The use of bone cement for ossicular chain defects.

Bone cement is a good and cheap option for some ossicular chain problems such as incudostapedial re-bridging. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the audiologic results after reconstruction of three different types of ossicular chain defects, using bone cement. Group 1 consists of 42 patients who underwent an ossiculoplasty using bone cement between the damaged long process of the incus and an intact stapes superstructure. Group 2 consists of 46 patients in which incus interposition between malleus and stapes superstructure was performed, using bone cement to fix the interposed incus. For group 3, consisting of 32 patients who had a present malleus, a defective long process of the incus and a missing stapes superstructure, a re-shaped incus was placed between the stapes footplate and the malleus and bone cement was again used as a fixator. Preoperative and postoperative pure-tone audiometric findings were obtained and hearing differences were assessed. The mean preoperative and postoperative air-bone gaps were 34.8 and 15.6, 35 and 18.4, and 43.4 and 19.8 for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was a significant improvement in hearing outcomes in all the groups when comparing preoperative and postoperative mean air-bone gaps (p < 0.001). The postoperative air-bone gap was ≤20 dB in 76 % of patients in group 1, 64 % of patients in group 2, and 46 % of patients in group 3. Bone cement is an effective and cheap option for some ossicular chain problems such as incudostapedial re-bridging. It may also be used to fix the interposed incus to the stapes superstructure and/or malleus to avert displacement.

Closed-chest unilateral thoracoscopic ablation: box lesion with radiofrequency clamps only.

In this article, we describe the modified technique of a unilateral closed-chest thoracoscopic ablation and left atrial appendage closure including a box lesion that is made by radiofrequency clamps only for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. By abandoning the unidirectional pen devices and replacing these by radiofrequency clamps, we aim to further improve the procedural efficacy and shorten operation time while minimizing surgical exposure for the patient.

Rapid false lumen dilation and pseudocoarctation due to inadvertent preferential false lumen perfusion using the frozen elephant trunk technique in a chronic residual aortic dissection.

A patient with a chronic postdissection distal arch aneurysm was treated with total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk. Following uneventful initial recovery, the frozen elephant trunk appeared to be inadvertently perfusing the false lumen through an already present (in retrospect) intimal tear, resulting in rapid dilation of the false lumen and proximal compression of the graft. Treatment consisted, first, of endovascular redirection of flow toward the distal true lumen and, second, open surgical repair of the remaining type IV aneurysm. This case underlines the importance of scrutinizing preoperative imaging for correct use of the frozen elephant trunk.

Totally thoracoscopic ablation: a unilateral right-sided approach.

The aim of this article is to describe a unilateral approach for totally thoracoscopic ablation and left atrial appendage closure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation to simplify the procedure, avoid a technically more demanding thoracoscopy on the left side and potentially reduce postoperative pain without compromising the lesion set.

Aortic valve replacement using the Freedom SOLO stentless bioprosthesis: clinical and haemodynamic performance in 625 patients at medium-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to analyse the haemodynamic and clinical results after implantation of the Freedom SOLO stentless aortic valve replacement by assessing the immediate postoperative results regarding mortality, discharge echocardiographic gradients and reoperation rates and by evaluating these results in the medium term. METHODS: This study was designed as a single-centre retrospective observational trial. Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected retrospectively from 625 patients undergoing an aortic valve replacement using the Freedom Solo stentless valve (LivaNova, London, UK) at the Sint-Jan Hospital, Bruges, between May 2009 and May 2017. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient was 76 ± 6.9 years. Early operative (30-day) mortality was 3.5% overall and 0.8% (n = 2) in patients having isolated aortic valve replacement. Early reinterventions were necessary in 3% of patients (n = 19). Permanent pacemaker implantation was performed in 3%. The mean postoperative peak gradient was 14.3 ± 8.14 mmHg, and the mean gradient was 7.5 ± 4.46 mmHg. Fourteen patients underwent explantation, 2 of which were for structural valve deterioration and 8 for endocarditis. Overall survival at 7 years was 55% [95% confidence interval (CI) 47-62]. At 7 years, freedom from reoperation overall, freedom from operation for endocarditis and freedom from operation for structural valve deterioration were 94% (95% CI 88-97), 97% (95% CI 94-99) and 98% (95% CI 90-99), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Freedom Solo stentless aortic valve has proved to be safe, with excellent clinical and haemodynamic results. Structural valve degeneration and explantation occur infrequently, illustrating good durability in the medium term.