Surgery – ABC CARDIOL

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Original Article

Operative Experience and Clinical Outcomes in Cardiac Myxoma Patients: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Heleutério da Conceição Nicolau Madogolele et al. Manuela Cristina Ribeiro Dias Barroso Hernán Patricio García Mejía Cristhian Espinoza … Vinicius Machado Correia Vagner Madrini José Augusto Duncan Ricardo Ribeiro Dias Fábio Fernandes

Abstract

Background

Cardiac myxoma is the second most common primary cardiac tumor; however, contemporary single-center series integrating operative strategy with clinical outcomes remain limited.

Objectives

To describe the operative approaches and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing surgical resection of cardiac myxomas at a single center.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 74 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection of histologically confirmed cardiac myxomas between 2014 and 2024 at a tertiary referral center in Brazil. Clinical, imaging, surgical, and follow-up data were collected. The primary outcome was the incidence of thromboembolic events. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all statistical analyses.

Results

The median age was 60 years (range 52-66), and 68.9% of patients were female. Median follow-up was 60 months (interquartile range 40-79). Thromboembolic events occurred in 14 patients (18.9%), including stroke (13.5%), embolic myocardial infarction (2.7%), and pulmonary embolism (2.7%). In multivariable Cox analysis, diabetes was independently associated with a lower hazard of thromboembolic events (HR 0.11; 95% CI 0.006-0.740; p < 0.05), whereas postoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with a higher thromboembolic risk (HR 6.74; 95% CI 1.490-30.510; p < 0.05). Tumor recurrence occurred in 2.7% of cases. Only one death was recorded during follow-up.

Conclusion

Cardiac myxomas are associated with significant thromboembolic and hemodynamic risks. Early surgical resection provides excellent long-term outcomes and should be considered even in asymptomatic patients. In our cohort, tumor morphology showed a non-significant trend toward a higher risk of thromboembolic events.

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ABCIC

Case Report

Dorsalis Pedis Artery Aneurysm: an Ultrasound Diagnosis

Ana Claudia Gomes Pereira Petisco et al. Larissa Chaves Nunes Carvalho Mohamed Hassan Saleh Fabio Henrique Rossi … Marcela da Silva Dourado Juliana Chen Heraldo Antonio Barbato Andrea de Andrade Vilela

Discussion

The DPAA (pedal artery) was first described in 1907. Since then, other authors have reported this rare type of aneurysm, but its clinical manifestations are still relatively unknown. With only 24 cases reported in the literature until 2017, according to Aragão et al., the DPAA aneurysm is more common among men (63%) with a mean age of 55.4%. In general, it appears as a pulsatile mass, which may lead to microembolization, hemorrhage, rupture, and nerve compression. Physical examination usually reveals a pulsatile mass that can cause pain, paresthesia, and discomfort when walking or wearing shoes, complaints similar to the case reported in our study.

The pathophysiology of these aneurysms is still uncertain, but it appears to be related to two types of mechanisms: an intrinsic mechanism, related to weakness in the vessel wall structure, such as collagen diseases, Marfan and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, syphilis, diabetes, infections, trauma, atherosclerosis, and fibrodysplasia; and an extrinsic mechanism, caused by mechanical stress on the arterial wall, such as trauma.^– However, according to the literature, many DPAAs are pseudoaneurysms and occur after trauma or iatrogenic injuries secondary to orthopedic or vascular procedures. Although trauma is a cause of DPAAs, patients are often unable to remember the acute event, and symptoms arise when they experience a compression of local structures or specific events, including embolism or rupture. There have also been cases of repeated, low-impact trauma that have led to aneurysmal degeneration, such as tight shoes in patients with congenitally markedly high arches.

[…]

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Case Report

Idiopathic Constrictive Pericarditis with Restrictive "Vertical Double Ring" Structure in a Patient with Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Stenosis

Ying Jiang et al. Haisong Bu

Introduction

Constrictive pericarditis is defined as an inflammatory process of the fibrous and serous layers of the pericardium that leads to pericardial thickening and compression of the cardiac chambers, ultimately resulting in a significant reduction in cardiac function. Tuberculous pericarditis remains the leading cause of constrictive pericarditis worldwide, especially in the remote rural areas of eastern countries where the level of health care and services is relatively backward. Other causes include postcardiotomy, connective tissue diseases, postmediastinal irradiation, uremia, and idiopathic. Herein, we present a rare case of idiopathic constrictive pericarditis with severe right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenosis. The thickened tissue formed a restrictive “vertical double ring” structure, involving the atrioventricular sulcus and ventricles that led to compression of the cardiac chambers.

