Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) produces an inflammatory response due to the interaction of blood with a foreign body surface. The lungs are most affected by this inflammatory response. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and an inhibitor of leukocyte activation, is used to minimize damage in lungs where leukocytes play an important role. Twenty patients with mitral valve stenosis with planned mitral valve surgery were included in the study. The ten patients receiving pentoxifylline (PTX group) were administered 400 mg PTX orally TID for 3 days preoperatively and, following anesthetic induction, a 300 mg PTX infusion was given. The ten patients receiving no PTX were the control group (CT). Platelet and leukocyte counts, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), cardiac index (CI), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), alveolar-arterial PO2 gradient (AaDO2) were measured just before and after CPB, and 2 h postoperatively. The number of the leukocytes increased in the blood samples drawn 15 min after CPB in both groups and 2 h postoperatively showed no statistical change. The number of platelets had decreased significantly at the end of the CPB in both groups and, 2 h postoperatively, there was a further decrease in the blood count in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in either the preoperative or postoperative PAP, PAWP, and CI. Pulmonary vascular resistance increased in both groups following the CPB (CT, before: 136 +/- 44, after: 177 +/- 94 dyne. sec.cm-5; PTX, before: 151 +/- 82, after 182 +/- 43 dynes.sec.cm-5). Two hours postoperatively, a considerable increase continued in the control group (CT 219 +/- 170 dynes.sec. cm-5), while there was an insignificant increase in the PTX group (PTX 193 +/- 51 dynes.sec.cm-5) (P < 0.05). The alveolar-arterial PO2 gradient increased after the CPB in both groups but a moderate decrease was observed 2 h postoperatively. In lung biopsy specimens taken before and after the CPB, there was marked leukocyte sequestration in the control group, whereas the number of leukocytes was seen to be insignificant in the PTX group (P < 0.005). This dosage regimen of PTX inhibits the postoperative increase in PVR and greatly minimized leukocyte sequestration in the lung due to CPB.

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SUMMARYOver the past 15 years 23 patients, aged 14-50, with aortic sinus-cardiac chamber fistulous communication have been operated upon. All were symptomatic and had angiographic evaluation before surgery. The last 5 were diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography.The origin of the fistula was the right aortic sinus in 22 and the non-coronary sinus in 1. The involved cardiac chamber was the right ventricle in 18, right atrium in 3 and left ventricle in 2. Associated lesions were ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 9, ventricular septal defect+atrial septal defect (VSD+ ASD) in 1, ventricular septal defect+pulmonary stenosis (VSD+ PS) in 1, atrial septal defect (ASD) in 3 and congenital aortic stenosis (AS) in 1. At surgery both the aorta and involved cardiac chamber were opened. No recurrence was encountered when the fistula was repaired using teflon felts on both ends. Three patients,

During left ventricular ejection, the minor (transverse) axis of the inner wall shortens by 27% to 37%, while the major axis shortens by 9%. Therefore, shortening of the minor axis accounts for 85% to 90% of the stroke volume and the mitral annulus area alters to assist left ventricular contraction. Mitral valve prostheses with large diameters are preferred but these may lead to systolic malfunction by restricting minor-axis shortening. We studied echocardiographic data of patients who has received mechanical mitral valves with the same inner diameter and opening angle but with different outer diameters (29 mm or 31 mm). Although there was no difference preoperatively in ejection fractions in the two groups, the postoperative ejection fraction was significantly higher in patients with the smaller valve. This finding indicates that mitral valve replacement with a prosthesis of large external diameter caused a deterioration in left ventricular function.

There is no risk of recurrent regurgitation secondary to Bowstring phenomenon in this alternative annuloplasty technique and this annuloplasty is cost-effective and performed easily.