Impact of valvular surgery according to frailty risk in patients with infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest that valvular surgery can reduce mortality in selected patients with infective endocarditis (IE). However, the benefit of this intervention according to frailty levels remains unclear. Our study aims to assess the effect of valvular surgery according to frailty status in this population. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample database. Adult patients with a primary diagnosis of IE were included. Frailty was assessed using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance baseline differences between groups. RESULTS: A total of 53,275 patients with IE were included, with 18.3% underwent valvular surgery. The median age was 52 (34-68) years, with 41% females. Overall, 42.7% had low risk of frailty, 53.1% intermediate risk, and 4.2% high risk. After IPTW adjustment, in-hospital mortality was similar both for the entire cohort between valvular and non-valvular surgery groups (3.7% vs. 4.1%, p = .483), and low (1% vs. 0.9%, p = .952) or moderate (5.4% vs. 6%, p = .548) risk of frailty. However, patients at high risk of frailty had significantly lower in-hospital mortality in the valvular surgery group (4.6% vs. 13.9%, p = .016). Renal replacement therapy was similar between groups across frailty status. In contrast, surgery was associated with increased use of mechanical circulatory support and pacemaker implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that there was no difference in survival between valve surgery and medical management in patients at low/intermediate frailty risk, but not for high-risk individuals.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair With the MitraClip Device for Prior Mitral Valve Repair Failure: Insights From the GIOTTO-FAILS Study.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair has a favorable risk-benefit profile in patients with significant de novo mitral regurgitation. Its role in patients with prior mitral valve repair is uncertain. We aimed to appraise the outcome of patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with prior transcatheter or surgical mitral valve repair (SMVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: We queried the Italian multicenter registry on TEER with MitraClip, distinguishing naïve patients from those with prior TEER or (SMVR). Inhospital and long-term clinical/echocardiographic outcomes were appraised. The primary outcome was the occurrence of death or rehospitalization for heart failure. A total of 2238 patients were included, with 2169 (96.9%) who were naïve to any mitral intervention, 29 (1.3%) with prior TEER, and 40 (1.8%) with prior SMVR. Several significant differences were found in baseline clinical and imaging features. Respectively, device success was obtained in 2120 (97.7%), 28 (96.6%), and 38 (95.0%, P=0.261) patients; procedural success in 2080 (95.9%), 25 (86.2%), and 38 (95.0%; P=0.047); and inhospital death in 61 (2.8%), 1 (3.5%), and no (P=0.558) patients. Clinical follow-up after a mean of 14 months showed similar rates of death, cardiac death, rehospitalization, rehospitalization for heart failure, and their composite (all P>0.05). Propensity score-adjusted analysis confirmed unadjusted analysis, with lower procedural success for the prior TEER group (odds ratio, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.09-0.81]; P=0.019) but similar odds ratios and hazard ratios for all other outcomes in the naïve, TEER, and SMVR groups (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In carefully selected patients, TEER can be performed using the MitraClip device even after prior TEER or SMVR.

Comparison of Contemporary Treatment Strategies in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Due to Severe Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to understand the incidence and outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) due to severe aortic stenosis (AS), and the impact of conventional treatment strategies in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients admitted to the Cleveland Clinic cardiac intensive care unit between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2021 with CS were retrospectively identified and categorized into those with CS in the setting of severe AS versus CS without AS. The impact of various treatment strategies on mortality was further assessed. We identified 2754 patients with CS during the study period, of whom 216 patients (8%) had CS in the setting of severe AS. Medical management was associated with the highest 30-day mortality when compared with either balloon aortic valve replacement or aortic valve replacement (surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement) (hazard ratio, 3.69 [95% CI, 2.04-6.66]; P<0.0001). Among patients who received transcatheter therapy, 30-day mortality was significantly higher in patients who received balloon aortic valvuloplasty versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement (26% versus 4%, P=0.02). Both surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement had considerably lower mortality than medical management and balloon aortic valvuloplasty at 30 days and 1 year (P<0.05 for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: CS due to severe AS is associated with high in-hospital and 30-day mortality, worse compared with those with CS without AS. In suitable patients, urgent surgical aortic valvuloplasty or transcatheter aortic valve replacement is associated with favorable short- and long-term outcomes. Although balloon aortic valvuloplasty may be used to temporize patients with CS in the setting of severe AS, mortality is ≈50% if not followed by definitive aortic valve replacement within 90 days.

Delayed Diagnosis of Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis in a Patient Undergoing Mitral Valve Replacement.

ABSTRACT: The occurrence of pulmonary artery thrombus in association with rheumatic mitral stenosis is a rare complication. Pulmonary artery thrombus formation may worsen pulmonary artery pressures, and this may precipitate acute right heart failure. The possible mechanisms behind pulmonary artery thrombus formation during mitral valve replacement surgery could be acute coagulopathy following surgery, the presence of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, or chronic atrial fibrillation. We report an unusual case of pulmonary artery thrombus in a patient with rheumatic MS which was diagnosed with transoesophageal echocardiography after MVR.

[Perioperative stroke after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis - incidence, risk factors and short-term outcome].

INTRODUCTION: One of the most serious complications of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is stroke that can result in increased rates of complications, morbidity and mortality postoperatively. The aim of this study was to investigate incidence, risk factors and short-term outcome in a well defined cohort of SAVR-patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective study on 740 consecutive aortic stenosis patients who underwent SAVR in Iceland 2002-2019. Patients with stroke were compared with non-stroke patients; including preoperative risk factors of cardiovascular disease, echocardiogram-results, rate of early postoperative complications other than stroke and 30 day mortality. RESULTS: Mean age was 71 yrs (34% females) with 57% of the patients receiving stented bioprosthesis, 31% a stentless Freestyle®-valve and 12% a mechanical valve. Mean EuroSCORE-II was 3.6, with a maximum preop-gradient of 70 mmHg and an estimated valvular area of 0.73 cm2. Thirteen (1.8%) patients were diagnosed with stroke where hemiplegia (n=9), loss of consciousness (n=3) and/or aphasia (n=4) were the most common presenting symptoms. In 70% of cases the neurological symptoms resolved or disappeared in the first weeks and months after surgery. Only one patient out of 13 died within 30-days (7.7%). Stroke-patients had significantly lower BMI than non-stroke patients, but other risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, intraoperative factors or the rate of other severe postoperative complications than stroke were similar between groups. Total length of stay was 14 days vs. 10 days median, including 2 vs. 1 days in the ICU, in the stroke and non-stroke-groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of stroke after SAVR was low (1.8%) and in line with other similar studies. Although a severe complication, most patients with perioperative stroke survived 30 days postoperatively and in majority of cases neurological symptoms recovered.

Managing Implanted Cardiac Electronic Devices in Patients With Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Orthotopic transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) devices have been shown to be highly effective in reducing tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and interest in this therapy is growing with the recent commercial approval of the first orthotopic TTVR. Recent TTVR studies report preexisting cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) transvalvular leads in ∼35% of patients, with entrapment during valve implantation. Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of entrapping leads and counterbalanced against the risks of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) when indicated. This Heart Valve Collaboratory consensus document attempts to define the patient population with CIED lead-associated or lead-induced TR, describe the risks of lead entrapment during TTVR, delineate the risks and benefits of TLE in this setting, and develop a management algorithm for patients considered for TTVR. An electrophysiologist experienced in CIED management should be part of the multidisciplinary heart team and involved in shared decision making.

