2022 Joint ESC/EACTS review of the 2018 guideline recommendations on the revascularization of left main coronary artery disease in patients at low surgical risk and anatomy suitable for PCI or CABG.

In October 2021, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) jointly agreed to establish a Task Force (TF) to review recommendations of the 2018 ESC/EACTS Guidelines on myocardial revascularization as they apply to patients with left main (LM) disease with low-to-intermediate SYNTAX score (0-32). This followed the withdrawal of support by the EACTS in 2019 for the recommendations about the management of LM disease of the previous guideline. The TF was asked to review all new relevant data since the 2018 guidelines including updated aggregated data from the four randomized trials comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents vs. coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with LM disease. This document represents a summary of the work of the TF; suggested updated recommendations for the choice of revascularization modality in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization for LM disease are included. In stable patients with an indication for revascularization for LM disease, with coronary anatomy suitable for both procedures and a low predicted surgical mortality, the TF concludes that both treatment options are clinically reasonable based on patient preference, available expertise, and local operator volumes. The suggested recommendations for revascularization with CABG are Class I, Level of Evidence A. The recommendations for PCI are Class IIa, Level of Evidence A. The TF recognized several important gaps in knowledge related to revascularization in patients with LM disease and recognizes that aggregated data from the four randomized trials were still only large enough to exclude large differences in mortality.

How to deal with nonsevere stenoses in coronary artery bypass grafting - a critical perspective on competitive flow and surgical precision.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: For invasive treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), we assess anatomical complexity, analyse surgical risk and make heart-team decisions for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). With PCI, treating flow-relevant lesions is recommended, and reintervention easily treats disease progression. For CABG, some stenoses may only be borderline or nonsevere despite a clear surgical indication. As reoperations are not easy, the question on how to address these lesions has been around from the start, but has never satisfactorily been answered. RECENT FINDINGS: With a new mechanistic perspective, we had suggested that infarct-prevention by surgical collateralization is the main prognostic mechanism of CABG in chronic coronary syndrome. Importantly, the majority of infarctions arise from nonsevere coronary lesions. Thus, surgical collateralization may be a valid treatment option for nonsevere lesions, but graft patency moves more into focus here, because graft patency directly correlates with the severity of coronary stenoses. In addition, CABG may even accelerate native disease progression. SUMMARY: We here review the evidence for and against grafting nonsevere CAD lesions, suggesting that patency of grafts (to moderate lesions) may be improved by increasing surgical precision. In addition, we must improve our ability to predict future myocardial infarctions.

Surgical versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low-risk patients: A long-term propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in lower risk populations, but real-world data are scarce. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of patients undergoing SAVR (between June 2009 and July 2016, n = 682 patients) or TAVI (between June 2009 and July 2017, n = 400 patients). Low surgical risk was defined as EuroSCORE II (ES II) < 4% for single noncoronary artery bypass graft procedure. TAVI patients were propensity score-matched in a 1:1 ratio with SAVR patients, paired by age, New York Heart Association class, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation, creatinine clearance, and left ventricular ejection fraction < 50%. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients (79 SAVR and 79 TAVI) were matched (mean age 79 ± 6 years, 79 men). TAVI patients had a higher incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation (0% vs. 19%, p < 0.001) and more than mild paravalvular leak (4% vs. 18%, p = 0.009), but comparable rates of stroke, major or life-threatening bleeding, emergent cardiac surgery, new-onset atrial fibrillation, and need for renal replacement therapy. Hospital length-of-stay and 30-day mortality were similar. At a median follow-up of 4.5 years (IQR 3.0-6.9), treatment strategy did not influence all-cause mortality (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.77-1.83, log rank p = 0.43) nor rehospitalization (crude subdistribution HR 1.56, 95% CI 0.71-3.41, p = 0.26). ES II remained the only independent predictor of long-term all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04-1.90, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In this low surgical risk severe aortic stenosis population, we observed similar rates of 30-day and long-term all-cause mortality, despite higher rates of permanent pacemaker implantation and more than mild paravalvular leak in TAVI patients. The results of this small study suggest that both procedures are safe and effective in the short-term, while the Heart Team remains essential to assess both options on the long-term.

Complete surgical revascularization: Different definitions, same impact?

