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Objective: Individual studies may be limited by sample size to detect differences in late survival between radial artery (RA) or saphenous vein graft (SVG) as a second conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery. Here we undertook a meta-analysis of the best evidence available on the comparison of early and late clinical outcomes of the RA and the SVG., Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for studies comparing use of the RA versus SVG for isolated coronary artery bypass surgery. Time-to-event outcomes for long-term mortality, repeat revascularization, and myocardial infarction (MI) were extracted as incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95%confidence intervals (95% CI). Odds ratios (OR) were extracted for perioperative mortality, stroke, and MI. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. Sensitivity analyses included leave-one-out-analyses and meta-regression., Results: Among 1201 articles, 14 studies (20,931 patients) were included (mean follow-up: 6.6 years). Operative mortality was 1.25% in the RA versus 1.33% in the SVG group (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.68-1.28). No difference in perioperative MI (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.59-1.56) or stroke (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.43-1.13) was found between RA and SVG. Long-term mortality (mean follow-up 6.6 years) was 24.5% in RA versus 34.2% in SVG group (IRR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.87, P < .001). No difference in follow-up MI or repeat revascularization was found (IRR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.42-1.36 and IRR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.42-1.09 respectively). At meta-regression, RA survival advantage was independent of age, sex, diabetes, and ventricular function., Conclusions: Compared with the SVG, using the RA as the second conduit is associated with a 26% relative risk reduction in mortality at 6.6-year follow-up., (Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The current literature on radial artery grafting is reviewed focusing on the optimal deployment of radial artery grafts in coronary artery bypass surgery with specific attention to the selection of patients and target vessels for radial artery grafting., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Graft failure occurs in a sizeable proportion of coronary artery bypass conduits. We herein review relevant current evidence to give an overview of the incidence, pathophysiology, and clinical consequences of this multifactorial phenomenon. Thrombosis, endothelial dysfunction, vasospasm, and oxidative stress are different mechanisms associated with graft failure. Intrinsic morphological and functional features of the bypass conduits play a role in determining failure. Similarly, characteristics of the target coronary vessel, such as the severity of stenosis, the diameter, the extent of atherosclerotic burden, and previous endovascular interventions, are important determinants of graft outcome and must be taken into consideration at the time of surgery. Technical factors, such as the method used to harvest the conduits, the vasodilatory protocol, the storage solution, and the anastomotic technique, also play a major role in determining graft success. Furthermore, systemic atherosclerotic risk factors, such as age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, have been variably associated with graft failure. The failure of a coronary graft is not always correlated with adverse clinical events, which vary according to the type, location, and reason for failed graft. Intraoperative flow verification and secondary prevention using antiplatelet and lipid-lowering agents can help reducing the incidence of graft failure., (© 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Introduction: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, ulcerative inflammatory skin pathology frequently associated with systemic inflammatory disease. While rare after surgery, recognition of this disease in the post-surgical setting is important as it can mimic wound infection. There have been ten case reports to date of PG occurring immediately after cardiac surgery, with all of them presenting within the first week post-operatively., Presentation of Case: We herein present a delayed and dramatic presentation of PG nine days after mitral valve replacement and repair of patent foramen ovale, two days after being discharged with a seemingly normal healing wound. Diagnosis of this disease in the postoperative period requires high suspicion when the characteristic ulcerative lesions are seen diffusely in all surgical wounds and show minimal improvement with antibiotic treatment or debridement., Discussion/conclusion: Our case highlights the importance of recognizing this disease in the postoperative period, even in a delayed presentation and initially limited to one of the surgical sites. This case calls for an awareness of this disease entity amongst cardiac surgeons as well as intensivists., (Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: During the past 2 decades, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has increased dramatically compared with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with coronary artery disease. However, although the evidence available to all practitioners is similar, the relative distribution of PCI and CABG appears to differ among hospitals and regions., Methods and Results: We reviewed the published data from the mandatory New York State Department of Health annual cardiac procedure reports issued from 1994 through 2008 to define trends in PCI and CABG utilization in New York and to compare the PCI/CABG ratios in the metropolitan area to the remainder of the State. During this 15-year interval, the procedure volume changes for CABG, for all cardiac surgeries, for non-CABG cardiac surgeries, and for PCI for New York State were -40%, -20%, +17.5%, and +253%, respectively; for the Manhattan programs, the changes were similar as follows: -61%, -23%, +14%, and +284%. The average PCI/CABG ratio in New York State increased from 1.12 in 1994 to 5.14 in 2008; however, in Manhattan, the average PCI/CABG ratio increased from 1.19 to 8.04 (2008 range: 3.78 to 16.2). The 2008 PCI/CABG ratios of the Manhattan programs were higher than the ratios for New York City programs outside Manhattan, in Long Island, in the northern counties contiguous to New York City, and in the rest of New York State; their averages were 5.84, 5.38, 3.31, and 3.24, respectively. In Manhattan, a patient had a 56% greater chance of receiving PCI than CABG as compared with the rest of New York State; in one Manhattan program, the likelihood was 215% higher., Conclusions: There are substantial regional and statewide differences in the utilization of PCI versus CABG among cardiac centers in New York, possibly related to patient characteristics, physician biases, and hospital culture. Understanding these disparities may facilitate the selection of the most appropriate, effective, and evidence-based revascularization strategy. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2012;1:e001446 doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.001446.).

