Impact of Sex on Long-Term Outcomes Following Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The impact of sex on outcomes following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) remains unclear. It has been proposed that females experience inferior outcomes, but this has yet to be conclusively established, particularly in the long term. The objective of this study is to identify discrepancies in postoperative outcomes between males and females following SAVR to better inform consideration for surgical intervention. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 4,927 patients who underwent SAVR from 2004 to 2018 at our centre. In total, 531 propensity-matched males and females were included in the final analysis. The primary outcome was mortality at any point during the follow-up period. Secondary outcomes included various measures of postoperative morbidity. Follow-up duration was 15 years. RESULTS: In SAVR all-comers, females experienced inferior short-term mortality, but equivalent mid-term and long-term mortality. Rates of mediastinal bleeding, sternal wound infections, sepsis, heart failure, and pacemaker insertion were all equivalent between the sexes; however, males experienced a higher rate of acute kidney injury and readmission for stroke at the longest follow-up while females experienced a longer intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. In a sub-analysis of isolated SAVR, males and females experienced equivalent early, mid, and late mortality. Of note, a trend towards increased aortic valve reoperation was noted in females at the longest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Males and females experience equivalent long-term mortality following isolated SAVR. Sex is not an independent risk factor of poor outcomes post-SAVR; however, the increased preoperative risk profile of females requires diligent consideration.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of sex on outcomes after aortic valve replacement.

AIMS: In recent years, extensive literature has been produced demonstrating inferior outcomes for women when compared with men undergoing heart valve interventions. Herein, we seek to analyze the literature comparing outcomes between men and women undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS: A systematic literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase was conducted for articles comparing differences in outcomes between adult men and women undergoing SAVR. One thousand nine hundred and ninety titles were screened, of which 75 full texts were reviewed, and a total of 19 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. RESULTS: Pooled estimates of mortality demonstrated that women tended to have lower rates of survival within the first 30 days post-SAVR, although mid-term and long-term mortality did not differ significantly up to 10 years postoperatively. Pooled estimates of postoperative data indicated no difference in the rates of stroke and postoperative bleeding. Rates of aortic valve reoperation and acute kidney injury favored women. CONCLUSION: Despite the inferior outcomes for women post-SAVR that have been reported in recent years, the results of this meta-analysis demonstrate comparable results between the sexes with comparable mid- to long-term mortality in data pooled from the literature. Although mortality favored men in the short term, rates of aortic valve reoperation and acute kidney injury favored women. Future investigation into this field should focus on identifying discrepancies in diagnosis and initial surgical management in order to address any potential factors contributing to discrepant short-term outcomes. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/JCM/A651.

The Perceval Sutureless Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve: Evolution of Surgical Valve Technology.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical treatment of aortic stenosis continues to evolve, and sutureless aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) is an emerging technology. With the Perceval S (Corcym, London, UK) as the only true sutureless valve on the market, the objective of this review is to analyze the current literature on Perceval S. Focusing on valve design and deployment as well as applications of the technology for challenging pathology, clinical outcomes are assessed, including a comparison with transcatheter AVR (TAVR). METHODS: PubMed and MEDLINE were searched by 3 authors for studies analyzing SUAVR from inception to May 19, 2023. RESULTS: SUAVR facilitates minimally invasive surgery and offers an alternative strategy for patients with small aortic annuli. It also has a time-saving advantage for patients who require complex operations. SUAVR results in excellent long-term morbidity, mortality, durability, and hemodynamic function. In comparison with conventional surgical AVR (SAVR), SUAVR does have a greater risk of postoperative pacemaker implantation; however, increasing user experience and refinements in implantation technique have contributed to reductions in this outcome. SUAVR results in morbidity and mortality that is similar to rapid-deployment AVR. Midterm outcomes are superior to TAVR; however, further robust investigation into all of these comparisons is ultimately necessary. CONCLUSIONS: SUAVR bridges the gap in technology between SAVR and TAVR. The application of this exciting technology will undoubtedly grow in the coming years, during which additional investigation is paramount to optimize preoperative planning, valve deployment, and reintervention strategies.

