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A Serraf

Publications and source records attributed to A Serraf.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Late outcome after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND: Early and midterm results of the arterial switch operation (ASO) in transposition of the great arteries (TGA) are good, but late outcome data in large populations are still few. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve hundred patients had an ASO for TGA between 1982 and 1999, with prospective follow-up of 1095 survivors. Outcome measures included late death, reoperation, aortic insufficiency (AI), pulmonary stenosis (PS), and coronary anomaly. Median follow-up was 4.9 years (range 0.5 to 17 years). Late death occurred in 32 patients; survival was 88% at both 10 and 15 years. The hazard function for death declined rapidly, with no deaths after 5 years. Late mortality was correlated with reintervention and major events in the intensive care unit. Reoperation was performed in 103 patients, more often in complex TGA; the cause was mainly PS. Freedom from reintervention was 82% at 10 and 15 years, with a hazard function that declined rapidly but slowly increased after 3 years. At the last follow-up, PS was present in 3.9% of patients, and grade II or more AI was present in 3.2%, with a cumulative incidence of 9% at 15 years. Among the 278 patients who had a coronary arteriography, 8% had coronary lesions. Normal left ventricle and sinus rhythm were seen in 96.4% and 98.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fifteen years after ASO, late mortality was low, with no deaths after 5 years; reoperation, mainly owing to PS, occurred throughout the follow-up. AI and coronary obstruction are rare but warrant further follow-up. Good left ventricular function and sinus rhythm are maintained.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed2001

In vivo and in vitro apoptosis of human thymocytes are associated with nitrotyrosine formation.

Most thymocytes are deleted by thymic selection. The mechanisms of cell death are far from being clear. Peroxynitrite is a powerful oxidant produced in vivo by the reaction of superoxide (O2*-) with nitric oxide (NO*) and is able to mediate apoptosis. The aim of this study was to analyze whether NO and peroxynitrite could play a role in human thymocyte apoptosis. The results indicate that 3-(4-morpholinyl)-sydnonimine (SIN-1, an O2*- and NO* donor) and chemically synthesized peroxynitrite, but not S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, an NO* donor), have a strong apoptotic effect on human thymocytes (annexin V staining and TUNEL reaction). This effect was inhibited by exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD), which interacts with O2*- and inhibits the formation of peroxynitrite. Because peroxynitrite formation requires NO*, thymic stromal cells were investigated to determine if they produced NO*. Inducible NOS was synthesized in cultured thymic epithelial cells in certain conditions of cytokine stimulation, as shown by messenger RNA levels, protein analysis, and nitrite production in the supernatants. SIN-1-treated thymocytes had high levels of tyrosine nitration, abolished by the addition of exogenous SOD. Tyrosine nitration was also detected in thymus extracts and sections, suggesting the presence of peroxynitrite in situ. In thymus sections, clusters of nitrotyrosine-positive cells were found in the cortex and corticomedullary areas colocalized with cells positive in the TUNEL reaction. These data indicate an association between human thymocyte apoptosis and nitrotyrosine formation. Thus, the results support the notion of a physiologic role for peroxynitrite in human thymocyte apoptosis. (Blood. 2001;97:3521-3530)

Annexin A5↗
PubMed2001

[Aerosolized iloprost therapy in an infant with chronic pulmonary hypertension after a neonatal arterial switch operation].

UNLABELLED: The treatment of chronic pulmonary hypertension with prostacyclin in children is prone to severe complications due to mandatory long-term venous therapy. Inhaled iloprost has been evaluated in adult patients with good preliminary results. CASE REPORT: We report our experience of the use of aerosolized iloprost in an infant treated for pulmonary hypertension associated to a right ventricular failure, which occurred after a neonatal arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries. For nine months, hemodynamic and functional status improved and the quality of life was satisfactory at home. CONCLUSION: If further experiences and studies support this observation, aerosolized iloprost could be an alternative to prostacyclin venous therapy in treating children with chronic pulmonary hypertension.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2001

Surgical management and indication of left ventricular retraining in arterial switch for transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum.