[…]

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IJCS

Original Article

Predicting Factors of Surgical Mortality in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot

Patrícia de Souza Pinheiro et al. Vitor Manuel Pereira Azevedo Gabrielle Rocha

Abstract

Background

In tetralogy of Fallot, correction surgery is a priority choice, seeing that it is desirable to minimize pulmonary hypoflow and severe hypoxemia, which result in hypoxemic crises, with sudden worsening of cyanosis, tachypnea, and, in some cases, loss of consciousness, seizures, and even death.

Objective

To evaluate the predicting factors of surgical mortality in children and adolescents undergoing correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study carried out by consulting all surgical records of the Child and Adolescent Cardiology Service of the Brazilian National Institute of Cardiology, during the period from 2007 to 2010. Results with p values < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The study evaluated 93 medical records. In relation to the characteristics of the population at the time of surgery, the median age was 3.69 (2.13 to 5.79) years, and 58.06% (n = 54) were male. White was the most common skin color, accounting for 55.43% (n = 51) of cases. In relation to assessment of nutritional status, median weight was 13.25 (10.10 to 17.60) kg, and body mass index was 14.49 (13.44 to 16.28) kg/m2. Down syndrome was present in 11.83% (n = 11) of the patients. All patients underwent correction surgery (n = 93, 100%). Prior cyanotic crisis was found in 53.85% (n = 49) with p = 0.013; surgical procedure duration was 218.83 ± 60.63 minutes, with p = 0.003, and lactate was 1.88 ± 1.33 mg/dL during the immediate postoperative period, with p = 0.009. Regarding the outcome of surgical death, it was found in 15.05% (n = 14) of patients. Mean follow-up lasted 5.68 ± 3.76 years.

Conclusions

According to the factors analyzed, the duration of the surgical procedure, prior cyanotic crisis, and blood lactate level may be relevant to surgical mortality.

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Review Article

Acute myocardial infarction after noncardiac surgery

Danielle Menosi Gualandro et al. Daniela Calderaro Pai Ching Yu Bruno Caramelli

Over 230 million surgeries are performed annually worldwide, cardiac complications being the most common causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality. As life expectancy has extended worldwide, a growing number of patients with multiple comorbidities have undergone noncardiac surgeries. Consequently, cardiovascular complications associated with those procedures are expected to increase, and perioperative acute myocardial infarction (AMI) might become a frequent problem. In Brazil, the number of noncardiac surgical procedures has also increased, and approximately three million surgeries are performed annually. Despite advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques, mortality and costs related to those procedures have also increased, thus, requiring the development of strategies to reduce mortality4. The occurrence of perioperative AMI prolongs the need for intensive care and the hospital length of stay, increases the cost of hospitalization, and reduces long-term survival. This literature review approaches the pathophysiology, incidence, diagnosis and treatment of perioperative AMI based on current evidence.

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Artigo Original

Cone reconstruction in Ebstein's anomaly repair: early and long-term results

José Pedro da Silva et al. Luciana da Fonseca da Silva Luiz Felipe P. Moreira Lilian Maria Lopez … Sônia Meiken Franchi Alessandro Cavalcante Lianza José Francisco Baumgratz Glaucia Maria P. Tavares

