Implementation of Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery With Automated Suturing Technology.

In the evolving landscape of cardiac surgery, this article explores the potential of minimally invasive mitral valve replacement procedures as a viable alternative to conventional surgical techniques. Leveraging advancements in automated suturing devices and video endoscopy, our work aims to demonstrate that minimally invasive approaches can be applied across a broad spectrum of surgical scenarios. Herein we highlight preoperative diagnostics and operative techniques, with a focus on infra-axillary anterolateral minithoracotomy as the access point. Our technique utilizes technology from LSI SOLUTIONS® (Victor, NY, USA), including the RAM® Device for automated suturing, which has an ergonomic design and safety features. The device's capabilities are further enhanced by the SEW-EASY® Device, the RAM® RING, and the COR-KNOT MINI® Device, which streamline suture management and securement. This work outlines how these technological advancements can mitigate concerns about technical complexity and learning curves, thereby encouraging wider adoption of minimally invasive techniques. Clinical benefits may include reduced surgical trauma, quicker recovery, and cost-effectiveness, making it a compelling option in an era of aggressively promoted transcatheter interventions.

Risk factors, prevention, and therapy of intraluminal stent thrombosis in frozen elephant trunk prostheses-what we know so far.

Intraluminal thrombus formation (ILT) is a recently discovered and highly clinically relevant complication after frozen elephant trunk implantation in cardiovascular surgery. In this phenomenon, a thrombus forms within the lumen of the stent graft component of the frozen elephant trunk prosthesis and puts the patient at risk for downstream embolization with visceral or lower limb ischemia. Incidence of ILT reported in the currently available studies ranges from 6% to 17% of patients after frozen elephant trunk implantation. Adverse thromboembolic events include acute occlusion of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries, both renal arteries as well as acute lower limb ischemia due to iliac or femoral artery embolization that not infrequently require interventional or open embolectomy. Therefore, the presence of ILT is associated with increased short-term mortality and morbidity. Currently proposed strategies to avoid ILT formation include a more aggressive anticoagulation management, minimization of postoperative coagulation factor application, and even technical optimizations of the stent graft portion itself. If ILT is manifested, the therapeutic strategies tested to date are long-term escalation of anticoagulation and early endovascular extension of the FET stent graft with overstenting of the intraluminal thrombus. The long-term efficiency of these prophylactic and therapeutic measures has yet to be proven. Nonetheless, all surgeons performing the frozen elephant trunk procedure must be aware of the risk of ILT formation to facilitate a timely diagnosis and therapy.

The Surgical Treatment of Infective Endocarditis: A Comprehensive Review.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe cardiac complication with high mortality rates, especially when surgical intervention is delayed or absent. This review addresses the expanding role of surgery in managing IE, focusing on the variation in surgical treatment rates, the impact of patient demographics, and the effectiveness of different surgical approaches. Despite varying global data, a notable increase in surgical interventions for IE is evident, with over 50% of patients undergoing surgery in tertiary centres. This review synthesizes information from focused literature searches up to July 2023, covering preoperative to postoperative considerations and surgical strategies for IE. Key preoperative concerns include accurate diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial treatment, and the timing of surgery, which is particularly crucial for patients with heart failure or at risk of embolism. Surgical approaches vary based on valve involvement, with mitral valve repair showing promising outcomes compared to replacement. Aortic valve surgery, traditionally favouring replacement, now includes repair as a viable option. Emerging techniques such as sutureless valves and aortic homografts are explored, highlighting their potential advantages in specific IE cases. The review also delves into high-risk groups like intravenous drug users and the elderly, emphasizing the need for tailored surgical strategies. With an increasing number of patients presenting with prosthetic valve endocarditis and device-related IE, the review underscores the importance of comprehensive management strategies encompassing surgical and medical interventions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence in the surgical management of IE, highlighting the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach and ongoing research to optimize patient outcomes.

