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Unlabelled: The superior patency of ITA grafts to saphenous veins is conclusive. The aim of the study was to collate mid-term benefit between patients receiving bilateral ITA (BITA) or single ITA (SITA). Outcome of 1378 pts with isolated CABG operated between 1/97-8/99 was analyzed retrospectively. Follow-up was 4.0 to 6.6 years (average 5.3). A total of 716 pts received BITA, 662 SITA and additional saphenous veins. We evaluated mortality rate, freedom from reoperation, intervention (PTCA/stent), and incidence of cardiac events and quality of life with respect to pts risk factors. Demographic data: Male gender was more frequent in both groups (BITA females: n=115; males: n=601; SITA females: n=150; males: n=512; p<0.01). Mean age was comparable in both groups with 69.2 years (42.7 to 88.6 years) in the BITA group and 71.0 years (47.3 to 91.6 years) (n. s.) in the SITA group., Risk Factors: Incidence of diabetes mellitus (26.0 vs 25.9%) as well as the mean BMI (27.4 vs 27.0%) did not differ statistically in both groups., Results: Clinical characteristics like NYHA/ CCS classifications showed a significant difference towards superior results only for stadium I in the BITA group. Mortality/cardiac events after 5.3 years average: Total mortality revealed 5.2% (n=37) in the BITA vs 9.1% (n=60) in the SITA group (p

Background: Application of clopidogrel before diagnostic or therapeutical percutaneous coronary interventions has become standard for stent-thrombosis prevention. The irreversible platelet inhibition causes increasing bleeding complications if urgent coronary artery bypass grafting becomes necessary. This study evaluates the effect on bleeding complications of clopidogrel in urgent CABG using bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous veins in all patients., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 166 patients (operated between 1/00-12/02) with urgent or emergency CABG, using both ITAs and compared 83 patients with previous (within 5 days) clopidogrel and aspirin application to 83 patients without clopidogrel. We evaluated chest tube output, reexploration rate and necessity of blood products, ventilation time and ICU stay., Results: Both groups were comparable with age, gender, number of performed anastomoses (mean 4/ patient). Chest tube output (24 h) was higher in the clopidogrel group (935 +/- 599 ml vs 754 +/- 335 ml (p = 0.018)), as well as reexploration rate with 7.2% (6 of 83) vs 0% (0 of 83) (p < 0.001). Number of blood products in the clopidogrel group for red cells was 2.41 +/- 1.88 U vs 1.84 +/- 1.47 U p = 0.03, for plateletes 0.43 +/- 0.88 U vs 0.024 +/- 0.22 p = 0.0001, for fresh frozen plasma 0.41 +/- 1.14 U vs 0.096 +/- 0.59 U p = 0.029. Mechanical ventilation time was 11.35 +/- 8.77 h vs 10.57 +/- 9.12 h p = 0.51, ICU stay 32.1 +/- 21.8 h vs. 29.8 +/- 21.1 h (p = 0.48)., Conclusions: Previous application of clopidogrel in combination with aspirin before urgent CABG induces increased chest tube output, reexploration rate and necessity of blood products, especially of plateletes. Nevertheless, routine use of both ITAs in patients after clopidogrel exposure can be performed with acceptable bleeding complications.

Background: The occurrence of severe carotid artery disease in more than 12% of patients requiring ACB results in a discrepancy concerning the best treatment for both diseases. We reviewed the early outcome of patients with ACB and/or valve replacement and simultaneous carotid endarterectomy (TEA)., Methods: We evaluated retrospectively 244 patients operated simultaneously between 7/94 and 10/2001: 209 patients received ACB, 35 patients ACB and/or valve replacement. Mean age was 68 years. 188 patients were male. We analyzed risk factors, morbidity, incidence of neurological complications and 30 day mortality., Results: Perioperative stroke with hemiplegia occurred in 3.3% (8 patients). Of these patients, 4 showed contralateral carotid artery occlusion, 2 contralateral severe stenosis. Two patients (0.8%) experienced prolonged reversible ischemic neurological deficit (PRIND), 4 patients (1.6%) transient ischemic attack (TIA). 30-day morbidity was 4.5%. Three patients died due to low cardiac output, 6 patients due to extracardial reasons, 2 patients (0.8) due to cerebral death., Conclusion: Simultaneous TEA and cardiac surgery can be performed with an acceptable risk for neurological complications and mortality. Occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery could be identified as an evident predictor for increased neurological complications. Compared to two-stage procedures, combined operations yield a reduction of hospital costs.

