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Biomedical subjects

G S Couper

Publications and source records attributed to G S Couper.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Innominate vein cannulation for venous drainage in minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.

Minimally invasive aortic valve or aortic root replacement may be carried out through a mini-hemisternotomy. Venous cannulation of the right atrium may be difficult, at best, and obstruct the limited operative field. We have carried out cannulation of the innominate vein with 25F or 27F thin-walled femoral venous cannulae in 20 patients. Transesophageal echocardiographic guidance is invaluable in safely passing the guidewire and subsequently the cannula into the right atrium. This approach results in an unobtrusive method of complete intrathoracic cannulation through a mini-hemisternotomy with the risks of femoral cannulation.

Adult↗

The logistics and cost-effectiveness of circulatory support: advantages of the ABIOMED BVS 5000.

BACKGROUND: In 1994, the ABIOMED BVS 5000 was incorporated into our acute cardiac assist armamentarium. This report is a general overview of our experience. A hypothetical cost analysis focusing on specific devices and device-related personnel contrasted the BVS 5000 with our prior model of centrifugal pump use. METHODS: In 3 years, 22 patients were supported with the BVS 5000, as a biventricular assist device in 40%, right ventricular assist device in 27%, and left ventricular assist device in 32%. Indications were postcardiotomy support in 12, acute myocarditis in 2, bridge to transplant in 4, and failed heart transplant in 4. The cost analysis was performed retrospectively. The actual cost of disposable blood pumps, including replacement pumps, and cannulae constituted the BVS cost. The hypothetical centrifugal costs included the disposables, replacement cones, as well as the labor costs of the continuous perfusionist coverage. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients, 10 (45%) were weaned and 13 (59%) were successfully discharged. Five patients were transplanted while on BVS 5000 support, accounting for a higher rate of discharge. Comparison of "actual" BVS costs with "projected" centrifugal costs revealed differences based upon the intended application of the BVS. In bridge-to-transplant patients with long duration of support, the daily cost of support was dramatically lower with the BVS 5000. For short-term postcardiotomy support, acute myocarditis, or failed transplant, the differences were small. CONCLUSIONS: Because the BVS 5000 was readily managed by the intensive care unit nursing staff, this system displaced centrifugal systems in our program. Outcome measures of weaning and successful discharge were improved relative to our prior experience with centrifugal pumps. Even without taking indirect costs into account, the hypothetical cost analysis supported continued use of the BVS system for acute cardiac assistance.

Adult↗

Mitral valve surgery after previous CABG with functioning IMA grafts.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve surgery after previous coronary artery bypass grafting presents a challenging problem for the cardiac surgeon. An injury to patent coronary artery bypass grafts, especially internal mammary artery grafts, during reoperation via a redo sternotomy, may be fatal. Therefore, a reliable alternative to the redo sternotomy is desirable to minimize potential injury to internal mammary artery grafts. METHODS: Between February 1987 and October 1998, we performed 59 consecutive mitral valve operations after previous coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). A total of 24 patients (41%) had functioning internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts and represent the population for this study. No patients were excluded for any reason. Of the 24 patients, 20 (83%) were men. Mean age was 66+/-13 years (range 41 to 83 years) and the mean duration from CABG was 5.3+/-3.6 years (range 0.1 to 12 years). Four (17%) had functioning bilateral internal mammary artery grafts. All had 3 to 4+ mitral regurgitation (MR) at the time of mitral valve surgery and the mean preoperative ejection fraction (EF) was 40%+/-14% (range 20% to 74 %). RESULTS: Twenty-one (88%) patients underwent mitral valve surgery through an anterolateral right thoracotomy and 3 (12%) through a redo sternotomy. Twenty-two (92%) patients, including the 3 patients in whom a redo sternotomy was used, had cannulation of the femoral artery and vein. Two patients required axillary artery cannulation. All 21 patients in whom the mitral valve was approached through a right thoracotomy underwent deep hypothermia (19.6 degrees+/-2.1 degrees C, range 14 degrees to 25 degrees C) without aortic clamping, with a mean duration of CPB of 138+/-46 minutes (range 65 to 249 minutes). In 18 (75%), the MR was ischemic in origin and in 6 (25%) there was myxomatous degeneration. Nine (34%) required valve replacement and 15 (66%) underwent repair. There were no operative or hospital deaths and all patients were discharged to home or to a rehabilitation facility. There were 4 (17%) major complications. Two patients suffered respiratory failure requiring tracheotomy, 1 patient developed a perioperative MI requiring an intraaortic balloon pump and 1 developed heart block requiring a permanent pacemaker. There were no neurologic, peripheral vascular, bleeding, or wound complications. CONCLUSIONS: Reoperative mitral valve surgery in the setting of functioning IMA grafts, even in the face of depressed LV function, can be done safely and with minimal morbidity.

