Integrative analysis reveals early and distinct genetic and epigenetic changes in intraductal papillary and tubulopapillary cholangiocarcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: A detailed understanding of the molecular alterations in different forms of cholangiocarcinogenesis is crucial for a better understanding of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and may pave the way to early diagnosis and better treatment options. DESIGN: We analysed a clinicopathologically well-characterised patient cohort (n=54) with high-grade intraductal papillary (IPNB) or tubulopapillary (ITPN) neoplastic precursor lesions of the biliary tract and correlated the results with an independent non-IPNB/ITPN associated CCA cohort (n=294). The triplet sample set of non-neoplastic biliary epithelium, precursor and invasive CCA was analysed by next generation sequencing, DNA copy number and genome-wide methylation profiling. RESULTS: Patients with invasive CCA arising from IPNB/ITPN had better prognosis than patients with CCA not associated with IPNB/ITPN. ITPN was localised mostly intrahepatic, whereas IPNB was mostly of extrahepatic origin. IPNB/ITPN were equally associated with small-duct and large-duct type intrahepatic CCA. IPNB exhibited mutational profiles of extrahepatic CCA, while ITPN had significantly fewer mutations. Most mutations were shared between precursor lesions and corresponding invasive CCA but ROBO2 mutations occurred exclusively in invasive CCA and CTNNB1 mutations were mainly present in precursor lesions. In addition, IPNB and ITPN differed in their DNA methylation profiles and analyses of latent methylation components suggested that IPNB and ITPN may have different cells-of-origin. CONCLUSION: Integrative analysis revealed that IPNB and ITPN harbour distinct early genetic alterations, IPNB are enriched in mutations typical for extrahepatic CCA, whereas ITPN exhibited few genetic alterations and showed distinct epigenetic profiles. In conclusion, IPNB/ITPN may represent a distinctive, intermediate form of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinogenesis.

Early and midterm results of frozen elephant trunk operation with Evita open stent-graft in patients with Marfan syndrome: results of a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment of patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is not recommended. Hybrid procedures such as frozen elephant trunk (FET), which combines stent-graft deployment with an integrated non-stented fabric graft for proximal grafting and suturing, have not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of FET operation in patients with MFS. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the International E-vita Open Registry (IEOR) who underwent FET procedure between January 2001 and February 2020 meeting Ghent criteria for MFS were included in the study. Early and midterm results were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative, postoperative and follow-up computed tomography angiography scans were analysed. RESULTS: We analyzed 37 patients [mean age 38 ± 11 years, 65% men]. Acute or chronic aortic dissection was present in 35 (95%) patients (14 and 21 patients respectively). Two (5%) patients had an aneurysm without dissection. Malperfusion syndrome was present in 4 patients. Twenty-nine (78%) patients had history of aortic surgical interventions. The 30-day and in-hospital mortality amounted to 8 and 14% respectively. False lumen exclusion was present in 73% in stented segment in last postoperative CT. The overall 5-year survival was 71% and freedom from reintervention downstream was 58% at 5 years. Of the nine patients who required reintervention for distal aortic disease, one patient died. CONCLUSIONS: FET operation for patients with MFS can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity. In long-term follow-up no reinterventions on the aortic arch were required. FET allows for easier second stage operations providing platform for surgical and endovascular reinterventions.

Reply to Jasinski M et al.: "Indeed, there is still room for improvement in long-term durability of BAV repair".

We read the letter to the editor by Dr Jasinski et al. entitled "Long-term durability of valve-sparing or repair procedures in BAV-Is there room for improvement?" with great interest.

