Stroke in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: an analysis of the CASS experience. The participants in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study.

An analysis of the Coronary Artery Surgery Registry (CASS) was performed to determine the occurrence of stroke after coronary artery bypass surgery in patients entered into the Coronary Artery Surgery Study Registry. Of the 10,098 patients having coronary artery bypass surgery at the Coronary Artery Surgery Study participating sites during the period July 1974 through May 1979, a total of 348 patients (or 3.4%) sustained a stroke during the first year after coronary bypass surgery. Fifty-nine strokes occurred on the day of surgery, and an additional 129 strokes occurred during hospitalization for coronary bypass surgery. Thus, 188 patients (1.9%) of the entire surgical group sustained a stroke during initial hospitalization for coronary artery bypass surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict stroke on the day of surgery, during the hospitalization for surgery, and during the first year after surgery. The most powerful predictors of stroke on the day of coronary artery bypass surgery were: 1) older age (n = less than 0.0001); 2) use of alpha-adrenergic drugs after bypass (n = 0.0001); and 3) longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 0.002). For those strokes occurring at least 1 day after coronary artery bypass but during the initial hospitalization, age and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass were the most powerful predictors of stroke. An analysis of predictors of stroke within 1 yr after hospital dismissal for initial coronary bypass surgery revealed that the most powerful predictor was a history of previous cerebrovascular disease (n less than 0.0001) and a history of hypertension (n less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Functional reconstruction of Achilles tendon defects combined with overlaying skin defects using a free tensor fasciae latae flap.

We present our experience in functional reconstruction of the Achilles tendon with large tissue defects following after trauma and infection. To cover the skin defect and to reconstruct the Achilles tendon we used the free tensor fasciae latae (TFL) flap. From 1997 to 2003 six males, ranging from 22 to 71 (average 38.6) years, underwent this reconstructive procedure. All of them had sustained a trauma with following loss of the tendon and of the overlying tissue. After initial debridements the reconstruction with a tensor fascia latae free flap was performed. To achieve a strong distal fascia lata attachment to the calcaneal bone, we developed a special method of fixation. After vertical osteotomy in the calcaneus the distal part of the fascia flap was introduced between the bone segments, which were fixed together with a spongiosa screw. For functional outcome, it was important to fix the foot in a 90 degrees position with tension on the vascularised fascia lata. The range of motion of the ankle of the reconstructed foot showed 93.7% in comparison to the normal foot. No flap failure occurred in any of the six patients. Simultaneous soft-tissue and function restoration of the foot with TFL free flap is in our opinion an optimal one-stage reconstructive procedure.     

DSA—Control of implanted devices for arterial hepatic perfusion

In contrast to conventional film angiography, the perfusion pattern of hepatic arterial chemotherapy was consistently visualized by DSA in 40 patients with implanted Infusaid pump or Port-A devices. Incomplete perfusion of a liver region by the cytotoxic agent was recognized by DSA as accurately as by nuclide scintigraphy. Furthermore, DSA appeared to be more sensitive in determining aberrantly perfused extrahepatic regions; this was especially true when there was a nonligated right hepatic artery. Specific details of vascular lesions and associated complicating events also could be satisfactorily analyzed by DSA only.     

A method for repair of aortic dissection originating in the transverse arch using two sutureless intraluminal prostheses

We present a method for repair of ascending aortic dissections that originate in the transverse aortic arch. The technique utilizes two sutureless intraluminal prostheses, which are joined together and inserted during hypothermic circulatory arrest. A diamond-shaped opening between the two grafts is anastomosed about the orifices of the brachiocephalic arteries. This method affords the advantage of excluding the intimal tear, thereby preventing further propagation of the dissection. Additionally, the method offers the time-saving advantage of the sutureless prosthetic rings for the proximal and distal anastomoses.     

Early and late results of coronary artery bypass after failed angioplasty. Actuarial analysis of late cardiac events and comparison with initially successful angioplasty

We reviewed the results of early (less than 24 hours) coronary artery bypass after unsuccessful percutaneous coronary artery angioplasty in 146 patients treated between October 1979 and July 1986. Overall operative mortality was 2.7%, and risk was significantly increased among patients with hemodynamic instability and new occlusion or further narrowing of the dilated vessel (3.8 versus 0%, p less than 0.05). Actuarial analysis was used to compute the rates of cardiac events during the follow-up interval, and event rates were also estimated in a comparison group of 776 patients who had successful first-time PTCA during the same time period. At a follow-up interval of 5 years, the cumulative risks of recurrence of angina and need for an additional procedure (bypass or angioplasty) were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower for patients who had undergone bypass than for those who had successful angioplasty (angina 21% versus 56%, PTCA 2% versus 21%, CAB 6% versus 16%). Cumulative risks of myocardial infarction and death were 4% versus 9% and 6% versus 9% in the two groups. The differences between late outcomes in the bypass and angioplasty groups persisted when patients were stratified into cohorts with single-vessel and multivessel disease, and the highest late event rate occurred in patients in the angioplasty group who had incomplete revascularization. The difference in late events after bypass or angioplasty was greatest during the first year. These late data should be considered when the mode of revascularization (bypass or angioplasty) is selected for symptomatic patients, especially those with multivessel disease.     