BACKGROUND: The main Ebstein anomaly (EA) repairs are based on the monocusp reconstruction of the tricuspid valve and are limited by the frequent need for replacement or the high recurrence of valve regurgitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effects of anatomical repair of Ebstein’s anomaly using the cone reconstruction technique on patients’ clinical evaluation, tricuspid valve function and right ventricular morphology. METHODS: We compared the clinical, echocardiographic and radiological data of 52 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 18.5 ± 13.8 years, submitted to the cone reconstruction technique, obtained in the preoperative, early postoperative (EPO) and long-term (LPO) periods. RESULTS: There were two in-hospital deaths (3.8%) and two more during the follow-up. Mean functional class of pre-operative heart failure improved from 2.2 to 1.2 after 57 months of mean follow up of 97% of patients (p <0.001). The mean degree of preoperative tricuspid regurgitation decreased from 3.6 to 1.6 in the EPO (p 0.05). The indexed RV functional area increased from 8.53 ± 7.02 cm2/m2 preoperatively to 21.01 ± 6.87 cm2/m2 in the EPO (p 0.05). The mean cardiothoracic ratio was decreased from 0.66 ± 0.09 to 0.54 ± 0.06 (p <0.001) in the long term. CONCLUSION: The cone technique showed low in-hospital mortality, resulting in an effective and long-lasting repair of tricuspid regurgitation, restoring the functional area of the right ventricle and allowing reverse remodeling of the heart and clinical improvement in most patients in the long term.

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Review Article

Large randomized controlled trials in perioperative cardiovascular medicine: a proposal for the design, conduct and efficient management

Otavio Berwanger et al. Erica Aranha Suzumura PJ Devereaux

The number of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is growing worldwide. To optimally assist patients during the perioperative period, we must improve our knowledge of how to prevent major perioperative cardiovascular events around the time of noncardiac surgery. To achieve this goal there is a need for large randomized controlled trials that can provide reliable and conclusive results in this field. This narrative review describes a proposal for the design, conduct and management of large controlled trials in perioperative cardiovascular medicine.

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Artigo Original

Cardiovascular effects of local anesthesia with vasoconstrictor during dental extraction in coronary patients

Valeria C. L. S. Conrado et al. Januário de Andrade Gabriella A. M. C. de Angelis Ana Carolina P. de Andrade … Lilia Timerman Mercedes M. Andrade Dalmo R. Moreira Amanda G. M. R. Sousa J. Eduardo M. R. Sousa Leopoldo S. Piegas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of variables detecting myocardial ischemia during or after dental treatment under anesthesia with vasoconstrictor (epinephrine). METHODS: A total of 54 coronary patients undergoing dental extraction under local anesthesia with or without vasoconstrictor were included. They were divided into two groups (by drawing envelopes): group I (27 patients) using anesthetics with vasoconstrictor, and group II (27 cases) without vasoconstrictor. 24-hour Holter monitoring, Doppler-echocardiogram before and after dental intervention, and determination of biochemical markers (CK-MB mass, CK-MB activity, and troponin T) before and 24 hours after dental extraction were performed in all patients. Heart rate and blood pressure were also measured in the pre, post-anesthesia and post-dental extraction phases. Doppler echocardiography assessed left ventricular segmental contractility and the occasional occurrence of mitral regurgitation. The usual pharmaceutical treatment prescribed by the cardiologist was maintained in all cases. RESULTS: Three patients in group I presented ST-segment depression (1.0 mm) during administration of anesthesia; two other patients in group I had CK-MB mass elevation, and ischemia was not observed in any other case, as assessed by the other methods. No chest pain, arrhythmias, occurrence or worsening of left ventricular segmental hypocontractility or mitral regurgitation were observed in the study. CONCLUSION: Dental extraction performed under anesthesia with 1:100,000 epinephrine does not imply additional ischemic risks, as long as performed with good anesthetic technique and maintenance of the pharmacological treatment prescribed by the cardiologist.

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Artigo Original

Coronary artery bypass grafting in acute myocardial infarction: analysis of preoperative predictors of mortality

Renata Teixeira Ladeira et al. Fabio Biscegli Jatene Rosangela Monteiro Simone Pereira Zucato … Luciano Moreira Baracioli Alexandre Ciappina Hueb Luis Alberto Oliveira Dallan Luiz Boro Puig Sérgio Almeida Oliveira José Carlos Nicolau

