Coronary artery anomalies and aortic valve morphology in the Syrian hamster

In the Syrian hamster, anomalies in the origin of the left coronary artery are significantly associated with the bicuspid condition of the aortic valve. In this species, bicuspid aortic valves are expressions of a trait, the variation of which takes the form of a phenotypic continuum, ranging from a tricuspid aortic valve with no commissural fusion to a bicuspid aortic valve with the aortic sinuses located in ventrodorsal orientation and devoid of any raphe. The intermediate stages of the continuum are represented by tricuspid aortic valves with a more or less extensive fusion of the ventral commissure and bicuspid aortic valves with a more or less developed raphe located in the ventral aortic sinus. The present study was designed to decide whether there is a gap between tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves regarding the incidence of coronary artery anomalies, or whether this incidence varies according to the different tricuspid and bicuspid morphotypes of the continuum. The study was carried out in Syrian hamsters belonging to a single inbred family with a high incidence of tricuspid aortic valves with fusion of the ventral commissure, bicuspid aortic valves, and anomalies in the origin of the left coronary artery, i.e. single right coronary artery ostium in aorta, anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the dorsal aortic sinus. The specimens were examined by means of a stereomicroscope and, in several cases, scanning electron microscopy was also used. The relationships between anomalous coronary artery patterns and aortic valve morphologies were tested using a logistic regression model. The results obtained indicate that there is no discontinuity between tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves regarding the incidence of coronary artery anomalies. The probability of occurrence of anomalous coronary artery patterns increases continuously according to the deviation degree of the aortic valve from its normal (tricuspid) design. The present findings suggest that in the Syrian hamster, the morphogenetic mechanisms involved in the formation of congenital anomalous aortic valves and anomalies in the origin of the left coronary artery, respectively, are strongly related from an aetiological viewpoint.     

Earlier accumulation of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the coronary artery in comparison with the ascending aorta, aortic valve, and mitral valve

To explore reasons for a high accumulation of Ca and P occurring in the coronary artery of Thai with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the coronary artery, ascending aorta near the heart, and cardiac valves in single individuals, and the relationships in the elements between the coronary artery and either the ascending aorta or cardiac valves. After an ordinary dissection by medical students at Chiang Mai University was finished, the anterior descending arteries of the left coronary artery, ascending aortas, mitral valves, and aortic valves were resected from the subjects. The subjects consisted of 17 men and 9 women, ranging in age from 46 to 76 yr. The element content was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The average content of Ca and P was the highest in the coronary artery and decreased in the order aortic valve, ascending aorta, and mitral valve. The Ca, P, and Mg content increased in the coronary artery in the fifties and in the ascending aorta, aortic valve, and mitral valve in the sixties. It should be noted that the accumulation of Ca, P, and Mg occurred earlier in the coronary artery than in the ascending aorta, aortic valve, and mitral valve. It was found that with respect to the Ca, P, Mg, and Na contents, the coronary artery correlated well with both the aortic valve and ascending aorta, especially with the aortic valve, but it did not correlate with the mitral valves. This finding suggests that the accumulation of Ca, P, Mg, and Na occurs in the coronary artery together with the aortic valve and ascending aorta, but not together with the mitral valve. Because regarding the accumulation of Ca, P, and Mg, the ascending aorta and aortic valve are preceded by the coronary artery, it is unlikely that the accumulation of Ca, P, and Mg spreads from the ascending aorta or aortic valve to the coronary artery.     

Coronary Cineangiography—Clinical Studies for Evaluation in Equivocal Cases

Coronary cineangiography was helpful in the following circumstances:1. A patient with an abnormal electrocardiogram and no evidence of coronary artery disease.2. A patient with thoracic pain in whom the diagnosis of coronary artery disease was questioned.3. A patient with intractable angina pectoris who was being studied for possible surgical therapy.4. A patient with coronary insufficiency and aortic stenosis who was being evaluated for operation on the aortic valve.     

Concomitant transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass

We represent a successful minimally invasive combined off-pump procedure consisting of a transapical aortic valve implantation and a direct coronary artery bypass grafting in a woman with a severe aortic stenosis and a critical coronary artery disease. Due to her comorbidities, she was classified as a high-risk patient qualifying for a transcatheter procedure. We performed this combined procedure in a hybrid operation room, starting with the coronary bypass to maintain a coronary blood flow during the transapical valve implantation. The operation processed without any complications and she was discharged at the seventh postoperative day into the allocating hospital.     

