Transcatheter Laceration of Aortic Leaflets to Prevent Coronary Obstruction During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Concept to First-in-Human

Objectives

This study sought to develop a novel technique called bioprosthetic or native aortic scallop intentional laceration to prevent coronary artery obstruction (BASILICA).

Tip-to-Base LAMPOON for Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement With a Protected Mitral Annulus

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate tip-to-base intentional laceration of the anterior mitral leaflet to prevent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LAMPOON) in patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in annuloplasty rings or surgical mitral valves.BackgroundLAMPOON is an effective adjunct to TMVR that prevents left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Laceration is typically performed from the base to the tip of the anterior mitral leaflet. A modified laceration technique from leaflet tip to base may be effective in patients with a prosthesis that protects the aortomitral curtain.MethodsThis is a multicenter, 21-patient, consecutive retrospective observational cohort. Patients underwent tip-to-base LAMPOON to prevent LVOTO and leaflet overhang, or therapeutically to lacerate a long anterior mitral leaflet risking or causing LVOTO. Outcomes were compared with findings from patients in the LAMPOON investigational device exemption trial with a prior mitral annuloplasty.ResultsTwenty-one patients with a annuloplasty or valve prosthesis–protected mitral annulus underwent tip-to-base LAMPOON (19 preventive, 2 rescue). Leaflet laceration was successful in all and successfully prevented or treated LVOTO in all patients. No patients had significant LVOTO upon discharge. There were 2 cases of unintentional aortic valve injury (1 patient underwent emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement and 1 patient underwent urgent surgical aortic valve replacement). In both cases, the patients had a supra-annular ring annuloplasty, and the retrograde aortic guiding catheter failed to insulate the guidewire lacerating surface from the aortic root. All patients survived to 30 days. Compared with classic retrograde LAMPOON, there was a trend toward shorter procedure time.ConclusionsTip-to-base laceration is a simple, effective, and safe LAMPOON variant applicable to patients with an appropriately positioned mitral annular ring or bioprosthetic valve. Operators should take care to insulate the lacerating surface from adjacent structures.     

Optimizing integration of electrosurgical hand controls within a laparoscopic surgical tool

Abstract

In laparoscopic surgery, electrosurgical equipment is operated by means of one or more foot pedals positioned on the floor in front of the surgeon causing poor ergonomic posture and physical discomfort. The focus of this study was to ergonomically explore the integration of electrosurgical hand controls within the previously designed Intuitool? laparoscopic surgical instrument to optimize functionality. Three different hand control designs (CDs) were implemented within the Intuitool? and each CD contained the standard cutting and coagulation features, previously operated by foot pedals. This study used 26 right-handed participants, with no previous laparoscopic surgery experience. The participants completed simple tasks using all three CDs within a simulated abdomen. Electromyography (EMG) sensors and force sense resistors (FSRs) were utilized to measure muscle activity and button actuation force, respectively. A questionnaire was also utilized to measure comfort level of each CD. The results indicated that the close proximity of CD 1 generated greater actuation force for all tasks, was rated easier to use (P = 0.003) and was preferred more frequently by the participants (53.8%) compared to CD 2 and 3. As a result, CD 1 was determined to be an optimal ergonomic design for electrosurgical hand controls within the Intuitool?.     

History of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

While Drs. Wolff, Parkinson, and White fully described the syndrome that bears their names in 1930, prior case reports had already described the essentials. Over the ensuing century this syndrome has captivated the interest of anatomists, clinical cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons. Stanley Kent described lateral muscular connections over the atrioventricular (AV) groove, which he felt were the normal AV connections. The normal AV connections were, however, clearly described by His and Tawara. True right-sided AV connections were initially described by Wood et al., while Ohnell first described left free wall pathways. David Scherf is thought to be the first to describe our current understanding of the pathogenesis of the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in terms of a reentrant circuit involving both the AV node--His axis as well as the accessory pathway. This hypothesis was not universally accepted and many theories were applied to explain the clinical findings. The basics of our understandings were established by the brilliant work of Pick, Langendorf, and Katz who by using careful deductive analysis of ECGs were able to define the basic pathophysiological processes. Subsequently, Wellens and Durrer applied invasive electrical stimulation to the heart in order to confirm the pathophysiological processes. Sealy and his colleagues at Duke University Medical Center were the first to successfully surgically divide an accessory pathway and ushered in the modern area for curative therapy for these patients. Morady and Scheinman were the first to successfully ablate an accessory pathway (posteroseptal) using high-energy direct-current shocks. Subsequently, Jackman, Kuck, Morady, and a number of groups proved the remarkable safety and efficiency of catheter ablation for pathways in all locations using radiofrequency energy. More recently, Gallob et al. first described the gene responsible for a familial form of WPW. The current ability to cure patients with WPW is due to the splendid contributions of individuals from diverse disciplines from throughout the world.     