Risk factors and clinical prediction models for prolonged mechanical ventilation after heart valve surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is a common complication following cardiac surgery linked to unfavorable patient prognosis and increased mortality. This study aimed to search for the factors associated with the occurrence of PMV after valve surgery and to develop a risk prediction model. METHODS: The patient cohort was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of PMV post-surgery. Comprehensive preoperative and intraoperative clinical data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors contributing to the incidence of PMV. Based on the logistic regression results, a clinical nomogram was developed. RESULTS: The study included 550 patients who underwent valve surgery, among whom 62 (11.27%) developed PMV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.082, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.042-1.125; P < 0.000), current smokers (OR = 1.953, 95% CI = 1.007-3.787; P = 0.047), left atrial internal diameter index (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.002-1.081; P = 0.041), red blood cell count (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.275-0.876; P = 0.016), and aortic clamping time (OR = 1.031, 95% CI = 1.005-1.057; P < 0.017) independently influenced the occurrence of PMV. A nomogram was constructed based on these factors. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.782 and an accuracy of 0.884. CONCLUSION: Age, current smokers, left atrial diameter index, red blood cell count, and aortic clamping time are independent risk factors for PMV in patients undergoing valve surgery. Furthermore, the nomogram based on these factors demonstrates the potential for predicting the risk of PMV in patients following valve surgery.

Mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis: A literature review of treatment strategies.

Mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis (MPVT) is a common complication of valvular implantations. This study compared the efficacy and safety of different treatments for MPVT. A systematic search of electronic databases identified studies evaluating surgical, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic therapies. Although several studies of different types have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these treatment strategies the lack of randomized controlled trials has resulted in the inability to make a definitive conclusion about the pros and cons of these treatments. Recent treatments, such as slow and ultraslow infusion of thrombolytics, showed comparable efficacy and lower complication rates than traditional methods. Inadequate anticoagulant use is a major risk factor for MPVT, highlighting the importance of prevention. Treatment selection should be individualized based on patient factors and available expertise. Overall, slow and ultraslow infusion of thrombolytics may be a promising treatment option for MPVT.

Mortality and resource utilization in surgical versus transcatheter repeat mitral valve replacement: A national analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has garnered interest as a viable alternative to the traditional surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) for high-risk patients requiring redo operations. This study aims to evaluate the association of TMVR with selected clinical and financial outcomes. METHODS: Adults undergoing isolated redo mitral valve replacement were identified in the 2016-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database and categorized into TMVR or SMVR cohorts. Various regression models were developed to assess the association between TMVR and in-hospital mortality, as well as additional secondary outcomes. Transseptal and transapical catheter-based approaches were also compared in relation to study endpoints. RESULTS: Of an estimated 7,725 patients, 2,941 (38.1%) underwent TMVR. During the study period, the proportion of TMVR for redo operations increased from 17.8% to 46.7% (nptrend<0.001). Following adjustment, TMVR was associated with similar odds of in-hospital mortality (AOR 0.82, p = 0.48), but lower odds of stroke (AOR 0.44, p = 0.001), prolonged ventilation (AOR 0.43, p<0.001), acute kidney injury (AOR 0.61, p<0.001), and reoperation (AOR 0.29, p = 0.02). TMVR was additionally correlated with shorter postoperative length of stay (pLOS; ß -0.98, p<0.001) and reduced costs (ß -$10,100, p = 0.002). Additional analysis demonstrated that the transseptal approach had lower adjusted mortality (AOR 0.44, p = 0.02), shorter adjusted pLOS (ß -0.43, p<0.001), but higher overall costs (ß $5,200, p = 0.04), compared to transapical. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective cohort study, we noted TMVR to yield similar odds of in-hospital mortality as SMVR, but fewer complications and reduced healthcare expenditures. Moreover, transseptal approaches were associated with lower adjusted mortality, shorter pLOS, but higher cost, relative to the transapical. Our findings suggest that TMVR represent a cost-effective and safe treatment modality for patients requiring redo mitral valve procedures. Nevertheless, future studies examining long-term outcomes associated with SMVR and TMVR in redo mitral valve operations, are needed.

Transcatheter-Based Interventions for Tetralogy of Fallot Across All Age Groups.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. Palliative procedures, either surgical or transcatheter, aim to improve oxygen saturation, affording definitive procedures at a later stage. Transcatheter interventions have been used before and after surgical palliative or definitive repair in children and adults. This review aims to provide an overview of the different catheter-based interventions for TOF across all age groups, with an emphasis on palliative interventions, such as patent arterial duct stenting, right ventricular outflow tract stenting, or balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in infants and children and transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in adults with repaired TOF, including the available options for a large, dilated native right ventricular outflow tract.