Minimally Invasive Approaches to Mitral Valve Surgery: Where Are We Now? A Narrative Review.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MiMVS) has been increasing in prevalence. This review focuses on the approaches, clinical outcomes, and patient selection for MiMVS. There are 4 minimally invasive approaches to the mitral valve: right mini-thoracotomy (including video-assisted and fully endoscopic), robotic mitral surgery, and transapical beating heart off-pump neochordal repair. Advantages over conventional surgery include less blood loss and transfusion, improved postoperative mobility, shorter length of stay, less postoperative atrial fibrillation, fewer surgical site infections, and improved cosmesis. This range of minimally invasive techniques will continue to evolve, providing options that are tailored for different patient populations.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on esophageal cancer resource allocation: a systematic review.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged global infrastructure. Healthcare systems were forced to reallocate resources toward the frontlines. In this systematic review, we analyze the impact of resource reallocation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of esophageal cancer (EC) patients. Methods: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for articles investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on EC patients. Of the 1,722 manuscripts initially screened, 23 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Heterogeneity of data and outcomes reporting prohibited aggregate analysis. Reduced detection of EC and considerable variability in disease stage at presentation were noted during the COVID-19 pandemic. EC patients experienced delays in diagnostic and preoperative staging investigations but surgical resection was not associated with greater short-term morbidity or mortality. Modeling the impact of pandemic-related delays in EC care predicts significant reductions in survival with associated economic losses in the coming years. Conclusions: Amidst resource scarcity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the multidisciplinary management of patients with EC was affected at multiple stages in the care pathway. Although the complete ramifications of reductions in EC diagnosis and delays in care remain unclear, EC surgery was able to safely continue as a result of collaboration between centers, strict adherence to COVID-19 protective measures, and reallocation of healthcare resources towards the same. Ultimately, when healthcare systems are pushed to the brink, the downstream consequences of resource reallocation require judicious analysis to optimize overall patient outcomes.

The Use of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Coronary Revascularization: Where Are We Now? A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes and coronary artery disease are two common conditions that often co-exist. In recent years, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been demonstrated to provide significant cardioprotective benefits, especially among patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVE: In this systematic review, we look to identify the outcomes SGLT2i use in patients undergoing coronary revascularization. METHODS: Pubmed and Embase were systematically searched for articles describing the outcomes of patients taking SGLT2i and undergoing coronary revascularization. 834 titles and abstracts were screened, 42 full texts were reviewed, and 18 studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. RESULTS: For patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention, the use of SGLT2i resulted in reductions in mortality, hospitalization for heart failure, and improved blood glucose; however, these benefits were not consistently reported in the literature. Reduced inflammatory markers and positive cardiac remodeling were identified among patients taking SGLT2i. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been demonstrated to provide benefits for patients with heart failure along with a host of positive modulatory effects on the cardiovascular system, including reductions in inflammatory properties, hypertension, and left ventricular volume load. Given the clear benefit provided by SGLT2i to patients with cardiovascular disease and a host of positive properties that are expected to be protective for patients with ischemic heart disease, future investigation into the relationship between SGLT2i and outcomes for patients undergoing revascularization is imperative.

Resource allocation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the impact on patients with lung cancer: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in unprecedented tolls on both economies and human life. Healthcare resources needed to be reallocated away from the care of patients and towards supporting the pandemic response. In this systematic review, we explore the impact of resource allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the screening, diagnosis, management and outcomes of patients with lung cancer during the pandemic. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for articles investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with lung cancer. Of the 1605 manuscripts originally screened, 47 studies met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Patients with lung cancer during the pandemic experienced reduced rates of screening, diagnostic testing and interventions but did not experience worse outcomes. Population-based modelling studies predict significant increases in mortality for patients with lung cancer in the years to come. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced access to resources during the pandemic resulted in reduced rates of screening, diagnosis and treatment for patients with lung cancer. While significant differences in outcomes were not identified in the short term, ultimately the effects of the pandemic and reductions in cancer screening will likely be better delineated in the coming years. Future consideration of the long-term implications of resource allocation away from patients with lung cancer with an attempt to provide equitable access to healthcare and limited interruptions of patient care may help to provide the best care for all patients during times of limited resources.

