Editorial
Point/Counterpoint
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)
General Thoracic Surgery (GTS)
Acquired Cardiovascular Disease (ACD)
Cardiothoracic Transplantation (TX)
Evolving Technology (ET)
Cardiopulmonary Support (CSP)
Brief Communications: Clinical
Brief Communications: Technical
Brief Communications: Research
Letters to the Editor
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Editorial

519 Acute hepatitis C virus and cardiac surgeons

R. Scott Thurston, MD, FACS, Baton Rouge, LA

Point/Counterpoint

521 POINT: Minimally invasive bipolar radiofrequency ablation of lone atrial fibrillation: Early multicenter results

Erik Beyer, MD, Richard Lee, MD, and Buu-Khanh Lam, MD, Temple, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Ottawa, Canada

Lone AF can be treated safely and efficaciously by minimally invasive epicardial bipolar radiofrequency ablation. The results are most encouraging for patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. Long-term prospective results are required to further validate this modality as a therapeutic option to treat lone AF.

527 COUNTERPOINT: Minimally invasive bipolar radiofrequency ablation of lone atrial fibrillation: Early multicenter results

Richard J. Shemin, MD, Los Angeles, Calif

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Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)

529 Brain maturation is delayed in infants with complex congenital heart defects

Daniel J. Licht, MD, David M. Shera, ScD, Robert R. Clancy, MD, Gil Wernovsky, MD, Lisa M. Montenegro, MD, Susan C. Nicolson, MD, Robert A. Zimmerman, MD, Thomas L. Spray, MD, J. William Gaynor, MD, and Arastoo Vossough, MD, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Structural brain maturation in infants with HLHS and TGA was assessed by total maturation scores, a validated MRI measure of development. Significant maturational delays were found, consistent with the findings of smaller head circumferences and immature cortical folding patterns seen in this population.

538 Congenital supravalvar mitral ring: An underestimated anomaly

Alessandra Toscano, MD, PhD, Luciano Pasquini, MD, FESC, Roberta Iacobelli, MD, Roberto M. Di Donato, MD, Francesca Raimondi, MD, Adriano Carotti, MD, Vincenzo Di Ciommo, MD, and Stephen P. Sanders, MD, FACC, Rome, Italy

Congenital mitral ring can be supramitral or intramitral, and mitral stenosis can develop rapidly during infancy. Surgical prognosis depends on the underlying valve anatomy. Recognition of mitral ring is important because surgical results are better than for other forms of congenital mitral stenosis.

543 Factors predicting the progress of mitral valve disease in surgically treated adults with ostium primum atrial septal defects

Vijay Agarwal, MCh, FRCS, Suneil Kumar Aggarwal, MRCP, and Choudary D. Voleti, MD, FACS, Prashantigram, India

Fifty-one adult patients operated on for ostium primum atrial septal defects were studied retrospectively to identify factors influencing progression of mitral valve disease. Most had good outcomes, although female sex and preoperative pulmonary arterial hypertension had adverse effects. We recommend regular echocardiographic follow-up to assess mitral regurgitation.

548 Specific issues after surgical repair of partial atrioventricular septal defect: Actuarial survival, freedom from reoperation, fate of the left atrioventricular valve, prevalence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and other events

Ujjwal K. Chowdhury, MCh, Diplomate NB, Balram Airan, MCh, Amber Malhotra, MCh, Akshay K. Bisoi, MCh, Mani Kalaivani, MSc (Biostatistics), Raghu M. Govindappa, MS, and Panangipalli Venugopal, MCh, New Delhi, India

A total of 132 consecutive patients with partial AVSD undergoing surgical repair were studied to identify the morphologic characteristics and other risk factors for continuing mortality and morbidity after surgery. The risk of death was 38 times higher in patients with grossly malformed left atrioventricular valve.

556 Minimally invasive perventricular device closure of an isolated perimembranous ventricular septal defect with a newly designed delivery system: Preliminary experience

Xing Quansheng, MD, Pan Silin, MS, Zhuang Zhongyun, BS, Rong Youbao, BS, Li Shengde, MS, Cao Qian, MS, Duan Shuhua, BS, Hou Kefeng, BS, Ji Zhixian, MS, and Wu Qin, MS, Qingdao and Shanghai, China

We describe the preliminary experience of minimally invasive transthoracic device closure of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance without cardiopulmonary bypass. During the clinical interventions, no complications were noticed.