Adult↗

Impact of body mass index and albumin on morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Extremely thin and overly obese patients may not tolerate cardiac surgery as well as other patients. A retrospective study was conducted to determine whether the extremes of body mass index (weight/height(2) [kg/m(2)]) and/or cachexia increased the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac operations. METHODS: Body mass index was used to objectively measure "thinness" (body mass index < 20) and "heaviness" (body mass index > 30); preoperative serum albumin was used to quantify nutritional status and underlying disease. Data were gathered between 1993 and 1997 from 5168 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass or valve operations, or both. RESULTS: No significant correlations were observed between body mass index and preoperative albumin levels. Low body mass index (<20) and low albumin level (<2.5 g/dL) were each independently associated with increased mortality after cardiopulmonary bypass (P </=.0005). Operative mortality was highest among those with both low body mass index and low albumin level. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for potentially confounding variables, demonstrated that an albumin level of less than 2.5 g/dL was independently associated with increased risk of reoperation for bleeding, postoperative renal failure, and prolonged ventilatory support, intensive care unit stay, and total length of stay. A body mass index of more than 30 was associated with increased sternal wound infection and saphenous vein harvest site infection. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoalbuminemia and low body mass index each independently predict increased morbidity and mortality after cardiac operations. Preoperative risk stratification with the use of body mass index and serum albumin may help to identify subgroups of patients at high risk for adverse outcomes after cardiac operations.

Aged↗

Reoperative aortic valve replacement: partial upper hemisternotomy versus conventional full sternotomy.

OBJECTIVE: We developed techniques for partial upper hemisternotomy for reoperative aortic valve replacement and compared the results with those of reoperative aortic valve replacement by way of conventional full resternotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 19 patients who underwent conventional full sternotomy and 20 patients who underwent partial hemisternotomy for isolated elective reoperative aortic valve replacements performed between November 1996 and September 1998. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to document the differences between the groups. RESULTS: The 2 groups were similar with respect to age, sex, New York Heart Association functional class, valve pathologic characteristics, and numbers and types of previous operations. There were neither any operative deaths nor any postoperative valve-related morbidities in either group. There was 1 injury to a cardiac structure, which occurred in the conventional full sternotomy group. Univariable analysis documented that patients in the conventional full sternotomy group were significantly more likely to have at least 1000 mL blood loss during the first 24 hours after the operation (odds ratio 8.1, P =.02), were more likely to require transfusion of more than 5 units of packed red blood cell (odds ratio 3.6, P =.08), and were more likely to have a total operative duration longer than 5 hours (odds ratio 3.6, P =.08). In the multivariable analysis conventional full resternotomy remained a risk factor for greater blood loss (odds ratio 5.7, P =.06), greater transfusion requirement (odds ratio 2.4, P =.25), and longer total operative duration (odds ratio 7.7, P =.03). CONCLUSIONS: Partial upper hemisternotomy for reoperative aortic valve replacement avoids unnecessary lower mediastinal dissection, thereby reducing blood loss, transfusion needs, and total operative duration. These beneficial effects, which are accomplished without compromising the efficacy of the valve operation, make the partial upper hemisternotomy an excellent alternative to conventional full resternotomy for reoperative aortic valve replacement.

