Predictors of inadequate EndoAnchors aortic wall penetration for the Endosutured therapy in hostile neck patients.

BACKGROUND: The use of EndoAnchors is increasing; however, not much about appropriate use in terms of aortic wall penetration (AWP) is described. We aim to evaluate the procedural and anatomical conditions related with borderline (b) or absence (ab) of AWP when checked on first CT-scan after the Endosutured aortic repair (ESAR) for hostile neck anatomies (HNA). METHODS: This study with NCT04100499 is a single center prospective evaluation of patients receiving EndoAnchors for prevention or treatment of a proximal EVAR failure. AWP was evaluated on first CT-scan and findings correlated with neck anatomical features and procedural data. The sum of borderline and absence of AWP was considered as Inadequate - In-AWP (failure). Adjunctive procedures, reinterventions, all-cause mortality, absence of type Ia EL and aneurysm related mortality are also described. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were treated during the study period and 43 high-surgical risk patients were finally included in the study for analysis with at least one HNA criteria (58%) and associating two in 21% or even three in 21%. A total of 250 EndoAnchors were deployed at a median 6 (range, 4-10) per case. From those, 31 (12.5%) achieved b-AWP and 11 (4.4%) ab-AWP, meaning 42 (16.8%) EndoAnchors with In-AWP. Univariate-analysis showed being an occasional user and a therapeutic case as predictor for at least one and more failures. The only predictor on multivariate analysis for two or more EndoAnchors with In-AWP was being an occasional user. Cumulative-survival and freedom from type-Ia EL at 2-years was 84% and 95%; respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of the ESAR therapy should be validated according to their aortic wall penetration checked on first CT-scan. EndoAnchors use in HNA should not be considered an easy approach for the endovascular technique, especially for therapeutic cases. An individual and specific case analysis counterbalancing inadequate use of the device in unexperienced users should be evaluated against the increased risk of proximal failure as in standard EVAR alone during HNA treatment.

Modified-Single Patch vs Double Patch Repair of Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defects.

Biventricular repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) is largely achieved using the double-patch (DP) or modified single-patch (MSP) techniques in the current era; however, long-term results following MSP repair are not well defined. We aimed to compare long-term outcomes including reoperation and mortality after CAVSD repair using DP and MSP techniques, and identify the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes. A retrospective cohort study was performed including all patients who underwent CAVSD repair using DP and MSP techniques at our institution between 17 May 1990 and 14 December 2015. Demographic details, early (≤30 days) and late (>30 days) outcomes (reoperation, mortality) were studied. Competing risks analysis with cumulative incidence function was used for survival analyses. Overall, 273 consecutive patients underwent CAVSD repair (120 DP and 153 MSP) and 41 patients required reoperation during follow-up. Competing risks analysis showed no association between repair technique and reoperation (P = 1.0) or mortality (P = 0.9). Considering competing risks due to mortality, the cumulative incidence of reoperation at 5, 10, and 15 years was 14%, 17%, and 17% for DP and 12%, 13%, and 16% for MSP, respectively. Non-Down syndrome and moderate or greater left atrioventricular valve regurgitation were predictors for reoperation. Pulmonary artery banding was predictive of mortality, though strongly associated with earlier surgical era. Median follow-up duration was 8.0 years (interquartile range 3.9-20.8) for DP and 11.6 years (interquartile range 5.4-16.1) for MSP (P = 0.4). Event-free survival is similar after DP and MSP repair of CAVSD indicating either repair technique can be safely utilized.

