Delayed Sternal Closure vs Emergency Sternal Reopening in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist regarding outcomes of delayed sternal closure (DSC) in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). METHODS: We reviewed 159 ACHD patients undergoing cardiac operation from 1993 to 2023 who required DSC (open sternum at the end of operation, n = 112) or sternum emergently reopened (n = 47). Regression models were performed to determine factors associated with outcomes. RESULTS: Of 112 patients undergoing DSC, 87 patients (77.6%) underwent DSC ≤4 days and 25 patients (22.3%) >4 days. The most common operations were valve (n = 35 [31.2%]), aortic (n = 33 [29.4%]), and right ventricular outflow tract procedures (n = 23 [20.5%]). Median time to chest closure was 2 days (interquartile range, 1-5 days). Apart from sex, baseline characteristics were similar between DSC groups. A stepwise increase in early mortality was observed from DSC ≤4 days to DSC >4 days (6.8% vs 32%), as well as the incidence of early complications, except sternal infection. Risk factors associated with early mortality were age (P = .02), DSC >4 days (P < .001), hemodynamic indication (P = .03), and single ventricle (P = .02). On multivariable analysis, lower ejection fraction (P = .04), hemodynamic indication (P = .02), single ventricle (P = .004), and diabetes mellitus (P = .03) were predictors of prolonged time to chest closure. Among hospital survivors, late survival was similar between patients undergoing DSC ≤4 days vs >4 days (P = .48). CONCLUSIONS: A brief duration of DSC in ACHD patients is associated with low morbidity and mortality. Higher early mortality and complications were observed among patients who did not achieve chest closure within 4 days.

Systemic Atrioventricular Valve Surgery in Patients With Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist regarding the long-term outcomes of systemic atrioventricular valve (SAVV) intervention (morphologic tricuspid valve) in congenitally corrected transposition (ccTGA). OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate the mid- and long-term outcomes of SAVV surgery in ccTGA. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 108 ccTGA patients undergoing SAVV surgery from 1979 to 2022. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of mortality, cardiac transplantation, or ventricular assist device implantation. The secondary outcome was long-term systemic right ventricular ejection fraction (SVEF). Cox proportional hazard and linear regression models were used to analyze survival and late SVEF data. RESULTS: The median age at surgery was 39.5 years (Q1-Q3: 28.8-51.0 years), and the median preoperative SVEF was 39% (Q1-Q3: 33.2%-45.0%). Intrinsic valve abnormality was the most common mechanism of SAVV regurgitation (76.9%). There was 1 early postoperative mortality (0.9%). Postoperative complete heart block occurred in 20 patients (18.5%). The actuarial 5-, 10-, and 20-year freedom from death or transplantation was 92.4%, 79.1%, and 62.9%. The 10- and 20-year freedom from valve reoperation was 100% and 93% for mechanical prosthesis compared with 56.6% and 15.7% for bioprosthesis (P < 0.0001). Predictors of postoperative mortality were age at operation (P = 0.01) and preoperative SVEF (P = 0.04). Preoperative SVEF (P < 0.001), complex ccTGA (P = 0.02), severe SAVV regurgitation (P = 0.04), and preoperative creatinine (P = 0.003) were predictors of late postoperative SVEF. CONCLUSIONS: SAVV surgery remains a valuable option for the treatment of patients with ccTGA, with low early mortality and satisfactory long-term outcomes, particularly in those with SVEF ≥40%. Timely referral and accurate patient selection are the keys to better long-term outcomes.