560 Fontan hemodynamics: Importance of pulmonary artery diameter

Lakshmi P. Dasi, PhD, Resmi KrishnankuttyRema, MS, Hiroumi D. Kitajima, PhD, Kerem Pekkan, PhD, Kartik S. Sundareswaran, MS, Mark Fogel, MD, Shiva Sharma, MD, Kevin Whitehead, MD, PhD, Kirk Kanter, MD, and Ajit P. Yoganathan, PhD, Atlanta and Lawrenceville, Ga, Philadelphia, Pa

We studied 11 extracardiac and 11 lateral tunnel Fontan procedures to correlate anatomic characteristics with energy loss and resting cardiac output. Energy loss and cardiac output strongly correlated with minimum cross section of the pulmonary arteries near the Fontan connection, with no appreciable difference between extracardiac and lateral tunnel procedures.

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General Thoracic Surgery (GTS)

565 Is botulinum toxin injection of the pylorus during Ivor–Lewis esophagogastrectomy the optimal drainage strategy?

Robert James Cerfolio, MD, FACS, FCCP, Ayesha S. Bryant, MSPH, MD, Cheri L. Canon, MD, Roopa Dhawan, BS, and Mohamad A. Eloubeidi, MD, Birmingham, Ala

A retrospective study of 221 patients who underwent Ivor–Lewis esophagogastrectomy suggests that the injection of botulinum toxin into the pylorus during surgical intervention might reduce operative time, improve early gastric emptying, reduce respiratory complications, and decrease late bile reflux.

573 Tailored cricoplasty: An improved modification for reconstruction in subglottic tracheal stenosis

Moishe Liberman, MD, and Douglas J. Mathisen, MD, Boston, Mass

Tailored cricoplasty, a modification of the technique of laryngotracheal resection and reconstruction for the surgical treatment of subglottic stenosis, results in additional horizontal enlargement of the luminal diameter of the airway of 3 to 5 mm in most patients and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction.

580 Expression of LKB1 tumor suppressor in non–small cell lung cancer determines sensitivity to 2-deoxyglucose

Landon J. Inge, PhD, Keith D. Coon, PhD, Michael A. Smith, MD, and Ross M. Bremner, MD, PhD, Phoenix, Ariz

Treatment of NSCLC is primarily limited to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. We have targeted NSCLC cells lacking the tumor suppressor LKB1 with the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose. The inability of LKB1-null NSCLC cells to adapt to glycolytic inhibition results in increased cell death, representing a possible treatment option for NSCLC.

587 Predictors of major morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database risk adjustment model

Cameron D. Wright, MD, John C. Kucharczuk, MD, Sean M. O'Brien, PhD, Joshua D. Grab, MS, and Mark S. Allen, MD, Boston, Mass, Philadelphia, Pa, Durham, NC, Rochester, Minn

We identified important predictors of major morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons prospective database of 2315 esophagectomies. A strong volume performance relationship for a composite measure of morbidity and mortality was not observed among participants in this database.

597 Stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of stage I non–small cell lung cancer in high-risk patients

Arjun Pennathur, MD, James D. Luketich, MD, Dwight E. Heron, MD, Ghulam Abbas, MD, Steven Burton, MD, Mang Chen, MD, William E. Gooding, MS, Cihat Ozhasoglu, PhD, Rodney J. Landreneau, MD, and Neil A. Christie, MD, Pittsburgh, Pa

Stereotactic radiosurgery (median dose 20 Gy) was used to treat high-risk patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer. Estimated overall 1-year survival was 81%; local progression at median 21-month follow-up was 42%. Stereotactic radiosurgery is safe; however, further studies with multiple fractions are required to evaluate its efficacy.

605 Change in maximum standardized uptake value on repeat positron emission tomography after chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer identifies complete responders

Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, FACS, FCCP, Ayesha S. Bryant, MSPH, MD, Amar A. Talati, BS, Robert M. Cerfolio, and Thomas S. Winokur, MD, Birmingham, Alabama

The percent change in the maximum standardized uptake value on a repeat PET scan performed on patients with esophageal cancer (at the same center ≥ 30 days after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy finishes) is a predictor of a patient's response. When it decreases by 64% or more, the patient is probably a pathologic complete responder.