Bilateral Pulmonary Artery Banding before Norwood Procedure: Survival of High-Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study reports midterm results of high-risk patients with hypoplastic left ventricle treated with initial bilateral pulmonary artery banding (PAB) before secondary Norwood procedure (NP). METHODS: Retrospective study of 17 patients admitted between July 2012 and February 2017 who underwent this treatment strategy because diagnosis or clinical status was associated with high risk for NP. Survival was compared with that of patients who underwent primary NP. RESULTS: Mean Aristotle comprehensive complexity score for NP would have been 19.7 ± 2.6. Risk factors included obstructed pulmonary venous return (n = 9), body weight < 2.5 kg (n = 7), total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 3), and necrotizing enterocolitis (n = 1). Ten patients had a score ≥ 19.5. Early survival after PAB was 82.4% (14/17). NP was performed in 14 patients after improvement of clinical condition at a median age of 56 days and a weight ≥2,500 g. There was no 30-day mortality, but one interstage death. One patient died later after Glenn operation. One-year survival after primary PAB followed by NP was 70.6 ± 11.1%. During the same period, 35 patients with overall lower risk factors underwent primary NP; early postoperative survival and 1-year survival were 88.6 ± 5.4% and 68.6 ± 7.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival between the two groups (p = 0.83) despite higher risk in the secondary Norwood group (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: PAB before NP in high-risk patients constituted salvage management. Primary PAB provided enough time for stabilization and control of most risk factors. It allowed midterm survival equivalent to the survival after primary NP in lower risk neonates.

Comparative Analysis Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis: Primary Closure versus Patch Angioplasty During Carotid Endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Primary closure (PC) and patch angioplasty (PA) during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have been disputed in many studies. Some studies announced that PC is associated with a higher restenosis rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of PC and PA using propensity score matching (PSM). METHODS: Between November 1994 and October 2016, 1,044 patients underwent primary CEA procedures at our institution and were retrospectively analyzed. The study endpoints included rates of ipsilateral stroke, any clinical stroke, cranial nerve palsy, hematoma, bleeding warranting repeat surgery within 30 postoperative days. We also investigated the restenosis rates, overall survival, stenosis-free survival, and stroke-free survival during follow-up (median follow-up 37.1 months). RESULTS: This study includes 435 cases of PC and 476 cases of PA. After PSM analysis, baseline characteristics (age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, atrial fibrillation, previous percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting, contralateral carotid occlusion, degree of carotid stenosis, and symptomatic status within 6 months) were balanced. Finally, 377 pairs of matched cases were analyzed. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the 2 groups in ipsilateral stroke (P = 0.45), clinical stroke (P = 0.75), cranial nerve palsy (P = 1), hematoma (P = 0.18), bleeding which required reoperation (P = 0.12) within 30 postoperative days, and restenosis rates during follow-up (P = 0.16). In addition, there were no differences between the 2 groups during follow-up in overall, stroke-free, and restenosis-free survival with P values of 0.136, 0.07, and 0.06, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: According to the analysis using PSM, there were no significant differences between PC and PA closure during CEA in perioperative and long-term outcomes.

Secondary repair of incompetent pulmonary valves after previous surgery or intervention: Patient selection and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary valve (PV) regurgitation (PR) is common after intervention for a hypoplastic right ventricular outflow tract. Secondary PV repair is an alternative to replacement (PVR), but selection criteria are not established. We sought to elucidate preoperative variables associated with successful PV repair and to compare outcomes between repair and PVR. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for secondary PR from 2010 to 2017 by a single surgeon were studied. The PV annulus and leaflets were measured on the preoperative echocardiogram and magnetic resonance images, and the primary predictor variable was leaflet area indexed to ideal PV annulus area (iPLA) by magnetic resonance imaging. PV repair and PVR groups were compared using multivariable logistic regression, and with a conditional inference tree. Freedom from PV dysfunction and from reintervention were assessed with Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. RESULTS: Of 85 patients, 31 (36%) underwent PV repair. By multivariable analysis, longer PV total leaflet length (cm/m2) (ß = 3.00, standard error [SE] = 0.82, P < .001), larger PV z score (ß = 1.34, SE = 0.39, P = .001), and larger iPLA (ß = 8.13, SE = 2.62, P = .002) were associated with repair. iPLA of 0.90 or greater was 91% sensitive and 83% specific for achieving PV repair. At a median of 4.1 years follow-up, there was greater freedom from significant PR in the PV repair group (log rank P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an iPLA >0.9, and those with an iPLA between 0.7 and 0.9 with a PV annulus z score >0 should be considered for a native PV repair. At midterm follow-up, patients with a PV repair were not more likely to develop PR or to require reintervention when compared with patients undergoing PVR.

