Prognostic Impact of Prolonged Cross-Clamp Time in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic impact of cross-clamp time (XCT) in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has not been thoroughly investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 2957 patients who underwent on-pump isolated CABG from the prospective multicentre E-CABG study were the subjects of this analysis. RESULTS: The mean XCT in this series was 58±25minutes Cross-clamp time was >60 minutes in 1134 patients (38.3%), >75minutes in 619 patients (20.9%) and >90minutes in 296 patients (10.0%). Multivariate analysis showed that XCT was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (p<0.0001, OR 1.027, 95%CI 1.015-1.039) along with age (p<0.0001), female gender (p=0.001), pulmonary disease (p=0.001), poor mobility (p=0.002), urgency status (p=0.007), critical preoperative status (p=0.002) and participating centres (p=0.015). Adjusted risk of 30-day mortality was highest for XCT >75minutes (2.9% vs. 1.7%, p=0.002, OR 3.479, 95%CI 1.609-7.520). Analysis of 428 propensity score matched pairs showed that XCT >75minutes was associated with significantly increased risk of early mortality, prolonged use of inotropes, postoperative use of intra-aortic balloon pump, use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, atrial fibrillation, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit and of composite major adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated CABG is currently performed with prolonged XCT in a significant number of patients and this seems to be a determinant of poor early outcome.

Incidence and prognostic impact of bleeding and transfusion after coronary surgery in low-risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Excessive bleeding and blood transfusion are associated with adverse outcome after cardiac surgery, but their mechanistic effects are difficult to disentangle in patients with increased operative risk. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and prognostic impact of bleeding and transfusion of blood products in low-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixteen tertiary European centers of cardiac surgery contributed to the prospective European registry of CABG (E-CABG). The severity of bleeding was defined by the E-CABG bleeding severity classification and universal definition of perioperative bleeding (UDPB) classification. RESULTS: Of 1213 patients with EuroSCORE II of less than 2% (mean, 1.1 ± 0.4%), 18.5% suffered from mild bleeding (E-CABG bleeding Grade 1) and 3.4% experienced severe bleeding (E-CABG bleeding Grade 2-3). Similarly, 19.7% had UDPB Class 2 and 5.9% had UDPB Classes 3 and 4. Mild and severe bleeding defined by the E-CABG and UDPB classifications were associated with an increased risk of several adverse events as adjusted by multiple covariates. The risk of death, stroke, and acute kidney injury was particularly increased in patients with severe bleeding. CONCLUSION: Severe bleeding is rather uncommon in low-risk patients undergoing CABG, but it is associated with an increased risk of major adverse events. Prevention of excessive perioperative bleeding and patient blood management may improve the outcome of cardiac surgery also in low-risk patients.

Glycated Hemoglobin and Risk of Sternal Wound Infection After Isolated Coronary Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a suspected risk factor for sternal wound infection (SWI) after CABG.Methods and Results:Data on preoperative HbA1c and SWI were available in 2,130 patients undergoing isolated CABG from the prospective E-CABG registry. SWI occurred in 114 (5.4%). Baseline HbA1c was significantly higher in patients with SWI (mean, 54±17 vs. 45±13 mmol/mol, P<0.0001). This difference was also observed in patients without a diagnosis of diabetes (P=0.027), in insulin-dependent diabetic (P=0.023) and non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients (P=0.034). In the overall series, HbA1c >70 mmol/mol (NGSP units, 8.6%) was associated with the highest risk of SWI (20.6% vs. 4.6%; adjusted OR, 5.01; 95% CI: 2.47-10.15). When dichotomized according to the cut-off 53 mmol/mol (NGSP units, 7.0%) as suggested both for diagnosis and optimal glycemic control of diabetes, HbA1c was associated with increased risk of SWI in the overall series (10.6% vs. 3.9%; adjusted OR, 2.09; 95% CI: 1.24-3.52), in diabetic patients (11.7% vs. 5.1%; adjusted OR, 2.69; 95% CI: 1.38-5.25), in patients undergoing elective surgery (9.9% vs. 2.7%; adjusted OR, 2.09; 95% CI: 1.24-3.52) and in patients with bilateral mammary artery grafts (13.7% vs. 4.8%; adjusted OR, 2.35; 95% CI: 1.17-4.69). CONCLUSIONS: Screening for HbA1c before CABG may identify untreated diabetic patients, as well as diabetic patients with suboptimal glycemic control, at high risk of SWI.