The impact of resource allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac surgical practice and patient outcomes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shaken the world and placed enormous strain on healthcare systems globally. In this systematic review, we investigate the effect of resource allocation on cardiac surgery programs and the impact on patients awaiting elective cardiac surgery. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for articles published from 1 January 2019 to 30 August 2022. This systematic review included studies investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on resource allocation and the subsequent influence on cardiac surgery outcomes. A total of 1676 abstracts and titles were reviewed and 20 studies were included in this review. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, resources were allocated away from elective cardiac surgery to help support the pandemic response. This resulted in increased wait times for elective patients, increased rates of urgent or emergent surgical intervention and increased rates of mortality or complications for patients awaiting or undergoing cardiac surgery during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: While the finite resources available during the pandemic were often insufficient to meet the needs of all patients as well as the influx of new COVID-19 patients, resource allocation away from elective cardiac surgery resulted in prolonged wait times, more frequent urgent or emergent surgeries and negative impacts on patient outcomes. Understanding the impacts of delayed access to care with regards to urgency of care, increased morbidity and mortality and increased utilization of resources per indexed case needs to be considered to navigate through pandemics to minimize the lingering effects that continue to negatively impact patient outcomes.

Surgical vs transcatheter aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the literature directly comparing the outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and TAVR in patients with BAV stenosis. Medline, PubMed, and Scopus were systematically searched for articles published between 2000 and 2023, 1862 studies were screened, and 6 retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. We included 6550 patients in the final analyses: 3,292 and 3,258 in the SAVR and TAVR groups, respectively. Both groups have similar rates of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) 1.11; 95% CI 0.59-2.10; p = 0.75) and stroke (OR 1.25; 95% CI 0.85-1.86; p = 0.26. Patients who underwent SAVR experienced lower rates of permanent pacemaker implantation (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.35-0.83; p = 0.005) and paravalvular leak (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.26-0.86; p = 0.02). On the other hand, patients who underwent TAVR displayed lower rates of acute kidney injury (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.15-2.84; p = 0.010), major bleeding (OR 3.76; 95% CI 2.18-6.49; p < 0.00001), and pulmonary complications (OR 7.68; 95% CI 1.21-48.84; p = 0.03). Despite the early mortality data suggesting that TAVR may be a reasonable strategy for patients with bicuspid AS with low to intermediate surgical risk, the increased risk of PPI and PVL is concerning. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial reporting long-term outcomes with pre-defined subgroup analyses based on BAV morphology is paramount. In the interim, caution should be exercised in the widespread adoption of TAVR in lower surgical-risk patients.

Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists administration during coronary artery bypass grafting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Aim: To determine if glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can benefit patients receiving coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), GLP-1 RAs administration alongside standard insulin was compared with perioperative insulin alone. Materials & methods: All articles from Pubmed and Scopus databases that compared GLP-1 RA administration to insulin alone during CABG were included for meta-analysis. Short-term postoperative outcomes were analyzed between groups. Results: Average postoperative blood glucose levels significantly favored GLP-1 RA with a mean difference of -0.72 (p < 0.001). No other variables were significantly different between GLP-1 RA and insulin alone. Conclusion: GLP-1 RA is a safe option for perioperative care of CABG patients that can potentially improve postoperative outcomes of CABG patients by improving glycemic control and reducing hyperglycemic episodes.

