Cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on health care and cardiac surgery. We report cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A detailed survey was sent to recruit participating adult cardiac surgery centers in North America. Data regarding cardiac surgeons' perceptions and changes in practice were analyzed. RESULTS: Our study comprises 67 institutions with diverse geographic distribution across North America. Nurses were most likely to be redeployed (88%), followed by advanced care practitioners (69%), trainees (28%), and surgeons (25%). Examining surgeon concerns in regard to COVID-19, they were most worried with exposing their family to COVID-19 (81%), followed by contracting COVID-19 (68%), running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) (28%), and hospital resources (28%). In terms of PPE conservation strategies among users of N95 respirators, nearly half were recycling via decontamination with ultraviolet light (49%), followed by sterilization with heat (13%) and at home or with other modalities (13%). Reuse of N95 respirators for 1 day (22%), 1 week (21%) or 1 month (6%) was reported. There were differences in adoption of methods to conserve N95 respirators based on institutional pandemic phase and COVID-19 burden, with higher COVID-19 burden institutions more likely to resort to PPE conservation strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the impact of COVID-19 on North American cardiac surgeons. Our study should stimulate further discussions to identify optimal solutions to improve workforce preparedness for subsequent surges, as well as facilitate the navigation of future healthcare crises.

Validation of scoring system predicting permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is being increasingly performed in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Despite newer generation valves, atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbance is a common complication, necessitating permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation in about 10% of patients. Hence, it is imperative to improve periprocedural risk stratification to predict PPM implantation after TAVR. The objective of this study was to externally validate a novel risk-stratification model derived from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database that predicts risk of PPM from TAVR. METHODS: Components of the score included pre-TAVR left and right bundle branch block, sinus bradycardia, second-degree AV block, and transfemoral approach. The scoring system was applied to 917 patients undergoing TAVR at our institution from November 2011 to February 2017. We assessed its predictive accuracy by looking at two components: discrimination using the C-statistic and calibration using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. RESULTS: Ninety patients (9.8%) required PPM. The scoring system showed good discrimination with C-statistic score of 0.6743 (95% CI: 0.618-0.729). Higher scores suggested increased PPM risk, that is, 7.3% with score ⩽3, 19.23% with score 4-6, and 37.50% with score ≥7. Patients requiring PPM were older (81.4 versus 78.7 years, P = .002). Length of stay and in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in PPM group. CONCLUSIONS: The NIS database derived PPM risk prediction model was successfully validated in our database with acceptable discriminative and gradation capacity. It is a simple but valuable tool for patient counseling pre-TAVR and in identifying high-risk patients.

Rates, predictors, and outcomes of early readmissions after tricuspid valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: The data on readmissions following tricuspid valve repair/replacement (TVR) are scarce. We examined rates, predictors, causes, and outcomes of readmissions after TVR, using the National Readmission Database. METHODS: The International Classification of Diseases-9th version was used to identify the patients who underwent isolated TVR or concomitant aortic, mitral, and coronary bypass surgeries. Rates, causes, and outcomes were assessed using the analysis of variance and the χ2 test, and predictors of readmissions were evaluated using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 8254 patients who underwent TVR during 2013 to 2014 were included, of whom 1994 (24.16%) were isolated, and 6260 (75.84%) were performed concomitantly with other heart valve or coronary bypass surgery. A total of 1720 (20.84%) patients were readmitted within 30 days. The readmission rates were 448 (22.46%) after isolated TVR and similar after concomitant TVR (TVR + aortic valve replacement, TVR + mitral valve repair, TVR + coronary artery bypass graft, and TVR + multiple) (P = .194); whereas 1305 (20.11%) and 414 (23.45%) were after tricuspid valve repair and replacement (P = .080), respectively. The independent predictors of readmission were acute kidney injury during index visit and Charlson comorbidity index of more than 2. Mean time to readmission and median length of stay during readmission were 13.02 (±7.93) and 5 (interquartile range: 3-9) days, respectively. Total mortality during rehospitalization was 105 (6.1%), a very high (26.86%) number of patients were discharged to skilled facilities after readmission. CONCLUSIONS: One out of five patients were readmitted within 30 days after the TVR, associated with 6.1% mortality during rehospitalization, and very high need for skilled facility placement.