610 Surgical treatment is decisive for outcome in chondrosarcoma of the chest wall: A population-based Scandinavian Sarcoma Group study of 106 patients

Björn Widhe, MD, and Prof. Henrik C. F. Bauer, MD, PhD, Stockholm, Sweden

Surgical treatment is decisive in outcome for chondrosarcoma of the chest wall. Patients operated with wide surgical margins had fewer local recurrence and better overall survival. Sarcoma centers with high volume of patients achieved better outcome than those treated at nonspecialty centers.

615 CXCL12 and CXCR4 in adenocarcinoma of the lung: Association with metastasis and survival

Patrick L. Wagner, MD, Elizabeth Hyjek, MD, Madeline F. Vazquez, MD, Danish Meherally, MPH, Yi Fang Liu, MD, Paul A. Chadwick, BS, Tatiana Rengifo, BS, Gabriel L. Sica, MD, Jeffrey L. Port, MD, Paul C. Lee, MD, Subroto Paul, MD, Nasser K. Altorki, MD, and Anjali Saqi, MD, New York, NY, Chicago, Ill

The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 are implicated in metastasis of non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Using immunohistochemical staining to quantitate expression in 154 NSCLCs, we determined that cytomembranous CXCR4 expression is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in adenocarcinoma, whereas nuclear expression of this molecule is associated with a survival benefit.

622 Survival according to the site of bronchial microscopic residual disease after lung resection for non–small cell lung cancer

Stéphane Collaud, MD, Massimo Bongiovanni, MD, Jean–Claude Pache, MD, Gérald Fioretta, MS, and John H. Robert, MD, Geneva, Switzerland

Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) bronchial R1 resections that demonstrate submucosal or lymphatic involvement have a poor prognosis. In contrast, R1 resections with disease limited to the epithelium do not seem to affect survival in patients with stage I and II NSCLC.

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Acquired Cardiovascular Disease (ACD)

627 Evolution in the management of the total thoracic aorta

Tad Kim, MD, Tomas D. Martin, MD, W. Anthony Lee, MD, Philip J. Hess, Jr, MD, Charles T. Klodell, MD, Curtis G. Tribble, MD, Robert J. Feezor, MD, and Thomas M. Beaver, MD, MPH, Gainesville, Fla

Extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms are technically challenging and traditionally repaired with a 2-stage elephant trunk technique. With the advent of endovascular stent grafts, alternatives became available for repairing the total thoracic aorta in 1 or 2 stages. We compare outcomes of 2-stage elephant trunk, single-stage, and hybrid endovascular repairs.

635 Management of moderate functional mitral regurgitation at the time of aortic valve replacement: Is concomitant mitral valve repair necessary?

Calvin K. N. Wan, MD, Rakesh M. Suri, MD, Zhuo Li, MS, Thomas A. Orszulak, MD, Richard C. Daly, MD, Hartzell V. Schaff, MD, and Thoralf M. Sundt, III, MD, Rochester, Minnesota

Among 190 patients with moderate functional MR undergoing AVR without mitral intervention, MR improved in the majority. Survival was similar to patients case matched for LVEF without MR undergoing AVR.

641 Valve-sparing and valve-replacing techniques for aortic root replacement in patients with Marfan syndrome: Analysis of early outcome

Irina V. Volguina, PhD, D. Craig Miller, MD, Scott A. LeMaire, MD, Laura C. Palmero, MPH, Xing Li Wang, MD, PhD, Heidi M. Connolly, MD, Thoralf M. Sundt, III, MD, Joseph E. Bavaria, MD, Harry C. Dietz, MD, Dianna M. Milewicz, MD, PhD, and Joseph S. Coselli, MD, on behalf of the Aortic Valve Operative Outcomes in Marfan Patients study group, Houston, Tex, Stanford, Calif, Rochester, Minn, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD

Analysis of 46 valve-replacing and 105 valve-sparing aortic root replacements in patients with Marfan syndrome was performed within a prospective, international registry study involving 18 institutions. There were no early deaths. Despite the added complexity of valve-sparing procedures, there were no significant differences in the incidence of 30-day adverse events or valve-related complications.