Impact of Intercostal Artery Reinsertion on Neurological Outcome after Thoracoabdominal Aortic Replacement: A 25-Year Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Intercostal artery reinsertion (ICAR) during thoracoabdominal aortic replacement remains controversial. While some groups recommend the reinsertion of as many arteries as possible, others consider the sacrifice of multiple intercostals practicable. This study investigates the impact of intercostal artery reinsertion or sacrifice on neurological outcomes and long-term survival after thoracoabdominal aortic repair. METHODS: A total of 349 consecutive patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic replacement at our institution between 1996 and 2021 were analyzed in a retrospective single-center study. ICAR was performed in 213 patients, while all intercostal arteries were ligated and sacrificed in the remaining cases. The neurological outcome was analyzed regarding temporary and permanent paraplegia or paraparesis. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between the ICAR and non ICAR groups regarding the cumulative endpoint of transient and permanent spinal cord-related complications (12.2% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.9). Operation, bypass, and cross-clamp times were significantly longer in the ICAR group. Likewise, prolonged mechanical ventilation was more often necessary in the ICAR group (26.4% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.03). Overall long-term survival was similar in both groups in the Kaplan-Meier analysis. CONCLUSION: Omitting ICAR during thoracoabdominal aortic replacement may reduce operation and cross-clamp times and thus minimize the duration of intraoperative spinal cord hypoperfusion.

Towards a Standardized Classification of the Hepatobiliary Manifestations in Cystic Fibrosis (CFHBI): A Joint ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN Position Paper.

The broad spectrum of hepatobiliary involvement in cystic fibrosis (CF) has been commonly referred to as cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD). However, differences in the definitions of CFLD have led to variations in reported prevalence, incidence rates, and standardized recommendations for diagnosis and therapies. Harmonizing the description of the spectrum of hepatobiliary involvement in all people with CF (pwCF) is deemed essential for providing a reliable account of the natural history, which in turn supports the development of meaningful clinical outcomes in patient care and research. Recognizing this necessity, The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) commissioned and tasked a committee to develop and propose a systematic classification of the CF hepatobiliary manifestations to increase uniformity, accuracy, and comparability for clinical, registry, and research purposes. This report describes the committee's combined expert position statement on hepatobiliary involvement in CF, which has been endorsed by NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN. We recommend using CFHBI (Cystic Fibrosis Hepato-Biliary Involvement) as the updated term to describe and classify all hepatobiliary manifestations in all pwCF. CFHBI encompasses the current extensive spectrum of phenotypical, clinical, or diagnostic expressions of liver involvement observed in pwCF. We present a schematic categorization of CFHBI, which may also be used to track and classify the changes and development of CFHBI in pwCF over time. The proposed classification for CFHBI is based on expert consensus and has not been validated for clinical practice and research purposes. Achieving validation should be an important aim for future research.

Left ventricular assist device implantation and concomitant mitral valve surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The management of concomitant valvular lesions in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation remains a topic of debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the existing evidence on postoperative outcomes following LVAD implantation, with and without concomitant MV surgery. METHODS: A systematic database search was conducted as per PRISMA guidelines, of original articles comparing LVAD alone to LVAD plus concomitant MV surgery up to February 2023. The primary outcomes assessed were overall mortality and early mortality, while secondary outcomes included stroke, need for right ventricular assist device (RVAD) implantation, postoperative mitral valve regurgitation, major bleeding, and renal dysfunction. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 10 studies comprising 32 184 patients. It revealed that concomitant MV surgery during LVAD implantation did not significantly affect overall mortality (OR:0.83; 95% CI: 0.53 to 1.29; p = 0.40), early mortality (OR:1.17; 95% CI: 0.63 to 2.17; p = 0.63), stroke, need for RVAD implantation, postoperative mitral valve regurgitation, major bleeding, or renal dysfunction. These findings suggest that concomitant MV surgery appears not to confer additional benefits in terms of these clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Based on the available evidence, concomitant MV surgery during LVAD implantation does not appear to have a significant impact on postoperative outcomes. However, decision-making regarding MV surgery should be individualized, considering patient-specific factors and characteristics. Further research with prospective studies focusing on specific patient populations and newer LVAD devices is warranted to provide more robust evidence and guide clinical practice in the management of valvular lesions in LVAD recipients.

Machine learning algorithms for the prognostication of abdominal aortic aneurysm progression: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), often characterized by an abdominal aortic diameter over 3.0 cm, is managed through screening, surveillance, and surgical intervention. AAA growth can be heterogeneous and rupture carries a high mortality rate, with size and certain risk factors influencing rupture risk. Research is ongoing to accurately predict individual AAA growth rates for personalized management. Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, has shown promise in various medical fields, including endoleak detection post-EVAR. However, its application for predicting AAA growth remains insufficiently explored, thus necessitating further investigation. Subsequently, this paper aims to summarize the current status of machine learning in predicting AAA growth. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic database search of Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane, PubMed and Google Scholar from inception till December 2022 was conducted of original articles that discussed the use of machine learning in predicting AAA growth using the aforementioned databases. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Overall, 2742 articles were extracted, of which seven retrospective studies involving 410 patients were included using a predetermined criteria. Six out of seven studies applied a supervised learning approach for their machine learning (ML) models, with considerable diversity observed within specific ML models. The majority of the studies concluded that machine learning models perform better in predicting AAA growth in comparison to reference models. All studies focused on predicting AAA growth over specified durations. Maximal luminal diameter was the most frequently used indicator, with alternative predictors being AAA volume, ILT (intraluminal thrombus) and flow-medicated diameter (FMD). CONCLUSIONS: The nascent field of applying machine learning (ML) for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) expansion prediction exhibits potential to enhance predictive accuracy across diverse parameters. Future studies must emphasize evidencing clinical utility in a healthcare system context, thereby ensuring patient outcome improvement. This will necessitate addressing key ethical implications in establishing prospective studies related to this topic and collaboration among pivotal stakeholders within the AI field.

Expanding the Minimally Invasive Approach towards the Ascending Aorta-A Practical Overview of the Currently Available Techniques.

Minimally invasive techniques have gained immense importance in cardiovascular surgery. While minimal access strategies for coronary and mitral valve surgery are already widely accepted and often used as standard approaches, the application of minimally invasive techniques is currently expanded towards more complex operations of the ascending aorta as well. In this new and developing field, various techniques have been established and reported ranging from upper hemisternotomy approaches, which allow even extensive operations of the ascending aorta to be performed through a minimally invasive access to sternal sparing thoracotomy strategies, which completely avoid sternal trauma during ascending aorta replacements. All of these techniques place high demands on patient selection, preoperative planning, and practical surgical implementation. Application of these strategies is currently limited to high-volume centers and highly experienced surgeons. This narrative review gives an overview of the currently available techniques with a special focus on the practical execution as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the currently available techniques. The first results demonstrate the practicability and safety of minimally invasive techniques for replacement of the ascending aorta in a well-selected patient population. With success and complication rates comparable to classic full sternotomy, the proof of concept for minimally invasive replacement of the ascending aorta is now achieved.

Short-term mechanical support with the Impella 5.x for mitral valve surgery in advanced heart failure-protected cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Surgical treatment of patients with mitral valve regurgitation and advanced heart failure remains challenging. In order to avoid peri-operative low cardiac output, Impella 5.0 or 5.5 (5.x), implanted electively in a one-stage procedure, may serve as a peri-operative short-term mechanical circulatory support system (st-MCS) in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Methods: Between July 2017 and April 2022, 11 consecutive patients underwent high-risk mitral valve surgery for mitral regurgitation supported with an Impella 5.x system (Abiomed, Inc. Danvers, MA). All patients were discussed in the heart team and were either not eligible for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) or surgery was considered favorable. In all cases, the indication for Impella 5.x implantation was made during the preoperative planning phase. Results: The mean age at the time of surgery was 61.6 ± 7.7 years. All patients presented with mitral regurgitation due to either ischemic (n = 5) or dilatative (n = 6) cardiomyopathy with a mean ejection fraction of 21 ± 4% (EuroScore II 6.1 ± 2.5). Uneventful mitral valve repair (n = 8) or replacement (n = 3) was performed via median sternotomy (n = 8) or right lateral mini thoracotomy (n = 3). In six patients, concomitant procedures, either tricuspid valve repair, aortic valve replacement or CABG were necessary. The mean duration on Impella support was 8 ± 5 days. All, but one patient, were successfully weaned from st-MCS, with no Impella-related complications. 30-day survival was 90.9%. Conclusion: Protected cardiac surgery with st-MCS using the Impella 5.x is safe and feasible when applied in high-risk mitral valve surgery without st-MCS-related complications, resulting in excellent outcomes. This strategy might offer an alternative and comprehensive approach for the treatment of patients with mitral regurgitation in advanced heart failure, deemed ineligible for TEER or with need of concomitant surgery.

