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OBJECTIVE: Apert syndrome (AS) is a rare congenital craniofacial disorder that requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and multiple surgeries. Given that cleft palate (CP) is presented in some of these cases, this poses an additional risk of aggravating obstructed airways after closure. The timing and outcome of CP repair in these patients remains disputed and requires additional attention. DESIGN: This retrospective analysis included patients diagnosed with CP and AS, born between 1950 and 2020, and treated at our institution. Data were collected from medical records and evaluated using descriptive statistics. SETTING: Data analyses were conducted at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A registry of 83 patients with AS resulted in a cohort of 26 patients also presenting with CP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complications, requirement for intensive care, and reoperations following CP repair. RESULTS: CP incidence among all registered patients was 31%. Patients undergoing CP repair at low age (mean: 22.5 months) tended to experience more frequent postoperative complications and requirements for intensive care. Among the evaluated cohort with medical records describing CP repair (n = 14), 29% experienced postoperative complications, all of which involved aggravation of obstructed airways. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of airway assessment before and after CP repair in AS. The findings suggest that surgical outcomes might benefit from postponing CP repair, avoiding combined surgeries, and operating in two stages when indicated. However, additional and larger studies are required.

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OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a serious complication to cardiac surgery, and is generally considered as a uniform disease regardless of its temporal relationship to surgery. Our hypothesis suggests that stroke, in association with surgery, reflects other characteristics than stroke occurring with a free interval. This issue was here explored for risk factors and survival effects. METHODS: Data were collected from 7839 procedures of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 297 off-pump CABG, and 986 combined CABG and valve procedures. Records of patients with any signs of neurological complications were reviewed to extract 149 subjects with stroke at extubation (early, 1.6%) versus 99 patients having a free interval (delayed, 1.1%). Survival data were complete, with a median follow-up time of 9.3 years (maximum 16.3 years). Independent risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression and survival by Cox regression. RESULTS: Risk factors for early stroke were advanced age, high preoperative creatinine level, extent of aortic atherosclerosis, and long cardiopulmonary bypass time (all P<0.001). Factors associated with delayed stroke were female gender (P<0.001), unstable angina (P=0.003), previous cerebrovascular disease (P=0.009), inotropic support requirement (P<0.001), and postoperative atrial fibrillation (P<0.001). Stroke explained mortality not only in the early postoperative period (P<0.001), but also at long-term follow-up (P<0.001). Early and delayed stroke were associated with mortality hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.44 and 1.85 (P=0.008, P<0.001), respectively. However, for patients surviving their first postoperative year, early stroke did not influence long-term mortality (HR 1.07, P=0.695). This was in contrast to delayed stroke (HR 1.71, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Early and delayed stroke differed in their related risk factors. The influence of stroke on short-term mortality was obvious and devastating. Mortality in association with early stroke mainly presented itself in the acute period, whereas for delayed stroke survival continued to be impaired also in the long-term perspective. Our report emphasizes that early and delayed stroke should be considered as two separate entities.

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OBJECTIVES: The association between aortic atherosclerosis and neurological damage during cardiac surgery is well recognized. The purpose was here to analyze the size distribution of particles produced at cross-clamp manipulation of the ascending aorta. DESIGN: A human cadaveric aortic perfusion model of retrograde design was applied (n=27). With this model, washout samples were collected from the pressurized ascending aorta during cross clamp manipulation. Before the experiment, the aorta was flushed to remove debris and with a baseline sample collected. The cross-clamp was opened to collect ten repeated aliquots with dislodged particles. Collected washout samples were evaluated by digital image analysis and microscopy. RESULTS: Cross-clamping produced a significant output of particles, which was seen for size intervals of 1 mm and smaller (p=0.002 to p=0.022). In all size intervals the particle output correlated with the degree of overall aortic calcification (p=0.002 to p=0.025). The model generated substantially more small-size particles than large debris (p<0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic clamping was here verified to dislodge aortic debris which correlated with the degree of observed calcification. Macroscopic particles were few. In contrast, cross-clamping produced substantial numbers of small-size particles. These findings emphasize microembolic risks associated with cross-clamping of atherosclerotic vessels.

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OBJECTIVE: Aortic atherosclerosis may cause cerebrovascular accidents in cardiac surgery. Aortic plaque distribution was analyzed in relation to surgical manipulation. DESIGN: In 24 autopsy subjects the thoracic aorta was digitally analyzed by macro-anatomic mapping of plaques. Plaque density was compared in different anatomical segments. Hazards associated with surgical manipulation were blindly studied by superimposing cannulation and cross-clamp locations onto the maps. RESULTS: Plaques were frequent. The anterior wall of the ascending/arch aorta had higher plaque density than its posterior side (p=0.039). However, an anterior plaque predicted to 83% a concomitant plaque in the posterior wall. Plaque formation correlated with age (p=0.004). The theoretical risk of interfering with a plaque during cannulation and/or clamp positioning was 46%. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque formation is a frequent and age-dependent problem. In the surgery-exposed aorta, the anterior wall had higher plaque density than the posterior side, although the two sides showed strong plaque coexistence. Furthermore, there was an unexpectedly high risk of plaque interference during cannulation and/or clamp maneuvers if blindly performed. The present results emphasize the importance of epiaortic scanning.