OBJECTIVE: Arterial switch is the operation of reference for the surgical treatment of transposition of the great arteries. In cases of late referral, perinatal complications or early left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, the one stage arterial switch is contra indicated. Anatomical repair remains possible in these patients following a LV retraining. METHODS: From January 1992 to January 2000, a LV retraining was attempted in 22 patients with transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA IVS), whereas 470 direct arterial switch and 2 Senning were performed. Indication for LV retraining was based on a combination of factors including: an age older than 3 weeks, a "banana shape" aspect of the inter-ventricular septum and mainly a LV mass <35G/m(2). RESULTS: The mean age at LV retraining was 3.2 months ranging from 9 days to 8 months. Usually conducted by sterntomy, it associated a loose PA banding with a LV/RV at 65% with a systemico-pulmonary shunt. The first stage was associated with frequent LV dysfunction and the LV retraining was discontinued in two patients in favor of one Senning and one early switch followed by ECMO. One patient died at first stage from a mediastinitis. Nineteen patients underwent a second stage arterial switch that was performed when the LV mass had reached 50 G/m(2) after a mean delay of 10 days, ranging from 5 days to 6 weeks. After a mean follow up of 25 months, there was one non-cardiac late death. The 17 patients followed and leaving with an arterial switch are in NYHA class I, with a mean LV shortening fraction of 39%. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial switch following LV retraining in TGA IVS is a satisfactory option. The inferior limit of 35 G/m(2) adopted, to indicate LV retraining, seems a safe landmark. The quality of the myocardium generated and the respective roles played by the LV afterload, LV wall shear stress, LV inflow and outflow to induce the LV remodeling remain under debate.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Fibroma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the heart.

Cardiac fibroma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the heart are rare lesions occurring in young patients and having pathologic similarities. We compared the morphologic and immunohistochemical features of seven cardiac fibromas, including one biopsied at birth and removed 4 years later, and two IMTs of the heart diagnosed at Marie Lannelongue Surgical Center (Le Plessis Robinson, France) between 1980 and 1999. Cardiac fibromas occurred in five females and two males and were surgically biopsied (n = 2) or removed (n = 6) between the ages of 8 days to 31 years (mean 7 +/- 12 years). Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors were removed in two male patients, aged 13 weeks and 1 year, both alive and well 9 months and 5 years after surgery, respectively. Fibromas were ventricular lesions measuring 3 to 10 cm (mean, 5.7 +/- 2.2 cm). They contained entrapped myocytes and wavy elastic fibers. Three cases contained calcifications. Spindle cells were monomorphic. Their nucleus had a thin chromatin without nucleolus. Mitoses and extramedullary hematopoiesis were only observed in fibromas from patients younger than 5 months (n = 5) while prominent collagen fibrosis was present in fibromas from patients older than 4 years (n = 3). Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors were endocardial lesions measuring 2 and 2.5 cm. They were covered by fibrin. Spindle cells were larger than in fibromas. Their nucleus had obvious nucleoli. They were associated with numerous inflammatory cells in a variable amount of myxoid background. Occasional mitoses and foci of necrosis were present. Spindle cells in both fibromas and IMTs strongly expressed smooth-muscle actin and were negative for desmin, CD34, S-100 protein, and p53. Our study shows that IMT must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cardiac fibroma especially in cases of inflammatory syndrome, location outside the ventricular myocardium, or multinodular lesions. Morphologic analysis permits the correct diagnosis, while immunochemistry shows a myofibroblastic differentiation in both lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Biventricular repair of transposition of the great arteries and unbalanced ventricles.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that the arterial switch operation is the surgical procedure of choice in patients with transposition of the great arteries and balanced ventricular anatomy. The surgical approach of choice in patients with transposition but unbalanced ventricular size is unknown. OBJECTIVES: Since the beginning of the arterial switch operation program, patients with transposition of the great arteries and unbalanced ventricles underwent biventricular repair by means of the arterial switch operation and repair of any associated lesions, either through a single or staged surgical procedure. The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze whether this approach can be proposed to such patients. METHODS: Forty-four patients with transposition of the great arteries and unbalanced ventricles underwent this surgical approach since 1984. Two groups were defined: group I had transposition with a dominant right ventricle (n = 28), and group II had transposition with a dominant left ventricle (n = 16). In group I the median age and weight at the arterial switch operation were 8.5 days (range, 5-70 days) and 3.1 kg (range, 1.5-3.7 kg), respectively. The median end-diastolic left ventricular volume, mass, and long-axis ratio were 15 mL/m2 (range, 11-16 mL/m2), 31.5 g/m2 (range, 20-66 g/m2), and 0.85 (range, 0.9-0.7), respectively. The mitral valve diameter was slightly hypoplastic, with a median z value of -1.22 (range, -0.3 to 3.7). In group 2 the median age and weight at the arterial switch operation were 42 days (range, 8 days-15 years) and 3.5 kg (range, 2.8-35 kg), respectively. Associated lesions in this group were coarctation in 9 and single (n = 12) or multiple (n = 4) ventricular septal defects. The median long-axis ratio and tricuspid z value were 0.6 (range, 0.3-0.8) and -0.9 (range, -0.5 to 3.3), respectively. In this group 9 patients had a single-stage procedure with fenestrated ventricular defect patches, atrial septal defect patches, or both; 7 patients underwent the staged approach. RESULTS: In group I there was 1 early death from sepsis after weaning from postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Three patients had severe pulmonary hypertension, one of whom died 1 year later. All survivors demonstrated, at discharge from the hospital, equilibrated ventricular size, with a median left ventricular end-diastolic volume of 25 mL/m2 (range, 21-30 mL/m2). In group II there were 2 early and 1 late deaths. All early deaths occurred in patients without voluntary residual intracardiac shunts. Median early postoperative long-axis ratio and tricuspid z value were 0.8 (range, 0.7-1) and -0.2 (range, 0.74 to 1.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the arterial switch operation in patients with transposition of the great arteries and unbalanced ventricles remains a good surgical option.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2001