Introduction of machine perfusion of donor hearts in a single center in Germany.

Introduction: Organ shortage, subsequent use of extended donor criteria organs and high-risk recipients needing redo-surgery are increasing the complexity of heart transplantation. Donor organ machine perfusion (MP) is an emerging technology allowing reduction of ischemia time as well as standardized evaluation of the organ. The aim of this study was to review the introduction of MP and analyze the results of heart transplantation after MP in our center. Methods: In a retrospective single-center study, data from a prospectively collected database were analysed. From July 2018 to August 2021, fourteen hearts were retrieved and perfused using the Organ Care System (OCS), 12 hearts were transplanted. Criteria to use the OCS were based on donor/recipient characteristics. Primary objective was 30-day survival, secondary objectives were major cardiac adverse events, graft function, rejection episodes as well as overall survival in the follow-up and assessment of MP technical reliability. Results: All patients survived the procedure and the postoperative 30-day interval. No MP related complications were noted. Graft ejection fraction beyond 14 days was ≥ 50% in all cases. Endomyocardial biopsy showed excellent results with no or mild rejection. Two donor hearts were rejected after OCS perfusion and evaluation. Conclusion: Ex vivo normothermic MP during organ procurement is a safe and promising technique to expand the donor pool. Reduction of cold ischemic time while providing additional donor heart assessment and reconditioning options increased the number of acceptable donor hearts. Additional clinical trials are necessary to develop guidelines regarding the application of MP.

Single-Center Real-World Experience with Sutureless Aortic Valve Prosthesis in Isolated and Combined Procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Due to their favourable hemodynamic performance and the ability to enable minimally invasive access procedures, sutureless aortic valve prostheses have found their place in the armamentarium of cardiothoracic surgeons. In this study, we sought to review our institutional experience of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR). METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 200 consecutive patients who underwent an SU-AVR with a Perceval valve between December 2019 and February 2023. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 69.3 ± 8.1 years, and patients showed a moderate-risk profile with a mean logistic EuroSCORE-II of 5.2 ± 8.1%. An isolated SU-AVR was performed in 85 (42.5%) patients, concomitant CABG was performed in 75 (37.5%) and 40 patients (20%) underwent a multivalve procedure involving SU-AVR. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross-clamp (CC) times were 82.1 ± 35.1 and 55.5 ± 27.8 min, respectively. In-hospital, 30-day, 6-month and 1-year mortality rates were 4.5%, 6.5%, 7.5% and 8.2%, respectively. The postoperative transvalvular mean pressure gradient was 6.3 ± 1.6 mmHg and stayed stable over the follow-up time. We reported no cases of paravalvular leakage, and the incidence of stroke was 0.5%. CONCLUSIONS: With their favourable hemodynamic performance and shorter CC and CPB times, sutureless aortic valve prostheses facilitate minimally invasive access surgery, being a safe and durable promising approach for the surgical AVR.

Long-Term Outcomes of Sternal-Sparing Versus Sternotomy Approaches for Mitral Valve Repair: Meta-Analysis of Reconstructed Time-to-Event Data.

OBJECTIVE: Since there are concerns about the durability of mitral valve repair (MVRp) with minimally invasive techniques in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), we aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of these sternal-sparing approaches when compared with conventional approaches with sternotomy in patients undergoing MVRp. METHODS: We performed a systematic review according to a preestablished protocol and performed a pooled analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived reconstructed time-to-event data from studies with longer follow-up comparing sternal-sparing versus sternotomy approaches for MVRp. Our outcomes of interest were survival, freedom from recurrent MR, and freedom from reoperation. RESULTS: Eleven studies met our eligibility criteria comprising 7,596 patients with follow-up (sternal sparing, n = 4,246; sternotomy, n = 3,350). Patients who underwent sternal-sparing MVRp had a significantly lower risk of mortality over time compared with patients who underwent MVRp with sternotomy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23 to 0.36, P < 0.001) in the overall analysis. However, we found no statistically significant difference between the groups in the sensitivity analysis with adjusted populations (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63 to 1.15, P = 0.301). Regarding the outcomes freedom from recurrent MR and freedom from reoperation, we found no statistically significant differences between the groups in the follow-up in both overall and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with MVRp with sternotomy approaches, sternal-sparing MVRp was not associated with worse outcomes in terms of survival, recurrent MR, and reoperations over time.