经尿道前列腺切除术不同术式疗效的比较

目的：探讨前列腺增生症(BPH)的4种经尿道手术的治疗效果。方法：245例BPH患者分为4组，分别采用经尿道前列腺电切术(TURP)、经尿道前列腺电气化术(TUVP)、TUVP TURP术和经尿道激光前列腺切除术(TULP)治疗。比较4组的术中及术后情况。结果：TURP组手术时间员长、术中出血量最多，TULP组手术时间员短、术中出血量最少，但术后留置尿管时间员长。术后3个月TURP、TUVP及TUVP TURP的IPSS评分、最大尿流率和残尿量3组比较无显著性差异，与TULP组比较均有显著性差异。TULP及TUVP TURP组术后无并发症发生。结论：综合分析TUVP TURP优于其它术式，TULP适用于高危患者。     

高频电切针透壁打孔对犬缺血心肌的血管重建

目的:在犬的急性缺血心肌上,用高频电切针做透壁性打孔,观察心肌血管重建. 方法:健康杂种犬30只,体质量(12.36±2.68) kg,随机分为3组,每组10只. 结扎组:结扎前降支第二对角分支以下及回旋支近心尖部分支后关胸. 针刺组:先超声测量左室壁厚度,相同于结扎组结扎心脏后,用直径1 mm的针头间隔1 cm在缺血区打孔(10.10±1.35)个. 电针组:针头连接120～160 W高频电切能量,相同于针刺组结扎后,在缺血区打孔(9.80±1.69)个. 手术后分别于1 d,1,2,4和8 wk将实验犬处死2只,透射电镜和光镜检查心肌. 结果:结扎组的2只犬术后7～23 h死亡,1只死于菌痢,1只死因不明. 3只犬在打孔时出现短阵室上速. 未发现心腔内血栓形成和瓣膜损害. 手术后1～2 wk,光镜下电针组仍可见针孔,主要是炎症反应较针刺组严重;电镜观察:电针组心肌线粒体损害轻于针刺组,2组皆轻于结扎组(P<0.05). 手术后4,8 wk光镜观察:血管密度电针组优于针刺组和结扎组(P<0.05);电针组与针刺组纤维化无明显差别,但皆与结扎组有显著差异(P<0.05);术后4,8 wk电镜观察:电针组与针刺组线粒体损害轻于结扎组(P<0.05). 结论:高频电切针透壁打孔兼有电热能和机械能. 120～160 W是适宜的能量,热损伤较小,未发现明显炭化层. 1～2 wk观察到孔道是开放的,随后肉芽组织增生,毛细血管增生,2 wk后电针孔道被肉芽组织填塞,产生纤维化. 高频电切针透壁打孔的机制类似于激光心肌血运重建术(TMLR),对缺血心肌血管重建是有效的,效果优于针刺打孔. 该方法安全、简单、价廉,可以取代激光打孔.     

Electrosurgery after cochlear implantation: eighth nerve electrophysiology

HYPOTHESIS: Monopolar electrosurgery below the neck in cochlear implant recipients can be performed without damage to the internal cochlear stimulator, electrode array, and the cochlear nerve. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective pre- and postintervention electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) study of cochlear nerve function and behavioral sound perception assessment. METHODS: Neural response telemetry (NRT) was used to measure ECAPs before and after the use of monopolar electrosurgery during coronary artery bypass surgery to assess prosthetic device function and electrophysiologic function of the cochlear nerve. In addition, electrode voltage impedances and behavioral sound perception was measured at the same time intervals. RESULTS: ECAPs, behavioral sound perception, and electrode voltage impedances were within the normal range, within compliance, and similar preoperatively and on postoperative day 6. CONCLUSION: The studies reported herein were a series of measurements designed to test neural integrity and prosthetic device function before and after the use of monopolar electrosurgery. With appropriate precautions, use of monopolar electrosurgery below the neck in cochlear implant recipients can be performed safely.     