What is this article about? Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a common surgery for patients who have blocked blood vessels in their heart preventing their heart from functioning properly. Compared with other treatment options, CABG has better long-term outcomes and chances of survival, especially for patients with diabetes. Some medications that lower blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, are also well known to improve heart health in this population. Because of these benefits, the specific medication called GLP-1 RA, has been proposed as an option to improve outcomes of people receiving CABG surgery. What were the results? By taking a systematic approach, 1375 articles were screened to find seven trials that tested the comparison of GLP-1 RA versus a control of just insulin in CABG patients. Analyzing this data, CABG patients receiving GLP-1 RA had significantly lower blood sugar levels compared with patients getting the control. The GLP-1 RA group also, on average, had similar or lower levels of heart rate arrhythmias, events of critically low blood sugar and the need of serious interventions compared with the control group. What do the results of the study mean? These results demonstrate that GLP-1 RA have similar or improved outcomes compared with standard therapy alone, suggesting it as a safe option for CABG patients. By lowering blood sugar levels, GLP-1 RA could also decrease complication rates and improve patient management compared with standard therapy alone, since high blood sugar levels are correlated with increased complications and worse postoperation outcomes.

Teaching heart valve surgery techniques using simulators: a systematic review.

The apprentice model has traditionally been the primary method of teaching cardiac surgery trainees. Limitations of this model include insufficient time to learn all necessary skills, minimal exposure to rare cases and to complex repair techniques, small number of patients in small centres, high cost and absence of objective measures of feedback. In recent years, simulation-based training (SBT) has been used in order to address the gaps left by the apprentice model. We performed a systematic review of PubMed and Embase for articles investigating the use of SBT in teaching surgical valve techniques published in 2022 or earlier in order to summarize the current literature regarding the use of SBT for trainees learning surgical valve repair and replacement techniques. We compiled data on the impact of SBT on time to completion of tasks, proportion of trainees who committed technical errors, skills scores and theoretical knowledge. Studies in which outcomes were evaluated showed significant improvement in these measures after participation in SBT. Simulation-based training has been shown to improve the surgical skills of trainees in a rela-tively short period. As hands-on experience in the field of cardiac surgery is invaluable and often difficult to reproduce effectively, it is likely that a combination of hands-on training and SBT will be adopted moving forward to provide optimal exposure for surgical trainees.

Quantifying the immune response to a tissue-engineered porcine extracellular matrix.

Aim: Structural valvular deterioration of xenogenic heart valve replacements is thought to be due to a chronic immune response. We sought to engineer porcine extracellular matrix that elicits minimal inflammatory immune response. Materials & methods: Whole blood, bone marrow and pericardium were collected from patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Porcine extracellular matrix was decellularized, reseeded with homologous mesenchymal stem cells and exposed to whole blood. Results: DAPI stain confirmed the absence of cells after decellularization, and presence of mesenchymal stem cells after recellularization. There was a significant reduction in IL-1ß and TNF-α production in the recellularized matrix. Conclusion: Recellularization of porcine matrix is successful at attenuating the xenogenic immune response and may provide a suitable scaffold to address the current limitations of prosthetic heart valve replacements.

Deterioration of tissue heart valve replacements is thought to be due to a chronic immune response. We sought to remove cells from a pig derived tissue and replace those cells with human stem cells to create a scaffold that results in a reduced immune response. Whole blood, bone marrow and pericardium were collected from patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. The pig derived tissue had the cells removed, were replaced with human stem cells and exposed to whole blood. Tissue stain confirmed the absence of cells after removal, and presence of stem cells after replacement of cells. There was a significant reduction in markers of immune response in the recellularized tissue. Removal of cells from pig derived tissue and replacement with human stem cells is successful at reducing the immune response to animal tissue and may provide a suitable scaffold to address the current limitations of heart valve replacement options.

