Safety and efficacy of concomitant ablation for atrial fibrillation in rheumatic mitral valve surgery: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of concomitant surgical ablation (SA) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing rheumatic mitral valve (MV) surgery. METHODS: A systematic search of relevant studies focusing on SA for patients with AF undergoing rheumatic MV surgery was performed. The primary outcomes included mortality, efficacy, and complications. RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four observational studies covering 1931 patients met the inclusion criteria. In RCTs, no significant differences in reoperation for bleeding, low cardiac output syndrome, thromboembolic events, and early (risk ratio [RR], 2.07; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.37-11.40; p = .41) and midterm all-cause death (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.40-2.88; p = .89) were noted between the SA group and the nonablation group. These results were similar to those obtained from observational studies. However, ablation was associated with a higher incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation (RR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.15-5.18; p = .02) in observational studies but not in RCTs (RR, 2.03; 95% CI, 0.19-21.26; p = .56). Furthermore, additional SA was significantly more effective in sinus rhythm (SR) restoration than MV surgery alone at discharge and at the 12-month and 3-year follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant SA during rheumatic MV surgery does not increase perioperative adverse events. In addition, SA promotes considerable restoration of SR. Although some evidence exists that permanent pacemaker implantation is more common after ablation, not all studies support this notion.

Primeval outcomes of thoracoscopic transmitral myectomy with anterior mitral leaflet extension for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The transaortic Morrow procedure is the current gold standard for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients who are resistant to maximum drug therapy. It is controversial whether concomitant mitral valve intervention is necessary. Only a few centers apply for concomitant anterior mitral leaflet extension with a bovine or autologous pericardial patch to further decrease systolic anterior motion. Our aim is to assess the primeval outcomes of thoracoscopic transmitral myectomy with anterior mitral leaflet extension (TTM-AMLE) in symptomatic HOCM patients. METHODS: Between April 2019 and November 2020, 18 consecutive HOCM patients who underwent TTM-AMLE were enrolled in this study. Preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up outcomes were compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was (50.17 ± 6.18) years and 10 (55.56%) were males. 18 (100%) patients had mitral regurgitation preoperatively, and they all successfully underwent TTM-AMLE with a median cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time of 200.0 (150.8, 232.0), and 127.5 (116.0, 149.0) min, respectively. The median length of ICU stay was 2.7 (1.4, 5.2) days. The interventricular septum thickness was significantly reduced (from 18.03 ± 3.02 mm to 11.91 ± 1.66 mm, p < .001). There was no perioperative mortality, perforation of ventricular septum, or conversion to sternotomy observed. During a median follow-up of 18 months (IQR, 5-24 months), 1 (5.56%) patient had severe mitral regurgitation due to patch detachment and received reoperation. Moderate degree of mitral regurgitation and more than 50 mmHg in left ventricular outflow tract gradient were found in 2 (11.11%), and 1 (5.56%) patients, respectively. 1 (5.56%) patient who had second-degree atrioventricular block received permanent pacemaker implantation postoperatively. Overall, the maximum left ventricular outflow tract gradient (88.50 [59.50, 112.75] mmHg vs. 10.50 [7.00, 15.50] mmHg, p = .002), left ventricular outflow tract velocity (4.70 [3.86, 5.33] m/s vs. 1.60 [1.33, 1.95] m/s, p < .001) and the degree of mitral regurgitation (6.99 ± 4.47 cm2 vs. 2.22 ± 1.51 cm2 , p = .001) were significantly decreased, with a significant reduction in the proportion of systolic anterior motion (94.44% vs. 16.67%, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The TTM-AMLE is a safe and effective surgical approach for selected patients with HOCM. In our series, it provides excellent relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, while significantly eliminating mitral regurgitation. The early outcomes of TTM-AMLE are satisfactory, but further studies and longer follow-ups are awaited.

Totally Thoracoscopic Redo Mitral Valve Replacement for a High-Risk Patient Following Failed MitraClip Procedure.

