Stroke outcomes following durable left ventricular assist device implant in patients bridged with micro-axial flow pump: Insights from a large registry.

BACKGROUND: Stroke after durable left ventricular assist device (d-LVAD) implantation portends high mortality. The incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and the impact on stroke outcomes of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) management among patients requiring bridge to d-LVAD with micro-axial flow-pump (mAFP, Abiomed) is unsettled. METHODS: Consecutive patients, who underwent d-LVAD implantation after being bridged with mAFP at 19 institutions, were retrospectively included. The incidence of early ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke after d-LVAD implantation (<60 days) and association of pre-d-LVAD characteristics and peri-procedural management with a specific focus on tMCS strategies were studied. RESULTS: Among 341 patients, who underwent d-LVAD implantation after mAFP implantation (male gender 83.6%, age 58 [48-65] years, mAFP 5.0/5.5 72.4%), the early ischemic stroke incidence was 10.8% and early hemorrhagic stroke 2.9%. The tMCS characteristics (type of mAFP device and access, support duration, upgrade from intra-aortic balloon pump, ECMELLA, ECMELLA at d-LVAD implantation, hemolysis, and bleeding) were not associated with ischemic stroke after d-LVAD implant. Conversely, the device model (mAFP 2.5/CP vs. mAFP 5.0/5.5: HR 5.6, 95%CI 1.4-22.7, p = 0.015), hemolysis on mAFP support (HR 10.5, 95% CI 1.3-85.3, p = 0.028) and ECMELLA at d-LVAD implantation (HR 5.0, 95% CI 1.4-18.7, p = 0.016) were associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke after d-LVAD implantation. Both early ischemic (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-4.5, p < 0.001) and hemorrhagic (HR 3.43, 95% CI 1.49-7.88, p = 0.004) stroke were associated with increased 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing d-LVAD implantation following mAFP support, tMCS characteristics do not impact ischemic stroke occurrence, while several factors are associated with hemorrhagic stroke suggesting a proactive treatment target to reduce this complication.

Risk Factor Analysis for 30-day Mortality After Surgery for Infective Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a challenging disease associated with high mortality. Several scores have been suggested to assess surgical risk. None was sufficiently adequate. We therefore analyzed risk factors for 30-day mortality. METHODS: A total of 438 consecutive patients had surgery for IE in our department between 2002 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups, one consisting of 30-day survivors (362 patients; 82.6%) and one of nonsurvivors (76 patients; 17.4%). Logistic regression analysis on pre- and intraoperative risk factors was performed and the groups were compared by univariable analyses. RESULTS: Patients in mortality group were older (69 [58, 77] vs. 63 [50, 72] years; p < 0.001), EuroSCORE II was higher (24.5 [12.1, 49.0] vs. 8.95 [3.7, 21.2]; p < 0.001) and there were more females. More frequently left ventricular function (below 30%), preoperative acute renal insufficiency, chronic dialysis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NYHA-class IV (New York Heart Association heart failure class IV), and cardiogenic shock occurred. Patients in the mortality group were often intensive care unit patients (40.8 vs. 22.4%; p < 0.001) or had a preoperative stroke (26.3 vs. 16.0%; p = 0.033). In the nonsurvivor group Staphylococcus aureus was prevalent. Streptococcus viridans was common in the survivor group as was isolated aortic valve endocarditis (32.9 vs. 17.1%; p = 0.006). Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and abscesses occurred more often in nonsurvivors. In the logistic regression analysis, female gender, chronic dialysis, cardiogenic shock, and NYHA IV and from intraoperative variables PVE, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and mitral valve surgery were the strongest predictors for 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: This study indeed clearly indicates that significant risk factors for 30-day mortality cannot be changed. Nevertheless, they should be taken into account for preoperative counselling, and they will alert the surgical team for an even more careful management.

