Five years follow-up after Y-graft arterial revascularization: on pump versus off pump; prospective clinical trial.

Objectives: We report our comparative experience of on-pump and off-pump full arterial coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using both internal mammary arteries (IMAs) anastomosed as a Y-graft.

Methods: A single-center clinical study was conducted prospectively between January 2003 and May 2008. It compared the short- and mid-term clinical outcomes of on- and off-pump arterial revascularization where the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was anastomosed to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery while the free right internal mammary artery (RIMA) graft taking off from the LIMA was used to bypass different coronary targets.

Long-term follow-up after endocardial radiofrequency modified Nitta procedure for concomitant atrial fibrillation treatment.

In atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, the surgical restoration of sinus rhythm aims at restoring atrial contraction, hence to decrease thromboembolic events. We investigated the long-term outcome of radiofrequency (RF) ablation by a modified Nitta procedure, in patients with AF associated with operative structural heart diseases. Between September 2000 and April 2004, a total of 20 patients (63.

Assessment based on EuroSCORE of ministernotomy for aortic valve replacement.

To assess the advantages of a ministernotomy over a standard sternotomy for aortic valve replacement, 191 patients were classified as low-, medium-, and high-risk by EuroSCORE. A ministernotomy was carried out in 100 patients, and a standard sternotomy was used in 91. Among low-risk patients, those who had a ministernotomy showed a marginal increase in atrial fibrillation.

Acute aortic dissection after off-pump coronary artery surgery.

Iatrogenic aortic dissection has been described, albeit infrequently, after coronary artery surgery performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Since the advent of beating heart coronary surgery, several authors have described an apparent increase of this complication related to the application of a lateral clamp on the ascending aorta to perform the proximal anastomosis. We describe the case of a 70 years old patient who presented aortic dissection, with immediate paraplegia, 7 days after off-pump coronary surgery.

Esophageal perforation by echoprobe during cardiac surgery: treatment by endoscopic stenting.

The usefulness and safety of transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac surgery have been well described in the literature. However, rare complications of this procedure can occur and should be familiar to surgeons and anesthesiologists. A case of esophageal perforation by echoprobe during coronary artery bypass grafting treated successfully by endoscopic stenting is reported.