Outcomes of Primary vs Secondary Delayed Sternal Closure in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Delayed sternal closure (DSC) is a management strategy for hemodynamic instability and severe coagulopathy after complex congenital heart surgery. We hypothesized that DSC results in better outcomes than perioperative sternal reopening. METHODS: We reviewed patients aged <18 years old undergoing cardiac surgery 2007-2017 at our institution. A total of 179 patients (3.8%) had primary DSC (PDSC, sternum left open after initial operation) and 45 patients (0.9%) had secondary DSC (SDSC, sternum closed primarily and reopened perioperatively). Perioperative characteristics and outcomes among PDSC ≤2 days (98 patients), PDSC >2 days (81 patients), and SDSC (45 patients) were analyzed. RESULTS: Median age was 120 days (range, 3-6553 days) and median DSC duration was 2 days (range, 1-60 days). The PDSC >2 days group was the youngest group, and the distribution of procedures was different between groups. Indications for DSC were hemodynamic instability in 152 patients (67.9%) and severe coagulopathy in 33 patients (14.7%), with no difference between groups (P = .141). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use was higher in the PDSC >2 days group than the other groups (47.5% vs 7.1%, P < .01 and 47.5% vs 28.9%, P = .02), respectively. Operative mortality was higher in SDSC compared to the other groups (17.8% vs 0% for PDSC ≤2 and 6.2% for PDSC >2 days, P < .01). Hospital stay was longer in SDSC (57 ± 7 days) than PDSC ≤2 days (22 ± 5 days) and PDSC >2 days (44 ± 6, P = .01). Survival was better in PDSC regardless of duration than SDSC. CONCLUSIONS: PDSC demonstrated better outcomes than SDSC. Sternal reopening can be life-saving, but, when anticipated, PDSC can yield better outcomes.

Aortic valve replacement in the elderly: determinants of late outcome.

BACKGROUND: Few data exist on long-term outcomes of elderly patients after aortic valve replacement. We evaluated latest follow-up information for patients ≥70 years of age after aortic valve replacement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Late overall survival of 2890 consecutive patients ≥70 years of age who underwent aortic valve replacement between January 1993 and December 2007 was reviewed retrospectively, analyzed, and stratified by preoperative and intraoperative variables. Observed 5-, 10-, and 15-year late postoperative survival was lower than generally expected (68%, 34%, and 8% versus 70%, 42%, and 20%, respectively; P<0.001). Independent predictors of late death included older age, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, stroke, myocardial infarction, immunosuppression, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, implanted pacemaker, lower ejection fraction, hypertension, and New York Heart Association class III or IV. After stratification by age-comorbidity risk score, 10-year survival for the lowest-risk group (n=946 [33%]) was similar to expected survival (55% versus 55%; P=0.50), but for the highest-risk group (n=564 [20%]), survival was significantly lower than expected (9% versus 26%; P<0.001). For 229 pairs of propensity-matched patients with mechanical or biological prostheses, survival was not significantly different (67%, 40%, and 19% versus 71%, 45%, and 7% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively; P=0.81). Structural deterioration of bioprostheses occurred in 64 patients (2.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Survival of elderly patients after aortic valve replacement is influenced by age and preoperative comorbidities; 33% at lowest risk had overall survival similar to that of an age- and sex-matched general population. There was no sufficient evidence that valve type affected survival. Structural deterioration of aortic bioprostheses was rare.

Intraoperative direct measurement of left ventricular outflow tract gradients to guide surgical myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to summarize our recent experience with intraoperative monitoring for management of patients undergoing surgical myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with emphasis on dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We also analyzed the impact of these data on surgical decision-making and adequacy of septal myectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 198 patients who underwent transaortic septal myectomy and evaluated baseline and provoked left ventricular outflow tract gradients obtained by Doppler echocardiography and by direct measurement of pressures in the left ventricle and aorta. RESULTS: After induction of anesthesia before myectomy, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, assessed by direct measurement, was less than the gradient documented by preoperative Doppler echocardiography in 119 patients (60%) (41 ± 31 vs 76 ± 40 mm Hg; P < .001). In 75 patients (38%), the obstruction was more severe (64 ± 32 vs 35 ± 31 mm Hg; P < .001); 4 patients (2%) had similar left ventricular outflow tract gradients. After myectomy, left ventricular outflow tract gradient decreased markedly (49 ± 33 vs 4 ± 8 mm Hg [P < .001] by direct measurement; 59 ± 42 vs 4 ± 6 mm Hg [P < .001] by transesophageal echocardiography). Cardiopulmonary bypass was resumed for more extensive myectomy in 8 (4%) patients because of a persistent residual left ventricular outflow tract gradient of 33 ± 14 mm Hg. Of note, for 78 patients (39%) intraoperative Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular outflow tract gradient was technically inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: Direct intraoperative measurement of pressures in the left ventricle and aorta provides important hemodynamic data in addition to intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography findings. This information assists the surgeon in defining the extent of myectomy.

