Posterior left atrial epicardial adipose tissue: scope of the problem and impact of new technology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients with persistent forms of atrial fibrillation are seeking treatments based on the promise of better restoration of sinus rhythm with newer therapies. Successful catheter ablation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation in this subgroup is negatively impacted by the presence of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) associated with the posterior left atrium. RECENT FINDINGS: EAT is now understood to be hormonally active and promotes adverse atrial remodelling, including fibrosis and myopathy. Despite being dominantly adipose tissue, it is known to be electrically active, comprising ganglia, neural tissue and ectopic atrial myocardium that may contribute to endo-epicardial dissociation and persistent electrical activity and atrial fibrillation despite good endocardial electrical silencing. Hybrid procedures that include direct epicardial ablation of the posterior wall, including the EAT, are associated with superior outcomes in nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation. SUMMARY: Therapies for persistent atrial fibrillation that also ablate the EAT as part of a well tolerated transmural posterior wall ablation may improve outcomes in this challenging subset of patients.

Atrial fibrillation symptom reduction and improved quality of life following the hybrid convergent procedure: a CONVERGE trial subanalysis.

Background: CONVERGE was a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial that evaluated the safety of Hybrid Atrial Fibrillation Convergent (HC) and compared its effectiveness to endocardial catheter ablation (CA) for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF) and longstanding PersAF (LSPAF). In 2020, we reported that CONVERGE met its primary safety and effectiveness endpoints. The primary objective of the present study is to report CONVERGE trial results for quality of life (QOL) and Class I/III anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) utilization following HC. Methods: Eligible patients had drug-refractory symptomatic PersAF or LSPAF and a left atrium diameter ≤6.0 cm. Enrolled patients were randomized 2:1 to receive HC or CA. Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS) and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were assessed at baseline and 12 months; statistical comparison was performed using paired t-tests. AAD utilization at baseline through 12 and 18 months post-procedure was evaluated; statistical comparison was performed using McNemar's tests. Results: A total of 153 patients were treated with either HC (n=102) or CA (n=51). Of the 102 HC patients, 38 had LSPAF. AFSS and SF-36 Mental and Physical Component scores were significantly improved at 12 months versus baseline with HC overall and for the subset of LSPAF patients treated with either HC or CA. The proportion of HC patients (n=102) who used Class I /III AADs at 12 and 18 months was significantly less (33.3% and 36.3%, respectively) than baseline (84.3%; P<0.001). In LSPAF patients who underwent HC (n=38), AADs use was 29.0% through 18 months follow-up versus 71.1% at baseline (P<0.001). Conclusions: HC reduced AF symptoms, significantly improved QOL, and reduced AAD use in patients with PersAF and LSPAF. ClinicalTrialsgov Identifier: NCT01984346.

Cardiogenic shock due to partial occlusion of the left coronary ostium in infective endocarditis: a case report.

The case is presented of chronic aortic valve endocarditis in a previously asymptomatic 54-year-old male. The main initial clinical manifestation was cardiogenic shock, but further examination revealed the presence of a large mobile mass attached to a bicuspid aortic valve, partially occluding the left coronary ostium. The patient underwent emergency surgery to excise the vegetative mass and preserve the aortic valve. The postoperative outcome was satisfactory.

Forme fruste or 'Incomplete' bicuspid aortic valves with very small raphes: The prevalence of bicuspid valve and its significance may be underestimated.

BACKGROUND: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) comprises a broad spectrum of phenotypes. The importance of BAV in thoracic aortic aneurysm management has been debated. A subtle phenotype of BAV has been identified recently that could impact this debate. METHODS AND RESULTS: 101 consecutive patients with intact aortic valves operated in the setting of ascending aneurysm between January 2011-January 2014 were retrospectively identified. 20 were excluded because of valve calcification. 79 of 81 remaining had aortic valve phenotype described in operative reports, including tri-leaflet, bicuspid, and difficult-to-classify valves with small degrees of non-calcific fusion (raphe) at the commissures. Photographs of some three-leaflet valves with very small raphes were obtained. 18/79 (22.8%) had obvious BAVs and 61/79 (77.2%) were initially considered tri-leaflet valves. 18/61 (29.5%) of these had distinct but very small raphes and 12/18 (66.7%) involved the right/left commissure. Moderate or greater aortic insufficiency was found in 13/43 (30%) of patients with tri-leaflet valves, 8/18 (44.4%) with obvious BAVs, and in 9/18 (50%) three-leaflet valves with very small raphes. Retrospective review of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and trans-esophageal (but not trans-thoracic) echocardiography sometimes identified very small raphes. CONCLUSIONS: Three-leaflet aortic valves exhibiting very small raphes occur in the setting of thoracic aneurysm and aortic insufficiency and may represent forme fruste BAVs. They are sometimes identifiable with high-resolution valve imaging. Without accounting for forme fruste BAVs, the true prevalence and impact of BAV on aortic complications may have been historically underestimated. This entity warrants further study in a prospective multi-center registry.