Background: Current literature documents use of the radial artery (RA) for myocardial revascularization only as an alternative conduit in cases where the saphenous veins have been previously harvested or are unsuitable for use. Large-scale routine clinical use of the RA as the conduit of choice has not been reported., Methods: This prospective study evaluated the harvest of the RA from 933 patients and the subsequent use of the conduit as a preferred coronary artery bypass graft second only to the left internal thoracic artery in 930 of these patients., Results: Unilateral RA harvest was performed in 786 patients and 147 patients had bilateral RA harvest. A total of 1080 RAs were harvested; 214 (19.8%) originated from the dominant forearm. There was a mean of 3.30+/-0.93 grafts per patient of which 2.43+/-0.83 were arterial grafts. The mean number of RA grafts was 1.43+/-0.53. Operative mortality was 2.3% with none due to the RA graft(s). There was no ischemia nor motor dysfunction in the operated hands. Thirty-two (3.4%) patients experienced transient thenar dysesthesia that resolved in 1 day to 6 weeks., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that routine total or near total arterial myocardial revascularization may be achieved safely and effectively with the use of one or both RAs in conjunction with the internal thoracic artery.

Background: To assess the full root modification of the Ross procedure, we examined operative and long-term results., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 145 patients (118 men and 27 women) operated on from March 1987 through April 1997. Ages ranged from 17 to 68 years. Primary diagnosis was aortic stenosis in 43 patients (29.6%) and aortic regurgitation in 62 patients (42.8%). There was mixed disease (stenosis and regurgitation) in 40 patients (29.6%) of whom the vast majority had predominant stenosis., Results: Early death was 7 of 145 patients (4.8%). Twelve patients had 14 significant complications (8.5%). There were four late deaths. Overall patient survival is 90.5% +/- 3.1% at 5 years and 84.5% +/- 14.1% at 7 years. Endocarditis occurred in three patients-two on the autograft and one on the pulmonary homograft. Three patients had cerebrovascular accidents. In 5 of 132 patients (3.8%) reoperations were required on the autograft. Freedom from autograft reoperation was 93.9% +/- 3.1% at 5 years and 88.6% +/- 6.4% at 7 years. Echocardiographic follow-up reveals more than mild aortic regurgitation in only nine patients, including the five patients in whom reoperations were required. Seven of 11 patients with active endocarditis at the time of the operation had adverse outcomes., Conclusions: Ten years' experience with the modified Ross procedure has shown excellent results with regard to short- and long-term morbidity and death. It is the procedure of choice for young patients who need aortic valve replacement but should be used with caution in the setting of active endocarditis.

Retinal artery embolization is an unusual but serious complication of calcific aortic stenosis. However, it is rare for retinal embolization to be the presenting feature of aortic stenosis. This report describes a young patient who presented with an acute retinal artery occlusion secondary to calcific aortic valve disease, and discusses the rationale for early surgical intervention.

A 43-year-old woman with a history of cutaneous granular cell tumor presented with severe aortic regurgitation due to a type A aortic dissection. During repair, multiple masses were found on the surface of the heart, which later were identified to be granular cell tumor. We present an extremely rare case of multicentric granular cell tumor of the skin and heart, manifested over a 23-year period.