Immediate outcome after sutureless versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

The aim of this study was to compare the immediate outcome of patients undergoing transcatheter (TAVI) versus surgical aortic valve replacement with the sutureless Perceval bioprosthesis (SU-AVR). This is a retrospective multicenter analysis of 773 patients who underwent either TAVI (394 patients, mean age, 80.8 ± 5.5 years, mean EuroSCORE II 5.6 ± 4.9 %) or SU-AVR (379 patients, 77.4 ± 5.4 years, mean EuroSCORE II 4.0 ± 3.9 %) with or without concomitant myocardial revascularization. Data on SU-AVRs were provided by six European institutions (Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy and Sweden) and data on TAVIs were provided by a single institution (Catania, Italy). In-hospital mortality was 2.6 % after SU-AVR and 5.3 % after TAVI (p = 0.057). TAVI was associated with a significantly high rate of mild (44.0 vs. 2.1 %) and moderate-severe paravalvular regurgitation (14.1 vs. 0.3 %, p < 0.0001) as well as the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (17.3 vs. 9.8 %, p = 0.003) compared with SU-AVR. The analysis of patients within the 25th and 75th percentiles interval of EuroSCORE II, i.e., 2.1-5.8 %, confirmed the findings of the overall series. One-to-one propensity score-matched analysis resulted in 144 pairs with similar baseline characteristics and operative risk. Among these matched pairs, in-hospital mortality (6.9 vs. 1.4 %, p = 0.035) was significantly higher after TAVI. SU-AVR with the Perceval prosthesis in intermediate-risk patients is associated with excellent immediate survival and is a valid alternative to TAVI in these patients.

Validation of a New Classification Method of Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The authors aimed to validate the European Multicenter Study on Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (E-CABG) classification of postoperative complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,764 patients with severe coronary artery disease. Complete baseline, operative, and postoperative data were available for patients who underwent isolated CABG. INTERVENTIONS: Isolated CABG. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The E-CABG complication classification was used to stratify the severity and prognostic impact of adverse postoperative events. Primary outcome endpoints were 30-day, 90-day, and long-term all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome endpoints was the length of intensive care unit stay. Both the E-CABG complication grades and additive score were predictive of 30-day (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.866, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.829-0.903; and 0.876; 95% CI 0.844-0.908, respectively) and 90-day (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.850, 95% CI 0.812-0.887; and 0.863, 95% CI 0.829-0.897, respectively) all-cause mortality. The complication grades were independent predictors of increased mortality at actuarial (log-rank: p<0.0001) and adjusted analysis (p<0.0001; grade 1: hazard ratio [HR] 1.757, 95% CI 1.111-2.778; grade 2: HR 2.704, 95% CI 1.664-4.394; grade 3: HR 5.081, 95% CI 3.148-8.201). When patients who died within 30 days were excluded from the analysis, this grading method still was associated with late mortality (p<0.0001). The grading method (p<0.0001) and the additive score (rho, 0.514; p<0.0001) were predictive of the length of intensive care unit stay. CONCLUSIONS: The E-CABG postoperative complication classification seems to be a promising tool for stratifying the severity and prognostic impact of postoperative complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The Longest Living Patient Supported With Left Ventricular Assist Device (14 Years).

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve survival and reduce symptoms in patients with advanced heart failure; however, the longer-term durability of LVADs remains uncertain especially with older-generation devices. In this case report, we describe the clinical course of a patient who has been successfully treated with the same HeartMate II LVAD for 14 years, the longest published and still ongoing LVAD support with the same originally implanted device.

Bleeding in minimally invasive versus conventional aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown reduced perioperative bleeding in patients undergoing minimally invasive, compared with full sternotomy, aortic valve replacement. Data from randomized trials are conflicting. METHODS: This was a Swedish single center study where adult patients with aortic stenosis, 100 patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either minimally invasive (ministernotomy) or full sternotomy aortic valve replacement. The primary outcome was severe or massive bleeding defined by the Universal Definition of Perioperative Bleeding in adult cardiac surgery (UDPB). Secondary outcomes included blood product transfusions, chest tube output, re-exploration for bleeding, and several other clinically relevant events. RESULTS: Out of 100 patients, three patients randomized to ministernotomy were intraoperatively converted to full sternotomy (none was bleeding-related). Three patients (6%) in the full sternotomy group and 3 patients (6%) in the ministernotomy group suffered severe or massive postoperative bleeding according to the UDPB definition (p = 1.00). Mean chest tube output during the first 12 postoperative hours was 350 (standard deviation (SD) 220) ml in the full sternotomy group and 270 (SD 190) ml in the ministernotomy group (p = 0.08). 28% of patients in the full sternotomy group and 36% of patients in the ministernotomy group received at least one packed red blood cells transfusion (p = 0.39). Two patients in each group (4%) underwent re-exploration for bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement did not result in less bleeding-related outcomes compared to full sternotomy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov . Unique identifier: NCT02272621.

Arginase inhibition improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the early development of atherosclerosis and vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increased expression and activity of arginase, metabolizing the nitric oxide substrate l-arginine, may result in reduced production of nitric oxide and thereby endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that inhibition of arginase activity improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three groups of subjects were included: 16 patients with CAD, 16 patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (CAD+Diabetes), and 16 age-matched healthy control subjects. Forearm endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation were assessed with venous occlusion plethysmography before and during intra-arterial infusion of the arginase inhibitor N(ω)-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine (nor-NOHA; 0.1 mg/min). Nor-NOHA was also coinfused with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (N(G)-monomethyl L-arginine). The expression of arginase was determined in the internal mammary artery of patients undergoing bypass surgery. Nor-NOHA markedly increased endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (up to 2-fold) in patients with CAD+Diabetes and CAD (P<0.001) but not in the control group. N(G)-monomethyl L-arginine completely inhibited the increase in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation induced by nor-NOHA. Endothelium-independent vasodilatation was slightly improved by nor-NOHA in the CAD+Diabetes group. Arginase I was expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, and arginase II was expressed in endothelial cells of patients with and without diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Arginase inhibition markedly improves endothelial function in patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes mellitus suggesting that increased arginase activity is a key factor in the development of endothelial dysfunction.

Routine use of percutaneous femoral cannulation in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Large series of percutaneous femoral access for extracorporeal circulation in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) are scarcely reported. METHODS: This is a single-centre study describing the use of percutaneous femoral access in patients undergoing MICS via minithoracotomy. Femoral artery closure was performed with a plug-based closure device. To reduce the risk for vascular complications, intraoperative ultrasound assessment of correct deployment of the arterial closure device was done during the later period of the study. RESULTS: During a 5-year period, 650 patients underwent percutaneous femoral cannulation and decannulation with device closure of the femoral artery puncture. Two hundred and seven patients (31.8%) were operated in the early phase of the experience (August 2017-August 2019), without the use of intraoperative ultrasound assessment of closure device deployment. During the later period of our experience (August 2019-September 2022), 443 patients (68.2%) were operated, of whom all underwent intraoperative ultrasound assessment of closure device deployment. Of the patients operated without intraoperative ultrasound assessment, 6 patients (2.9%) experienced vascular complications compared with none of the patients in whom intraoperative ultrasound-assessment was used (P < 0.001). In total, 15 patients (2.3%) underwent conversion to surgical cutdown owing to incomplete haemostasis or femoral artery stenosis/occlusion and the mechanism was intravascular deployment of the closure device in all 15 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous femoral access in MICS is safe and the need for surgical cutdown was infrequent. The risk for vascular complications is minimized with the use of intraoperative ultrasound assessment of the correct positioning of the vascular closure device. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05462769.

