Statin loading before coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized trial.

AIMS: Evidence suggests that a high-dose statin loading before a percutaneous coronary revascularization improves outcomes in patients receiving long-term statins. This study aimed to analyse the effects of such an additional statin therapy before surgical revascularization. METHODS AND RESULTS: This investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted from November 2012 to April 2019 at 14 centres in Germany. Adult patients (n = 2635) with a long-term statin treatment (≥30 days) who were scheduled for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomly assigned to receive a statin-loading therapy or placebo at 12 and 2 h prior to surgery using a web-based system. The primary outcome of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was a composite consisting of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and a cerebrovascular event occuring within 30 days after surgery. Key secondary endpoints included a composite of cardiac death and MI, myocardial injury, and death within 12 months. Non-statistically relevant differences were found in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (2406 patients; 1203 per group) between the statin (13.9%) and placebo groups (14.9%) for the primary outcome [odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-1.18; P = 0.562] or any of its individual components. Secondary endpoints including cardiac death and MI (12.1% vs. 13.5%; OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.69-1.12; P = 0.300), the area under the troponin T-release curve (median 0.398 vs. 0.394 ng/ml, P = 0.333), and death at 12 months (3.1% vs. 2.9%; P = 0.825) were comparable between treatment arms. CONCLUSION: Additional statin loading before CABG failed to reduce the rate of MACCE occuring within 30 days of surgery.

Perioperative Tracking of Intravenous Iron in Patients Undergoing On-Pump Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Single-Center Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative intravenous iron administration is a frequently used patient blood management procedure. If the timeframe of intravenous iron administration before surgery is short, (1) the concentration of the intravenous iron compound might still be high in patients' plasma when undergoing surgery and (2) this iron in patients' plasma is at risk to be lost due to blood loss. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to track the iron compound ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) before, during, and after cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, with an emphasis on intraoperative iron losses in shed blood and potential recovery through autologous cell salvage. METHODS: Concentrations of FCM were analyzed in patients' blood using a hyphenation of liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to distinguish between pharmaceutical compound FCM and serum iron. In this prospective, single-center pilot trial, 13 anemic and 10 control patients were included. Anemic patients with hemoglobin levels ≤12/13 g/dL in women and men were treated with 500 milligrams (mg) intravenous FCM 12 to 96 hours before elective on-pump cardiac surgery. Patients' blood samples were collected before surgery and at days 0, 1, 3, and 7 after surgery. One sample each was taken of the cardiopulmonary bypass, the autologous red blood cell concentrate generated by cell salvage, and the cell salvage disposal bag. RESULTS: Patients who had received FCM <48 hours before surgery had higher FCM serum levels (median [Q1-Q3], 52.9 [13.0-91.6]) compared to ≥48 hours (2.1 [0.7-5.1] µg/mL, P = .008). Of 500-mg FCM administered <48 hours, 327.37 (257.96-402.48) mg were incorporated compared to administration ≥48 hours with 493.60 (487.78-496.70) mg. After surgery, patients' plasma FCM concentration in the FCM <48 hours group was decreased (-27.1 [-30 to -5.9] µg/mL). Little FCM was found in the cell salvage disposal bag (<48 hours, 4.2 [3.0-25.8] µg/mL, equivalent to 29.0 [19.0-40.7] mg total; equivalent to 5.8% or 1/17th of the 500 mg FCM initially administered), almost none in the autologous red blood cell concentrate (<48 hours, 0.1 [0.0-0.43] µg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: The data generate the hypotheses that nearly all FCM is incorporated into iron stores with administration ≥48 hours before surgery. When FCM is given <48 hours of surgery, the majority is incorporated into iron stores by the time of surgery, although a small amount may be lost during surgical bleeding with limited recovery by cell salvage.

Grafts and Patches: Optimized but Not Optimal Materials for Congenital Heart Surgery.

A variety of materials are available for the surgery of children with congenital heart defects. In addition to growth-related mismatch, degeneration of the material in particular frequently leads to reoperation. Therefore, the choice of conduits and patches should be made carefully. This article provides an overview of the most commonly implanted materials in pediatric cardiac surgery.Structural changes can be detected in all available materials. Depending on the age at implantation and the site of implantation, the extent and time course of material degeneration vary. Autologous material is still the gold standard in reconstructive surgery. Biological materials have largely replaced artificial materials in clinical use.The search for the ideal material continues. In pediatric cardiac surgery, there are only optimized but no optimal materials.