Adult↗

Minimally invasive direct access mitral valve surgery.

We reviewed our experience with minimally invasive direct-access mitral valve surgery in 207 patients through February 1999. Three patients underwent associated procedures, a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with right internal mammary artery to right carotid artery (RIMA-RCA), a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) debridement for endocarditis, and a primum atrial septal defect (ASD) repair, and were excluded from analysis. Of the 204 remaining patients, 120 (59%) patients were men, aged 58.7 +/- 13.2 years, functional class of 2.3 +/- 0.5. The cause was myxomatous in 162 (79%) patients, rheumatic in 28 (14%) patients, endocarditis in 8 (4%) patients, congenital in 3 (2%) patients, and ischemic in 3 (2%) patients. Mean preoperative EF was 60% +/- 10%, with 184 (90%) patients showing ejection fraction (EF) greater than 50%. The valve was approached through a 5- to 8-cm right parasternal (n = 180, 88%) or right inframammary (n = 24, 12%) incision. One hundred nineteen (58%) patients had open femoral artery-femoral vein cannulation, and 85 (42%) patients had direct cannulation of the aorta and percutaneous cannulation of the femoral vein. One hundred seventy (83%) patients underwent successful valve repair, and 34 (17%) patients required valve replacement. The mean duration of aortic clamping and cardiopulmonary were, respectively, 100 +/- 34 and 146 +/- 44 minutes. There were 2 (1%) surgical deaths. Nonfatal perioperative complications included 3 (1.5%) ascending aortic complications, 3 (1.5%) reoperations for bleeding, 4 (2%) strokes, 2 (1%) transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 2 (1%) myocardial infarctions, 3 (1.5%) pericardial effusions requiring drainage, 9 (4.5%) vascular complications, and 3 (1.5%) wound complications. Mean length of stay (LOS) was 6.1 +/- 3 days, with 63 (31%) patients being discharged in less than 5 days. One hundred twenty-nine (63%) patients did not require blood transfusions. Follow-up was complete in 165 (81%) patients, with mean follow-up of 13.2 +/- 8 months. Late complications included 1 (0.5%) myocardial infarction, 3 (1.5%) reoperations, all converting repairs to replacements, 3 (1.5%) wound hernias requiring reoperation and repair with mesh, 5 (2.5%) thromboembolic events, and 3 (1.5%) deaths of suicide, pneumonia, and sudden death, respectively. Mean follow-up New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was 1.2 +/- 0.5. We conclude that minimally invasive direct-access mitral valve surgery is safe, effective, and applicable for most patients presenting for isolated mitral valve surgery. We now consider it the standard of care for selected patients.

Adult↗

Mitral valve repair in cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Volume overload secondary to mitral regurgitation (MR) in cardiomyopathy is considered critical in the pathogenesis of subsequent ventricular dysfunction. Open mitral valve repair (OMVP) is hypothesized to improve symptomatology and ventricular function by reducing the volume overload of the left ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients who underwent OMVP with a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) of < 0.30 (n = 81) from 1984 through 1997 were reviewed (1 patient was lost to follow-up). Fifteen operations (18.5%) were repeat operations after previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Preoperative and postoperative EFs and NYHA class were compared. Survival probabilities were calculated, and multivariate analysis was performed. The average age of all patients was 67.1 years (range, 41 to 83 years). Mean follow-up was 1.7 years (range, 2 months to 8.5 years). The most common mitral repair was ring annuloplasty. Sixty-two patients (77%) had concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The surgery mortality rate was 11% (9 of 81); 6 of these 9 patients were > 70 years old. The overall Kaplan-Meier survival probability rate at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years was 0.73, 0.68, 0.58, 0.50, and 0.38, respectively. EF improved significantly (0.24 to 0.32; P < 0.0001), as did the NYHA class (3.2 to 1.6; P < 0.0001), at follow-up. There was no difference in late survival between patients with an EF of < 0.20 (21 patients) and those with an EF between 0.20 and 0.30 (P = NS). Risk factors for death included heart failure and old age. CONCLUSIONS: OMVP for MR in the setting of ischemic cardiomyopathy and low EF appear to improve ventricular function, medium-term patient symptomatology, and survival.