650 Off-pump versus on-pump myocardial revascularization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A randomized trial

Khalil Fattouch, MD, PhD, Francesco Guccione, MD, Pietro Dioguardi, MD, Roberta Sampognaro, MD, Egle Corrado, MD, Marco Caruso, MD, and Giovanni Ruvolo, MD, Palermo, Italy

Conventional cardioplegic arrest coronary artery bypass grafting after ST-segment elevating myocardial infarction is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The benefits of off-pump surgery have been suggested. This study randomly evaluated the impact of the off-pump technique on clinical results.

658 Metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for stroke and acute renal failure after coronary artery bypass grafting

Kan Kajimoto, MD, PhD, Katsumi Miyauchi, MD, Takatoshi Kasai, MD, PhD, Naotake Yanagisawa, MB, Taira Yamamoto, MD, Keita Kikuchi, MD, PhD, Takeshi Nakatomi, MD, Hiroshi Iwamura, MD, Hiroyuki Daida, MD, and Atsushi Amano, MD, Tokyo, Japan

Patients with metabolic syndrome had increased risk of postoperative stroke and acute renal failure after coronary artery bypass surgery. We should recognize metabolic syndrome as a novel risk factor for adverse events after coronary artery bypass surgery.

664 Effects of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis on cardiac autonomic nervous activity

Jorge Cruz, MD, PhD, João Sousa, MD, Antonio G. Oliveira, MD, PhD, and Luis Silva-Carvalho, MD, PhD, Lisbon, Portugal

Cardiac autonomic effects of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy were evaluated in a prospective study of 38 patients with primary hyperhidrosis through 24-hour Holter recordings before and 6 months after sympathectomy. Postsympathectomy changes in both time and frequency domains reflect increased vagal and global cardiac autonomic activity and decreased sympathetic activity after sympathectomy.

670 Ministernotomy versus conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Morgan L. Brown, MD, Stephen H. McKellar, MD, Thoralf M. Sundt, MD, and Hartzell V. Schaff, MD, Rochester, Minn

Approaches have been developed to make aortic valve replacement operations less invasive through a partial upper sternotomy rather than a conventional full sternotomy. This review and meta-analysis analyzed comparative series and concluded that partial upper sternotomy can be performed safely but has few advantages.

680 Treatment of aortic stenosis with aortic valve bypass (apicoaortic conduit) surgery: An assessment using computational modeling

Elias Balaras, PhD, K. S. Cha, PhD, Bartley P. Griffith, MD, and James S. Gammie, MD, Baltimore, Md

Computational fluid dynamic modeling demonstrated that aortic valve bypass (AVB) surgery effectively relieves valvular aortic stenosis. Conduit flow varied between 40% and 55% of total cardiac output depending on the diameter of the conduit. Post-AVB cerebral blood flow was unchanged and was constant across all conduit sizes modeled.

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Cardiothoracic Transplantation (TX)

688 Does reperfusion injury still cause significant mortality after lung transplantation?

Gorav Ailawadi, MD, Christine L. Lau, MD, Philip W. Smith, MD, Brian R. Swenson, MD, MS, Sara A. Hennessy, MD, Courtney J. Kuhn, Lynn M. Fedoruk, MD, Benjamin D. Kozower, MD, Irving L. Kron, MD, and David R. Jones, MD, Charlottesville, Va

The mortality from reperfusion injury (RI) after lung transplantation has improved over time. RI is as frequent but less severe in the current era than previously. Furthermore, survival with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has improved. These findings account for our improved early mortality after lung transplantation in recent years.

695 CD4⁺ T lymphocytes mediate acute pulmonary ischemia–reperfusion injury

Zequan Yang, MD, PhD, Ashish K. Sharma, MBBS, Joel Linden, PhD, Irving L. Kron, MD, and Victor E. Laubach, PhD, Charlottesville, Va

Using an in vivo mouse model, we found that sequential recruitment of CD4⁺ T cells and neutrophils mediates lung ischemia–reperfusion injury. Injury is reduced by neutrophil depletion or depletion of CD4⁺, but not CD8⁺, T cells. CD4⁺ T cell depletion results in reduced cytokine/chemokine production and reduced neutrophil chemotaxis into the lung.