Immunohistochemical detection of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in fibrotic liver diseases.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 was localized by means of immunohistochemical reaction in liver biopsy specimens taken from patients having different chronic liver diseases with extending fibrosis. Two polyclonal antibodies that were produced in rabbits were directed against the amino terminal of transforming growth factor-beta 1. Staining by anti-CC(1-30) was primarily extracellular and located in the portal and periportal fibrotic areas of all seven cases with chronic active hepatitis. No staining was noted in the four chronic persistent cases studied. A strong reaction was seen with the antibody in nine of the ten cirrhotic samples, whereas it was negative in one inactive cirrhosis case and in all five cases with normal liver histological findings. No positive staining could be detected by the anti-LC(1-30) in any of the liver tissues. Detection of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in active liver diseases at the site of fibrosis suggests that transforming growth factor-beta 1 might have a role in the process and progression of fibrosis during the development of the disease.     

A prospective, randomized, cross-over comparison of two methods of artificial insemination by donor on the incidence of conception: intracervical insemination by straw versus cervical cap

In a prospective, randomized study of insemination with donor semen, intracervical insemination by straw was compared with insemination using a cervical cap with an intracervical reservoir. A total of 91 patients completed 486 treatment cycles. There were no significant differences in age, parity, indication for insemination by donor, or method of cycle monitoring between women who became pregnant and those who did not conceive with either insemination method. In 236 standard intracervical insemination cycles, 14 patients became pregnant (5.9% per cycle), whereas 38 patients conceived in 250 cervical cap cycles (15.2% per cycle). Both the crude pregnancy rates and the cumulative pregnancy rates calculated by the Kaplan-Meier life-table method were significantly different (chi(2)-test, P < 0.001, and log-rank test, P < 0.005 respectively). Pregnancy rates in artificial insemination with cryopreserved donor semen may be improved by the use of a cervical cap when compared to cervical insemination by straw. The use of the cervical cap may prolong the exposure of the spermatozoa to the cervical mucus and prevent the backflow of semen into the vagina.      

Aortic reconstruction in kidney transplant recipients

Renal transplantation has increased the longevity of patients with uremia. An increasing number undergo aortic reconstruction, which exposes the transplanted kidney to ischemic injury. To evaluate the risk for renal failure, loss of the transplant, and methods of renal protection, we reviewed our experience. Clinical data were reviewed for 10 consecutive patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age 52.7 years [range 32 to 75 years]) with a transplanted kidney who underwent aortic reconstruction between 1977 and 1994 at our institution. Mean interval between renal transplantation and aortic reconstruction was 5.9 years (range 1 month to 12.7 years). Seven patients required emergency repair because of dissection (2 patients), aneurysm rupture (4 patients), or symptomatic aneurysm (1 patient); three underwent elective repair. Reasons for reconstruction included aortic dissection (2 patients), aneurysm of the descending thoracic (2 patients), thoracoabdominal (1 patient), or abdominal aorta (3 patients), and aortoiliac occlusive disease (2 patients). Patients with thoracic or thoracoabdominal reconstructions underwent repair with atriofemoral, aortofemoral, or femorofemoral shunt placement or bypass. Of the five abdominal aortic reconstructions, the kidney was protected with aortofemoral shunt placement in one patient and cold renal perfusion in three. In two of them, topical cooling of the kidney also was used. One patient with acute aortic dissection died at 39 days as a result of respiratory failure. Loss of the recently transplanted kidney was caused by acute rejection. One patient had a transient increase in serum creatinine concentration. Eight had no worsening of renal function, and none of the nine survivors lost the transplanted kidney. We conclude that aortic reconstruction can be safely performed in kidney transplant recipients. Patients in whom thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic reconstruction was required were protected with an atriofemoral or aortofemoral bypass or shunt. Patients undergoing abdominal aortic reconstruction did well when cold renal perfusion with or without local cooling of the transplant was used for renal protection. Transplanted kidneys appeared to tolerate ischemic injury similarly to native kidneys.Presented at the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, New Orleans, La., June 10, 1995.     

Low-artifact intravascular devices: MR imaging evaluation

Flow-phantom magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, with use of both spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GRE) techniques at 1.5 T, was performed on the percutaneous Greenfield (beta-III titanium alloy [TMA wire]), Amplatz (MP32-N alloy), and Simon nitinol filters and TMA wire facsimiles of the bird's nest, Gunther, new retrievable, and Amplatz vena caval filters. SE imaging allowed detection of thrombi as small as 5 X 5 mm trapped within the percutaneous Greenfield, Simon nitinol, and TMA-wire facsimile filters; with the MP32-N Amplatz filter, a larger volume of thrombus (10 X 20-mm clots) was necessary for clot detection. GRE imaging allowed detection of intraluminal tilting of the percutaneous Greenfield and facsimile Amplatz (TMA-wire) filters. GRE imaging was useful for demonstrating postfilter turbulence due to clots, which was greatest for the Amplatz filter. Imaging of facsimile vascular devices made of tantalum or TMA wire did not cause the severe "black-hole" MR artifacts typical of the stainless-steel devices. SE and GRE imaging were very useful for determining caval patency in two patients with previously placed Mobin-Uddin filters. Noninvasive MR evaluation of blood vessels in the presence of a variety of low-artifact intravascular devices appears feasible.