Pericardial Patch Research Articles

Our Experience of Renovisceral Interventions in Patients Undergoing Aortobifemoral Bypass for Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease

Abstract Introduction: Aortobifemoral bypass is the standard recommended procedure for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Patients of AIOD presenting with claudication pain and tissue loss require revascularization of lower limbs, with few requiring mesenteric and/or renal revascularization. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of patients undergoing aortobifemoral bypass with mesenteric/renal revascularization in patients of AIOD with mesenteric/renal occlusion. Objective: The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) restoration of normal renal function in terms of urine output and renal function test in patients who underwent mesenteric revascularization and (2) resolution of abdominal angina in patients who underwent mesenteric revascularization. Methods: A total of 13 patients with a mean age of 45.8 years, presenting with critical limb ischemia with renal/mesenteric occlusion due to AIOD of Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus D type, underwent aortobifemoral bypass with renal/mesenteric revascularization. The demographics of patients, Rutherford stage and WIFI stage, pre- and postoperative ABI, probable etiology, any renovisceral interventions done, duration of procedure, type of renal ischemia (warm/cold), duration of renal ischemia, postoperative complications, duration of stay, patency of graft, wound infection, amputation rates, and mortality were documented on a structured pro forma. Five (38.46%) patients presented with severe claudication, 3 (23.07%) patients with rest pain, and the remaining 5 (38.46%) patients with minor tissue loss. Along with AIOD, 3 (23.07%) patients had concomitant bilateral femoropopliteal disease and tibial vessel disease, 3 (23.07%) patients had unilateral femoropopliteal disease, and 2 (15.38%) patients had bilateral tibial vessel disease. Three (23.07%) patients had infrarenal aortoiliac occlusion and 10 (76.9%) patients had juxtarenal aortoiliac occlusion (managed using Liddicoat/Madiba–Robbs technique). Outcomes were assessed in terms of graft patency, need of dialysis in postoperative period, wound infection, limb survival, amputations, and mortality. Results: Aortic clamp was placed suprarenal (38.46%), infrarenal (53.84%), and interrenal (7.69%) of patients. Cold renal perfusion solution was used in 15.38% of patients with an ischemia time of 38.5 min. The average duration of warm renal ischemia was 5 min 24 s. Revascularization of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was done in 15.38%, and inferior mesenteric artery in 38.46%. Renal revascularization by Madiba–Robbs technique was done in 30.76% of patients. In 92.3% of patients, bifurcated Dacron synthetic graft was used, and in 7.69%, femoral vein with bovine pericardial patch was used for revascularization. In postoperative period, 7.69% developed acute limb ischemia, 30.07% had severe metabolic acidosis, and 15.38% of patients had respiratory complications with good renal function and no bowel ischemia. Conclusion: Renal and mesenteric revascularization in addition to aortobifemoral bypass is a safe, effective, and durable procedure with acceptable postoperative complications. The effective surgical technique of renal and mesenteric revascularization including the usage of renal perfusion solution was found to be of paramount importance in our study. All patients who underwent SMA revascularization were free from abdominal angina. All patients who underwent renal revascularization were free from dialysis and also there was a decrease in the use of antihypertensive drugs in these patients.

A Case of a Commando Operation with One Boat-Shaped Bovine Pericardial Patch for Active Infective Endocarditis

A Case of a Commando Operation with One Boat-Shaped Bovine Pericardial Patch for Active Infective Endocarditis

Staged Endoscopic Mitral Valve Repair for Active Infective Endocarditis with a Mitral Annular Abscess.

The presence of an annular abscess complicates the operation for infective endocarditis. We report a case of a totally endoscopic repair of a mitral annular abscess using a staged strategy. A 28-year-old woman underwent endoscopic mitral valve repair for active infective endocarditis (AIE) with Staphylococcus aureus. At the index operation, the mitral annular abscess was completely debrided, yielding an annular defect. The mitral valve was repaired with the autologous pericardial patch and an annuloplasty. Primary repair of the annular defect was not performed because of the fragility of edematous tissues. Two weeks after index surgery, when the infection was under control, and the scar tissue had formed around the annulus, we performed the second stage operation involving repair of the annular abscess. The scar formation enabled annular reconstruction and additional repair of the mitral valve in a totally endoscopic fashion. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no recurrence at 5 months. An annular abscess may be repaired with staged surgery in select situations.