OBJECTIVE: To assess preoperative predictors of mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) within the first 30 days of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Between March 1998 and July 2002, 753 AMI patients were consecutively and prospectively entered into a database, 135 (17.9%) of whom underwent isolated CABG and were enrolled in this study. The following prognostic factors were assessed by multivariate analysis: age, gender, diabetes, history of previous AMI, CABG or coronary angioplasty (PTCA), anterior infarct location, Q-wave AMI, the use of fibrinolytics, elapsed time from AMI to the procedure, and presence of complications in the preoperative period. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 6.7%, ranging from 12.5% in patients with preoperative complications to 1.4% in those with no complications. Only history of previous angioplasty (p = 0.037) and cardiogenic shock (p = 0.002) showed a statistically significant correlation with postoperative mortality. The use of thrombolytics, on the other hand, in the initial management of AMI showed a negative correlation with mortality (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: CABG in the acute phase of MI is associated with distinct operative mortality, depending on the patient’s preoperative clinical condition. Among those factors analyzed, preoperative cardiogenic shock and history of previous angioplasty were predictive of worse prognosis in this group of patients.

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Artigo Original

Cardiac transplantation and neoplasms: experiences at Escola Paulista de Medicina of the Federal University of São Paulo

Walter Teixeira de Mello Junior et al. João Nelson R. Branco Roberto Catani Luciano de Figueiredo Aguiar … Rodrigo Pereira Paez Enio Buffolo

OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence and types of neoplasms developed by patients who underwent an orthotopic cardiac transplantation under the Program of Cardiac Transplantation of Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo. METHODS: This is an observational study of 106 patients who underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation from November 1986 to September 2002 and survived at least thirty days following the procedure. The triple immunosuppressive regimen given included cyclosporin A, azathioprine and a corticosteroid agent. Only two patients received OKT3 in addition to the regimen established. Mean follow-up was 61.4 months (ranging from two months to 192 months). RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (21.3%) developed neoplasms – 56.5% of these were skin neoplasm, 30.1%, solid tumors, and 13.4% of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Mean interval between transplantation and diagnosis of neoplasm was: 54.9 months for skin neoplasm; 24.8 months for solid tumors and 70.3 months for PTLD. CONCLUSION: Malignant neoplasms are relatively common in the population studied. Skin cancer was the most common type compared to the other types of neoplasms. Solid tumors were more frequently diagnosed than the lymphoproliferative diseases in the population examined.

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Artigo Original

Prospective study of early and late morbidity and mortality in the abdominal aortic aneurysm surgical repair

Francine C. de Carvalho et al. Veridiana Porto Maggioli da Rocha Brito Elisângela Campaner Tribulatto Bonno van Bellen

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess early and late morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing elective surgical repair of abdominal infrarenal aortic aneurysms and to determine the independent predictors of cardiac events. METHODS: For 6 consecutive years, this study analyzed 130 patients, who underwent routine standardized preoperative assessment always with the same clinical, surgical, and anesthesia teams. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 3.1% (4 patients), and the major cause of death was mesenteric ischemia, which occurred in 3 patients. Forty-eight (37%) nonsurgical complications occurred as follows: 8.5% were cardiac complications and 28.5% were noncardiac complications. The most common complications were the pulmonary ones, which occurred in 14 (10.8%) patients. Survivals in the first, third, and sixth postoperative years were 95%, 87%, and 76%, respectively. The variables that significantly correlated with morbidity and mortality were clinical predictors, mean age of 70.5 years, and presence of heart failure and chronic renal failure. No predictor of late morbidity and mortality was identified. CONCLUSION: Although this is considered a highly complex surgery, mortality is low, the cardiac complications are not very significant, and the patients have a good long-term evolution.

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Artigo Original

Doppler echocardiographic variables and the type of surgery to be performed in rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation

Jorge Eduardo Assef et al. Leopoldo Soares Piegas Sérgio Cunha Pontes Junior Rodrigo Bellio de Mattos Barretto … Mercedes Maldonado Mohamed Hassam Saleh David Le Bihan Vera Marcia Lopes Gimenes Zilda Machado Meneghelo Paulo Paredes Paulista

