Frozen elephant trunk versus conventional proximal repair of acute aortic dissection type I.

Objective: The extent of surgery and the role of the frozen elephant trunk (FET) for surgical repair of acute aortic dissection type I are still subjects of debate. The aim of the study is to evaluate the short- and long-term results of acute surgical repair of aortic dissection type I using the FET compared to standard proximal aortic repair. Methods: Between October 2009 and December 2016, 172 patients underwent emergent surgery for acute type I aortic dissection at our center. Of these, n = 72 received a FET procedure, while the other 100 patients received a conventional proximal aortic repair. Results were compared between the two surgery groups. The primary endpoints included 30-day rates of mortality and neurologic deficit and follow-up rates of mortality and aortic-related reintervention. Results: Demographic data were comparable between the groups, except for a higher proportion of men in the FET group (76.4% vs. 60.0%, p = 0.03). The median age was 62 years [IQR (20), p = 0.17], and the median log EuroSCORE was 38.6% [IQR (31.4), p = 0.21]. The mean follow-up time was 68.3 ± 33.8 months. Neither early (FET group 15.3% vs. proximal group 23.0%, p = 0.25) nor late (FET group 26.2% vs. proximal group 23.0%, p = 0.69) mortality showed significant differences between the groups. There were fewer strokes in the FET patients (FET group 2.8% vs. proximal group 11.0%, p = 0.04), and the rates of spinal cord injury were similar between the groups (FET group 4.2% vs. proximal group 2.0%, p = 0.41). Aortic-related reintervention rates did not differ between the groups (FET group 12.1% vs. proximal group 9.8%, p = 0.77). Conclusion: Emergent FET repair for acute aortic dissection type I is safe and feasible when performed by experienced surgeons. The benefits of the FET procedure in the long term remain unclear. Prolonged follow-up data are needed.

Minimally invasive strategies of surgical coronary artery revascularization for the aging population.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of elderly or frail patients with severe coronary disease, who are not suitable for interventional coronary revascularization, necessitates the exploration of alternative treatment options. A less invasive approach, such as minimally-invasive off-pump coronary-artery-bypass (MICS-CABG) grafting through mini-thoracotomy, which avoids both extracorporeal circulation and sternotomy, may be more appropriate for this patient population. This study, a retrospective, monocentric analysis, aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of these patients. METHODS: The study included 172 patients aged 80 years or older, who underwent MICS-CABG between 2007 and 2018. The patients underwent single, double, or triple-vessel revascularization using the left internal thoracic artery, and in some cases, the radial artery or saphenous vein. Follow-up, mean duration of 50.4±30.8 months, was available for 163 patients (94.7%). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 83.2±3.0 years, 77.3% of them were male. The EuroSCORE I additive was 11.0±12.1. There were no conversions to sternotomy or cardiopulmonary-bypass. The postoperative 30-day mortality rate was 2.9%, with 5 deaths. The in-hospital rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 4.7% (perioperative myocardial infarction 1.2%, perioperative stroke 2.3%, repeat revascularization 1.2%). Acute renal kidney injury, (stage 3 KDOQI or more), occurred in 5 patients (2.9%) and new-onset atrial fibrillation in 6 patients (3.5%). The 1-, 3-, 5- and 8-year actuarial survival rate of the 30-day survivors was 97%, 82%, 73%, and 42%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MICS-CABG grafting is associated with excellent early and long-term outcomes in eligible octogenarians.

Concomitant intra-atrial excision of the left atrial appendage during robotic-assisted minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Objective: Surgical closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac surgery can decrease the risk of stroke and thromboembolism and should therefore be considered. In minimally invasive, thoracoscopic, or robotic-assisted mitral valve surgery, however, external procedures such as clip application or epicardial resection are not feasible due to anatomic limitations and the reduced size of the access port. Internal suture closing techniques bear the risk of recurrent LAA reperfusion, so far. We present a novel surgical technique of LAA excision and subsequent defect closure from the interior aspect of the atrium. Methods: We developed this novel technique during robotic-assisted cardiac surgeries. In short, the LAA is invaginated into the left atrium, excised completely at the base using scissors and the stump is then closed from the inside with a two-layer looped PTFE suture. We give a detailed step-by-step description of the technique. Results: A total of 20 patients received intra-atrial LAA excision so far. Complete resection of the LAA without any residual stump or bleeding was achieved in all cases. There were no procedure-related complications. Conclusion: The intra-atrial LAA excision technique shows promising preliminary results regarding efficacy, safety, and reproducibility during robotic-assisted cardiac operations and could be recommended for all right-sided minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures.