Comparison of apixaban versus aspirin for the prevention of latent bioprosthetic aortic valve thrombosis: study protocol for a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal antithrombotic strategy early after aortic valve replacement surgery with a biological valve remains controversial due to lack of high-quality evidence. Either oral anticoagulants or acetylsalicylic acid should be considered for the first 3 months. Hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening on cardiac computed tomography has been associated with latent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis and may be prevented with anticoagulation. We hypothesize that anticoagulation with apixaban is superior to single antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid in reducing hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening of bioprosthetic aortic valve prostheses. METHODS: In this prospective, open-label, randomized trial, patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement surgery with rapid deployment bioprosthetic valves will be randomized. The treatment group will receive 5 mg of apixaban twice a day for the first 3 months and 100 mg of acetylsalicylic acid thereafter. The control group will be administered 100 mg of acetylsalicylic acid once a day, indefinitely. After the 3-month treatment period, a contrast-enhanced electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography will be performed to identify hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening of the bioprosthetic valve. The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of apixaban on the prevention of hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening at 3 months. The secondary and exploratory endpoints will be clinical outcomes and safety profiles of the two strategies. DISCUSSION: Antithrombotic therapy after aortic valve replacement is used to prevent valve thrombosis and systemic thromboembolism. Latent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is a precursor of clinically significant prosthetic valve dysfunction or thromboembolic events. The hallmark feature of latent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening on cardiac computed tomography. Subclinical leaflet thrombosis occurs frequently in bioprosthetic aortic valves, more commonly in transcatheter than in surgical valves. There is no evidence on the effect of direct oral anticoagulants on the incidence of hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening after surgical aortic valve replacement with rapid deployment bioprostheses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06184113. Registered on December 28, 2023.

Comparison of the Effects of Full Median Sternotomy vs. Mini-Incision on Postoperative Pain in Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: It is not yet clear whether cardiac surgery by mini-incision (minimally invasive cardiac surgery [MICS]) is overall less painful than the conventional approach by full sternotomy (FS). A meta-analysis is necessary to investigate polled results on this topic. METHODS: PubMed®/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (or LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (or SciELO) were searched for all clinical trials, reported until 2022, comparing FS with MICS in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), mitral valve surgery (MVS), and aortic valve replacement (AVR), and postoperative pain outcome was analyzed. Main summary measures were the method of standardized mean differences (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and P-values (considered statistically significant when < 0.05). RESULTS: In AVR, the general estimate of postoperative pain effect favored MICS (SMD 0.87 [95% CI 0.04 to 1.71], P=0.04). However, in the sensitivity analysis, there was no difference between the groups (SMD 0.70 [95% CI -0.69 to 2.09], P=0.32). For MVS, it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis with the included studies, because they had different methodologies. In CABG, the general estimate of the effect of postoperative pain did not favor any of the approaches (SMD -0.40 [95% CI -1.07 to 0.26], P=0.23), which was confirmed by sensitivity analysis (SMD -0.02 [95% CI -0.71 to 0.67], P=0.95). CONCLUSION: MICS was not globally less painful than the FS approach. It seems that postoperative pain is more related to the degree of tissue retraction than to the size of the incision.

Complications of transcatheter paravalvular leak device closure of mitral valve: An updated review of the literature and a rare case presentation.

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is an uncommon complication of prosthetic valve implantation, which can lead to infective endocarditis, heart failure, and hemolytic anemia. Surgical reintervention of PVLs is associated with high mortality rates. Transcatheter PVL closure (TPVLc) has emerged as an alternative to surgical reoperation. This method provides a high success rate with a low rate of complications. This article reviews the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and management of PVL and complications following TPVLc. Besides, we presented a case of a patient with severe PVL following mitral valve replacement, who experienced complete heart block (CHB) during TPVLc. The first TPVLc procedure failed in our patient due to possible AV-node insult during catheterization. After 1 week of persistent CHB, a permanent pacemaker was implanted. The defect was successfully passed using the previous attempt. Considering the advantages of TPVLc, procedure failure should be regarded as a concern. TPVLc should be performed by experienced medical teams in carefully selected patients.