OBJECTIVE: To identify the Doppler echocardiographic variables associated with the type of surgery performed in rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation and to determine the relation between those variables and the medium-term results of valvuloplasty. METHODS: Doppler echocardiographic variables were assessed in 68 patients with severe rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation on the day preceding surgery. The patients were divided, according to the surgery performed, into 2 groups: 1) valvuloplasty group; and 2) valve replacement group. The valvuloplasty group also underwent Doppler echocardiography before hospital discharge and 6 months after that. The Doppler echocardiographic variables of the preoperative period were assessed considering the type of surgery performed and the degree of regurgitation detected 6 months later. RESULTS: The groups did not differ in regard to their demographic characteristics and ventricular function. The valve replacement group had a smaller mitral area (P=0.001). In univariate analysis, the variables related to valve replacement were as follows: restricted mobility of the anterior (P=0.01) and posterior (P=0.01) leaflets; calcification of the anterior leaflet (P=0.01); and fusion of the chordae tendineae (P=0.018). Restricted mobility of the anterior leaflet and area remained as independent determining factors of the prosthetic implantation after multivariate analysis. Of the 7 patients with mitral regurgitation greater than mild detected 6 months after valvuloplasty, 6 had, before surgery, restricted mobility of the anterior leaflet and 4 had fusion of the chordae tendineae. CONCLUSION: The chance of valve replacement is 3.8 times greater when restricted mobility of the mitral valve anterior leaflet exists and 2.2 times greater for each 0.5 cm² reduction in the mitral valve area. Restricted mobility of the anterior leaflet and fusion of the chordae tendineae are associated with regurgitation greater than mild, observed 6 months after valvuloplasty.

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Artigo Original

Valve replacement with chordal preservation and valvuloplasty for chronic mitral insufficiency

José Luiz Dancini et al. Pablo Maria Alberto Pomerantzeff Guilherme Sobreira Spina Mírian Magalhães Pardi … Maria Clementina Pinto Giorgi Roney Orismar Sampaio Max Grinberg Sérgio Almeida de Oliveira

OBJECTIVE: To compare, from the clinical and laboratory points of view, 3 groups of patients undergoing surgical treatment for isolated chronic mitral insufficiency. One group underwent valvuloplasty, and the other 2 groups underwent mitral valve replacement with different techniques for chordal preservation. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 54.1 years, no coronary or multivalvular disease, and no reoperation, underwent surgery as follows: 9 underwent valvuloplasty; 10 underwent mitral valve replacement with chordal preservation in both leaflets; and 9 underwent mitral valve replacement with chordal preservation only in the posterior leaflet. Clinical, Doppler echocardiographic, and radionuclide ventriculographic assessments were performed until the 6th month of follow-up. RESULTS: At the end, 88.8% of the patients were in functional class I. One died due to intracranial hemorrhage during anticoagulant treatment. The left ventricular diastolic diameter (P<0.0001) and end-diastolic volume (P<0.0001) decreased in the 3 groups. Only the patients undergoing valvuloplasty had a decrease in systolic diameter (P=0.0003) and in end-systolic volume (P=0.0040), with no change in the ejection fraction (P=0.5586). The patients undergoing mitral valve replacement had a similar drop in ejection fraction (P=0.0001 and P=0.0296). CONCLUSION: The 3 surgical techniques used provided clinical improvement. Patients undergoing valvuloplasty had better preservation of ventricular function. No significant difference was observed in cardiac performance between the 2 groups undergoing mitral valve replacement with chordal preservation within a 6-month follow-up.

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Artigo Original

Surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta using trapezoidal aortoplasty

Jarbas Jakson Dinkhuysen et al. Tarcisio Luiz Valle de Almeida Ibraim Masciarelli Francisco Pinto Luiz Carlos Bento de Souza