Tricuspid Valve Surgery in Patients Receiving Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common and related to poor prognosis in patients after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The concomitant tricuspid valve surgery (TVS) at the time of LVAD implantation on short and long-term outcomes are controversial in current evidence. METHODS: This is a single-center, observational, retrospective study. We enrolled patients with moderate-to-severe TR who received LVAD implantations from 2009 to 2020. Postoperative right ventricular failure (RVF), right ventricular assist device (RVAD) use, hospital mortality, new-onset renal replacement therapy (RRT), and acute kidney injury (AKI) were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included, 36 with and 32 without concomitant TVS. Baseline characteristics did not differ between the two groups. Patients receiving TVS had significantly increased incidences of postoperative RVF (52.8 vs. 25.0%, p = 0.019), RVAD implantation (41.7 vs. 18.8%, p = 0.041), and new-onset RRT (22.2 vs. 0%, p = 0.004). No difference in the incidence of AKI and hospital mortality was detected. Besides, these associations remained consistent in patients who underwent LVAD implantation via median sternotomy. During a median follow-up of 2.76 years, Kaplan-Meier analysis and competing-risk analysis showed that TVS was not associated with better overall survival in patients after LVAD implantation compared with the no-TVS group. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that concomitant TVS failed to show benefits in patients receiving LVAD implantation. Even worse, concomitant TVS is associated with significantly increased incidences of RVF, RVAD use, and new-onset of RRT. Considering the small sample size and short follow-up, these findings warrant further study.

Central and peripheral arterial diseases in chronic kidney disease: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects about 10% of all populations worldwide, with about 2 million people requiring dialysis. Although patients with CKD are at high risk of cardiovascular disease and events, they are often underrepresented or excluded in clinical trials, leading to important knowledge gaps about how to treat these patients. KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) convened the fourth clinical Controversies Conference on the heart, kidney and vasculature in Dublin, Ireland, in February 2020, entitled Central and Peripheral Arterial Diseases in Chronic Kidney Disease. A global panel of multidisciplinary experts from the fields of nephrology, cardiology, neurology, surgery, radiology, vascular biology, epidemiology, and health economics attended. The objective was to identify key issues related to the optimal detection, management, and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, central aortic disease, renovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease in the setting of CKD. This report outlines the common pathophysiology of these vascular processes in the setting of CKD, describes best practices for their diagnosis and management, summarizes areas of uncertainty, addresses ongoing controversial issues, and proposes a research agenda to address key gaps in knowledge that, when addressed, could improve patient care and outcomes.

Signaling mechanisms inducing hyporesponsiveness of phagocytes during systemic inflammation.

The inflammatory responsiveness of phagocytes to exogenous and endogenous stimuli is tightly regulated. This regulation plays an important role in systemic inflammatory response syndromes (SIRSs). In SIRSs, phagocytes initially develop a hyperinflammatory response, followed by a secondary state of hyporesponsiveness, a so-called "tolerance." This hyporesponsiveness can be induced by endotoxin stimulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), resulting in an ameliorated response after subsequent restimulation. This modification of inflammatory response patterns has been described as innate immune memory. Interestingly, tolerance can also be triggered by endogenous TLR4 ligands, such as the alarmins myeloid-related protein 8 (MRP8, S100A8) and MRP14 (S100A9), under sterile conditions. However, signaling pathways that trigger hyporesponsiveness of phagocytes in clinically relevant diseases are only barely understood. Through our work, we have now identified 2 main signaling cascades that are activated during MRP-induced tolerance of phagocytes. We demonstrate that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/GSK-3ß pathway interferes with NF-κB-driven gene expression and that inhibition of GSK-3ß mimics tolerance in vivo. Moreover, we identified interleukin-10-triggered activation of transcription factors STAT3 and BCL-3 as master regulators of MRP-induced tolerance. Accordingly, patients with dominant-negative STAT3 mutations show no tolerance development. In a clinically relevant condition of systemic sterile stress, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, we confirmed the initial induction of MRP expression and the tolerance induction of monocytes associated with nuclear translocation of STAT3 and BCL-3 as relevant mechanisms. Our data indicate that the use of pharmacological JAK-STAT inhibitors may be promising targets for future therapeutic approaches to prevent complications associated with secondary hyporesponsiveness during SIRS.

