Research

Cao CQ, Bannon PG, Shee R, Yan TD

Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011;17(1):1-6

PMID: 21587120

Abstract

PURPOSE: Since its introduction more than a decade ago, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has shown promising results for patients with various thoracic aortic diseases. The aim of the current review is to assess the current literature to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TEVAR.

METHODS: A thorough search of the existing literature on TEVAR was conducted on electronic databases, including Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE and Database of Abstracts of Review of Effectiveness. The most recent results were categorized according to the indications of performing TEVAR.

RESULTS: A number of case-series studies and reviews have shown reduced early morbidity and mortality rates in a range of thoracic aortic diseases for TEVAR in comparison to open surgical repair. However, there is a lack of robust clinical data to suggest any improvement in long-term overall survival.

CONCLUSION: Despite numerous encouraging results from a large number of publications in recent years, there remains a lack of level 1 evidence to support an improvement of long-term overall survival for patients who underwent TEVAR when compared with traditional treatment modalities. There appears to be an urgent need to conduct well-designed randomized-controlled trials in this rapidly expanding intervention.

Edelman JJ, Ramponi F, Bannon PG, Jeremy R

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2011 May;12(5):863-5

PMID: 21324918

Abstract

This report describes the clinical course and management of a patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) type 2. In 2003, a 31-year-old male was diagnosed with acute aortic dissection type B; in the following six years he underwent multiple surgical and endovascular aortic procedures at different thoracic and abdominal levels secondary to progressive enlargement of both the non-dissected thoracic aorta and the false lumen distal to the left subclavian artery. LDS is characterized by arterial tortuosity and aneurysms as a result of heterozygous mutations in genes encoding transforming growth factor-β receptor 1 and 2. Further studies are required to establish the proper surgical management.

Cao C, Krog Andvik SK, Yan TD, Kennedy C, Bannon PG, McCaughan BC

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2011 May;12(5):754-7

PMID: 21303872

Abstract

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) has been established as a viable surgical option in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) for selected patients. A number of pathological staging systems have been developed to prognosticate survival outcomes. We assessed 91 patients with MPM who underwent EPP in our institution and evaluated the applicability of the most updated staging systems in the current literature. After a mean follow-up of 20 months, the median overall survival was 27.6 months. Postoperative pathological staging according to the International Mesothelioma Interest Group criteria (P = 0.026) and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital criteria (P = 0.039) were both found to be significant prognostic factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.022) and radiotherapy (P = 0.008) were associated with improved survival outcomes. These findings are consistent with previous reports that demonstrated the usefulness of pathological staging systems as a prognostic tool in patients with MPM after undergoing EPP. However, preoperative clinical staging systems need to be developed to facilitate the patient selection process prior to surgery.

Edelman JJ, Yan TD, Bannon PG, Wilson MK, Vallely MP

Heart Lung Circ 2011 May;20(5):318-24

PMID: 21511187

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The main criticism of surgery in the SYNTAX trial was increased rate of stroke when compared to percutaneous coronary intervention. We aimed to determine whether avoiding aortic manipulation would decrease the rate of stroke.

METHOD: We performed a meta-analysis of seven studies comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with and without manipulation of the ascending aorta.

RESULTS: When anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) was compared with conventional CABG, the rate of stroke was 0.38% vs. 1.87% (p<0.0001). When anaortic OPCAB was compared with OPCAB using a side-clamp or proximal graft anastomosis device the rate of stroke was 0.31% vs. 1.35% (p=0.003).

CONCLUSION: Avoiding aortic manipulation during CABG may decrease the rate of peri-operative stroke.

Yan TD, Deraco M, Elias D, Glehen O, Levine EA, Moran BJ, Morris DL, Chua TC, Piso P, Sugarbaker PH,

Cancer 2011 May;117(9):1855-63

PMID: 21509762

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Currently, no tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system exists for patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM). The primary objective was to formulate a clinicopathological staging system through the identification of significant prognostic parameters.

METHODS: Eight international institutions with prospectively collected data on patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy contributed to the registry. Two hundred ninety-four patients had complete clinicopathological data and formed the basis of this staging project.