Alternative Approaches to Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, How Do They Compare?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Severe symptomatic CAD is treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Alternative CABG (ACABG) approaches including thoracotomy, off-pump, total endoscopic, and robotic-assisted CABG are increasing in prevalence to address the increased early risk of CABG. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to review the contemporary literature comparing outcomes after ACABG and PCI. Pubmed, Medline, and Embase were systematically searched by 2 authors for articles comparing the outcomes after ACABG and PCI. A total of 1154 articles were screened, and 11 were included in this review. The RevMan 5.4 software was used to perform a meta-analysis of the pooled data. Individual studies found rates of long-term survival, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularization either favored ACABG or did not differ significantly. Pooled estimates of the compiled data identified rates of MACCE, MI, and repeat revascularization favored ACABG. The results of this review demonstrated the favorable rates of long-term mortality, MACCE, MI, and repeat revascularization for ACABG in addition to similar short-term mortality and stroke when compared with PCI. Advancement of both CABG and PCI continues to improve patient outcomes. With the increasing prevalence of ACABG, similar studies will need to be undertaken with further direct comparisons between ACABG and PCI. Finally, hybrid revascularization should continue to be explored for its combined benefits of long-term outcomes, short-term safety, and ability to achieve complete revascularization.

The influence of renal disease on outcomes and cardiac remodeling following surgical mitral valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly prevalent in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR). While CKD is known to result in suboptimal outcomes for patients with mitral valve disease, there is limited literature evaluating the long-term outcomes and cardiac remodeling of patients with CKD undergoing MVR. We present the first analysis coupling long-term outcomes of combined morbidity, mortality, and cardiac remodeling post-MVR in patients with CKD. METHODS: Patients with varying degrees of CKD undergoing MVR from 2004 to 2018 were compared. Patients were grouped by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 90 mL/min/1.73m2 (n = 109), 60-89 mL/min/1.73m2 (450), 30-59 mL/min/1.73m2 (449), < 30 mL/min/1.73m2 (60). The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included measures of postoperative morbidity and cardiac remodeling. RESULTS: One-year mortality was significantly increased in patients with eGFR < 30 (p = 0.023). Mortality at 7 years was significantly increased in patients with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2 (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis of 7-year all-cause mortality indicated an eGFR of 15 mL/min/1.73m2 (HR 4.03, 95% CI 2.54-6.40) and 30 mL/min/1.73m2 (HR 2.17 95% CI 1.55-3.05) were predictive of increased mortality. Reduced eGFR predicted the development of postoperative sepsis (p = 0.002), but not other morbidities. Positive cardiac remodeling of the left ventricle, left atrium, and valve gradients were identified postoperatively for patients with eGFR > 30 mL/min/1.73m2 while patients with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2 did not experience the same changes. CONCLUSIONS: CKD is predictive of inferior clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients undergoing MVR and consequently requires careful preoperative consideration and planning. Further investigation into optimizing the postoperative outcomes of this patient population is necessary.

Mini-sternotomy versus full sternotomy for isolated aortic valve replacement: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive approaches to isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) are well-described and widely utilized. While there are numerous proposed benefits, there is limited literature describing significant morbidity or mortality benefits for minimally invasive isolated AVR resulting in hesitancy in its universal adoption. In this retrospective study, we compare the 5-year outcomes of patients undergoing isolated AVR via full sternotomy (FS) or mini-sternotomy (MS). METHODS: 756 patients underwent isolated AVR between 2014 and 2019. Propensity matching resulted in 142 matched pairs that received either FS or MS. The primary outcome was mortality during the follow-up period. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative variables and postoperative morbidity. RESULTS: Intraoperative variables including total operative, cardiopulmonary bypass, and aortic cross-clamp times did not differ significantly between groups. Postoperative mortality was similar between the matched groups with nonsignificant differences at 30 days (2.12% vs. 1.4%, p = .657), 1 year (4.9% vs. 2.1%, p = .0.223), and 5 years (7.5% vs. 3.5%, p = .174). Rates of postoperative morbidity were comparable between groups with no significant differences. CONCLUSION: This study examined the long-term outcomes of propensity-matched patients undergoing isolated AVR via FS or MS and identified no significant differences in outcomes over a 5-year follow-up period. The decision for surgical approach is multifactorial and should be decided on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration patient anatomy, surgeon experience, and comfort, as well as patient preference.