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OBJECTIVES: Aortic atherosclerosis is an important risk factor for cerebrovascular accidents in cardiac surgery. An intra-aortic filter might reduce this risk. We aimed to analyze the risks for emboli associated with intraluminal aortic manipulation and intra-aortic filter handling in relation to cannulation and external clamp maneuvers. METHODS: A model was designed with a cadaver aorta and retrograde perfusion (n = 16). A crossclamp was positioned on the ascending aorta and repeatedly opened under pressure to collect aliquots with dislodged particles. Cannulation was performed after 10 clamp maneuvers, followed by positioning and removing the intra-aortic filter, with each step followed by a washout sequence to collect perfusate. The removed filter was also analyzed. Evaluation was by means of digital image analysis, with differentiation of particles into different spectra. RESULTS: Intra-aortic filter manipulation produced a significant washout of embolic particles; in particular, this was seen for the macroscopic cellular spectrum (P = .006 and P = .002 for filter insertion and removal, respectively). Particles were also found to be collected by the filter (P = .004). In addition, cannulation and aortic crossclamp manipulation generated a notable number of particles (P = .001 and P = .013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The intra-aortic filter collects material during aortic manipulation. However, intraluminal aortic manipulation from filter handling can also dislodge particles, possibly related to shedding of intimal debris. This is in addition to substantial amounts of particles that are generated by aortic cannulation and aortic crossclamping.

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There is a link between aortic manipulation, particle embolization, and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) in cardiac surgery. The present aim was to study hemispheric side differences of CVA. Cardiac-surgery patients with CVA and with computer tomography (CT) performed (n = 77) were analyzed within a total group of 2641 consecutive cases. CT data were reviewed for hemispheric and vascular distribution, and compared with CVA-symptom data of immediate and delayed type. Of the included patients, 66% had positive CT. In the group of 'cardiac-type' operations (e.g., routine clamping and cannulation) and having immediate CVA, right-hemispheric lesions were more frequent than of the contra-lateral side (p = 0.005). Patients with aortic dissections had strong dominance of bilateral findings, which was different from the unilateral pattern of 'cardiac-type' operations (p = 0.001). The middle-cerebral artery territory dominated, and when involved showed a significant (p = 0.022) right-sided distribution. Both CT and clinical symptoms confirmed that CVA after cardiac surgery has a right-hemispheric predominance. These observations may imply that aortic manipulation directs embolic material towards the brachiocephalic trunk.

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BACKGROUND: Aortic manipulation and particle embolization have been identified to cause cerebrovascular accidents in cardiac surgery. Recent data suggest that left-hemispheric cerebrovascular accident (right-sided symptoms) is more common, and this has been interpreted as being caused by aortic cannula stream jets. Our aim was to evaluate symptoms of cerebrovascular accident and side differences from a retrospective statistical analysis. METHODS: During a 2-year period, 2641 consecutive cardiac surgery cases were analyzed. Patients positive for cerebrovascular accident were extracted from a database designed to monitor clinical symptoms. A protocol was used to confirm symptom data with the correct diagnosis in patient records. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups: control, immediate cerebrovascular accident, and delayed cerebrovascular accident. RESULTS: Among pooled patients, immediate and delayed cerebrovascular accidents were 3.0% and 0.9%, respectively. The expected predisposing factors behind immediate cerebrovascular accidents were significant, although the type of operation affected this search. Aortic quality was a strong predictor ( P < .001). The rate of delayed cerebrovascular accident was unaffected by surgery group. Left-sided symptoms of immediate cerebrovascular accident were approximately twice as frequent ( P = .016) as on the contralateral side. This phenomenon was observed for pooled patients and for isolated coronary bypass procedures (n = 1882; P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate cerebrovascular accident and aortic calcifications are linked. The predominance of left-sided symptoms may suggest that aortic manipulation and anatomic mechanisms in the aortic arch are more likely to cause cerebrovascular accidents than effects from cannula stream jets.

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BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta and use of aortic crossclamping are risk factors for neurologic injury during cardiac surgery. OBJECTIVES: Repeated aortic manipulation is part of the surgical approach to most cardiac operations. The aim of this study was to assess the amount and size of particulate matter that is dislodged from the aortic wall as a function of repeated aortic crossclamping. METHODS: In 10 subjects undergoing autopsy the aorta was dissected and mounted in a perfusion model. The ascending aorta was crossclamped and washed out 10 times, with the perfusate collected in aliquots (1 to 10). The aliquots were examined by computerized image processing, both macroscopically and under the microscope for calcified and cellular material. RESULTS: Aortic crossclamping produced substantial output of particulate matter. After repeated aortic crossclamping the number of particles decreased (P =.012) and approached the baseline for aliquots 6 to 10. The average particle diameter was 0.63 +/- 0.03 mm, with a maximum of 4.74 mm. Similar variability in particle outputs were recorded microscopically, with findings of both calcified and cellular material. Nine of 10 aortas had calcifications seen during simple visual inspection. CONCLUSIONS: The washouts of dislodge material at aortic crossclamping had embolic potential. During the initial aortic crossclamping procedures the amount of particles was substantial, both macroscopically and microscopically. On the microscopic scale noncalcified cellular debris represents a significant pool of embolic material. Repeated aortic crossclamping reduced the amount of particles. These findings question surgical techniques associated with repeated aortic crossclamping.

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