OBJECTIVE: Trapezoidal aortoplasty is a technical variant of end-to-end anastomosis, which, based on elements of geometry, aims at increasing the diameter of the aorta at the level of the suture, therefore reducing the occurrence of residual or recurrent pressure gradients in the short and long run. METHODS: After resecting the coarcted area and ductal tissue, 3 trapezoids are confected in each aortic stump, which, when confronted, create a suture line with a sinusoidal aspect (zigzag). Thirty-three patients underwent surgery with this technique, 22 (66.7%) males, with ages ranging from 3 months to 36 years (mean of 9.84 ± 9.69). RESULTS: No immediate or late deaths occurred. Follow-up ranged from 1.1 to 7.6 years (mean of 3.6 ± 3.4). Most patients became asymptomatic with normal blood pressure levels, enabling the discontinuation of antihypertensive therapy (P<0.0001). A significant reduction in the pressure gradients was observed on Doppler echocardiography and during cardiac catheterization (P<0.001). The analysis of the images of aortography showed good anatomical continuity in the region of the anastomosis, and the morphometric study of the aorta revealed the beneficial effects of the technique indicated by the increase in the caliber of the aorta in the distal segment of the arch, isthmus, and descending portion. CONCLUSION: Trapezoidal aortoplasty showed satisfactory clinical results that allow its application in all cases indicated for end-to-end anastomosis.

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Original Article

Right ventricular structure and function as possible determinants of surgical outcome 30 years after repair of tetralogy of Fallot

Sonia F. Mesquita et al. Raquel Snitcowsky Antonio Augusto Lopes

OBJECTIVE: To identify the variables that may be involved in the persistence of symptoms (functional class II, III, or IV vs. I) in patients being followed up for 30 years after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. METHODS: Fifty-three patients (27 women), who underwent corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot between 1960 and 1970, were studied. Their ages ranged from 7 months to 26 years. At the end of follow-up, 13 patients were asymptomatic and the remaining were in functional class II (N=24), III (N=15), and IV (N=1). To differentiate asymptomatic from symptomatic patients, the following variables were analyzed: age at surgery, need for widening the pulmonary ring and trunk, need for a second (2nd OP) or 3rd operation, residual defect of the interventricular septum, residual regurgitation of the pulmonary valve, systolic gradient through the right ventricular outflow tract, right ventricular dilation or hypertrophy (RVH), cardiothoracic index (CTI), right and left ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF/LVEF), and arrhythmias. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed an association between the presence of symptoms and the 2nd OP (P=0.03), an increase in the CTI (P=0.0001), moderate to severe RVH (P=0.002), and dilation (P=0.0003). In the logistic regression model, the combination of the 2nd OP (P=0.008), the RVH (P=0.002), and the reduction in RVEF (P=0.01) determined the presence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Despite the surgical treatment, right ventricular remodeling and performance were the major determinants in the late follow-up of tetralogy of Fallot.

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Original Article

Surgical treatment of partial atrioventricular septal defect: functional analysis of the mitral valve in the postoperative period

Josué Viana Castro Neto et al. Paulo Chaccur Cláudio Leo Gelape Eliseu de Sousa Santos … Hélio Carlos Falcão Mário Issa Antoninho Sanfins Arnoni Flávio Sanches Almeida Camilo Abdulmassih Neto Jarbas Jackson Dinkhuysen Luís Carlos Bento Souza Paulo Paredes Paulista

OBJECTIVE: To study mitral valve function in the postoperative period after correction of the partial form of atrioventricular septal defect. METHODS: Fifty patients underwent surgical correction of the partial form of atrioventricular septal defect. Their mean age was 11.8 years and 62% of the patients were males. Preoperative echocardiography showed moderate and severe mitral insufficiency in 44% of the patients. The mitral valve cleft was sutured in 45 (90%) patients (group II – GII). Echocardiographies were performed in the early postoperative period, and 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge. RESULTS: The patients who had some type of arrhythmia in the postoperative period had ostium primum atrial septal defect of a larger size (2.74 x 2.08 cm). All 5 patients in group I (GI), who did not undergo closure of the cleft, had a competent mitral valve or mild mitral insufficiency in the preoperative period. One of these patients began to have moderate mitral insufficiency in the postoperative period. On the other hand, in GII, 88.8% and 82.2% of the patients had competent mitral valve or mild mitral insufficiency in the early and late postoperative periods, respectively. CONCLUSION: The mitral valve cleft was repaired in 90% of cases. Echocardiography revealed competent mitral valve or mild mitral insufficiency in 88.8% and 82.2% of GII patients in the early and late postoperative periods, respectively.