The wide adoption of the MitraClip procedure in clinical practice inevitably causes increases in surgical intervention demand for patients following failed MitraClip implantation. Current reports about surgical intervention after failed MitraClip procedure focused on open-heart surgery. In this case, totally thoracoscopic third-time redo mitral valve replacement was successfully performed for a high-risk patient, following aortic valve replacement and a failed MitraClip procedure.

Pulmonary endarterectomy in patients with occlusive isolated pulmonary vasculitis.

BACKGROUND: Isolated pulmonary vasculitis (IPV) is a rare, insidious, and localized inflammatory disease affecting the pulmonary arteries, often leading to severe luminal obstruction. The prognosis for patients with occlusive IPV is poor, and there is currently a lack of effective treatments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) as a treatment for occlusive IPV. METHODS: This single-center retrospective analysis included patients who received PEA for occlusive IPV between January 2018 and June 2022. Clinical characteristics and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Among 114 consecutive patients who underwent PEA, occlusive IPV was identified in 7 patients. Two patients underwent bilateral PEA for the involvement of both pulmonary arteries. Patch angioplasty was performed to treat four severe constrictions. One patient died from residual pulmonary hypertension after limited PEA of a transmural vascular lesion. In addition, no obvious surgical complications were observed. Three months after PEA, a substantial relief in symptoms was achieved. Also, there is a decrease in the mean pulmonary artery pressure (median 33 [20-48] mmHg before versus median 21 [16-26] mmHg after; P < 0.018) and pulmonary arterial resistance (median 234 [131-843] dyn.s.cm-5 versus median 180 [150-372] dyn.s.cm-5; P = 0.310). Three patients experienced a relapse of restenosis of the treated arteries within a 6-month follow-up period, despite daily oral prednisolone administration. They were treated with balloon pulmonary angioplasty of both the main pulmonary arteries and branches. CONCLUSIONS: PEA is a valuable choice for treating occlusive IPV, with notable hemodynamic and clinical advantages. To increase long-term vascular patency, complete management should be optimized.

Thoracoscopic trans-mitral myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a retrospective single-centre study.

OBJECTIVES: Transaortic myectomy is a common procedure for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Thoracoscopic trans-mitral myectomy has been described in a few small-sample studies and has been recommended as preferable. We herein report our clinical outcomes using the thoracoscopic trans-mitral approach with 76 patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-centre analysis of the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic trans-mitral myectomy by comparing the clinical outcomes with that of transaortic myectomy. RESULTS: Between April 2019 and October 2021, 132 patients underwent either a transaortic (n = 56) or a thoracoscopic trans-mitral myectomy (n = 76). Compared with those in the transaortic group, patients in the trans-mitral group were more likely to be weaned off the ventilator within 24 h after surgery (80.3% vs 60.7%, P < 0.05) and to require a shorter duration of ventilation [29.01 (43.91) vs 51.12 (94.96) h, P = 0.08] and lower transfusion rate (26.3% vs 48.2%, P < 0.05). The in-hospital mortality rate of the transaortic and trans-mitral groups was 3.6% (n = 2) and 1.3% (n = 1), respectively. No significant inter-group differences were observed regarding in-hospital mortality, the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome or permanent pacemaker implantations. In the trans-mitral group, the thickness of the interventricular septum was significantly reduced postoperatively, with resultant relief of the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction [89.37 (27.5) vs 10.51 (0.65) mmHg, P < 0.01]. Transaortic myectomy also resulted in a significant reduction in left ventricular outflow tract gradient [90.41 (33.31) vs 11.35 (9.43) mmHg, P < 0.01]. And the incidence of residual systolic anterior motion of the trans-mitral group and the transaortic group was 2.67% and 1.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The thoracoscopic trans-mitral approach provides excellent exposure to the septum and anomalies of the mitral valve and papillary muscle. It relieves obstruction effectively, without increasing the incidence of major complications.

Thoracoscopic Trans-mitral Septal Myectomy for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy in the Elderly.