Long-term outcomes of chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures to repair mitral leaflet prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the durability of mitral valve (MV) repair for mitral regurgitation using chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures to correct leaflet prolapse. METHODS: Isolated chordal replacement was used to correct prolapse in 186 (24.9%) patients and combined with leaflet resection in 560 (75.1%). Patients were followed prospectively with periodical clinical and echocardiographic assessments for a median follow-up of 11 years (range, 7-16 years). RESULTS: Patients' median age was 58 years (range, 48-67 years) and 516 (69.2%) were men. Bileaflet prolapse was present in 63% of patients and advanced myxomatous degeneration was present in 32%. The number of neochords per repaired valve increased over time and was not associated with MV reoperation or recurrent mitral regurgitation. The cumulative incidence of MV reoperation with death as a competing risk was 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-6.0) at 20 years. Multivariable analysis revealed that previous cardiac operations (hazard ratio, 5.70; 95% CI, 1.96-16.53; P = .001), and isolated anterior leaflet prolapse (hazard ratio, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.106-13.91; P = .034) were associated with increased hazard of MV reoperation. The probability of recurrent moderate or severe mitral regurgitation using repeated measures regression models was 14.1% (95% CI, 10.3-19.0) at 20 years. Variables associated with recurrent MR in multivariable regression analysis were left ventricular ejection <40% (hazard ratio, 3.57; 95% CI, 1.37-9.32; P = .009) and preoperative complete heart block (hazard ratio, 5.90; 95% CI, 2.47-14.09; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures provides stable MV function in most patients during the first 2 decades of follow-up.

Surgical management of esophageal perforation: role of primary closure.

OBJECTIVE: Esophageal perforation is a life-threatening condition associated with high mortality and morbidity. Ambiguous clinical presentation is one of the most common causes of delayed and difficult diagnosis of esophageal perforation. In this retrospective single-center study, we reviewed the outcome of primary closure in patients with esophageal perforation between 2009 and 2017. METHODS: The data of 65 patients attending our department of thoracic surgery (from 2009 to 2017) for esophageal perforation were reviewed. Primary repair was attempted in 63 patients irrespective of the site of perforation and time interval between injury and hospital admission. In intrathoracic lesions, continuous mediastinal and pleural irrigation was undertaken, whereas in cervical perforations, gauze packing and local irrigation were performed. Jejunotomy was carried out in patients with inadequate healing. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients, 63 underwent primary closure and 2 were left to heal spontaneously. The majority of patients ( n = 44) had an esophageal perforation at the thoracic level, and only one was admitted early (<24 h after injury). Among the 63 patients managed with primary closure, 55 had satisfactory healing with one surgery. Healing was delayed in the other 10 patients. No mortality was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal perforation can be well managed by primary closure, irrespective of the time interval between injury and hospital admission and the site of perforation. Conservative management might lead to an increased rate of complications such as empyema or necrotizing mediastinitis, and increased morbidity and mortality.

Knot positioning during McDonald cervical cerclage, does it make a difference? A cohort study.

Objective: To study the effect of McDonald cerclage knot position on the different maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This historical cohort study included women with singleton pregnancy who had a prophylactic McDonald cervical cerclage between 1 May 2010 and 31 September 2017. Maternal and neonatal outcome parameters were compared between the anterior and posterior knot cerclage procedures. The primary outcome measure was the rate of term birth. Results: 550 Women had a prophylactic McDonald cervical cerclage, 306 with anterior knot (Group A) and 244 with posterior knot (Group B). There were no statistically significant differences regarding gestational age (GA) at delivery (36.3 ± 4.2 versus 35.8 ± 5.3 for groups A and B respectively), term birth rate, post-cerclage cervical length, symptomatic vaginitis, urinary tract infection, difficult cerclage removal and cervical lacerations. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences as regards the studied neonatal outcomes including take home babies, neonatal intensive care admission, respiratory distress syndrome and neonatal sepsis. Survival analysis on GA at delivery demonstrated no statistically significant difference as regards the proportion of term deliveries in the anterior and posterior knot cerclage groups (log-rank test p-value = .478). Conclusions: Knot positioning during McDonald cervical cerclage, anteriorly or posteriorly, didn't significantly impact the studied maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Is It Conceivable to Still Perform the Cut and Sew Cox Maze III Procedure in the Current Era?