471. MINIMALLY INVASIVE ESOPHAGECTOMY WITH RESECTION OF THE DESCENDING AORTA DUE TO SUSPECTED TUMOR INFILTRATION

Abstract Background Classically, esophageal neoplasms have had a poor survival, considering those T4b tumors that infiltrate the aorta, airways or vertebrae to be unresectable despite not having distant disease. With the advancement of surgical techniques, the improvement of neoadjuvant/adjuvant systemic treatments and the multidisciplinary approach to this pathology, these barriers of unresectability are gradually being broken. Methods This is a 68-year-old patient, a 1-pack-a-day smoker, who presented squamous cell carcinoma 30 cm from the dental arch treated with chemoradiotherapy according to the CROSS scheme. After surgery at another center, there is suspicion of infiltration of the descending aorta, for which he was referred to our center. The case is discussed in a multidisciplinary committee and a decision is made to place TEVAR in the first stage and surgical resection of the lesion in a second stage. Results The patient underwent surgery performing a three-stage esophagectomy (McKeown) using prone thoracoscopy without selective intubation, through which a regulated esophagectomy was performed with total lymphadenectomy and en bloc resection along with the anterior wall of the descending aorta where there was suspicion of tumor infiltration, exposing the aortic prosthesis (Photo 2). The prosthesis is covered to isolate it from possible sources of infection with a patch of pericardium fixed with loose sutures to the aortic wall and biological glue. It was reconstructed using a mediastinal gastroplasty with cervical circular mechanical anastomosis. Postoperative period marked by cervical leakage that was resolved by conservative treatment. Conclusion Resection using a minimally invasive approach of an aortic patch in cases of suspected tumor infiltration in esophageal neoplasms without systemic disease may be a safe therapeutic option as long as it is performed in centers specialized in complex esophageal resections and with a multidisciplinary team that also involves cardiac surgeons. The oncological prognosis must be evaluated in the long term, but achieving R0 resections should not be worse than in locally advanced resectable tumors.

Prevention of Postoperative Atrioventricular Block in a Case of Progressive Infective Endocarditis with Reconstruction of the Interventricular Fibrous Body: A Case Report

Background: The risk of the post-operative severe atrioventricular block is high when infective endocarditis spreads to the conduction system. However, a clear surgical method to prevent post-operative severe atrioventricular block in infective endocarditis patients has not been developed. Case presentation: A 39-year-old man with a persistent fever was referred to our hospital. Echocardiography showed mitral valve infective endocarditis with severe aortic regurgitation due to a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. Before the surgery, a paroxysmal atrioventricular block appeared. Intraoperative inspection revealed an aortic-root abscess with ulcerated lesions below the commissure of the noncoronary-right coronary cusps and perforation of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. Considering the risk of atrioventricular block, the ulcerated lesions were only cleared with saline solution. After replacing the mitral valve with a mechanical mitral valve, the interventricular fibrous body and aortic annulus were reconstructed with a bovine pericardial patch. The mechanical aortic valve was sutured to the reconstructed aortic annulus. Two years after the surgery, severe atrioventricular block did not occur. Conclusion: Our method may be effective when the risk of post-operative severe atrioventricular block is high and the patient’s prognosis worsens.

