入特殊构型的中空探条,经三尖瓣入右心室.在食管超声引导下将探条对准VSD,沿探条孔送入导丝,再送入输送管和封堵器完成封堵.结果 两组均封堵成功.经右心房组VSD出口直径2.0～7.0mm,置入封堵器型号4～12 mm.心内操作时间[经右心房组(15 ±13) min,经右心室组(8±5)min]和手术时间[经右心房组(56±24) min,经右心室(72±16) min]组间差异均有统计学意义,P＜0.01.随访1 ～12个月,两组均无封堵器脱落等并发症.结论 经右胸—右心房途径微创封堵VSD安全、可行,创伤更小,手术时间更短.     

Successful repair of chronic instability of anterior chest wall following right parasternal approach for closure of atrial septal defect in a young female

Chronic instability of anterior chest wall is a known complication following the minimally invasive right parasternal approach for valvular heart operations. The exact incidence of this condition, as well as the need for reoperation, has not been well documented. We report the first case of successful correction of unstable anterior chest wall in a 33-year-old lady after she underwent atrial septal defect closure through right paramedian approach eight years ago. The repair consisted of interposing iliac crest bone graft in the defect created by deficiency of the 3rd and 4th costal cartilages and anchoring the graft using steel wires.     

Temporary right heart assist: a minimally invasive approach

A surgical method for the implantation of a mechanical right ventricular assist device which avoids resternotomy/thoracotomy and related complications at the time of explantation is presented. In order to support the failing right heart, a Dacron vascular graft was sewn to the pulmonary artery. For venous drainage, a cannula was inserted into the right atrium via the femoral vein. Explantation of the system, after the right heart resumed its function, was accomplished by retracting and compressing the venous cannula in the groin as well as by retracting the arterial cannula from the Dacron vascular graft followed by suturing without opening the chest. Between 2006 and 2011, this system was used in 12 patients. The median duration of right heart support was 10.5 days. Seven patients were successfully weaned from the system, six patients survived. In all cases, explantation was free of complications. The technique described is a safe method to support the right heart and allows explantation without the risks and complications of reopening the thorax.     

Motor nerve injuries following the minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach

Object The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of motor nerve injuries during the minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion procedure at a single academic medical center. Methods A retrospective chart review of 118 patients who had undergone lateral interbody fusion was performed. Both inpatient and outpatient records were examined to identify any new postoperative motor weakness in the lower extremities and abdominal wall musculature that was attributable to the operative procedure. Results In the period from 2007 to 2011 the lateral interbody fusion procedure was attempted on 201 lumbar intervertebral disc levels. No femoral nerve injuries occurred at any disc level other than the L4-5 disc space. Among procedures involving the L4-5 level there were 2 femoral nerve injuries, corresponding to a 4.8% injury risk at this level as compared with a 0% injury risk at other lumbar spine levels. Five patients (4.2%) had postoperative abdominal flank bulge attributable to injury to the abdominal wall motor innervation. Conclusions The overall incidence of femoral nerve injury after the lateral transpsoas approach was 1.7%; however, the level-specific incidence was 4.8% for procedures performed at the L4-5 disc space. Approximately 4% of patients had postoperative abdominal flank bulge. Surgeons will be able to minimize these motor nerve injuries through judicious use of the procedure at the L4-5 level and careful attention to the T-11 and T-12 motor nerves during exposure and closure of the abdominal wall.     

Giant aneurysm of the right atrial appendage repaired by minimally invasive approach

A 59‐year‐old female patient who was diagnosed with giant right atrial appendage aneurysm (75 × 87 mm) underwent minimally invasive repair via right mini‐thoracotomy. The aneurysm was completely excluded by linear method under beating heart without cardiac arrest. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and she was discharged home without symptoms 16 days after surgery.     

经胸骨旁途径嵴内型嵴上型室间隔缺损微创封堵术

目的 探讨经胸骨旁途径微创封堵嵴内型和嵴上型室间隔缺损(VSD)的可行性、安全性和效果.方法 全组49例,于胸骨左缘第2或第3肋间作长1.5 ～3.0 cm的切口,不进入胸膜腔,剪开心包.于右心室流出道前壁缝荷包,穿刺,插入携带相应封堵器的特制输送管,在经食管超声引导下,经VSD进入左心室,依次推出封堵器左、右伞,卡闭VSD.结果 本组成功封堵47例(96％),其中嵴内型26例,嵴上型21例.VSD平均直径嵴内型(4.4±1.7) mm,嵴上型(2.7±0.9)mm.置入封堵器型号:嵴内型(7.0±2.3) mm,嵴上型(4.8±1.1)mm.心内操作平均(17±16) min.随访3～ 24个月,无封堵器脱落、主动脉瓣受累等并发症.结论 经胸骨旁途径微创封堵直径8 mm以下的嵴内型和5 mm以下的嵴上型VSD是简单、安全、可行的.     