Efficacy of human prothrombin complex concentrate in the treatment of warfarin overdose in patients receiving warfarin for mechanical heart valve replacement.

Warfarin, a widely utilized anticoagulant, is paramount for preventing thromboembolic events in patients with mechanical heart valve replacements. However, its narrow therapeutic index can lead to over-anticoagulation and overdose, resulting in serious health risks. This study examines the efficacy of human prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) in managing warfarin overdose, in comparison with traditional treatments. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 adults who presented with warfarin overdose (INR > 5.0) at a tertiary care hospital between 2016 and 2020. Participants were divided into 2 groups-those treated with PCC (n = 57) and those treated with conventional methods (n = 105), including vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma. The primary outcome was the rate of reaching the target (International Normalized Ratio) INR within 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included transfusion requirements, thromboembolic events, adverse reactions, 30-day mortality, and length of hospital stay. PCC demonstrated significant efficacy, with 89.5% of patients achieving the target INR within 24 hours, compared to 64.8% in the control group (P < .05). The PCC group also had reduced transfusion requirements and a shorter average hospital stay. There was no significant difference in thromboembolic events or adverse reactions between the 2 groups, and the reduced 30-day mortality in the PCC group was not statistically significant. Human prothrombin complex concentrate is associated with rapid reaching the target INR, decreased transfusion needs, and shortened hospitalization, making it a promising option for warfarin overdose management. While the results are encouraging, larger, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are necessary to further validate these findings and optimize PCC administration protocols.

A review regarding the article 'Comparative efficacy and safety of mitral valve repair versus mitral valve replacement in Rheumatic heart disease: A high-value care systematic review and meta-analysis'.

Rheumatic heart disease remains a major cause of cardiovascular death worldwide. Limited real-world nationwide data are available to compare the long-term outcomes between mitral valve repair and replacement in rheumatic heart disease. For patients with RHD, MVP is the superior choice of surgical intervention owing to better long-term survival, reduced incidence of early mortality and thromboembolic events. However, it entails higher chances of re-operation at follow-up at four, eight and twelve years. Although feasible, surgeons may opt for MVR in patients with a worse prognosis. Whereas degenerative mitral repair for severe MR has been proven superior to replacement, the optimal operative strategy for mitral RHD remains unclear. In developing countries, mitral RHD commonly develops in young patients, predominantly consists of MR rather than MS, and occurs more frequently than in the United States. In addition, the predominant MR etiology (rather than MS), relatively early intervention in the RHD timeline, and variation in Carpentier MR types among developing world populations further make these rheumatic MVs more amenable to repair than replacement. Patients should be carefully selected for mitral valve repair because of its higher reoperation rate, particularly those with previous percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy. Careful assessment of anterior leaflet mobility/calcification to determine mitral repair or replacement was associated with improved outcomes. This decision-making strategy may alter the threshold for rheumatic mitral replacement in the current valve-in-valve era.

Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement With the Harmony Valve in Patients Who Do Not Meet Recommended Oversizing Criteria on the Screening Perimeter Plot.