COMBINED REPLACEMENT OF THE AORTIC VALVE AND ASCENDING AORTA IN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: REPORT OF TWO CASES

Two Jehovah's Witnesses with large ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic insufficiency secondary to annuloaortic ectasia underwent successful combined replacement of the aortic valve and the ascending aorta. One patient received a composite graft containing an aortic valve prosthesis, which necessitated supravalvular coronary ostia reimplantation; the other patient underwent separate aortic valve and left supracoronary ascending aneurysm replacement, with reimplantation of the right coronary ostium into the graft. No blood or blood derivatives were administered. Both patients had uneventful recoveries and continue to do well. To our knowledge, they represent the first reported cases of successful combined replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta in Jehovah's Witnesses.     

Bilateral coronary fistulae to pulmonic valve in presence of severe three-vessel coronary artery disease

A 62-year-old man was admitted to the coronary care unit due to anginal pain and palpitations--coronary angiography revealed three-vessel coronary artery disease. The unexpected finding was the presence of coronary to pulmonary artery fistulae bilaterally, from both the proximal RCA and the proximal LAD. Right heart catheterization revealed normal right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressure and absence of hemodynamically significant left to right shunt. The patient underwent a triple coronary bypass including the closure of bilateral fistulae, which were draining into the left sinus of the pulmonary valve. One month after the operation he was in good health and had no complaints. Bilateral coronary artery fistulae is a rare anomaly diagnosed in 0.002-0.0013% of adult coronary angiograms. (Int J Cardiovasc Intervent 1999; 2: 249-251).     

老年主动脉瓣钙化与冠心病合并心律失常的相关性探讨

目的:探讨老年患者主动脉瓣钙化与冠心病合并心律失常的相关性。方法:纳入解放军总医院疑诊为冠心病的老年住院患者276例,行冠状动脉造影,同期行超声心动图和24 h动态心电图检查,详细记录患者病史。根据超声结果,将患者分成主动脉瓣钙化(AVC)组和非主动脉瓣钙化(NAVC)组,比较两组冠心病合并心律失常的检出率,评价老年患者主动脉瓣钙化对冠心病合并心律失常的预测价值。结果:AVC组和NAVC组的年龄、吸烟史、高血压史、糖尿病史存在显著性差异(P0.05);AVC组冠心病的确诊率为93.7%,而NAVC组为80.6%,两组差异有统计学意义(P=0.002);AVC组冠心病合并心律失常检出率也显著性高于NAVC组(59.2%vs 35.1%,P=0.043)。结论:主动脉瓣钙化与冠心病合并心律失常密切相关,有望作为冠心病合并心律失常的高危患者有效的筛查指标。     

Occult aortic stenosis as cause of intractable heart failure

During a three-year period 10 patients with critical aortic stenosis were referred to a cardiac referral centre with symptoms and signs of intractable cardiac failure and low cardiac output. In nine patients the correct diagnosis was not suspected at the referring hospital, and in the remaining patient the true severity of the aortic stenosis was not appreciated and cardiomyopathy was suggested as an additional diagnosis. The most common referral diagnoses were severe mitral regurgitation (four patients), congestive cardiomyopathy (two patients), or both (three patients). Only two patients had soft ejection systolic murmurs at the base of the heart radiating into the neck, and such a murmur appeared in a third patient during medical treatment. The carotid pulses were of small volume but the characteristic slow-rising, anacrotic nature of the pulse could not be appreciated clinically. The diagnosis was suspected in nine patients because of aortic valve calcification detected by lateral chest x-ray examination in seven patients and by x-ray screening of the heart in two, and because of abnormal aortic valve echoes in the echocardiogram of all five patients in whom the aortic valve could be seen. Eight patients underwent aortic valve replacement despite seemingly poor preoperative left ventricular function. Three patients died, of whom two had severe coexistent coronary artery disease. The five survivors all returned to normal lives and needed little or no medication.Critical aortic stenosis should be actively sought in patients with severe heart failure of unknown cause since surgery may enable them to resume their normal lives.     

Origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: An unusual cause of angina in a middle-aged woman

A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our institution with angina pectoris and a systolic murmur. At cardiac catheterization, she was found to have an anomalous origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. There was also an associated atrial septal defect and a bicuspid aortic valve.     