RESULTS: Peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was categorized into T(1) (PCI 1-10), T(2) (PCI 11-20), T(3) (PCI 21-30), and T(4) (PCI 30-39). Twenty-two patients had positive lymph nodes (N(1) ) and 12 patients had extra-abdominal metastases (M(1) ). The survival for patients with T(1) (PCI 1-10) N(0) M(0) was significantly superior to the other patients. This group of patients is therefore designated as Stage I. The survival of patients with T(2) (PCI 11-20) and T(3) (PCI 21-30), in absence of N(1) or M(1) disease, was similar. This group of patients was categorized as Stage II. The survival of patients with T(4) (PCI 30-39), N(1,) and/or M(1) was similarly poor. This group of patients was therefore categorized as Stage III. Three prognostic factors were independently associated with survival in the multivariate analysis: histological subtype, completeness of cytoreduction, and the proposed TNM staging. The 5-year survival associated with Stage I, II, and III disease was 87%, 53%, and 29%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The proposed TNM staging system resulted in significant stratification of survival by stage when applied to the current multi-institutional registry data.

Vallely MP, Stern HS

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2011 May;39(5):793

PMID: 20932771

Abstract

Yan TD, Padang R, Poh C, Cao C, Wilson MK, Bannon PG, Vallely MP

J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 2011 May;141(5):1134-44

PMID: 21167508

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We performed the present systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies in an attempt to compare the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents with coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with coronary artery disease.

METHODS: Twenty-five eligible comparative studies (1 randomized and 24 nonrandomized) were assessed. Two reviewers independently appraised each study. Meta-analysis was performed by combining the results of reported incidence of morbidity, mortality, and repeat revascularization. The relative risk was used as a summary statistic.

RESULTS: In these 25 studies 34,278 patients were compared, of whom 18,538 received drug-eluting stents and 15,740 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. It must be acknowledged that this comparison represented a selected group of patients who received drug-eluting stents or underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. The accumulative incidences of all-cause mortality at 12 months (4.5% vs 4.0%, P = .92) and 24 months (6.2% vs 8.4%, P = .27) and 30-day myocardial infarction (1.4% vs 2.0%, P = .60) were similar, respectively, between the drug-eluting stent and coronary artery bypass grafting groups. Drug-eluting stents were associated with lower rates of all-cause mortality at 30 days (0.9% vs 2.3%, P < .001), stroke (0.4% vs 1.7%, P < .001), and 30-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (3.6% vs 5.5%, P < .04). However, the coronary artery bypass grafting group had a lower incidence of postprocedural myocardial infarction (5.5% vs 4.7%, P = .03), repeat revascularization (22.2% vs 4.1%, P < .001), and 12-month major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (16.7% vs 10.5%, P < .001). Subgroup analysis of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease showed similar results.

CONCLUSIONS: Drug-eluting stents are associated with less periprocedural risks but a higher incidence of postprocedural myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and 12-month major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events compared with coronary artery bypass grafting.

Cao C, Yan TD, Kennedy C, Hendel N, Bannon PG, McCaughan BC

Ann. Thorac. Surg. 2011 Feb;91(2):339-43

PMID: 21256263

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors are considered as a relatively uncommon and less malignant group of lung cancers. However, patients with histologically atypical disease are known to have a worse prognosis. The present study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes after resection of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors according to the new tumor, nodes, metastasis (TNM) staging system.

METHODS: Patients with histologically proven bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors who underwent surgery in our thoracic unit over the last 25 years were identified from a prospectively collected database.

RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-six patients were identified from our electronic database. Of these, 164 were known to have typical disease, while 22 had atypical disease. Median overall survival was 20.0 years. The mean follow-up was 8.0 years (median 7.0 years). Univariate analysis found age over 60, atypical disease, TNM staging, N status, and M status to have a statistically significant influence on overall survival. Multivariate analysis found age over 60 and atypical histopathology to have a detrimental impact on overall survival. Patients in the atypical subgroup were found to be significantly older, and presented with higher stage disease.

CONCLUSIONS: It is clear from the current study and previous reports that patients with atypical histopathology have different baseline characteristics, disease behavior, and prognosis compared with patients with typical disease. The proposed TNM staging system appears to be applicable to patients in our surgical experience, and may offer more accurate prognostic information and assist in the management plans for individuals.

Spina R, Forrest AP, Adams MR, Wilson MK, Ng MK, Vallely MP

Heart Lung Circ 2010 Dec;19(12):736-41

PMID: 20869915

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides circulatory or respiratory support, or both, to patients with severe but potentially reversible cardiac or respiratory failure refractory to standard therapy. The use of ECMO in the paediatric cardiac surgical population is established. Likewise, the use of ECMO for severe adult respiratory failure has recently been established and has been the subject of recent clinical trials. However, its use as a means of cardiac support in the adult population is not routine in clinical practice. We herein review the indications, technical procedure, complications and outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as pertinent to cardiac disease in general, and specifically, to catheter-based interventions. We describe two cases of high-risk cardiac catheterisation laboratory procedures performed with veno-arterial ECMO support in adult patients who were deemed to be at unacceptably high risk for conventional open-heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass.