Acute-on-Chronic Aortic Dissection: Management and Outcomes of the Unstable "Triple-Lumen" Aorta.

BACKGROUND: The impact of acute aortic dissection of the chronically dissected distal aorta is unknown. This study sought to describe the incidence and characteristics of the triple-lumen aortic dissection and its impact on survival. METHODS: From 2010 to 2021, a query of a single-institution aortic database identified 1149 patients with chronic distal aortic dissection. Thirty-three (2.9%) patients with at least 3 distinct lumens and 2 separate "primary" intimal tears were identified by analysis of contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. Triple-lumen patients were exactly matched with a cohort of double-lumen patients on a 1:1 ratio using 5 preoperative variables, and outcomes between the groups were assessed. RESULTS: The median age at time of initial dissection in patients with a triple-lumen dissection was 46 years. Initial dissection was a type A in 33% and a type B in 67% of patients. The median time from initial dissection to triple-lumen diagnosis was 4.2 years. On diagnosis of the triple-lumen aorta, 85% of patients required urgent aortic repair for rapid growth (36%), aortic diameter ≥55 mm (30%), malperfusion (6%), intractable pain (6%), and rupture/type A (6%). Thirty-day mortality after triple lumen dissection was 12%. CONCLUSIONS: Acute-on-chronic distal dissection resulting in a triple-lumen aorta should be classified as a "complicated" type B dissection as these patients typically have large aneurysms and a high incidence of rapid false lumen expansion requiring urgent surgical repair.

National trends in emergency coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVES: Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is often omitted from current research, and volumes as well as outcomes are unknown. The purpose of this research is to examine national trends in emergency CABG. METHODS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons national adult cardiac surgical database was queried from 2005 to 2017 for patients who underwent emergency and emergency salvage isolated CABG procedures, and 92 607 patients were included for analysis. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess time trends, taking into account the clustering effect of region. RESULTS: Over the study period, volumes of emergency and emergency salvage CABG declined from 7991 to 6916 cases/year. Emergency and emergency salvage cases accounted for ∼4.9% of all CABG procedures performed nationwide in 2005 and 4.1% in 2017. The predicted risk of mortality (PROM) declined in the entire patient cohort over time from 12% to 8% (P < 0.0001). Rates of important postoperative morbidities also declined including prolonged intubation, re-exploration for haemorrhage and postoperative pneumonia (P < 0.001). Observed-to-expected mortality rates rose over the study period from 0.81 to 1.06 as the overall PROM declined from 9.3% to 7.6%. Emergency salvage CABG rates also declined over the course of the study from 358 to 323 cases/year. The observed-to-expected ratios for mortality increased for emergency salvage CABG during the study from 1.16 to 1.66, and emergency salvage mortality rates averaged 46.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of patients undergoing emergency and emergency salvage CABG in the USA has declined. Increases in mortality are largely driven by emergency salvage cases, and the PROM algorithm may not accurately reflect the risk involved for these patients.

Retrograde Cerebral Perfusion May Decrease Stroke Risk During Elective Aortic Arch Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Controversy remains regarding the optimal neuroprotection strategy for elective hemiarch replacement (HEMI). This study sought to compare outcomes in patients who underwent HEMI utilizing the 2 most common contemporary methods of cerebral protection. METHODS: The ARCH international aortic database was queried, and 782 patients undergoing elective HEMI with circulatory arrest from 2007 to 2012 were identified. There were 418 patients who underwent HEMI using moderate hypothermia (nasopharyngeal temperature 20.1 to 28.0 °C) and antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA/ACP). There were 364 patients who underwent HEMI using deep hypothermia (nasopharyngeal temperature 14.1 to 20 °C) and retrograde cerebral perfusion (DHCA/RCP). Adverse outcomes were compared between the groups using both univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Patients who underwent MHCA/ACP were older (64 vs 61 years, P = 0.01) and more frequently had peripheral vascular disease than DHCA/RCP patients (28.5% vs 7.1%, P < 0.001). Patients in the DHCA/RCP group had a greater incidence of full aortic root replacement (55.8% vs 26.4%, P < 0.001) and more frequently had a central cannulation strategy (83% vs 55.7%, P < 0.001). Cardiopulmonary bypass (170 vs 157 min, P = 0.002) and aortic cross-clamp (134 vs 92 min, P < 0.001) times were significantly longer in the DHCA/RCP group. On univariable analysis, overall mortality was statistically similar between groups (MHCA/ACP 3.4% vs DHCA/RCP 2.3%, P = 0.47), but permanent neurologic deficits were significantly lower in the DHCA/RCP cohort (MHCA/ACP 3.9% vs DHCA/RCP 1.0%, P = 0.02). Multivariable analysis showed no difference in mortality nor perioperative stroke between perfusion cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Both MHCA/ACP and DHCA/RCP are excellent neuroprotective strategies that produce low mortality in patients undergoing elective HEMI. DHCA/RCP may demonstrate theoretically improved neurologic outcomes compared with MHCA/ACP, but this topic warrants further study.

Safety and efficacy of a kaolin-impregnated hemostatic gauze in cardiac surgery: A randomized trial.

Objective: A kaolin-based nonresorbable hemostatic gauze, QuikClot Control+, has demonstrated effective hemostasis and safety when used for severe/life-threatening (grade 3/4) internal organ space bleeding. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of this gauze for mild to moderate (grade 1-2) bleeding in cardiac surgery compared with control gauze. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled, single-blinded study of patients who underwent cardiac surgery between June 2020 and September 2021 across 7 sites with 231 subjects randomized 2:1 to QuikClot Control+ or control. The primary efficacy end point was hemostasis rate (ie, subjects achieving grade 0 bleed) through up to 10 minutes of bleeding site application, assessed using a semiquantitative validated bleeding severity scale tool. The secondary efficacy end point was the proportion of subjects achieving hemostasis at 5 and 10 minutes. Adverse events, assessed up to 30 days postsurgery, were compared between arms. Results: The predominant procedure was coronary artery bypass grafting, and 69.7% and 29.4% were sternal edge and surgical site (suture line)/other bleeds, respectively. Of the QuikClot Control+ subjects, 121 of 153 (79.1%) achieved hemostasis within 5 minutes, compared with 45 of 78 (58.4%) controls (P < .001). At 10 minutes, 137 of 153 patients (89.8%) achieved hemostasis compared with 52 of 78 controls (68.4%) (P < .001). At 5 and 10 minutes, hemostasis was achieved in 20.7% and 21.4% more QuikClot Control+ subjects, respectively, compared with controls (P < .001). There were no significant differences in safety or adverse events between treatment arms. Conclusions: QuikClot Control+ demonstrated superior performance in achieving hemostasis for mild to moderate cardiac surgery bleeding compared with control gauze. The proportion of subjects achieving hemostasis was more than 20% higher in QuikClot Control+ subjects at both timepoints compared with controls, with no significant difference in safety outcomes.

Trends in surgical aortic valve replacement in pre- and post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement eras at a structural heart center.

Background: The advent of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has directly impacted the lifelong management of patients with aortic valve disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved TAVR for all surgical risk: prohibitive (2011), high (2012), intermediate (2016), and low (2019). Since then, TAVR volumes are increasing and surgical aortic valve replacements (SAVR) are decreasing. This study sought to evaluate trends in isolated SAVR in the pre- and post-TAVR eras. Methods: From January 2000 to June 2020, 3,861 isolated SAVRs were performed at a single academic quaternary care institution which participated in the early trials of TAVR beginning in 2007. A formal structural heart center was established in 2012 when TAVR became commercially available. Patients were divided into the pre-TAVR era (2000-2011, n = 2,426) and post-TAVR era (2012-2020, n = 1,435). Data from the institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database was analyzed. Results: The median age was 66 years, similar between groups. The post-TAVR group had a statistically higher rate of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure, more reoperative SAVR, and lower STS Predicted Risk of Mortality (PROM) (2.0% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.0001). There were more urgent/emergent/salvage SAVRs (38% vs. 24%) and fewer elective SAVRs (63% vs. 76%), (p < 0.0001) in the post-TAVR group. More bioprosthetic valves were implanted in the post-TAVR group (85% vs. 74%, p < 0.0001). Larger aortic valves were implanted (25 vs. 23 mm, p < 0.0001) and more annular enlargements were performed (5.9% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.0001) in the post-TAVR era. Postoperatively, the post-TAVR group had less blood product transfusion (49% vs. 58%, p < 0.0001), renal failure (1.4% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.0001), pneumonia (2.3% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.01), shorter lengths of stay, and lower in-hospital mortality (1.5% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.0007). Conclusion: The approval of TAVR changed the landscape of aortic valve disease management. At a quaternary academic cardiac surgery center with a well-established structural heart program, patients undergoing isolated SAVR in the post-TAVR era had lower STS PROM, more implantation of bioprosthetic valves, utilization of larger valves, annular enlargement, and lower in-hospital mortality. Isolated SAVR continues to be performed in the TAVR era with excellent outcomes. SAVR remains an essential tool in the lifetime management of aortic valve disease.

Early Results of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for the Management of Acute Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection.

Historically, optimal medical therapy (OMT) has been the primary therapy for acute uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (auTBAD). However, recent data suggest that OMT provides poor long-term results, and aortic remodeling induced by thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) may improve survival. This study compares adverse events and survival among auTBAD patients receiving either TEVAR or OMT. A retrospective analysis identified 146 consecutive auTBAD patients presenting to a single institution between 1/2012 and 10/2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups based upon whether they received TEVAR (n = 50) or OMT (n = 96) at index hospitalization. Major morbidity and survival were compared between groups. 67.1% of patients presented with a Debakey IIIB dissection with maximum thoracic aortic diameter of 4.3 ± 1.0 cm. Over follow-up, 35% of OMT patients failed medical therapy and underwent intervention (n = 23 TEVAR, n = 11 open). An additional 13 died for an all-cause failure rate of 49%. The composite incidence of renal failure, stroke, spinal cord ischemia, and retrograde type A dissections was similar between groups (TEVAR:6.0% vs OMT:4.2%). In-hospital mortality was 0%. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a trend towards improved survival among the TEVAR group at 1 and 3 years but no difference in overall survival (HR:0.30, 95% CI:0.08-1.08, P = 0.066). Five-year survival was 91% with TEVAR and 82% with OMT. Complete false lumen thrombosis was achieved in 72.1% with TEVAR and 20.0% with OMT (P < 0.001). In experienced centers, there is equivalent early mortality in the treatment of auTBAD with TEVAR compared to OMT. TEVAR provides superior aortic remodeling to OMT in auTBAD, which may translate into improved long-term survival.

Prolonged Periods of Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion Are Safe During Elective Arch Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral circulatory arrest times >40 minutes during aortic surgery have previously been shown to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to redefine what would constitute a safe period of circulatory arrest for patients who underwent elective proximal aortic operations requiring antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP). METHODS: The ARCH International aortic database was queried, and 2008 patients undergoing elective arch operations with circulatory arrest using ACP were identified. Circulatory arrest time was categorized a priori in 10-minute intervals. To further determine the impact of this variable on outcomes, hierarchical multivariable regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Unadjusted mortality increased with increasing circulatory arrest time from 4.8% (<40 minutes) to 13.5% (>90 minutes; P < .001), but risk of stroke was not impacted (P = .4). When treated as a continuous variable, mortality increased significantly with increasing circulatory arrest time, whereas the risk of permanent stroke did not. Using <40 minutes as the reference, multivariable analysis showed no statistical increase in mortality for ranges up to 80 minutes of circulatory arrest. The risk of permanent stroke was not significantly higher for any time interval >40 minutes up to 90 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of patients who underwent elective proximal aortic surgery using ACP, periods of circulatory arrest up to at least 80 minutes were not associated with significant increases in mortality or permanent stroke. Modern perfusion strategies have allowed for increased safety during elective arch cases requiring prolonged periods of circulatory arrest.

Thrombi straddling patent foramen ovale: A case series with various management strategies.

This case series explores four cases of thrombi straddling patent foramen ovale (TSFO), an exceedingly rare event. The cases are compared regarding their presentations, evaluations, and management strategies including the first documented uses of percutaneous thromboembolectomy for the removal of a TSFO.

Unraveling the impact of time-dependent perioperative variables on 30-day readmission after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Readmission within 30 days of discharge after coronary artery bypass grafting is a measure of quality and a driver of cost in health care. Traditional predictive models use time-independent variables. We developed a new model to predict time to readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting using both time-independent and time-dependent preoperative and perioperative data. METHODS: Adults surviving to discharge after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at a multi-hospital academic health system from January 2017 to September 2018 were included in this study. Two distinct data sources were used: the institutional cardiac surgical database and the clinical data warehouse, which provided more granular data points for each patient. Patients were divided into training and validation sets in an 80:20 ratio. We evaluated 82 potential risk factors using Cox survival regression and machine learning techniques. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to estimate model predictive accuracy. RESULTS: We trained the model with 21 variables that scored a P value of less than .05 in the univariable analysis. The multivariable model determined 16 significant risk factors, and 6 of them were time-dependent. These included preoperative hemoglobin a1c level, preoperative creatinine, preoperative hematocrit, intraoperative hemoglobin, postoperative creatinine, and postoperative hemoglobin. Area under the receiver operating characteristic values were 0.906 and 0.868 for training and validation sets, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Time-dependent perioperative variables in an isolated coronary artery bypass grafting cohort provided better predictive ability to a readmission model. This study was unique in the inclusion of time-dependent covariates in the predictive model for readmission after discharge after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Sex Differences in Failure-to-Rescue After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Female patients experience worse outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We investigated whether rates of failure-to-rescue (FTR), a systems-based quality indicator, were greater in women who underwent CABG. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 20 045 patients who underwent isolated, nonemergent CABG between January 2002 and August 2019 at a single academic center. FTR was defined as postoperative death within 30 days after stroke, renal failure, reoperation, and prolonged ventilation. Propensity score matching was performed utilizing preoperative variables, excluding sex. RESULTS: A total of 4980 propensity score-matched pairs were identified. In the matched analysis, women experienced higher rates of postoperative stroke (1.9% vs 1.2%; P = .008), prolonged ventilation (13.3% vs 10.0%, P < .001), and 30-day mortality (2.6% vs 1.8%; P = .01). Rates of FTR after stroke (P = .36), renal failure (P = .11), reoperation (P = .86), and prolonged ventilation (P = .48) were not statistically significant between female and male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Women who underwent isolated, nonemergent CABG had statistically similar frequencies of FTR compared with their male counterparts despite experiencing greater rates of morbidity and mortality. Further efforts to narrow the sex outcome gap after CABG should focus on preoperative and intraoperative phases of care instead of postoperative management.

High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: Embolectomy and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common medical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is the third most common cause of death in the United States. Historically, surgery for PE was associated with a high mortality rate, and this led to a significant decrease in the volume of operations being performed. However, significant improvements in patient selection and outcomes for surgical pulmonary embolectomy (SPE) at the end of the 20th century led to a renewed interest in the procedure. SPE was historically reserved for patients presenting with acute PE and hemodynamic collapse or cardiac arrest. Contemporary data has provided sufficient evidence to support earlier intervention for patients with acute PE who demonstrate clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic signs of right ventricular dysfunction. Institutions with cardiac surgery capabilities are implementing SPE earlier for the management of both massive and submassive PEs with excellent short-term and long-term outcomes. Recently, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been employed successfully to treat patients with massive PE. Excellent short-term outcomes have been reported for patients suffering from PE after treatment with VA-ECMO. Further research, specifically with randomized controlled trials, is needed to determine the appropriate timing and patient selection for the use of VA-ECMO in patients with PE. These data would lead to updated guidelines and algorithms incorporating VA-ECMO and SPE for patients with PE.

Benchmarking Outcomes: Reoperation for Aortic Valve Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch.

BACKGROUND: Surgical reoperations for symptomatic aortic valve patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) are complex. The purpose of this research was to investigate the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of patients who underwent reoperation for correction of symptomatic PPM after prior aortic valve replacement. METHODS: An institutional review identified 60 patients from 2004 to 2018 who underwent reoperative aortic valve replacement for PPM without structural valve degeneration. Univariate analyses were conducted to evaluate risk factors for perioperative mortality. RESULTS: Median patient age was 62.8 (interquartile range, 48.3-68.7) years, and mean body mass index was 29.2 ± 6.6 kg/m2. Thirty-nine (66%) patients underwent a first-time reoperation, and 18 (30.5%) underwent a second-time reoperation. The median interval between initial operation to reoperation for the treatment of PPM was 89 months. Thirty-four (56.7%) patients underwent aortic root replacement, while the remainder (43.3%) underwent aortic valve replacement. Additional procedures included replacement of the ascending aorta with or without aortic arch in 26 (43.3%) patients and coronary artery bypass grafting in 7 (12%) patients. Operative mortality and the rates of stroke and renal failure were 5.0%, 3.3%, and 5.0%, respectively. Echocardiographic follow-up was available in 64.9% of patients at a mean follow-up of 36.5 months. Preoperative mean pressure gradients were 32.1 ± 16.0 mm Hg and mean aortic valve area was 0.8 ± 0.3 cm2, and both improved to 6.6 ± 4.2 mm Hg and 2.3 ± 0.7 cm2 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Reoperative surgery for PPM is complex but may be performed with good outcomes and low mortality in experienced centers. These data provide excellent clinical and hemodynamic benchmarks for the treatment of PPM in the current era of valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Single-Barrel, Double-Barrel, and Fenestrated Endografts to Facilitate Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Large RVOT.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that narrowing the landing zone using commercially available endografts would enable transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) using commercially available transcatheter heart valves. BACKGROUND: TPVR is challenging in an outsized native or patch-repaired right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Downsizing the RVOT for TPVR is currently possible only using investigational devices. In patients ineligible because of excessive RVOT size, TPVR landing zones were created using commercially available endografts. METHODS: Consecutive patients with native or patch-repaired RVOTs and high or prohibitive surgical risk were reviewed, and this report describes the authors' experience with endograft-facilitated TPVR (EF-TPVR) offered to patients ineligible for investigational or commercial devices. All EF-TPVR patients were surgery ineligible, with symptomatic, severe pulmonary insufficiency, enlarged RVOTs, and severe right ventricular (RV) enlargement (>150 ml/m2). TPVR and surgical pulmonary valve replacement (SPVR) were compared in patients with less severe RV enlargement. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had large RVOTs unsuitable for conventional TPVR; 6 patients (1 surgery ineligible) received investigational devices, and 8 otherwise ineligible patients underwent compassionate EF-TPVR (n = 5 with tetralogy of Fallot). Three strategies were applied on the basis of progressively larger RVOT size: single-barrel, in situ fenestrated, and double-barrel endografts as required to anchor 1 (single-barrel and fenestrated) or 2 (double-barrel) transcatheter heart valves. All were technically successful, without procedure-related, 30-day, or in-hospital deaths. Two late complications (stent obstruction and embolization) were treated percutaneously. One patient died of ventricular tachycardia 36 days after EF-TPVR. Compared with 48 SPVRs, RV enlargement was greater, but 30-day and 1-year mortality and readmission were no different. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient was lower after EF-TPVR (3.8 ± 0.8 mm Hg vs. 10.7 ± 4.1 mm Hg; p < 0.001; 30 days). More than mild pulmonary insufficiency was equivalent in both (EF-TPVR 0.0% [n = 0 of 8] vs. SPVR 4.3% [n = 1 of 43]; p = 1.00; 30 days). CONCLUSIONS: EF-TPVR may be an alternative for patients with pulmonic insufficiency and enlarged RVOTs ineligible for other therapies.

Predicted Risk of Mortality Score predicts 30-day readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Quality metrics and reimbursement models focus on 30-day readmission rates after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Certain preoperative variables are associated with higher rates of readmission. The purpose of this study was to determine whether STS Predicted Risk of Mortality (PROM) scores predict 30-day readmission following CABG. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing isolated CABG between 2002 and 2017 at a US academic institution was performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between PROM and 30-day readmission, and the area under the receiver-operator curve (ROC) was calculated to estimate predictive accuracy. RESULTS: During the study period, 21,719 patients underwent CABG and 2,023 (9.2%) were readmitted within 30 days. Readmitted patients were sicker with higher rates of comorbid conditions and higher STS PROM scores (1.03% vs 1.42%, GMR 1.33, CI 1.27-1.38, p < 0.0001). Median time to readmission was 8 days (IQR 4-15) with length of stay 5 days (4-6). By PROM quintile, higher PROM scores were associated with increased odds of readmission. PROM-adjusted 30-day mortality was higher in the readmitted group (1.04% vs 0.21%, OR 4.53, CI 2.67-7.69, p < 0.001), and mid-term survival was worse as well. PROM alone was a modest predictor of readmission (area under ROC 0.59, CI 0.57-0.60) compared to insurance status (0.55, 0.53-0.56), ejection fraction (0.52, 0.50-0.54), and history of heart failure (0.51, 0.50-0.52). CONCLUSION: STS PROM scores are associated with increased risk of readmission following CABG.

Operative strategies to reduce cerebral embolic events during on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: A stratified, prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of different aortic clamping strategies on the incidence of cerebral embolic events during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Between 2012 and 2015, 142 patients with low-grade aortic disease (epiaortic ultrasound grade I/II) undergoing primary isolated CABG were studied. Those undergoing off-pump CABG were randomized to a partial clamp (n = 36) or clampless facilitating device (CFD; n = 36) strategy. Those undergoing on-pump CABG were randomized to a single-clamp (n = 34) or double-clamp (n = 36) strategy. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was performed to identify high-intensity transient signals (HITS) in the middle cerebral arteries during periods of aortic manipulation. Neurocognitive testing was performed at baseline and 30-days postoperatively. The primary endpoint was total number of HITS detected by TCD. Groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: In the off-pump group, the median number of total HITS were higher in the CFD subgroup (30.0; interquartile range [IQR], 22-43) compared with the partial clamp subgroup (7.0; IQR, 0-16; P < .0001). In the CFD subgroup, the median number of total HITS was significantly lower for patients with 1 CFD compared with patients with >1 CFD (12.5 [IQR, 4-19] vs 36.0 [IQR, 25-47]; P = .001). In the on-pump group, the median number of total HITS was 10.0 (IQR, 3-17) in the single-clamp group, compared with 16.0 (IQR, 4-49) in the double-clamp group (P = .10). There were no differences in neurocognitive outcomes across the groups. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with low-grade aortic disease, the use of CFDs was associated with an increased rate of cerebral embolic events compared with partial clamping during off-pump CABG. A single-clamp strategy during on-pump CABG did not significantly reduce embolic events compared with a double-clamp strategy.

Immediate post-traumatic pulmonary embolism is not associated with right ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic pulmonary embolic events are associated with significant morbidity. Computed tomographic (CT) measurements can be predictive of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after pulmonary embolus. However, it remains unclear whether these physiologic effects or clinical outcomes differ between early (<48 hours) vs late (≥48 hours) post-traumatic pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: All patients with traumatic injury and CT evidence of PE between 2008 and 2013 were identified. The study population was divided into 2 groups based on the time of diagnosis of the PE. The primary outcome was PE-related mortality. RESULTS: Fifty patients were identified (14 early PE and 36 late PE). Patients sustaining a late PE had a higher PE-related mortality rate (16.7% vs 0%), larger RV diameters, RV/left ventricular diameter ratios, RV volumes, and RV/left ventricular volume ratios (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Early post-traumatic PE appears to be associated with fewer RV physiologic changes than late post-traumatic PE and may be representative of primary pulmonary thrombosis. It remains to be seen whether early CT findings of PE should be managed according to previously established guidelines for embolic disease.

Moderate Versus Deep Hypothermia With Unilateral Selective Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion for Acute Type A Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Despite improved results with surgical therapy for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD), there remains a lack of consensus regarding the optimal method of cerebral protection and circulation management during ATAAD. The purpose of this study is to determine whether in the setting of antegrade cerebral perfusion, moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) provides equivalent cerebral and visceral protection as deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) for patients undergoing emergent ATAAD repair. METHODS: A review of the Emory aortic surgery database from 2004 to 2014 identified 288 patients who underwent ATAAD with right axillary artery cannulation, unilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (uSACP), and hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA). In all, 88 patients underwent HCA at 24 °C or lower (DHCA), and 206 patients underwent HCA at more than 24 °C (MHCA). Major adverse outcomes of death, stroke, temporary neurologic dysfunction, and dialysis-dependent renal failure were examined. RESULTS: The groups were well matched for age and major comorbidities. The DHCA patients underwent HCA at lower temperatures (DHCA 21.6 ± 3.1 °C vs MHCA 27.4 ± 1.6 °C, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass, cross-clamp, or HCA times. Mortality was 14.6% for DHCA patients, and 9.2% for MHCA patients (p = 0.17). There was no significant difference in stroke, temporary neurologic dysfunction, or dialysis-dependent renal failure. There was no association with either MHCA plus uSACP or DHCA plus uSACP and any of the major adverse outcomes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate HCA with uSACP is an effective circulation management strategy that provides excellent cerebral and visceral protection during emergent ATAAD repair. In the setting of antegrade cerebral perfusion, deep hypothermia does not provide any additional benefit.

Outcomes following redo sternotomy for aortic surgery.

Proximal thoracic aortic reconstruction performed with or without hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) is an effective surgical strategy for aortic pathology. In this study, the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing reoperative proximal thoracic aortic surgery were evaluated. A retrospective review was performed for reoperative proximal aortic surgery from 2004 to date. Patient data were abstracted from the society of thoracic surgeons (STS) institutional database and patient charts. Univariate analysis was conducted on the HCA group in order to determine the impact of variables on in-hospital mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were calculated for long-term survival analysis. One hundred and twenty-two patients were included in the analysis. Twenty-seven (22.1%) were female, and the mean age was 53.8 years. Seventy-seven (63.1%) patients had an aortic root replacement, and 93 (76.2%) patients underwent aortic arch replacement. Circulatory arrest was performed in 92 (75.4%) patients. Operative mortality occurred in 14 patients (11.5%). Complications included re-exploration for haemorrhage (nine patients, 7.4%), stroke (four, 3.3%), renal failure (13, 10.7%) and major adverse events (18, 14.8%). Univariate and multivariate analyses of HCA patients showed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, preoperative renal failure and prior coronary revascularization as independent predictors of mortality. Reoperative proximal aortic surgery can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. These data also suggest that HCA represents a safe operative strategy for this patient population.

Coarctation of a right aortic arch.

Right-sided aortic arch with a concomitant coarctation is an exceedingly rare congenital cardiac anomaly. We report of a 4-year-old boy who presented with a history of a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve who upon further evaluation was found to have a coarctation of a right-sided aortic arch. The frequency with which other anomalies exist in either of the above conditions requires thorough cardiac evaluation and detailed imaging. Surgical repair of this anomaly can safely be undertaken through a right thoracotomy.