Background: The thoracoscopic trans-mitral approach can not only facilitate exposure of the ventricular septum, mitral valve, and subvalvular apparatus, it also enables the surgeons to perform concomitant mitral valve intervention. This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic trans-mitral septal myectomy in elderly patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods: We reviewed the demographic to clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent thoracoscopic trans-mitral septal myectomy in our center between April 2019 and April 2021. The population was divided into a younger group (<60 years) and an elderly group (≥60 years). Results: There were 46 and 20 patients in the younger and elderly groups, respectively. The majority of patients in the elderly group were female (39.1 vs. 80.0%, P < 0.01). Patients in the elderly group were more likely to be in New York Heart Association Class IV (2.2 vs. 80.0%, P < 0.01). The European System for Cardiac Operation Risk Evaluation II predicted mortality rates were significantly higher (3.97 ± 1.81 vs. 1.62 ± 0.86%, P < 0.01) in the elderly group. In the elderly group, a patient converted to median sternotomy due to left ventricular posterior free wall rupture following septal myectomy and mitral bioprosthetic valve replacement. The patient then underwent double-patch sandwich repair for rupture and mitral mechanical valve replacement and was eventually discharged. All patients in the elderly group were discharged, while one in the younger group died. No patient in the elderly group required permanent pacemaker implantation vs. one in the younger group. Patients in the elderly group were more likely to spend more time in the intensive care unit than those in the younger group (5.44 ± 5.80 days vs. 3.07 ± 2.72, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant intergroup difference in in-hospital mortality or complications. Importantly, the left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient was significantly decreased from 96.15 ± 32.89 mmHg to 8.2 ± 3.42 mmHg with no residual obstruction in the elderly group. The interventricular septal thickness was significantly decreased from 19.73 ± 3.14 mm to 11.30 ± 2.23 mm. Postoperative mitral regurgitation severity was significantly improved in the elderly group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that thoracoscopic trans-mitral septal myectomy is a feasible option for selected elderly patients with satisfactory outcomes similar to those of young patients.

Two-Port Thoracoscopic Myectomy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Three-Dimensional Printing.

Septal myectomy is recommended for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to maximal medical therapy for relieving the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. However, poor visualization techniques and limited procedural volume restrict the progress of inexperienced surgeons performing this procedure, while inflicting minimal trauma is always clinically desirable. Therefore, this report presents a 2-port thoracoscopic septal myectomy with intuitive simulation consisting of 3-dimensional reconstruction and printing.

Long-term outcomes of a totally thoracoscopic approach for reoperative mitral valve replacement: a propensity score matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to summarize the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients with previous mitral valve surgery (MVS) undergoing reoperative mitral valve replacement (MVR). METHODS: Data for all reoperative mitral valve replacements (re-MVRs) with or without concomitant tricuspid surgery were analyzed from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between January 2013 and December 2019. Propensity score matching resulted in 30 matched pairs with improved balance after matching in baseline covariates. Perioperative data and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Results are based on the matched cohorts between the two groups. The in-hospital mortality was 3.3% (two deaths) in the entire cohort and was not significantly different between the median sternotomy (MS) group and the totally thoracoscopic (TT) group. Most patients in the TT group had their tracheal intubation removed within 24 hours of surgery. The TT group had a diminished requirement for blood transfusion and a reduced 4-day postoperative chest tube drainage amount. The incidence of early major complications, including all-cause death and reoperation due to bleeding, was lower in the TT group. No significant differences were observed in the 7-year survival probability between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The encouraging results regarding the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent a TT re-MVR show that this approach is particularly beneficial for patients requiring reoperation.