Intraoperative local insufflation of warmed humidified CO2 increases open wound and core temperatures: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The open surgical wound is exposed to cold dry ambient air, resulting in substantial heat loss through radiation, evaporation, and convection. At the same time, anesthesia decreases the patient's core temperature. Despite preventive measures, mild intraoperative hypothermia has been associated with postoperative morbidity. We hypothesized that local insufflation of warmed humidified carbon dioxide (CO(2)) would maintain wound and core temperature. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing open colon surgery were randomized to standard warming measures, or to additional local wound insufflation of warmed (30 °C) humidified (93 % rH) CO(2) via a gas diffuser. Surface temperature of the open abdominal wound was measured with a heat-sensitive infrared camera, and core temperature was measured with an ear thermometer. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 219 ± 104 and 205 ± 85 min in the CO(2) group and the control group, respectively (p = 0.550). Clinical variables did not differ significantly between the groups. The median wound area and wound edge temperatures were 1.2 °C (p < 0.001) and 1.0 °C (p = 0.002) higher in the CO(2) group, respectively, than in the control group. The mean core temperature after intubation was the same (35.9 °C) in both groups, but at end of surgery core temperature in the two groups differed, with a mean of 36.2 ± 0.5 °C in the CO(2) group and a mean of 35.8 ± 0.5 °C in the control group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Insufflation of warmed, humidified CO(2) in an open surgical wound cavity prevents intraoperative decrease in surgical wound temperature as well as core temperature.

Local insufflation of warm humidified CO2increases open wound and core temperature during open colon surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The open surgical wound is exposed to cold and dry ambient air resulting in heat loss through radiation, evaporation, and convection. Also, general and neuraxial anesthesia decrease the patient's core temperature. Despite routine preventive measures mild intraoperative hypothermia is still common and contributes to postoperative morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that local insufflation of warm fully humidified CO(2) would increase both the open surgical wound and core temperature. METHODS: Eighty-three patients undergoing open colon surgery were equally and parallelly randomized to either standard warming measures including forced-air warming, warm fluids, and insulation of limbs and head, or to additional local wound insufflation of warm (37°C) humidified (100% relative humidity) CO(2) at a laminar flow (10 L/min) via a gas diffuser. Wound surface and core temperatures were followed with a heat-sensitive infrared camera and a tympanic thermometer. RESULTS: The mean wound area temperature during surgery was 31.3°C in the warm humidified CO(2) group compared with 29.6°C in the control group (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2°C to 2.3°C). Also, the mean wound edge temperature during surgery was 30.1°C compared with 28.5°C in the control group (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 0.2°C to 0.7°C). Mean core temperature before start of surgery was similar with 36.7°C ± 0.5°C in the warm humidified CO(2) group versus 36.6°C ± 0.5°C in the control group (95% CI, 0.4 to -0.1°C). At end of surgery, the 2 groups differed significantly with 36.9 ± 0.5°C in the warm humidified CO(2) group versus 36.3 ± 0.5°C in the control group (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 0.38°C to 0.82°C). Moreover, only 8 patients of 40 in the warm humidified CO(2) group had a core temperature <36.5°C (20%, 95% CI, 7 to 33%), whereas in the control group this was the case in 24 of 39 (62%, 95% CI, 46% to 78%, P = 0.001) patients (difference of the percentages between the groups 42%, 95% CI, 22% to 61%, P < 0.001). With a cutoff at <36.0°C none of the patients in the warm humidified CO(2) group compared with 7 patients (18%, 95% CI, 5% to 31%, P = 0.005) in the control group was hypothermic at end of surgery (difference of the percentages between the groups 18%, 95% CI, 6% to 30%, P = 0.005). The median (25th/75th percentile) operating time was 181.5 (147.5/288) minutes in the warm humidified CO(2) group versus 217 (149/288) minutes in the control group (P = 0.312). Clinical variables did not show any significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Insufflation of warm fully humidified CO(2) in an open surgical wound cavity increases surgical wound and core temperatures and helps to maintain normothermia.

Results from a multicentre evaluation of plug use for left ventricular assist device explantation.