Acute kidney injury following coronary artery bypass grafting and control angiography: a comprehensive analysis of 221 patients.

Postoperative coronary angiography offers the basis for prompt management of ischemic complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Little is known about the effects of postoperative angiography on renal function. The current study aims to assess the incidence and risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) following postoperative coronary angiography. A total of 221 CABG patients (mean age, 67 ± 8 years) underwent postoperative coronary angiography due to perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI). AKI was defined according to the KDIGO criteria. Logistic regression analyses were performed to find out risk factors responsible for AKI and to ascertain significant associations between AKI and in-hospital death. Mean delay from CABG operation to postoperative angiography was 1.4 ± 1.0 days. AKI occurred in 79/221 (36%) patients. Mean serum-creatinine (sCr) values peaked on the first day after the angiography and reached the lowest level at the fourth day. In the multivariable analysis, the following variables were independent predictors for AKI: postoperative peak values of CK-MB (p = 0.049, OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06 per 10 U/l), EuroSCORE I (p = 0.011, OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04-1.35), and AKI before re-angiography (p = 0.004, OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.51-8.16), whereas a delayed angiography (p = 0.031, OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.97) was protective against AKI. Patients with post-angiography AKI had a significantly higher mortality after multivariable adjustment than patients without AKI (15.5% vs. 2.11%, p = 0.001, OR 5.42, 95% CI 1.35-21.75). Over one-third of patients who undergo postoperatively angiography develop AKI. The occurrence of AKI must be considered during the decision-making prior to coronary angiography, especially in patients presenting the identified risk factors for AKI.

Effects of Different Doses of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Kidney Damage Among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: We have previously shown that remote ischemic preconditioning reduces acute kidney injury (acute kidney injury) in high-risk patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and that the protective effect is confined to patients who exhibit an increased urinary tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 in response to remote ischemic preconditioning. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal intensity of remote ischemic preconditioning to induce required [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2]*[insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7] changes and further explore mechanisms of remote ischemic preconditioning. DESIGN: Observational and randomized controlled, double-blind clinical trial. SETTING: University Hospital of Muenster, Germany. PATIENTS: High-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery as defined by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Score. INTERVENTIONS: In the interventional part, patients were randomized to receive either one of four different remote ischemic preconditioning doses (3 × 5 min, 3 × 7 min, 3 × 10 min remote ischemic preconditioning, or 3 × 5 min remote ischemic preconditioning + 2 × 10 min remote ischemic preconditioning in nonresponders) or sham-remote ischemic preconditioning (control). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint of the interventional part was change in urinary [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2]*[insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7] between pre- and postintervention. To examine secondary objectives including acute kidney injury incidence, we included an observational cohort. A total of 180 patients were included in the trial (n = 80 observational and n = 100 randomized controlled part [20 patients/group]). The mean age was 69.3 years (10.5 yr), 119 were men (66.1%). Absolute changes in [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2]*[insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7] were significantly higher in all remote ischemic preconditioning groups when compared with controls (p < 0.01). Although we did not observe a dose-response relationship on absolute changes in [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2]*[insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7] across the four different remote ischemic preconditioning groups, in the 15 patients failing to respond to the lowest dose, nine (60%) responded to a subsequent treatment at a higher intensity. Compared with controls, fewer patients receiving remote ischemic preconditioning developed acute kidney injury within 72 hours after surgery as defined by both Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria (30/80 [37.5%] vs 61/100 [61.0%]; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: All doses of remote ischemic preconditioning significantly increased [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2]*[insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7] and significantly decreased acute kidney injury compared with controls. High-dose remote ischemic preconditioning could stimulate [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2]*[insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7] increases in patients refractory to low-dose remote ischemic preconditioning.

Aortic valve replacement in a patient with extra-anatomic aortic and subclavian bypasses. / Zamena aortal'nogo klapana u patsienta s ékstraanatomicheskimi aortal'nymi i podkliuchichnymi shuntami.

The patient was 62-year-old male who successfully underwent an anatomic repair of aortic coarctation at the age of 15 and an extra-anatomic ascending aorta- to-descending aorta bypass (graft size 20 mm) and an extra-anatomic ascending aorta to the left subclavian artery bypass (graft size 10 mm) at the age of 49. As he grew older he started presenting clinical symptoms of aortic stenosis. The echocardiogram showed a bicuspid aortic valve with severe stenosis and a mean gradient of 65 mm Hg. Despite the high surgical risk, we decided to perform an open valve replacement with installing the CPB prior to re-sternotomy with a simultaneous cannulation of the axillary and femoral arteries by reason of interrupted descending aorta. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Minimally Invasive Aortic Root Replacement with Valved Conduits through Partial Upper Sternotomy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgical access through limited sternotomy reduces trauma and morbidity in cardiosurgical patients. However, until now, it is not the standard access for aortic root replacement. This study details our clinic's experience with minimally invasive implantation of valved conduits through partial upper sternotomy and the comparison to conventional full median sternotomy. METHODS: Between January 2012 and March 2016, a total of 187 patients underwent aortic root replacement with valved conduits in our department. Minimally invasive access through partial upper sternotomy (group A) was performed in 33 patients (9 female, 24 male; mean age: 55.68 ± 13.24 years). Four of these patients received concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve interventions. The results were compared with similar procedures through conventional approach (group B): 25 patients (7 female, 18 male; mean age: 59.09 ± 12.32 years). RESULTS: In all 33 cases of minimally invasive access and 25 cases of conventional approach, aortic root replacement was successful. Operative times were as follows (in minutes; groups A and B)-cardiopulmonary bypass: 166.12 ± 40.61 and 162.88 ± 45.89; cross-clamp time: 122.24 ± 27.42 and 113.44 ± 22.57, respectively. In both groups, two patients needed postoperative reexploration due to secondary bleeding. One multimorbid patient suffered from postoperative stroke and died on the ninth postoperative day due to heart failure. The observed operation times and clinical results after minimally invasive surgery are comparable to conduit implantation through full median sternotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Partial upper sternotomy is a feasible access for safe aortic root replacement with valved conduits. Nevertheless, minimally invasive aortic root replacement is a challenging operative procedure.

Postoperative Complications and Long-Term Results after Primary Cardiac Sarcoma Resection.

BACKGROUND: Primary malignant cardiac tumors rarely occur in clinical care. Little is known about the impact of a parameter on postoperative survival. METHODS: From May 1991 to May 2014, a total of 24 patients underwent surgical treatment of a primary cardiac sarcoma in our center. We analyzed our clinical database retrospectively for information on patient characteristics and treatment data. The follow-up could be completed to 91.7%. RESULTS: Angiosarcoma and non-otherwise-specified sarcoma were the most common tumor entities. R0 resection was achieved in most cases. Postoperative mortality within the first 30 days was 20.8% (n = 5). In four of these five cases, postoperative low-output cardiac failure was the leading cause of death. The cumulative survival rate was 77.3% after 30 days, 68.2% after 3 months, 50.0% after 6 months, 45.0% after 12 months, and 18.0% after 24 months. The mean survival time in the whole group was 47.0 months. A low tumor differentiation was associated with low mean survival, but this was not statistically significant. Mean survival of sarcoma was higher after R0 resection. There was no significant rate of survival difference regarding the adjuvant therapy concept. CONCLUSION: Extended surgery alone or in combination with chemo- and/or radiotherapy may be successful in certain cases and may offer a satisfactory quality of life. The establishment of a multicenter heart tumor register in Germany is necessary to increase the number of cases in studies, get more remarkable study results, and standardize the diagnosis and therapy.

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.

Long-term Effects of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Kidney Function in High-risk Cardiac Surgery Patients: Follow-up Results from the RenalRIP Trial.