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Evolving Technology (ET)

703 A new strategy for prevention of anastomotic stricture using tacrolimus-eluting biodegradable nanofiber

Masato Mutsuga, MD, Yuji Narita, MD, PhD, Aika Yamawaki, BMedEng, Makoto Satake, PhD, Hiroaki Kaneko, PhD, Yoshihiro Suematsu, MD, PhD, Akihiko Usui, MD, PhD, and Yuichi Ueda, MD, PhD, Nagoya, Aichi, Hino, and Tokyo, Japan

We developed a novel sustained drug-releasing device to prevent anastomotic stricture using a nano-scale “cotton-wool” configuration fiber, an immunosuppressive agent called “tacrolimus-eluting biodegradable nanofiber.” This new material reduced neointimal hyperplasia and preserved endothelialization in a rat model.

710 Effect of work-hour restriction on operative experience in cardiothoracic surgical residency training

Rafe C. Connors, MD, John R. Doty, MD, David A. Bull, MD, Heidi T. May, David A. Fullerton, MD, and Robert C. Robbins, MD, Salt Lake City and Murray, UT, Aurora, Co, Stanford, Calif

Resident work-hour reform has affected the number of cases residents complete as the primary surgeon during fellowship training. In a time of increasingly complex cases, reduction in resident case volumes because of work-hour restrictions and decreasing cardiac cases might lead to inadequate operative experience.

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Cardiopulmonary Support (CSP)

714 Dynamic fluid shifts induced by fetal bypass

R. Scott Baker, BS, Christopher T. Lam, BS, Emily A. Heeb, and Pirooz Eghtesady, MD, PhD, Cincinnati, OH

In a midgestation ovine model, fetal bypass leads to significant fluid shifts during bypass (approximately 100 mL/kg) and decreasing fetal plasma volume after bypass, correlating with increasing vasopressin levels but not changing osmolarity. Overall losses averaged 0.8 mL · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹ but were not accounted for by placental or organ edema. Fetal rehydration is necessary after bypass.

723 Acute hyperglycemia enhances oxidative stress and exacerbates myocardial infarction by activating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase during reperfusion

Zequan Yang, MD, Victor E. Laubach, PhD, Brent A. French, PhD, and Irving L. Kron, MD, Charlottesville, Va

Acute hyperglycemia exacerbates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice via oxidative stress. Potent antioxidant (MPG) reduced infarct size when applied at the onset of reperfusion. NADPH oxidase inhibitor (apocynin) reduced infarct size only when applied before the onset of hyperglycemia.

730 Removal of prostaglandin E₂ and increased intraoperative blood pressure during modified ultrafiltration in pediatric cardiac surgery

Kazuto Yokoyama, MD, Shin Takabayashi, MD, PhD, Takuya Komada, MD, PhD, Koji Onoda, MD, PhD, Yoshihide Mitani, MD, PhD, Hideki Iwata, ME, and Hideto Shimpo, MD, PhD, Tsu, Japan

We investigated the effects of modified ultrafiltration on the relationship between serum prostaglandin E₂ level and intraoperative blood pressure in pediatric cardiac surgery. Removal of prostaglandin E₂ appears to be one of the reasons for increased blood pressure during modified ultrafiltration.

736 Evaluation of platelet activation in patients supported by the Jarvik 2000^∗ high–rotational speed impeller ventricular assist device

Christoph Löffler, MD, Andreas Straub, MD, Nicole Bassler, BA, Katharina Pernice, MD, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, MD, Christoph Bode, MD, Michael P. Siegenthaler, MD, and Karlheinz Peter, MD, Freiburg, Germany, and Melbourne, Australia

This study investigated in 8 patients with heart failure the potential association of the high–rotational speed impeller pump of the Jarvik 2000 ventricular assist device with platelet activation. Flow cytometry and plasma markers showed no evidence of platelet activation. Considering its clinical benefits, the Jarvik 2000 represents promising technology.