Mitral valve prolapse detected during hemodynamic studies

To estimate frequency of the posterior mitral valve leaflet prolapse in routinely performed left ventriculography, 1000 consecutive ventriculograms of the right anterior oblique projection were analyzed. A group of patients consisted of 511 women and 489 men at mean age 46,5 years. Clinical diagnosis of heart lesions, myocardial disease, pulmonary hypertension or arrhythmias were indications for hemodynamic studies. In the investigated group of patients, there were no patients with clinical diagnosis of the coronary artery disease. Prolapse of the posterior mitral valve leaflet was diagnosed in 59 patients. Idiopathic mitral valve prolapse was diagnosed in 10 patients. Prolapse of the posterior mitral valve leaflet was most frequent in atrial septal defect (16.6%), myocardial lesion (12.5%), and after mitral commissurotomy (8.9%). Posterior mitral valve leaflet prolapse is not a frequent anomaly in routinely performed left ventriculography. Relatively often occurrence of the mitral valve prolapse in atrial septal defect and only occasional in the aortic lesions and dilated cardiomyopathy seems to point out at a role of the left ventricle size in pathogenesis of this syndrome.     

INSERTION OF AN INTRAAORTIC BALLOON THROUGH A LIMB OF AN AORTOFEMORAL GRAFT AFTER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT, DOUBLE CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS, AND RESECTION OF AN ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM

This case report describes a useful and unusual route for insertion of an intraaortic balloon in 63-year-old man who was operated upon for calcific aortic stenosis, coronary atherosclerosis involving the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries, and a large abdominal aortic aneurysm. Aortic valve replacement was accomplished with a porcine heterograft prosthesis. Bypasses to the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries were constructed with reversed saphenous vein grafts, and the abdominal aneurysm was resected and repaired with a bifurcated woven Dacron vascular graft. An electively placed intraaortic balloon was inserted through the right limb of the aortic graft prosthesis and used to assist the patient during the immediate postoperative period. Uneventful recovery ensued.     

肥厚梗阻性心肌病的外科治疗

目的：总结肥厚室间隔切除术治疗肥厚梗阻性心肌病的手术效果,探讨外科治疗策略。方法：2002年3月至2010年10月,外科手术治疗33例肥厚梗阻性心肌病病人。其中男16例,女17例;年龄13～59岁,平均（42.7±13.6）岁;左室流出道压差（LVOTGP）70～120 mmHg（1 mmHg=0.133Kpa）,平均（95.0±22.6）mmHg。其中合并二尖瓣关闭不全24例,主动脉瓣关闭不全7例,升主动脉增宽3例,冠心病2例。手术在全麻低温体外循环下完成,按常规经主动脉切口行室间隔心肌切除术,同期完成二尖瓣置换术（MVR）7例,二尖瓣成形术（MVP）7例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形术（MVP＋AVP）5例,二尖瓣、升主动脉成形术3例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形、冠状动脉旁路移植术（MVP＋AVP＋CABG）2例。分析比较病人术前超声心动图（UCG）,术中经食管心脏超声（TEE）,以及术后1周、3月、6月、1年超声心动图结果。结果：手术死亡1例（3.0%,1/33例）,主要死因为严重低心排综合症以及多脏器功能衰竭。二次开胸止血1例（3.0%,1/33例）。术中经食管心脏超声示所有病人二尖瓣前叶收缩期前向运动现象（SAM征）消失。存活病人手术效果良好,解剖狭窄解除,峰值压差降低,SAM现象基本消失。远期随访生存病人症状消失,生活质量明显改善,心功能I～II级,无远期死亡、并发症或再次手术。结论：外科治疗肥厚梗阻型心肌病具有良好的手术效果。了解病生理过程、术中仔细探察、手术切除彻底是手术成功的关键。     

