BACKGROUND:Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are a rare congenital heart disease. Large fistulas can lead to coronary steal phenomena presenting with angina, heart failure, and in rare cases, cardiogenic shock. CASE SUMMARY:A 55-year-old woman acutely presented at our heart center with nonhemorrhagic pericardial tamponade and cardiogenic shock. A large CAF of an aneurysmatic right coronary artery to the coronary sinus was diagnosed. Pericardiocentesis was used for initial hemodynamic stabilization. On cardiopulmonary bypass, perforations connecting right coronary artery and coronary sinus were closed via suture. DISCUSSION:In cases of CAF, cardiogenic shock with pericardial tamponade is usually caused by rupture of an aneurysmatic vessel with successive hemopericardium. In this case, the pericardial tamponade was caused by acute right heart decompensation after long-term right ventricular overload. TAKE-HOME MESSAGES:In adult right heart failure, early comprehensive cardiac imaging is essential for diagnosis of rare underlying congenital diseases. Surgical shunt closure can drastically improve symptoms.

In this report, we describe the successful resuscitation of a 4-year-old child who suffered a traumatic cardiac arrest during a routine procedure in the operating room. The diagnosis of a sanguineous pericardial tamponade was made by emergency ultrasonography. Consecutive subxiphoid pericardiocentesis with an adult Shaldon catheter led to return of spontaneous circulation. Subsequent thoracotomy and surgical suturing definitively stopped the bleeding from the right ventricle. The combined expertise of all perioperative disciplines was decisive for the patient's survival.

Fusarium (F.) species are ubiquitous filamentous fungi that may cause various opportunistic infections, especially in patients who are immunocompromised. A rare manifestation of disseminated fusariosis affects the aortic valve and results in invasive aortitis, which poses a significant challenge for clinicians in diagnosis and treatment. Here, we report a case of a patient, aged 54 years, who is immunocompromised, presenting initially with Fusarium keratitis and chorioretinitis in both eyes and a new endovascular aortic mass. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed, suggesting aortitis. Transoesophageal echocardiography and electrocardiogram-guided computed tomography-angiography confirmed a large intraluminal mass in the ascending aorta. The aortic mass and a part of the ascending aorta were resected surgically, and a filamentous fungus with the microscopic features of the genus Fusarium was isolated and later identified molecularly as F. petroliphilum. The course of the treatment was complicated by perioperative cerebral embolization and mesenteric ischemia. These complications could be attributed to a preoperatively existing occlusion of the superior and inferior mesenteric artery and a subtotal stenosis of the celiac trunk. This case report describes a rare manifestation of disseminated fusariosis, frequently characterized by protracted clinical courses with poor prognosis. Fusariosis may manifest at different sites at different times or persist as a long-lasting disease with reactivation. This case highlights the importance of the interdisciplinary approach for effectively treating invasive mycoses.

A 46-year-old woman on oral contraceptives developed an intrahepatic hematoma due to a benign hepatic tumor. As an incidental finding, a computed tomography showed a pulmonary embolism. Unfractionated heparin was given in a prophylactic dosing in an attempt to balance the risk of further intrahepatic bleeding with that of thrombosis. Ten days later, the patient developed a second pulmonary embolism along with acute right heart failure requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As a sufficient circulation and oxygenation could not be reestablished, a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was installed. An ELISA-Test, detecting PF4-Heparin associated antibodies, resulted in a positive result for a type II heparin induced thrombocytopenia even in the absence of thrombocytopenia. After hemodynamic and pulmonary stabilization, six days after ECMO-support the cannula was scheduled to be removed. On removal of the venous cannula the patient developed another massive pulmonary embolism with cardiac arrest which led to immediate reinstallation of va-ECMO. Under therapeutic anticoagulation using argatroban the ECMO support continued until the patient was on day 17 successfully weaned.

Introduction: Extracorporeal life support is an increasingly used technique for respiratory and cardiocirculatory support. Besides primary organ dysfunction, an excessive systemic hyperinflammatory response can be the underlying cause for acute organ failure necessitating extracorporeal life support therapy, or it may be associated with the extracorporeal life support itself. Controlling this overwhelming inflammatory response using CytoSorb® hemoadsorption has been shown to be associated with improved hemodynamics and restored metabolic balance resulting in preserved organ functions. Methods: In this retrospective case series, we describe 23 patients undergoing extracorporeal life support therapy and CytoSorb hemoadsorption. Cytokine levels were monitored, hemodynamic and metabolic variables were recorded, and outcome measures such as duration of organ support, intensive care unit mortality, and hospital mortality were noted. Results: CytoSorb treatment was associated with a trend toward a reduction in plasma cytokine levels (first treatment median interleukin-6 pre 595 vs post 350 pg/mL (n.s.); second treatment median interleukin-6 317 vs 108 pg/mL, p < 0.05), a reduced vasoplegic response resulting in a reduction in vasopressor requirements (first treatment median norepinephrine pre 0.15 vs post 0.02 µg/kg/min (n.s.); second treatment median norepinephrine 0.1 vs 0.02 µg/kg/min, p < 0.05) as well as rebalancing of deranged metabolic parameters (first treatment median lactate pre-treatment 6 vs post-treatment median lactate 2 mmol/L, p < 0.05). The hemoperfusion treatment was well tolerated and safe, without the occurrence of any CytoSorb device-related adverse events. Conclusion: Hemoadsorption may offer a potentially promising therapeutic option for critically ill patients undergoing extracorporeal life support therapy, with cytokine reduction and a consecutively mitigated inflammatory response, decreased vasoplegia, and improved organ function as seen in our patients.

