Novel concept of less invasive concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting avoiding full median sternotomy.

In the last decades, minimally invasive procedures have been developed in the therapy of aortic valve disorders. Recently, a novel concept of minimally invasive coronary revascularization in multivessel disease via left anterior mini-thoracotomy demonstrated promising results. Full median sternotomy, as a very invasive procedure, is the standard approach in concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement (sAVR) and coronary bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of our study was to show that the combination of minimal invasive aortic valve replacement via upper mini-sternotomy and coronary artery bypass grafting via left anterior mini-thoracotomy is feasible to avoid full median sternotomy. From 07/2022 to 09/2022, concomitant sAVR via upper partial sternotomy and CABG via left anterior mini-thoractomy on cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest was successfully performed in six consecutive patients (6 males; 69.8 ± 7.4 [60-79] years). All patients had severe aortic stenosis (MPG 45.5 ± 17.3 mmHg) and a significant coronary artery disease (three-vessel: 33%, two-vessel: 33%, one-vessel: 33%) with indication to cardiac surgery. Mean EuroScore2 was 3.2. All patients underwent successful less invasive concomitant biological sAVR and CABG. 67% of patients received a 25 mm, 33% received a 23 mm biological aortic valve replacement (Edwards Lifesciences Perimount). A total of 11 distal anastomoses (1.8 ± 1.0 [1-3] per patient) were performed by using left internal artery mammary (50%), radial artery (17%) and saphenous venous graft (67%) for grafting the left anterior descending (83%), circumflex (67%) and right (33%) coronary artery. Hospital mortality was 0%, stroke rate was 0%, myocardial infarction was 0% and repeat revascularization rate was 0%, ICU stay was 1 day in 83% of all patients and 50% left hospital within 8 days after surgery. Less invasive concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting using upper mini-sternotomy and left anterior mini-thoracotomy is feasible without compromises in surgical principles and complete coronary revascularization while maintaining thoracic stability by avoiding full median sternotomy.

Early Results of Total Coronary Revascularization via Left Anterior Thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Avoidance of sternotomy while preserving complete revascularization remains challenging in multivessel coronary disease. Technical issues and in-hospital outcomes of total coronary revascularization via a small left anterior thoracotomy (TCRAT) in nonselected patients with multivessel disease are reported. METHODS: From November 2019 to September 2021, coronary artery bypass grafting via left anterior minithoracotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic cardiac arrest was performed in 102 patients (92 males; 67 ± 10 [42-87] years). Slings were placed around ascending aorta, left pulmonary veins, and inferior vena cava for exposure of lateral and inferior ventricular wall. All patients had multivessel coronary disease (three-vessel disease: n = 72; two-vessel disease: n = 30; left main stenosis: n = 44). We included patients at old age (> 80 years, 14.7%), with severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 30%, 6.9%), massive obesity (body mass index > 35, 11.6%), and at increased risk (EuroSCORE II > 4, 15.7%). RESULTS: Left internal thoracic artery (n = 101), radial artery (n = 83), and saphenous vein (n = 39) grafts were used for total (61.8%) or multiple (19.6%) arterial grafting. A total of 323 distal anastomoses (3.2 ± 0.7 [2-5] per patient) were performed to revascularize left anterior descending (100%), circumflex (91.2%), and right coronary artery (67.7%). Complete revascularization was achieved in 95.1%. In-hospital mortality was 2.9%, stroke rate was 1.0%, myocardial infarction rate was 2.9%, and repeat revascularization rate was 2.0%. CONCLUSION: This novel surgical technique allows complete coronary revascularization in the broad majority of multivessel disease patients without sternotomy. TCRAT can be introduced into clinical routine safely. Long-term results remain to be investigated.

Novel concept of routine total arterial coronary bypass grafting through a left anterior approach avoiding sternotomy.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) via full sternotomy remains a very invasive procedure, often requiring prolonged recovery of the patient. We describe a novel, less invasive approach for totally arterial CABG via a small left anterior thoracotomy in a pilot series of 20 unselected patients. From January to March 2020, 20 consecutive patients (mean age 65.9 ± 9.2 years, 100% male, STS-score: 1.6 ± 2) underwent CABG using only arterial conduits via a small left anterior thoracotomy. Patients were operated on cardiopulmonary bypass with peripheral cannulation and transthoracic aortic cross-clamping. Pulling tapes encircling the great vessels, the arrested empty heart was rotated and moved within the pericardium to enable conventional anastomotic techniques especially on lateral and inferior wall coronary targets. In all patients, left internal mammary artery and radial artery were utilized for bypass with 3.3 ± 0.7 distal coronary anastomoses per patient. Anterior, lateral, and inferior wall territories were revascularized in 100%, 85%, and 70% of patients, respectively. Complete anatomical revascularization was achieved in 95% of patients. ICU stay was 1 day in 17 patients, and 14 of patients left the hospital within 8 days. There was no hospital death, no stroke, no myocardial infarction, and no repeat revascularization. In this pilot series of 20 patients, minimally invasive, totally arterial CABG with avoidance of sternotomy was technically feasible with favorable patient outcomes.

The effect of perioperative hemadsorption in patients operated for acute infective endocarditis-A randomized controlled study.

Patients operated for infective endocarditis (IE) are at high risk of developing an excessive systemic hyperinflammatory state, resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and septic shock. Hemoadsorption (HA) by cytokine adsorbers has been successfully applied to remove inflammatory mediators. This randomized controlled trial investigates the effect of perioperative HA therapy on inflammatory parameters and hemodynamic status in patients operated for IE. A total of 20 patients were randomly assigned to either HA therapy or the control group. HA therapy was initiated intraoperatively and continued for 24 hours postoperatively. Cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-1b, TNF-α), leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and Procalcitonin (PCT) as well as catecholamine support, and volume requirement were compared between both groups. Operative procedures included aortic (n = 7), mitral (n = 6), and multiple valve surgery (n = 7). All patients survived to discharge. No significant differences concerning median cytokine levels (IL-6 and TNF-α) were observed between both groups. CRP and PCT baseline levels were significantly higher in the HA group (59.5 vs. 26.3 mg/dL, P = .029 and 0.17 vs. 0.05 µg/L, P = .015) equalizing after surgery. Patients in the HA group required significantly higher doses of vasopressors (0.093 vs. 0.025 µg/kg/min norepinephrine, P = .029) at 12 hours postoperatively as well as significantly more overall volume replacement (7217 vs. 4185 mL at 12 hours, P = .015; 12 021 vs. 4850 mL at 48 hours, P = .015). HA therapy did neither result in a reduction of inflammatory parameters nor result in an improvement of hemodynamic parameters in patients operated for IE. For a more targeted use of HA therapy, appropriate selection criteria are required.