Left ventricular pseudo-false aneurysm perforating the right ventricle: two case reports

BackgroundLeft ventricular (LV) pseudo-false aneurysm is a rare and fatal complication secondary to myocardial infarction. Sometimes, it may perforate the right ventricle (RV) and lead to acute heart failure. We experienced 2 cases of surgical repair of an LV pseudo-false aneurysm perforating the RV.Case presentationCase 1: A 76-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed an LV pseudo-false aneurysm (25 mm × 20 mm) that had perforated the RV. Via LV incision, the two small orifices communicating to the RV were detected and closed by direct suture. A double patch of bovine pericardium and a dacron sheet was sutured around the aneurysm with everting mattress. Case 2: A 51-year-old man, who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention 1 month before, was referred to our hospital due to an LV aneurysm perforating the RV. Via LV incision, a double-layered patch was sutured around the aneurysm with everting mattress. The communicating hole to RV was closed by bovine pericardium patch with a running suture via an RV incision. Postoperative course was uneventful in both cases.ConclusionsAn LV pseudo-false aneurysm perforating the RV should be considered for urgent repair before serious complications arise and the patient’s general condition deteriorates.

Aortic arch repair with extended end-to-side anastomosis in neonates and infants with transverse arch hypoplasia

Background/Aim: The use of patches to repair the aortic arch is believed to have a positive effect on long-term morbidity. In this study, perioperative and follow-up data of patients who underwent transverse arch repair with a patch were compared with the data of patients who underwent end-to-end anastomosis (ESA). Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the data of 27 patients (including 18 newborns) who underwent aortic arch repair at the Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital between January 2018 and April 2023 were analyzed. The inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of proximal and distal transverse aortic arch hypoplasia, an age younger than 12 months of age, and the completion of aortic arch repair using cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients who underwent recoarctation repair due to residual obstruction, patients with single ventricular physiology, and patients who underwent aortic arch repair via a lateral thoracotomy without undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were excluded from the study. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included individuals who underwent aortic anterior wall expansion with autologous pericardium in addition to ESA; Group 2 included patients who underwent ESA only. Results: The median age of the patients was 21 days (range: 6–365 days), and the median body weight of the cohort was 3.5 kilograms (range: 2.4–8.9 kilograms). Enlargement with autologous pericardial patch was applied to 11 patients (40.7%). Surgical procedures performed in addition to arch repair included eight ventricular septal defect closures, six instances of pulmonary banding, three atrial septal defect closures, and one subvalvular pulmonary stenosis repair. The in-hospital mortality rate was 11.1% (n=3). Those three patients died due to sepsis. The median follow-up period was 152 days (range: 10–1316 days). Recoarctation requiring re-intervention did not occur in any of the studied patients. The antegrade selective cerebral perfusion time was statistically significantly longer in patients who underwent aortic arch repair using a patch (P=0.03). Conclusion: Repair of the arch with a patch may contribute to a reduction in long-term mortality and morbidity. However, there is a need for more comprehensive and long-term follow-up studies to verify these findings.

Management of a rare isolated left main coronary artery ostial stenosis in a young patient: a case report

BackgroundIsolated congenital ostial stenosis of the left coronary artery (LCA) is extremely rare, and available literature is limited. Long-term treatment success is key in the choice of treatment strategy due to the mostly young age of the patients. Here, we present a clinical case and shed light on the surgical treatment strategies including their pitfalls.Case presentationWe describe a 20-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with recurrent typical angina pectoris symptoms (CCS class II). Computed tomography and coronary angiography revealed isolated ostial stenosis of the LCA, with prominent collaterals from the right coronary artery. The patient was operated on and intra-operative findings showed a severely narrowed LCA ostium that appeared to be fibrotic, and to originate from a similarly fibrotic left coronary sinus of the aortic root. The LCA was excised from the left coronary sinus, and trimmed until the coronary artery lumen appeared macroscopically normal. The fibrotic left coronary sinus was resected and replaced with a bovine pericardial patch, into which the coronary artery was re-inserted. During weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, we faced a diminished left ventricular function. We attributed this to insufficient myocardial protection. Isolated antegrade cardioplegia had been used, which, for technical reasons, had to be administered separately to the right and left coronary artery after aortotomy. In the setting of huge collaterals from the right to the left coronary artery, a steal-effect likely occurred. After prolonged reperfusion, the left ventricular function recovered, and the further post-operative course was unremarkable.ConclusionsFor the surgical treatment of congenital ostial stenosis of the LCA, both ostium reconstruction and coronary artery bypass grafting have been described. The advantage of ostium reconstruction as chosen here is to create a physiological flow and supply situation to the affected myocardial areas. Furthermore, in case of other downstream events, such as the development of coronary artery disease, all further therapeutic options are preserved.Special attention should be paid to the administration of cardioplegia in these patients. Combined ante and retrograde cardioplegia administration probably would have achieved more extensive myocardial protection in our case.