Adult↗

Twenty-year follow-up of the Hancock modified orifice porcine aortic valve.

BACKGROUND: The entire experience with the Hancock modified orifice porcine bioprosthetic aortic valve from 1976 to 1996 at the Brigham and Women's Hospital has been reviewed. Eight hundred forty-three patients received this valve with a total follow-up of 61,114 months, and a mean follow-up of approximately 72.5 months. There were 490 men and 353 women, and the predominate lesion was aortic stenosis (636 of 843); 365 (43%) patients required a concomitant coronary artery bypass graft operation. METHODS: Patients were followed prospectively in the Brigham Cardiac Valve Data Registry, and the data were analyzed by the SAS statistical package, using actuarial survival curves and incidence per patient-year of morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: The overall operative mortality was 45 of 843 (5.3%) with 23 of 478 (4.8%) for isolated aortic valve replacement and 22 of 365 (6.0%) for aortic valve plus coronary artery bypass graft operation. The major morbidity of this valve was structural valve dysfunction, which was significantly related to the age of the patient in whom the valve was placed. Actuarial probability of freedom from structural valve degeneration at 5, 10, and 15 years overall was 99%+/-1%, 79%+/-3% and 57%+/-4%, at 15 years, respectively. In patients younger than 50 years, freedom from structural valve dysfunction was 16%+/-8%, whereas in the age group older than 70 years it was 87%+/-5% (p = 0.0005). Thromboembolism at 10 and 15 years was 81%+/-3% overall, 84%+/-2% in patients in normal sinus rhythm, and 57%+/-13% in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: The Hancock modified orifice aortic valve, despite its more complicated fabrication, has been a reliable porcine bioprosthetic valve and can be used reliably in patients older than 70 years because of its low structural valve degeneration rate, and protection from stroke and anticoagulant hemorrhage in those patients in sinus rhythm.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Techniques and results of direct-access minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: a paradigm for the future.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to determine whether direct-access minimally invasive mitral valve surgery can improve recovery and cost while maintaining the efficacy of conventional surgery. METHODS: Minimally invasive mitral valve operations were performed on 106 patients, 58% male, average age 58.1 years, with good ventricular function. Ninety underwent repair of a regurgitant, myxomatous valve, and 16 underwent mitral valvuloplasty for prematurely calcified mitral stenosis. The valve was approached with standard instruments through a 5- to 8-cm right parasternal incision. Eighty-five had open femoral artery-femoral vein cannulation, but this technique has recently been replaced by direct cannulation of the aorta and percutaneous cannulation of the femoral vein for most patients. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths. The mean mitral regurgitation score (0-4) decreased from 3.7 to 0.7 after the operation. Although ischemic and bypass times were increased, postoperative recovery was accelerated. Ventilatory support time, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, need for rehabilitation, and return to "normal activities" all improved. Hospital charges, pain medications, and blood transfusions were also reduced. New atrial fibrillation contributed significantly to increased length of stay and charges. There were no deep wound infections. Other complications included re-exploration for bleeding (n = 1), transient ischemic attacks (n = 2), stroke (n = 1), femoral artery injury (n = 5), pseudoaneurysm (n = 2), and antegrade dissection of the ascending aorta (n = 1). Two patients died and 1 required reoperation during a mean follow-up of 8.8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Direct-access minimally invasive mitral valve surgery can accelerate recovery, decrease charges, and decrease pain, while maintaining overall surgical efficacy. It has become our standard approach for isolated primary mitral valve operations.

Adult↗

Salvage of externally exposed ventricular assist devices.