Outcomes and readmissions after transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with cirrhosis: A propensity matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The data on the comparative outcomes and readmissions after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with cirrhosis are limited. We compared mortality, complications, discharge disposition, 30-day readmission rates, length of stay, and cost of hospitalization in cirrhotic patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the National Readmission Database (NRD) were used for the study. The International Classification of Diseases-9th version was used to define cohorts of patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR. Patients undergoing concomitant other valve or coronary bypass surgery were excluded. Propensity-score matching was used to compare the outcomes between the groups. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2014, a total of 126 and 157 patients with cirrhosis underwent TAVR and SAVR, respectively. Of the 283 patients, 16 (5.7%) died during the same hospitalization. We found 345 patients with cirrhosis who had undergone an aortic valve replacement (156 with TAVR, and 189 with SAVR) in the 2013 and 2014 NRD. On propensity matching, there were no significant differences between the in-hospital mortality, readmissions, hospitalization costs, and discharges to home within the TAVR and SAVR groups. However, post-procedure length of stay (6.3 vs. 10.2 days; P < 0.001) and blood transfusion rates (22% vs. 58%; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in TAVR patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhotic patients undergoing TAVR has high, but similar mortality and 30-day readmission rates when compared to SAVR; however, has shorter length of stay and lower blood transfusion rates.

Report of the Third Heart Surgery Forum Scientific Sessions: Zagreb, Croatia December 6-8, 2017: Conference Highlights.

The Heart Surgery Forum is an online community dedicated to topics related to all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery. It consists of an informative website (www.hsforum.com), a traditional indexed journal both in print and online, and an email-based "list-serv" for discussion of surgical cases and techniques. The email list-serv, "OpenHeart-L" (The Forum) is composed of surgeons and allied specialties (perfusion, anesthesia, nursing). Dr. Mark Levinson (USA) started The Forum originally in 1995. He also served as the first Editor-in-Chief of the print journal for many years. Coinciding with the popularity of The Forum, and the desire by many members to meet in person, the First Heart Surgery Forum Conference (#1 HSF) was held in Savudrija, Istria, Croatia in 2010. The overwhelming success of this meeting, in terms of attendance and scientific content, resulted in #2 HSF being held in Split, Croatia in 2014. Recently, the #3 HSF meeting was held in Zagreb, Croatia on December 6-8th, 2017. This report highlights the scientific events of this meeting, and more importantly aims to inspire greater involvement by the international cardiothoracic community. Substantial increasing attendance was seen at each subsequent meeting, not only in terms of the number of participants and lectures, but also in the number of countries represented.