Analysis of the problem of surgical pain is important in view of the fact that the success of surgical treatment depends largely on proper pain management during the first few days after a cardiosurgical procedure. Postoperative pain is due to intraoperative damage to tissue. It is acute pain of high intensity proportional to the type of procedure. The pain is most intense during the first 24 hours following the surgery and decreases on subsequent days. Its intensity is higher in younger subjects than elderly and obese patients, and preoperative anxiety is also a factor that increases postoperative pain. Ineffective postoperative analgesic therapy may cause several complications that are dangerous to a patient. Inappropriate postoperative pain management may result in chronic pain, immunosuppression, infections, and less effective wound healing. Understanding and better knowledge of physiological disorders and adverse effects resulting from surgical trauma, anesthesia, and extracorporeal circulation, as well as the development of standards for intensive postoperative care units are critical to the improvement of early treatment outcomes and patient comfort.

Analysis of the problem of surgical pain is important in view of the fact that the success of surgical treatment depends largely on proper pain management during the first few days after a cardiosurgical procedure. Postoperative pain is due to intraoperative damage to tissue. It is acute pain of high intensity proportional to the type of procedure. The pain is most intense during the first 24 hours following the surgery and decreases on subsequent days. Its intensity is higher in younger subjects than elderly and obese patients, and preoperative anxiety is also a factor that increases postoperative pain. Ineffective postoperative analgesic therapy may cause several complications that are dangerous to a patient. Inappropriate postoperative pain management may result in chronic pain, immunosuppression, infections, and less effective wound healing. Understanding and better knowledge of physiological disorders and adverse effects resulting from surgical trauma, anesthesia, and extracorporeal circulation, as well as the development of standards for intensive postoperative care units are critical to the improvement of early treatment outcomes and patient comfort. Keywords: cardiac surgery, postoperative pain, pain intensity, analgesics

Introduction: Infective endocarditis is a serious disease condition. Depending on the causative microorganism and clinical symptoms, cardiac surgery and valve replacement may be needed, posing additional risks to patients who may simultaneously suffer from septic shock. The combination of surgery bacterial spreadout and artificial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surfaces results in a release of key inflammatory mediators leading to an overshooting systemic hyperinflammatory state frequently associated with compromised hemodynamic and organ function. Hemoadsorption might represent a potential approach to control the hyperinflammatory systemic reaction associated with the procedure itself and subsequent clinical conditions by reducing a broad range of immuno-regulatory mediators.Methods: We describe 39 cardiac surgery patients with proven acute infective endocarditis obtaining valve replacement during CPB surgery in combination with intraoperative CytoSorb hemoadsorption. In comparison, we evaluated a historical group of 28 patients with infective endocarditis undergoing CPB surgery without intraoperative hemoadsorption.Results: CytoSorb treatment was associated with a mitigated postoperative response of key cytokines and clinical metabolic parameters. Moreover, patients showed hemodynamic stability during and after the operation while the need for vasopressors was less pronounced within hours after completion of the procedure, which possibly could be attributed to the additional CytoSorb treatment. Intraoperative hemoperfusion treatment was well tolerated and safe without the occurrence of any CytoSorb device-related adverse event.Conclusions: Thus, this interventional approach may open up potentially promising therapeutic options for critically-ill patients with acute infective endocarditis during and after cardiac surgery, with cytokine reduction, improved hemodynamic stability and organ function as seen in our patients.

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiothoracic surgery results in a well-known activation of the immunologic response. In some cases, however, this triggered immunologic response may be excessive, leading to a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and induced organ dysfunction. For example, patients frequently develop hemodynamic instability with hypotension and low systemic vascular resistance. To date, different therapeutic approaches, such as steroids, have been tried to control this maladaptive postoperative SIRS response, yet definitive proof of clinical efficacy is missing. A new cytokine adsorber device (CytoSorb; CytoSorbents) may be a useful approach to control hyperinflammatory systemic reactions by reducing a broad range of proinflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. This may, in turn, help to reestablish a physiologic immune response and help to restore deranged clinical parameters in these patients. In this retrospective case series study, we describe 16 cardiac surgery patients following prolonged CPB with post-CPB SIRS and subsequent acute kidney injury, who were then treated with hemoadsorption using CytoSorb in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Treatment of patients with CytoSorb who presented with severe post-CPB SIRS resulted in a reduction of elevated cytokine levels, which was associated with a clear stabilization of deranged hemodynamic, metabolic, and organ function parameters. Treatment was well tolerated and safe, with no device-related adverse events occurring. CytoSorb therapy combined with CRRT is a potentially promising new treatment approach to achieve hemodynamic stability, cytokine reduction, and improved organ function in cardiac surgery patients who develop post-CPB SIRS.

