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S J Korkola

Publications and source records attributed to S J Korkola.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Neonatal aortic arch reconstruction avoiding circulatory arrest and direct arch vessel cannulation.

BACKGROUND: Aortic arch reconstruction in neonates routinely requires deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. We reviewed our experience with techniques of continuous low-flow cerebral perfusion (LFCP) avoiding direct arch vessel cannulation. METHODS: Eighteen patients, with a median age of 11 days (range 1 to 85 days) and a mean weight of 3.2 +/- 0.8 kg, underwent aortic arch reconstruction with LFCP. Seven had biventricular repairs with arch reconstruction, 9 underwent the Norwood operation and 2 had isolated arch repairs. In 1 Norwood and 7 biventricular repair patients, LFCP was maintained by advancing the cannula from the distal ascending aorta into the innominate artery. In 8 of 9 Norwood patients, LFCP was maintained by directing the arterial cannula into the pulmonary artery confluence and perfusing the innominate artery through the right modified Blalock-Taussig shunt fully constructed before cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass. In 2 patients requiring isolated arch reconstruction, the ascending aorta was cannulated and the cross-clamp was applied just distal to the innominate artery. RESULTS: LFCP was maintained at 0.6 +/- 0.2 L x min(-1) x m(-2) for 41.0 +/- 13.9 minutes at 18.5 degrees C +/- 1.1 degrees C. In 10 of the 18 patients, blood pressure during LFCP was 15 +/- 8 mm Hg remote from the innominate artery (left radial, umbilical or femoral arteries). In 8 of the 18 patients, right radial pressure during LFCP was 24 +/- 10 mm Hg. The mean mixed-venous saturation was 79.8% +/- 10% during LFCP. Two patients had preoperative seizures, whereas none had seizures postoperatively. One patient died. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal aortic arch reconstruction is possible without circulatory arrest or direct arch vessel cannulation. These techniques maintained adequate mixed-venous oxygen saturations with no associated adverse neurologic outcomes.

Aorta, Thoracic↗

Surgical technique to avoid circulatory arrest and direct arch vessel cannulation during neonatal aortic arch reconstruction.

Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) has been used routinely for surgery involving the aortic arch. Recently, techniques have been developed that avoid circulatory arrest and maintain low-flow cerebral perfusion (LFCP) in an attempt to avoid the potential neurological sequelae associated with DHCA. We describe a technique of LFCP that avoids circulatory arrest and direct cannulation of the arch vessels. Five patients underwent reconstruction of the aortic arch with concomitant biventricular intracardiac repair. The distal ascending aorta was cannulated and patients were systemically cooled. The cannula was advanced into the innominate artery and snared in place prior to opening and reconstructing the aorta with continuous LFCP. In all five patients, we completely avoided circulatory arrest and direct cannulation of the arch vessels. All patients survived and there were no adverse neurological outcomes.

Aorta, Thoracic↗

Transposition complexes with systemic obstruction.

The arterial switch operation is currently the procedure of choice for transposition of the great arteries and double-outlet right ventricle with subpulmonary ventricular septal defect. While the results of surgical repair have improved tremendously in recent years, the presence of associated lesions continues to make this a surgically challenging malformation. The association of these so-called transposition complexes with systemic obstruction has recently received increased attention. Systemic obstruction may occur at the subaortic level, in the aortic arch, or at both levels. Valvar aortic stenosis or atresia is extremely rare. Resection of hypertrophied muscle bundles with or without pericardial patch augmentation is frequently enough to deal with obstruction at the subaortic level, which becomes the subpulmonary area following arterial switch operation. Aortic arch obstruction associated with intracardiac defects has traditionally been addressed with a staged approach, dealing first with the arch obstruction followed later by intracardiac repair. The results with this approach have been disappointing. At the Montréal Children's Hospital, we have obtained superior results using a single-stage approach. Therefore, we have advocated the use of pulmonary homograft patch aortoplasty for aortic arch reconstruction at the time of intracardiac repair to completely remove any anatomic afterload. Since 1989, in 22 consecutive patients undergoing single-stage anatomic repair of transposition complexes associated with aortic arch obstruction, we have had no early deaths, one late death of a noncardiac cause, and one recoarctation requiring balloon dilatation. In the last 2 years, we have been able to perform all our aortic arch reconstructions avoiding the use of circulatory arrest.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

An automated interrupted suturing device for coronary artery bypass grafting: automated coronary anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to have a preliminary assessment of the safety and efficacy of an automated vascular suturing device. METHODS: The device (Heartflo, Perclose/Abbott Labs, Redwood City, CA), which delivers 10 interrupted 7-0 polypropylene sutures between side-to-side arteriotomies, was evaluated in animals (8 Yorkshire pigs). RESULTS: Tissue edge capture and quality of anastomosis were highly rated. Time of anastomoses averaged 22 minutes. This time was prolonged primarily due to suture management, tying of interrupted sutures, and learning curve effects. Six of the anastomoses were hemostatic and two required an additional stitch each. Angiography and histology of the anastomosis confirmed patency and quality of the anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results indicate that the Heartflo automated anastomotic device is safe and effective. Preclinical and clinical studies to validate its acute and long-term effectiveness will commence shortly.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