The shortage of cadaveric human organs for transplantation could be alleviated by the use of xenografts. Long-term (> one-year) survival of xenografts in humans or experimental animals has not been achieved with previous immunosuppressive protocols. Poor results in xenotransplantation compared with allotransplantation have been attributed to a more potent antibody response rather than to cell-mediated responses. To investigate these issues a concordant heterotopic cardiac xenograft model was developed in conjunction with cyclosporine and/or total-lymphoid irradiation. Concordant models permit examination of xenoantigen induced antibody and cell-mediated responses since preformed humoral factors (in discordant models) do not cause hyperacute rejection. Four groups of baboon recipients received cervical heart transplants from cynomolgous monkeys. Group I (n = 2), untreated, mean survival (MS) = 6 days; group II (n = 5), CsA and methylprednisolone, MS = 25 days; group III (n = 3), preoperative TLI, MS = 29 days; group IV (n = 6), preoperative TLI and CsA+MP, MS = 255 days (> 77, > 108, > 142, 184, > 480, 540 days). Heart xenografts of CsA-MP-treated recipients appear to be destroyed predominantly by antibody (IgM)-mediated processes whereas cell-mediated rejection is likely the major reaction in TLI-treated recipients. CsA-MP-treated recipients had early immunohistochemical evidence of antibody and complement-mediated rejection (deposition of IgM and complement but not IgG on heart xenografts). In contrast IgM and complement deposits were not detected on heart xenografts in TLI- and TLI-CsA-treated recipients. IgG xenoantibodies were only detected on the two rejected heart grafts of TLI-CsA-treated recipients. CsA-MP-treated recipients rapidly developed high xenoantibody titers (1:256 to 1:512) that immediately preceded rejection. In contrast, TLI-treated animals developed lower levels of xenoantibody (< or = 1:8) and TLI-CsA-treated recipients had no detectable xenoantibody during the initial three months after transplantation (and titers no greater than 1:8 thereafter.) The lack of xenoantibody was likely not due to a generalized inhibitory effect of the immunosuppressants on B cell function since all classes of serum immunoglobulins were in the normal range. Intragraft cytolytic lymphocyte activity was detected in rejecting TLI- and TLI-CsA-treated recipients but could not be detected in xenografts of CsA-MP-treated recipients. One explanation for these data is that TLI (either directly or indirectly) induces a state of specific B cell unresponsiveness to monkey xenoantigens, thereby preventing IgM mediated rejection in the third week after transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aneurysms of the left ventricle may be congenital or may occur after a myocardial infarction, trauma, or endocarditis. Infective endocarditis can cause destructive injury to the heart in various ways. This report describes the formation of an aneurysm of the left ventricle from trauma of a bacterial vegetation of the mitral valve. Early recognition by echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging led to successful repair and prevented a catastrophic result.

Parachute mitral valve (single papillary muscle) is commonly associated with complete atrioventricular (AV) canal. We report a case of ostium primum defect associated with single papillary muscle.

Continuous povidone-iodine irrigation is frequently used to treat mediastinitis after median sternotomy and has been considered safe and effective. We describe a 34-month-old patient with mediastinitis after median sternotomy who was treated with continuous povidone-iodine irrigation and who absorbed toxic quantities of iodine (total serum iodine, 9,375 micrograms/dl; normal range, 4.5 to 9.0 micrograms/dl). An unexplained metabolic acidosis developed, along with changes in mental status, and the patient died. This experience and a thorough review of the literature lead us to believe that continuous povidone-iodine irrigation of the mediastinum is contraindicated.

We have sequentially measured the daily extravascular lung water (EVLW) changes in 16 severely traumatized patients to better define the principal etiologic factors causing post-traumatic interstitial fluid accumulation and subsequent respiratory failure. We found that severe hemorrhagic shock (mean initial BP = 40 mm Hg), massive transfusion (12.7 liters of blood), and crystalloid resuscitation with resulting hemodilution of plasma colloid osmotic pressure (PCOP) (PCOP less than or equal to 15 mmHg) do not cause EVLW accumulation. Post-traumatic elevations in EVLW were seen after lung contusion (average EVLW = 15.3 +/- 2.5 ml/kg), sepsis (average EVLW = 17.1 +/- 2.9 ml/kg) and cardiac failure (EVLW = 15.3 +/- 0.3 ml/kg). Severe hemorrhagic shock, massive transfusion, and crystalloid resuscitation with resulting hemodilution of plasma colloid oncotic pressure do not cause EVLW accumulation. Post-traumatic elevations in EVLW are seen after lung contusion, sepsis, and cardiac failure. We conclude that after trauma elevations in capillary hydrostatic pressure and capillary permeability alterations resulting from lung contusion or sepsis are the primary determinants of interstitial fluid accumulation.