Delayed aorto-atrial fistula-a rare complication of tricuspid valve endocarditis.

A patient with a history of endocarditis developed a fistula between the aorta and right atrium requiring surgical repair. The patient underwent surgical intervention with closure of the fistula using an autologous pericardial patch and primary repair. This report is significant because a rare surgical pathology is visualized clearly and provides an educational value to aid other clinicians in the recognition and management of this unusual diagnosis.

Surgical treatment of esophago-tracheobronchial fistulas after esophagectomy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of esophago-tracheobronchial fistulas (ETBFs) that occurred after esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction in a tertiary referral center for esophageal surgery. All patients who underwent surgical repair for an ETBF after esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction were included in a tertiary referral center. The primary outcome was successful recovery after surgical treatment for ETBF, defined as a patent airway at 90days after the surgical fistula repair. Secondary outcomes were details on the clinical presentation, diagnostics, and postoperative course after fistula repair. Between 2007 and 2022, 14 patients who underwent surgical repair for an ETBF were included. Out of 14 patients, 9 had undergone esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis and 5 esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis after which 13 patients had developed anastomotic leakage. Surgical treatment consisted of thoracotomy to cover the defect with a pericardial patch and intercostal flap in 11 patients, a patch without interposition of healthy tissue in 1 patient, and fistula repair via cervical incision with only a pectoral muscle flap in 2 patients. After surgical treatment, 12 patients recovered (86%). Mortality occurred in two patients (14%) due to multiple organ failure. This study evaluated the techniques and outcomes of surgical repair of ETBFs following esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction in 14 patients. Treatment was successful in 12 patients (86%) and generally consisted of thoracotomy and coverage of the defect with a bovine pericardial patch followed by interposition with an intercostal muscle.

Sutureless repair for vena cava bleeding using an elastomeric sealant in a porcine model.

To address the issue of bleeding from the vena cava, a common complication of cardiac and aortic surgeries, we developed a sutureless repair technique using Hydrofit, an elastomeric sealant. In a porcine model, we surgically incised the inferior vena cava and applied the elastomeric sealant with a pericardial patch, achieving complete haemostasis through manual compression. This simple and rapid technique demonstrates effective sutureless haemostasis for the vena cava.

Case Report: Removal of septal occluder device and closure of atrial septal defect with pulmonary vein flow redirection

BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defect represents 10 to 15% of congenital heart disease and is more frequent in women with a 2:1 ratio. Sinus venosus atrial septal defect is usually associated with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage from the right superior pulmonary vein to the right atrium directly or indirectly through the superior vena cava. Rarer still, is the inferior sinus venosus, which may be associated with partial anomalous venous drainage from the right inferior pulmonary vein. CASE REPORT: 13-year-old patient with a history of intervention for interatrial defect closure with Amplatzer occluder at the age of six. He was brought to receive medical attention for fatigue and dyspnea that had been progressing for 2 years. Cardiac CT reported partial anomalous connection of pulmonary veins and echocardiogram reported a residual atrial septal defect of 10 mm and mild to moderate pulmonary hypertension. Based on the findings, surgical treatment was decided. EVOLUTION: In correction surgery, we observed Amplatzer occluder incorrectly positioned, the device was removed and flow was redirected from right pulmonary veins to left atrium with bovine pericardium patch. After the surgical intervention, the patient had a favorable evolution without no post-surgical complications. At follow-up, 15 days after medical discharge, the patient was asymptomatic, and a cardiac CT scan showed the corrected interatrial defect. CONCLUSION: The treatment of atrial septal defect should be individualized, since it will depend on the size of the defect, the age at the time of diagnosis, the magnitude of the shunt, the severity of the symptoms and the presence of other conditions. If the defect requires repair, it is important to weigh the benefits of choosing percutaneous closure vs. surgical intervention to avoid the need for reintervention, as in the present case. Closure and redirection of pulmonary vein flow with bovine patch is a safe and effective option.