Although externally exposed ventricular assist devices are associated with extremely high mortality rates, salvage may be accomplished by early aggressive wound debridement, transposition of a well-perfused autologous tissue (such as omentum), dead space obliteration, and adequate external coverage using vascularized tissue. The temporary suppression rather than the total eradication of the infection should be the goal of these procedures.

Adult↗

Influence of inhaled nitric oxide on systemic flow and ventricular filling pressure in patients receiving mechanical circulatory assistance.

BACKGROUND: In patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, inhaled nitric oxide (NO) decreases pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) but causes a potentially clinically significant increase in left atrial pressure (LAP). This has led to the suggestion that inhaled NO may reach the coronary circulation and have a negative inotropic effect. This study tested an alternative hypothesis that LAP increases because of volume shifts to the pulmonary venous compartment caused by NO-induced selective pulmonary vasodilation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Thermo Cardiosystems Heartmate is an LV assist device (LVAD) that can be set (by controlling pump rate) to deliver fixed or variable systemic blood flow. Eight patients (between 1 and 11 days after LVAD implantation) were administered inhaled NO (20 and 40 ppm for 10 minutes), and LAP, systemic flow, and pulmonary arterial pressure were measured in both fixed and variable pump flow modes. In both modes, inhaled NO lowered PVR (by 25 +/- 6% in the fixed mode, P < .001, and by 21 +/- 5% in the variable mode, P < .003). With fixed pump flow, LAP rose from 12.5 +/- 1.2 to 15.1 +/- 1.4 mm Hg (P < .008). In the variable flow mode, LAP did not increase and the assist device output rose from 5.3 +/- 0.3 to 5.7 +/- 0.3 L/min (P < .008). CONCLUSIONS: A selective reduction in PVR by inhaled NO can increase LAP if systemic flow cannot increase. These data support the hypothesis that with LV failure, inhaled NO increases LAP by increasing pulmonary venous volume and demonstrate that inhaled NO has beneficial hemodynamic effects in LVAD patients.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Axilloaxillary cardiopulmonary bypass: a practical alternative to femorofemoral bypass.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial and venous cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass is used increasingly for patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac operations, complex reoperations, or repair of aortic dissection or aneurysm, and for patients with extensive arteriosclerotic aortic disease in whom aortic cannulation is a prohibitive embolic risk. The common femoral artery and vein are most commonly used for peripheral cannulation, but these sites may be predisposed to complications, primarily because the femoral vessels are commonly involved with arteriosclerotic disease. We have recently begun to use the axillary artery and axillary vein as alternative cannulation sites, achieving full cardiopulmonary bypass, providing antegrade aortic flow, and avoiding many of the complications associated with other sites. METHODS: Seven patients with peripheral vascular or aortic disease, or both, prohibiting safe aortic or femoral cannulation underwent cardiopulmonary bypass through axillary artery and axillary vein cannulation, approached through a small single subclavicular incision. RESULTS: All patients were successfully cannulated and axilloaxillary cardiopulmonary bypass was possible without the need for additional cannulas. All axillary vessels were closed primarily without complication. CONCLUSION: For an expanding population of patients with peripheral vascular and aortic disease, axilloaxillary bypass is a safe and practical alternative to aortic or femoral cannulation.

