[Surgical Treatment of Active Infected Endocarditis Associated with Cerebrovascular Complications;Heart Team Approach for Perioperative Management].

Surgery for active infective endocarditis( IE) carries the greatest risk of any valve surgery, especially when complicated by cerebral infarction or bleeding. Surgical candidates with IE associated with neurologic symptoms should have a neurologic evaluation and brain imaging either by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even among patients without neurologic symptoms, routine preoperative screening can be justified, especially those with high-risk vegetation. Current recommendations indicate that surgery should be delayed for 1 to 2 weeks in patients with non-hemorrhagic strokes and 3 to 4 weeks in patients with hemorrhagic strokes. If patients have suffered from stroke, any anticoagulation increases the risk of hemorrhagic conversion, and if bleeding has already occurred, this risk further increases. Accordingly, the treatment team has to make a difficult decision whether anticoagulation should be withheld or decreased. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and/or transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) play a major role in determining the size of vegetation, abscess and fistula formation, and severity of regurgitation during the pre- and intra-operative periods. Cerebral MRI/CT are also important to diagnose the severity of cerebral infarction or bleeding before and after surgery. The risk of IE patients with cerebral complication may change by the hour, so a solid heart team approach is mandatory to make a prompt diagnosis and determine the optimal timing for surgery.

Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde to Repair the Destroyed Valve in Active Infective Mitral Valve Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review our experience of mitral valve (MV) repair for acute and active infective endocarditis (AAIE) and to identify the feasibility of a new approach together with the mid-term results. Methods and Results: A retrospective analysis was performed on 35 consecutive AAIE patients surgically treated in the isolated mitral position. Mean follow-up after the surgery was 4.3±3.7 years. 30 of the 35 patients were successfully treated by MV plasty (MVP); however, MV replacement (MVR) was necessary in the remaining 5 patients. Our novel approach included resection of the infective lesion, approximation with direct suture and/or patch repair with bovine or autopericardium after 2-min treatment of it and the defective leaflet edge(s) with 0.625% glutaraldehyde solution, reconstruction with artificial chordae and ring annuloplasty. The success rate of MVP was 85.7%. The longest postoperative follow-up echocardiography showed no mitral regurgitation (MR) in 4, trivial MR in 4, mild MR in 16 and moderate MR in 5 patients in the MVP group. The 5-year survival rate in the MVP group was 89±6%. MVR was required in 1 patient 2 months after MVP because of increasing MR. Recurrence of endocarditis has not been observed in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Glutaraldehyde was safely used in a surgical intervention for AAIE in the mitral position with acceptable early and mid-term results.

[Atrial Septal Defect with Hereditary Deficiency of Antithrombin III].

A 41-year-old female with hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III (ATIII) was diagnosed with atrial septal defect( ASD) and scheduled for the closure of ASD. She had been taking warfarin since she suffered from deep vein thrombosis 10 years ago. Preoperative management of anticoagulation included discontinuation of warfarin, and supplementation of antithrombin with heparin infusion. On the day of operation, antithrombin activity was maintained above 80% by administering antithrombin, and closure of ASD was carried out under standard cardiopulmonary bypass support using heparin. Heparin infusion was continued with antithrombin supplementation until prothrombin time-international normalized ratio(PT-INR) recovered to around 2.5 with warfarin. Her intra-and postoperative courses did not show any thromboembolic events, and she was discharged 20 days after the surgery.