To determine whether cut and sew Cox maze III procedure is still associated with adequate safety endpoints when performed in conjunction with other open-heart procedures. Between January 2008 and January 2015, 113 consecutive adult patients were submitted to cut and sew Cox maze III procedure in association with other operations for structural heart disease. Mean age was 49 years and 80 (70.8%) were females. Longstanding or persistent atrial fibrillation has occurred in 87.6% and rheumatic heart disease in 80.7%. Valve surgery was performed in 98.2%. The number of associated procedures was correlated with morbidity and hospital mortality. Overall mean cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping times were 129 ±â€¯26 and 105 ±â€¯23 minutes, respectively. Hospital mortality was 1.77%, re-exploration for bleeding 0.9%, cerebrovascular accident 1.8%, and acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis 2.6%. The greater number of associated procedures did not correlate with poorer safety outcomes. Permanent pacemaker was required in 18.2% of those with three associated procedures, as opposed to 4% with two procedures and no requirement with one procedure (P = .01). Frequency of sinus rhythm was 88%, 88%, and 85% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. In a contemporary single-center cohort of predominantly rheumatic patients, the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with structural heart disease by means of cut and sew Cox maze III procedure is safe, with low morbidity and mortality rates. Surgical complexity, defined by number of associated procedures, did not translate into poorer safety endpoints, except for greater need of permanent pacemaker.

A prospective randomized trial of the cut-and-sew Maze procedure in patients undergoing surgery for rheumatic mitral valve disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the addition of the cut-and-sew Maze III procedure (CSM) for mitral valve replacement (MVR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD). METHODS: A total of 130 patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF associated with RMVD were assigned at random to either the CSM plus MVR (Maze III) group or MVR alone (non-Maze) group. The primary endpoint was a composite of freedom from stroke and death at 1 year. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the Maze III and non-Maze groups in terms of major complications and in-hospital mortality. One-year freedom from stroke or death was better in the Maze III group compared with the non-Maze group (P = .0028; hazard ratio, 0.2653; 95% confidence interval, 0.1122 to 0.6270). The risk of AF recurrence in the Maze III group was 0.002-fold that in non-Maze group (P = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of the CSM to an MVR procedure can decrease the risk of stroke or death and high sinus rhythm at 1 year without increasing the operative risk. CSM is a safe and effective approach to treating AF associated with RMVD.

Vascular complications after balloon aortic valvuloplasty in recent years: Incidence and comparison of two hemostatic devices.

OBJECTIVES: To define the incidence of vascular complications (VC) after balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in recent years, and to compare the performance of two vascular closure devices (VCD). BACKGROUND: VC remain the most frequent drawback of BAV and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. METHODS: All BAV procedures performed at 2 high-volume centers over a 6-year period (n = 930) were collected in prospective registries and investigated to assess the incidence of Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) defined VC. Incidence of life-threatening, major and minor bleeding was also assessed. In-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) rate (composite of in-hospital death, myocardial infarction, TIA/stroke, and life-threatening bleeding) as well as 30-day survival was compared between a suture-mediated closure system and a collagen plug hemostatic device. RESULTS: A 9 Fr arterial sheath was used in most of the patients (84.1%). Vascular closure was obtained with the Angio-Seal in 643 patients (69.1%) and the ProGlide in 287 (30.9%). The overall incidence of major VC was 2.7%, and minor VC 6.6%, without significant differences between groups. The Angio-Seal group was associated with a higher rate of small hematomas (6.9% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.042), whilst blood transfusions were more frequent in the ProGlide group (6.6% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.034). Rates of in-hospital MACCE and 30-day survival were similar. Use of either VCD was not independently associated with major VC. CONCLUSIONS: VC rate after BAV is fairly low in experienced centers without major differences between the 2 most used VCD.