[Enlarging angioplasty of the aortic arch with an pulmonary artery autograft patch. Interest in a single-stage repair of the syndrome of coarctation and interruption of the aortic arch].

Single stage repair of syndromes of coarctation and interruption of the aortic arch is a routine procedure in many surgical centres with good immediate results. The classical technique of aortic repair is based on the principles of Crafoord's extended resection anastomosis. Recoarctation is not an unusual long-term complication. A technique of enlarging angioplasty of the aorta using a patch of pulmonary artery has been developed and used in 22 neonates with obstruction of the aortic arch associated with ventricular septal defect with an average age and body weight of 15 days and 2.9 Kg respectively. The ventricular septal defect was closed surgically during the same procedure. Total circulatory arrest was not used in these children and all had aortic repairs with selective cerebral perfusion with moderate hypothermia (28-30 degrees C). This technique was used without any procedure-related early morbidity. No early or late deaths were observed in this series. Two patients were reoperated during the first year after the initial procedure: one for residual ventricular septal defect and the other for supraventricular pulmonary stenosis. Two patients, one of whom was reoperated, developed supraventricular pulmonary stenosis with a gradient of over 60 mmHg. These stenoses were observed in the first cases operated and were essentially due to the technique of pulmonary artery reconstruction. Over a median follow-up period of 10 months, no recoarctations were observed: the Doppler ultrasound study showed an isolated mean systolic gradient of 6 +/- 12 mmHg. The authors conclude that angioplasty of the aortic arch with an enlarging patch of pulmonary artery autograft during single stage surgery of syndromes of coarctation and interruption of the aortic arch provides a harmonious and durable repair of the aortic arch.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed2001

[Ross mitral procedure for massive congenital mitral insufficiency].

The authors report the case of a 4 month old North African baby with massive congenital mitral insufficiency associated with a coarctation of the aorta. The surgical treatment consisted in correction of the coarctation followed, several days later, by a Ross mitral procedure after failure of mitral reconstructive surgery. The postoperative course required circulatory assistance for 4 days and the child returned to his family two months after surgery. Control echocardiography before hospital discharge showed good function of the pulmonary autograft in the mitral position with no regurgitation but slight stenosis with a mean transvalvular pressure gradient of 4 mmHg. This procedure may be used in certain cases as an alternative to mitral valve replacement.

Aortic Coarctation↗
PubMed2000

Congenital mitral stenosis with or without associated defects: An evolving surgical strategy.