Real-time thermography during energized vessel sealing and dissection

Background: Energized dissection systems facilitate laparoscopic dissection and hemostasis and reduce instrument traffic. However, they can introduce undesirable thermal collateral/proximity damage to adjacent structures mainly by heat conduction, although other mechanisms may be involved. The latest generation devices have the potential to reduce the incidence of such problems through use of active feedback control over the power output. This effectively regulates the delivery of energy to the target tissue with minimal thermal collateral damage. In addition, innovative heat-sink engineering of the device head ensures that the surface of the instrument tip remains cool (<45°C). In this study, we evaluated the performance of this technology (LigaSure) by using dynamic infrared thermography. The thermal imaging measurements were then correlated with histopathologic studies. The overall value of in situ thermography as an adjunct to energized surgical dissection systems was also assessed. Methods: Eight anesthetized pigs underwent open surgery to mobilize eight target vessels/organs in a randomized fashion. The LigaSure vessel sealing system with Instant Response Technology was used with three different interchangeable heads. In situ dynamic thermography was undertaken with a thermal imaging camera operating in the mid-infrared (3–5 µm) waveband and with each fully digitized 12-bit thermographic frame acquired at a rate of 60 Hz. Following sacrifice at the end of the dissection, tissue from the dissected regions was harvested for histology by an independent pathologist who was blinded to the thermographic data. Results: Seals made with both the LS1000 5-mm laparoscopic head (predominantly to the small bowel and colon) and the LS1100 10-mm (Atlas) device (on the liver and short gastric tissues) were outwardly satisfactory. The average thermal spread ( ) with the LS1000 was = 4.4 mm, and the exposed surface of the instrument tip developed a temperature of approximately 100°C. This instrument thus has the potential, albeit small, for heat-related proximity iatrogenic injury. The more technologically advanced LS1100 10-mm laparoscopic instrument exhibited a superior performance, with = 1.8 mm, and with a maximal temperature on the exposed surface of the jaws well within tolerable limits (approximately 35°C) for use during surgery (laparoscopic or open). This was confirmed by histological studies that demonstrated negligible evidence of thermal damage. Conclusions: In situ thermal imaging represents a powerful modality for the monitoring of energized dissection/coagulation during surgery. The LigaSure system used with the LS1100 head constitutes a very safe option for energized dissection and hemostasis of vessels with a diameter of up to approximately 7 mm.     

电刺激定位闭孔神经阻滞复合硬膜外麻醉用于经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术

目的:观察神经刺激仪引导定位闭孔神经阻滞复合低位硬膜外麻醉用于输尿管开口周围的膀胱肿瘤患者经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术(TUR-BT)的麻醉效果。方法:膀胱肿瘤位于输尿管开口周围(0.5～2cm)患者1100例,随机分为A组(神经刺激仪引导定位下闭孔神经阻滞)和B组(传统解剖标志定位下闭孔神经阻滞)各550例。比较2组闭孔神经阻滞效果及注入局麻药剂量。结果:与B组比较,A组平均进针深度浅(P<0.05),局麻药用药量少(P<0.05),闭孔神经阻滞失败、出血和局麻药中毒等不良反应发生率均明显降低(P<0.05)。结论:神经刺激仪引导可精确定位闭孔神经位置,排除发育变异,使闭孔神经阻滞更加准确,效果更加完善,降低中继开腹手术率,利于患者早日康复。     

Transcatheter Electrosurgery: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Transcatheter electrosurgery refers to a family of procedures using radiofrequency energy to vaporize and traverse or lacerate tissue despite flowing blood. The authors review theory, simulations, and benchtop demonstrations of how guidewires, insulation, adjunctive catheters, and dielectric medium interact. For tissue traversal, all but the tip of traversing guidewires is insulated to concentrate current. For leaflet laceration, the “Flying V” configuration concentrates current at the inner lacerating surface of a kinked guidewire. Flooding the field with non-ionic dextrose eliminates alternative current paths. Clinical applications include traversing occlusions (pulmonary atresia, arterial and venous occlusion, and iatrogenic graft occlusion), traversing tissue planes (atrial and ventricular septal puncture, radiofrequency valve repair, transcaval access, Potts and Glenn shunts), and leaflet laceration (BASILICA, LAMPOON, ELASTA-Clip, and others). Tips are provided for optimizing these techniques. Transcatheter electrosurgery already enables a range of novel therapeutic procedures for structural heart disease, and represents a promising advance toward transcatheter surgery.