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Original Article

Unsupported valvuloplasty in children with congenital mitral valve anomalies. Late clinical results

Gabriel Lorier et al. Renato A.K. Kalil Gustavo R. Hoppen Christiano Barcellos … Nicolas Teleo Abud Homsi Netto Javier Gonzalez Paulo R. L. Prates Paulo R. Prates João R. M. Sant'Anna Ivo A. Nesralla

OBJECTIVE: To analyze late clinical evolution after surgical treatment of children, with reparative and reconstructive techniques without annular support. METHODS: We evaluated 21 patients operated upon between 1975 and 1998. Age 4.67±3.44 years; 47.6% girls; mitral insufficiency 57.1% (12 cases), stenosis 28.6% (6 cases), and double lesion 14.3% (3 cases). The perfusion 43.10±9.50min, and ischemia time were 29.40±10.50min. The average clinical follow-up in mitral insufficiency was 41.52±53.61 months. In the stenosis group (4 patients) was 46.39±32.02 months, and in the double lesion group (3 patients), 39.41±37.5 months. The echocardiographic follow-up was in mitral insufficiency 37.17±39.51 months, stenosis 42.61±30.59 months, and in the double lesion 39.41±37.51 months. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 9.5% (2 cases). No late deaths occurred. In the group with mitral insufficiency, 10 (83.3%) patients were asymptomatic (p=0.04). The majorit y with mild reflux (p=0.002). In the follow-up of the stenosis group, all were in functional class I (NYHA); and the mean transvalve gradient varied between 8 and 12mmHg, average of 10.7mmHg. In the double lesion group, 1 patient was reoperated at 43 months. No endocarditis or thromboembolism were reported. CONCLUSION: Mitral stenosis repair has worse late results, related to the valve abnormalities and associated lesions. The correction of mitral insufficiency without annular support showed good long-term results.

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Original Article

Edmar Atik et al. Miguel Barbero-Marcial Elisa R. Iwahashi Jorge Y. Afiune Munir Ebaid

OBJECTIVE – To assess neonates with aortic stenosis with early decompensation operated upon. (LCO) (CHF). METHODS – A and retrospective study analyzing 6 neonates with LCO, group I (GI), and 12 neonates with CHF, group II (GII). Clinical radiographic, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings also provided comparative bases for the study, as did surgical and evolutional findings. RESULTS – The mean ages at hospitalization and surgery (p = 0.0031) were 14.3 and 14.8 days in GI and 35.4 and 42.8 days in GII, respectively. Cardiac murmurs were more intense in GII (p = 0.0220). The aortic ring was smaller in GI (8.0 ± 2.5mm) as compared to GII (11.4±1.4mm) (p = 0.2882). Ventricular function was reduced to 18±5.5% and 33.3±7.6% in GI and GII, respectively (p = 0.0162). Aortic atresia, however, was present only in 2 neonates in GI. Five of 6 patients in GI died but all patients in GII survived (p=0.0007). In the latter group, 84.6% of the patients were in functional class I (FC-I) in the long-term follow-up, with moderate residual lesions in 6 neonates, discrete residual lesions in 4, and reoperation in 2. CONCLUSION – Aortic stenosis is a severe anomaly of the neonate, whose immediate evolution depends on the pre-operative anatomic and functional findings, and the late evolution essentially depends on the anatomic features of the valve.

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Original Article

Transmyocardial laser revascularization. Early clinical experience

Sérgio Almeida de Oliveira et al. Luis Alberto Oliveira Dallan Luiz Augusto F. Lisboa Maria Cristina Chavantes … Luis Antonio Machado Cesar Miriam J. Pardi Adib D. Jatene

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the initial clinical experience of transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) in patients with severe diffuse coronary artery disease. METHODS: Between February, 1998 and February, 1999, 20 patients were submitted to TMLR at the Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil, isolated or in association with conventional coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). All patients had severe diffuse coronary artery disease, with angina functional class III/IV (Canadian Cardiovascular Society score) unresponsive to medical therapy. Fourteen patients were submitted to TMLR as the sole therapy, whereas 6 underwent concomitant CABG. Fifty per cent of the patients had either been previously submitted to a CABG or to a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Mean age was 60 years, ranging from 45 to 74 years. RESULTS: All patients had three-vessel disease, with normal or mildly impaired left ventricular global function. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 13 months (mean 6.6 months), with no postoperative short or long term mortality. There was significant symptom improvement after the procedure, with 85% of the patients free of angina, and the remaining 15 % of the patients showing improvement in functional class, as well as in exercise tolerance. CONCLUSION: This novel technique can be considered a low risk alternative for a highly selected group of patients not suitable for conventional revascularization procedures.