Surgical treatment of functional mitral regurgitation involving the subvalvular apparatus.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: We retrospectively studied outcomes after mitral annuloplasty (MAP) combined with subvalvular procedures for patients with functional mitral regurgitation and ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. We focused on changes in mitral regurgitation (MR) grade, mitral valve tethering, and left ventricular (LV) volume before and after surgery. METHODS: Thirty-one patients underwent MAP combined with subvalvular procedures including papillary muscle (PM) approximation, PM relocation, and chordal cutting. Fifteen patients underwent left ventriculoplasty. Twenty patients underwent PM approximation, and 11 patients underwent PM relocation. Two patients underwent chordal cutting in addition to PM approximation or relocation. In 25 patients, echocardiographic measurements of MR grade, mitral valve tethering, and LV volume were compared among three time points: before, immediately after, and one year after surgery. RESULTS: There were no in-hospital deaths. LV volume as well as both tenting height and area were significantly reduced immediately after and at one year after surgery. Five patients developed recurrent MR at one year after surgery. In comparison with the other 20 patients, the preoperative MR grade was significantly higher (p = 0.018). The postoperative reduction of LV volume was significant in patients without recurrent MR. CONCLUSIONS: Both tenting height and area could be significantly reduced and maintained after MAP combined with subvalvular procedures. The preoperative MR grade and the presence of a large postoperative LV volume were more likely to result in recurrent MR. However, among patients with recurrent MR, the MR grade does not increase during mid-term follow-up.

Preoperative chronic kidney disease as a strong predictor of postoperative infection and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of preoperative kidney dysfunction (ie, chronic kidney disease (CKD)) on postoperative cardiovascular events, infection, acute kidney injury and hospital mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: A multi-institutional retrospective study was performed at 14 hospitals of adult patients undergoing isolated CABG from 2007 to 2008 (n=1,522). We classified CKD level according to preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): normal, eGFR >90 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2); mild, eGFR 60-90 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2); moderate, eGFR 30-59 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2); and severe, eGFR <30 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2), and assessed postoperative outcome. Preoperative CKD distribution was as follows: normal, n=121 (8%); mild, n=713 (47%); moderate, n=515 (34%); and severe, n=169 (11%). Risk of infection was strongly correlated with CKD level (normal, 3.3%; mild, 7.0%; moderate, 8.3%; severe, 17.0%; P<0.01). The risk of in-hospital death was also strongly correlated with CKD level (normal, 1.7%; mild, 1.0%; moderate, 1.6%; severe, 5.9%; P<0.01). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, CKD level was identified as a significant risk factor for postoperative infection, acute kidney injury, and in-hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced preoperative CKD is a strong predictor of postoperative infection, acute kidney injury and in-hospital death after CABG.

Successful Repair of a Forme Fruste Bicuspid Aortic Valve by the Raphe Suspension Technique.

A 52-year-old man underwent surgery due to shortness of breath caused by severe aortic regurgitation with right coronary cusp prolapse. Operative findings revealed 3 symmetric cusps with small raphe between the right and noncoronary cusps situated lower than the others, indicating a forme fruste bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The BAV was successfully repaired by tricuspidization, including raphe suspension, right coronary cusp plication, and double annuloplasty. The postoperative course was uneventful, and echocardiography at 3 months showed mild aortic regurgitation with adequate left ventricular reverse remodeling. Here we present the technical details of the raphe suspension procedure for forme fruste BAV.

Aortic root destruction after aortic valvuloplasty for bicuspid aortic valve.

Ultrasound cardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation (AR) due to bicuspid aortic valve with dilatation of the aortic annulus and sinotubular junction in a 27-year-old man hospitalized with loss of consciousness. He underwent aortic valvuloplasty combined with external suture annuloplasty using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suture. Intraoperative findings revealed thickening and adhesion of the aortic root despite the first surgery. He developed recurrent AR 7 months later and underwent redo surgery. An ePTFE suture was found inside the aorta. Aortic root replacement with a mechanical composite graft was performed, as reconstruction appeared difficult because the aortic annulus was damaged and there were multiple holes on all cusps. Here, we report a rare case of aortic root destruction after external suture annuloplasty.