BACKGROUND: There are several different definitions of complete revascularization on coronary surgery across the literature. Despite the importance of this definition, there is no agreement on which one has the most impact. The aim of this study was to evaluate which definition of complete surgical revascularization correlates with early and late outcomes. METHODS: All consecutive patients submitted to isolated CABG from 2012 to 2016 with previous myocardial scintigraphy were evaluated. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: emergent procedures and previous cardiac surgery procedures. The population of 162 patients, follow-up complete in 100% patients; median 5.5; IQR: 4.4-6.9 years. Each and all of the 162 patients were classified as complying or not with the four different definitions: numerical, functional, anatomical conditional, and anatomical unconditional. Perioperative outcome: MACCE; long-term outcomes: survival and repeat revascularization. Univariable and multivariable analyses were developed to detect predictors of outcomes. RESULTS: Complete functional revascularization was a predictor of increased survival (HR: 0.47; CI 95: 0.226-0.969; p = .041). No other definitions showed effect on follow-up mortality. Age and cardiac dysfunction increased long-term mortality. The definition of complete revascularization did not have an impact on MACCE or the need for revascularization CONCLUSIONS: A uniformly accepted definition of complete coronary revascularization is lacking. This study raises awareness about the importance of viability guidance for CABG.

Patient prosthes is mismatch in stented biologic aortic valve prosthesis: 10 years' results.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to establish the relation between aortic bio prosthesis, patient prosthesis mismatch (PPM) and short-term mortality and morbidity as well as and long-term mortality. METHODS: This is a single center retrospective study with 812 patients that underwent isolated stented biologic aortic valve replacement between 2007 and 2016. The projected indexed orifice area was calculated using the in vivo previously published values. Outcomes were evaluated with the indexed effective orifice area (iEOA) as a continuous variable and/or nominal variable. Multivariable models were developed including clinically relevant co-variates. RESULTS: In the study population 65.9% (n=535) had no PPM, 32.6% (n=265) had moderate PPM and 1.5% (n=12) severe PPM. PPM was related with diabetes (OR:1.738, CI95:1.333-2.266; p<0.001), heart failure (OR:0.387, CI95:0.155-0.969; p=0.043) and older age (OR:1.494, CI95:1.171-1.907; p=0.001). iEOA was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.169, CI 0.039-35.441) or MACCE (OR 2.753, CI 0.287-26.453). Long term survival is significantly inferior with lower iEOA (HR 0.116, CI 0.041-0.332) and any degree of PPM decreases survival when compared with no PPM (Moderate: HR 1.542, CI 1.174-2.025; Severe HR 4.627, CI 2.083-10.276). CONCLUSIONS: PPM appears to have no impact on short-term outcomes including mortality and morbidity. At ten years follow-up, moderate or severe PPM significantly reduces the long-term survival.

CABG: To CBP or Not To CBP - A Propensity Score Matched Survival.

INTRODUCTION: Over the past 3 decades two main strategies have been employed for surgical coronary revascularization (CABG): on- pump CABG with cardioplegia (ONCAB) and off-pump CABG (OPCAB). The objective of this study is to evaluate the short-term and long-term survival of the two strategies. METHODS: This study consists of 8-year cohort, retrospective single-center analysis with an intention-to-treat design. 2954 patients underwent CABG (OPCAB n=2123; ONCAB= 831) for CAD. As these two groups were statistically different regarding several parameters, a propensity score model was applied and a more homogeneous cohort (n= 1441; OPCAB= 885; ONCAB=556) was analyzed. Univariate analysis, Kaplan-Meier curves and when appropriate a multivariate analysis was applied to the overall group and 6 subgroups: 2 vessel disease, 3 vessel disease, left stem disease, diabetic patients; patients with creatinin clearance bellow 50ml/min; and patients with body mass index above 30 kg/m2. RESULTS: Our study show: No difference in 30-days mortality, long-term survival (mean 71 months follow-up), AKY and stroke rates; Higher rates of bypass per patient (2.3% vs 2.8%, p<0,001) and complete revascularization (76% vs 83%) in the ONCAB group; Fewer re-operation for bleeding (0.8 vs 3.8%, p<0.001), fewer peak troponin>19mg/ dl (4.7% vs 9.9%, p<0,001), and fewer IABP use (1.5% vs 3.3%, p=0,027) in the OPCAB group. Sub-group analysis showed no difference between the two groups with exception of a higher rate of troponin peak >19mg/dl adjusted for CAD extension in the left-main stem disease group undergoing ONCAB (OR=2,3 +-0.8 p=0,018). CONCLUSION: The major randomized controlled trials comparing the two strategies show: No difference in 30-days mortality, 1-year survival, AKY and stroke rates; Less re-revascularization rates and higher bypass per patient and bypass patency with ONCAB. Despite the large volume of evidence generated around both on-pump and off-pump CABG strategies, studies fail to demonstrate clear benefit of either strategy regarding mortality and most common complications. Our results are similar of those found in the literature as neither strategy has unequivocal superior results. ONCAB shows consistently higher rates of complete revascularization and higher number of grafts. OPCAB shows lesser troponin levels suggestive of less myocardial damage. Major limitations include: analysis not matched for surgeon performance; cardiac related events, re-revascularization need and graft patency not evaluated; isolated use of troponin levels for evaluation myocardial damage.

Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafting in patients with diabetes mellitus is controversial due to a higher risk for sternal infection. The purpose of this study is to compare the rates of mediastinitis as well as mortality rates of BITA grafting to that of single internal thoracic artery (SITA) grafting and saphenous vein grafts in patients with diabetes. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2015 all consecutive diabetic patients with multivessel disease who underwent primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery with BITA were compared with patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery with SITA and saphenous vein grafts (the control group). Patients submitted to single grafts were excluded from the analysis. Propensity score matching was used to account for differences between groups in preoperative characteristics. The frequency of peri-operative mediastinitis was compared between BITA and control group. Mortality rates between were compared between groups at 1-month post-surgery and 2-year post-surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1005 patients were included in our sample in which 188 (19%) patients performed BITA grafting. BITA patients were younger (BITA group mean age 60.0 years vs control group 69.9 years; p<0.001), less often female (BITA group 11.7% vs control group 28.2%; p<0.001), and less often insulin treated (BITA group 9.6% vs control group 18.8%; p=0.002) compared to the control group. All other characteristics were not statistically different between groups, namely CCS, NYHA score, three vessel coronary artery disease, left main disease, previous myocardial infarction, hypertension, COPD and body mass index. After propensity score matching, 344 patients were included in the analysis, 138 in the BITA group and 206 in the control group. In this analysis both groups were not statistically different in every characteristic evaluated including age, sex and insulin-treated diabetic patients. The rate of peri-operative mediastinitis in matched groups was comparable (BITA group 2.3% vs control group 1.5; p=0.605). Mortality rates were comparable between groups at 1-month post-surgery (BITA group 1.4% vs control group 0.5%; p=0.346) and 2-year post- -surgery (BITA group 3% vs control group 2%; p=0.557). CONCLUSION: The findings of this sample suggest that the short and mid-term outcomes of patients with diabetes and multivessel disease who undergo BITA grafting is similar to other grafting procedures. BITA grafting in diabetic patients seems to be safe in terms of sternal wound problems. Longer term follow-up is required to determine BITA grafting survival improvement.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Valvular Heart Disease Surgery: Risk and Prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Left heart disease is the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH), and when present is associated with higher surgical risk. OBJECTIVES: Analyze the effect of PH severity on morbidity, early and late mortality in patients with pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) over 30mmHg that underwent valvular heart surgery. METHODS: Retrospective observational study including all patients with PH, defined as PASP>30 mmHg that underwent isolated valvular heart surgery, between 2007 and 2016. Exclusion criteria were: active endocarditis, congenital heart disease, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, reoperations and emergent surgery. The study population included 607 patients with a mean age of 69.6 years and a mean PASP of 52.5 mmHg. Mean follow-up for all-cause mortality was 4.4(0-11) years in 99.7% of patients. MACCE (Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular event) was defined as at least one of the following: in-hospital mortality, stroke, post-operative myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmia or multiple organ failure. PASP was evaluated as a continuous variable. Simple and multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the in-hospital mortality and MACCE. Cox regression was used for long term follow-up and one-sample log-rank test for comparison with age adjusted general population. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality was 3.2% and PASP was an independent predictor on univariable analysis (OR:1.06; 95%CI:1.03- 1.09; p<0.001). On multivariable logistic regression PH remains an independent predictor of in- -hospital mortality (OR:1.08; 95%CI:1.04-1.12; p<0.001) in addition to age (OR:1.08; 95%CI:1.01-1.17; p=0.044). MACCE was observed in 11.4% and PASP was an independent predictor on univariable analysis (OR:1.03; 95%CI:1.01- 1.04; p<0.001). On multivariable logistic regression PASP remains an independent predictor of MACCE (OR:1.02; 95%CI:1.01-1.04; p=0.011) as well as hemodialysis (OR:7.16; 95%CI:1.73-29.63; p=0.007). The independent predictors of long term mortality were male gender (p=0.011), older age (p<0.001), higher body mass index (p=0.013), urgent surgery (p=0.027), pulmonary disease (p=0.042) and more than one valve procedure (p=0.004 for 2 valves and p=0.006 for 3 valves). PASP was not an independent predictor of long term mortality (p=0.142). Compared with an age adjusted general population, patients with PH had a significantly lower survival rate(p<0.001), more evident 4 years after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PASP is a risk factor for in-hospital mortality and MACCE, but there was no significant impact on long term mortality.