A minimally invasive alternative approach for reoperative grafting of the right coronary artery

BACKGROUND: Target vessel revascularization on a beating heart via a mini subxiphoid incision, not only eliminates the hazards of sternal reentry, but also avoids the detrimental systemic effects of extracorporeal circulation. AIM: The goal of the study was to develop and describe a safe and effective method to revascularize the right coronary artery in reoperative cases, using beating heart and minimally invasive techniques in lieu of the RGEA. METHODS: There were three men and four women with a mean age of 69 years; four were second time reoperations and three third time reoperations. Through a subxiphoid approach, a lower ministernotomy is performed. Once the coronary target is established, a Rultract retractor is used to gently elevate the right half of the sternum to take down the RITA. A mechanical stabilizer was used to provide stabilization for distal anastamoses. Flow was measured in all the grafts with the Medi-Stim before and after protamine administration. RESULTS: [table: see text] CONCLUSION: We believe that this technique provides another effective approach to the patient who requires reoperative coronary revascularization of the RCA.     

Chest wall tumour following iodized talc pleurodesis

Jackson, J. W., and Bennett, M. H. (1973).Thorax, 28, 788-793. Chest wall tumour following iodized talc pleurodesis. A man of 37 had an iodized talc pleurodesis carried out for recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. There was no history of industrial exposure to asbestos. Two years later he presented with pain in the right chest and radiographs at that time showed some localized pleural thickening at the site of the thoracoscopy cannulation for introduction of talc.     

Superior trans‐septal approach for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery via right small thoracotomy

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS), despite its challenges, is not a rare procedure. However, MIMVS via a right small thoracotomy must be performed using long‐shafted surgical instruments and thoracotomy instruments specialized for minimally invasive cardiac surgeries. We have performed 12 cases of MIMVS via right small thoracotomy using the superior trans‐septal approach and secured a surgical visual field that easily allows a finger to reach the mitral valve annulus without using special instruments for minimally invasive cardiac surgery. We named this technique the “drawer‐case technique.” In conclusion, MIMVS via right thoracotomy using the superior trans‐septal approach can be performed easily and safely, similar to mitral valve surgery performed via median sternotomy.     

Intraoperative video-assisted resection of left atrial myxoma through the right parasternal approach]

A 58-year-old man admitted with atypical chest pain, and an echocardiogram showed a tumor in the left atrium. The tumor widely originated from the interatrial septum and the superior-anterior inner surface of the left atrium did not disturb a mitral valve motion. A right coronary angiogram demonstrated feeding arteries of the tumor. The right parasternal skin incision was made and the tumor was completely removed through the interatrial incision under the video-assisted fiberscopic system. Nd-YAG laser was exposed on the tumor-resected surface for laser coagulation resulting in tumor necrosis. Pathological examination revealed myxoma with rich neovascularization. On the 12th day the patient discharged without complications.     

The minimally invasive surgical approach in thyroid diseases

AIM: The targets of minimally invasive thyroidectomy could be summarised by: achievement of the same results as those obtained with traditional surgery, better postoperative course and improved cosmetic RESULTS: In minimally invasive surgical approach the skin incision should not exceed 30 mm in length. In our experience this limit may be extended of 5 mm for thyroid between 25 and 50 mL in volume. This way allows more patients, excluded before, to take the advantages of minimally invasive approach. The aim of this work has been to demonstrate that the central neck minimally invasive approach is safe, less painful, better for cosmetic results and easily reproducible in surgical practice. METHODS: From January 2003 to June 2007, 75 patients have been selected for minimally invasive thyroidectomy. The procedure was carried out through a central skin incision performed 'high' between the cricoid and jugular notch. Our 'modified Miccoli-procedure' consists in five-easily repeatable steps. In the postoperative stay, all patients were asked to evaluate the pain that feel and the cosmetic result by means of a numeric scale. RESULTS: The skin incision performed was from 25 to 30 mm (mean 27.39 +/- 2.6 mm). We obtained in all cases excellent results about patients cure rate and comfort, few postoperative pain and attractive cosmetic RESULTS: CONCLUSION: In this study we demonstrate that the central neck minimally invasive approach is safe, less painful, better for cosmetic results, with less paresthetic consequences and easily reproducible in surgical practice. In our opinion a longer incision (up to 35 mm), does not affect negatively the advantages of minimally invasive procedure. This way allows more patients to take the advantages of minimally invasive approach.     

Direct minimally invasive approach for aortic root replacement

The author describes a minimally invasive approach for aortic insufficiency associated with severe calcification of the ascending aorta. The Bentall operation was easily performed through an 8 cm skin incision affording excellent exposure of the operating field, and with the use of CPB with vacuum-assisted venous drainage and clamping the aorta with a Casgrove flex clamp.