Treatment of Type II Endoleak and Aneurysm Expansion after EVAR.

BACKGROUND: The management of type II endoleak causing sac enlargement continues to be a topic of debate. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the outcomes between open surgical technique with sacotomy and suturing of the feeding vessels to interventional embolization in patients with aneurysm sac expansion after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). METHODS: Inclusion criteria for intervention in patients with prior EVAR and type II endoleak were asymptomatic expanding aneurysm sac > 5 mm between 2 consecutive follow-up computed tomography angiography scans and symptomatic aneurysm sac expansion. Age, sex, comorbidities, clinical presentation, commercial type of endograft of prior EVAR, aneurysm sac increase, type of treatment, morbidity, mortality, and follow-up were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 694 consecutive patients were operated with EVAR during the study period. Among them, 29 patients (4.2%) were presented with a type II endoleak that required reintervention. Ten patients (34.5%) were treated with embolization. We recorded a 50% technical success in the group of primary translumbar embolization and 67% in the group of intra-arterial embolization. Twenty-two patients were treated with laparotomy and open ligation of the culprit arteries causing the type II endoleak. Among them, 3 patients (13.6%) had been initially treated with unsuccessful embolization. Periprocedural intervention complications for the embolization group (10%, 1/10) included 1 psoas hematoma. On the contrary, complications after primary open ligation were 13.6% (3/22) and included 1 proximal dislocation treated with endograft explantation, 1 distal dislocation, and 1 limb ligation with femoral-femoral bypass which resulted in colonic ischemia and death (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Open surgical repair with sacotomy and suturing of the feeding vessels appeared to have better outcome regarding the exclusion of the aneurysm but was associated with a higher incidence of severe complications and one related death. If these results are confirmed in larger series, endovascular approach should be the preferred treatment option.

Reconstruction for renal artery aneurysms using the tailoring technique.

OBJECTIVE: Renal artery (RA) aneurysm (RAA) is a rare and complex disease. Treatment options for a RAA include endovascular surgery and open surgery with ex vivo repair or in situ reconstruction. This study evaluated the long-term outcome after vascular reconstruction of RAAs using the tailoring technique. Tailoring or aneurysmorrhaphy means a partial resection of the aneurysm with direct suture of the remaining arterial wall. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted between January 1990 and December 2015. The tailoring technique was used to surgically repair 88 RAAs in 80 patients (52 women) with a mean age of 52.9 years. Patients' demographic data, vascular therapy, and renal function during follow-up were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The localization of the RAA was at the right kidney in 58 patients. The mean size of the aneurysm was 21.4 ± 9.7 mm (range, 8-67 mm). Hypertension was diagnosed in 56 patients, and 23 were asymptomatic. One RAA was ruptured. The overall morbidity rate was 16.3%, including bleeding (n = 4), RA stenosis (n = 3), RA occlusion (n = 4), RA dissection (n = 1), and myocardial infarction (n = 1). One patient died of myocardial infarction for a 30-day mortality rate of 1.3%. The 30-day primary patency rate was 90.0%. The 30-day secondary patency rate was 95.0%. Follow-up data were obtained from 71 patients who underwent tailoring in 78 RAAs. The mean follow-up period was 60.7 months (range 2-229 months). In 76.4% of patients with RAA and hypertension, RAA reconstruction contributed to the cure or improvement of hypertension. The long-term patency after RAA reconstruction was demonstrated in a Kaplan-Meier curve, with cumulative patency rates of 98.7%, 97.4%, 94.8%, and 92.3% after 18, 24, 36, and 48 months, respectively. Estimated survival rates were 98.8%, 97.5%, and 96.3% after 12, 48, and 60 months, with an estimated mean time of 216.5 ± 7.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: The tailoring technique is a safe and effective procedure with good long-term outcomes. RAA reconstruction contributed to the cure or improvement of renovascular hypertension.