Incidence Rates of Penn Classes and Class-Specific Mortality in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Patients: An Epidemiologic Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening emergency that is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. One of the complications is end-organ ischemia, a known predictor of mortality. The primary aims of this meta-analysis were to summarize the findings of observational studies investigating the utility of the Penn classification system and to analyze the incidence rates and mortality patterns within each class. The electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase were searched through to April 2023. These were filtered by multiple reviewers to give 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The extracted data included patient characteristics, and primary outcomes were the incidence rates of different Penn classes, along with the corresponding mortality for each class. Out of 1,512 studies identified during the initial search, 10 studies, including 4,494 patients, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled incidence of Penn A was highest at 0.55 (95% CI 0.52, 0.58), followed by Penn B at 0.21 (95% CI 0.17, 0.25), and finally Penn C at 0.14 (95% CI 0.11, 0.17). Patients with Penn BC were found to be at the highest risk of death, as their early mortality rates were 0.36 (95% CI 0.31, 0.41). Within those populations, the subtype with the highest individual mortality was Penn C at 0.21 (95% CI 0.15, 0.27), followed by Penn B at 0.19 (95% CI 0.15, 0.23) and Penn A at 0.07 (95% CI 0.05, 0.10). Among patients presenting with ATAAD, class A was most frequently observed, followed by classes B, C, and BC. These findings indicate an incremental increase in mortality rates with the progression of Penn classification.

Impact of Diabetes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Within 48 Hours.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients with coronary artery disease may benefit from elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It is unknown whether this merit is transferable to patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing surgery. METHOD: A total of 1,427 patients underwent CABG within 48 hours of being diagnosed with AMI at the current institution between 2001 and 2019. Of these patients, 206 (14.4%) had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 148 (10.4%) had non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Retrospective data analysis was performed. RESULTS: Patients with NIDDM showed the highest perioperative risk profile, with a EuroScore II of 11.6 (±10.3) compared with 7.8 (±8.0) in non-diabetic patients and 8.4 (±7.8) in patients with IDDM (p<0.001). Sub-analysis demonstrated a higher proportion of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients in the NIDDM cohort compared with the IDDM cohort (70.9% vs 56.8%; p=0.005). Postoperatively, NIDDM patients had more sepsis (p<0.01) and longer ventilation times (p<0.001) compared with non-DM and IDDM patients (p<0.01). Wound healing complications were rare, but almost twice as high in NIDDM patients compared with non-DM and IDDM patients (4.7% vs 0.9% vs 2.4%, respectively). The 30-day mortality was highest in the NIDDM cohort (18.3% vs 11.3% vs 7.8%; p=0.012). Analysis of survival for up to 15 years revealed a significantly reduced survival of diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic patients, with lowest survival rates in NIDDM patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients undergoing CABG within 48 hours of being diagnosed with AMI are at increased risk of short-term and long-term complications. Therefore, this particular group should undergo a careful evaluation concerning the expected risks and benefits of CABG in this setting.

Producing and Testing Prototype Tissue-Engineered 3D Tri-Leaflet Valved Stents on Biodegradable Poly-ε-Caprolactone Scaffolds.

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is a minimally-invasive alternative treatment for right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction and has been rapidly evolving over the past years. Heart valve prostheses currently available still have major limitations. Therefore, one of the significant challenges for the future is the roll out of transcatheter tissue engineered pulmonary valve replacement to more patients. In the present study, biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanofiber scaffolds in the form of a 3D leaflet matrix were successfully seeded with human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (hMSCs), and porcine MSCs (pMSCs) for three weeks for the generation of 3D tissue-engineered tri-leaflet valved stent grafts. The cell adhesion, proliferation, and distribution of these 3D heart leaflets was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All cell lineages were able to increase the overgrown leaflet area within the three-week timeframe. While hMSCs showed a consistent growth rate over the course of three weeks, ECFSs showed almost no increase between days 7 and 14 until a growth spurt appeared between days 14 and 21. More than 90% of heart valve leaflets were covered with cells after the full three-week culturing cycle in nearly all leaflet areas, regardless of which cell type was used. This study shows that seeded biodegradable PCL nanofiber scaffolds incorporated in nitinol or biodegradable stents will offer a new therapeutic option in the future.