Early readmissions after transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine and compare the prevalence, and predictors of readmissions after the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the readmission rates after TAVR in comparison with SAVR. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 2013 National Readmission Database. Propensity-matched pairs were used to analyze differences in readmission rates between TAVR and SAVR for patients aged ≥65. RESULTS: A total of 24,020 (TAVR-transfemoral 3,469, TAVR-transapical 1,433, SAVR 19,118) patients were included. The readmission rates were not statistically different for all propensity-matched TAVR and SAVR patients (17.2% vs. 20.6%, P = 0.28). However, in subgroup analysis, transapical TAVR had the highest readmission rate (22.8% vs. 16.5% vs. 16.0%, P < 0.001, respectively) and readmission leading to death (7.1% vs. 5.3% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.022, respectively) when compared with transfemoral TAVR and SAVR. In all the groups, two-thirds of readmissions were due to noncardiac causes. Congestive heart failure (CHF) and arrhythmia were the most frequent cardiac etiologies. The independent predictors of readmission were female sex, CHF, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients who received care in teaching hospitals had lower probability of readmission. CONCLUSIONS: One of six patients were readmitted within 30 days after the aortic valve replacement. On propensity score analysis, there were no significant differences between the early readmission rates between TAVR and SAVR groups. However, the patients undergoing transapical TAVR were at higher risk for readmission, and subsequent deaths when compared with transfemoral TAVR and SAVR. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Minimally Invasive Versus Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: A Propensity Matched Study.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of options exist for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The study aim was to compare short-term outcomes in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR), and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective review of 2,571 patients undergoing SAVR (n = 842), MIAVR via right anterior thoracotomy (n = 699) and TAVR (n = 1,030) between 2011 and 2014 was conducted. TAVR patients were further stratified as either transfemoral (TF) or transapical (TA). Propensity matching was performed between MIAVR and SAVR (384 pairs), MIAVR and TA-TAVR (115 pairs), and MIAVR and TF-TAVR (247 pairs). RESULTS: Total numbers of AVR increased between 2011 and 2014. When stratified by procedure type, MIAVR and TF-TAVR accounted for most of the growth, while TA-TAVR and SAVR each experienced a decreased volume. Propensity matched comparisons of SAVR, TF-TAVR, and TA-TAVR versus MIAVR revealed no difference in 30-day mortality. TF-TAVR versus MIAVR revealed that MIAVR had a decreased rate of stroke (0.4% versus 3.6%, p = 0.02) and increased atrial fibrillation (AF; 19.4% versus 4%, p <0.01). When compared to SAVR, MIAVR had a lower incidence of AF (19% versus 32.6%, p <0.01). MIAVR exhibited decreased ventilation time (27.2 versus 134 h, p = 0.03) and intensive care unit time (63.7 versus 92.7 h, p = 0.02) compared to TA-TAVR. CONCLUSIONS: During recent years, MIAVR and TFTAVR have experienced significant growth in volume with near-comparable short-term outcomes, while SAVR and TA-TAVR volumes have declined. These results underscore the importance of surgeons adopting MIAVR and TF-TAVR techniques in order to offer patients optimal outcomes.

Outcomes of Patients With Acute Type B (DeBakey III) Aortic Dissection: A 13-Year, Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection remains the most common aortic catastrophe. In the endovascular era, the management of acute type B aortic dissection (ATBAD) is undergoing dramatic changes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with ATBAD who were treated at our center over a 13-year period. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed patients with ATBAD between 2001 and 2014, analyzing variables based on status (complicated [c] versus uncomplicated [u]) and treatment modalities. We defined cATBAD as rupture, expansion of diameter on imaging during the admission, persistent pain, or clinical malperfusion leading to a deficit in cerebral, spinal, visceral, renal, or peripheral vascular territories at presentation or during initial hospitalization. Postoperative outcomes were defined as deficits not present before the intervention. Outcomes were compared between the groups by use of Kaplan-Meier and descriptive statistics. We treated 442 patients with ATBAD. Of those 442, 60.6% had uATBAD and were treated medically, and 39.4% had cATBAD, of whom 39.0% were treated medically to 30.0% with open repair, 21.3% with thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and 9.7% with other open peripheral procedures. Intervention-free survival at 1 and 5 years was 84.8% and 62.7% for uATBAD, 61.8% and 44.0% for cATBAD-medical, 69.2% and 47.2% for cATBAD-open, and 68.0% and 42.5% for cATBAD-thoracic endovascular aortic repair, respectively (P=0.001). Overall survival was significantly related primarily to complicated presentation. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, early and late outcomes of ATBAD were dependent on the presence of complications, with cATBAD faring worse. Although uATBAD was associated with favorable early survival, late complications still occurred, mandating radiographic surveillance and open or endovascular interventions. Prospective trials are required to better determine the optimal therapy for uATBAD.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in wound healing of critical size defects in the mitral valve leaflet.