BACKGROUND: Congenital mitral stenosis (CMS) remains a surgical challenge, particularly when it is associated with other heart defects. As in other groups of heart defects, there is a trend toward early single-stage complete repair, but the optimal surgical approach remains unanswered. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was designed to analyze the evolution of surgical strategies in patients with CMS and associated defects through single-stage and staged repair. Between 1980 and 1999, 72 children were operated on for congenital heart defects, including CMS. Preoperative transmitral gradient was 12.6+/-7 mm Hg. Preoperatively, all the patients were NYHA class III to IV. Thirteen patients had an isolated CMS; in 59, it was associated with other heart defects, mainly ventricular septal defect (n=28) or multilevel left ventricular obstruction (n=41). In this group of patients, 33 had a staged approach, and 26 had a single-stage approach. Early mortality was 12.5% (9 patients). There were no deaths in the isolated CMS and single-stage repair groups. Logistic regression revealed that early mortality was influenced by association with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (P:<0.001) and by use of a staged approach (P:<0.01). There was no late mortality in isolated CMS; there were 2 late deaths in the group of single-stage repair and 6 late deaths in the staged approach group (P:<0.01). Reoperation was required in 24 patients, mainly for residual mitral valve dysfunction or residual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Including the reoperations, 10 patients received a prosthetic mitral valve. At 15 years after surgery, survival was 69.6+/-7.5%, freedom from reoperation was 70.8+/-6.3%, and freedom from mitral valve replacement was 69+/-6%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for isolated CMS gives excellent early and long-term results. In patients with associated heart defects, a single-stage operation seems superior to a staged approach. Mitral valve replacement in this category of patients should be reserved as a salvage procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Systemic pulmonary shunts in neonates: early clinical outcome and choice of surgical approach.

BACKGROUND: Systemic pulmonary shunt remains a major strategy for the palliation of cyanotic lesions in neonates despite the associated morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Between March 1993 and December 1998, 79 systemic pulmonary shunts were performed in 75 neonates with cyanosis and severely reduced pulmonary blood flow. The mean age was 11.5 days and the mean weight, 3 kg. All neonates were dependent on duct flow and prostaglandin E1 infusion for adequate oxygenation. RESULTS: The systemic pulmonary shunt was performed through a right thoracotomy in 36 patients, left thoracotomy in 6, and median sternotomy in 33 patients. The 30-day mortality was 3 patients (4%). Univariate and logistic regression analyses revealed a weight less than 2 kg (p = 0.039) and preoperative mechanical ventilation (p = 0.008), to be predictors of early mortality, whereas pulmonary hypoplasia (p = 0.55), diagnostic group (p = 0.79), shunt size (p = 0.2), and surgical approach (p = 0.5) were not. There were seven episodes of shunt-related complications that required early intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic pulmonary shunt remains an effective palliative measure in cyanotic neonates despite specific complications. Both low weight and preoperative ventilation represent significant risk factors for early mortality.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed2000

Transaortic closure of residual intramural ventricular septal defect.

BACKGROUND: Residual intramural ventricular septal defect is an unusual cause of left-to-right shunt after biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies. It results from the insertion of the patch within the trabeculated right ventricular free wall related to the ventriculoinfundibular fold creating a communication through the intertrabeculated spaces to the right ventricular cavity. This complication often leads to unsuccessful reoperations unless the exact mechanism of the shunt has been identified. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five patients presented with residual intramural ventricular septal defects. Three had double outlet right ventricle, one pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, and one tetralogy of Fallot. One patient was unsuccessfully reoperated on for closure of the residual ventricular septal defect through the right ventricular approach. The surgical treatment, which consisted of patch closure of the residual intramural ventricular septal defect through aortotomy, was successful in 3 patients. In the 2 remaining patients the hemodynamically insignificant residual intramural ventricular septal defect remained untouched. No mortality or morbidity occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Residual intramural ventricular septal defect should be suspected in presence of a residual ventricular septal defect after biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies. It is not accessible through either atriotomy or right ventriculotomy. The transaortic approach allows an easy treatment of this rare complication.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Congenital division of the left atrium: the influence of associated congenital lesions on the timing and mode of presentation.

PURPOSE OF STUDY: Congenital division of an atrium is commonly associated with other cardiac malformations, which may influence presentation. BASIC METHODS: Cases diagnosed at our institution between 1980 and 1997 were reviewed, to determine whether associated lesions influence presentation. PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: 52 patients were diagnosed with atrial division (49 left, 3 right), mean age 4.8 yr. Patients could be divided according to age at diagnosis. Group 1: 32 patients aged < or = 1 yr. 14 patients had associated cardiac malformations other than atrial septal defect (ASD). Presentation was with pulmonary oedema. Group 2: 20 patients > 1 yr. 5 patients had associated major malformations other than ASD. Commonest presentation--isolated shortness of breath. Fifty patients underwent membrane resection and correction of associated anomalies (4% mortality). At follow-up (mean 12 yr) all patients were in NYHA class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with division of the atrium present early in infancy and with more severe symptoms when associated with other cardiac malformations.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2000

Long-term results after valvotomy for congenital aortic valvar stenosis in children.

