Partial portal vein arterialization using right gastroepiploic artery:A novel solution for portal hypoperfusion

To the Editor:Establishing dual arterial and portal inflow is essential for liver transplantation[1].Inadequate portal inflow compromises graft function and graft survival[2].Portal hypoperfusion is usually a consequence of spontaneous portosystemic shunt,ligation of which

Clinical application of individualized total arterial coronary artery bypass grafting in coronary artery surgery

BACKGROUND Total arterial revascularization is associated with increased patency and long-term efficacy and decreased perioperative morbidity and mortality and incidence of cardiac-related events and sternal wound infection compared with conventional coronary artery bypass surgery(CABG),in which the left internal mammary artery(LIMA)is typically grafted to the left anterior descending artery with additional saphenous vein grafts often used.This study determined whether these favorable clinical results could be realized at the authors’institute.AIM To summarize the early efficacy and clinical experience of individualized total arterial coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.METHODS CABG was performed on 35 patients with non-single-vessel coronary artery disease by adopting total arterial grafts at Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between April 2016 and December 2019.LIMA was used in 35 patients,radial artery(RA)was used in 35 patients,and right gastroepiploic artery(RGEA)was used in 9 patients.Perioperative complications were observed,short-term graft patency rate was followed-up,and quality of life was assessed.RESULTS All patients underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass and the surgeries were successful.All of them were discharged without any complications or deaths.During the follow-up,it was found that patients’angina symptoms were relieved and New York Heart Association classification for cardiac function was class I to class II.A total of 90 vessels were grafted with no occlusion for internal mammary artery,three occlusions for RA,and one occlusion for RGEA.CONCLUSION The individualized total arterial strategy based on the vessels targeting individual anatomic characteristics can achieve complete revascularization with satisfactory short-term grafting patency rate.

Distal gastric tube resection with vascular preservation for gastric tube cancer:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Survival rates in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy have improved,but the prevalence of gastric tube cancer(GTC)has also increased.Total resection of the gastric tube with lymph node dissection is considered a radical treatment,but GTC surgery is more invasive and involves a higher risk of severe complications or death,particularly in elderly patients.CASE SUMMARY We report an elderly patient with early GTC that had invaded the duodenum who was successfully treated with resection of the distal gastric tube and Roux-en-Y(R-Y)reconstruction.The tumor was a type 0-IIc lesion with ulcer scars surrounding the pyloric ring.Endoscopic submucosal resection was not indicated because the primary lesion was submucosally invasive,was undifferentiated type,surrounded the pyloric ring,and had invaded the duodenum.Resection of distal gastric tube with R-Y reconstruction was safely performed,with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery(RGEA)and right gastric artery(RGA).CONCLUSION Distal resection of the gastric tube with preservation of the RGEA and RGA is a good treatment option for elderly patients with cT1bN0 GTC in the lower part of the gastric tube.

Total Arterial Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting： A 1O-Year Experience

Background： Arterial grafts had better mid-term and long-term patency than saphenous vein grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG）. We summarized our experience with total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （OPCAB） and assessed the early clinical results, surgical complications, and follow-up. Methods： From January 2007 to May 2017,508 coronary artery disease patients undergoing total arterial OPCAB were enrolled. Clinical features, approaches, outcomes of surgical treatments, and follow-up data of these patients were studied retrospectively. A total of 122 patients underwent single left internal mammary artery （IMA）-left anterior descending artery grafts, whereas the other 386 patients underwent multiple vessel grafts. Results： The average distal anastomosis was 2.34 ± 0.97 （range： 1-4）. All the patients were discharged from hospital except one died. A total of 457 （90.32%） patients were followed up. In the 4-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up groups, the rate of death from any cause was 1.19%, 6.47%, and 10.67%; rate of cardiac death was 0.60%, 2.88%, and 3.33%; rate of repeat revascularization was 0.00%, 3.60%. and 8.67%; rate ofischemic symptoms was 1.79%, 7.91%, and 11.33%; and incidence of stroke was 2.38%, 4.32%, and 6.67%, respectively. Poor medication adherence was observed in 9.38% of the follow-up population. Conclusions： Total arterial OPCAB with bilateral IMA, radial artery, and right gastroepiploic artery grafting yielded satisfactory early and midterm outcomes in this patient group, without a significant increase in early mortality or morbidity. Moreover, the long-term outcomes are also positive.