Adaptive cardiac binding: a new method for treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adaptive cardiac binding, a new surgical procedure for advanced heart failure, allows a gradual increase in compression on the dilated heart, with separate loads on the left and right ventricles. A canine model of biventricular heart failure (anastomosis between the carotid artery and jugular vein and doxorubicin administration) was created. Twenty-four dogs were divided into 4 groups: control, adynamic cardiomyoplasty, plastic cardiac binding, and adaptive cardiac binding.

[Prediction and evaluation of surgical treatment results of severe ischemic heart disease].

Objectives: To estimate myocardial perfusion in patients with severe coronary artery disease performing before and early after single-photon emission computed tomography coronary artery bypass grafting; to predict results of complete myocardial revascularisation by preoperative perfusion data.

Material And Methods: Ten patients with stable coronary artery disease and resting left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (mean ejection fraction 31.8+/-6.

["Off-pump" myocardial revascularization: experience in the Clinic of Cardiosurgery, Kaunas University of Medicine].

Unlabelled: According to indications there is no difference in results of grafts patency and left ventricle function after minimal invasive myocardial revascularization in comparison to typical operation with cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia. Only ranges of troponin T (TnT), CK and CK-MB are statistically significantly lower in the group of operations without cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia.

Material And Methods: According to possibilities different surgical technic of minimally invasive myocardial revascularization was used in 119 patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.

[The hemodynamic and myostimulation regimens parallels of the extraaortic counterpulsation and skeletal ventricle in the experiment].

Objective: Our investigation was aimed to evaluate the effect of extraaortic counterpulsation to central hemodynamics during the two modes of latissimus dorsi muscle electrostimulation.

Material And Methods: Two groups of experimental dogs were divided into two subgroups and affected with continuous and work-rest regimens of stimulation. In one group latissimus dorsi muscle was mobilized and left in situ.

Current status of cardiomyoplasty as surgical alternative for end-stage heart failure.

Heart transplantation is the best option for surgical treatment of end-stage congestive heart failure. However, when heart transplantation is not possible, other surgical options are available, and one of them is cardiomyoplasty. Below is a new multi-step approach for improving cardiomyoplasty results according to our clinical and experimental data.

Hemodynamic results of acute thoracic aortomyoplasty in a canine model: comparison of stimulation regimens.

Our previous investigations in a sheep model demonstrated that when electrical stimulation (ES) was applied to a newly mobilized latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) in a work-rest regimen and at a rate of 15 contractions per minute, it did not damage this muscle. This regimen was used twice during a 60 minute period, once a day for 16 days, with no LDM damage. The goal of our current investigation was to apply this regimen in studies of acute thoracic aortomyoplasty.

[Testing of the latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation regimens in the experimental model of thoracic aortomyoplasty].

Objective: Among several alternative forms of treatment for congestive heart failure patients is the use of autologous muscle-powered cardiac assistance. Our investigation was aimed to study two different regimens of latissimus dorsi muscle electrostimulation in acute thoracic aortomyoplasty.

Material And Methods: Experiments were made in Kaunas University of Medicine and Wisconsin University, Milwaukee Heart institute.

[Estimation of myocardial perfusion changes after surgical revasculization with single-photon emission computed tomography].

Objective: to estimate myocardial perfusion performing single-photon emission computed tomography before and in early period after coronary artery bypass grafting; to predict results of complete myocardial revascularisation by preoperative perfusion data.

Material And Methods: Ten patients with stable coronary artery disease and resting left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (mean ejection fraction 37.7+/-6.

[Retrospective evaluation with Euroscore of postoperative mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Objective: This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of risk-adjusted EuroSCORE models in predicting mortality in individual patients who are undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Material And Methods: The study population is a consecutive series of 1698 isolated primary and repeat coronary artery bypass grafting patients, inclusive patients in cardiogenic shock or resuscitation, operated in Kaunas Heart Center from January 1997 to December 2001. The pre-operative risk of death was calculated with EuroSCORE models and then compared with the actual outcome.

[History of Lithuanian heart surgery].

The aim of the article is to review Lithuanian cardiac surgery development, as well as authors and timing of the first operations performed. Historical review involves two periods: initial (1900-1964) and contemporal (1964-2002). Benevolent rivalry between Vilnius and Kaunas heart surgeons is given to show their contribution into Lithuanian surgery.