Lung transplantation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective European cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The published experience of lung transplantation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the contemporary results of lung transplantation attempts in ARDS in major European centres. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicentre cohort study of all patients listed for lung transplantation between 2011 and 2019. We surveyed 68 centres in 22 European countries. All patients admitted to the waitlist for lung transplantation with a diagnosis of "ARDS/pneumonia" were included. Patients without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or mechanical ventilation were excluded. Patients were followed until 1 October 2020 or death. Multivariable analysis for 1-year survival after listing and lung transplantation was performed. RESULTS: 55 centres (81%) with a total transplant activity of 12 438 lung transplants during the 9-year period gave feedback. 40 patients with a median age of 35 years were identified. Patients were listed for lung transplantation in 18 different centres in 10 countries. 31 patients underwent lung transplantation (0.25% of all indications) and nine patients died on the waitlist. 90% of transplanted patients were on ECMO in combination with mechanical ventilation before lung transplantation. On multivariable analysis, transplantation during 2015-2019 was independently associated with better 1-year survival after lung transplantation (OR 10.493, 95% CI 1.977-55.705; p=0.006). 16 survivors out of 23 patients with known status (70%) returned to work after lung transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Lung transplantation in highly selected ARDS patients is feasible and outcome has improved in the modern era. The selection process remains ethically and technically challenging.

Tissue Engineered Transcatheter Pulmonary Valved Stent Implantation: Current State and Future Prospect.

Patients with the complex congenital heart disease (CHD) are usually associated with right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction and typically require multiple surgical interventions during their lives to relieve the right ventricular outflow tract abnormality. Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement was used as a non-surgical, less invasive alternative treatment for right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction and has been rapidly developing over the past years. Despite the current favorable results of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement, many patients eligible for pulmonary valve replacement are still not candidates for transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement. Therefore, one of the significant future challenges is to expand transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement to a broader patient population. This review describes the limitations and problems of existing techniques and focuses on decellularized tissue engineering for pulmonary valve stenting.

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome in ECMO patients: A 3-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding is a common but possibly underreported side effect of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). Impairment of primary hemostasis by acquired von Willebrand syndrome (aVWS) and platelet dysfunction as well as activation and consumption of plasmatic coagulation factors contribute to hemorrhage. The aim of the present cohort study of consecutively enrolled patients admitted to our ECMO center was to collect demographic, medical and laboratory data possibly associated with i) development of clinically relevant bleeding and/or ii) death during a 12-months follow-up. RESULTS: Within a 3-year period 338 white patients aged 18-89 years (median: 60; male 64.5%) were enrolled. 78 of 338 patients (23%) presented with clinical relevant bleeding symptoms. The overall death rate was 74.6% within a median time of 9 days (1-229) post intervention. Logistic-regression analysis adjusted for age and gender revealed that i) the presence of blood group O versus non-O (Odds ratio (OR)/95%CI: 1.9/1.007-3.41), ECMO duration per day (1.1/1.06-1.14), veno-venous versus veno-arterial ECMO cannulation (2.33/1.2-4.5) and the overall need for blood product administered per unit (1.02/1.016-1.028) was independenly associated with bleeding in patients suffering from aVWS. ii) Older age (increase per year) at ECMO start (1.015/1.012-1.029) and an increasing amount of blood product units were significantly related with death (1.007/1.001-1.013). Patients with veno-venous versus veno-arterial cannulation survived longer (0.48/0.24-0.94). CONCLUSION: In the present cohort study we found a clinical relevant bleeding rate of 23% in subjects with aVWS associated with blood group O, a longer ECMO duration and veno-venous cannulation.

Risk Factors for Mortality in Acute Aortic Dissection Type A: A Centre Experience Over 15 Years.

INTRODUCTION: Acute aortic dissection Type A (AADA) is still associated with a high mortality rate and frequent postoperative complications. This study was designed to evaluate the risk factors for mortality in AADA patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 344 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for AADA in moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (20-24°C nasopharyngeal) between 2001 and 2016. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate was 18%. Nonsurvivors were significantly older (65.7 ± 12.0 years vs. 62.0 ± 12.5 years; p = 0.034) with significantly higher Euro-score II [15.4% (6.6; 23.0) vs. 4.63% (2.78; 9.88); p < 0.001)]. Intraoperatively, survivors had statistically shorter cardiopulmonary bypass times [163 (134; 206) vs. 198 min (150; 245); p = 0.001]. However, the hypothermic circulatory arrest time was similar between both groups. Postoperatively, the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) (55.9 vs. 15.2%; p < 0.001), stroke (27.9 vs. 12.1%; p = 0.002) and sepsis (18.0 vs. 2.1%; p < 0.001) were significantly higher among nonsurvivors. The multi-variable logistic regression confirmed that older age, previous cardiac surgery, preoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), blood transfusion and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) were independent risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSION: Our analysis suggested that the reason for mortality was multifactorial, especially age, previous cardiac surgery, CPR, transfusion, as well as postoperative AKI were considered risk factors for mortality.

