TRANSCATHETER VERSUS SURGICAL AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW TAVI SYSTEM.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: to reveal early results after transapical TAVI with a new self-manufactured XPand system, comparing them with SAVR and common transfemoral TAVI outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Eighty-four patients (mean age 79,5±10,2 years) with severe aortic stenosis were operated on from January 2016 to February 2019. Nine patients had undergone the TAVI (two with transfemoral access route and seven with transapical, using the XPand system). SAVR was performed in seventy five patients. For the latter, we estimate the in-hospital mortality, complication rates, intensive care unit and total hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Results: There was no intraoperative mortality. In the TAVI group, the frequency of intraoperative and postoperative complications was significantly lower (p<0.01). The SAVR group showed higher median intensive care unit length of stay (104 h, IQR 72 -112 versus 29 h, IQR 20-35,p<0.01), hemodynamic support duration (100,98 ± 78 minutes versus 11.13 ± 7.89 minutes, p<0.01) and paravalvular leakage causality (9,33% versus 0%). No significant difference in results depending on the TAVI access routes was obtained. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: We conclude that TAVI provides an alternative to the conventional approach in patients with severe aortic stenosis aged over 75 years. No significant difference in mortality rate between TAVI and SAVR groups was found. A novel transapical TAVI device is associated with good short-term results and lower complication rate.

Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus with the Nit-Occlud® patent ductus arteriosus device in 268 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: The pfm Nit-Occlud® patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device is well established for interventional closure of PDA. However, there are still limited data concerning its efficacy and follow-up in larger patient groups. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Nit-Occlud® PDA device, implanted both through transpulmonary and transaortic approach, in a large cohort. METHODS: From July 2008 to December 2015, 268 consecutive patients were admitted for transcatheter closure of a PDA and were treated with the Nit-Occlud® coil. Clinical, echocardiographic, and angiographic data were evaluated. RESULTS: The median age was 5.2 years (range, 5 months to 62 years), and the median weight was 19.3 kg (range: 5.5-97 kg). Ten (3.7%) patients had weight <10 kg. The most common ductus types treated were Krichenko Type E and A (44.0% and 33.2%, respectively). Twelve (4.5%) patients were treated for residual shunting after surgical PDA closure. The median diameter at the narrowest point was 1.5 mm (range: 0.4-4 mm), the median size of the ampulla was 5 mm (range: 1-15 mm), and the median length was 9 mm (range: 2-25 mm). Device implantation could be successfully achieved in all cases. Closure rates documented immediately after the procedure, at 3-10 days, 1 month, and 6 months after intervention were 62%, 95.1%, 97.8%, and 98.5%, respectively. With the exception of one minor thromboembolic event, there were no procedure-related complications. CONCLUSION: Closure of PDA with various anatomic variations and sizes can be performed effectively and safely using the Nit-Occlud® coil.

Simultaneous arterial switch and totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair in a 5-hour-old child, complicated by pulmonary venous stenosis.

A 5-hour-old boy underwent arterial switch operation and totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair. Subsequently developed severe pulmonary venous stenosis was successfully treated with hybrid balloon angioplasty.

Open cardiac surgery in the first hours of life using autologous umbilical cord blood.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the first clinical experience of complete repair of complex critical congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the first hours of life using autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB). Prenatal diagnosis and harvesting of autologous UCB allow to modify perioperative management and to perform corrective surgery in the first hours of a patient's life. This approach can afford avoiding homologous blood transfusion and preventing development of hypoxemia and heart failure due to hemodynamic changes of complex critical CHD. METHODS: The study group included 14 consecutive prenatally diagnosed patients with critical complex CHD during the period from September 2009 to August 2010. Autologous UCB was harvested in accordance to NetCord-FACT International Standards for Cord Blood Collection and was used during the surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In all cases, complete repair was performed during the first hours of life: arterial switch operation (n=9); arterial switch operation with total anomalous pulmonary venous communication repair (n=1); arterial switch operation with interruption of the aortic arch repair (n=1); Ebstein's repair (n=2); and aortopulmonary window repair with interruption of the aortic arch repair (n=1). All procedures were performed using moderate hypothermia with cold-crystalloid cardioplegia, except one case that required deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. RESULTS: A mean of 92±16 ml of UCB was harvested. Autologous UCB was used during the surgery in all 14 cases. Mean age of newborns at operation was 4.7±2 h (3-8). No patients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, interventional procedures, mechanical ventilation, or medications before surgery. Twelve patients underwent bloodless open heart surgery; eight of them completely avoided homologous blood transfusion during the perioperative period. There was one postoperative death in our study (Ebstein's anomaly). CONCLUSIONS: The use of autologous umbilical cord blood is feasible in neonatal open heart surgery. Complete surgical repair of complex critical CHD can be applied successfully to neonates within the first hours of life.