Re-Repair of Tricuspid Valve after Tricuspid Suture Annuloplasty: An Analysis of the Causes for Reoperation and its Durability.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of re-repair of the tricuspid valve to treat recurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after tricuspid valve suture surgery were analyzed. METHODS: Thirty-six patients (mean age 65.3 ± 9.3 years) who underwent re-repair of the tricuspid valve to treat recurrent TR between January 1990 and November 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent suture annuloplasty for TR. Of these 36 patients, 15 (41.7%) underwent ring annuloplasty and 21 (58.3%) underwent re-suture annuloplasty. The mean follow up period was 5.8 ± 6.1 years. RESULTS: The overall hospital mortality rate was 13.9% (5/36). Pre-discharge TR grades were 1.2 ± 0.7 in the ring group and 1.4 ± 0.8 in the re-suture group (p = 0.7353). There were no significant differences in survival, freedom from late TR and freedom from valve-related events between the two groups. At the final follow up, TR >mild was present in four patients (36.4%) in the ring group, and in 12 patients (75%) in the re-suture group (p = 0.0447). Severe TR was present in five patients (31.3%) in the re-suture group, but none was present in the ring group (p = 0.2445). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study cohort, the durability of re-repair of the tricuspid valve using a flexible prosthesis appeared to be superior to the durability following re-suture annuloplasty.

Repair of Anterior Mitral Leaflet Prolapse: Comparison of Mid-Term Outcomes with Chordal Transposition and Chordal Replacement Techniques.

BACKGROUND: The repair of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse is known to be challenging. Hence, the study aim was to compare the mid-term results of anterior leaflet prolapse (ALP) using chordal transposition with results obtained using chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sutures. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2012, a total of 96 consecutive patients (mean age 62 years) with ALP underwent mitral valve repair at the authors' institution. Surgery involved either chordal transposition from the posterior to the anterior leaflet (n = 67), or chordal replacement using ePTFE sutures (n = 29). Clinical, operative and follow up data were recorded prospectively for each patient. The follow up was 100% complete (mean 3.4 years; range 0 to 12.9 years). RESULTS: Mitral valve repair was accomplished in all patients, with no operative mortality. The durations of cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp were significantly longer in the chordal replacement group. Actuarial overall survival at one, five and 10 years was 95 ± 3%, 87 ± 5% and 82 ± 7% versus 89 ± 6%, 89 ± 6% and 89 ± 6% in the chordal transposition and chordal replacement groups, respectively (p = 0.84). Freedom from reoperation in the two groups at five years was 95 ± 3% and 91 ± 7%, respectively (p = 0.24). The recurrence of moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR) (grade ≤2+) and of severe (grade ≤3+) MR was significantly higher in patients who underwent chordal replacement compared to chordal transposition (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Provided that chordal quality is preserved, chordal transposition is easier and quicker to achieve for ALP repair, and is also durable in the mid term. Chordal replacement offers a satisfying durability even if the recurrence of severe MR appears to be higher. Preferably, both surgical techniques should be mastered to allow valve repair when anatomic conditions prevent chordal transposition.