BACKGROUND: In a multicenter, randomized trial, the authors enrolled patients at high-risk for acute kidney injury as identified by a Cleveland Clinic Foundation score of 6 or more. The authors enrolled 240 patients at four hospitals and randomized them to remote ischemic preconditioning or control. The authors found that remote ischemic preconditioning reduced acute kidney injury in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The authors now report on the effects of remote ischemic preconditioning on 90-day outcomes. METHODS: In this follow-up study of the RenalRIP trial, the authors examined the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on the composite endpoint major adverse kidney events consisting of mortality, need for renal replacement therapy, and persistent renal dysfunction at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were persistent renal dysfunction and dialysis dependence in patients with acute kidney injury. RESULTS: Remote ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced the occurrence of major adverse kidney events at 90 days (17 of 120 [14.2%]) versus control (30 of 120 [25.0%]; absolute risk reduction, 10.8%; 95% CI, 0.9 to 20.8%; P = 0.034). In those patients who developed acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, 2 of 38 subjects in the remote ischemic preconditioning group (5.3%) and 13 of 56 subjects in the control group (23.2%) failed to recover renal function at 90 days (absolute risk reduction, 17.9%; 95% CI, 4.8 to 31.1%; P = 0.020). Acute kidney injury biomarkers were also increased in patients reaching the major adverse kidney event endpoint compared to patients who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Remote ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced the 3-month incidence of a composite endpoint major adverse kidney events consisting of mortality, need for renal replacement therapy, and persistent renal dysfunction in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Furthermore, remote ischemic preconditioning enhanced renal recovery in patients with acute kidney injury.

Early outcomes in re-do operation after acute type A aortic dissection: results from the multicenter REAAD database.

This study provides early results of re-operations after the prior surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) and identifies risk factors for mortality. Between May 2003 and January 2014, 117 aortic re-operations after an initial operation for AAD (a mean time from the first procedure was 3.98 years, with a range of 0.1-20.87 years) were performed in 110 patients (a mean age of 59.8 ± 12.6 years) in seven European institutions. The re-operation was indicated due to a proximal aortic pathology in ninety cases: twenty aortic root aneurysms, seventeen root re-dissections, twenty-seven aortic valve insufficiencies and twenty-six proximal anastomotic pseudoaneurysms. In fifty-eight cases, repetitive surgical treatment was subscripted because of distal aortic pathology: eighteen arch re-dissections, fifteen arch dilation and twenty-five anastomotic pseudoaneurysms. Surgical procedures comprised a total of seventy-one isolated proximals, thirty-one isolated distals and fifteen combined interventions. In-hospital mortality was 19.6 % (twenty-three patients); 11.1 % in patients with elective/urgent indication and 66.6 % in emergency cases. Mortality rates for isolated proximal, distal and combined operations regardless of the emergency setting were 14.1 % (10 pts.), 25.8 % (8 pts.) and 33.3 % (5 pts.), respectively. The causes of death were cardiac in eight, neurological in three, MOF in five, sepsis in two, bleeding in three and lung failure in two patients. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for mortality included previous distal procedure (p = 0.04), new distal procedure (p = 0.018) and emergency operation (p < 0.001). New proximal procedures were not found to be risk factors for early mortality (p = 0.15). This multicenter experience shows that the outcome of REAAD is highly dependent on the localization and extension of aortic pathology and the need for emergency treatment. Surgery in an emergency setting and distal re-do operations after previous AAD remain a surgical challenge, while proximal aortic re-operations show a lower mortality rate. Foresighted decision-making is needed in cases of AAD repair, as the results are essential preconditions for further surgical interventions.

Minimally Invasive Implantation of HeartWare Assist Device and Simultaneous Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction Through Partial Upper Sternotomy.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a well-established therapy to support patients with end-stage heart failure. However, the operative procedure is associated with severe trauma. Third generation LVADs like the HeartWare assist device (HeartWare, Inc., Framingham, MA, USA) are characterized by enhanced technology despite smaller size. These devices offer new minimally invasive surgical options. Tricuspid regurgitation requiring valve repair is frequent in patients with the need for mechanical circulatory support as it is strongly associated with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We report on HeartWare LVAD implantation and simultaneous tricuspid valve reconstruction through minimally invasive access by partial upper sternotomy to the fifth left intercostal space. Four male patients (mean age 51.72 ± 11.95 years) suffering from chronic heart failure due to dilative (three patients) and ischemic (one patient) cardiomyopathy and also exhibiting concomitant tricuspid valve insufficiency due to annular dilation underwent VAD implantation and tricuspid valve annuloplasty. Extracorporeal circulation was established via the ascending aorta, superior vena cava, and right atrium. In all four cases the LVAD implantation and tricuspid valve repair via partial median sternotomy was successful. During the operative procedure, no conversion to full sternotomy was necessary. One patient needed postoperative re-exploration because of pericardial effusion. No postoperative focal neurologic injury was observed. New generation VADs are advantageous because of the possibility of minimally invasive implantation procedure which can therefore minimize surgical trauma. Concomitant tricuspid valve reconstruction can also be performed simultaneously through partial upper sternotomy. Nevertheless, minimally invasive LVAD implantation is a challenging operative technique.