Sex-Specific Outcome after Ascending Aortic Surgery in Moderate Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Historically, female patients had worse outcome undergoing heart surgery. No recent data exist on gender-specific outcome after moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA). The aim of this large retrospective analysis was to investigate gender disparity in patients undergoing elective surgery of ascending aorta in MHCA at 24°C. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 905 (33.3% female) cases of elective heart surgery in MHCA for ascending aortic aneurysm (90.9%) or severely calcified aorta (12.5%) between 2001 and 2015. Furthermore, 299 female and 299 male patients matched by propensity score were compared. Patients with dissection of the aorta were excluded. RESULTS: Women were older (68.4 ± 9.9 vs. 65.8 ± 11.6 years; p = 0.002), had higher logistic EuroSCORE I (18.4 [11.7; 29.2] vs. 12.3% [7.4; 22.6]; p < 0.001), and significantly shorter cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (132 [105; 175] vs. 150 [118; 192] minutes; p < 0.001), while mean MHCA time was longer (15 [13; 19] vs. 14 [12; 17] minutes; p = 0.003). Surgical procedures were less complex in women and they were treated more frequently by isolated supracoronary ascending aorta replacement (61 vs. 54%; p = 0.046). Postoperatively, men showed a higher incidence of neurologic complications (7.0 vs. 3.3%; p = 0.03). The 30-day mortality (women 4.9% vs. men 3.9%; p = 0.48) did not differ significantly, likewise after statistical matching (4.7 vs. 2.3%; p = 0.120). Age, CPB time, and blood transfusion, but not female gender, were risk factors for mortality in multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSION: This study supports the hypothesis that female gender is not associated with increased short-term mortality or perioperative adverse events in elective aortic surgery in MHCA.

Impact of a surgical approach for implantation of durable left ventricular assist devices in patients on extracorporeal life support.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the surgical approach on the postoperative outcome in patients who underwent left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation after having received veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (va-ECLS) using data from a European registry (ECLS-VAD). Five hundred and thirty-one patients were included. METHODS: A propensity score-adjusted outcome analysis was performed, resulting in 324 patients in the full sternotomy (FS) group and 39 in the less invasive surgery (LIS) group. RESULTS: The surgery lasted in median 236 min in the FS group versus 263 min in the LIS group (p = 0.289). The median chest tube output during the first 24 h was similar in both groups. Patients who underwent implantation with an FS required more blood products during the first 24 postoperative hours (median 16 vs. 12, p = 0.033). The incidence of revision due to bleeding was also higher (35.5 vs. 15.4%, p = 0.016). A temporary postoperative right ventricular assist device was necessary in 45.1 (FS) versus 23.1% (LIS) of patients, respectively (p = 0.067). No stroke occurred in the LIS group during the first 30 days after surgery (7.4% in the FS group). The incidence of stroke and of renal, hepatic, and respiratory failure during the follow-up was similar in both groups. The 30-day and one-year survival were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: LIS for implantation of a durable LVAD in patients on va-ECLS implanted for cardiogenic shock is associated with less revision due to bleeding, less administration of blood products and absence of perioperative stroke, with no impact on survival.

Effectiveness and Safety of Percutaneous Thrombectomy Devices: Comparison of Rotarex and Angiojet in a Physiological Circulation Model.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the percutaneous Rotarex and Angiojet thrombectomy devices with regard to effectiveness and in vitro safety. METHODS: The Rotarex and Angiojet devices were evaluated in an established in vitro pulsatile flow model with a human femoropopliteal vessel phantom. First pass recanalisation and thrombus weight were assessed after thrombectomy, as well as micro- and macro-emboli. Further, histological evaluation of the vascular phantom was performed to analyse vascular injuries. RESULTS: Thrombus weight did not differ significantly prior to the thrombectomy between the groups, but the Rotarex showed slight advantages in thrombus removal vs. the Angiojet regarding first pass recanalisation. Micro- and macro-emboli occurred in most of the endovascular manoeuvres performed; however, significantly more macro-emboli (2.37 ± 1.51 vs. 0.87 ± 0.83; p = .048) were observed using the Rotarex than the Angiojet. Macroscopic dissections were detected in the Rotarex group (n = 3) but not in the Angiojet group. Microscopic vascular injuries were detected significantly more often in the Rotarex group (Rotarex: 531.61 µm ± 102.81 µm; Angiojet: 705.42 µm ± 61.68 µm [p = .001]). CONCLUSION: Both devices showed a comparable performance, with a slight advantage for the Rotarex regarding first pass recanalisation. Significantly more thrombo-emboli, and vascular injuries were observed in the Rotarex group with the latter being obviously the more tissue preserving procedure but potentially with a lower rate of recanalisation. Based on the present results, clinical randomised trials, including long term follow up, are needed to optimise and improve the use of catheter based procedures, taking into account the thrombus entity, localisation, and clinical history.