Submitral aneurysm in children.

BACKGROUND: We report a surgical series of submitral aneurysm in children. METHODS: Between March 2011 and December 2015, eight consecutive patients less than 18 years old with submitral aneurysm underwent surgical correction. RESULTS: Six patients were female, the mean age was 7 ± 3.8 years old, and mean weight was 21.4 kg. Six patients were in NYHA functional class III or IV. Six patients underwent repair via a transatrial approach, another with a transatrial combined with transaneurysmal approach, and another with a transventricular approach. There were no in-hospital deaths but one 30-day mortality. One patient required reoperation. Two patients required mitral valve replacement. At discharge, one patient had severe and another had moderate mitral regurgitation. The mean follow-up time was 26.4 months and five patients were alive. No reintervention was required. CONCLUSIONS: Submitral aneurysm is not restricted to adults. Heart failure is the commonest clinical presentation in the pediatric age. The transatrial approach is feasible, safe, and associated with good short-term results. The mitral valve can be preserved in the majority of cases.

[SPCCTV and SPC Recommendations Related to the Waiting Times for Cardiac Surgery]. / Recomendações da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cirurgia Cardiotorácia e Vascular (SPCCTV) e da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia (SPC) sobre os Tempos de Espera para Cirurgia Cardíaca.

Appointed jointly by the Portuguese Society for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (SPCCTV) and by the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), the Working Group related to the Waiting Times for Cardiac Surgery was created with the aim of developing practical recommendations about clinically acceptable waiting times for the three critical phases of the care of adults with a cardiac disease that require surgery or an intervention: cardiology appointments; diagnostic process and invasive therapy. Cardiac surgery has its own characteristics, not comparable to other surgical specialties and, therefore, it is important to reduce its maximum waiting times and, also, increase the efficacy of the systems which are responsible to monitor and trace the patient. The information given in this document was based, mostly, in available clinical information. The methodology used to establish the criteria was based on studies regarding disease's natural history, clinical studies that compared medical treatment with intervention, retrospective and prospective analysis of patients included on a waiting list, and experts or working groups' opinions. After this first step, marked by this publication, the SPCCTV and the SPC PSC should be considered as natural interlocutors about this matter and they are committed to decisively contribute to the definition of operational strategies through the adaption of the clinical evidence with reality and with the available resources.

Non-vitamin K versus vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in surgical mitral valve repair or bioprosthetic valve replacement in the first three months after surgery.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Oral anticoagulation (OAC) with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) after surgical mitral valve repair (MVR) or bioprosthetic valve replacement (BVR) in mitral position remains a controversial topic among the cardiovascular community, in particular in the early postoperative period. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NOACs in the first three months after MVR or mitral BVR compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study with prospectively collected peri-intervention outcomes between 2020 and 2021. Records were retrieved and all participants were contacted by telephone. Patients were divided into groups according to OAC strategy. The primary outcome was a composite of death, rehospitalization, myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack, systemic embolism, mitral thrombosis, or bleeding during the first three months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 65.5±12.2 years, 56.8% male. On discharge, 98 (66.2%) patients were on VKAs and 50 (33.8%) were on DOACs for at least three months. The primary outcome occurred in 22 (22.4%) patients in the VKA group and in three (6%) in the NOAC group (p=0.012), mainly driven by more bleeding events in the former. Independent predictors of the primary outcome were smoking (p=0.028) and OAC with VKAs at discharge, the latter predicting three times more events (p=0.046, OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.02-13.5). CONCLUSIONS: NOACs were associated with fewer events, supporting their efficacy and safety during the first three months after surgical MVR or mitral BVR.