Tricuspid valve repair for severe tricuspid regurgitation due to pacemaker leads.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid valve regurgitation due to pacemaker leads is a well-known complication. Although some reports have suggested that pacemaker leads should be surgically explanted, strongly adhered leads cannot always be removed. The aim of this study was to describe our tricuspid valve repair techniques with pacemaker leads left in situ. METHODS: Our retrospective study investigated 6 consecutive patients who required tricuspid valve surgery for severe regurgitation induced by pacemaker leads. RESULTS: From the operative findings, we identified 3 patterns of tricuspid valve and pacemaker lead involvement. In 3 patients, the leads were caught in the chordae, in 2 patients, tricuspid regurgitation was caused by lead impingement on the septal leaflet, and in 3 patients, tricuspid valve leaflets had been perforated by the pacemaker leads. During surgery, all leads were left in situ after being separated from the leaflet or valvular apparatus. In addition, suture annuloplasty was performed for annular dilatation in all cases. In one patient, the lead was reaffixed to the annulus after the posterior leaflet was cut back towards the annulus, and the leaflet was then closed. There was one hospital death due to sepsis. The degree of tricuspid regurgitation was trivial in all surviving patients at discharge. During a mean follow-up of 21 months, one patient died from pneumonia 20 months after tricuspid valve repair. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing tricuspid valve surgery due to severe tricuspid regurgitation caused by pacemaker leads, the leads can be left in situ after proper repair with annuloplasty.

Outcomes of ring versus suture annuloplasty for tricuspid valve repair in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding the comparative effectiveness of methods of tricuspid valve (TV) repair-prosthetic ring versus suture annuloplasty-in patients undergoing operation for primary mitral valve (MV) disease. In this study, we analyzed factors associated with patient survival and recurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following TV repair and focused on results stratified by method of tricuspid valve repair. METHODS: We reviewed patients who underwent TV repair with suture (De Vega) or flexible ring annuloplasties at the time of MV surgery from 1995 to 2010. Patients with prior cardiac or concomitant aortic valve operations were excluded. Propensity matching was performed to account for potential differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. Primary outcomes were long-term mortality and postoperative TR grade. RESULTS: In the overall study, there were 415 patients with median age 72 years (range, 63-78 years), from which 148 matched pairs were identified by propensity score analysis. In the overall cohort, patients in the ring annuloplasty group more often had preoperative transvenous pacemakers (P = .05), lower ejection fractions (P = .028), and more recent years of operation (P < .001). For patients who had De Vega suture annuloplasty, long-term mortality was not different from that of patients who had ring annuloplasty (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-1.30). Older age, preoperative diabetes, and preoperative right ventricular dysfunction were predictors for long-term mortality. Durability of the annuloplasty methods was similar with no significant difference in trend of recurrent TR grades over follow-up (P = .807). Etiology of mitral regurgitation was not associated with recurrent TR during follow-up (P = .857). CONCLUSIONS: Late survival and TV durability following concomitant TV repair during MV surgery did not differ with respect to TV repair technique. In this series of patients with repaired tricuspid valves, etiology of MV disease did not influence postoperative changes in TR.

Comparison of Sutureless and Conventional Techniques to Repair Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection.

Surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of the sutureless and conventional techniques for primary repair. From October 2007 to December 2013, 179 consecutive patients underwent repair of TAPVC (sutureless, n = 81; conventional, n = 98). Propensity score matching was used to submit 140 patients to stratified analysis by the presence or absence of preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (pre-PVO). Surgeons׳ performance differences were assessed with multilevel mixture survival analysis. Freedom from death and postoperative PVO (post-PVO) were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curves. Risk factors for death and post-PVO were explored using Cox proportional hazard model. Surgeons׳ multilevel effects did not exist in this study. Following matching, Kaplan-Meier curves showed that for patients with pre-PVO (totally 38 cases), rates of freedom from death and post-PVO at 1 year were 80.0% (59.8%-100.0%) in the sutureless group, which was significantly better than that in the conventional group (38.3% [15.2%-61.4%], P = 0.02). For patients without pre-PVO (totally 102 cases), rates of freedom from death and post-PVO at 1 year were 96.1% [95% CI: 90.8%-100.0%] and 86.7% [76.5%-96.9%] in the sutureless and conventional groups, respectively (P = 0.15). Conventional technique was a risk factor for death (hazard ratio = 4.14, 95% CI: 1.29-13.28) and post-PVO (hazard ratio = 5.56, 95% CI: 1.18-26.27) adjusting for type of TAPVC, pre-PVO, and other confounders. In conclusions, the sutureless strategy for primary repair of TAPVC is safe and effective. For patients with pre-PVO, this strategy may associate with decreased mortality and post-PVO with statistical significance.