Trends in redo mitral procedure for treating mitral bioprostheses failure: a single center's experience.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation (TM-VIV) has emerged as a viable and attractive alternative to surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR). This study aimed to review a single-center experience with redo mitral procedure for mitral bioprostheses failure over an 8-year period. In addition, it compared procedural safety and early outcomes of various approaches. METHODS: Between January 2013 and January 2021, 79 consecutive patients who underwent redo procedure for mitral bioprostheses failure in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. SMVR and transapical TM-VIV were performed in 54 and 25 patients, respectively. In the SMVR group, 12 patients underwent totally thoracoscopic redo mitral valve replacement (MVR). RESULTS: The annual volume of procedures grew continuously during the study period, with the use of totally thoracoscopic redo MVR increasing from 0% in 2012 to 20% in 2019. In 2020, 84.2% of total procedures were performed via the transcatheter approach. Patients in the TM-VIV group were significantly older and had higher scores on the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroScore II) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS PROM) (P<0.01). The in-hospital mortality for the SMVR group and TM-VIV group was 3.7% (2 patients) and 0, respectively. Compared to the SMVR group, TM-VIV was associated with shorter ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, and postoperative in-hospital stay, and there was less need for blood transfusion. In the subgroup analysis, no significant difference was detected among most perioperative outcomes between the totally thoracoscopy approach group and the TM-VIV group. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing number of patients demanding surgical treatments for mitral bioprostheses failure. TM-VIV is playing a significant role due to its scope of application and excellent outcomes.

A novel alternative: transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation using J-Valve for failed bioprosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Failed mitral bioprosthesis has conventionally been treated with redo surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR). Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation (TM-VIVI) is emerging as an alternative to SMVR in high-risk patients. We report our experience with transapical TM-VIVI using the J-Valve system. METHODS: From May 2020 to January 2021, 21 patients with a failed mitral bioprosthesis underwent transapical TM-VIVI without concomitant procedures at Guangdong Provincial People's hospital. The mean age was 74.62 years. All patients were heavily symptomatic with severe mitral regurgitation and increased trans-prosthetic gradient. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality (STS PROM) and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II (EuroScore II) scores were used and predicted high mortality (STS PROM, 12.91%±9.94%; EuroScore II, 12.04%±10.5%). All the procedures were performed in a hybrid room. RESULTS: The success rate was 100% with no conversion to median sternotomy and no intraprocedural death. The mean ventilation time and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were 25±21.44 minutes and 4.14±7.08 days, respectively. No major postoperative complications were observed, except 1 patient suffered pneumonia and required tracheostomy. All patients recovered well. Postoperative echocardiography revealed excellent hemodynamics with no residual mitral regurgitation in 19 patients and mild regurgitation in 2 patients. In a subgroup analysis, no significant differences among procedural and postoperative outcomes were detected in patients with previous aortic-mitral double valve replacement (DVR) compared to other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the safety and feasibility of transapical TM-VIVI using the J-Valve system, even in patients following DVR.

Quadrangular resection versus chordal replacement for degenerative posterior mitral leaflet prolapse.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study was to compare midterm results of quadrangular leaflet resection versus chordal replacement for the repair of degenerative posterior mitral leaflet (PML) prolapse, and to explore the risk factors for recurrent severe mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2018, 1,423 consecutive patients underwent mitral valve (MV) repair. A total of 317 had degenerative PML prolapse and constituted the study population. Of these, 74 (23.3%) underwent quadrangular leaflet resection, and 243 (76.7%) underwent chordal replacement. Outcomes were compared by using unadjusted data and propensity score-matched analyses. RESULTS: Patients with multiple leaflet prolapse were more likely to undergo chordal replacement (18.4% vs. 41.9%, P<0.001), and performed as a minimally invasive approach (47.3% vs. 61.7%, P=0.027). Of the entire cohort, 1 death (0.3%) occurred due to intraoperative aortic dissection, and 1 patient who had undergone chordal replacement required reoperation before discharge for posterior leaflet tearing. There was no significant difference in the probability of freedom from recurrent severe MR at 82 months between the resection and neochordae groups in both the pre-matched (95.6% vs. 88.8%, P=0.105) and matched (95.2% vs. 88.5%, P=0.170) cohorts, which was consistent across all of the examined subgroups (P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression indicated that dilated left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) was an independent risk factor for recurrent severe MR [<40 vs. >40 mm, hazards ratio (HR): 3.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20-8.39, P=0.020]; however, surgical technique was not (resection vs. neochordae, HR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.07-1.37, P=0.122). CONCLUSIONS: Chordal replacement for the repair of degenerative posterior MV prolapse yields similar satisfactory outcomes when compared with quadrangular resection, and is promising in minimally invasive cardiac surgery for various lesions. However, it is also associated with more recurrent severe MR, albeit non-significant, for which patients with dilated LVESD are at high risk.

