Volume 5 - Número 2

Keywords:

From June 1984 to November 1989, 4958 patients (pts) were submitted to myocardial revascularization in the Heart Institute, and in 54% at least one internal mammary artery was used. In 442 (8,9%) pts both intenal mammary arteries, right (RIMA) and left (LIMA) were used, isolated or associated to ther grafts. The age ranged from 30 to 78 years old (52,7y) and 399 were male. The pts were separated in 4 groups, being: G I 232 (52,4%) pts - LIMA to left anterior descending artery (LAD) and RIMA to LAD branches or circumflex (Cx) branches in retroaortic position; G II 135 (30,5%) pts - LIMA to LAD and RIMA to right coronary artery (RCA); G III 48 (10,8%) pts - LIMA to Cx branches and RIMA to LAD as a free graft; G IV 27 (6,1%) pts - different associations with both arteries. The LIMA was used in situ in 440 pts and as free graft in 2; the RIMA was used in situ in 379 pts and as free graft in 63; The average number of grafts/pts was 3,17, considering the association with saphenous vein and other grafts. Respiratory insufficiency and low cardiac output syndrome were the main complications in 37 (8,3%) and 23 (5,2%) pts, respectively; 16 (3,6%) pts had post operatory myocardial infarction and 15 (3,3%) had wound closure complications. The mortality rate was 4,91% (22 pts) and the main causes of deaths were multiple system organ failure in 7 (31,8%) and myocardial insufficiency in 6 (27,3%). The mortality rate was higher in pts with severe myocardial dysfunction and older than 60 years old and the best graft patency was observed when the LIMA was anastomosed to the LAD (93,8%). The use of both intenal mammary arteries showed good results and acceptable morbidity and mortality. Keywords: myocardial revascularization, direct

The systemic-pulmonary shunts are an important procedure to treat and prepare, for the final correction, cyanotic patients with hypoplastic pulmonary arteries. All of them have advantages and disadvantages, and the results will depend on the age and weight of the patients and the complexity of their heart disease. The present study reports seven internal mammary-pulmonary anastomosis, made through right (2) or left (5) thoracotomies, in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic pulmonary arteries, from 2 to 63 months of age (m = 18,4) and mean weight of 7.9 kg. There were two deaths (1st and 2nd days), due to thrombosis of the internal mammary, where it was clamped. Two patients went to total correction (1 month and 3 years later). In the first case, the shunt was made due to the general conditions of the child, despite the good size of the pulmonary arteries. In the second case (a 15 months old boy, in whom a classical Blalock-Taussig shunt was made and thrombosed in the 3rd month of life) was possible to follow the progressive enlargement of the pulmonary arteries. In both the shunts were well functioning and the total correction was successful. Three patients are waiting for their best time for final procedures. Despite the small number and the short period of observations, the authors do believe that the internal mammary-pulmonary artery anastomisis is palliative option for these patients. The best results are obtained among the eldest children that are not in an emergency situation and not involving small pulmonary arteries. Keywords: internal mammary artery-pulmonary artery anastomosis

A hundred-and-one patients were studied in six years, with 100% of follow-up. Among them, 36 were male and 65 female, with an age range of two to 62 years (mean 28 ± 16.4%). Fifty seven of them (56.4%) underwent just a mitral surgery, the others and other associated procedures, as tricuspid plastic (9.9%), coronary artery revascularization (4.0%), among others. Hospital mortality was not registered. The late mortality rate was 2% for AVC hemorrhagic after five years, and septicemia during the first year. The non-fatal complications were represented by endocarditis in two patients (2%), treated and cured; and a mitral restenosis after plastic. The actuarial study revealed a survival rate of 79.0 ± 17.7% and rates of without complications, reoperation and thromboembolism of 76.3 ± 17.8, 80.0 ± 17.9 and 100%, respectively. The echocardiography results registered 89% of the patients with evolution to absence of insufficiency from the remaining 11%, 7.4% showed discrete mitral insufficiency, 2.4% moderate and 1.2% important. Under the NYHA classification, the patients functionally went from class III (83.3%) and IV (16.2%) to class I (33.3%), II (60.65), III (4.1%) and IV (2.0%). The authors conclude that the pericardium ring is flexible, it fits perfectly in the valvar ring, does not cause hemolysis, and shows completely endotelization after a certain time. Keywords: heart valves, mitral, surgery; heart valves prostheses, surgery