OBJECTIVES: Myocardial recovery allows for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) explantations after long-term support. Several surgical approaches, including interventional decommissioning, off-pump explantation using a custom-made plug and complete LVAD removal through redo sternotomy, have been described. We present the results from an evaluation of the long-term follow-up of patients who received a titanium sintered plug after LVAD explantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, European, multicentre analysis of patients who received a titanium sintered plug to seal the apical fixation ring after LVAD explantation. Data were collected from a questionnaire that included demographics, procedural details and follow-up information. RESULTS: Out of 54 contacted centres in 12 countries (n = 179 patients), a total of 68 patients were successfully included in the study. The median follow-up was 34 months (interquartile range: 17-58.5 months); 57 (84%) patients had >1-year follow-up. At the time of the last follow-up, 55 (81%) patients were alive, with a Kaplan-Meier 1-year survival of 90.1% (95% confidence interval: 84.0-98.1%) and a 5-year survival of 80.0% (95% confidence interval: 68.4-92.9%). One patient (1.5%) developed a plug infection originating from an infected part of the incorporated driveline and, after complete removal, is currently in good condition. No postoperative stroke has been reported after plug implantation. CONCLUSIONS: In this European multicentre study, the use of a custom-made titanium plug to close the apical fixation ring after LVAD explantation resulted in a low incidence of plug-related complications. With the volume of patients undergoing LVAD explantations after myocardial recovery increasing, the plug has evolved as a simple alternative to more invasive device explantation procedures or decommissioning with a high risk for infection of the remaining system or stroke.

Cerebral microembolism during coronary angiography: a randomized comparison between femoral and radial arterial access.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Microemboli observed during coronary angiography can cause silent ischemic cerebral lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate if the number of particulate cerebral microemboli during coronary angiography is influenced by access site used. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with stable angina pectoris referred for coronary angiography were randomized to right radial or right femoral arterial access. The number of particulate microemboli passing the middle cerebral arteries was continuously registered with transcranial Doppler. RESULTS: The median (minimum-maximum range) numbers of particulate emboli were significantly higher with radial 10 (1-120) than with femoral 6 (1-19) access. More particulate microemboli passed the right middle cerebral artery with the radial access. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the radial access used for coronary angiography generates more particulate cerebral microemboli than the femoral access and thus may influence the occurrence of silent cerebral injuries.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction Following Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Resolved by Chordal Rupture.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement carries a risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction associated with mortality. We present a case of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction that resolved spontaneously when chords to the anterior mitral leaflet were found to have ruptured. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Elimination of CO2 insufflation-induced hypercapnia in open heart surgery using an additional venous reservoir.

OBJECTIVES: Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas insufflation is used for continuous de-airing during open heart surgery. The aim was to evaluate if an additional separate venous reservoir eliminates CO2 insufflation-induced hypercapnia and keeps sweep gas flow of the oxygenator constant. METHODS: A separate reservoir was used during cardiopulmonary bypass in addition to a standard venous reservoir. The additional reservoir received drained blood and CO2 gas continuously via a suction drain (1 l/min) and handheld suction devices from the surgical wound. CO2 gas was insufflated via a gas diffuser in the open wound at 10 l/min. In a cross-over design for each patient, gas and blood were either continuously drained from the additional to the standard venous reservoir or not. CO2 pressure in arterial blood (PaCO2) was measured after adjustment of sweep gas flow as necessary and after steady state of PaCO2 was observed. Mean values for each setup (median 4 times) for each patient were analysed with Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Ten adult patients undergoing open aortic valve replacement were included. Median PaCO2 did not differ between setups (5.41; 5.29-5.57, interquartile range vs 5.41; 5.24-5.58, P = 0.92), whereas sweep gas flow (l/min) was lower (2.58; 2.50-3.16 vs 4.42; 4.0-5.40, P = 0.002) when CO2 gas was not drained from the additional to the standard reservoir. CONCLUSIONS: An additional venous reservoir for the evacuation of blood from the open surgical wound eliminates CO2 insufflation-induced hypercapnia in open heart surgery keeping PaCO2 and sweep gas flow constant. This prevents possible CO2-induced hyperperfusion of the brain and decreases the risk of cerebral particulate embolization during CO2 insufflation for de-airing in open heart surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04202575. IRB APPROVAL DAT AND NUMBER: 2018-07-13 and 2018/1091-31.

CO2 insufflation influences the temperature of the open surgical wound.