Propensity-matched analysis of two port approach versus three port approach for totally thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: To objectively evaluate the feasibility, safety, effectiveness and short-term outcome of totally thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement via two port approach, we conducted a retrospective study comparing two port approach with three port approach for mitral valve replacement. METHODS: Data for all thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement were analyzed from Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017. To account for selection bias between two port approach and three approach, one-to-one propensity score caliper matching without replacement was performed. The clinical data of the two groups were collected, including preoperative cardiac function, operative data, postoperative complications, and short-term outcome. RESULTS: A total of 330 patients who underwent totally thoracoscopic mitral replacement via two port or three port from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017 were enrolled (two-port group: n=103; three-port group: n=227). Propensity score matching resulted in 71 matched pairs with improved balance post matching in baseline covariates. The baseline differences between two groups were eliminated (P>0.05 for all baseline variables). The cardiopulmonary bypass time (min) (154.27±57.02 vs. 142.68±51.33 P=0.183) and the aortic cross-clamp time (min) (106.99±106.98 vs. 90.16±31.63 P=0.206) in the two-port group were not significantly different from those in the three-port group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay, or amount of postoperative chest drainage. No perioperative death or re-exploration for bleeding was found in either group. As for other postoperative complications, two groups had the similar rate of lung infection lung infection (1.41% vs. 1.33% P=1.000) or acute renal failure (1.41% vs. 1.41% P=1.000). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, overall operative time, perioperative mortality, or complications were observed between two-port and three-port totally thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement. Two-port totally thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement is a safe, effective, and feasible procedure for mitral valve replacement.

Mitral valve replacement via minimally invasive totally thoracoscopic surgery versus traditional median sternotomy: a propensity score matched comparative study.

BACKGROUND: To compare surgical outcomes after mitral valve replacement via either minimally invasive thoracoscopic (MIs) or traditional median sternotomy (MS) surgery and determine the short- and mid-term clinical outcomes of the MI approach. METHODS: All patients who received either MIs (n=405) or MS (n=691) mitral valve replacement surgery at the Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute between January 2012 and July 2015 were analyzed for outcome differences due to surgical approach using propensity score matching. The best 202 matches from the MI group and the MS group were analyzed. The clinical data of the two groups were collected, including preoperative cardiac function, operative data, postoperative complications, and follow-up. RESULTS: A final total of 404 patients were included in this study after propensity score matching; the MIs group and the MS group each contained 202 patients. The two groups were similar in age, weight, pathological changes, and surgical approach. Compared with the MS group, the MIs group had a longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (P<0.001), aortic cross-clamping time (P<0.001), and total procedure time (P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding in-hospital mortality, stroke, pneumonia, acute renal failure, arrhythmia, and chylothorax. The MS group had significantly more patients with poor wound healing than the MIs group (P=0.004). The MI group had a lower rate of transfusion (P=0.037), shorter ventilation time (P=0.041), shorter ICU stay (P=0.033), reduced chest tube drainage and length of chest tube stay (P<0.001), and shorter hospital stay (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in hospital re-admission for bleeding, but the total hospitalization cost was higher in the MIs group (P=0.002). The mean follow-up was 26.59±12.33 months, the 1-year postoperative survival rate was 98.86%, and the overall survival rate was 97.44%. Compared with the MS group, the MIs group recovered earlier (P<0.05), and returned to work or study earlier (P<0.05). More patients in the MIs group were satisfied with the wound (P<0.001). The MS group had a higher incidence of postoperative osteomyelitis than the MIs group (P=0.028). There were no significant differences between groups in rates of mortality, stroke, pacemaker, reoperation, or 36-item Short Form Health Survey score. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the MS approach, the MIs method of mitral valve replacement has longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time; however, it does not increase the risk of mortality and complications. Furthermore, MIs causes less trauma, fewer transfusions, less wound infection, faster recovery, faster return to work or study, and greater satisfaction with the incision in the mid-term. MI cardiac surgery is safe, effective, and feasible.