The details of valvular leaflet healing following valvuloplasty and leaflet perforation from endocarditis are poorly understood. In this study, the synthesis and turnover of valvular extracellular matrix due to healing of a critical sized wound was investigated. Twenty-nine sheep were randomized to either CTRL (n = 11) or HOLE (n = 18), in which a 2.8-4.8 mm diameter hole was punched in the posterior mitral leaflet. After 12 weeks, posterior leaflets were harvested and histologically stained to localize extracellular matrix components. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to assess matrix components and markers of matrix turnover. A semi-quantitative grading scale was used to quantify differences between HOLE and CTRL. After 12 weeks, the hole diameter was reduced by 71.3 ± 1.4 % (p < 0.001). Areas of remodeling surrounding the hole contained more activated cells, greater expression of proteoglycans, and markers of matrix turnover (prolyl 4-hydroxylase, metalloproteases, and lysyl oxidase, each p ≤ 0.025), along with fibrin accumulation. Two distinct remodeling regions were evident surrounding the hole, one directly bordering the hole rich in versican and hyaluronan and a second adjacent region with abundant collagen and elastic fiber turnover. The remodeling also caused reduced delineation between valve layers (p = 0.002), more diffuse staining of matrix components and markers of matrix turnover (p < 0.001), and disruption of the collagenous fibrosa. In conclusion, acute valve injury elicited distinct, heterogeneous alterations in valvular matrix composition and structure, resulting in partial wound closure. Because these changes could also affect leaflet mechanics and valve function, it will be important to determine their impact on healing wounds.

Need for Limb Revascularization in Patients with Acute Aortic Dissection is Associated with Mesenteric Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) can cause limb ischemia due to branch vessel occlusion. A minority of patients have persistent ischemia after central aortic repair and require peripheral arterial revascularization. We investigated whether the need for limb revascularization is associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed our cases of AAD from 2000 to 2014 and identified patients with malperfusion syndromes (coronary, cerebral, spinal, visceral, renal, or peripheral ischemia). Patients with DeBakey I/II (Stanford type A) dissection had urgent open repair of the ascending aorta. Patients with DeBakey III (Stanford type B) dissection were initiated on anti-impulse medical therapy and had either open aortic repair or thoracic endovascular aortic repair for malperfusion syndromes. Patients with persistent lower limb ischemia after aortic repair usually had either extra-anatomic bypass grafting or iliac stenting. Some DeBakey III patients had peripheral revascularization without central aortic repair. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis to determine the effects of need for limb revascularization and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We treated 1,015 AAD patients (501 [49.4%] DeBakey I/II and 514 [50.6%] DeBakey III) with a mean age of 59.7 ± 14.5 years (67.5% males). Aortic repair was performed in all DeBakey I/II patients and in 103 (20.0%) DeBakey III patients. Overall 30-day mortality was 11.3%. Lower limb ischemia was present in 104 (10.3%) patients and was more common in DeBakey I/II compared with DeBakey III dissections (65.4% vs. 34.6%; odds ratio [OR] 2.1, confidence interval [CI] 1.4-3.2; P = 0.001). Among the 40 patients who required limb revascularization, there was no difference in need for revascularization between DeBakey I/II and III patients. Patients requiring limb revascularization were more likely to have mesenteric ischemia compared with the rest of the cohort in both DeBakey I/II (P = 0.037) and DeBakey III dissections (P < 0.001) with worse 10-year survival (21.9 % vs. 59.2%, P < 0.001). When adjusted for other malperfusion syndromes, patients with limb revascularization had similar long-term survival compared to uncomplicated dissection patients (P = 0.960). CONCLUSIONS: Patients requiring lower limb revascularization after treatment for AAD are more likely to have mesenteric ischemia and worse survival. The need for limb revascularization is a marker for more extensive dissection and should prompt evaluation for visceral malperfusion.

Repair of extensive aortic aneurysms: a single-center experience using the elephant trunk technique over 20 years.