Extracorporeal life support system during cardiovascular procedures: Insights from the German Lifebridge registry.

The frequency of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device application has increased in recent years. Besides implantation in the emergency setting, such as circulatory arrest, MCS is also increasingly used electively to ensure hemodynamic stability in high-risk patients, for example, during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), valve interventions or off-pump coronary bypass surgery. Lifebridge (Zoll Medical GmbH, Germany) is a compact percutaneous MCS device widely used in daily clinical routine. The present study aimed to investigate the indications, feasibility, and outcomes after use of Lifebridge in cardiac interventions, evaluating a large-scale multicenter database. A total of 60 tertiary cardiovascular centers were questioned regarding application and short-term outcomes after the use of the Lifebridge system (n = 160 patients). Out of these 60 centers, eight consented to participate in the study (n = 39 patients), where detailed data were collected using standardized questionnaires. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patient population, procedural as well as follow-up data were recorded and analyzed. In 60 interrogated centers, Lifebridge was used in 74% of emergency cases and 26% in the setting of planned interventions. The subcohort interrogated in detail displayed the same distribution of application scenarios, while the main cardiovascular procedure was high-risk PCI (82%). All patients were successfully weaned from the device and 92% (n = 36) of the patients studied in detail survived after 30 days. As assessed 30 days after insertion of the device, bleeding requiring red blood cell (RBC) transfusion constituted the main complication, occurring in 49% of cases. In our analysis of clinical data, the use of Lifebridge in cardiac intervention was shown to be feasible. Further prospective studies are warranted to identify patients who benefit from hemodynamic MCS support despite the increased rate of RBC transfusion due to challenges in access sites during cardiovascular procedures.

Outcomes of Patients after Implantation of the Pericardial All-Biological Valve No-React Aortic Conduit (BioIntegral) for Root Replacement in Complex Surgical Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Therapy of complex aortic root pathologies remains a great surgical challenge. Though different graft materials are available to replace the often-destroyed aortic root, long durability and freedom from reoperation of the latter are still under debate. The aim of our study was to investigate patients' postoperative outcome after implantation of the BioIntegral conduit in complex aortic root pathologies. METHODS: From February 2014 to May 2017, 33 consecutive patients (69.7% male) with a median age of 73 (57.5; 76.2) years underwent aortic root replacement with the BioIntegral conduit at our institution. Severe aortic valve endocarditis (78.8%) was the predominant indication for surgery. In 28 patients (84.9%), implantation was performed as redo or in 87.8% as urgent and emergent surgery. Primary end-point was the 30-day survival time, evaluated by Cox regression analysis. Secondary midterm outcome and graft-related reoperation were analyzed. RESULTS: Median follow-up for all patients was 178 (8; 659) days. Median EuroScore II was 19.9% (13.4; 29.9). Freedom from reoperation was 97%. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 33% mainly caused by multiorgan failure in six (18.2%) patients and cardiac failure in five (15.1%) patients. One further death occurred during follow-up at day 156. None was directly conduit-related. Graft reinfection after the 4th surgery with basal abscess formation occurred in only one patient (3%). Early echocardiographic assessment of the valve revealed good functional results. A higher EuroScore II was significantly associated with a poorer 30-day survival time (hazard ratio, 1.039; 95% confidence interval, 1.015-1.063, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Aortic root replacement for complex pathologies is associated with substantial 30-day mortality, but survival of patients after discharge from hospital was stable. Early functional status of the BioIntegral valve was good. Though freedom from re-operation was low, long-term outcome and long-term functional status have to be further evaluated.

ICU Readmission after Cardiac Surgery-Still a Matter of Concern?