BACKGROUND: Anatomic selection for Harmony valve implant is determined with the aid of a screening report and perimeter plot (PP) that depicts the perimeter-derived radius along the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and projects device oversizing. The PP provides an estimation of suitability for implant, but its sensitivity as a screening method is unknown. This study was performed to describe anatomic features and outcomes in patients who underwent Harmony TPV25 implant despite a PP that predicted inadequate oversizing. METHODS: We reviewed RVOT anatomic features and measurements in patients who underwent transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with the Harmony TPV25 device despite a PP that predicted inadequate oversizing. RESULTS: This study included 22 patients. There were no unsuccessful implants or adverse valve-related events. Anatomic features varied, but all patients fit into 1 of 3 anatomic types characterized by differences in RVOT dimensions. Type 1 patients (n=9) had a long RVOT with a choke point and a wide main pulmonary artery. Type 2 patients (n=6) had a short RVOT that was pyramidal in shape, with no choke point, and extensive main pulmonary artery lengthening/expansion during systole. Type 3 patients (n=7) had a short, bulbous main pulmonary artery with a choke point and an open pulmonary artery bifurcation. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with the Harmony valve is feasible in some patients whose PP fit analysis predicts inadequate oversizing. All cases in this series fit into 1 of 3 anatomic patterns, which are not identified in the screening report. Implanters must review cases individually to assess the feasibility of the implant.

Clinical and echocardiographic results of the MEMO 4D semi-rigid annuloplasty ring.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitation is a frequent valvular disease, with an increasing prevalence. We analyzed the short-term outcomes of mitral valve repair procedures conducted in our clinic using a new semirigid annuloplasty ring featuring a gradual saddle shape design. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed mitral valve repair surgeries performed at our Institution between December 2019 and November 2021 with the MEMO 4D semirigid annuloplasty ring. RESULTS: In total, 53 patients were included in the study. Mean patient age was 63.6 ± 11.7 years. Most patients presented with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation (N = 44; 83%). The grade of mitral regurgitation was equal or more than 3 + in 98.1% of the patients (N = 52). The most used ring size was size 34 mm (N = 30, 56.6%). There was no intraoperative or hospital mortality. No cases of stroke, bleeding, endocarditis or other major complications occurred. At discharge, most patients were in NYHA class I. Postoperative echocardiographic results showed no (90.6%) or 1+ (5.7%) mitral valve regurgitation. Only 1 patient (1.9%) presented with mitral valve regurgitation grade 2+. Mean postoperative transvalvular gradient was low (mean = 3.3 ± 1.2 mmHg). No cases of LVOT obstruction or systolic anterior motion occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our series showed excellent mitral valve competency and very satisfactory early clinical outcomes. The transesophageal echocardiographic follow-up, despite obtained in a limited number of patients, further confirmed the effectiveness of findings of this preliminary experience.

Heart surgery over two decades: what we have learned about results and changing risks.

OBJECTIVES: Using the cardiac surgery database is of high importance in referral centers and can lead to a better quality of care for patients. Tehran Heart Center (THC) is a cardiovascular referral center that was inaugurated in 2001. In this report, we aimed to present the third report of trends in patients' cardiovascular risk factors and surgical procedures from 2002 to 2021 that have been gathered for all THC patients. METHODS: This serial cross-sectional study was conducted at Tehran Heart Center from 2002 to 2021. All patients undergoing cardiac surgeries were eligible to enter the study (N = 63,974). Those with miscellaneous types of surgeries were excluded (N = 9556). The distribution of cardiac surgeries (including isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), isolated valve, and CABG + valve surgeries) and their respective in-hospital mortality were recorded. Furthermore, 20-year trends in the prevalence of various cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) among the following groups were evaluated: a) isolated CABG, b) aortic valve replacement/repair for aortic stenosis (AS/AVR/r), and c) isolated other valve surgeries (IVS). RESULTS: A total of 54,418 patients (male: 70.7%, age: 62.7 ± 10.8 years) comprised the final study population, with 84.5% prevalence of isolated CABG. Overall, the AS/AVR/r group was in between the CABG and IVS groups concerning CVRFs distribution. Excluding some exceptions for the AS/AVR/r group (in which the small sample size (N = 909) precluded observing a clear trend), all studied CVRFs demonstrated an overall rising trend from 2002 to 2021 in all three groups. Regarding in-hospital mortality, the highest rate was recorded as 4.0% in 2020, while the lowest rate was 2.0% in 2001. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated CABG remained the most frequent procedure in THC. Notable, increasing trends in CVRFs were observed during this 20-year period and across various types of cardiac surgeries, which highlights the clinical and policy-making implications of our findings.