As interest increase in the Ross procedure performed as a therapeutic option for children with congenital aortic valvar stenosis, it becomes increasinly important to know the late results of aortic valvotomy in this population. We have therefore examined retrospectively the medical records of 121 consecutives survivors undergoing aortic valvotomy before 10 years of age between 1974 and 1992. The mean age at the first valvotomy was 29 months, with a range from 3 days to 10 years. The mean duration of follow up was 9.4 years, with a range from 1.6 to 22 years. Fifteen patients (12.3%; 70% CL: 10-16) died: 9 following reoperation, and 6 late after surgery. Death was related to the hearts in 86% of cases. The actuarial survival rate was 79% (70% CL: 72/84) at 10 years. Young age at the first valvotomy, and the number of procedures, emerged as risk factors of secondary mortality. Reoperations on the aortic valve, 73 in all, were required in 56 patients. The second procedure was done after a mean interval of 6 years, with a range from 1 day to 18 years. This was for restenosis in three-quarters of the cases. The aortic valve was replaced in 30 patients, at a mean of 9 years, and with a range from 9 months to 18 years, after the first procedure. The survival without replacement at 20 years was 29% (70% CL: 15-49). No factor was identified with a relationship either to reoperation or valvar replacement. Long term results after aortic valvotomy, therefore, show a high late mortality, frequent reinterventions, and an almost inescapable eventual need for valvar replacement. The ongoing use of the Ross operation is justified, even if longterm studies in children are still needed to validate its use.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed2000

Left ventricular alterations in a model of fetal left ventricular overload.

Congenital aortic coarctation is well tolerated by the fetus because the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus equalize intracardiac and great arteries pressures and shunts. The pathologic consequences only emerge after birth with closure of the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus. There is, however, no documentation of myocardial effects in utero of the left ventricular (LV) pressure overload induced by aortic banding. We investigated whether prenatal aortic banding could be detrimental at the structural and/or functional level. The goal of the present study was to investigate the cardiac effects of LV pressure overload in a fetal lamb model. Nine fetal lambs underwent preductal banding of the aortic arch in utero at midgestation (CoA group), whereas their twins underwent sham surgery. All fetuses were studied between 27 and 37 d after surgery for LV pressure, anatomic and histologic anomalies, and steady state sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA 2a) mRNA and protein levels and pump activity. Surgery resulted in severe aortic coarctation in all the animals in the CoA group and was associated with a 65% increase in the LV weight to body weight ratio relative to the sham-operated group (p < 0.001). Hemodynamic and histologic studies showed an evolutionary pattern depending on duration of the experimental coarctation with a shift occurring at 30 d of coarctation. The initial response of cardiomyocytes to ventricular overload was hypertrophy of the myocytes, followed by myocyte hyperplasia. Compared with sham, there was an apparent decrease in the percentage of binucleated cells in the CoA group after 30 d of coarctation. The earliest response to LV pressure overload appears to occur at the molecular level. Indeed, sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA 2a) mRNA levels fell significantly to only 28.6% of the sham group value (p = 0.023), independently of the duration of coarctation. In the fetal lamb, the pressure overload-induced hypertrophy resulting from progressive aortic coarctation leads to hemodynamic and lesional abnormalities and slows ontogenic maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Functional Fas expression in human thymic epithelial cells.