Aged↗

Minimally invasive cardiac valve surgery improves patient satisfaction while reducing costs of cardiac valve replacement and repair.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the quality of valve replacement and repair performed through minimally invasive incisions as compared to the standard operation for aortic and mitral valve replacement. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: With the advent of minimally invasive laparoscopic approaches to orthopedic surgery, urology, general surgery, and thoracic surgery, it now is apparent that standard cardiac valve operations can be performed through very small incisions with similar approaches. METHODS: Eighty-four patients underwent minimally invasive aortic (n = 41) and minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement (n = 43) between July 1996 and April 1997. Demographics, procedures, operative techniques, and postoperative morbidity and mortality were calculated, and a subset of the first 50 patients was compared to a 50-patient cohort who underwent the same operation through a conventional median sternotomy. Demographics, postoperative morbidity and mortality, patient satisfaction, and charges were compared. RESULTS: Of the 84 patients, there were 2 operative mortalities both in class IV aortic patients from multisystem organ failure. There was no operative mortality in the patients undergoing mitral valve replacement or repair. The operations were carried out with the same accuracy and attention to detail as with the conventional operation. There was minimal postoperative bleeding, cerebral vascular accidents, or other major morbidity. Groin cannulation complications primarily were related to atherosclerotic femoral arteries. A comparison of the minimally invasive to the conventional group, although operative time and ischemia time was higher in minimally invasive group, the requirement for erythrocytes was significantly less, patient satisfaction was significantly greater, and charges were approximately 20% less than those in the conventional group. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve surgery in patients without coronary disease can be done safely and accurately through small incisions. Patient satisfaction is up, return to normality is higher, and requirement for postrehabilitation services is less. In addition, the charges are approximately 20% less. These results serve as a paradigm for the future in terms of valve surgery in the managed care environment.

Adult↗

Ablation of ventricular tachycardia due to a postinfarct ventricular septal defect: identification and transection of a broad reentry loop.

INTRODUCTION: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) after postinfarct ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair has not been well characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 55-year-old man developed refractory VT after inferior wall infarction and VSD repair. Entrainment demonstrated a broad reentry circuit path (outer loop) between the tricuspid annulus and VSD patch. A series of radiofrequency (RF) lesions transected this path, abolishing VT and producing conduction block between the inferior and superior aspects of the basal right ventricular septum. CONCLUSION: Some VTs have broad reentry loops requiring ablation by a series of RF lesions across the path to create a line of block. This approach is analogous to that for atrial flutter.

Catheter Ablation↗

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.

Aortic valve replacement has proven reliable, relieves life-threatening symptoms, and improves long-term survival of patients with aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement uses small incisions; reduces exposure of the patient to surgical trauma, blood utilization, and operative dissection; although still using cardiopulmonary bypass and achieving the same general quality as with the open operation. Early and medium term results for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement approaches show a reduction in pain, improved patient satisfaction, and improved mobility and return to full-time activity. Concomitantly, there should be decreased cost and a decreased reliance on post-hospital rehabilitation.

Adult↗

Decreased myocardial oxygen consumption indices in dynamic cardiomyoplasty.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the theory of decreased myocardial oxygen consumption (MVo2) in dynamic cardiomyoplasty (DCM), previous studies have calculated indices of MVo2 in DCM. These previous studies, however, used left ventricular pressure in formulas that assumed the assumed the heart to be in its native state, with the reference pressure at the epicardium assumed to be atmospheric. In DCM, however, the reference pressure at the epicardium is no longer atmospheric but rather is the compressive pressure generated by the latissimus dorsi (LD). We therefore used the transmural myocardial pressure, Pt, to calculate indices of MVo2 in DCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: A half-ellipsoidal, fluid-filled balloon was interposed between the LD and myocardium in a balloon-mediated cardiomyoplasty procedure in five goats. With commonly used LD stimulation parameters, Pt was calculated as left ventricular pressure minus balloon luminal pressure. Using Pt, the transmural tension time index (TtTI) and transmural pressure volume area (PtVA) were calculated. In another series of four goats, LD stimulation parameters were optimized and the TtTI and PtVA recalculated. With standard LD stimulation parameters, the TtTI decreased by 48%, from 15.8 to 8.2 mm Hg.s, and the PtVA by 21%, from 775 to 612 mm Hg.mL, as the LD was stimulated to contract. When the optimized parameters were used, the TtTI decreased by 45%, from 11.2 to 6.2 mm Hg.s, and the PtVA by 33%, from 1984 to 1371 mm Hg.mL. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that DCM with a fluid-filled balloon decreases MVo2 as the LD contracts and that LD stimulation parameters have a determining effect on this benefit.

Animals↗