742 Contractile function is preserved in unloaded hearts despite atrophic remodeling

Henriette Brinks, MD, Hendrik Tevaearai, MD, MBA, Christian Mühlfeld, MD, Daniela Bertschi, MD, Brigitta Gahl, MSc, Thierry Carrel, MD, and Marie-Noelle Giraud, PhD, Berne, Switzerland

To investigate atrophic remodeling, we characterize morphologic, cellular, and functional changes that occur in chronically unloaded normal hearts. We report macroscopic atrophy associated with maintenance of volume per nucleus of the cardiomyocyte. Contractile function remained intact despite increased myocardial stiffness.

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Brief Communications: Clinical

747 Malignant transformation of tracheal inflammatory pseudotumor: A case report

Sayyed Abbas Tabatabaee, MD, Sayyed Mozafar Hashemi, MD, Mojtaba Ahmadi Nejad, MD, Amir Hosein Davarpanah Jazi, Mohammad Eidy, MD, Parvin Mahzouni, MD, and Ali Hekmatnia, MD, Isfahan and Khorram Abad, Iran

749 Infective mitral valve myxoma with coronary artery embolization: Surgical intervention followed by prolonged survival

Feng Yao, MD, Zhi-yun Xu, MD, Yan-lin Liu, MS, and Lin Han, MD, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

751 Familial fetal-type rhabdomyoma of the tricuspid valve in the neonate: Malignant course for a benign disease

Francesca Viscardi, MD, Gabriella Errico, MD, Nicola Schiavo, MD, Paolo Biban, MD, Alessandro Mazzucco, MD, and Giovanni Battista Luciani, MD, Verona, Italy

753 Diagnosis and management of tritruncal heart in an infant

Glenn J. Pelletier, MD, Mary Sokoloski, MD, and Richard Kardon, DO, Philadelphia, Pa, and Miami, Fla

756 Left atrial ball thrombus associated with severe left ventricular dysfunction due to aortic valve stenosis in a patient on dialysis

Masato Nakajima, MD, Koji Tsuchiya, MD, Yuki Okamoto, MD, Kiyotaka Yano, MD, and Tatsuho Kobayashi, MD, Kofu City, Japan

757 Long-term cardiac remodeling after salvage partial left ventriculectomy in an infant with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

Stephen Westaby, PhD, MS, FETCS, FECS, FACC, Nick Archer, MD, and Saul G. Myerson, MD, MRCP, FESC, Oxford, United Kingdom

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Brief Communications: Technical

760 Atrial septal defect repair after a 10-month treatment with bosentan in a patient with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension: A case report

Konrad Hoetzenecker, MD, Hendrik J. Ankersmit, MD, Diana Bonderman, MD, Wolfram Hoetzenecker, MD, PhD, Reinald Seitelberger, MD, Walter Klepetko, MD, and Irene M. Lang, MD, Vienna, Austria, and Tübingen, Germany

762 Use of mitral homograft to support a mechanical valve prosthesis: A feasible solution for recurrent mitral valve dysfunction

José M. Bernal, MD, Francisco Gutiérrez, MD, M. Carmen Fariñas, MD, Elena Arnaiz, MD, Carmen Diago, MD, Alejandro Pontón, MD, Blanca Ruiz, MD, J. Fernando Val-Bernal, MD, and José M. Revuelta, MD, Santander, Spain

763 Concomitant giant coronary artery and coronary sinus aneurysms

Basar Sareyyupoglu, MD, James E. Davies, MD, Grace Lin, MD, and Thoralf M. Sundt, MD, Rochester, Minn

765 Rapid extracorporeal life support rescue in patients undergoing the Norwood procedure

Nathalie Roy, MD, Ivan M. Rebeyka, MD, Joseph Atallah, MD, and David B. Ross, MD, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

766 Treatment of anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy with endoscopic hemoclips

Celal Tekinbas, MD, M. Muharrem Erol, MD, Remzi Akdogan, MD, Serdar Turkyilmaz, MD, and Mehmet Aslan, MD, Trabzon, Turkey

768 Sleeve resection of the left main bronchus for delayed extraction of a chicken bone

Alper Toker, MD, Serhan Tanju, MD, and Berker Ozkan, MD, Istanbul, Turkey

769 A successful neonatal repair of congenital aortic aneurysm with cleft sternum

Yasutaka Hirata, MD, Marc S. Arkovitz, MD, Charles C. Marboe, MD, and Ralph S. Mosca, MD, New York, NY