Left ventricular remodeling early after correction of mitral regurgitation: maintenance of stroke volume with decreased systolic indexes.

OBJECTIVE: Mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation is followed by left ventricle adjustment to new preload and afterload. We evaluated left ventricular geometry and function immediately after mitral valve repair for degenerative prolapse. METHODS: We prospectively studied 25 patients undergoing mitral valve repair; 15 patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft served as controls to determine the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest on left ventricular function. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was conducted after sternotomy before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass and protamine infusion. Simultaneous pulmonary catheter data ensured that the images were obtained under similar hemodynamic conditions. RESULTS: Immediately after mitral valve repair, left ventricular fractional area change decreased significantly from 65% ± 7% to 52% ± 8% (P < .001). Left ventricular end-diastolic area decreased minimally (21.3 ± 5.3 cm(2) vs 19.4 ± 4.5 cm(2); P = .005), whereas left ventricular end-systolic area increased significantly (7.5 ± 2.3 cm(2) vs 9.3 ± 2.5 cm(2); P < .001). Notably, forward stroke volume (thermodilution) remained similar (63 ± 24 mL vs 66 ± 19 mL; P = .5). No significant difference was found in controls between pre- cardiopulmonary bypass and post-cardiopulmonary bypass fractional area change (54% ± 12% vs 57% ± 10%; P = .19), left ventricular end-diastolic area (16.6 ± 6.2 cm(2) vs 15.7 ± 5.0 cm(2); P = .32), and stroke volume (72 ± 29 mL vs 65 ± 19 mL; P = .15); they had a slight decrease in left ventricular end-systolic area (7.9 ± 4.4 cm(2) vs 6.9 ± 3.2 cm(2); P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Early after correction of mitral regurgitation, left ventricular fractional area change decreases significantly, primarily as the result of a larger end-systolic dimension. This may be a compensatory mechanism to prevent augmentation of forward stroke volume after mitral valve repair.

Pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery: risk factors, patient profiles, and contemporary management.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to review recent experience at our institution in the diagnosis and treatment of pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery and to identify risk factors for its development. METHODS: We searched our clinical database for patients 18 years or older who had cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from 1993 through 2005. For patients with pericardial effusion (study group), medical records were reviewed to evaluate its manifestations and management. To identify risk factors for effusion, study patients were compared with patients without effusions. A second analysis compared the study group with a cohort without effusions who had routine postoperative echocardiographic examination. RESULTS: Of 21,416 patients identified, 327 (1.5%) had pericardial effusion (study group), 280 (86%) of whom had nonspecific symptoms. Clinical features of tamponade were documented in 138 patients (42%). Effusions were evacuated by echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis (n = 169, 52%) or surgical drainage (n = 75, 23%). Effusion resolved after left thoracocentesis for pleural effusion in 3 patients (1%); 67 patients (20%) were treated conservatively. In 13 cases (4%), recurrent effusion required drainage after initial pericardiocentesis. Independent risk factors for effusion were larger body surface area, pulmonary thromboembolism, hypertension, immunosuppression, renal failure, urgency of operation, cardiac operation other than coronary artery bypass grafting, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass. Previous cardiac operations were associated with lower risk of effusion. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, pericardial effusion occurred in 1.5% of patients, and symptoms were nonspecific. Several factors, mainly related to preoperative characteristics and type of operation, predispose patients to effusion. Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis is effective and safe in these patients.

Tricuspid valvectomy to facilitate repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect.

Repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) located posteriorly can be a challenging procedure both in regard to operative mortality and recurrence of the defect. Avoidance of ventriculotomy by transatrial repair may decrease risks of bleeding and impairment of ventricular function secondary to suture placement; however, adequate exposure of the defect through the tricuspid valve is not always possible. We present a case of successful transatrial repair of posterior postinfarction VSD with concurrent tricuspid valvectomy and coronary artery grafting.