Surgical atrial appendage closure: time for a randomized study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is assumed to affect more than 30 million people worldwide. Studies report that the left atrial appendage (LAA) plays an important role in thrombus formation and is considered the embolic source in 90% of affected patients with non-valvular and 57% with valvular AF. Oral anticoagulants have been the standard of care for stroke prevention in patients with AF for decades. However, bleeding complications and noncompliance are barriers to effective embolic protection. Therefore, as an alternative to conventional anti-thrombotic therapy, surgical LAA occlusion, which may lead to a reduced risk of thromboembolism, has received increasing attention. However, the procedure can be associated with additional risks such as prolonged operation time, damage to the circumflex coronary artery, and incomplete LAA occlusion. This review discusses some of the observational studies that have examined the impact of LAA occlusion on stroke, the LAAOS III (Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study) trial, which provided definitive evidence for the benefit of surgical LAA occlusion on ischemic stroke, which surgical methods are safe and effective for LAA occlusion, and whether oral anticoagulation can be stopped after surgical removal of the LAA.

Cryopreserved aortic homograft, lifeline treatment for infected vascular prosthesis with mediastinal abscess in a re-redo case.

We report about a 61-year-old man who, 6 years after initial uncomplicated mitral valve repair and 3 months after treatment of a pseudo-aneurysm of the ascending aorta with a Dacron patch, was admitted in our institution with an infection of the vascular graft, which was associated with sternal osteomyelitis and purulent cutaneous fistula. In a re-redo procedure, the proximal aortic arch and the ascending aorta were replaced with a cryopreserved aortic homograft. The infected part of the sternum was resected and the defect was covered by mobilizing the mediastinal tissue and with a bilateral muscle flap. The patient was discharged 20 days after surgery. This treatment concept outlines the benefit of cryopreserved aortic homograft when faced with a complex thoracic aortic infection.

Under-recognition of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery in the ICU Impedes Early Detection and Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; therefore, prevention is important. The aim of this study was to systematically assess AKI incidence after cardiac surgery as documented in clinical routine compared to the real incidence because AKI may be under-recognized in clinical practice. Further, its postoperative management was compared to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendations because recognition and adequate treatment represent the fundamental cornerstone in the prevention and management of AKI. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included n = 100 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The coded incidence of postoperative AKI during intensive care unit stay after surgery was compared to the real AKI incidence. Furthermore, conformity of postoperative parameters with KDIGO recommendations for AKI prevention and management was reviewed. RESULTS: We found a considerable discrepancy between coded and real incidence, and conformity with KDIGO recommendations was found to be relatively low. The coded incidence was significantly lower (n = 12 vs. n = 52, p < 0.05), representing a coding rate of 23.1%. Regarding postoperative management, 90% of all patients had at least 1 episode with mean arterial pressure <65 mm Hg within the first 72 h. Furthermore, regarding other preventive parameters (avoiding hyperglycemia, stopping angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, avoiding contrast media, and nephrotoxic drugs), only 10 patients (20.8%) in the non-AKI group and in 5 (9.6%) subjects in the AKI group had none of all the above potential AKI-promoting factors. CONCLUSIONS: AKI recognition in everyday clinical routine seems to be low, especially in lower AKI stages, and the current postoperative management still offers potential for optimization. Possibly, higher AKI awareness and stricter postoperative management could already achieve significant effects in prevention and treatment of AKI.

Cardiogenic Shock Due to Leaflet Migration of On-X Aortic Mechanical Prosthesis.

Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition requiring fast and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic measures. In this case, the history of several cardiac surgeries hindered finding the correct diagnosis initially. After an ultima ratio cardiac redo operation the underlying cause was found intraoperatively: a defective mechanical valve prosthesis with migration of one of the two leaflets. Strikingly, this happened with a contemporary On-X prosthesis only 4 years after implantation. Timely echocardiography is of utmost importance in patients with prosthetic heart valves presenting in heart failure.

ApoCIII-Lp(a) complexes in conjunction with Lp(a)-OxPL predict rapid progression of aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed whether apolipoprotein CIII-lipoprotein(a) complexes (ApoCIII-Lp(a)) associate with progression of calcific aortic valve stenosis (AS). METHODS: Immunostaining for ApoC-III was performed in explanted aortic valve leaflets in 68 patients with leaflet pathological grades of 1-4. Assays measuring circulating levels of ApoCIII-Lp(a) complexes were measured in 218 patients with mild-moderate AS from the AS Progression Observation: Measuring Effects of Rosuvastatin (ASTRONOMER) trial. The progression rate of AS, measured as annualised changes in peak aortic jet velocity (Vpeak), and combined rates of aortic valve replacement (AVR) and cardiac death were determined. For further confirmation of the assay data, a proteomic analysis of purified Lp(a) was performed to confirm the presence of apoC-III on Lp(a). RESULTS: Immunohistochemically detected ApoC-III was prominent in all grades of leaflet lesion severity. Significant interactions were present between ApoCIII-Lp(a) and Lp(a), oxidised phospholipids on apolipoprotein B-100 (OxPL-apoB) or on apolipoprotein (a) (OxPL-apo(a)) with annualised Vpeak (all p<0.05). After multivariable adjustment, patients in the top tertile of both apoCIII-Lp(a) and Lp(a) had significantly higher annualised Vpeak (p<0.001) and risk of AVR/cardiac death (p=0.03). Similar results were noted with OxPL-apoB and OxPL-apo(a). There was no association between autotaxin (ATX) on ApoB and ATX on Lp(a) with faster progression of AS. Proteomic analysis of purified Lp(a) showed that apoC-III was prominently present on Lp(a). CONCLUSION: ApoC-III is present on Lp(a) and in aortic valve leaflets. Elevated levels of ApoCIII-Lp(a) complexes in conjunction with Lp(a), OxPL-apoB or OxPL-apo(a) identify patients with pre-existing mild-moderate AS who display rapid progression of AS and higher rates of AVR/cardiac death. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00800800.

Impact of clinical factors and surgical techniques on early outcome of patients treated with frozen elephant trunk technique by using EVITA open stent-graft: results of a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of patients with extensive thoracic aortic disease involving the arch and descending aorta is often performed, using the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique. We retrospectively analysed early outcomes with this technique, using a prospective database. METHODS: A total of 509 patients (mean age: 61 ± 11 years) were registered between January 2005 and January 2014 in a multicentre database after FET surgery. Acute or chronic aortic dissection (AD) was the indication for surgery in 350 (68.8%) patients and degenerative or atherosclerotic aneurysm (DA) accounted for 159 (31.2%) patients. A logistic regression model was created to identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and neurological complications. RESULTS: The average in-hospital mortality was 15.9% (n = 81) with 17.1% for AD patients and 13.2% for DA patients (P = 0.2). Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were haemodynamic instability [odds ratio (OR): 2.7, P = 0.005], peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.6, P = 0.002), diabetes (OR: 2.1, P = 0.05) and selective cerebral perfusion time >60 min (OR: 2.2, P = 0.005). Patients under 60 years of age and the use of guide wire during FET implantation were protective for early survival. Stroke occurred in 7.7% (n = 39) of patients. Paraplegia or paraparesis occurred in 7.5% (n = 38) of patients. A distal landing zone lower than T10 was an independent predictor for spinal cord injury (OR: 2.3, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Techniques for faster arch replacement and controlled FET placement should be considered in order to reduce the early mortality and neurological complications after FET surgery. For distal aortic lesions, a two-staged approach is suggested, rather than the FET landing lower than T10.

Results and Quality of Life after Minimally Invasive Ross Procedure.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Based on superior long-term results, an increasing interest in the Ross procedure for young adult patients can be observed. After the first publication of this challenging procedure through a minimally invasive access, this operation has become an alternative to conventional sternotomy at the authors' department. This analysis compares the results and quality of life of the conventional and the minimally invasive Ross procedures. METHODS: By April 2013, a total of 136 patients had undergone the Ross procedure at the authors' institution. Preoperative parameters did not differ between the conventional group (C-group; n = 58; mean age 49 years) and the minimally invasive group (M-group; n = 78; mean age 50 years). Only the aortic cross-clamp time was longer for the M-group (151 versus 140 min). RESULTS: One C-group patient died on the day of operation. Consecutively, survival was 99% for the follow up period of 1,093 ± 601 days. Valve-related reoperations were necessary for four patients. One C-group patient developed a distal pulmonary stenosis due to fibrotic scar tissue. Two M-group patients showed fistulas after early endocarditis, but the native valves could be preserved in these cases. One C-group patient with recurrent severe aortic regurgitation showed holes in two of three cusps. The SF-36 questionnaire detected better physical parameters (physical function, physical role function) for patients after minimally invasive access. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive Ross procedure allows the same excellent clinical outcome as the conventional technique. However, the physical quality of life is better with the minimally invasive procedure, in addition to an improved cosmetic result.