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in diagnostics and perioperative care, readmission to intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery is still a severe drawback for patients with considerable morbidity, mortality, and costs. Aim of this retrospective analysis was to disentangle independent risk factors for ICU readmission. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 01/2004 and 12/2012, 336 out of 9,555 (3.5%) patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Regensburg (Germany) were readmitted to ICU. A matched-pair analysis (readmission vs control group) was conducted, matching for gender, age, and surgical procedure. Operations included coronary artery bypass grafting, valve reconstruction/replacement, aortic surgery, combined procedures, and others. Mean follow-up was 6.2 ± 2.3 years. RESULTS: Median age of the readmitted patients was 71 years (65; 76), and the majority was male (67.9%). Median logistic Euroscore as a parameter for perioperative risk was significantly higher as compared with the control group (5.8 vs 5.2, p = 0.045) as was the prevalence of comorbidities including hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prior myocardial infarction, stroke, and PAOD. Most common reasons for readmission were cardiopulmonary instability (27.4%), respiratory failure (20.8%), and surgery for deep sternal infection (8.6%). Twenty-one percent required more than one readmission. Overall mortality was significantly higher in readmitted patients (21.1 vs 12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, readmission to the ICU after cardiac surgery is a rare complication that is still associated with excessive mortality. Establishment of an intermediate care unit proved to be an excellent means to reduce ICU stay without endangering post-surgery patients and significantly reduced the ICU readmission rate.

Mid- and Long-Term Outcomes of Total Arterial Myocardial Revascularization in Patients Aged 70 Years and Older: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Patients receiving arterial grafts have superior late survival after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate the mid- and long-term results of total arterial (TA) revascularization in the elderly. METHODS: Between January 2005 and December 2012, a retrospective study on age-, gender-, and EuroSCORE-matched patients aged 70 years and older was performed. Altogether, 356 patients who received isolated CABG were assigned to either TA group or control (CON) group. RESULTS: No significant differences were noted in regard to preoperative risk factors. The number of distal anastomoses was significantly higher in the CON group (3.6 ± 0.6 vs. 2.9 ± 0.8; p < 0.001). Postoperatively, no significant differences were noted in regard to morbidity or mortality. There were no significant differences in mortality rate at 1 year (5.6 vs. 5.2%; p = 0.98), or 5 years (9.0 vs. 12.1%; p = 0.39) between both groups. However, the TA group was associated with significantly higher rate of event-free survival (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TA revascularization is an effective procedure. Lower rates of late cardiac events encourage the use of this concept for the elderly.

Impact of Elevated Donor Troponin I as Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Adult Heart Transplantation: A Single-center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Due to globally increasing donor organ shortage, investigation of previously described risk factors for utilizing marginal donor hearts is needed. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of elevated donor serum troponin I (TnI) levels on outcome after heart transplantation (HTx). METHODS: Between January 1996 and August 2013, 161 patients were reviewed for donor TnI serum levels (>0.3 ng/mL was considered elevated), postoperative outcome parameters, 30-day mortality, and 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. RESULTS: TnI levels were elevated in 45 (28.0%) donors. Recipients of hearts with elevated TnI had higher incidence of postoperative systolic dysfunction, prolonged inotropic support, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay (p < 0.001). This group had higher 30-day mortality (22.2% vs 8.6%, p = 0.03) and lower 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival (56%, 53%, and 50% versus 82%, 76%, and 69%, p = 0.032). Elevated TnI was the only independent risk factor for 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] 3.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-10.27, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated donor TnI serum concentration seems to be a marker for adverse outcome and increased short- and long-term mortality after HTx. Nevertheless, many other perioperative variables and parameters can be associated with outcome.

Over Ten Years of Experience with a Modified Right Atrial Anastomosis in Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: Follow-up and Comparison with the Biatrial and Bicaval Technique.

