Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the standard treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) non responsive to medical therapy. However, patients with inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction proximal to the atrium do not benefit from TIPS and a surgical approach is mandatory. We report the case of BCS due to intrapericardial IVC obstruction. We describe a novel surgical approach using a fresh caval homograft. An attempt to balloon dilatation of the IVC obstruction was complicated by right atrial disruption with tamponade and ventricular fibrillation. Lately, the patient successfully underwent a reconstruction of the cavoatrial continuity by the interposition of a fresh caval homograft, a novel surgical approach never described before for BCS. Further follow-up revealed progressive reduction and resolution of ascites, and overall clinical improvement. IVC obstruction near to the atrium can be surgically approached with a new technique consisting in inferior vena cava resection and replacement with a caval homograft. Key words: Budd-Chiari syndrome; Inferior vena cava; Occlusion; Surgery; Liver transplantation Core tip: We describe a novel surgical approach using a fresh caval homograft for inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction proximal to the atrium. An attempt to balloon dilatation of the IVC obstruction was complicated by right atrial disruption with tamponade and ventricular fibrillation. Lately, the patient successfully underwent a reconstruction of the cavo-atrial continuity by the interposition of a fresh caval homograft, a novel surgical approach never described before for Budd-Chiari syndrome. Further follow-up revealed progressive reduction and resolution of ascites, and overall clinical improvement.

GASPARINI, M., ET AL.: Long-Term Follow-Up After Atrioventricular Nodal Ablation and Pacing: LowIncidence of Sudden Cardiac Death. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) has been reported in patients with drug refractory AF who underwent AV nodal ablation and pacing. However, whether SCD in these patients is related to the underlying heart disease or to the ablating and pacing procedure remains uncertain. Be tween May 1987 and January 1997, AV nodal ablation was performed in 585 patients (mean age 66 ± 11 years) with drug-resistant, paroxysmal (n = 308) or chronic (n = 277) AF in 12 Italian centers. Lone AF was present in 133 patients. After AV junction ablation, patients underwent WIR (454 patients) orDDDR (131 patients) pacemaker implantation. At a follow-up of 33.6 ± 24.2 months, 80 (13.7%) deaths were recorded: 40 noncardiac, 23 nonsudden, and 17 sudden cardiac death (3%, 1.04% per year). Among five variables, including age, NYHA functional class, presence of heart disease, paroxysmal or chronic AF, previous embolie events, and LVEF, the presence of heart disease (P = 0.007) and a LVEF < 0.45, (P = 0.003) were associated with a higher risk of SCD. Analysis of SCD-free survival by log-rank test showed a higher incidence of SCD in patients with LVEF < 0.45 (P = 0.0001) and with coronary artery disease (P = 0.005). In this large cohort, a low incidence of long-term SCD after AV nodal ablation and pacing for drugrefractory AF was observed. The presence of underlying heart disease and the extent of baseline LV dys function were associated with an increased likelihood of SCD. (PACE 2000; 23[Pt. II]-.1925-1929

Biventricular Pacing. Introduction: Biventricular pacing improves functional status in the majority of patients with drug-refractory heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, and interventricular conduction delay. The aim of this study was to analyze the baseline clinical and functional data of a cohort of patients implanted with a biventricular stimulation system in a single-center experience, to verify if the pathophysiologic characteristics of patients affect outcome, and to determine if preliminary identification of the right candidates for the new therapy is possible with noninvasive parameters.Methods and Results: Since March 1999, 52 patients with advanced heart failure (idiopathic cardiomyopathy 50%, ischemic cardiomyopathy 35 %, other etiology 15%) and left bundle branch block underwent cardiac resynchronization and were followed prospectively. Paired analysis over mean (± SD) follow-up of 348 ± 154 days showed an overall significant decrease of QRS width (baseline 194 ± 33.2 msec vs follow-up 159.6 ± 20.1 msec), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (baseline 3.2 ± 0.5 vs follow-up 2.3 ± 0.5), quality-of-Iife score (baseline 54 ± 25 vs follow-up 25 ± 16), and increase of maximal VOz (baseline 12.6 ± 2.5 mLlkg/min vs follow-up 15.0 ± 3.3 mLlkg/min). There were 80% responders (documented, persistent decrease zel NYHA class) and 20% nonresponders (same NYHA class or decline of status; need for heart transplant; death due to progressive pump failure). No significant differences in baseline clinical and functional variables between the two subgroups were observed. In responders, there was a highly significant global improvement of all variables; in nonresponders, no parameters changed between baseline and follow-up.Conclusion: These data confirm the role of biventricular pacing in improving the functional status of the great majority of a selected patient population having advanced heart failure and left bundle branch block with wide QRS complex. Basal demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics are not helpful in preliminary selection of responders. Simple evaluation of NYHA class confirms favorable outcome (improvement of functional and hemodynamic status).

No abstract

Objective-To assess the incidence of arterial embolic events in patients with high rate, drug resistant, severely symptomatic paroxysmal and chronic atrial fibrillation who have undergone atrioventricular (AV) node ablation and permanent pacing. Design-Multicentre retrospective cohort study. Patients and management-From May 1987 to January 1997, AV node ablation was performed in 585 severely symptomatic patients (mean (SD) age 66 (11) years) with high rate, drug resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (308) or chronic atrial fibrillation (277). Lone atrial fibrillation was present in 133 patients, while the remaining 452 suVered from dilated, ischaemic, or valvar heart disease. Patients underwent VVIR (454) or DDDR (131) pacemaker implantation, after AV node ablation. Antiplatelet agents were given to 202 patients, warfarin to 187 patients. Results-During a follow up of 33.6 (24.2) months, thromboembolic events were observed in 17 patients (3%); the actuarial occurrence rates of thromboembolism were 1.1%, 3%, 4.2%, and 7.4% after one, three, five, and seven years, respectively. Among five variables, univariate analysis showed that only the presence of chronic atrial fibrillation at the time of ablation (relative risk (RR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02 to 3.20, p = 0.04) and the need for warfarin treatment (RR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.71, p = 0.048) were associated with a significantly higher risk of occurrence of thromboembolic events. On multivariate analysis the only predictor of embolic events during the follow up was the presence of chronic atrial fibrillation. Conclusions-Data from this large cohort of patients indicate a fairly low incidence (1.04% per year) of thromboembolic events after AV node ablation and pacing for drug refractory, high rate atrial fibrillation. (Heart 1999;82:494-498)