Outcomes of aortic valve repair in children stratified by complexity: Which outcome for which lesion?

OBJECTIVE: Aortic valvuloplasty frequency has significantly increased over the past 15 years. Surgical repair varies in complexity depending on valvular lesions. Our aim is to report results on the whole spectrum of aortic valvuloplasty techniques. METHODS: All children who consecutively underwent aortic valvuloplasty for aortic stenosis and/or aortic insufficiency between January 2006 and December 2020 at Necker Sick Children's Hospital (Paris, France) were included in a retrospective cohort study. Aortic valvuloplasty techniques were classified into 3 difficulty levels: (1) simple repair, corresponding to commissurotomy and/or shaving in aortic stenosis (AS) in neonates (group 1) and children >1 month (group 2); (2) intermediate-complexity repair, corresponding to commissuroplasty, leaflet resuspension, and fenestration closure in aortic insufficiency (leaflet prolapse in connective tissue disease, isolated leaflet prolapse and Laubry-Pezzi groups); and (3) complex repair requiring a pericardial patch to restore a functional aortic valve in mixed aortic valve disease (bicuspidization with neocommissure and cusp extension groups). RESULTS: During the study period, 324 children underwent aortic valvuloplasty. Survival and freedom from aortic valve reintervention at 10 years were, respectively, 86.1% and 50.9% in neonates with AS, 95.2% and 71.7% in children >1 month with AS, 93.8% and 79.5% in leaflet prolapse in connective tissue disease, 97.7% and 91.9% in isolated leaflet prolapse, 100% and 88% in those with Laubry-Pezzi syndrome, 97.4% and 84.8% in bicuspidization with neocommissure, and 100% and 54.2% in the cusp extension. CONCLUSIONS: Durability of aortic valvuloplasty techniques is satisfactory and offers the possibility to delay the Ross procedure, regardless of the lesion's complexity.

Incidence and outcomes of prosthetic valve thrombosis during peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: In the context of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) following valve replacement surgery, it may be necessary to implant a peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (pVA-ECMO). This procedure, however, carries a risk of prosthetic valve thrombosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the incidence and outcomes of prosthetic valve thrombosis after VA-ECMO support for PCCS and to report the associated risk factors. METHODS: All consecutive adult patients who received pVA-ECMO for PCCS following a valve replacement procedure between January 2015 and October 2019 in our institution were included in this retrospective study. Outcome variables were prosthetic valve thrombosis, 30-day and hospital survival, pVA-ECMO-associated adverse events and surgery-related adverse events. RESULTS: During the 4-year study period, 549 patients received pVA-ECMO for PCCS. Among them, 152 had undergone a valve replacement procedure and 9 of these developed prosthetic valve thrombosis. The incidence of valve thrombosis at 30 days was 7.5 ± 2%. The cumulative Incidence of prosthetic valve thrombosis was significantly lower with pVA-ECMO + IABP versus VA-ECMO alone (1.4 ± 1.4% vs 13.7 ± 4.7%, p = 0.021, respectively). Intra-aortic balloon pump use associated with pVA-ECMO (versus pVA-ECMO alone) was an independent protective factor against hospital death (OR = 0.180 [0.068-0.478], p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: After PCCS following valve replacement surgery, peripheral femoro-femoral VA-ECMO is associated with a low risk of acute valve thrombosis especially when associated with an IABP.

Hemodynamic Evaluation of a Centrifugal Left Atrial Decompression Pump for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

This article discusses a new continuous flow mini pump that has been developed to improve symptoms and prognosis in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), for which there are currently no established treatments. The pump is designed to discharge a reduced percentage of blood volume from the left atrium to the subclavian artery, clamped at the bifurcation with the aortic arch. The overall specifications, design parameters, and hemodynamics of this new device are discussed, along with data from in vitro circulation loop tests and numerical simulations. The article also compares the results for two configurations of the pump with respect to key indicators of hemocompatibility used in blood pump development.

Outcomes of aortic valve-sparing root replacement with cusp repair in connective tissue disease.