Fas, a cell surface receptor, can induce apoptosis after cross-linking with its ligand. We report that Fas antigen is constitutively expressed in medullary epithelial cells of the human thymus. Expression is decreased in cultured thymic epithelial cells (TEC), similarly to HLA-DR antigen. TEC are resistant to anti-Fas-induced apoptosis after 4 days of primary culture, and this resistance is reversed by concomitant addition of cycloheximide. Cycloheximide also downregulated the expression of Fas-associated phosphatase-1, which has been found to inhibit Fas-induced apoptosis. This phosphatase could be involved in the resistance to Fas-induced apoptosis observed on day 4 of TEC culture. When TEC were subcultured after 10 to 13 days of primary culture, exposure to interleukin-1-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma, alone or together, reinduced Fas mRNA and protein expression. In coculture with activated thymocytes, TEC also upregulated Fas protein expression. Cytokine-activated TEC became sensitive to apoptosis induced by an agonistic anti-Fas antibody. This apoptosis was inhibited by Z-VAD-fmk but not by Z-DEVD-fmk and DEVDase activity was slightly increased in Fas-stimulated TEC, suggesting that DEVDase activity is not sufficient to induce TEC apoptosis. Taken together, these data show that the Fas receptor is expressed in medullary epithelial cells of the human thymus and is able to induce apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1999

Surgical treatment of subaortic stenosis: a seventeen-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the long-term results of subaortic stenosis relief and the risk factors associated with recurrence and reoperation. METHODS: One hundred sixty patients with subaortic stenosis underwent biventricular repair. Before the operation the mean left ventricle-aorta gradient was 80 +/- 35 mm Hg, 57 patients had aortic regurgitation, and 34 were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Median age at repair was 10 years. For discrete subaortic stenosis (n = 120), 39 patients underwent isolated membranectomy, 67 underwent membranectomy with associated septal myotomy, and 14 underwent septal myectomy. Tunnel subaortic stenosis (n = 34) was treated by myotomy in 10 cases, myectomy in 12, septoplasty in 7, Konno procedure in 3, and apical conduit in 2. Aortic valve replacement was performed in 6 cases, mitral valve replacement in 2 cases, and mitral valvuloplasty in 4 cases. RESULTS: There were 5 early (3.1%) and 4 late (4.4%) deaths. Within 3.6 +/- 3.3 years a recurrent gradient greater than 30 mm Hg was found in 42 patients (27%), 20 of whom had 26 reoperations. According to multivariable Cox regression analysis survival was influenced by hypoplastic aortic anulus (P =.01) and mitral stenosis (P =.048); recurrence and reoperation were influenced by coarctation and immediate postoperative left ventricular outflow tract gradients. At a median follow-up of 13.3 years, mean left ventricle-aorta gradient was 20 +/- 13 mm Hg. Relief of the subaortic stenosis improved the degree of aortic regurgitation in 86% of patients with preoperative aortic regurgitation. Actuarial survival and freedom from reoperation rates at 15 years were 94% +/- 1.3% and 85% +/- 6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although surgical treatment provides good results, recurrence and reoperation are significantly influenced by previous coarctation repair and by the quality of initial relief of subaortic stenosis.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1999

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic obstruction of the pulmonary artery in piglets.

OBJECTIVE: The 2 main causes of death after thromboendarterectomy for chronic pulmonary thromboembolism are incomplete repermeabilization responsible for persistent pulmonary hypertension and acute high-permeability pulmonary edema. We wish to establish an experimental model of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism to replicate the conditions encountered during and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. METHODS: Multiple-curled coils and tissue adhesive were embolized in 6 piglets to induce complete obstruction of the left pulmonary artery, documented by angiography. After 5 weeks, the main pulmonary artery was repermeabilized by thromboendarterectomy during circulatory arrest. The left lung was reperfused ex vivo with autologous blood at constant flow, and patency of the pulmonary artery was evaluated on a barium angiogram. The endarterectomy-reperfusion procedure was also done in 6 nonembolized piglets that served as the controls. The severity of lung injury induced by 60 minutes of reperfusion was assessed on the basis of measurements of the lung filtration coefficient and of lung myeloperoxidase activity. RESULTS: Marked hypertrophy of the bronchial circulation was seen in the chronic pulmonary thromboembolism group. Thromboendarterectomy removed the organized obstructing thrombus that was incorporated into the arterial wall and restored patency of the pulmonary artery. Acute lung inflammation and high-permeability edema occurred after reperfusion, as indicated by a 1.5-fold increases in both lung filtration coefficient and lung myeloperoxidase values in the chronic pulmonary thromboembolism group; these 2 variables being correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Our model replicated the perioperative conditions of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, suggesting that it may prove useful for improving the repermeabilization technique and for investigating the mechanisms and prevention of reperfusion injury.

Animals↗