Longer-term outcomes after bicuspid aortic valve repair in 142 patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the longer-term results of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair with or without aortic root replacement. METHODS: From 1999 to 2017, 142 patients with or without aortic root dilatation who underwent repair of a regurgitant BAV were included in the study. Ninety-four patients underwent isolated BAV repair (Group 1; median age 43 years) and 48 patients underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement plus BAV repair (aortic valve reimplantation-Group 2; median age 48 years). Median clinical follow-up time was 5.9 years (range 0.5-15) in Group 1 and 3 years (range 0.5-16) in Group 2, respectively. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 1% in Group 1, and 2% in Group 2 (p = .6). The 5- and 10-year survival was 93 ± 2.9% and 81 ± 5.8% in Group 1 and 96 ± 3.1% and 96 ± 3.1% in Group 2, respectively (p = .31). Eleven patients of Group 1 (1.7%/patient-year) and five patients of Group 2 (2.2%/patient-year) underwent reoperation of the aortic valve (p = .5). The 5- and 10-year freedom from reoperation were 93.0 ± 2.1% and 77.1 ± 7.1% in Group 1 and 93.0 ± 5.0% and 76.7 ± 9.6% in Group 2 (p = .83), respectively. At the latest follow-up, only two patients of Group 1 and 1 patient of Group 2 had AV regurgitation = 2° (p = .7). The cumulative linearized incidence of all valve-related complications (bleeding, stroke, endocarditis, and reoperation) was 2.9%/patient-year in Group 1% and 4%/patient-year in Group 2, respectively (p = .6). CONCLUSIONS: Isolated BAV repair and combined aortic valve reimplantation plus BAV repair provide good clinical longer-term outcomes with relatively low reoperation rate and durable valve function.

Mitral Valve Surgery via Upper Ministernotomy: Single-Centre Experience in More than 400 Patients.

Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional sternotomy aiming to decrease surgical trauma. The aim of the study was to describe our experience with minimally invasive MV surgery through partial upper sternotomy (PUS) regarding short- and long-term outcomes. Methods: From January 2004 through March 2014, 419 patients with a median age of 58.9 years (interquartile range 18.7; 31.7% females) underwent isolated primary MV surgery using PUS. Myxomatous degenerative MV disease was the predominant pathology (77%). The patients' mean EuroSCORE II risk profile was 3.9 ± 3.6%. Results: Mitral valve repair was performed in 384 patients (91.6%) and replacement in 35 patients (8.4%). Thirty-day mortality was 3.1%. In total, 29 (6.9%) deaths occurred during the follow-up. The overall estimated survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 93.1 ± 1.3%, 87.1 ± 1.9%, and 81.1 ± 3.4%. Reoperation was necessary in 14 (3.3%) patients. The overall freedom from MV reoperation at 1, 5, and 10 years was 98.2 ± 0.7%, 96.1 ± 1.2%, and 86.7 ± 6.7% and the overall freedom from recurrent MV regurgitation > grade 2 in repaired valves at 1, 5, and 10 years was 98.8 ± 0.6%, 98.8 ± 0.6%, and 94.6 ± 3.3%. Conclusions: Minimally invasive MV surgery via PUS can be performed with particularly good early and late results. Thus, the PUS approach with the use of standard surgical instruments and cannulation techniques can be a valuable option for the MV surgery either in patients contraindicated or not suitable to minithoracotomy.

Age-related regulation and region-specific distribution of ion channel subunits promoting atrial fibrillation in human left and right atria.

AIMS: Age-induced changes and electrical remodelling are important components of the atrial fibrillation (AF) substrate. To study regional distribution and age-dependent changes in gene expression that may promote AF in human atria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) tissue samples were obtained from donor hearts unsuitable for transplantation and from patients undergoing mitral valve repair. Atrial fibrillation was mimicked in vitro by tachypacing of human atrial tissue slices. Ionic currents were studied by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique; gene expression was analysed by real-time qPCR and immunoblotting. Both healthy RA and RA from older patients showed greater CACNA1c mRNA and CaV1.2 protein expression than LA. No age-dependent changes of Kir2.1 expression in both atria were seen. Remodelling occurred in a qualitatively similar manner in RA and LA. IK1 and Kir2.1 protein expression increased with AF. MiR-1, miR-26a, and miR-26b were down-regulated with AF in both atria. ICa,L was decreased. CACNA1c and CACNA2b expression decreased and miR-328 increased in RA and LA during AF. Ex vivo tachypacing of human atrial slices replicated these findings. There were age-dependent increases in miR-1 and miR-328, while miR-26a decreased with age in atrial tissues from healthy human donor hearts. CONCLUSION: Features of electrical remodelling in man occur in a qualitatively similar manner in both human atria. Age-related miR-328 dysregulation and reduced ICa,L may contribute to increased AF susceptibility with age.

Moderate Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest (≥ 28°C) with Selective Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion for Total Arch Replacement with Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal hypothermic level during circulatory arrest in aortic arch surgery remains controversial, particularly in frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedures. We describe herein our experience for total arch replacement with FET technique under moderate systemic hypothermic circulatory arrest (≥ 28°C) during selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. METHODS: Between January 2009 and January 2016, 38 consecutive patients underwent elective total arch replacement for various aortic arch pathologies with FET technique using the E-vita Open hybrid prosthesis (Jotec GmbH, Hechingen, Germany). Selective unilateral or bilateral cerebral perfusion under moderate systemic hypothermic circulatory arrest (28.7°C ± 0.5°C) was used in all patients. Minimally invasive total arch replacement with FET via partial upper sternotomy was performed in 15 patients (39%) and in the remaining 23 patients (61%) via full sternotomy. Mean late follow-up was 3 ± 2 years and was 98% complete. Clinical data were prospectively entered into our institutional database. RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary bypass time accounted for 198 ± 58 minutes and the myocardial ischemic time 109 ± 29 minutes. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion time was 55 ± 6 minutes. Lower body circulatory arrest time was 39 ± 11 minutes. Unilateral cerebral perfusion was performed in 31 patients (82%), and bilateral in 7 patients (18%). Intensive care unit stay was 4 ± 3 days. Thirty-day mortality was 5% (n = 2). Late survival at 3 years was 87 ± 3%. Two patients (5%) required reexploration for bleeding. Patients were discharged after a hospital length of stay of 7 ± 2 days. Postoperative permanent neurologic complication occurred in two patients (5%). Three patients (8%) experienced a transient neurologic disorder. New transient renal replacement therapy was necessary in three patients (8%). No spinal cord injury was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that moderate systemic hypothermic circulatory arrest (≥ 28°C) in combination with antegrade cerebral perfusion can safely be applied for total aortic arch replacement with FET and offers sufficient neurologic and visceral organ protection.

Thromboembolic infarction caused by an unknown patent foramen ovale 30 years after VA shunt insertion: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoatrial shunt (VA) insertion is one of the possible surgical procedures to treat hydrocephalus. However, it is also associated with several complications such as obstruction and shunt infection as well as life-threatening complications like intraatrial thrombus or thrombosis on the distal catheter. In this case report, we share a rare case of a patient with a VA shunt, who was admitted to our hospital with a stroke. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 56-year-old female patient with suspected acute stroke was admitted to the stroke unit. CT and MRI scans showed multiple cerebral infarctions in both hemispheres. The transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed at the tip of the VA shunt catheter, which was implanted about 30 years ago due to aqueduct stenosis, also a thrombotic formation as the reason of stroke. Interestingly, the tip of the catheter was not in the right atrium as expected, but in the left atrium. Further evaluation showed a patent foramen ovale (PFO), through which the catheter migrated from the right to the left side. At first, conservative treatment with anticoagulation was started with the aim to dissolve the thrombotic formation; however, a control TEE showed an unchanged mass at the catheter tip. Therefore, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was implanted and the proximal shunt catheter was removed with an additional closure of the PFO by our heart surgeons. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged 10 days later in good condition to a rehabilitation center. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboembolic events due to a PFO are rare but possible life-threatening complication after VA shunt insertion. Therefore, preoperative cardiac diagnostic might be clinically relevant prior to a VA shunt implantation to avoid such complications.

Midterm Results of a Minimally Invasive Approach in David Procedure.

BACKGROUND: The David procedure is a well-known technique in selected patients with aortic root pathology. A minimally invasive approach in heart surgery increases open interest. METHODS: From 1991 to 2015, the David technique was performed in 296 patients in our unit. In 90 cases, operations were performed through partial upper sternotomy. The patient mean age was 57 ± 14 years in the minimally invasive group (n = 90) and 58 ± 14 years in the complete sternotomy group (n = 206; p = 0.2). The neosinus modification was performed in 80 patients (89%) in the minimally invasive group and in 79 patients (38%) in the complete sternotomy group (p < 0.01). Mean follow-up was 3 ± 2 years in the minimally invasive group and 8 ± 4 years in the complete sternotomy group. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was zero in the minimally invasive group and was 3% (n = 6) in the complete sternotomy group (p = 0.1). The need for packed red blood cells was significantly lower in the minimally invasive group (1.6 ± 3 U) than in the complete sternotomy group (3.7 ± 6 U; p < 0.01). Thirty late deaths (2% per patient-year) were observed in the complete sternotomy group versus zero in the minimally invasive group (p < 0.01). One patient (0.5% per patient-year) in the minimally invasive group and 12 patients (0.8% per patient-year) in the complete sternotomy group required reoperation in the follow-up period (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive David technique for patients with ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve insufficiency offers a good solution with low perioperative blood transfusion rate. Our midterm results show low valve-related complications and reoperation rate. However, long-term follow-up of the minimally invasive group is necessary.

Is More than One Hour of Selective Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion in Moderate-to-Mild Systemic Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest for Surgery of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Safe?

OBJECTIVES: Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) remains a surgical challenge with considerable risk of morbidity and mortality. Antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) has been popularized, offering a more physiologic method of brain perfusion during complex aortic arch repair, often necessary in setting of AAD. The safe limits of this approach under moderate-to-mild systemic hypothermic circulatory arrest (≥ 28°C) are yet to be defined. Thus, the current study investigates our clinical results after surgical treatment for AAD in patients with a selective ACP and systemic circulatory arrest time of ≥ 60 minutes in moderate-to-mild hypothermia (≥ 28°C). METHODS: Between January 2000 and April 2016, 63 consecutive patients underwent surgical treatment for AAD employing selective ACP during moderate-to-mild systemic hypothermia (≥ 28°C) with prolonged ACP and circulatory arrest times. Patients' mean age was 59 ± 15 years, and 39 patients (62%) were men. Hemiarch replacement and total arch replacement were performed in 13 (21%) and 50 (79%) patients, respectively. Frozen elephant trunk, arch light, and elephant trunk technique were performed in nine (14%), six (10%), and three patients (5%), respectively. Clinical data were prospectively entered into our institutional database. Mean late follow-up was 6 ± 4 years and was 98% complete. RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary bypass time accounted for 245 ± 81 minutes and the myocardial ischemic time accounted for 140 ± 43 minutes. Mean duration of ACP was 74 ± 12 minutes. The mean lowest core temperature accounted for 28.9 ± 0.8°C. Unilateral ACP was performed in 44 patients (70%); bilateral ACP was used in the remaining 19 patients (30%). Intensive care unit stay reached 6 ± 5 days. New onset of acute renal failure requiring hemofiltration was observed in 8% of patients (n = 5). New postoperative permanent neurologic deficits were found in five patients (8%) and transient neurologic deficits in six patients (10%). There was one case of paraplegia. Thirty-day mortality and in-hospital mortality were 8 (n = 5) and 11% (n = 7), respectively. Overall survival at 5 years was 76 ± 9%. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary data suggest that selective ACP during moderate-to-mild systemic hypothermic circulatory arrest (≥ 28°C) can safely be applied for more than 1 hour even in the setting of AAD.

Prospective, Randomized Un-Blinded Three Arm Controlled Study in Coronary Artery Revascularization with Minimal Invasive Extracorporeal Circulation Systems (MiECC): Surrogate Parameter Analysis of Biocompatibility.

OBJECTIVES: Minimal extracorporeal circulation techniques and systems (MiECC) may reduce the negative side effects of conventional extracorporeal circulation (ECC). However, it is still unclear as to what this is caused by, the reduced priming volume and hemodilution, or the avoidance of blood-air contact and dispersion of mediastinal debris into the systemic circulation. The aim of the trial was the comparison of MiECC to an open ECC setup (openECC) or a system with reduced blood air and debris interaction (closeECC). Methods: In a prospective randomized trial, 72 patients (73 ± 5.3 years; 83% male) referred for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) were randomly assigned either to MiECC (priming volume 550mL), closeECC, or openECC (priming volume 1250mL). The laboratory surrogate endpoints (renal function, inflammatory response, ischemia, coagulation, and hemolysis) and clinical data were measured at six different time points (T1-6). Results: Patients were comparable for all preoperative variables. The operation times (MiECC 261 ± 79min; openECC 264 ± 75min; closeECC 231 ± 68min) and perfusion times (MiECC 115 ± 49min; openECC353 107 ± 37min; closeECC 99 ± 22min) revealed a trend of faster performance in the closeECC group (P < .05). Pro-inflammatory cytokines, ischemia, and coagulation markers were significantly elevated postoperatively in all cardiopulmonary bypass types, and decreased to pre-baseline levels at discharge (T5) without identifiable statistical differences between the three study groups. Free-hemoglobin was not significantly increased by centrifugal pump or cell saver procedures. Significant intraoperative hemodilution effects due to the different priming volumes were demonstrated only at the end of operation (T2) (MiECC Hb 9.6 ± 1.1g/dL; openECC Hb 9.0 ± 0.8g/dL; closeECC Hb 8.7 ± 1g/dL; P =. 01). CONCLUSION: Neither the hemodilution, suction technique (MiECC), nor blood-air interface (closeECC) could show sustainable benefits in this underpowered study, compared to conventional ECC systems (openECC) in a high volume series of surrogate parameters.