Effective and rapid sealing of coronary, aortic and atrial suture lines †.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgical procedures carry a high risk of perioperative bleeding. Surgical sealants are often used to prevent suture line bleeding. PreveLeak™ is a surgical sealant composed of bovine serum albumin, a polyaldehyde cross-linker, and other components that forms a soft, flexible, water-tight, mechanical seal that is biocompatible and bioresorbable. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre study evaluated PreveLeak use in 44 subjects undergoing 63 cardiac procedures, primarily coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 23/63, 36.5%) and aortic valve replacement (n = 19/63, 30.2%). PreveLeak was applied to 127 suture lines and the time to sealing evaluated upon clamp release. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of significant bleeding, infections, neurological deficits and immune/inflammatory allergic responses within 6 weeks post-treatment; subjects were followed for 3 months. RESULTS: Immediate sealing was achieved at all sites in 42 of 44 subjects (95.5%) and 125 of 127 treatment sites (98.4%). There were nine primary safety events: eight infections and one transient neurological deficit. Most adverse events were mild (n = 46/71, 64.8%) or moderate (n = 18/71, 25.4%) in severity. One adverse event (transient vasospasm) was considered possibly sealant-related. One death occurred due to a cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS: PreveLeak prevented bleeding at 98.4% of treated sites and was well tolerated; adverse events were consistent with those commonly observed in subjects undergoing surgical procedures. These results compared favourably with published studies of other sealants. The observed prevention of bleeding is clinically important in cardiac surgical patients. A randomized, comparative study is justified to further evaluate PreveLeak and confirm the findings from this study.

Bronchus anastomosis after sleeve resection for lung cancer: does the suture technique have an impact on postoperative complication rate?

OBJECTIVES: Bronchoplastic resections emerged as an alternative to pneumonectomy for patients with impaired pulmonary function and have gained popularity due to a marked decrease in morbidity and at least similar oncological outcome. Actual guidelines recommend sleeve resections whenever technically feasible, even in cases with adequate pulmonary reserve for pneumonectomy, in order to maximally preserve functional lung parenchyma. Various suture techniques were described; the existing evidence, however, is insufficient to recommend one of them as standard. The aim of this study was to compare two suture techniques for bronchus repair after sleeve resection. METHODS: Two groups of patients from two separate institutions were retrospectively analysed. In Group A (n = 20), the anastomosis was performed with a running suture at the membranous part and an interrupted suture for the rest of the circumference. In Group B (n = 40), a telescoping continuous suture was used. Intra- and postoperative findings directly related to the anastomosis were compared. The parameters were assessed as absolute numbers and percentages; the statistical significance was determined using Pearson's χ(2) test for categorical variables and Student's t-test for continuous data (P < 0.05 considered as significant). RESULTS: Other than tumour location and resection type (predominance of the right upper lobe for Group B), the groups were comparable regarding patient characteristics. The intraoperative anastomotic assessment revealed: patency 100% in both groups, initial air tightness (100 vs 82.5%; P = 0.047) and buttressing 85 vs 5%. No suture revision was necessary in both groups. The analysis of anastomosis-related morbidity revealed no significant difference: atelectasis (1 in Group A and 2 in Group B; P = 1), reversible anastomotic changes (0 vs 2; P = 0.309), early stenosis (0 vs 0), bronchopleural fistula (1 vs 0; P = 0.154), bronchovascular fistula (0 vs 0), late stenosis (1 vs 0; P = 0.119) and reoperations (15 vs 5%; P = 0.186). The operative mortality rate was similar (2 vs 3; P = 0.741) without intraoperative deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Sleeve resections are technically challenging, especially concerning the tension in the suture and size mismatch. In our series, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding parameters directly related to the anastomosis. The interrupted suture without telescoping is the most cited technique, can be performed in several variations and can universally be used with good ability to compensate size mismatch. The telescoping continuous anastomosis is less time- and material-consuming and is especially valuable for large-calibre bronchi and relevant size mismatch.