BACKGROUND: Although, valve sparing is commonly performed in patients with Marfan syndrome, feasibility and results of cusp repair for aortic insufficiency have not been studied. AIM: To report on the outcomes and durability of aortic cusp repair in valve sparing in patients with Marfan syndrome. METHODS: All consecutive adult patients with Marfan syndrome who underwent remodelling and annuloplasty with aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiency between May 2005 and December 2020 were included. Patients with Marfan syndrome treated for aortic aneurysm, but without aortic insufficiency, were excluded. Data were collected prospectively and reviewed retrospectively from the Aorticvalve repair International Registry (AVIATOR). RESULTS: During the study period, 71 patients with Marfan syndrome were referred to surgery. Fifty-five patients with connective tissue disease and aortic insufficiency with aorta aneurysm were treated: 46 underwent aortic valve repair and nine underwent aortic valve replacement (five mechanical aortic valve replacements and four biological aortic valve replacements). The mean age was 42.9±15.4 years, and the mean EuroScore II was 2.5±2.2. No patient died, and no patient had significant aortic insufficiency (grade≥II) at discharge. The 5-year survival rate estimate was 94.4%, which seems statistically similar to that of the age- and sex-matched general population. At 5 years, freedom from reoperation was 94.6%, and the incidence of infective endocarditis was 2.6%. No valve thrombosis, aortic dissection, major bleeding events, thromboembolic events (stroke) or myocardial infarctions were noted during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Remodelling and aortic valve repair showed excellent durability at 5 years, even in connective tissue disorders.

Primary Thoracic Endografting for T4 Lung Cancer Aortic Involvement.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to present the results in patients with a T4 thoracic tumor with aortic involvement who were treated with a thoracic endograft before surgical resection. DESCRIPTION: All consecutive patients undergoing a thoracic endograft procedure before an oncologic resection between January 2012 and December 2019 were reviewed in a single-center retrospective study. Included patients had either a T4 lung tumor or a mediastinal tumor invading the thoracic aorta. EVALUATION: Nine patients were included: 7 with T4 lung cancer, 1 with sarcoma, and 1 patient with thymoma. Median follow-up was 25 months (range, 22-47 months). There were no endograft-related complications. All but 1 patient had an R0 oncologic resection. Eight patients were alive and free from recurrence at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Use of thoracic stent grafting before surgical resection for patients with a thoracic tumor invading the aorta is a feasible option that obviates the need for extracorporeal circulation and its associated morbidity. This technique could be an alternative strategy in the treatment of tumors invading the thoracic aorta.

Association Between Shock Etiology and 5-Year Outcomes After Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes of patients requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) vary greatly by etiology, but large studies that incorporate the spectrum of shock supported with ECMO are rare. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the etiology-related outcome of patients with shock supported with peripheral VA-ECMO. METHODS: All consecutive adults with peripheral VA-ECMO between January 2015 and August 2018 at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Paris, France) were included in this retrospective observational study. The indication for VA-ECMO was cardiogenic shock. Rates of hospital death and neurological, renal, and pulmonary complications were evaluated according to etiology. RESULTS: Among 1,253 patients, hospital and 5-year survival rates were, respectively, 73.3% and 57.3% for primary graft failure, 58.6% and 54.0% for drug overdose, 53.2% and 45.3% for dilated cardiomyopathy, 51.6% and 50.0% for arrhythmic storm, 46.8% and 38.3% for massive pulmonary embolism, 44.4% and 42.4% for sepsis-induced cardiogenic shock, 37.9% and 32.9% for fulminant myocarditis, 37.3% and 31.5% for acute myocardial infarction, 34.6% and 33.3% for postcardiotomy excluding primary graft failure, 25.7% and 22.8% for other/unknown etiology, and 11.1% and 0.0% for refractory vasoplegia shock. Renal failure requiring hemodialysis developed in 50.0%, neurological complications in 16.0%, and hydrostatic pulmonary edema in 9.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Although the outcome differs depending on etiology, this difference is related more to the severity of the situation associated with the cause rather than the cause of the shock per se. Survival to 5 years varied by cause, which may reflect the natural course of the chronic disease and illustrates the need for long-term follow-up.

Aortic valve repair using pericardial patch standardized with external ring annuloplasty.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to analyse outcomes of aortic valve repair using additional material and compare the results to those of cusp repair without the use of the pericardial patch. METHODS: All consecutive patients aged over 16 who underwent aortic valve repair with external ring annuloplasty for isolated aortic insufficiency, aortic insufficiency and tubular aortic aneurysm or aortic root aneurysm between May 2003 and November 2019 were included in a cohort study. Data were collected and analysed from the AVIATOR registry (AorticValve repair InternATiOnal Registry). Propensity score framework analysis (inverse probability of treatment weighting) was used to compare outcomes of the groups while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: During the 16-year study period, 618 patients underwent aortic valve repair. Eight-year survival rate was 92% in the patch group and 90.2% in the no patch group without significant differences [P = 0.957 inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) weighted]. Early valve-related reoperation was more frequent in the patch group as compared to the no patch group (6% vs 1%, P < 0.001 IPTW weighted), the freedom from aortic valve-related reintervention and from structural valve deterioration at 8 years was not significantly different between the patch and no patch groups (93.7% vs 94%, P = 0.968 IPTW weighted; and 99.3% vs 96.7%, P = 0.964 IPTW weighted). CONCLUSIONS: Although a higher rate of early reintervention was observed, aortic valve repair using the pericardial patch, in a standardized approach using external annuloplasty, with effective coaptation height of at least 9 mm, was not associated with an increase in mid-term aortic valve-related reoperation or structural valve deterioration as compared to valve repair without the pericardial patch.