Body mass index as a tool for optimizing surgical care in coronary artery bypass grafting through understanding risks of specific complications.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and early outcomes, and specific types of morbidities associated with low and high BMI, in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: This was a retrospective study on isolated coronary artery bypass grafting patients (aged ≥60 years) between 2008 and 2017 in the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database. The primary end point was defined as operative mortality. The secondary end point was combined morbidity (ie, operative mortality, reoperation for bleeding, stroke, new onset of hemodialysis, mediastinitis, and prolonged ventilation). Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared among BMI groups. Spline curves were fit between BMI and outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models with categorized BMI and generalized additive models with spline-transformed BMI were used to estimate and visualize the effect of BMI adjusted for other covariates. RESULTS: A total of 96,058 patients were included in the analysis. Low (<18.5) and high (≥30) BMI were both associated with a higher risk of mortality (low: adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.54; P < .0001, and high: adjusted odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-2.59; P < .0001) and combined morbidity (low: adjusted odds ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.29; P = .0002 and high: adjusted odds ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.63-2.03; P < .0001). Low and high BMI were associated with different types of morbidities. In models using spline transformation, the deviation of BMI from a proximately 21 to 23 was proportionally associated with increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, low and high BMI were risk factors of mortality associated with different types of morbidities, which may warrant tailored preventive approaches.

Urinary Titin Is Increased in Patients After Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Few non-invasive biomarkers have been used to detect myocardial injury in patients with heart diseases. Recently, the N-terminal fragment (N-titin) of titin, a giant sarcomeric protein, which is involved in muscular passive tension and viscoelasticity, has been reported to detect muscle damage in patients with cardiomyopathy as well as in patients with skeletal muscle dystrophy and in healthy volunteers with endurance exercise. In the present study, we evaluated whether urinary N-titin is changed during a perioperative period and whether its increase reflects myocardial damage. Materials and Methods: In 18 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, blood and urine samples were obtained before and after surgery. We measured the urinary levels of N-titin with a highly sensitive ELISA system. Results: Urinary N-titin to creatinine (N-titin/Cr) was significantly increased in all patients postoperatively (43.3 ± 39.5 pmol/mg/dL on the day of operation) and remained significantly high for at least 4 days postoperatively. Urinary N-titin/Cr was positively correlated with serum cardiac troponin T (r = 0.36, p = 0.0006, n = 90) but not creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB). We also found that urinary N-titin/Cr in patients after a coronary artery bypass grafting operation was higher by day 2 postoperatively than in patients following open cardiac surgeries. Conclusion: The cleaved N-titin was significantly increased in urine after cardiac surgery. Urinary N-titin may be useful for detecting the risk of latent postoperative cardiac damage.

Redefinition of tricuspid valve structures for successful ring annuloplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous reports have described suturing techniques for tricuspid annuloplasty, most studies were not based on a detailed anatomy of the tricuspid annulus. Thus, the definition of the tricuspid commissures remains unclear. This study aimed to clearly define the commissures and leaflets of the tricuspid valve and subvalvular structures, and to define a standard method for tricuspid annuloplasty. METHODS: In 27 normal heart specimens without cardiac disease, the tricuspid commissure was defined using indentations of the leaflets as a point, not an area, and the length of each tricuspid annulus was measured. The relationships between the leaflets and the subvalvular structures were then examined. RESULTS: In most specimens, the posterior leaflet had 2 (62.9%) or 3 (29.6%) scallops, providing further evidence of posterior leaflet diversity. In addition, the posterior leaflet had 1 or 2 indentations, which can be mistaken for true commissures. The annulus of the posterior leaflet was significantly longer than the annuli of the other 2 leaflets (P < .00428). The annuli of the septal and the anterior leaflets were supported by the interventricular septum and the supraventricular crest, respectively, whereas the posterior leaflet annulus was distributed largely along the right ventricular free wall. CONCLUSIONS: There was a structural gap between the tricuspid leaflet indentations and the subvalvular structures. The relationships among the leaflets, commissures, and subvalvular structures differed in the septal, anterior, and posterior leaflets. This new definition of the commissural point may aid the development of a clear-cut methodology for prosthetic ring annuloplasty.