Introduction: Aim of the study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and clinical performance of the Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position., Patients and Methods: The Mosaic bioprosthesis is a stented porcine heart valve for implantation in the aortic and mitral position, which combines zero pressure and root pressure fixation with glutaraldehyde, antimineralization treatment with alpha amino oleic acid (AOA) and a low profile stent, to optimize hemodynamic function and to minimize mechanical wear and thus to achieve longer tissue durability. Included in a multicenter study, 100 patients (49 females) underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with the Mosaic bioprosthesis between February 1994 and May 1999. Average age at implant was 73.4 +/- 7.3 years (range 31.3-86.8 years). Preoperative and operative clinical data are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Patients were followed-up within the first 30 postoperative days, after six months and at annual intervals, including transthoracic echocardiography and documentation of any adverse events. Mean follow-up was 3.8 years (range 0.1-7.1 years), total 383.1 patient-years. Follow-up is 100% complete., Results: One year after implantation of the bioprosthesis, mean systolic pressure gradient was 15.3 +/- 6.7 mmHg (21), 14.5 +/- 5.7 mmHg (23), 12.7 +/- 4.1 mmHg (25) and 13.0 +/- 4.8 mmHg (27); effective orifice area (EOA) was 1.4 +/- 0.4 cm2 (21), 1.7 +/- 0.4 cm2 (23), 1.8 +/- 0.4 cm2 (25) and 2.6 +/- 0.4 cm2 (27) (Table 3). One year postoperative, nine patients (10.8%) showed mild aortic regurgitation and one patient (1.2%) moderate. Left ventricular mass index decreased significantly for all sizes within the first postoperative year from 159.7 +/- 56.8 g/m2 to 137.3 +/- 40.8 g/m2. Separating the patients with regard to valve size, only the 21-group (154.1 +/- 51.2 g/m2 to 129.1 +/- 34.6 g/m2) and the 27-group (237.7 +/- 59.2 g/m2 to 146.7 +/- 20.6 g/m2) showed significant results. Freedom from event rates at seven years were 96.8 +/- 1.8% for thromboembolic events, 97.2 +/- 2.0% for thrombosed bioprosthesis, 96.6 +/- 2.6% for structural valve deterioration, 98.2% +/- 1.8% for nonstructural dysfunction, 95.9% +/- 2.0% for antithromboembolic hemorrhage, 98.9 +/- 1.1% for endocarditis and 93.9 +/- 3.2% for reoperation and explant (see Table 4). Early mortality (within 30 days) was 3.0%; late mortality was 4.6%/patient-year, including a valve-related mortality of 0.6%/patient-year. Of the patients, 96.5% showed an improvement of at least one NYHA class when comparing preoperative and one year status., Discussion: The hemodynamic performance and the frequency of adverse events of the Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position were very satisfactory within the first seven postoperative years with excellent results, comparable to studies about other established bioprostheses and similar to the findings in other Mosaic series. Only the number of cases of antithromboembolic hemorrhage was noticeably high. One reason might be the high percentage of patients under continuous anti-coagulant therapy: Six months postoperative, still 52.2% of the patients received phenprocoumon, 6.7% acetylsalicylic acid. Concerning hemodynamics, patient-prosthesis mismatch appeared to be a common problem, especially in small valve sizes. Separating the sample in groups with EOA index < or = 0.75 cm2/m2 and EOA index > 0.75 cm2/m2 after one year, 51.6% in the 21-group had an EOA index < or = 0.75 cm2/m2, whereas it was 19.4% (23), 18.8% (25) and 0% (27) in the larger size groups. Generally, further data have to be collected to determine durability of the biological tissue, as the critical period has just started with the seventh year of the clinical trial., Conclusion: The Mosaic bioprosthesis proved to be a reliable and well-functioning device for aortic valve replacement, especially in larger sizes.

Objective: CABG with bilateral IMA grafts (BIMA) can improve long-term results in cardiac morbidity and mortality. An enhanced incidence of bleeding and wound complications compared to patients with single IMA (SIMA) remains a matter of debate. The aim of the study was to compare the operative outcomes of patients who had undergone CABG with BIMA and SIMA in situ grafts, especially to identify patient-related risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and age above 70 years., Methods: Out of a total of 5144 patients operated on between January 1996 and September 1999, patients with isolated CABG (n = 3671) with BIMA or SIMA were analyzed retrospectively. In the BIMA group, the patients' (n = 1478) mean age was 64.0 years; mean EF was 62.1%. In the SIMA group (n = 2184), mean age was 65.4 years and mean EF was 60.6% (n.s.). In the BIMA group, the right IMA was led anterior of the aorta to the LAD, the left IMA to the lateral wall. In the SIMA group, the LAD was revascularized with the left IMA. Additional bypasses were performed with vein grafts., Results: The 30-day mortality was 1.6% in the BIMA group, 1.7% in the SIMA group in patients under 70 years, and 4.1% (BIMA) and 4.0% (SIMA) in patients over 70 years (p = n.s.). A significantly higher blood loss was observed in the BIMA group (BIMA 979 +/- 708 ml; SIMA 790 +/- 575 ml; p < 0.05). The rethoracotomy rate due to bleeding was significantly higher in patients with BIMA (4.1%) compared to those with SIMA (2.5%; p < 0.05). In patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 27, no significant difference could be found (SIMA 2.8%, BIMA 3.4%; p = n.s.). Patients with a BMI > 27 showed a significantly higher rethoractomy rate (SIMA 2.2%; BIMA 4.9%). A higher incidence of sternal instabilities could be observed in the BIMA group (4.2%; p < 0.05). Diabetes mellitus could not be identified as an independent risk factor for sternal complications (SIMA 2.9%; BIMA 5.0%; p = n.s.)., Conclusion: CABG using both IMAs can be performed in nearly all patients as a routine method with good clinical results and low mortality. Bleeding in the BIMA group within 48 h was increased. BMI > 27 could be identified as a risk factor for sternal complications, but not diabetes mellitus or age over 70 years.