Outcomes of surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement for aortic insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Results and durability of aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis are well known, but no study has focused on the results of aortic valve replacement in aortic insufficiency. AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to describe our mid-term outcomes after aortic valve replacement for aortic insufficiency. METHODS: All consecutive adult patients who underwent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement for aortic insufficiency at two European centres (in France and Germany) between May 2005 and December 2020 were analysed. RESULTS: During the study period, 289 patients were included. Mean age was 56.9±12.5 years. Overall operative mortality was 1.5%, and the 10-year survival estimate rate was 75.0%, which was significantly lower than in the age- and sex-matched general population, with a standardized mortality ratio of 2.88 (95% confidence interval 1.96-4.08; P<0001). Freedom from aortic valve-related death was 87.6%, and from aortic valve-related reoperation was 87.4%. No patient aged>60 years was reoperated on during follow-up. Freedom from severe structural valve deterioration at 10 years was 73.3%, and freedom from moderate structural valve deterioration at 10 years was 50.3%. Freedom from major adverse valve-related events at 10 years was 69.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Although bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement for aortic insufficiency shows good early results, 10-year mortality and major adverse valve-related event rates in young patients may be a concern, with a reduction in life expectancy compared with the general population.

Ross procedure or complex aortic valve repair using pericardium in children: A real dilemma.

OBJECTIVE: Difficult to repair aortic valve lesions, requiring the use of a valve substitute, remain controversial in the face of the Ross procedure, despite undeniable technical advances. This study was undertaken to compare midterm outcomes of children treated using the Ross procedure or aortic valvuloplasty for complex aortic valve lesions. METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2017, 126 patients aged younger than 18 years were treated for complex aortic stenosis and/or aortic insufficiency and were included in this retrospective study. Only aortic valve lesions requiring repair with an autologous or heterologous pericardial patch were considered complex lesions. Propensity score framework analyses were used to compare outcomes of the Ross and aortic valvuloplasty groups while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Among the 126 patients with complex aortic valve lesions, propensity score matching selected 34 unique pairs of patients with similar characteristics. Survival (aortic valvuloplasty, 94.1%; Ross, 91%; P = .89), freedom from overall reintervention (aortic valvuloplasty, 50.1%; Ross, 69%; P = .32), and freedom from infective endocarditis at 8 years (aortic valvuloplasty, 100%; Ross, 85.9%; P = .21) were similar. However, freedom from reintervention in the left ventricular outflow tract at 8 years was lower after aortic valvuloplasty than after the Ross procedure (50.1% vs 100%, respectively; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic valvuloplasty and the Ross procedure yielded similar 8-year outcomes regarding death, reoperation, and infective endocarditis although aortic valvuloplasty tended to be associated with fewer cases of infective endocarditis. Aortic valvuloplasty using a pericardial patch can be chosen as a first-line strategy for treating complex aortic valve lesions and might offer the possibility of a later Ross procedure.