OBJECTIVES: We report the early and late outcomes after repair of extensive aortic aneurysms using the 2-stage elephant trunk (ET) technique. BACKGROUND: Management of aneurysm involving the entire aorta is a significant challenge. Given the anatomical complexity, the staged ET procedure was devised. A paucity of long-term data of outcomes of this approach exists. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all patients undergoing repair for extensive aortic aneurysm was performed. RESULTS: Between 1991 and 2013, we repaired 3012 aneurysms of the ascending or thoracoabdominal aorta. Of these, we performed 503 operations in 348 patients using the ET technique. Mean age was 62.4 ± 14.3 years, and 156/346 (45.1%) operations were in women; 288 patients underwent first-stage ET with 157 receiving a complete second-stage repair. Index repair early mortality was 29/317 (9.1%). Completion stage early mortality was 17/186 = 9.1%. Stroke after first-stage ET repair was 10/297 (3.4%) and immediate neurologic deficit after the second-stage ET repair was 6/206 (2.9%). In the 131 patients who did not receive a second-stage repair, 17.8% died in the interval between 31 and 45 days. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive aortic aneurysm is a complex problem, but it can be managed safely with a 2-stage open procedure. Those patients who could not complete the completion repair fared poorly. Better predictors for early outcome need to be determined. The use of ET technique remains a valuable approach for repair of extensive aortic aneurysm.

A novel elastin gene mutation in a Vietnamese patient with cutis laxa.

We report a 3-year-old girl from Vietnam with severe congenital cutis laxa; no cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic, or visceral involvement; and no family history of cutis laxa. Mutational analysis of the elastin gene identified heterozygosity for a previously unreported de novo c.2184delT mutation in exon 30 not present in either parent.

Savings associated with surgical aortic valve replacement with a RESILIA tissue valve based on seven-year COMMENCE trial results.

Introduction: Bioprostheses with RESILIA tissue demonstrate a reduction in calcification and improve health outcomes in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Prior economic analyses which relied on five years of evidence from the COMMENCE trial demonstrate financial savings for RESILIA tissue valves relative to mechanical valves after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Given the recent release of 7-year COMMENCE data, this economic evaluation updates the estimate for long-run savings of bioprosthetic valves with RESILIA.Methods: Simulation models estimated disease progression across two hypothetical SAVR cohorts (tissue vs. mechanical) of 10,000 patients each in the US. The primary comparison calculated the SAVR-related expenditures associated with each valve type ($US, 2023). Health outcome probabilities were based on the COMMENCE trial though Year 7 and projected for an additional 8 years based on prior studies of tissue and mechanical SAVR. Costs for key outcomes (mortality, reoperation, bleeding, thromboembolism, endocarditis) and anticoagulant monitoring were sourced from the literature. Incidence rates of health outcomes associated with mechanical valves relied on relative risks of tissue valve versus mechanical valve patients.Results: Seven-year savings are $13,415 (95% CI: $10,472-$17,321) per patient when comparing RESILIA versus mechanical SAVR. Projected 15-year savings were $23,001 ($US, 2023; 95% CI: $17,802-$30,421). Most of the 15-year savings are primarily attributed to lower anti-coagulation monitoring costs ($21,073 in ACM savings over 15 years), but lower bleeding cost (savings: $2,294) and thromboembolism-related expenditures (savings: $852) also contribute. Reoperation and endocarditis expenditures were slightly larger in the RESILIA cohort. If reoperation relative risk reverts from 1.1 to 2.2 (the level in legacy tissue valves) after year 7, savings are $18,064. RESILIA SAVR also reduce costs relative to legacy tissue valves.Conclusion: Patients receiving RESILIA tissue valves are projected to have lower SAVR-related health expenditures relative to mechanical and legacy tissue valves.

3-Year Outcomes for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation Repair in a Medicare Population.