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Original Article

Evaluation of the heart rate and arrhythmias following the Maze procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation

Bartira Cunha et al. Renato A. K. Kalil Álvaro S. Albrecht Gustavo G. Lima José Cláudio L. Kruse

PURPOSE: To assess the presence and the prevalence of arrhythmias and the variability of the heart rate in the medium-term postoperative period following the maze procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Seventeen patients with a mean age of 51.7±12.9 years, who previously underwent the maze procedure without cryoablation for chronic atrial fibrillation, were evaluated with the 24 hour electrocardiogram (ECG) – Holter monitoring from the 6th month after the operation. Valvular and coronary procedures were concomitantly performed. RESULTS: The mean heart rate during Holter monitoring was 82±8bpm; the maximal heart rate was 126 ± 23bpm and the minimal heart rate 57±7bpm. Sinus rhythm was found in 10 (59%) patients and atrial rhythm was found in 7 (41%). Supraventricular extrasystoles had a rate of 2.3±5.5% of the total number of heartbeats and occurred in 16 (94%) patients. Six (35%) patients showed nonsustained atrial tachycardia. Ventricular extrasystoles, with a rate of 0.8±0.5% of the total heartbeats, occurred in 14 (82%) patients. The chronotropic competence was normal in 9 (53%) patients and attenuated in 8 (47%). The atrioventricular conduction (AV) was unchanged in 13 (76%) patients and there were 4 (24%) cases of first degree atrioventricular block (AVB). CONCLUSION: After the maze procedure, the values for the mean heart rate, AV conduction and chronotropic competence approach the normal range, although some cases show attenuation of the chronotropic response, first degree AV block or benign arrhythmias.

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Original Article

Results of the surgical treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation

Renato A. K. Kalil et al. Álvaro Albrecht Gustavo G. Lima Daniela Vasconcellos … Bartira Cunha Domingos Hatem Paulo Moreno Rogério Abrahão João R. M. Sant'Anna Paulo R. Prates Ivo A. Nesralla

OBJECTIVE: Report clinical experience in surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) by Cox-maze procedure. METHODS: 61 patients underwent surgical treatment for AF. Two had primary AF and 59 AF secondary to heart disease (2 atrial septal defects, 57 mitral). Ages ranged from 20 to 74 years (mean = 49). There were 44 females (72%). The surgical technique employed was Cox 3 without cryoablation. The patients were follow-up in specific at patient clinics and underwent periodical ECG, exercise tests, echocardiogram and Holter monitoring. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 4.9% and late mortality 1.6%. A temporary pacemaker was used in 28 (46%) and a definitive in 7 patients (11.4%). On hospital discharge, AF remained in 17%; 63.9% had sinus rhythm, 6.9% atrial rhythm, 1.7% junctional rhythm, and 10.3% had pacemaker rhythm. In the last evaluation, AF was present in 19.5%; (70.5% sinus rhythm, 4% atrial rhythm, 2% atrial tachycardia, and 4% pacemaker rhythm). There was no report of thromboembolic episodes. Chronotropic response was considered adequate in 19%, intermediate in 29%, and inadequate in 42%. In Holter monitoring, the mean heart rate was 82±8 bpm, with a minimum of 57±7 bpm and maximum of 126±23 bpm, with supraventricular extrasystoles in 2.3±5.5% of the total heartbeats and ventricular extrasystoles in 0.8±0.5%. In the echocardiogram, the A wave was present in the left atrium in 87.5%. CONCLUSION: Maze procedure is effective and has acceptable surgical risk. Atrial or sinus rhythms remain stable with a small but remarkable frequency of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Left atrial contraction is present, although attenuated, as well as the chronotropic response to exercise.

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