Aortic valve repair versus mechanical valve replacement for root aneurysm: the CAVIAAR multicentric study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite growing evidence that aortic valve repair improves long-term patient outcomes and quality of life, aortic valves are mostly replaced. We evaluate the effect of aortic valve repair versus replacement in patients with dystrophic aortic root aneurysm up to 4 years. METHODS: The multicentric CAVIAAR (Conservation Aortique Valvulaire dans les Insuffisances Aortiques et les Anévrismes de la Racine aortique) prospective cohort study enrolled 261 patients: 130 underwent standardized aortic valve repair (REPAIR) consisting of remodelling root repair with expansible aortic ring annuloplasty, and 131 received mechanical composite valve and graft replacement (REPLACE). Primary outcome was a composite criterion of mortality, reoperation, thromboembolic or major bleeding events, endocarditis or operating site infections, pacemaker implantation and heart failure, analysed with propensity score-weighted Cox model analysis. Secondary outcomes included major adverse valve-related events and components of primary outcome. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.1 years, and valve was bicuspid in 115 patients (44.7%). Up to 4 years, REPAIR did not significantly differ from REPLACE in terms of primary outcome [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.66 (0.39; 1.12)] but showed significantly less valve-related deaths (HR 0.09 [0.02; 0.34]) and major bleeding events (HR 0.37 [0.16; 0.85]) without an increased risk of valve-related reoperation (HR 2.10 [0.64; 6.96]). When accounting for the occurrence of multiple events in a single patient, the REPAIR group had half the occurrence of major adverse valve-related events (HR 0.51 [0.31; 0.86]). CONCLUSIONS: Although the primary outcome did not significantly differ between the REPAIR and REPLACE groups, the trend is in favour of REPAIR by a significant reduction of valve-related deaths and major bleeding events. Long-term follow-up beyond 4 years is needed to confirm these findings.

Right axillary artery cannulation for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective single centre observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to assess the safety, outcomes and complication rate of axillary artery cannulation for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data obtained from the review of medical charts of all consecutive patients undergoing VA-ECMO implantation between January 2013 and December 2017 at a teaching hospital. Only patients with right axillary VA-ECMO implantation in a non-emergency setting were included. Post-procedural outcomes and local and systemic complications were analysed. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-four [131 male (75.3%), 43 female (24.7%); mean age 56.8 ± 15.1 years] patients underwent femoral-axillary VA-ECMO. Indications were cardiogenic shock from any cause (n = 78, 44.8%) or post-cardiotomy syndrome (n = 96, 55.2%). Fifty-three (30.5%) patients died while on VA-ECMO support. At the time of VA-ECMO ablation, 89 (51.1%) patients had recovered; 13 (7.5%) patients were bridged to a long-term mechanical support device and 19 (10.9%) patients underwent heart transplants. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality was 36.2% (n = 63) and 49.4% (n = 86), respectively. The 1-year survival rate of patients who were weaned from VA-ECMO support was 72.7% (n = 88). The complications of axillary cannulation were bleeding (n = 7, 4%), local infection (n = 3, 1.7%), upper limb ischaemia (n = 2, 1.1%) and brachial plexus injury (n = 1, 0.6%). Left ventricle unloading was required for 9 (5.2%) patients. The median duration of VA-ECMO support was 7 (range 1-26) days. CONCLUSIONS: Right axillary artery cannulation is a safe and reliable method for VA-ECMO support with a low rate of local complications. In the absence of a control group with femoro-femoral cannulation, no definitive conclusion about the superiority of axillary over femoral cannulation can be drawn.

Pulmonary haemodynamic effects of interatrial shunt in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a preclinical study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the creation of a left-to-right interatrial shunt on pulmonary haemodynamics in rats with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: An interatrial communication (IAC) was created in 11 healthy rats (Lewis rats) and 11 rats which developed HFPEF (36-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats [SHR]). Effects of the interatrial shunt were compared to 11 sham-operated Lewis and 11 sham-operated SHR. At 45 days post shunt, strain effect was observed in diastolic function (E/A ratio, p<0.001; isovolumetric relaxation time, p<0.001), left atrial volume (p=0.005) and pulmonary wall shear rate (WSR) (p=0.02) measured by Doppler echo. At sacrifice of the animals (60 days), a strain effect was also noted in elastin density (p=0.003) and eNOS protein expression (p=0.001). Interatrial shunt creation resulted in (i) an increase in pulmonary WSR (p=0.04) and a decrease in left atrial volume (p<0.001), (ii) an increase in elastin density (p<0.005), and (iii) an increase in eNOS protein expression (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Creation of a left-to-right atrial shunt in rats with HFPEF was effective in improving pulmonary haemodynamics. In addition, this study provides preliminary evidence of the potential risk of right volume overload and pulmonary hypertension due to atrial shunting.

Anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries: an alternative to the unroofing strategy.