A new technique for correction of aortic incompetence by the advancement of one more valve leaflets with bovine pericardium is presented. After experimental studies in isolated animal hearts, this technique was used with immediate success in six patients. In all cases non coronarian leaflet was advanced and in two cases the left coronarian leaflet was also advanced. The elevation of valve comissure may constitute a complimentary technique, as long as it has been constant in all cases operated. One patient died in the seventh month after surgery of bacterian endocarditis. All the others are now in postoperative follow-up of four to twelve months. Early observation allows the statement that the technique is reproducible with good immediate results. The early and late follow-up are fundamental to take a more definitive conclusion. The occurence of bacterian endocarditis and the consequences of evolution of rheumatic process are motives of constant preocupation. Keywords: heart valves, aortic, surgery; heart valves, prostheses, surgery

To evaluate a longterm evolution of patients who were submitted to an open mitral commissurotomy, we studied 100 patients who were operated upon between 1962 and 1975. They have had follow-up in the Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia for the minimum of 14 years. Sixty-six were women and 24 were men. Their ages ranged from 11 to 50 years, and the media was 30.8 years. Sixty-five patients were reoperated and 18 of them were submitted to a new commissurotomy; in one a revascularization was done; in one the replacement of tricuspide valve; and in 45 times the valve was replaced (43 biological prosthesis and 2 metalics). The medium time among he first and the second surgery was 13.6 years. There wasn't any death among the reoperations. Thirty five patients keep in evolution of the first surgery, the medium time is 17.2 years (minimun 14 years and maximum 27 years). Ten are in the NYHA functional class I, 17 in II, seven in III and one in class IV. After this time of evolution, 52 patients are with their natural valves, showing good evolution of the mitral commissurotomy. Keywords: mitral commissurotomy, late follow-up, late follow-up; heart valves, mitral, surgery

In the cardiac forms of Chagas' Disease that develop with refractory cardiac failure under clinical treatment, the transplant is the only alternative along with the cardiomyoplasty. The authors present the six patient late evolution with terminal chagasic myocardiopathy submitted under on orthopic heart transplantation. The average period of observation was of 25.2 months. The diagnosis of Chagas' Disease reativation relies on the clinical observation, laboratory investigation of parasito, endomyocardial biopsy and subcutaneous nodules. The analyses of the results show that: 1) the laboratory exams were useless in the diagnosis of the disease reativation, but the biopsy presented hight positivity; 2) the pulse therapy with steroid predisposes the reativation; 3) the lymphoproliferative disease presents hight incidence in the Chagas' Disease which is the main late complication; possibly the benzonidazol shows its potentially oncogenic effect. Having in mind the endemic character of the disease, the lack of alternative therapy becomes compulsory the analysis of immunosuppressive therapy, reativation treatment and increases the clinical experience to more defined position. Keywords: heart transplantation, chagasic cardiomiopathy

From January/1982 to March/1984, 170 high profile bovine pericardium bioprostheses were implanted in the INCOR (Instituto do Coração), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP). Hospital mortality amongst these patients was 7.1%. Anatomopathological studies identified five cases in which obstruction of the left ventricle outlet occurred after substitution of the mitral valve. Based on this experience, the indication of a hemodynamic study on the first postoperative day of a patient with an unexplained low cardiac output made it possible to identify obstruction of the left ventricle valve outlet in such patients, with resubstitution of the valve and a satisfactory evolution of the case. In this report we relate the six cases in detail and discuss the causes of the obstruction of the outlet in mitral valve substitutions. Keywords: left ventricle outlet, obstruction; heart valves, mitral, surgery, complications

Ninety hundred and six patients with varied pathology (43% coronarian, 37% valvular, 17% congenital and 3% others) between december 1987 and december 1989, underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. In the intra-hospitalar postoperative'period there were nineteen cases of partial or total dehiscence of median thoracotomy (2%) which occurred, as an average, within the first week, being reoperated within a third week. In all cases, wound cultures showed predominance of gram positive bacteria and in few of them gram negative bacteria or fungii were found. There was only one case in which no infective agent was isolated. In this patient group, the existance of pre-disponent factors were observed, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and prolonged surgery time (average: beyond six hours). There was predominance of adult patients whose ages varied from forty to sixty seven years, with median age of fifty three years (89%). In 84% of the patients, internal mammary artery dissection had been carried out, to be used as vascular graft in surgical revascularization of the miocardium. Other than general therapeutic measures like local and specific systemic antibiotic therapy (to sterelize the infected wound), patients were taken to surgery proceeding with cleansing and debridement of surgical planes including the sternum, leaving in some cases continuous irrigation with povidine-iodine solution. A miocutaneous flap was rotated in two patients who were refractive to treatment. Of five cases with mediastinitis, three died because of multiple organ failure and sepsis. The remaining group presented favorable evolution and were discharged three weeks after surgical reoperation with appropriate consolidation of the surgical wound. Keywords: sternum dehiscence, surgery