The Hemodynamic Performance of the Perceval Sutureless Aortic Valve in a Propensity-Matched Comparison to the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount and Perimount Magna Ease Valves for Aortic Valve Replacement.

OBJECTIVES: The Perceval valve was shown to facilitate minimal-invasive operations and shorten operative times. We aimed to compare the early results of the Perceval valve to those of well-established valves, namely the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount and Perimount Magna Ease valve protheses, in terms of their clinical and hemodynamic performances. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study. For every patient operated with a Perceval valve, the last patient before and the next following patient receiving a Perimount valve was included in a control group leading to a 2:1 ratio (Perimount:Perceval). A propensity score matching was used and a subgroup analysis was performed to compare early and late Perceval patients as the sizing technique was changed over time. RESULTS: From November 2013 to November 2017, 423 patients were identified. These included 141 consecutive patients receiving a Perceval valve through a full- or a hemi-sternotomy. In addition, 282 patients receiving a Perimount or a Magna Ease valve were enrolled. After propensity score matching, 127 matched patients were compared. Operating times were shorter and postoperative transvalvular pressure gradients were lower in the Perceval group (15 vs. 17 mmHg, p = 0.002). There was no difference in mortality and stroke rates. The incidence of new pacemaker implantations was higher in the Perceval group (7.1 vs. 18.9%, p = 0.005), mainly due to a very high incidence in the early phase of our Perceval experience prior to a change in the Perceval implantation technique. Subgroup analysis showed significantly better results in the late Perceval group. CONCLUSION: Surgical outcome was good in both groups. The Perceval valve exhibited lower postoperative gradients, and the need for pacemaker implantation was higher and can be reduced by avoiding oversizing.

Surgery of a Giant Coronary Sinus Aneurysm Resulting from a Coronary Artery Fistula.

Coronary artery fistula (CAF), complicated by the aneurysmal formation of the coronary sinus (CS), is a very rare form of CAF. Here we report a case of a 60- year-old woman with a giant aneurysm of the CS resulting from the right coronary artery (RCA) fistula. The patient was highly symptomatic with dyspnea due to compression of cardiac chambers. CS reconstruction was performed using a pericardial patch after directly closing the fistula from the RCA to the CS.

Postcardiotomy mechanical support in patients with mitral valve prostheses is associated with poor survival.

AIMS: To elaborate on early survival in patients with mitral valve replacement requiring temporary extracorporeal life support system (ECLS). METHODS: We analyzed survival, significant bleeding, wound infection, and ECLS duration in 421 from 14,400 patients with postoperative need for ECLS from January 2008 to December 2017 at our institution. Finally, patients were stratified according to the type of surgery performed: the mitral group (mitral valve replacement) n = 63 and the control group (any cardiac surgery excluding the mitral valve) n = 358. In order to adjust for preoperative patient characteristics, a propensity matching analysis was performed. Differences in in-hospital mortality were analyzed accordingly. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the mitral group as compared to the control group before and after adjustment (p < 0.001). Median duration of ECLS was 4 days in both groups. Perioperative bleeding (p < 0.001) and wound infection (p < 0.001) also showed significant worse outcome parameters in the mitral group. The main causes of death in the mitral group were multiorgan failure, n = 48 (76%), stroke, n = 7 (12%), and intracardiac thrombus formation, n = 5 (10%). CONCLUSIONS: ECLS is associated with a high in-hospital mortality rate in patients after mitral valve replacement.

Emergency Repair of a Perforated Mycotic Aneurysm with a Self-made Pericardial Tube-graft.

A 63-year-old female with a history of kidney transplantation was admitted for emergency repair of a perforated mycotic aneurysm of the right subclavian artery (RSA) in combination with a paravertebral and posterior mediastinal abscess. After resection of the aneurysm and after radical local debridement, orthotopic repair was performed with a self-made pericardial tube graft from the brachiocephalic bifurcation to the thoracic outlet. The paravertebral and posterior mediastinal abscess was drained. The postoperative course was uneventful. Using a self-made readily available pericardial neo-tube enlarges the armamentarium of handling complex infective surgical scenarios and presents a smart alternative to alloplastic vascular reconstruction.