Purpose: Timing and ideal reconstructive approach in deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and mediastinitis still remain controversially debated. We present our own combined surgical strategy of bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap (BPMMF) or omental flap (OF) transposition. Methods: Between July 2010 and July 2016, poststernotomy patients with DSWI and mediastinitis underwent a secondary wound closure with modified BPMMF (Group A, center for disease control class (CDC)-II, n = 21; Group B, CDC-III, n = 20) or with OF (Group C, CDC-III, n = 19) following vacuum-assisted closure (VAC). Results: Significant risk factors for mediastinitis (CDC-III) were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; p = 0.001), peripheral arterial disease (PAD; p = 0.012), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (p = 0.027), total operation time (p = 0.039), total intensive care unit (ICU) stay (p = 0.011), and blood transfusion (p = 0.049). Mean antibiotic therapy (18.4 ± 8.8[B] vs. 36.2 ± 24.4[C] days, p = 0.026) and length of hospitalization (25.2 ± 12.1[B] vs 53.8 ± 18.5 days[C], p = 0.053) were significantly longer in group C. In-hospital death was 3/19 (15.8%) in group C versus 0 in group B (p = 0.026). Frequency of recurrent mediastinitis was equal (p = 0.92); however, complications occurred more often in group C (31.6% vs. 0%, p = 0.031). The mean follow-up time was 111 ± 62 days. Conclusion: In younger (<70 years) patients without sternal bone necrosis, the BPMMF is superior to the OF technique with relatively low recurrence and mortality risks.

We know that screening for breast cancer leads to detection of smaller tumours with less lymph node metastases. Could it be possible that the decrease in mortality after screening is not only caused by this earlier stage, but also by a different mitotic activity index (MAI) of the tumours that are detected by screening? Is MAI a prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival? A retrospective study was carried out of 387 patients with breast cancer, treated at the University Hospital Nijmegen between January 1992 and September 1997. Ninety patients had screen-detected breast cancer, 297 patients had breast cancers detected outside the screening programme. The MAI, other prognostic factors and recurrence-free survival were determined. In non-screen-detected tumours the MAI is twice as high as in screen-detected tumours, even after correction for age took place. The MAI correlated well with other tumour characteristics. The MAI in itself is a prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival. Favourable outcome in screen detected breast cancer is not entirely caused by detecting cancer in early stages: quantitative features such as the MAI indicate a less malignant character of screen detected breast cancer. The MAI is an independent prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

BackgroundThe main objective of this study will be to determine the effects of a new advanced sternum external fixation (Stern-E-Fix) corset on prevention of sternal instability and mediastinitis in high-risk patients.MethodsThis prospective, randomized study (January 2009 – June 2011) comprised 750 male patients undergoing standard median sternotomy for cardiac procedures (78% CABG). Patients were divided in two randomized groups (A, n = 380: received a Stern-E-Fix corset postoperatively for 6 weeks and B, n = 370: control group received a standard elastic thorax bandage). In both groups, risk factors for sternal dehiscence and preoperative preparations were similar.ResultsWound infections occurred in n = 13 (3.42%) pts. in group A vs. n = 35 (9.46%) in group B. In group A, only 1 patient presented with sternal dehiscence vs. 22 pts. in group B. In all 22 patients, sternal rewiring followed by antibiotic therapy was needed. Mediastinitis related mortality was none in A versus two in B. Treatment failure in group B was more than five times higher than in A (p = 0.01); the mean length of stay in hospital was 12.5 ± 7.4 days (A) versus 18 ± 15.1 days (B) (p=0.002). Re-operation for sternal infection was 4 times higher in group B. Mean ventilation time was relatively longer in B (2.5 vs. 1.28 days) (p = 0.01). The mean follow-up period was 8 weeks (range 6 – 12 weeks).ConclusionsWe demonstrated that using an external supportive sternal corset (Stern-E-Fix) yields a significantly better and effective prevention against development of sternal dehiscence and secondary sternal infection in high-risk poststernotomy patients.

BackgroundThe use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has gained significant importance for treatment of end-stage heart failure. Fast-track procedures are well established in cardiac surgery, whereas knowledge of their benefits after LVAD implantation is sparse. We hypothesized that ultra-fast-track anesthesia (UFTA) with in-theater extubation or at a maximum of 4 h. after surgery is feasible in Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) level 3 and 4 patients and might prevent postoperative complications.MethodsFrom March, 2010 to March, 2012, 53 LVADs (50 Heart Mate II and 3 Heart Ware) were implanted in patients in our department. UFTA was successfully performed (LVADultra) in 13 patients. After propensity score matching, we compared the LVADultra group with a matched group (LVADmatch) receiving conventional anesthesia management.ResultsPatients in the LVADultra group had significantly lower incidences of pneumonia (p = 0.031), delirium (p = 0.031) and right ventricular failure (RVF) (p = 0.031). They showed a significantly higher cardiac index in the first 12 h. (p = 0.017); a significantly lower central venous pressure during the first 24 h. postoperatively (p = 0.005) and a significantly shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay (p = 0.016). Kaplan-Meier analysis after four years of follow-up showed no significant difference in survival.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we demonstrated the feasibility of ultra-fast-track anesthesia in LVAD implantation in selected patients with INTERMACS level 3–4. Patients had a lower incidence of postoperative complications, better hemodynamic performance, shorter length of ICU stay and lower incidence of RVF after UFTA. Prospective randomized investigations should examine the preservation of right ventricular function in larger numbers and identify appropriate selection criteria.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13019-017-0573-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundOperative risk scoring algorithms identify patients with severe AS for transcatheter valve implantation in whom the anticipated operative mortality for conventional surgery would be considered prohibitive. We compared the three risk scores EuroScore 1 (LES), society of thoracic surgeons’ (STS) score and ACEF (age-creatinine-ejection fraction score) to the readjusted EuroScore 2 recently presented.MethodsWe reviewed all consecutive patients receiving either isolated conventional aortic valve replacement (cAVR) or transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-TAVI) in a two-year period (n = 206). 30-days mortality was considered as primary endpoint.ResultsTA-TAVI was performed in 76 patients, isolated cAVR in 130 patients. Overall mortality was 4.4% (TA-TAVI: 7.9%; cAVR: 2.3%). EuroScore 2 showed a good estimation for the entire population as well as within the subgroups: 4,02 ± 5,36% (TA-TAVI: 6.16 ± 7.14%, cAVR: 2.77 ± 3.42%). Predicted mortalities as assessed by LES were largely overestimated (TA-TAVI: 27.4 ± 20.9% cAVR: 10.6 ± 10.6%, sensitivity: 0.89, specificity: 0.71). STS predicted mortality was 6.3 ± 4.4% for TA-TAVI patients as to 3.2 ± 3.1% for cAVR patients (sens.: 0.22, spec.: 0.96) and ACEF predicted a mortality of 1.16 ± 0.36% for cAVR and 1.58 ± 0.59% for TA-TAVI patients (sens.: 0.78, spec.: 0.89).ConclusionThe newly refined EuroScore 2 showed a good correlation within the studied population. For the individual patient, new cut-offs will have to be defined to triage patients for TAVI procedure. A drawback for complex score systems such as EuroScore and STS is the lack of recalibration to smaller populations as encountered in even large single centers.