Impact of New York Heart Association classification, advanced age and patient-prosthesis mismatch on outcomes in aortic valve replacement surgery.

OBJECTIVES More elderly patients (>80 years of age) are being referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without CABG. Current risk stratification models may not accurately predict the preoperative risk in these patients. We sought to determine which perioperative variables were relevant in determining short-term (30-day to in-hospital) outcomes in our intuition's series of consecutive AVR and AVR+CABG surgeries. We constructed a novel variable, patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) in the presence of diminished functional status (NYHA) classification, and studied its role as a predictor of mortality risk. METHODS From 2006 to 2010, 509 patients undergoing AVR or AVR+CABG were evaluated. We created four groups based on the age and procedure (AVR >80, AVR+CABG >80, AVR <80 and AVR+CABG <80). PPM was defined as a calculated effective orifice area index value of ≤ 0.85, and it was calculated from manufacturer-generated charts. In-hospital and 30-day outcomes were assessed using the Chi-square and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Overall observed 30-day mortality for all groups was lower (n = 8, 1.6%) than the STS-predicted mortality. Reoperation and PPM+NYHA class III-IV were associated with short-term mortality, but age >80 years was not. Octogenarians referred for surgery often had advanced heart failure. CONCLUSIONS Overall, short-term outcomes after AVR with or without CABG were excellent and lower than predicted by the STS model. The low risk of AVR with CABG supports the consideration for earlier surgical referral and intervention for patients with a high likelihood of aortic stenosis progression before the onset of advanced heart failure ensues, regardless of the age. This should help further decrease the already very low mortality observed in these series. Efforts to avoid PPM in the setting of advanced heart failure may improve short-term results in this subset of patients.

Stroke-related mortality in coronary surgery is reduced by the off-pump approach.

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains an important complication after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We sought to determine the frequency and death-related incidence of stroke after on-pump and off-pump CABG. METHODS: We analyzed 4,869 consecutive isolated CABG performed in our institution. Of these, 3,490 (71.7%) were off-pump and 1,379 (28.3%) were on-pump. Propensity matched samples of 1,379 off-pump and 1,379 on-pump were compared on clinical presentation and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) predicted scores for risk of postoperative mortality and stroke. Univariate analyses were used to compare the relationship of off-pump and on-pump groups to postoperative mortality and stroke. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the unique association between all variables and occurrence of mortality after stroke. RESULTS: No differences were found for sex, diabetes mellitus, history of renal failure, prior stroke, or timing of surgery. Postoperative mortality occurred in 75 patients (2.7%) and stroke in 47 (1.7%). The off-pump patients had a lower rate of stroke (1.0% versus 2.4%; p < 0.01) compared with on-pump patients. Mortality after stroke occurred in 14 patients, with a lower rate occurring in the off-pump group (14.3% versus 36.4%; p = 0.07). Multivariate analyses controlling for the effect of preoperative risk factors and STS mortality risk demonstrated that off-pump status was independently associated with an 84% decrease in the risk of death after stroke (adjusted odds ratio 0.157, 95% confidence interval: 0.035 to 0.711, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump CABG is associated with lower stroke rates and stroke-related mortality. It may be useful to consider off-pump CABG for patients who are at higher risk for postoperative stroke.

Safe and complete exclusion of the left atrial appendage: a simple epicardial approach.

A standardized technique to permanently exclude the left atrial appendage during cardiac surgical procedures to potentially prevent stroke has never been established. We describe a simplified technique using a combination of endoloop occlusion with direct purse-string suturing supported with multiple teflon pledgets placed epicardially at the base of the appendage. The left atrial appendage is subsequently opened and decompressed to facilitate contraction and scarring, reducing or eliminating the possibility of recannalization. The technique was used successfully in 195 off-pump coronary bypass grafting patients with long-term echocardiographic follow-up.