Long-term outcomes of valve-sparing root versus composite valve graft replacement for acute type A aortic dissection: Meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) versus composite aortic valve graft replacement (CAVGR) in the treatment of acute type A aortic dissections (ATAAD). METHODS: We performed a pooled meta-analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived time-to-event data from studies with longer follow-up beyond the immediate postoperative period. RESULTS: Seven studies met our eligibility criteria, comprising a total of 858 patients (367 patients in the VSARR groups and 491 patients in the CAVGR group). We found no statistically significant differences in the overall survival between the groups over time (HR 0.83, 95%CI 0.63-1.10, P = 0.192), but we observed a higher risk of reoperation in the VSARR group when compared with the CAVGR group (HR 9.99, 95% CI 2.23-44.73, P = 0.003). The meta-regression revealed statistically significant positive coefficients for age (P < 0.001) in the analysis of survival, which means that this covariate has a modulating effect on this outcome. The higher the mean age, the higher the HR for overall mortality was found to be with VSARR as compared with CAVGR. Other covariates such as female sex, hypertension, diabetes, connective tissue disorders, bicuspid aortic valve, hemiarch and/or total arch replacement, concomitant coronary bypass surgery did not seem to have any effect on the outcomes. CONCLUSION: VSARR did not confer a better (or worse) survival over time in patients with ATAAD, but it was associated with higher risk of reoperations in the long run.

Five-year follow-up of mitral valve repair versus replacement: a propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair (MVRe) is considered to have a superior outcome compared to replacement (MVRp) in patients with mitral valve regurgitation (MVR). It was the aim of the study to analyse the clinical results and identify risk factors for short and long-term mortality. METHODS: In a retrospective single-center analysis, patients undergoing an isolated mitral valve procedure from June 2010 to December 2016 were identified. These were subsequently homogenized using 10 baseline characteristics for propensity-score matching. Comparative analyses were performed for early and long-term results, using adequate statistical tools, and identifying risk factors for the investigated endpoints, primary end-point: all-cause mortality within 5 years and secondary end-points: recurrent MVR, reoperation, endocarditis and/or mortality with 30 days, 1, 3 and 5 years. RESULTS: 241 patients were identified in the entire patient cohort. After matching, patients were divided into 2 groups of 64 each respectively. The median age was similar in the two groups. There was a significant interaction between early mortality risk of MV in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 11.94, 95% CI 1.49-285.92, p = 0.04) and late mortality in patients with higher EuroSCORE II (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.23, p < 0.001). The primary end-point showed 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in MVRe versus MVRp (90.06% vs. 79.54% respectively, p = 0.04). The secondary end-point demonstrated recurrent MVR not to be statistically significant between the 2 groups (p = 0.09) as well as reoperation (p = 0.28). Endocarditis was observed in one patient after MVRp. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded MVRe to be associated with lower operative and 5-year mortality and good postoperative outcomes compared to patients undergoing MVRp. Concomitant CAD was identified as one of the risk factors for increasing the in-hospital mortality rate. There was no significant difference in rehospitalisation over the follow-up period. MVRe should be the treatment of choice for severe MVR and should remain a central aspect in valve centers' treatment algorithms and quality measures.

Long-term follow-up and liver outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis and nodular liver on ultrasound in a multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: Nodular liver (NOD) in cystic fibrosis (CF) suggests advanced CF liver disease (aCFLD); little is known about progression of liver disease (LD) after detection of sonographic NOD. METHODS: Clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound (US) data from Prediction by Ultrasound of the Risk of Hepatic Cirrhosis in CFLD Study participants with NOD at screening or follow-up were compared with normal (NL). Linear mixed effects models were used for risk factors for LD progression and Kaplan-Meier estimator for time-to-event. RESULTS: 54 children with NOD (22 screening, 32 follow-up) and 112 NL were evaluated. Baseline (BL) and trajectory of forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, height/BMI z-scores were similar in NOD vs NL. Platelets were lower in NOD at BL (250 vs 331×103/microL; p < 0.001) and decreased by 8600/year vs 2500 in NL. Mean AST to Platelet Ratio Index (1.1 vs 0.4; p < 0.001), Fibrosis-4 Index (0.4 vs 0.2, p < 0.001), and spleen size z-score (SSZ) [1.5 vs 0.02; p < 0.001] were higher in NOD at BL; SSZ increased by 0.5 unit/year in NOD vs 0.1 unit/year in NL. Median liver stiffness (LSM) by transient elastography was higher in NOD (8.2 kPa, IQR 6-11.8) vs NL (5.3, 4.2-7, p < 0.0001). Over 6.3 years follow-up (1.3-10.3), 6 NOD had esophageal varices (cumulative incidence in 10 years: 20%; 95% CI: 0.0%, 40.0%), 2 had variceal bleeding, and 2 underwent liver transplantation; none had ascites or hepatic encephalopathy. No NL experienced liver-related events. CONCLUSIONS: NOD developed clinically evident portal hypertension faster than NL without worse growth or lung disease.

Development and evaluation of a novel combined perfusion decellularization heart-lung model for tissue engineering of bioartificial heart-lung scaffolds.

BACKGROUND: Bioengineered transplantable heart-lung scaffolds could be potentially lifesaving in a large number of congenital and acquired cardiothoracic disorders including terminal heart-lung disease. METHODS: We decellularized heart-lung organ-blocks from rats (n = 10) by coronary and tracheal perfusion with ionic detergents in a modified Langendorff circuit. RESULTS: In the present project, we were able to achieve complete decellularization of the heart-lung organ-block. Decellularized heart-lung organ-blocks lacked intracellular components but maintained structure of the cellular walls with collagen and elastic fibers. CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel model of combined perfusion and decellularization of heart-lung organ-blocks. This model is the first step on the pathway to creating bioengineered transplantable heart-lung scaffolds. We believe that further development of this technology could provide a life-saving conduit, significantly reducing the risks of heart-lung failure surgery and improving postoperative quality of life.

Sutureless aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients with active infective endocarditis.

Background: Surgical aortic valve replacement remains the gold standard of treatment in patients with active infective endocarditis. Such procedures tend to carry a significantly higher operative risk when compared to the conventional aortic valve replacement for a non-infective aortic valve disease. Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) has been introduced into cardiac surgery to allow for a simpler implementation of minimally invasive procedures. Although SU-AVR in several extended indications has proven to be successful, the data on the implementation of SU-AVR in patients with infective aortic valve endocarditis remain scarce. The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility of SU-AVR in high-risk patients with active infective aortic valve endocarditis. Methods: Between December 2019 and March 2022, a total of 151 consecutive patients underwent a SU-AVR for various indications at our institution. Of those, in 13 consecutive high-risk patients SU-AVR was indicated because of infective aortic valve endocarditis. In all cases Perceval S aortic valve prosthesis (Corcym, Saluggia, Italy) was used and the implantation has been performed with Snugger-method. Results: The mean age of the patients at operation was 74.05±11.6 years. Eight of the patients suffered from prosthesis endocarditis while the other five patients presented with the endocarditis of the native aortic valve. All patients suffered from multiple comorbidities, as reflected by a mean logistic EuroSCORE of 47.9%±23.1% and EuroSCORE II of 28.7%±22.0%. In 8 patients (61.5%) a concomitant procedure was necessary. Also 8 patients (61.5%) underwent a redo procedure. Bypass- and cross-clamp (CC) times were 89.8±33.6 and 59.1±27.8 minutes, respectively. We observed no paravalvular leakage and no cases of left-ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Postoperative mean gradients after SU-AVR implantation were 8.1±4.8 mmHg. Conclusions: SU-AVR in patients presenting with active infective endocarditis is a safe and feasible surgical alternative to the conventional operation. Clearly, this operative approach should be considered particularly for high-risk patients in whom successful operative outcomes are determined by a reduction in bypass and CC time. SU-AVR provides excellent hemodynamic performance with a low risk of paravalvular leakage and low transvalvular gradients, whilst simplifying the surgical procedure.