OBJECTIVE: Mitral valve repair (MVr) has become the standard therapy for degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR), but real-world late mortality, reintervention, and readmission data are lacking. This study estimates MVr outcomes for DMR to 3 years in the Medicare fee-for-service population. METHODS: There were 4,219 DMR patients older than 65 years undergoing MVr within the Medicare 100% standard analytic file from October 2015 to December 2018 who were evaluated. Outcomes were analyzed for isolated MVr patients (n = 2,433) and patients undergoing MVr with certain concomitant procedures: MVr + tricuspid valve surgery (TVS; n = 619), MVr + cardiac ablation (CA; n = 540), and MVr + left atrial appendage closure (n = 627). Outcomes over a 3-year period included all-cause mortality, reintervention, rehospitalization, and common complications. All outcomes were modeled with adjustments for patient demographics and comorbid conditions. RESULTS: The average age for all patients was 71.9 ± 5.2 years. Adjusted all-cause mortality and MV reintervention (surgery or transcatheter) at 3 years for the primary cohort of isolated MVr was 3.5% and 1.6%, respectively. Directionally higher mortality at 3 years was observed in patients with concomitant TVS or CA. All-cause readmission and cardiac readmission for isolated MVr was 37.0% and 14.1%, with the highest rates for those with concomitant TVS or CA. Acute kidney injury and stroke/transient ischemic attack were the most common adverse events over 3 years for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The 3-year mortality and reintervention rates in Medicare patients undergoing degenerative MVr are low. Those undergoing concomitant TVS or CA had directionally higher mortality and cardiac readmission rates. These results help refine outcome benchmarks as new transcatheter MVr procedures continue to emerge.

Pacemaker implantation after concomitant tricuspid valve repair in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: Results from the Mini-Mitral International Registry.

Objective: Randomized evidence suggests a high risk of pacemaker implantation for patients undergoing mitral valve (MV) surgery with concomitant tricuspid valve repair (cTVR). We investigated the impact of cTVR on outcomes in the Mini-Mitral International Registry. Methods: From 2015 to 2021, 7513 patients underwent minimally invasive MV with or without cTVR in 17 international centers (MV: n = 5609, cTVR: n = 1113). Propensity matching generated 1110 well-balanced pairs. Multivariable analysis was applied. Results: Patients with cTVR were older and had more comorbidities. Propensity matching eliminated most differences except for more TR in patients who underwent cTVR (77.2% vs 22.1% MV, P < .001). Mean matched age was 71 years, and 45% were male. European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II was still 2.68% (interquartile range [IQR], 0.80-2.63) vs 1.9% (IQR, 1.12-3.9) in matched MV (P < .001). MV replacement (30%) and atrial fibrillation surgery (32%) were similar in both groups. Cardiopulmonary bypass (161 minutes [IQR, 133-203] vs MV: 130 minutes [IQR, 103-166]; P < .001) and crossclamp times (93 minutes [IQR, 66-123] vs MV: 83 minutes [IQR, 64-107]; P < .001) were longer with cTVR. Although in-hospital mortality was similar (cTVR: 3.3% vs MV: 2.2%; P = .5), postoperative pacemaker implantations (9% vs MV: 5.8%; P = .02), low cardiac output syndrome (7.7% vs MV: 4.4%; P = .02), and acute kidney injury (13.8% vs MV: 10%; P = .01) were more frequent with cTVR. cTVR eliminated relevant TR in most patients (greater-than-moderate TR: 6.8%). Multivariable analysis identified MV replacement, atrial fibrillation, and cTVR as risk factors of postoperative pacemaker implantation. Conclusions: cTVR in minimally invasive MV surgery is an independent risk factor for pacemaker implantation in this international registry. It is also associated with more bleeding, low output syndrome, and acute kidney injury. It remains unclear whether technical or patient factors (or both) explain these differences.