The optimal method of anticoagulation in children with mechanical heart valves is controversial. Between 1975 and 1986, aspirin or aspirin with dipyridamole has been used for anticoagulation in children receiving a mechanical aortic valve at the University of California, San Francisco. Fifty-one patients (ages 1 to 23 years, mean 12.9 years) were treated with aspirin (n = 45) or aspirin with dipyridamole (n = 6) and observed a mean of 36.5 months (range 3 to 100 months). There were four late deaths: two from endocarditis and two from other medical problems, but none related to thrombosis or embolus. Follow-up was accomplished by direct contact with the patient, parent, or referring physician. Two patients (3.9%) were lost to late follow-up. One minor neurologic event occurred perioperatively and resolved spontaneously. There were no postoperative thromboembolic events. Eleven asymptomatic children were recently studied by magnetic resonance imaging or computed axial tomography of the brain and had no evidence of prior silent cerebral thromboembolic defects. There were four patients (5.9%) who had minor hemorrhagic complications: Three patients had nosebleeds and one patient had an upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Five patients were changed to warfarin anticoagulation: the patient with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and four older patients because of physician preference, all after uncomplicated aspirin therapy. There were no mechanical valve failures, although one patient required reoperation 9 months later for perivalvular leak. All children have remained in normal sinus or paced rhythm during follow-up. These results show that children with mechanical aortic valves in normal sinus rhythm can be safely treated with aspirin (or aspirin with dipyridamole) with little risk of thromboembolic events, valve thrombosis, or valve failure. Hemorrhagic complications resulting from aspirin are minor and easily treated.

Respiratory failure after thermal injury is common, but the etiologic roles of high volume crystalloid resuscitation, hypoproteinemia, inhalation injury, or sepsis have not been specifically defined in human studies. We used the thermal-green dye double indicator dilution measurement of extravascular lung water (EVLW) to follow daily lung water changes in seven severly burned adult patients, resuscitated with only crystalloid solutions. An average weight gain of 21.3 kg, a 30% increase (p < 0.001), was present two to three days after admission. Admission EVLW for all patients was 7.9 +/- 1.2 ml/kg, (means +/- SD), and EVLW at the time of maximal weight gain was 5.9 +/- 1.4 ml/kg, a 25% decrease (p < 0.05). Admission pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) was 8 +/- 3 mmHG, which was not significantly different from PAWP of 13 +/- 4 mmHg at the time of maximal weight gain. In the three patients who died of sepsis, their terminal weight averaged 17.8 kg (27%) above their admitting weight (p < 0.01) and EVLW was 26.4 +/- 4.4 ml/kg, a 200% increase (p < 0.02) from admission. Their terminal PAWP averaged 22 +/- 2 mmHg, a 170% increase (p < 0.005). None of these patients had an increase in EVLW until clinical signs of sepsis occurred and the rise in EVLW preceded the rise in PAWP. Calculated mean plasma colloid osmotic pressure (PCOP) on admission was 20.7 +/- 4.9 mmHg; at the time of maximal weight gain, it was 8.6 +/- 1.7 mmHg (p < 0.001). The PCOP-PAWP gradient fell to -4 +/- 4 mmHg (p < 0.001) at the time of maximal weight gain and remained less than +4 mmHg throughout the study period in all patients. We conclude that massive crystalloid resuscitation while maintaining PAWP below 15 mmHg does not cause an increase in EVLW during the first four days after thermal injury. EVLW actually decreases slightly in all patients despite marked weight gain, hypoproteinemia and a negative PCOP-PAWP gradient. EVLW does not correlate with the PCOP-PAWP gradient in either septic or nonseptic periods. Three patients had severe inhalational injury and normal EVLW for the first four postburn days. It therefore appears that significant interstitial edema does not result from inhalational injury. There is also no evidence that thermal injury causes an early increase in pulmonary capillary permeability. The occurrence of sepsis, however, results in rapid accumulation of lung water, without any change in hydrostatic or osmotic forces. This study supports the primary role of sepsis in altering pulmonary capillary permeability with resulting pulmonary edema.