肥厚梗阻性心肌病的外科治疗

目的:总结肥厚室间隔切除术治疗肥厚梗阻性心肌病的手术效果,探讨外科治疗策略。方法:2002年3月至2010年10月,外科手术治疗33例肥厚梗阻性心肌病病人。其中男16例,女17例;年龄13～59岁,平均(42.7±13.6)岁;左室流出道压差(LVOTGP)70～120 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133Kpa),平均(95.0±22.6)mmHg。其中合并二尖瓣关闭不全24例,主动脉瓣关闭不全7例,升主动脉增宽3例,冠心病2例。手术在全麻低温体外循环下完成,按常规经主动脉切口行室间隔心肌切除术,同期完成二尖瓣置换术(MVR)7例,二尖瓣成形术(MVP)7例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形术(MVP+AVP)5例,二尖瓣、升主动脉成形术3例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形、冠状动脉旁路移植术(MVP+AVP+CABG)2例。分析比较病人术前超声心动图(UCG),术中经食管心脏超声(TEE),以及术后1周、3月、6月、1年超声心动图结果。结果:手术死亡1例(3.0%,1/33例),主要死因为严重低心排综合症以及多脏器功能衰竭。二次开胸止血1例(3.0%,1/33例)。术中经食管心脏超声示所有病人二尖瓣前叶收缩期前向运动现象(SAM征)消失。存活病人手术效果良好,解剖狭窄解除,峰值压差降低,SAM现象基本消失。远期随访生存病人症状消失,生活质量明显改善,心功能I～II级,无远期死亡、并发症或再次手术。结论:外科治疗肥厚梗阻型心肌病具有良好的手术效果。了解病生理过程、术中仔细探察、手术切除彻底是手术成功的关键。     

Isolated splenic metastasis from colorectal carcinoma in a high risk patient: a case report

Isolated splenic metastasis arising from a colorectal carcinoma is a rare finding. We report a case of 74-year-old man with a medical history of diabetes type II and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who underwent a right hemicolectomy for an adenocarcinoma of caecum in August 2004. In June 2007 the patient was diagnosed with high grade aortic valve stenosis as well as long segment stenosis of the first obtuse marginal branch of left coronary artery. He was suggested aortic valve replacement with coronary artery bypass grafting but he refused the surgery. In October 2007 the patient underwent alpha 18FDG - PET scanning, due to increasing values of CEA serum level, which showed a 5 cm big isolated hypermetabolic lesion in the spleen. Due to operative risk, splenectomy was refused by surgeons. The patient underwent a chemotherapy with capecitabine in total of 8 cycles before his CEA level began to rise and MSCT showed a progression in size of splenic metastasis. The patients condition was reevaluated by a team of experts and splenectomy was performed in September 2008. In May 2009 during the postoperative follow up, MSCT scanning revealed enlarged lymph nodes in celiac region and hepatic lesion suspicious of metastasis and the patient was admitted for further chemotherapy treatment. There is still no standardized treatment for this condition due to small number of cases reported in literature. Splenectomy followed by chemotherapy seems to be an optimal treatment but still no final conclusions can be made.     

CTCA for detection of significant coronary artery disease in routine TAVI work-up

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has evolved to standard treatment of severe aortic stenosis in patients with an intermediate to high surgical risk. Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) could partially replace invasive coronary angiography to diagnose significant coronary artery disease in the work-up for TAVI. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE for papers comparing CTCA and coronary angiography in TAVI candidates. The primary endpoint was the diagnostic accuracy of CTCA, compared to coronary angiography, for detection of significant (>50% diameter stenosis) coronary artery disease, measured as sensitivity, specificity, positive—(PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Seven studies were included, with a cumulative sample size of 1,275 patients. The patient-based pooled sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 95, 65, 71 and 94% respectively. Quality assessment revealed excellent and good quality in terms of applicability and risk of bias respectively, with the main concern being patient selection. In conclusion, on the basis of a significance cut-off value of 50% diameter stenosis, CTCA provides acceptable diagnostic accuracy for the exclusion of coronary artery disease in patients referred for TAVI. Using the routinely performed preoperative computed tomography scans as a gatekeeper for coronary angiography could decrease additional coronary angiographies by 37% in this high-risk and fragile population.     

同期施行冠状动脉搭桥和心脏瓣膜手术的体外循环

目的总结和分析同期施行冠状动脉搭桥和心脏瓣膜手术的体外循环方法。方法125例患者分为3组:M组(冠脉病变及二尖瓣病变)75例,A组(冠脉病变及主动脉瓣病变)34例,D组(冠脉病变及二尖瓣和主动脉瓣病变)16例。心肌保护采用4:1冷含血停搏液,应用单纯顺灌、顺灌逆灌结合、顺灌桥灌结合、顺逆灌和桥灌结合技术。结果术中转流平稳,血流动力学稳定,监测指标均在正常范围,无手术死亡。结论同期施行冠状动脉搭桥和心脏瓣膜手术,术中良好的心肌保护方法和合理的体外循环灌注是保证手术顺利成功的重要因素。     

Combined replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve in 42 consecutive patients: A comparison of composite graft techniques and conventional techniques over one year

During 1978, 42 consecutive patients underwent simultaneous aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement in our institution. Seventy-one percent were at low risk despite a high incidence of dissection. Twenty-nine percent were high-risk patients requiring repeat or concomitant cardiac procedures, mostly on an emergency basis. Depending upon the extent of the disease at the aortic root, either of two surgical approaches was used: (1) conventional aortic valve and supracoronary ascending aorta replacement, with or without right coronary artery ostium reimplantation, or (2) insertion of a composite graft containing an aortic valve prosthesis, with reconstruction of both coronary arteries. Preservation of coronary ostia was possible in 85% of the patients, and composite grafts were used in 15%. The conventional method was associated with a higher percentage of survivors. This technique was found to be satisfactory unless severe dilatation or complete destruction of the aortic annulus made composite grafting necessary. The latter technique was associated with fewer re-explorations for postoperative hemorrhage. Both procedures were equally effective, resulting in an operative mortality of 10% in uncomplicated situations. Surgery appeared to offer the only chance of survival for the high-risk group, and half of these patients were salvaged.     

Robotically assisted coronary endarterectomy

Robotic assistance has enabled coronary artery bypass surgery to be performed safely in a completely endoscopic fashion, but diffusely diseased target vessels may pose a technical challenge. We present a case in which coronary endarterectomy was performed on the left anterior descending coronary artery during a two-vessel totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass procedure. A 52-year-old woman presented with intermittent substernal pain. Preoperative studies showed diffuse disease in the left coronary artery system. Bilateral internal mammary arteries were harvested robotically using a skeletonized technique in a completely endoscopic fashion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was achieved via peripheral cannulation, and the heart was arrested with intermittent cold antegrade hyperkalemic blood cardioplegia delivered via an ascending aortic occlusion balloon catheter. The first obtuse marginal anastomosis was performed. The left anterior descending coronary artery was diffusely diseased and heavily calcified. An end-to-side anastomosis was attempted to the right internal mammary artery with unsatisfactory results. A localized coronary endarterectomy was performed, and an extended anastomosis was completed using the right internal mammary artery. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged home on postoperative day 6. Diffuse coronary artery disease was once thought to be a prohibitive challenge for minimally invasive coronary bypass procedures. This case demonstrates that local coronary endarterectomy is feasible and safe in robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery.     

Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenograft valve: Hemodynamic evaluation and early clinical follow-up of 326 patients

Dissatisfaction with the hemodynamic characteristics of available porcine valves prompted a clinical trial of the Ionescu-Shiley percardial xenograft (ISPX) valve. Three hundred fifty-six ISPX valves were implanted consecutively in 326 patients. Operative mortality was 2.6% (2/75) for aortic valve replacement alone and 7.7% (12/155) for aortic valve replacements that included reoperations and combined procedures such as mitral commissurotomy, annuloplasty, and coronary artery bypass. Operative mortality for all patients who underwent mitral valve replacement was 9.5% (14/147). The mean peak systolic gradient pressure in the aortic position was 5.4 mm Hg overall and 4.27 mm Hg with the size 19 mm valve. There were no embolic episodes in patients who received the ISPX valve in the aortic position. The available data indicate that the rate of peripheral embolism with the ISPX valve compares favorably with that of porcine valves. Considering its hemodynamic advantage, if the longterm durability of the full-orifice Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenograft valve continues to be confirmed by follow-up studies, it is our opinion that it is the biologic valve of choice.     

Combination of two pseudoaneurysms in a patient 6 years after ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement

BACKGROUND: We report successful treatment of a patient 6 years after ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement suffering from a combination of two pseudoaneurysms. The first of them originated from the coronary ostial suture line and the second pseudoaneurysm originated from the distal suture line. METHODS: We performed re-replantation of the left main trunk to the prosthesis and then we resected the pseudoaneurysm originating from the distal suture line and we replaced the entire aorta by a vascular graft. RESULTS: The postoperative convalescence was uneventful, the patient was discharged two weeks after the surgery. The patient is currently in a very good condition one year after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary ostial pseudoaneurysm in patients after ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement with the use of "button technique" is a quite rare situation. The combination of two pseudoaneurysms originating from different suture lines in one patient seems to be unique in literature reviews.