Mid-Term Clinical Outcome of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with Valvulotomized Vein Grafts.

BACKGROUND: The lower patency rate of vein grafts (VG) in comparison to arterial grafts may be related to vein valves, which favor turbulences and thrombosis that lead to graft failure. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of patients with valvulotomized VG after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure. METHODS: From 2007 to 2014, 233 patients with a mean age of 67 ± 9 years had CABG or combined CABG and valve procedures. Valvulotomized saphenous VG and arterial grafts were used. Clinical follow-up and outcome were evaluated after 6.3 ± 2 years. The graft patency was rated with multislice computed tomography in 57 patients and coronary angiography in 29 patients 3.1 ± 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Overall, 168 patients had segregated CABG surgery, and 65 patients received additional procedures, with mean 2.7 ± 1 arterial and 1.5 ± 0.7 venous anastomoses. The 30-day-mortality in isolated CABG patients was 2%. Survival at five years was 80%. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) free rate at five years was 80%. At the last follow up (mean 6.3 years), 94% of the patients were in Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class 0. The quote of patent valvulotomized VG was 96.1% compared to a patency rate of 96.7% for the arterial grafts in the subgroup undergoing angiography or computed tomography of the heart. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate good mid-term results of graft patency, and comparable clinical results in patients undergoing CABG with valvulotomized VG. A longer follow-up period and a higher number of bypass graft imaging examinations are necessary to affirm our results.

Safety of Simultaneous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The optimal operative strategy in patients with severe carotid artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. We sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of synchronous combined carotid endarterectomy and CABG as compared with isolated CABG. METHODS: Patients with asymptomatic high-grade carotid artery stenosis ≥80% according to ECST (European Carotid Surgery Trial) ultrasound criteria (corresponding to ≥70% NASCET [North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial]) who required CABG surgery were randomly assigned to synchronous carotid endarterectomy+CABG or isolated CABG. To avoid unbalanced prognostic factor distributions, randomization was stratified by center, age, sex, and modified Rankin Scale. The primary composite end point was the rate of stroke or death at 30 days. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2014, a total of 129 patients were enrolled at 17 centers in Germany and the Czech Republic. Because of withdrawal of funding after insufficient recruitment, enrolment was terminated early. At 30 days, the rate of any stroke or death in the intention-to-treat population was 12/65 (18.5%) in patients receiving synchronous carotid endarterectomy+CABG as compared with 6/62 (9.7%) in patients receiving isolated CABG (absolute risk reduction, 8.8%; 95% confidence interval, -3.2% to 20.8%; PWALD=0.12). Also for all secondary end points at 30 days and 1 year, there was no evidence for a significant treatment-group effect although patients undergoing isolated CABG tended to have better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results cannot rule out a treatment-group effect because of lack of power, a superiority of the synchronous combined carotid endarterectomy+CABG approach seems unlikely. Five-year follow-up of patients is still ongoing. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN13486906.

Percutaneous Therapy of a Stenotic Parachute Mitral Valve Previously Treated by Surgery.

Parachute mitral valve (PMV) is a congenital heart anomaly which consists of a unifocal attachment of the mitral valve chordae into a single or dominant papillary muscle. This morphological anomaly determines the impairment of mitral leaflet motion, resulting in different grades of mitral stenosis. Due to its frequent association with other congenital cardiac defects requiring surgical correction, the therapy of a relevant stenotic PMV is usually represented by surgical commissurotomy. Herein is reported the case of a PMV treated by surgery in infancy, which showed a severe restenosis after 34 years and was successfully treated by percutaneous valvuloplasty with the additional creation of a restrictive atrial communication.

Long-Term Changes in Aortic Length after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: To study long-term changes to the thoracic aorta following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for treatment of different aortic pathologic conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 53 consecutive patients (mean age, 58.8 y ± 14; 13 female and 40 male) in whom TEVAR was performed between October 2002 and May 2010. The mean duration of follow-up was 21.1 months (range, 0.5-96 mo). Statistical analysis was performed with the Friedman test and Conover-Iman test. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with aortic aneurysm (group 1), 25 patients with type B dissection (group 2), and 9 patients with other pathologic conditions (group 3) were treated with TEVAR. The mean overall aortic lengths (from the origin of the left subclavian artery to the origin of the celiac trunk) before TEVAR were 271.4 mm, 268.6 mm, and 233.6 mm in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. At 12-month follow-up, the lengths were 282.8 mm, 294.4 mm, and 237.5 mm in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The changes in aortic lengths following TEVAR were statistically significant (P < .001). A second intervention was required in 14 patients, and 6 patients died during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A significant change in the overall aortic length was observed following TEVAR. The changes in aortic length reached statistical significance after 12 months.

Axillary artery cannulation provides balanced cerebral oxygenation.

Deterioration of cerebral performance remains a major problem after cardiac surgery. Axillary artery cannulation can improve clinical outcome, but some experimental series show a malperfusion of the right hemisphere. The aim of our clinical study was to analyze the intraoperative investigation of cerebral oxygenation in two different arterial cannulation sites by use of near-infrared spectroscopic oximetry (NIRO). We compared retrospectively the cerebral saturation of 20 patients with aortic cannulation (group AoC) and 20 patients with right axillary artery cannulation (group AxC) during either valve, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), combined procedures, or aortic surgery. Patients were monitored with bihemispheric NIRO (NIRO-200, Hamamatsu, Herrsching, Germany). The oxygenation data were calculated as tissue oxygenation index (TOI). And the cardiopulmonary bypass time was considered with special regard to potentially dangerous phases for cerebral desaturation like the starting of the extracorporeal circulation (ECC), cross-clamping, rewarming phase, aortic declamping, and stopping of ECC. Patients were then postoperatively evaluated by a standardized neurological examination. During the entire CPB time and the specific phases potentially at risk for cerebral desaturation, no statistically significant drop of cerebral oxygenation (>20 % for >60 s) was detected after aortic and right axillary artery cannulation, respectively. Furthermore, no significant difference in TOI was found comparing the left and right hemisphere in each group. Postoperatively 2 transient confusional syndromes (CS) were observed after aortic and 3 CS after axillary artery cannulation. Right axillary artery cannulation provides balanced cerebral oxygenation in both hemispheres during extracorporeal circulation and its specific phases potentially at risk for cerebral malperfusion. It might therefore reduce the risk of neurological injury by reduction of solid embolization and maintenance of balanced cerebral oxygenation.

Antifactor Xa Activity for the Management of Anticoagulation during Cardiac Surgery.

Background In patients with autoimmune diseases associated with antiphospholipid antibodies, precise management of anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is complicated. It was the aim of the present study to determine whether antifactor Xa (aXa) activity is useful in guiding heparin therapy during ECC. Methods In 15 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) and its reversal with protamine were guided using activated clotting time (ACT) (>400 second during ECC; ≤100 second for UFH reversal). For each ACT, the corresponding aXa activity levels were measured. Results A total of 144 blood samples were obtained. ACT and aXa activity were significantly correlated (r = 0.771, p< 0.0001, Spearman rank-order correlation). Using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses, the cutoffvalues for aXa activity were 1.14 IU/mL (area under the ROC curve [AUC]: 0.89; inaccuracy rate: 9.4%) to predict ACT > 400 seconds and 0.55 IU/mL (AUC: 0.85; inaccuracy rate: 13.3%) for ACT ≤ 100 seconds. Conclusion AXa activity is strongly correlated with ACT, and therefore may be feasible for managing anticoagulation with UFH during ECC.

One-Year Patency of Valvulotomized Vein Grafts Is Similar to That of Arterial Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Inferior vein graft patency after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is attributed to various factors. Venous valves may limit flow, cause thrombus formation, and diminish diastolic backflow. The aim of our study was to compare clinical outcome and midterm patency rate of valvulotomized vein grafts and arterial grafts in patients undergoing CABG. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2010, valvulotomized saphenous vein segments were used to graft the right coronary artery (RCA) in 147 patients undergoing CABG with mean 2.8 ± 1 arterial and 1.5 ± 0.6 venous anastomoses. Outcome, reintervention, and reoperation were assessed after 4 ± 1.6 years. Intraoperative bypass flow rate was measured before and after valvulotomy of venous bypass grafts in 12 patients. Patency of the grafts was assessed by means of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in 45 patients. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients underwent isolated CABG and 45 had combined procedures. In-hospital mortality was 2%. At 4 years' clinical follow-up, 95% of the patients were asymptomatic. Five patients underwent recoronary angiography because of angina pectoris. The MSCT and reangiography patency rate of all valvulotomized saphenous vein grafts was 97.1 versus 95.8% of arterial grafts 18 ± 6 months postoperatively. Intraoperative measurements showed a significant increase (+20.2 mL/min; p = 0.01) of flow in the venous bypass grafts to the RCA after valvulotomy. There were no reoperations at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients with valvulotomized venous grafts had good clinical outcome. The one-year patency rate of those grafts is comparable to that of arterial grafts. However, long-term results and angiography studies will be needed to strengthen these findings.

Digital Carotid Compression: A Simple Method to Reduce Solid Cerebral Emboli During Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Serious neurologic injury can be attributed to embolization of solid particles into cerebral vessels during cardiac surgery. Previous studies using transcranial Doppler (TCD) identified arterial cannulation and aortic declamping to be associated with cerebral embolization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of transient compression of the carotid arteries during these maneuvers on the embolic load during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, clinical trial/pilot study. SETTING: Single-center study at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with multiple types of procedures were included and they were prospectively, randomly assigned to group I (n = 20, carotid compression during arterial cannulation and aortic declamping) and group II (n = 20, no carotid compression). INTERVENTIONS: Bilateral continuous monitoring of the middle cerebral arteries was performed with a multirange, multifreqency transcranial Doppler (DopplerBoxX, DWL, Singen, Germany), allowing for discrimination between solid and gaseous emboli. For aortic cannulation the carotid arteries were compressed for 5 seconds and for declamping for 3 seconds, and microemboli signals were detected within the following 45 seconds. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A reduction of intraoperative solid emboli was detected in group I compared with group II (26±16 v 38±18; p = 0.04). Looking specifically at the maneuver of arterial cannulation, the observed difference was 0.5±0.8 in group I versus 5.7±5.8 in group II (p<0.0001). During aortic declamping, 6.6±6.2 emboli were encountered in group I and 10.8±5.2 in group II (p = 0.02). The incidence of neurologic events was not significantly different between groups (2 patients in group II had pathologic changes on magnetic resonance imaging). CONCLUSIONS: The data of this preliminary trial demonstrated that transient compression of the carotid arteries during arterial cannulation and aortic declamping led to a decreased number of solid cerebral emboli. Further prospective, randomized clinical studies should be undertaken to investigate the influence of transient carotid artery compression during specific surgical procedures.

Age-related reoperation rate after the Ross procedure: a report from the German Ross Registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: An increasing number of young adult patients are choosing bioprostheses for aortic valve replacement (AVR). In this context, the Ross operation deserves renewed consideration as an alternative biological substitute. After both the Ross procedure and bioprosthetic AVR, reoperation rates remain a concern and may be related to age at surgery. Herein are reported details of freedom from reoperation after the Ross procedure for different age groups. METHODS: The reoperation rates of 1,925 patients (1,444 males, 481 females; mean age 41.2 ± 15.3 years) from the German Ross registry with a mean follow up of 7.4 ± 4.7 years (range: 0.00-18.51 years; total 12,866.6 patient-years) were allocated to three age groups: group I < 40 years; group II 40-60 years; and group III > 60 years. RESULTS: At 10 years (respectively 15 years) of follow up, freedom from reoperation was 86% (76%) in group I, 93% (85%) in group II, and 89% (83%) in group III. CONCLUSION: There is some evidence that, at least during the first 10 and 15 years after AVR, the Ross procedure provides a significantly lower reoperation rate in young adult and middle-aged patients aged < 60 years. This information may be of interest to the patients' or physicians' decision-making for aortic valve surgery.