Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenografts implanted in the mitral position between April 1980 and October 1984 were studied. In some cases the cusp was torn in a relatively early postoperative phase, thus requiring an emergency operation. Functional disorders, such as caused by the calcification of the cusp, advance at a relatively moderate pace, and the prognosis of a second operation in cases with valve dysfunction and a chronic course was favorable. The actuarial probability of freedom from reoperation was 88.5±8.7% at 5 years and 55.7±14.5% at 10 years. The structural deterioration of the pericardial valve increased about 5 years after replacement. This tendency was the same as in other bioprostheses. At 10 years the overall actuarial survival rate was 67.2±12.1%. Freedom at 10 years from thromboembolism was 84.6±9.8%. For cases whose the course is under observation at present, the strategy is to recommend an additional operation as far as possible, while continuously observing the function of the valve.

We performed coronary artery bypass operation on 258 patients from July 1974 to February 1993, of whom 10 underwent a total of 11 reoperations. These 10 patients were not significantly different from the other patients with respect to gender, coronary risk factors and number of grafts used in the first operation, aside from older age and lower LVEF. The interval between the two operations was <1 year (early) or about 10 years (late) in most instances. The most common reasons for reoperation were graft failure from technical problems in early and time-related alterations in graft and progression of original disease in late cases. The outcome of reoperation was less than satisfactory, with 2 operative deaths, IABP required in 5, reoperation for bleeding needed in 3 and severe sternal wound infection of the patent vein graft postoperatively, of which atheromatous debris released from the atherosclerotic vein graft was strongly suspected to be the cause. The old vein graft should be immediately ligated at the beginning of CPB in cases with diffuse atherosclerotic vein graft in which more than several years have passed since initial operation. In reoperation, arterial graft is preferable, especially GEA graft can be used advantageously even with a left thoracotomy approach. Bypass reoperation for occlusion of LAD or Cx should be performed by a left thoracotomy approach.

STUDY DESIGN: Historical controlled trial. PURPOSE: To clarify the usefulness of cryotherapy after spine surgery. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Cryotherapy has generally been performed subsequent to surgery on joints and in this application its clinical effects are well understood. However, cryotherapy has yet to be used following spine surgery. Its clinical efficacy in this context is unknown. METHODS: Thirty six patients had undergone one level microendoscopic surgery. Sixteen were enrolled into the cooling group, with the remaining 20 making up the no postoperative cryotherapy control group. Cryotherapy was performed at 5degrees C using an icing system. A silicone balloon catheter with a thermo sensor on the tip was placed in the surgical wound. The temperature in the wound was recorded every 30 minutes until the next morning. The relationship between the depth of the sensor and the temperature in the wound were investigated using simple linear regression analysis. Laboratory data, visual analogue scale (VAS) for wound pain and postoperative bleeding were investigated. RESULTS: The mean temperature in the surgical wound was 37.0 in the control group and 35.0degrees C in the cooling group (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between the depth of the thermo sensor and the temperature in the wound in the cooling group (y=0.91x+30.2, r=0.67, p=0.004). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of laboratory data, VAS or postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The temperature in the wound was decreased significantly by spinal surgery cryotherapy.
Catheters ; Cryotherapy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Joints ; Linear Models ; Silicones ; Spine* ; Wounds and Injuries