In open surgery, heat is lost due to radiation and evaporation through the wound. Hypothermia causes tissue hypoxia and impairs various cellular immune functions that increases the risk for postoperative wound infections and delayed wound healing. The patient's body is usually well protected with heating arrangements, but the open wound is left unprotected and until now no practical method has been available to protect it thermically. We therefore investigated if insufflation of an open surgical wound with carbon dioxide would affect wound temperature. In 10 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, the sternotomy wound was insufflated with dry, room temperature carbon dioxide via a gas diffuser for 2 minutes. A heat-sensitive camera measured the wound temperature before, during, and after insufflation. Exposure to carbon dioxide increased the median temperature of the whole wound by 0.5 degrees C (p=0.01). The temperature of the area distant to the diffuser increased by 1.2 degrees C (p<0.01) whereas in the area close to the diffuser it decreased by 1.8 degrees C (p<0.01). In conclusion, short-term insufflation of dry room temperature carbon dioxide in an open wound increases the surface temperature significantly. Although a small increase, it may reduce the incidence of postoperative wound infections in the future.

Percutaneous femoral cannulation and decannulation using a plug-based vascular closure device in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery such as a mitral valve procedure requires femoral arterial cannulation for extracorporeal circulation. To avoid complications associated with surgical groin incisions, such as seromas and infections, percutaneous cannulation techniques can be used. This video tutorial illustrates percutaneous femoral cannulation and decannulation using a plug-based vascular closure device.

Percutaneous Vascular Closure Device in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery requires femoral artery cannulation for extracorporeal circulation, predominantly performed through surgical cutdown. Surgical groin incision is frequently associated with complications such as seroma and infection. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a percutaneous plug-based large-bore vascular closure device (VCD) for femoral artery closure in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. METHODS: This was a single-center prospective study comparing patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery with femoral cannulation performed either through surgical cutdown or percutaneously with access site closure using a plug-based VCD (MANTA; Teleflex/Essential Medical, Malvern, PA). RESULTS: From 2016 to 2018, a total of 268 (147 surgical cutdown, 121 VCD) patients underwent minimally invasive mitral valve surgery with femoral arterial cannulation of catheters sized 19-F or 21-F. Propensity score matching resulted in 109 matched pairs. In both the overall series and the propensity-matched cohort, VCD patients had a significantly higher incidence of Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 major access site vascular complications (overall cohort: 0% vs 4.1%; P = .013; propensity score-matched cohort: 0% vs 4.6%; P = .024). Bleeding did not occur in any group. In the overall series, surgical cutdown patients had a higher incidence of seroma (10.9% vs 0%; P < .001). Infection and seroma did not occur in the VCD group. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous femoral artery cannulation using a novel plug-based VCD in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery eliminates traditional complications frequently seen with surgical cutdown with no femoral access site seroma and infection though at the expense of an increased risk for vascular complications.

Minimally invasive versus sternotomy mitral valve surgery when initiating a minimally invasive programme.

OBJECTIVES: An increasing number of mitral valve operations are performed using minimally invasive procedures. The initiation of a minimally invasive mitral valve surgery programme constitutes a unique opportunity to study outcome differences in patients with similar characteristics operated on through a sternotomy versus a minimally invasive procedure. The goal of this study was to compare short-term outcomes of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery before versus those having surgery after the introduction of a minimally invasive programme. METHODS: The single-centre study included mitral valve procedures performed through a sternotomy or with a minimally invasive approach between January 2012 and May 2019. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce selection bias. RESULTS: A total of 605 patients (294 sternotomy, 311 minimally invasive) who underwent mitral valve surgery were included in the analysis. Propensity score matching resulted in 251 matched pairs. In the propensity score-matched analysis, minimally invasive procedures had longer extracorporeal circulation duration (149 ± 52 vs 133 ± 57 min; P = 0.001) but shorter aortic occlusion duration (97 ± 36 vs 105 ± 40 min, P = 0.03). Minimally invasive procedures were associated with a lower incidence of reoperation for bleeding (2.4% vs 7.2%; P = 0.012), lower need for transfusion (19.1% vs 30.7%; P = 0.003) and shorter in-hospital stay (5.0 ± 2.7 vs 7.2 ± 4.6 days; P < 0.001). The 30-day mortality was low in both groups (0.4% vs 0.8%; P = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery was associated with short-term outcomes comparable to those with procedures performed through a sternotomy. Initiating a minimally invasive mitral valve programme with a limited number of surgeons and a well-executed institutional selection strategy did not confer an increased risk for adverse events.