The Risk Of Waiting Up To One Year For Cardiac Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac disease is associated with a risk of death, both by the cardiac condition and by comorbidities. The waiting time for surgery begins with the onset of symptoms and includes referral, completion of the diagnosis and surgical waiting list (SWL). This study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected surgical capacity and patients' morbidities. METHODS: The cohort includes 1914 consecutive adult patients (36.6% women, mean age 67 ±11 years), prospectively registered in the official SWL from January 2019 to December 2021. We analyzed waiting times ranging from 4 days to one year to exclude urgencies and outliers. Priority was classified by the national criteria for non-oncologic or oncology surgery. RESULTS: During the study period, 74% of patients underwent surgery, 19.2% were still waiting, and 4.3% dropped out. Most cases were valvular (41.2%) or isolated bypass procedures (34.2%). Patients were classified as non-priority in 29.7%, priority in 61.8%, and high priority in 8.6%, with significantly different SWL mean times between groups (p<0.001). The overall mean waiting time was 167 ± 135 days. Mortality on SWL was 2.5%, or 1.1 deaths per patient/weeks. There were two mortality independent predictors: age (HR 1.05) and the year 2021 versus 2019 (HR 2.07) and a trend toward higher mortality in priority patients versus non-priority (p=0.065). The overall risk increased with time with different slopes for each year. Using the time limits for SWL in oncology, there would have been a significant risk reduction (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The increased risk observed in 2021 may be related to the pandemic, either by increasing waiting time or by direct mortality. Since risk stratification is not entirely accurate, waiting time emerges as the most crucial factor influencing mortality, and implementing stricter time limits could have led to lower mortality rates.

Same evidence different recommendations: a methodological assessment of transatlantic guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify methodological variations leading to varied recommendations between the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) valvular heart disease guidelines and to suggest foundational steps towards standardizing guideline development. METHODS: An in-depth analysis was conducted to evaluate the methodologies used in developing the transatlantic guidelines for managing valvular heart disease. The evaluation was benchmarked against the standards proposed by the Institute of Medicine. RESULTS: Substantial discrepancies were noted in the methodologies utilized in development processes, including Writing Committee composition, evidence evaluation, conflict of interest management and voting processes. Furthermore, despite their mutual differences, both methodologies demonstrate notable deviations from the Institute of Medicine standards in several essential areas, including literature review and evidence grading. These dual variances likely influenced divergent treatment recommendations. For example, the ESC/EACTS recommends transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation ineligible for mitral valve surgery, while the ACC/AHA recommends transcatheter edge-to-edge repair based on anatomy, regardless of surgical risk. ESC/EACTS guidelines recommend a mechanical aortic prosthesis for patients under 60, while ACC/AHA guidelines recommend it for patients under 50. Notably, the ACC/AHA and ESC/EACTS guidelines have differing age cut-offs for surgical over transcatheter aortic valve replacement (<65 and <75 years, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Variations in methodologies for developing clinical practice guidelines have resulted in different treatment recommendations that may significantly impact global practice patterns. Standardization of essential processes is vital to increase the uniformity and credibility of clinical practice guidelines, ultimately improving healthcare quality, reducing variability and enhancing trust in modern medicine.

Cardiac magnetic resonance patterns of left ventricular remodeling in patients with severe aortic stenosis referred to surgical aortic valve replacement.

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a common finding in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold-standard technique to evaluate LV remodeling. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and describe the patterns of LV adaptation in AS patients before and after surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Prospective study of 130 consecutive patients (71y [IQR 68-77y], 48% men) with severe AS, referred for surgical AVR. Patterns of LV remodeling were assessed by CMR. Besides normal LV ventricular structure, four other patterns were considered: concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, eccentric hypertrophy, and adverse remodeling. At baseline CMR study: mean LV indexed mass: 81.8 ± 26.7 g/m2; mean end-diastolic LV indexed volume: 85.7 ± 23.1 mL/m2 and median geometric remodeling ratio: 0.96 g/mL [IQR 0.82-1.08 g/mL]. LV hypertrophy occurred in 49% of subjects (concentric 44%; eccentric 5%). Both normal LV structure and concentric remodeling had a prevalence of 25% among the cohort; one patient had an adverse remodeling pattern. Asymmetric LV wall thickening was present in 55% of the patients, with predominant septal involvement. AVR was performed in 119 patients. At 3-6 months after AVR, LV remodeling changed to: normal ventricular geometry in 60%, concentric remodeling in 27%, concentric hypertrophy in 10%, eccentric hypertrophy in 3% and adverse remodeling (one patient). Indexes of AS severity, LV systolic and diastolic function and NT-proBNP were significantly different among the distinct patterns of remodeling. Several distinct patterns of LV remodelling beyond concentric hypertrophy occur in patients with classical severe AS. Asymmetric hypertrophy is a common finding and LV response after AVR is diverse.