No abstract

No abstract

BackgroundRedo-sternotomy for mitral valve (MV) surgery may be complex and attendant complications can be avoided using anterolateral right thoracotomy, deep hypothermia (20°C, nasopharyngeal) with low flow cardiopulmonary perfusion. Video-assisted minithoracotomy technique is a further improvement.MethodsWe performed 20 consecutive MV operations in patients with previous cardiac surgery using video-assisted right minithoracotomy, femoro-femoral bypass, deep hypothermia, low flow cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic cross-clamping. The mean follow-up was 30 ± 17.8 mo. Data is presented as the mean ± standard deviation of the mean.ResultsThere were 11 males and 9 females (age, 62.3 ± 12.1; ejection fraction 50.1 ± 11.2). Operations included MV replacement (n = 11), MV repair (n = 5), and MV re-replacement (n = 4). There were no hospital deaths, and the mean hospital stay was 8 ± 2.9 days. There were no postoperative strokes or need for mechanical circulatory support. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 152 ± 28 minutes. Two patients (10%) required inotropic support beyond 24 hrs. All patients were free from inotropic support at 48 hours. The mean number of transfused red cell units was 2.8 ± 0.8 (range, 2 to 4). One patient died in another institution six months postoperatively following surgery for acute type III aortic dissection. At 30 ± 17.8 months follow-up all patients were found to be in NYHA Class I or II.ConclusionsMinimally invasive video-assisted MV surgery using deep hypothermia, low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic clamping can result in excellent clinical outcomes in patients with previous cardiac surgery via a median sternotomy. This technique offers reproducible results, good myocardial protection (as evidenced by the low rate of inotropic support that patients needed postoperatively), and low rates of complications.

A prospective, randomized study in 52 patients during cardiopulmonary bypass revealed that pH-stat increased jugular venous oxygen saturation and decreased arteriovenous oxygen-glucose differences. There was no difference in the incidence of jugular venous desaturation. These findings suggest an increased cerebral blood flow with no protection against jugular venous desaturation during pH-stat.

The main finding of the present study is that aortic root enlargement using untreated fresh autologous pericardium in Manouguian type operations is a durable option, especially in conditions when homograft or stentless valve use is difficult or economically not feasible. We found that no patient had aneurysmal dilatation or mitral regurgitation after a mean follow-up of 8.54 ± 3.35 years with autologous untreated pericardium as the enlargement patch.