Redo aortic valve replacement versus valve-in-valve trans-catheter aortic valve implantation: a UK propensity-matched analysis.

This study sought to compare the morbidity and mortality of redo aortic valve replacement (redo-AVR) versus valve-in-valve trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (valve-in-valve TAVI) for patients with a failing bioprosthetic valve. A multicenter UK retrospective study of redo-AVR or valve-in-valve TAVI for patients referred for redo aortic valve intervention due to a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis. Propensity score matching was performed for confounding factors. From July 2005 to April 2021, 911 patients underwent redo-AVR and 411 patients underwent valve-in-valve TAVI. There were 125 pairs for analysis after propensity score matching. The mean age was 75.2±8.5 years. In-hospital mortality was 7.2% (n=9) for redo-AVR versus 0 for valve-in-valve TAVI, p=0.002. Surgical patients suffered more post-operative complications, including intra-aortic balloon pump support (p=0.02), early re-operation (p<0.001), arrhythmias (p<0.001), respiratory and neurological complications (p=0.02 and p=0.03) and multi-organ failure (p=0.01). The valve-in-valve TAVI group had a shorter intensive care unit and hospital stay (p<0.001 for both). However, moderate aortic regurgitation at discharge and higher post-procedural gradients were more common after valve-in-valve TAVI (p<0.001 for both). Survival probabilities in patients who were successfully discharged from the hospital were similar after valve-in-valve TAVI and redo-AVR over the 6-year follow-up (log-rank p=0.26). In elderly patients with a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis, valve-in-valve TAVI provides better early outcomes as opposed to redo-AVR, although there was no difference in mid-term survival in patients successfully discharged from the hospital.

Calculated plasma volume status and outcomes in patients undergoing coronary bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Congestion is associated with worse outcomes in critically ill surgical patients but can be difficult to quantify noninvasively. We hypothesised that plasma volume status (PVS), estimated preoperatively using a validated formula that enumerates percentage change from ideal plasma volume (PV), would provide incremental prognostic utility after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent CABG surgery (1999-2010) were identified from a prospectively collected database. Actual ([1-haematocrit] x [a+(b x weight [kg])]) and ideal (c x weight [kg]) PV were obtained from equations where a, b and c are sex-dependent constants. Calculated PVS was then derived (100% x [(actual-ideal)/ideal]). RESULTS: In 1887 patients (mean age 67±10 years; 79% male; median European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation [EuroSCORE] 4), mean PVS was -8.2±9%. While 8% of subjects had clinical evidence of congestion, a relatively increased PV (PVS >0%) was estimated in 17% and correlated with lower serum sodium, higher EuroSCORE and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. A PVS≥5.6% was optimally prognostic and associated with greater mortality (HR: 2.31, p=0.009), independently of, and incremental to, EuroSCORE, New York Heart Association class and serum sodium. A PVS≥5.6% also independently predicted longer intensive care (ß: 0.65, p=0.007) and hospital (ß: 2.01, p=0.006) stays, and greater postoperative renal (OR: 1.61, p=0.008) and arrhythmic (OR: 1.29, p=0.03) complications. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PVS values, calculated simply from weight and haematocrit, are associated with worse inpatient outcomes after CABG. PVS could help refine risk stratification and further investigations are warranted to evaluate the potential clinical utility of PVS-guided management in patients undergoing CABG.

An interesting case of recurrent shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain.

Can you diagnose this case of a 58-year-old male with sudden-onset shortness of breath associated with sharp right-sided pleuritic chest pain? http://ow.ly/HLmk30j4DEH.

Complicated infective aortic endocarditis: comparison of different surgical strategies.

OBJECTIVES: The choice of substitute during aortic valve replacement for infective endocarditis (IE) is still widely debated. We retrospectively reviewed all patients operated for aortic IE and compared groups according to the complexity of IE and substitutes implanted. METHODS: From 2000 to 2015, 187 patients were treated using stentless bioprostheses (SBP) as root replacement (n = 30), mechanical prostheses (MP, n = 45) or stented bioprostheses (SP, n = 112) (mean follow-up 4.6 years, survival data 100% complete). RESULTS: MP patients were younger (42.5 ± 10.7 vs 57.2 ± 16.9 years [SBP], 59.1 ± 14.1 years [SP], P < 0.01), but rates of intravenous drug use and chronic dialysis were not different. SBP patients more often had root involvement (83.3% vs 33.3% [MP], 25.9% [SP], P < 0.01) and prosthetic valve endocarditis (53.3% vs 6.7% [MP], 12.5% [SP], P < 0.01). In-hospital complications and length of stay were not different. Thirty-day mortality was 13.3% [SBP], 6.7% [MP] and 12.5% [SP] (P = 0.53). Five-year survival tended to be superior in SBP (83.3% vs 77.6% [MP], 67.1% [SP], P = 0.09). In patients with complicated IE (root involvement or prosthetic valve endocarditis, n = 77), SBP had superior long-term survival (86.9% vs 81.3% [MP], 57.2% [SP], PSBP/MP = 0.07, PSBP/SP = 0.05). No early reinfection (<90 days) occurred in SBP vs 4.4% [MP] and 7.1% [SP] (P = 0.29). Reoperation for late reinfection occurred in 6.7% [SBP] vs 11.1% [MP] and 12.5% [SP] (P = 0.65). Prosthesis failure occurred in 3.3% [SBP] and 1.8% [SP] (P = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Use of SBP provides favourable outcomes in patients with IE with low rates of reinfection and valve deterioration. It seems to be an optimal device in patients with complex IE.

Dynamic transcatheter mitral valve repair: a new concept to treat functional mitral regurgitation using an adjustable spacer.

We report the first-in-man implantation of the Mitra-Spacer. The device was implanted transapically. FMR was reduced to moderate. At two months, while in NYHA Class II, LVEF had improved, but FMR increased and 2 mL was added, reducing FMR to mild. Despite anticoagulation, thrombi developed around the device and the valve was replaced at eight months. The Mitra-Spacer successfully bridged this patient to surgery after LVEF had recovered.

Optimized Outcomes Using a Standardized Approach for the Treatment of Patients with Carcinoid Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is common in patients with carcinoid syndrome (CS). Surgical treatment improves the poor prognosis of CHD, although the reported peri-operative mortality is high (∼17%). We attempted to improve outcomes by implementation of a protocol for the management of patients with CHD at a UK Neuroendocrine Centre of Excellence and report our experience. METHODS: All patients treated for CHD between 2008 and 2015 were included. Peri-operative treatment included surgical features such as invasive pulmonary valve (PV) inspection and preservation of the tricuspid subvalvular apparatus. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients were treated; the median age was 63 years (IQR: 56-70). Ten patients underwent both pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) and tricuspid valve replacement (TVR); 1 patient underwent isolated TVR. One patient had additional aortic valve replacement (AVR), another one coronary artery bypass grafting. Bioprostheses (BP) were used in all patients, stented for TVR and AVR, stentless for PVR. Invasive PV inspection caused unplanned PVR in 3 cases (27.3%). All patients were discharged home. One patient (9.1%), who had had previous TVR by another surgeon, had right heart failure (RHF) during follow-up. One death occurred due to progression of CS (day 346). The carcinoids' primary was resected in 5 patients (45.5%) 10 months (4.5-19.5) after cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: Excellent results were achieved in patients with CHD. PV stenosis can be underestimated by echocardiography; therefore, intraoperative inspection is recommended. Right ventricular geometry should be respected to prevent RHF. BP should be used, as these patients are likely to undergo future non-cardiac surgeries.