A 45-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a small bowel obstruction due to torsion and was immediately scheduled for surgical intervention. At anesthesia induction, the patient aspirated and subsequently developed a severe SIRS with ARDS and multiple organ failure requiring the use of ECMO, CRRT, antibiotics, and low dose steroids. Due to a rapid deterioration in clinical status and a concurrent surge in inflammatory biomarkers, an extracorporeal cytokine adsorber (CytoSorb) was added to the CRRT blood circuit. The combined treatment resulted in a rapid and significant reduction in the levels of circulating inflammatory mediators. This decrease was paralleled by marked clinical stabilization of the patient including a significant improvement in hemodynamic stability and a reduced need for norepinephrine and improved respiratory function as measured by PaO2/FIO2, ventilator parameters, lung mechanics, and indirect measures of capillary leak syndrome. The patient could be discharged to a respiratory weaning unit where successful respiratory weaning could be achieved later on. We attribute the clinical improvement to the rapid control of the hyperinflammatory response and the reduction of inflammatory mediators using a combination of CytoSorb and these other therapies. CytoSorb treatment was safe and well tolerated, with no device-related adverse effects observed.

Objective: We aimed to assess the predictive value of a biomarker panel for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients undergoing either surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter valve implantation (TAVI) to stratify therapy options.

Protamine is a protein mainly used to reverse anticoagulant effects of heparin during cardiac or vascular surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Adverse events after protamine administration are rare but if they occur they can be catastrophic. Based on a case report with an elective cardiac surgery patient with known allergy to fish, we discuss the related events and risk factors for an adverse reaction after protamine. The patient management and its outcome are presented.

Allergienachweis In der Anamnese kommt eine ausgeprägte Typ-IAllergie auf Fischeiweiß zur Sprache. Als Allergietest dient ein Prick-Test in der Dermatologie. Hierbei wird ein defi nierter Allergenextrakt auf die Haut aufgetropft, die Haut mit einer Lanzette leicht angestochen und nach 20 min die Rötung und Quaddelbildung beurteilt. Die am meisten ausgeprägte Reaktion zeigt sich mit ▶ einer Quaddel > 6 mm bei Karpfen und Kabeljau / Dorsch, ▶ einer Quaddel von 4–6 mm bei Forelle und Seezunge sowie ▶ einer Quaddel von 2–4 mm bei Aal, Lachs, Krabbe und Thunfi sch. Wegen der extremen Symptomatik führt die Patientin stets ein Notfallset mit sich, um Symptome eines akzidenziellen Kontakts mit Fischeiweiß therapieren zu können. Weitere Allergien gibt die Patientin u. a. auf Latex und Metamizol an. Vorerkrankungen Anamnestisch bestehen ein Z. n. Mammakarzinom mit axillärer Lymphadenektomie sowie eine linksseitige Stenose der Arteria carotis interna (50–60 %) und ein Diabetes Mellitus Typ II, der mit Metformin behandelt wird.

Objectives: In an aging and increasingly multimorbid patient population the sternal closure technique after cardiac surgery may become more crucial to the incidence of sternal dehiscence and wound infection. Due to an increasing reosteosynthesis rate we have altered the institutional standard technique for sternal closure of three figure-of-eight wires by adding two more wire cerclages.

Objective: Intramyocardial stem cell treatment with bone marrow derived hematopoetic AC133+ cells is shown to improve myocardial function and perfusion after infarction in combination with CABG surgery. Here we report on patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy without other conventional treatment options.

Objective: Minimal extracorporeal circulation (MECC) is known to reduce the trauma of cardiopulmonary bypass. So far, MECC was limited to closed procedures, but lately we established a modified MECC system for open heart procedures. Here we report on our first experiences.

Objective: Systems for Minimal extracorporeal circulation (MECC) are known to reduce the systemic trauma of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Since the routine use of MECC is limited to closed procedures and isolated aortic valve replacements are already reported, here we describe a complex case of aortic- and mitral-valve surgery with a modified MECC-system.

Objective: Since early benfits of cardiac stem cell therapy are reported the results have to be differentially interpreted with respect to patient selection, cell-type, cell-origin and mode of delivery to the heart. The long term effects and side-effects of this therapy, however, are unknown. Here we present the long term follow-up data after intramyocardial injection of AC133+ bone marrow cells.