OBJECTIVES: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is the second leading cause of sudden death in children and young adults. The most threatening anatomy is an interarterial and an intramural course, both probably involved in ischaemic phenomena and sudden death. The treatment of interarterial AAOCA remains controversial. Most of the published studies describe the results of the unroofing technique. Our study aims to evaluate the results of a different surgical approach. METHODS: From 2005 to 2019, 61 patients were operated on for an interarterial AAOCA (median age 14.7 years). Forty patients had a right AAOCA, and 21 patients had a left AAOCA including 5 patients with intraseptal course. Seventy percent of patients were symptomatic. Five patients had an aborted sudden cardiac death. Two surgical techniques were used: an 'anatomical' repair for 35 patients (15 left and 22 right AAOCA) or a coronary translocation with creation of a neo-ostia in 19 patients (1 left and 18 right AAOCA). The 5 left AAOCA patients with an intra-septal course required a complete release of the coronary artery from the septum. RESULTS: There was no early or late postoperative death. Three patients had an acute postoperative ischaemic event. Two patients required immediate angioplasty and stenting: 1 patient (7 years) with a hypoplastic right AAOCA and 1 patient (66 years) for inadequate tailoring after septal release. The third patient required an immediate surgical revision (H-2) for left AAOCA thrombosis at the level of the pericardial patch with full myocardial recovery at discharge. During follow-up, 1 patient with right AAOCA translocation and chronic chest pain required subsequent stenting and finally a coronary artery bypass grafting 2 years after initial surgery. One patient who had an asymptomatic mild right coronary stenosis 1 year after anatomical repair was successfully treated by angioplasty alone. All patients but 1 who underwent coronary translocation are totally asymptomatic. All patients with anatomical repair or septal release are free from ischaemic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical repair might provide a better protective option for these patients. Unlike unroofing, it treats the entire intramural segment, relocates the ostium at the appropriate sinus level and corrects any acute take-off angle.

Biological aortic valve replacement: advantages and optimal indications of stentless compared to stented valve substitutes. A review.

Controversy still surrounds the optimal biological valve substitute for aortic valve replacement. In light of the current literature, we review advantages and optimal indications of stentless compared to stented aortic bio-prostheses. Recent meta-analyses, prospective randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies comparing the most frequently used stentless and stented aortic bio-prostheses were analyzed. In the present review, the types and implantation techniques of the bio-prosthesis that are seldom taken into account by most studies and reviews were integrated in the interpretation of the relevant reports. For stentless aortic root bio-prostheses, full-root vs. sub-coronary implantation offered better early transvalvular gradients, effective orifice area and left ventricular mass regression as well as late freedom from structural valve deterioration in retrospective studies. Early mortality and morbidity did not differ between the stentless and stented aortic bio-prostheses. Early transvalvular gradients, effective orifice area and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy were significantly better for stentless, especially as full-root, compared to stented bio-prostheses. The long-term valve-related survival for stentless aortic root and Toronto SPV bio-prosthesis was as good as that for stented pericardial aortic bio-prostheses. For full-root configuration this survival advantage was statistically significant. There seems to be not one but different ideal biological valve substitutes for different subgroups of patients. In patients with small aortic root or exposed to prosthesis-patient mismatch full-root implantation of stentless bio-prostheses may better meet functional needs of individual patients. Longer follow-ups on newer generation of stented bio-prostheses are needed for comparison of their hemodynamic performance with stentless counterparts especially in full-root configuration.

Percutaneous versus surgical femoro-femoral veno-arterial ECMO: a propensity score matched study.

PURPOSE: Femoral artery surgical cannulation is the reference for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in adults. However, the less invasive percutaneous approach has been associated with lower rates of complications. This retrospective study compared complication rates and overall survival in a large series of patients who received surgical or percutaneous peripheral VA-ECMO. METHODS: All consecutive patients implanted with VA-ECMO between January 2015 and December 2017 in a high ECMO-volume university hospital were included. Surgical cannulation was the only approach until late 2016 after which the percutaneous approach became the first line strategy. Propensity score framework analyzes were used to compare outcomes of percutaneous and surgical groups while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Among the 814 patients who received VA-ECMO (485 surgical and 329 percutaneous), propensity-score matching selected 266 unique pairs of patients with similar characteristics. Percutaneous cannulation was associated with fewer local infections (16.5% versus 27.8%, p = 0.001), similar rates of limb ischemia (8.6% versus 12.4%, p = 0.347) and sensory-motor complications (2.6% versus 2.3%, p = 0.779) and improved 30-day survival (63.8% versus 56.3%, p = 0.034). However, more vascular complications following decannulation (14.7% versus 3.4%, p < 0.001), mainly persistent bleeding requiring surgical revision (9.4% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001), occurred after percutaneous cannulation. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the surgical approach, percutaneous cannulation for peripheral VA-ECMO was associated with fewer local infections, similar rates of ischemia and sensory-motor complications and improved 30-day survival. The higher rate of vascular complications following decannulation suggests that improvements in cannula removal techniques are needed to further improve patients' outcomes after percutaneous cannulation.