Robotic totally endoscopic excision of aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma: The least invasive approach.

INTRODUCTION: Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are a rare subtype of benign primary cardiac tumors, which are most commonly found on the aortic valve (AV). They have the potential to cause severe adverse clinical consequences, thus prompting surgical excision in the majority of cases. In this article, we report on a series of 5 PFEs resected from the AV using a robotic-assisted sternal-sparing approach, and review of the literature on this approach. To our knowledge, this is the largest reported series of robotic-assisted sternal-sparing AV-PFE resections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2016 until November 2018, 5 patients at our institution underwent removal of a papillary fibroelastoma from the aortic valve using a totally endoscopic robotic-assisted approach. After obtaining institutional IRB approval, we retrospectively reviewed their data for this report. We additionally contacted the patients to acquire a last clinical follow up for this study. Results In this series of 5 patients who underwent robotic totally endoscopic excision of AV PFE, all patients had successful removal of their tumor with no significant morbidity or mortality. All 5 patients were seen at a 30-day follow-up office visit, at which time they had recovered from surgery and were back to full activity. At a mean of 24 months all patients were doing well and free of symptoms with no evidence of tumor recurrence on repeat echo evaluation. DISCUSSION: This is a series of 5 patients with AV-associated PFEs who underwent robotic totally-endoscopic excision without rib-spreading or conversion to sternotomy. This report demonstrated the successful application of robotic-assisted technology in aortic valve pathology. All PFEs were successfully removed without valve repair or replacement. We were able to offer a safe, curative, minimally-invasive surgical excision option for this group of patients. CONCLUSION: Our patients in this cohort demonstrated the well-established benefits of robotic sternal-sparing cardiac surgery, including excellent intra and postoperative outcomes and accelerated recovery.

Robotic Total Endoscopic Coronary Bypass in 570 Patients: Impact of Anastomotic Technique in Two Eras.

BACKGROUND: In coronary artery bypass grafting, including robotic off-pump totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB), the anastomotic technique is the most critical part of the procedure. We reviewed results in 570 patients over a 7-year period and compared outcomes between two eras based on predominant anastomotic technique: connectors vs running suture. METHODS: Between July 2013 and December 2020, 570 patients underwent off-pump TECAB: group 1 consisting of 378 patients, from July 2013 to August 2018, using predominantly the C-Port Flex A distal anastomotic stapler (Aesculap); and group 2 consisting of 192 patients, from September 2018 to December 2020, using predominantly a sutured technique (7-0 Pronova; Johnson & Johnson). Retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes was performed. RESULTS: Off-pump TECAB was completed in 98.8% (563 of 570 patients) with an observed/expected mortality of 0.6% (6 of 570 patients). The anastomotic device was used in 89% of 626 grafts in group 1 and only 11% of 305 grafts in group 2 (P = .001). There were no differences in multivessel TECAB (57% vs 53%; P = .331) or bilateral internal thoracic artery use (50% vs 43%; P = .127) in group 1 vs group 2, respectively. Operative time was shorter in group 1 (242 ± 84 vs 273 ± 88 minutes; P < .001). Early clinical outcomes were similar between groups, except for hospital stay, which was longer in group 1 (2.9 vs 2.3 days; P < .001). Graft patency was similar (98% vs 95%; P = .295) in group 1 vs group 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Changing the predominant approach from stapled anastomosis to a sutured technique during robotic TECAB resulted in longer operative times. Both approaches led to excellent outcomes, including graft patency. The shorter operative times conferred by using staplers may flatten the learning curve and facilitate broader adoption of TECAB.

Hybrid Coronary Revascularization: Early Outcomes and Midterm Follow-Up in Patients Undergoing Single or Multivessel Robotic TECAB and PCI.

OBJECTIVE: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) is the integration of sternal-sparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). It is traditionally performed with single-vessel bypass (left internal mammary artery [LIMA] to left anterior descending artery [LAD]) and PCI but can also be accomplished with multiple arterial grafts using bilateral IMA conduits. We sought to review our HCR experience over an 8-year period with robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) and PCI. METHODS: Of 694 patients undergoing beating-heart TECAB from August 2013 to June 2022, 306 patients were designated as intention-to-treat HCR candidates. Patients underwent PCI prior to, the same day as, or following TECAB, performed using single or bilateral IMA grafts. We retrospectively reviewed early and midterm outcomes up to 8 years in this cohort of patients. RESULTS: The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality was 1.5% ± 2.5%. There were 44 patients (14%) who had ≥70% left main disease and 218 patients (71%) who had triple-vessel disease. A total of 193 patients (63%) underwent multivessel grafting (advanced HCR), with 83% bilateral IMA use. Mean operative time was 263 ± 80 min, and mean length of stay was 2.6 days. The mean number of vessels bypassed per patient was 1.7 ± 0.6. The mean number of vessels stented was 1.2 ± 0.5. Of the patients, 84% underwent TECAB first, 14% PCI first, and 2% same-day TECAB/PCI. Mortality was 0.6% (observed to expected ratio: 0.42). Early graft patency was 97% (328 of 339 grafts); LIMA-LAD patency was 98%. At 8-year follow-up (mean 37 ± 26 months), all-cause and cardiac-related mortality were 13% and 2.6%, respectively. Freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 92%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multivessel CAD, integrating robotic single and multivessel TECAB with PCI resulted in excellent early and midterm outcomes. In experienced hands, the robotic endoscopic approach allows the routine use of multiple arterial grafting during HCR.

The C-Port Distal Coronary Anastomotic Device Is Comparable With a Hand-Sewn Anastomosis: Human Histological Case Study.

Coronary artery bypass surgery is most commonly performed using a hand-sewn technique with a continuous monofilament suture. The C-Port distal anastomotic device is a miniature stapler designed to create an arteriotomy and attach the graft to the coronary artery all in one step. It is the only distal coronary anastomotic device currently approved for clinical use and can be useful in facilitating less invasive coronary surgery. This report examines the histological attributes of such an anastomosis in a patient who underwent heart transplantation approximately 1 year after robotic totally endoscopic stapled coronary bypass using the C-Port anastomotic device. There have been no previous reports of histological examination of this type of bypass graft in humans in the literature. We found that the C-Port single-shot stapled coronary anastomotic device had a similar histological appearance to a traditional hand-sewn technique using monofilament suture. The amount of inflammation around the anastomosis using the two techniques was found to be comparable in this histological case study in an explanted human heart. There was no evidence of increased neointimal hyperplasia. These findings add to the already known equivalent clinical patency rates of the C-Port device in coronary bypass procedures.