The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Tracheal torsion assessed by a computer-generated 3-dimensional image analysis predicts tracheal self-expandable metallic stent fracture.
Self-expandable metallic stents are used to relieve airway stenosis in selected patients; however, fracture of these stents may occur. This analysis aims to investigate the extent of tracheal torsion, assessed by a computed-generated reformatted 3-dimensional tracheal reconstruction from 2-dimensional computed tomographic images in predicting fracture of tracheal self-expandable metallic stents. ⋯ Three-dimensional tracheal reconstructions from 2-dimensional chest computed tomographic data are useful in assessing the severity of tracheal torsion. Tortuous trachea with a central axis bending angle of 19° or more and peripheral tracheal wall maximal bending angle of 44° or more were associated with a high probability of fracture of the self-expandable metallic stent.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Predictors of low cardiac output syndrome after isolated mitral valve surgery.
Low cardiac output syndrome is defined as the need for a postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump or inotropic support for longer than 30 minutes in the intensive care unit. Mitral valve surgery is increasingly being performed in high-risk patients who might require mechanical circulatory support for low cardiac output syndrome. Therefore the aim of this study was to identify the preoperative predictors of low cardiac output syndrome after mitral valve surgery. ⋯ Low cardiac output syndrome is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Novel strategies to preserve renal function, optimization of pre-existing heart failure symptoms, and use of artificial polytetrafluoroethylene sutures might reduce the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome and lead to improved results after mitral valve surgery.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Noninvasive estimation of left ventricular filling pressures in patients with heart failure after surgical ventricular restoration and restrictive mitral annuloplasty.
Doppler echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging, is widely applied to assess diastolic left ventricular function using early transmitral flow velocity combined with mitral annular velocity as a noninvasive estimate of left ventricular filling pressures. However, the accuracy of early transmitral flow velocity/mitral annular velocity in patients with heart failure, particularly after extensive cardiac surgery, is debated. Global diastolic strain rate during isovolumic relaxation obtained with 2-dimensional speckle-tracking analysis was recently proposed as an alternative approach to estimate left ventricular filling pressures. ⋯ In a group of patients with heart failure who were investigated 6 months after cardiac surgery, early transmitral flow velocity/mean mitral annular velocity correlated poorly with invasively obtained diastolic indexes. Global strain rate during isovolumic relaxation, however, correlated well with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and peak rate of pressure decline. Our data suggest that global strain rate during isovolumic relaxation is a promising noninvasive index to assess left ventricular filling pressures in patients with heart failure after extensive cardiac surgery, including restrictive mitral annuloplasty and surgical ventricular restoration.
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2010
Aortic valve repair by cusp extension for rheumatic aortic insufficiency in children: Long-term results and impact of extension material.
Aortic valve repair has encouraging midterm results in selected patients. However, neither the long-term results of cusp extension nor the durability of different pericardial fixation techniques has been reported. Our goal was to address these issues. ⋯ Aortic cusp extension provides adequate valve repair in a large proportion of children with rheumatic aortic regurgitation. Fresh autologous and PhotoFix pericardium trended toward better durability than glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium.