Aortic homograft and mitral valve repair in a patient with Werner's syndrome

We report the case of a 66-year-old man suffering from Werner's syndrome (adult progeria); he presented with several cardiac disorders, including coronary artery disease, aortic stenosis, and mitral regurgitation, mainly due to calcific deposits in the mitral annulus and the aortic cusps. Treatment consisted of mitral repair, homograft replacement of the aortic valve, and coronary artery bypass grafting. Avoidance of prosthetic material because of chronic infectious skin ulcers constituted the main goal of the operation.     

Damage to the circumflex coronary artery during mitral valve repair with sliding leaflet technique

We report a case of damage to the circumflex coronary artery during mitral valve repair using sliding leaflet technique in a patient with a posterior mitral leaflet prolapse and coronary artery disease who underwent mitral valve reconstruction using Carpentier's technique and coronary artery bypass grafting. This case underscores the risk of circumflex coronary artery injury during mitral valve reconstruction, especially in patients with left coronary dominance or codominance, and therefore emphasizes the importance of knowing the coronary artery anatomy preoperatively. The use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is mandatory for the evaluation of mitral valvuloplasty.     

Reoperation for valvular heart diseases

To elucidate the limitation of mitral valve reconstruction, 53 mitral disease patients (Mitral stenosis: 29, Mitral regurgitation: 24) undergoing reoperation late after valve reconstruction were studied, taking account of valvular lesions at initial operation. Reoperation rate after open mitral commissurotomy for mitral stenosis was higher in the patients with valvular regurgitation at initial operation than in those with severe subvalvular lesions or calcified valve. Reoperation rate for mitral regurgitation after mitral valvuloplasty was higher in the patients with stenotic fibrous degeneration or dilated annulus at initial operation than in those with torn chorda. Thus, these findings suggest that combined lesion of stenosis and regurgitation at initial operation may affect the reoperation rate in patients undergoing mitral valve reconstruction for either mitral stenosis or mitral regurgitation. Different approaches to the mitral valve through the left atrium and various techniques of the atriotomy have been practiced according to the need for a particular patients. The left atrium and the mitral valve can be exposed through median sternotomy followed by biatrial atriotomy or transplant approach. A correct approach and good exposure plays a key role in the success of redo surgical procedure for mitral valve disease.     

Regulation of antigen receptor signal transduction by protein tyrosine kinases

The purpose of this study was to assess the value of electron beam computed tomography in the detection of cardiac calcifications in coronaries and valves of dialysis patients and to determine the rate at which calcification progresses. Forty-nine chronic hemodialysis patients aged 28 to 74 years were compared with 102 non-dialysis patients aged 32 to 73 years with documented or suspected coronary artery disease, all of whom underwent coronary angiography. We used high-resolution electron beam computed tomography scanning to make 30 axial slices with a distance of 3 mm between each slice. The number of calcifications, the surface area, and the average and highest density values were measured. We calculated a quantitative coronary artery calcium score and assessed calcification of mitral and aortic valves. In dialysis patients, the measurements were repeated after 12 months. The coronary artery calcium score was from 2.5-fold to fivefold higher in the dialysis patients than in the non-dialysis patients. Hypertensive dialysis patients had higher calcium scores than non-hypertensive dialysis patients (P < 0.05). A stepwise, multiple regression analysis confirmed the importance of age and hypertension. No correlation between calcium, phosphate, or parathyroid hormone values and the coronary calcium score was identified; however, the calcium score was inversely correlated with bone mass in the dialysis patients (r = 0.47, P < 0.05). The mitral valve was calcified in 59% of dialysis patients, while the aortic valve was calcified in 55%. The coronary artery calcium score was correlated with aortic valvular, but not mitral valvular calcification. A repeat examination of the dialysis patients at an interval of 1 year showed a disturbing tendency for progression. Our data under-score the frequency and severity of coronary and valvular calcifications in dialysis patients, and illustrate the rapid progression of this calcification. Finally, they draw attention to hypertension as an important risk factor in this process.     

Mycotic aneurysm of the left coronary artery

We report a 24-year-old man with mitral valve endocarditis complicated by acute myocardial infarction due to coronary embolism. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and subsequent mitral valve replacement were performed. Postoperative coronary angiography revealed formation of a mycotic aneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery at the site of balloon inflation. The patient then underwent successful resection of the aneurysm with coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Normal coronary flow reserve in patients with mitral valve prolapse, a positive exercise test and normal coronary arteries

We studied 12 patients (eight females and four males), ages 30-46 years, with echocardiographically documented mitral valve prolapse and clinical suspicion of coronary artery disease, based on a history of chest pain (five patients), angina-like pain (three patients), a positive exercise stress electrocardiogram (12 patients) and a focally positive thallium-201 stress perfusion scan (three patients), who were referred for cardiac catheterization and found to have normal coronary arteries. Ten patients without evidence of heart disease served as controls. In all mitral valve prolapse patients, coronary flow velocity reserve was determined successively in the left anterior descending, left circumflex and right coronary arteries as the ratio of the maximum (after intracoronary papaverine) to the resting mean coronary flow velocity. Coronary flow reserve values were fairly similar in the mitral valve prolapse and control patients; all 12 mitral valve prolapse patients had normal coronary flow reserve ( > or = 3.5) in all three coronary arteries with no significant differences among the arteries tested. Mean values +/- 1 standard deviation of the coronary flow reserve (mitral valve prolapse vs control patients) were 4.7 +/- 0.5 vs 4.6 +/- 0.6 for the left anterior descending, 4.6 +/- 0.4 vs 4.6 +/- 0.3 for the left circumflex and 4.5 +/- 0.4 vs 4.4 +/- 0.5 for the right coronary artery (all P = non-significant). The subsets of mitral valve prolapse patients with different clinical "ischaemic' manifestations were similar in terms of the calculated coronary flow reserve in all three major epicardial coronary arteries. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that an inadequate regional coronary flow reserve does not account for the clinical manifestations of myocardial ischaemia and positive exercise tests in patients with mitral valve prolapse and normal coronary arteries.     

The effect of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and its analog on the growth of human melanoma cell lines with different phenotypes

Homograft aortic root replacement was done to three patients and the anterior mitral leaflet of the homograft was used with success in all cases. Case 1. A 37-year-old man had late-onset active prosthetic valve endocarditis with a fistula from the aortic annulus to the left atrium. The fistula was closed by using a homograft anterior mitral leaflet and the aortic root was replaced by a homograft with reimplantation of the coronary arteries. He is very well without evidence of recurrent endocarditis 29 months after the operation. Case 2. A 37-year-old man had early-onset active prosthetic valve endocarditis and developed the same fistula as case 1. He was treated successfully as in case 1. He is very well 4 months after the operation. Case 3. A 50-year-old woman, who had undergone aortic commissurotomy due to aortic valvular stenosis fifteen years before, deteriorated again. She had subvalvular membranous stenosis and a small aortic annulus. Konno-Soma procedure was applied to enlarge the annulus and the aortic root was replaced by a homograft. The interventricular septal incision was closed successfully with use of the anterior mitral leaflet of the homograft. Homograft aortic root replacement was an attractive procedure for prosthetic valve endocarditis or a small aortic annulus, and the homograft anterior mitral leaflet was useful for closing the fistula due to the infection and for closing the interventricular septal incision of Konno-Soma procedure.     

Mitral valve replacement with total preservation of native valve and subvalvular apparatus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Preservation of the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus was introduced clinically in the early 1960s, but for two decades the technique for mitral valve replacement included excision of both leaflets and their attached chordae tendineae. Lately, emphasis has been replaced on retaining the mitral subvalvular apparatus during valve replacement because of its role in left ventricular function. Hence, during the past six years, when performing mitral valve replacement we have, when possible, preserved the valvular and sub-valvular mitral apparatus. METHODS: Between January 1990 and November 1996, complete retention of all mitral tissue in connection with mitral valve replacement was performed in 58 patients (23 women and 35 men). Mean age was 63 years (range: 23 years to 77 years). Coronary bypass was a concomitant procedure in 19 patients; both the mitral and aortic valve was replaced in four cases. Calcified and/or stenotic valves were not a contraindication for the procedure; calcified plaques were removed. Adhesion between anterior and posterior leaflets was treated with sharp dissection. Valve and subvalvular tissue were preserved. The leaflets were reefed within the valve-sutures and compressed between the sewing ring and the native annulus when implanting the valve prosthesis. Chordal tension on the ventricle is thus maintained and the chordae pulled away from the valve effluent. RESULTS: Six patients died in the postoperative period and three had transient neurological symptoms. In no patient was death or transient neurological symptoms a consequence of the retention of mitral leaflets with subvalvular apparatus. CONCLUSIONS: We find the described technique to be useful not only in valve insufficiency but also in valve stenosis when preserving the mitral leaflets with sub-valvular apparatus during valve replacement. The technique is without procedure-related complications and prevents obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract.     

Calcific cerebral embolism in systemic calciphylaxis

Calciphylaxis represents a rare complication of end-stage renal disease with hyperparathyroidism. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman with systemic calciphylaxis secondary to chronic renal failure who developed mitral annular calcification and a right middle cerebral artery stroke. The high-density lesion seen on CT scan of the brain probably represents a calcified cerebral embolus originating from the mitral valve.     

Postmenopausal estrogen use and Parkinson''s disease with and without dementia

Transmyocardial laser revascularization is an emerging technique for treatment of patients with coronary artery disease not amenable to standard revascularization by either percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting. Transmyocardial laser revascularization is typically performed as an isolated procedure on the beating heart, although it has been performed as an adjunct to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting in nongraftable territories. We report the use of transmyocardial laser revascularization in combination with mitral valve replacement via a left lateral thoracotomy for treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation.     

Mitral valve prolapse. Recent concepts and observations

The conditions associated with prolapse of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve are multiple. The mechanisms of mitral valve prolapse as well as the pathogenesis of pain and ectopic impulse formation are reviewed. Propranolol appears to be the drug of choice for the symptomatic treatment of patients with this syndrome since it decreases myocardial oxygen demand and wall tension thus reducing or abolishing the discrepancy between myocardial oxygen demand and supply within the mitral apparatus. It has also been reported to modify the auscultatory findings associated with this condition. The frequency of this mitral valve abnormality in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease is reviewed. It appears that prolapse of the posterior leaflet scallops in patients with significant obstructive coronary artery disease represents an intermediate stage before mitral insufficiency occurs. This group of patients with papillary muscle dysfunction includes those with prolapsed leaflets without mitral insufficiency, those with systolic murmurs and compensated heart failure and others with progressive cardiac decompensation and severe mitral regurgitation.     

Pan-valvular annular calcification in Takayasu's arteritis: report of 3 cases

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory arteriopathy. It mainly affects the aortic arch and its main branches. The aortic valve annulus and coronary and pulmonary arteries are rarely affected. Mitral and tricuspid annular calcification were not reported previously. We identified mitral annular calcification by using transthoracic echocardiography in 3 patients with Takayasu's arteritis, in whom none had any of the reported causes of mitral annular calcification. Two of them had concomitant tricuspid and aortic annular calcification.     

Combined surgery for coronary artery disease and thoracic aortic disease

Combined surgery in 6 cases who had coronary artery disease and thoracic aortic disease simultaneously was analyzed. Case # 1 had ascending aortic replacement under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest because of iatrogenic aortic dissection caused by aortic clamp during the routine coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Case # 2 had DeBakey type II chronic dissection. Case # 3 had type I aortic dissection 4 years after the initial CABG. Both case # 2 and # 3 had ascending aortic replacement under retrograde cerebral perfusion along with CABG. Transverse aortic replacement was performed in case # 4, # 5 and # 6 under selective cerebral perfusion along with CABG. Case # 4 was associated with ascending-transverse aortic aneurysm. Case # 5 had aortitis syndrome complicated with severe coronary ostial stenosis and cervical branch stenosis. Case # 6 also had aortitis syndrome, severe coronary ostial stenosis, heavily calcified ascending-transverse aorta, and mitral and aortic regurgitation. This case had mitral and aortic valve replacement additionally. Case # 2 died of low cardiac output syndrome and multi-organ failure postoperatively. Case # 4 did not recover from profound shock that followed the preoperative acute myocardial infarction. The problems of low cardiac output syndrome caused by long interval of ischemic cardiac arrest, and also the problems of proximal anastomotic site of saphenous vein grafts were discussed.     

Percutaneous transvenous balloon dilatation of mitral valve stenosis

In this study, 42 consecutive symptomatic patients (median age 60 (30-78) years, 86% females) with mitral valve stenosis (57% had severely deformed and/or calcified mitral valves) were treated with (Inoue) balloon dilatation during the period August 1989-June 1994. Mitral valve area and cardiac output increased by 67 and 25%, whereas the transmital gradient as well as pulmonary artery pressure fell by 45% and 21%, respectively, after the dilatation. Follow-up at a mean of 16 (1-46) months revealed a total mortality of 12% (cardiac mortality of 7%). Five patients developed significant' mitral regurgitation after the treatment and four of these had subacute mitral valve replacement. A further four patients received an artificial valve during the follow-up period. During the follow-up period the increase in valve area remained unchanged, and accordingly 97% of the patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I-II. Balloon dilatation was an acceptable treatment in the described elderly population with significant mitral stenosis and deformed valves.     

Surgical treatment for Scheie's syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type I-S): report of two cases

Scheie's syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type I-S) is a rare genetic lysosomal storage disease affecting mucopolysaccharide metabolism, and is known to include cardiovascular disease. Surgical treatment was carried out in 2 patients with Scheie's syndrome. Patient 1 was a 56-year-old man with triple-vessel coronary artery disease, who successfully underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Patient 2 was a 52-year-old man with aortic and mitral valve stenosis, who successfully underwent combined aortic and mitral valve replacement. The literature on Scheie's syndrome associated with valvular and coronary artery disease is also reviewed.     

Mortality and morbidity among patients who undergo combined valve and coronary artery bypass surgery: early and late results

AIM: To describe mortality and morbidity early and late after combined valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as compared with CABG alone. PATIENTS and METHODS: All patients from western Sweden in whom CABG in combination with valve surgery or CABG alone was carried out in 1988-1991. RESULTS: Among 2116 patients who underwent CABG, 35 (2%) had this combined with mitral valve surgery and 134 (6%) had this combined with aortic valve surgery, whereas the remaining 92% underwent CABG alone. Patients who underwent combined valve surgery and CABG were older, included more women and had a higher prevalence of previous congestive heart failure and renal dysfunction but on the other hand a less severe coronary artery disease. Among patients who underwent mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG the mortality over the subsequent 5 years was 45%). The corresponding figure for patients who underwent aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG was 24%. Both were higher than for CABG alone (14%; P < 0.0001 and P = 0.003, respectively). In a stepwise multiple regression model mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG was found to be an independent significant predictor for death but aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG was not. Among patients who underwent mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG and were discharged alive from hospital 77% were rehospitalized during the 2 years following the operation as compared with 48% among patients who underwent aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG and 43% among patients with CABG alone. Multiple regression identified mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG as a significant independent predictor for rehospitalization but not aortic valve plus CABG. CONCLUSION: Among patients who either underwent CABG in combination with mitral valve surgery or aortic valve surgery or CABG alone, mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG was independently associated with death and rehospitalization, but the combination of aortic valve surgery and CABG was not.     

Complex cases in heart surgery

Between January 1968 and December 1993, 837 patients underwent cardiac operations with were either complex or performed in the presence of a life threatening disease of other vital organs. Of them 74 (8.8%) patients have died within 30 days after the operation. A substantial number of the operations and associated operative death included left ventricular (LV) aneurysmectomy or plication or LV endoaneurysmectomy with coronary artery bypass (CAB) grafts with or without other cardiac procedures, cardiac reoperations, CAB grafts and mitral or aortic valve replacement, combined mitral and aortic valve replacement (MAVR) with or without tricuspid valve replacement and CAB grafts, CAB grafting for an end-stage coronary artery disease (CAD), emergency CAB grafts for an acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock, complex internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafting, and miscellaneous. The best results were achieved in CAB grafts for an end-stage CAD, complex ITA grafting, CAB grafts with mitral or aortic valve replacement, cardiac reoperations. MAVR and miscellaneous. This is probably, related to an intensive treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) before the operation, pretreatment with the oxygen free radical inhibitor (allopurinol), selective use of an intraaortic balloon assist device and LV venting, routine use of hemoconcentrator (ultrafiltration) during cardiopulmonary bypass in those with CHF, thorough myocardial protection and a complete coronary revascularization.     

Coronary artery bypass grafting under the beating heart in a patient with insufficient cardiopulmonary bypass

Coronary artery bypass grafting in a 64-year-old male with a severe calcified ascending aorta was performed under the beating heart, because of insufficient cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient suffered inferior and anterolateral myocardial infarction with moderate mitral regurgitation. Computerized tomography showed a severely calcified ascending aorta. During the operation, cardiopulmonary bypass was conducted with femoral arterial cannulation and bicaval cannulation. Adequate perfusion flow, however, could not be achieved. Anastomoses of left internal thoracic artery-left anterior descending artery and right gastroepiploic artery-right coronary artery were performed under a beating heart supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient made an uneventful recovery and postoperative angiography revealed patent grafts. Mitral regurgitation remained unchanged, but the postoperative lifestyle has been stable for the last 15 months.     

Mitral valve replacement using a cryopreserved mitral homograft

Mitral valve replacement, using a cryopreserved mitral homograft, was performed in a 49-year-old patient with calcified mitral stenosis. Postoperative course was uneventful. Transesophageal echocardiography performed 6 months later showed normal function of the mitral homograft.