Physician Modification of a Custom-Made Fenestrated Endograft By Closure of a Fenestration With Bovine Patch.

Ruptured mycotic pararenal aortic aneurysms are rare and serious condition that requires prompt treatment. Open surgery with aortic resection and in-situ or extra-anatomic reconstruction is the standard treatment. The aim of this technical note is to report urgent endovascular treatment using a readily available custom-made device (created for another patient), with a back-table modification using pericardium patch and a new fenestration. In preoperative measurements on centerline-based workstation, aortic diameter in proximal and distal landing zone and target vessel position matched the measurements of graft plan of custom-made device (CMD) besides left renal artery. To address current patient`s anatomy, closure of the nonsuitable fenestration with pericardial patch and creation of new fenestration (1 cm above and 1:15 hours posterior to original fenestration) for the respective target vessel have been performed. Postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan showed complete exclusion of aneurysm, perfused target vessels, and no endoleak. Under resistance-based antibiotic therapy, the patient was asymptomatic and showed normal infection parameters in blood samples postoperatively. In the hands of an experienced endovascular aortic surgeon modification of a custom-made device is a quick and feasible technique in this emergency situation. Long-term follow-up must confirm the durability and reliability of this new technique. The described technique of modification of a custom-made endograft can provide an alternative endovascular treatment option for urgent complex abdominal aortic pathologies. Compared to the current available treatment modalities, like physician modified endografts, off-the-shelf branched devices, parallel grafts and in-situ fenestration, it can save considerable time and provides reasonable sealing in ruptured cases. The technique offers a valuable add-on to the armamentarium of experienced endovascular physicians.

Left Ventricular Assist Device explantation using a new double patch technique.

There are several surgical approaches for explantation of an LVAD after recovery of cardiac function. Thus, remaining ventricular assist device components may bear significant risks of infection or thrombosis. We hereby report our technique and two-center experience with explantation of LVADs using a new double patch technique. From March 2019-April 2021, 5 patients underwent LVAD explantation after myocardial recovery (HVAD, n = 2; HeartMate 3, n = 3). Mean patient age was 50.3 years (100% male) and mean time on LVAD was 23.1 ± 20.8 months. Primary heart failure aetiology was dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 4) and myocarditis (n = 1).LVAD explantation was performed using a median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. The LVAD was stopped, and the outflow graft clamped. The outflow graft was ligated and sutured close to the aortic anastomosis. The driveline was clipped and removed. Under induced fibrillation, the attachment of the LVAD was released from the apical cuff and the LVAD was removed. A round pericardial patch was fixed from the inner of the ventricle. This already seals the apex of the heart. An additional Goretex patch is continuously sutured epicardially over the suture ring. The 5 cases showed technically uncomplicated explantation of the LVADs. During the follow-up of mean 16.4 ± 16.9 months, survival of 100% was observed. There were no bleeding complications or thromboembolic events during follow-up. LVAD explantation with the double patch technique is feasible and safe. This technique allows discontinuation of anticoagulation. There was a 30-day survival of 100%. Further studies are needed to provide better evidence for LVAD explantation and long-term follow-up.

Incidental finding of an aneurysmal dilatation of pericardial patch closure of ventricular septal defect, completed by multi-modality imaging

Incidental finding of an aneurysmal dilatation of pericardial patch closure of ventricular septal defect, completed by multi-modality imaging

Outcomes of Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot: A Comparison Between the Adult and Pediatric Population.