Signal Propagation in the Human Visual Pathways: An Effective Connectivity Analysis.

Although the visual system has been extensively investigated, an integrated account of the spatiotemporal dynamics of long-range signal propagation along the human visual pathways is not completely known or validated. In this work, we used dynamic causal modeling approach to provide insights into the underlying neural circuit dynamics of pattern reversal visual-evoked potentials extracted from concurrent EEG-fMRI data. A recurrent forward-backward connectivity model, consisting of multiple interacting brain regions identified by EEG source localization aided by fMRI spatial priors, best accounted for the data dynamics. Sources were first identified in the thalamic area, primary visual cortex, as well as higher cortical areas along the ventral and dorsal visual processing streams. Consistent with hierarchical early visual processing, the model disclosed and quantified the neural temporal dynamics across the identified activity sources. This signal propagation is dominated by a feedforward process, but we also found weaker effective feedback connectivity. Using effective connectivity analysis, the optimal dynamic causal modeling revealed enhanced connectivity along the dorsal pathway but slightly suppressed connectivity along the ventral pathway. A bias was also found in favor of the right hemisphere consistent with functional attentional asymmetry. This study validates, for the first time, the long-range signal propagation timing in the human visual pathways. A similar modeling approach can potentially be used to understand other cognitive processes and dysfunctions in signal propagation in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Significance statement: An integrated account of long-range visual signal propagation in the human brain is currently incomplete. Using computational neural modeling on our acquired concurrent EEG-fMRI data under a visual evoked task, we found not only a substantial forward propagation toward "higher-order" brain regions but also a weaker backward propagation. Asymmetry in our model's long-range connectivity accounted for the various observed activity biases. Importantly, the model disclosed the timing of signal propagation across these connectivity pathways and validates, for the first time, long-range signal propagation in the human visual system. A similar modeling approach could be used to identify neural pathways for other cognitive processes and their dysfunctions in brain disorders.

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.

Results of "elephant trunk" total aortic arch replacement using a multi-branched, collared graft prosthesis.

We report on our experience with a simplified elephant trunk (ET) procedure with a multi-branched prosthesis (Vascutek(®) Siena™ Collared Graft). It consists of a proximal portion (20 cm) with prefabricated side branches, a collar and a distal portion (30 cm). The collar, which can be trimmed into any desired diameter, constitutes the suture portion to the descending aorta. Radiopaque markers in the distal portion indicate the landing zone. Between January 2011 and June 2013, 20 consecutive patients (10 women; mean age, 66 ± 9.3 years) underwent ET procedure, including 6 re-do cases. Underlying aortic diseases were acute dissection (n = 6), chronic dissection (n = 4), aneurysm (n = 8) and PAU (n = 2). Mean preoperative diameter of the descending aorta was 49.1 ± 12.9 mm (range 74.7-29.7 mm). Concomitant procedures included ascending aortic replacement in 16 patients; root replacement in 2; AVR in 2, CABG in 3 and mitral repair in 1 patient. CPB time was 263 ± 94 min; mean duration of ACP was 65 ± 14 min. Two patients died on POD 8 and 78, respectively. Major adverse events included stroke (n = 1), resternotomy for bleeding (n = 2), renal failure requiring temporary dialysis (n = 1) and recurrent nerve paresis (n = 2). After a mean follow-up of 10 ± 8 months, all discharged patients were alive. Seven patients underwent stent-graft implantation of the descending aorta and one patient underwent open descending aortic replacement. The last generation of multi-branched arch prosthesis and especially the Vascutek(®) Siena™ Collared Graft make ET procedure a reasonable treatment option even in patients with acute aortic dissection.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices as Bridge to Cardiac Recovery in Nonischemic Heart Failure: Keeping Weaning from the Device in Mind.

A minority of patients on left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) display myocardial recovery raising the question of device explantation. We report a series of seven LVAD patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy allowing explantation of the VAD. In case of four patients we overview follow-up periods of 4 to 10 years. Remarkably, in three cases device explantation was considered beyond 1 year of LVAD support. Explantation was finally performed after 20 months and more on the device. In light of the scarcity of donor organs we conclude that patients on LVAD support should be evaluated for possible weaning from the device on a regular basis.