BACKGROUND: In 1997, a modified right atrial anastomosis (cavoatrial technique) for orthotopic heart transplantation (oHTx) was first developed in our institution. The purpose of this study is to report our long-term experience with this technique compared with biatrial and bicaval technique. METHODS: Retrospectively, 202 consecutive oHTx between 1997 and 2013 were analyzed. The applied transplantation techniques were biatrial (n = 108), bicaval (n = 22), and cavoatrial (n = 72). RESULTS: Demographic data were similar in all groups. The cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp time were significantly shorter in the biatrial group. Follow-up echocardiographic examination showed excellent results in all groups with no relevant differences. After 1 year, occurrence of severe tricuspid regurgitation (biatrial 1.9% vs bicaval 0.0% vs cavoatrial 1.4%) was low in all groups. Rate of permanent pacemaker implantations was also low (12.0% vs 5.0% vs 11.1%). There were no significant differences in survival between the groups. CONCLUSION: The cavoatrial technique can be a safe and simple alternative for heart transplantation. Easy handling and similar reduced postoperative complications encourage the use of this technique.

Effect of Xenon Anesthesia Compared to Sevoflurane and Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery on Postoperative Cardiac Troponin Release: An International, Multicenter, Phase 3, Single-blinded, Randomized Noninferiority Trial.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic myocardial damage accompanying coronary artery bypass graft surgery remains a clinical challenge. We investigated whether xenon anesthesia could limit myocardial damage in coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients, as has been reported for animal ischemia models. METHODS: In 17 university hospitals in France, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands, low-risk elective, on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients were randomized to receive xenon, sevoflurane, or propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia for anesthesia maintenance. The primary outcome was the cardiac troponin I concentration in the blood 24 h postsurgery. The noninferiority margin for the mean difference in cardiac troponin I release between the xenon and sevoflurane groups was less than 0.15 ng/ml. Secondary outcomes were the safety and feasibility of xenon anesthesia. RESULTS: The first patient included at each center received xenon anesthesia for practical reasons. For all other patients, anesthesia maintenance was randomized (intention-to-treat: n = 492; per-protocol/without major protocol deviation: n = 446). Median 24-h postoperative cardiac troponin I concentrations (ng/ml [interquartile range]) were 1.14 [0.76 to 2.10] with xenon, 1.30 [0.78 to 2.67] with sevoflurane, and 1.48 [0.94 to 2.78] with total intravenous anesthesia [per-protocol]). The mean difference in cardiac troponin I release between xenon and sevoflurane was -0.09 ng/ml (95% CI, -0.30 to 0.11; per-protocol: P = 0.02). Postoperative cardiac troponin I release was significantly less with xenon than with total intravenous anesthesia (intention-to-treat: P = 0.05; per-protocol: P = 0.02). Perioperative variables and postoperative outcomes were comparable across all groups, with no safety concerns. CONCLUSIONS: In postoperative cardiac troponin I release, xenon was noninferior to sevoflurane in low-risk, on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients. Only with xenon was cardiac troponin I release less than with total intravenous anesthesia. Xenon anesthesia appeared safe and feasible.

Development of a new catheter prototype for laser thrombolysis under guidance of optical coherence tomography (OCT): validation of feasibility and efficacy in a preclinical model.

In this feasibility study, a novel catheter prototype for laser thrombolysis under the guidance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) was designed and evaluated in a preclinical model. Human arteries and veins were integrated into a physiological flow model and occluded with thrombi made from the Chandler Loop. There were four experimental groups: placebo, 20 mg alteplase, laser, 20 mg alteplase + laser. The extent of thrombolysis was analyzed by weighing, OCT imaging and relative thrombus size. In the alteplase group, thrombus size decreased to 0.250 ± 0.036 g (p < 0.0001) and 14.495 ± 0.526 mm2 (p < 0.0001) at 60 min. The relative thrombus size decreased to 73.6 ± 4.1% at 60 min (p < 0.0001). In the laser group, thrombus size decreased significantly to 0.145 ± 0.028 g (p < 0.0001) and 11.559 ± 1.034 mm2 (p < 0.0001). In the alteplase + laser group, thrombus size decreased significantly (0.051 ± 0.026 g; p < 0.0001; 9.622 ± 0.582 mm2; p < 0.0001; 47.4 ± 6.1%; p < 0.0001) in contrast to sole alteplase and laser application. The reproducibility and accuracy of the OCT imaging was high (SD <10%). Histological examination showed no relevant destruction of the vascular layers after laser ablation (arteries: 745.8 ± 5.5 µm; p = 0.69; veins: 448.3 ± 4.5 µm; p = 0.27). Thus, laser ablation and OCT imaging are feasible with the novel catheter and thrombolysis combining alteplase with laser irradiation appears highly efficient.