Fourteen thermally injured patients with severe inhalation injury were sequentially studied with the thermal-green dye double indicator dilution technique of extravascular lung water (EVLW) measurement. Eight females and six males (average age, 49 years, and average thermal burn, 37% body surface) were studied for 2-31 days postinjury. All were burned in a closed space, had facial burns, soot in their sputum, and a mean carboxyhemoglobin level of 30%. Nine patients died, six of sepsis, one each of acute renal failure, hepatorenal syndrome, and anoxic brain damage. Mean EVLW on admission was 7.0 +/- 2.9 ml/kg and remained normal in the five survivors and in the patients dying of acute renal failure and anoxic brain damage. Six patients had increases in EVLW, caused by altered pulmonary capillary permeability in five and by elevation of hydrostatic pressures in one patient (hepatorenal death). Of the five patients with permeability edema, one appeared to result from a direct early effect of inhalation injury resulting in an EVLW of 13.3 ml/kg on admission. The other four patients had EVLW increases after the onset of sepsis, resulting in a mean EVLW of 23.2 +/0- 7.2 ml/kg at death (p less than 0.01). Seventy-one per cent of all patients developed pneumonia, which appears to have caused an EVLW increase in one patient; the other EVLW increases were caused by systemic sepsis. In our present study of 14 patients with definite severe inhalation injury only one had an early increase in EVLW directly related to the inhalation injury, an early effect on capillary permeability presumably caused by direct chemical toxicity of inhaled gases. The remaining four cases of permeability edema occurred 4-24 days postinjury and resulted from burn wound or pulmonary sepsis. We thus conclude that increases in EVLW after thermal and inhalational injury are primarily caused by systemic or pulmonary sepsis, and have a delayed onset. Early increases in EVLW may be a result of the chemical toxicity of inhaled gases but are very uncommon, moderate in degree, and are seen only with the severest cases of inhalation injury.

The choice of the initial asanguinous fluid--either crystalloid or colloid--used for the resuscitation of the hypovolemic patient remains controversial. Colloid supporters argue for the careful preservation of the plasma colloid osmotic pressure (PCOP) to protect the lung from pulmonary edema. A careful analysis of the Starling microvascular forces operative at the pulmonary capillary makes such an effect unlikely. In fact, the lung is relatively immune to hemodilution and any decrease in PCOP is roughly one fourth as important as increases in hydrostatic pressure in causing increased fluid exchange. A critical review of the experimental and clinical studies comparing crystalloid versus colloid resuscitation essentially shows no physiologic difference in the two solutions. Using the thermal-green dye technique of extra-vascular lung water (EVLW) measurement in twenty crystalloid resuscitated trauma (n = 10) and burn (n = 10) patients, we have specifically evaluated the pulmonary effects of profound depression of PCOP and a negative PCOP - PAWP gradient (a shorthand form of the Starling equation argued to predict the presence of pulmonary edema if + 4 mm Hg or less). Average resuscitative fluid volumes during the first two hospital days were: 31.8 litres of crystalloid and no colloid for each burn patient; and 18.5 liters of crystalloid, 21 units of blood and 1 liter of colloid (as fresh frozen plasma) for each trauma patient. EVLW remained in the normal range of 7.0 +/- 1.0 ml/kg during the first five hospital days for all patients despite profound decrease in PCOP (less than 15 mm Hg) and a low or negative PCOP - PAWP gradient. Crystalloid resuscitation clearly is not harmful to the lung and it is equally as effective as colloid resuscitation. Crystalloid is markedly less expensive than colloid and, given the greater cost of colloid without evident benefit, one wonders how their further use can be justified.

Acute abdominal pain frequently accompanies sickle cell crisis. The character of this pain may be difficult to discriminate from acute surgical processes such as acute cholecystitis or appendicitis. Seven patients with sickle cell disease presenting with abdominal pain underwent surgery. Review of the medical records demonstrated a characteristic pattern of presentation consistent from crisis to crisis. When patients with known sickle cell disease present with symptoms of abdominal pain, (1) the character of the symptoms, (2) precipitating events, (3) white blood cell count, (4) bilirubin, and (5) fever should be compared with those characteristics in previous crises. Deviation from previous patterns suggests an illness caused by problems other than sickel cell crisis.

Although most rectal foreign bodies can be removed safely in the emergency room, some require removal in the operating room. Good results can be achieved if basic principles in the management of colorectal injuries in general are applied to colorectal perforations by foreign bodies. Although rectal foreign bodies and colorectal perforations from non-medical rectal instrumentation have been a medical curiosity for many years, especially in metropolitan general hospitals, there can be little doubt that the frequency of such problems is increasing. We expect that community hospitals, will see more of these problems in years to come, if they are not already.