Sutureless aortic valve replacement in pure aortic regurgitation: expanding the indications.

BACKGROUND: In the era of transcatheter methods, patients presenting with a pure aortic regurgitation (AR) are not considered eligible for transcatheter treatment and therefore require another less invasive surgical option. We sought to review our experience with sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) in patients presenting with symptomatic pure AR, which until now is a contraindication for implementation of sutureless valve prostheses in Europe. METHODS: Between April 2018 and June 2021, 80 consecutive patients underwent a SU-AVR for various indications at our institution. We analyzed the outcomes and postoperative complications of 12 patients presenting with a pure severe AR undergoing SU-AVR using Perceval (Corcym). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67 ± 9.1 years old. All patients presented with symptomatic pure AR. Patients presented with multiple comorbidities as reflected by the mean EuroSCORE-II of 3.6 ± 2.6%. Six patients (50%) underwent a concomitant CABG procedure. The mean operating- and cross clamp time was 127.25 ± 45.9 and 40.33 ± 17.3 min respectively. All isolated SU-AVR were performed via J-sternotomy or right anterolateral thoracotomy. There were no cases of device dislocation. No patients presented with a paravalvular leakage. We observed excellent mean postoperative pressure gradient at follow-up 5.7 ± 1.5 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with SU-AVR shows the feasibility of sutureless technologies in the aortic valve surgery due to pure AR. Besides the great technical success and excellent hemodynamics, SU-AVR in severe AR offers a great opportunity of reducing the invasivity of the surgical procedure and potentially reducing hospital cost without compromising the postoperative outcomes and in-hospital length of stay.

Immediate and late outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement in bicuspid valves: Meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with aortic stenosis and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) must be better investigated. METHODS: A meta-analysis including studies published by January 2022 reporting immediate outcomes (in-hospital death, stroke, acute kidney injury [AKI], major bleeding, new permanent pacemaker implantation [PPI], paravalvular leakage [PVL]), mortality in the follow-up (with Kaplan-Meier curves for reconstruction of individual patient data). RESULTS: Five studies met our eligibility criteria. No statistically significant difference was observed for in-hospital death, stroke, AKI, and PVL. TAVI was associated with lower risk of major bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12-0.69; p = .025), but higher risk of PPI (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.05-3.77; p = .041). In the follow-up, mortality after TAVI was significantly higher in the analysis with the largest samples (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01-1.53, p = .043), but no statistically significant difference was observed with risk-adjusted populations (HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.86-1.32, p = .57). Landmark analyses suggested a time-varying risk with TAVI after 10 and 13 months in both largest and risk-adjusted populations (HR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.45-3.12, p < .001; HR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.11-2.61, p = .015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Considering the immediate outcomes and comparable overall survival observed in risk-adjusted populations, TAVI can be used safely in selected BAV patients. However, a time-varying risk is present (favoring SAVR over TAVI at a later timepoint). This finding was likely driven by higher rates of PPI with TAVI.

Present and future of machine learning in breast surgery: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Machine learning is a set of models and methods that can automatically detect patterns in vast amounts of data, extract information, and use it to perform decision-making under uncertain conditions. The potential of machine learning is significant, and breast surgeons must strive to be informed with up-to-date knowledge and its applications. METHODS: A systematic database search of Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane database, and Google Scholar, from inception to December 2021, was conducted of original articles that explored the use of machine learning and/or artificial intelligence in breast surgery in EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane database and Google Scholar. RESULTS: The search yielded 477 articles, of which 14 studies were included in this review, featuring 73 847 patients. Four main areas of machine learning application were identified: predictive modelling of surgical outcomes; breast imaging-based context; screening and triaging of patients with breast cancer; and as network utility for detection. There is evident value of machine learning in preoperative planning and in providing information for surgery both in a cancer and an aesthetic context. Machine learning outperformed traditional statistical modelling in all studies for predicting mortality, morbidity, and quality of life outcomes. Machine learning patterns and associations could support planning, anatomical visualization, and surgical navigation. CONCLUSION: Machine learning demonstrated promising applications for improving breast surgery outcomes and patient-centred care. Neveretheless, there remain important limitations and ethical concerns relating to implementing artificial intelligence into everyday surgical practices.