Introduction Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. Early detection and timely treatment have provided successful repair of the anomaly in the developed world. However, in the developing world, there is still a burden of uncorrected TOF patients reaching adulthood. The goal of this study is to determine whether there is any difference in postoperative complications between adult and pediatric populationsfollowing surgical correction for TOF. Methods This study involved all those patients who received primary or secondary surgical repair for TOF in our facility between January 2017 and December 2020. The patients were split according to their age into the pediatric groupif they were under 18 years and the adult groupif they were 18 years or older. Patients with absent pulmonary valve or pulmonary atresia were not included in this study. Patients with large major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA) were also excluded from this study. All patients underwent total correction through a median sternotomy approach. The ventricular septal defect was closed with a Bard knitted fiber patch. The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was augmented by excising muscle bands or fibrous bands in the RVOT. If the annulus was smaller than the 3.5 z score, then a transannular patch was done using an autologous pericardium. The main pulmonary artery was augmented in every surgery using an autologous pericardial patch. All patients were shifted to the ICU on the ventilator and were extubated after fulfillment of the extubation criteria. Postoperative complications measured included re-opening, re-intubation, prolonged ventilation (>24 hours), and mortality within the index hospital admission. The clinical data of all patients were prospectively collected and analyzed using the chi-square test and t-test. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant. Results The total number of patients was 134. This included 83 males (60.1%). A total of 114 patients who were aged below 18 years were included in the pediatric group, and 20 patients aged equal to or more than 18 years were included in the adult group. The mean average perfusion time in minutes in the adult group was 125.8 and in the pediatric group, it was 98.79. Similarly, the mean average of the cross-clamp time was also longer in the adult group at 89.55 minutes versus 69.63 minutes in the pediatric group. Overall, in the adult group, three (15%) patients had postoperative complications, while in the pediatric group, a total of 14 (11.9%) patients had postoperative complications (p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the number of re-openings (8.5% vs. 10%; p = 0.8). The total mortality observed was 16 (11.59%). This included 14 (11.9%) in the pediatric group and two (10%) in the adult group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.8). Conclusions Surgical repair of TOF can be performed in both adult and pediatric populations with acceptable outcomes. The mortality rate was found to be slightlygreater in the pediatric population compared to the adults. However, it can be seen that the number of postoperative complications is greater in adults. Further research is needed to optimize outcomes for both pediatric and adult patients with TOF.

Clinical Outcomes of Common Femoral Thromboendarterectomy with Bovine Pericardium Patch Angioplasty

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of thromboendarterectomy (TEA) for common femoral occlusive disease using bovine pericardium patch angioplasty. The subjects were patients who underwent TEA for common femoral occlusive disease with bovine pericardium patch angioplasty from October 2020 to August 2021. The study had a prospective, multicenter, and observational design. The primary endpoint was primary patency (freedom from restenosis). The secondary endpoints were secondary patency, amputation-free survival (AFS), postoperative wound complication, hospital death within 30 days, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 30 days. Forty-seven TEA procedures with a bovine patch were performed in 42 patients (34 males; median age, 78 years; diabetes mellitus, 57%; end-stage renal disease with hemodialysis, 19%). Clinical presentations were intermittent claudication (68%) and critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) (32%). Sixteen (34%) limbs underwent TEA alone and 31 (66%) underwent a combined procedure. Surgical site infection (SSI) occurred in 4 limbs (9%) and lymphatic fistulas in 3 limbs (6%). One limb with SSI required surgical debridement 19 days after the procedure, and one limb (2%) without postoperative wound complications required additional treatment due to acute bleeding. Hospital death within 30 days occurred in one case due to panperitonitis. There were no MACE within 30 days. Claudication was improved in all cases. Postoperative ABI of 0.92 [0.72-1.00] was significantly higher than the preoperative value (P < 0.001). The median follow-up period was 10 months [9-13 months]. One limb (2%) required additional endovascular therapy due to stenosis at the endarterectomy site at 5 months postoperatively. Primary and secondary patencies were 98% and 100% at 12 months, respectively, and the AFS rate was 90% at 12 months. Common femoral TEA with bovine pericardium patch angioplasty has satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Feasibility study of immediate breast reconstruction with fusion fascia combined with implants