771 Successful bilateral lung transplant from a donor with a tracheal right upper lobe bronchus

Jeroen M. H. Hendriks, PhD, Ivo Deblier, MD, Bjorn Dieriks, MD, Annelies Janssens, MD, Willy Coosemans, PhD, Pieter ten Broecke, MD, and Paul Van Schil, PhD, Edegem and Leuven, Belgium

773 Transcatheter aortic valve intervention through the axillary artery for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis

Anita W. Asgar, MD, Michael J. Mullen, MD, Nicola Delahunty, Simon W. Davies, MD, Miles Dalby, MD, Mario Petrou, MB, Andrea Kelleher, MB, and Neil Moat, MS, London, UK

775 Palliative bidirectional Glenn anastomosis for unresectable metastasis in the right ventricle from renal cell carcinoma 16 years after nephrectomy

Naoto Morimoto, MD, Keisuke Morimoto, MD, Yoshihisa Morimoto, MD, Toshihito Sakamoto, MD, Akiko Tanaka, MD, Masamichi Matsumori, MD, Kenji Okada, MD, and Yutaka Okita, MD, Kobe, Japan

777 Repair for acute type A aortic dissection with a long elephant trunk technique

Hiroki Hata, MD, PhD, Koichi Toda, MD, PhD, Yasuhiro Shudo, MD, Satoshi Kainuma, MD, Kiyoshi Yoshida, CE, Keiji Yamamoto, CE, and Kazuhiro Taniguchi, MD, PhD, Sakai, Japan

779 Left atrial hybrid closure of muscular ventricular septal defects with the Amplatzer device

Christopher W. Baird, MD, Herbert Stern, MD, and Larry Watts, MD, Charlotte, NC

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Brief Communications: Research

781 The particle gel immunoassay as a rapid test to rule out heparin-induced thrombocytopenia?

Katharina Schallmoser, MD, Camilla Drexler, MD, Eva Rohde, MD, Dirk Strunk, MD, Andrea Groselj-Strele, MSc, Gerhard Lanzer, MD, Hartmut Kroll, MD, and Simon Panzer, MD, Graz, Austria; Dessau, Germany; and Vienna, Austria

783 A potential of autologous pericardium for a sustained-release carrier of vancomycin: A pilot study in vitro

Akira Marui, MD, PhD, Keiichi Hirose, MD, PhD, Hisashi Sakaguchi, MD, Yoshio Arai, MD, PhD, Kazuhiko Doi, MD, PhD, Masaki Tsukashita, MD, Takeshi Shimamoto, MD, Tadashi Ikeda, MD, PhD, and Masashi Komeda, MD, PhD, Kyoto, Japan

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Letters to the Editor

785 Preoperative and intraoperative considerations for radial artery anomalies in coronary artery bypass grafting

Edward W. K. Peng, MRCS, and Pradip K. Sarkar, FRCS, Sheffield, United Kingdom

785 Reply to the Editor

Chee Fui Chong, MD(Lond), FRCSEd(CTh), BSc(Lond), Brunei, Darussalam

786 Inappropriate comparison of survival rates at 30 days in transplanted patients previously implanted or not with left ventricular assist devices

Andrea Messori, PharmD, and Sabrina Trippoli, PharmD, Firenze, Italy

787 Reply to the Editor

Joseph C. Cleveland, Jr, MD, Denver, CO

787 Nonoperative management of an extensive tracheal injury in an 860-g preterm neonate

Christopher W. Baird, MD, Larry T. Watts, MD, and Karen J. Lessaris, MD, Charlotte, NC

788 Reply to the Editor

Chadrick E. Denlinger, MD, and Daniel Kreisel, MD, PhD, St Louis, Mo

788 Preoperative coronary study in patients with acute aortic dissection and endocarditis

Salvatore Lentini, MD, Fabrizio Tancredi, MD, and Roberto Gaeta, MD, Messina, Italy

789 Reply to the Editor

Eckehard Gerd Kilian, MD, Andres Beiras-Fernandez, MD, Bruno Reichart, MD, and Peter Lamm, MD, Munich, Germany

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