Impact of transcatheter heart valve type on outcomes of surgical explantation after failed transcatheter aortic valve replacement: the EXPLANT-TAVR international registry.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the impact of transcatheter heart valve (THV) type on the outcomes of surgical explantation after THV failure. AIMS: We sought to determine the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) explantation for failed balloon-expandable valves (BEV) versus self-expanding valves (SEV). METHODS: From November 2009 to February 2022, 401 patients across 42 centres in the EXPLANT-TAVR registry underwent TAVR explantation during a separate admission from the initial TAVR. Mechanically expandable valves (N=10, 2.5%) were excluded. The outcomes of TAVR explantation were compared for 202 (51.7%) failed BEV and 189 (48.3%) failed SEV. RESULTS: Among 391 patients analysed (mean age: 73.0±9.8 years; 33.8% female), the median time from index TAVR to TAVR explantation was 13.3 months (interquartile range 5.1-34.8), with no differences between groups. Indications for TAVR explantation included endocarditis (36.0% failed SEV vs 55.4% failed BEV; p<0.001), paravalvular leak (21.2% vs 11.9%; p=0.014), structural valve deterioration (30.2% vs 21.8%; p=0.065) and prosthesis-patient mismatch (8.5% vs 10.4%; p=0.61). The SEV group trended fewer urgent/emergency surgeries (52.0% vs 62.3%; p=0.057) and more root replacement (15.3% vs 7.4%; p=0.016). Concomitant cardiac procedures were performed in 57.8% of patients, including coronary artery bypass graft (24.8%), and mitral (38.9%) and tricuspid (14.6%) valve surgery, with no differences between groups. In-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality and stroke rates were similar between groups (allp>0.05), with no differences in cumulative mortality at 3 years (log-rank p=0.95). On multivariable analysis, concomitant mitral surgery was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality after BEV explant (hazard ratio [HR] 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-3.72) and SEV explant (HR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.08-3.69). CONCLUSIONS: In the EXPLANT-TAVR global registry, BEV and SEV groups had different indications for surgical explantation, with more root replacements in SEV failure, but no differences in midterm mortality and morbidities. Further refinement of TAVR explantation techniques are important to improving outcomes.

Minimally invasive treatment of mitral valve disease with severe mitral annular calcification: Meeting paper for Mitral Conclave 2022.

Objective: Mitral valve disease in presence of severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) remains a challenge for surgeons to address. Conventional surgical techniques have potential for heightened morbidity and mortality. The advent of transcatheter heart valve technology and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) holds promise to treat mitral valve disease with MAC with excellent clinical outcomes. Methods: We review current treatment strategies for MAC and studies in which TMVR techniques were used. Results: Several studies and a global registry describe outcomes of TMVR for mitral valve disease with MAC. We describe our specific technique on how to perform a minimally invasive transatrial approach for TMVR. Conclusions: TMVR demonstrates strong promise as a safe and effective way to treat mitral valve disease with MAC. We advocate for a minimally invasive transatrial approach when performing TMVR for mitral valve disease with MAC.

Long-run savings associated with surgical aortic valve replacement using a RESILIA tissue bioprosthetic valve versus a mechanical valve.

BACKGROUND: Prior economic analyses demonstrate that legacy tissue valves are associated with substantial financial savings over the long run after a surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Bioprostheses with RESILIA tissue reduce calcification, the primary cause of structural valve deterioration (SVD), and have demonstrated promising pre-clinical and 5-year clinical results. This economic evaluation quantifies the expected long-run savings of bioprosthetic valves with RESILIA tissue relative to mechanical valves given 5-year clinical results and expected performance through year 15. METHODS: Simulation models estimated disease progression across two hypothetical SAVR cohorts (tissue vs. mechanical) of 10,000 patients in the US over 15 years. One comparison evaluated RESILIA tissue valves relative to mechanical valves. The other compared legacy SAVR tissue and mechanical valves. Health outcome probabilities and costs were based on literature and expert opinion. Incidence rates of health outcomes associated with mechanical valve were calculated using relative risks of expected outcomes in tissue valve versus mechanical valve patients. The comparisons also accounted for anti-coagulation monitoring in both cohorts. Savings estimates are based on US healthcare costs and do not yet account for the premium associated use of RESILIA relative to a standard tissue valve. RESULTS: Relative to mechanical SAVR, the median net discounted savings for a patient receiving SAVR with a RESILIA tissue valve is $20,744 ($US, 2020; 95% CI = $15,835-$26,655) over a 15-year horizon. While 30-day and 1-year savings were not significant, expected savings after 5 years are $9,110 (95% CI = $6,634-$11,969). Net savings for RESILIA SAVR valves were approximately 30-50% larger than savings anticipated using legacy tissue SAVR valves. CONCLUSION: RESILIA tissue valves are associated with lower health expenditures relative to mechanical valves.