Objective: To investigate the oncologic and surgical safety of the fused fascia method for immediate breast reconstruction with implants. Methods: The clinical data of 343 patients with immediate breast reconstruction with implants in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from 2014-2017 were retrospectively analyzed to compare the 5-year local recurrence-free survival, 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival of patients with breast reconstruction by fusion fascia and other methods, and to analyze the complication incidences of implant removal between different implant groups. Results: Of the 343 patients with breast reconstruction, 95 were in the fused fascia group (fascia group) and 248 were in the non-fascia group (25 in the bovine pericardial patch group and 223 in the muscle flap group). At a median follow-up of 49 months, the differences in 5-year local recurrence-free survival (90.1% and 94.9%, respectively), 5-year disease-free survival (89.2% and 87.6%, respectively), and 5-year overall survival (95.2% and 95.1%, respectively) between patients in the fascial and non-fascial groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The complication incidence of implant removal was 24.0% (6/25) in the patch group and 2.1% (2/95) and 2.2% (5/223) in the fascia and muscle flap groups, respectively. Conclusion: Immediate breast reconstruction with fused fascial combined with implant is safe and feasible, less invasive than muscle flaps, more economical and with fewer complications than patches.

Biogenic polymer-based patches for congenital cardiac surgery: a feasibility study.

Currently used patch materials in congenital cardiac surgery do not grow, renew, or remodel. Patch calcification occurs more rapidly in pediatric patients eventually leading to reoperations. Bacterial cellulose (BC) as a biogenic polymer offers high tensile strength, biocompatibility, and hemocompatibility. Thus, we further investigated the biomechanical properties of BC for use as patch material. The BC-producing bacteria Acetobacter xylinum were cultured in different environments to investigate optimal culturing conditions. For mechanical characterization, an established method of inflation for biaxial testing was used. The applied static pressure and deflection height of the BC patch were measured. Furthermore, a displacement and strain distribution analysis was performed and compared to a standard xenograft pericardial patch. The examination of the culturing conditions revealed that the BC became homogenous and stable when cultivated at 29°C, 60% oxygen concentration, and culturing medium exchange every third day for a total culturing period of 12 days. The estimated elastic modulus of the BC patches ranged from 200 to 530 MPa compared to 230 MPa for the pericardial patch. The strain distributions, calculated from preloaded (2 mmHg) to 80 mmHg inflation, show BC patch strains ranging between 0.6% and 4%, which was comparable to the pericardial patch. However, the pressure at rupture and peak deflection height varied greatly, ranging from 67 to around 200 mmHg and 0.96 to 5.28 mm, respectively. The same patch thickness does not automatically result in the same material properties indicating that the manufacturing conditions have a significant impact on durability. BC patches can achieve comparable results to pericardial patches in terms of strain behavior as well as in the maximum applied pressure that can be withstood without rupture. Bacterial cellulose patches could be a promising material worth further research.

A patient with large ostium primum atrial septal defect who underwent open heart surgical closure with pericardial patch: a case report

Introduction: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases and often diagnosed in adulthood. ASD represents a spectrum of disease with symptoms that vary from asymptomatic to right-sided cardiac volume overload, pulmonary arterial hypertension and atrial arrhythmias depending on the size of the defect, size of the shunt and associated anomalies. We reported a patient with large ostium primum ASD who underwent surgical closure with a pericardial patch. Case Description: A 18 years old man came with chief complaint of abnormal ECG results of the screening examination of police candidates from Bhayangkara Hospital Manado. The patient had no complaints during admission. The patient could still carry out daily activities without any obstacles. The patient also could do high intensity sport without complaints of shortness of breath, heavy chest, or headaches. .Electrocardiogram (ECG) examination showed sinus rhythm, heart rate 74 beats per minute, left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) and fragmented QRS at inferior leads. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed large ostium primum ASD L-R shunt. Open heart ASD surgical closure with pericardial patch was done with good results and no residual shunt. Conclusion: Large ostium primum ASD are associated with significant systemic-to-pulmonary shunts that results in desaturation requiring surgical closure. Large shunt of ASD patients who have a dilated right heart are associated with increased age-related morbidity and mortality. ASD with right heart dilatation should be considered for closure once the diagnosis is established regardless of the patient's age.