Sutureless repair of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture.

Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is one of the most lethal heart conditions where mortality rates reach 40% intraoperatively and 80% in hospital. A few days after the acute event, the rupture becomes subacute, and surgery is indicated to repair the frail myocardium. Despite the lack of strong evidence to support the efficacy of sutureless repair of subacute LVFWR in the literature, this technique has recently been gaining popularity with acceptable success rates. In this article, we present two techniques to repair the subacute LVFWR without using sutures: the direct glued-hemostatic patch technique and the glued pericardial patch technique. In both techniques, the healthy myocardium surrounding the infarcted zone is recruited, together with hemostatic materials, to seal the rupture. Moreover, we describe the clinical presentation of the acute and subacute LVFWR, peri-operative management, together with intra-operative tips and the advantages and disadvantages of each material used in these operations.

Intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery treated with neoadjuvant radiation prior to pulmonary artery resection and reconstruction.

Intimal sarcoma (IS) is a rare malignancy arising in the great vessels or heart, most commonly in the pulmonary artery, primarily treated with surgical intervention. We report a case of IS of the pulmonary artery diagnosed after an endarterectomy to remove a suspected pulmonary embolism. The tumor could not be entirely resected and showed interval growth at post-operative follow up. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy was then delivered to improve resectability. Imaging confirmed decreased tumor size, and a surgical resection with pulmonary artery reconstruction and right upper lobectomy was then successfully performed. Adjuvant gemcitabine and docetaxel was later initiated. Four months post-operatively, the patient is alive without disease recurrence. While prior reports in the literature document use of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment of IS of the pulmonary artery, no prior experience has documented utility of neoadjuvant radiotherapy for improvement of resectability. Our experience suggests that neoadjuvant radiation should be considered to improve resectability in cases of borderline resectable IS of the pulmonary artery.

An interventional approach to left ventricular assist device outflow graft obstruction.

BACKGROUND: LVADs provide life-sustaining treatment for patients with heart failure, but their complexity allows for complications. One complication, LVAD outflow graft obstruction, may be misdiagnosed as intraluminal thrombus, when more often it is extraluminal compression from biodebris accumulation. It can often be treated endovascularly with stenting. This case series describes diagnostic and procedural techniques for the treatment of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow graft obstruction. METHODS: We present four patients with LVADs who developed LVAD outflow graft obstruction within the bend relief-covered segment. All were initially diagnosed with computed tomographic angiography (CTA). All underwent invasive evaluation with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), then were treated with stenting. After misdiagnosing a twist, we developed the technique of balloon "graftoplasty" to ensure suitability for stent delivery in subsequent cases. RESULTS: All patients presented with low-flow alarms and symptoms of low output, and were diagnosed with outflow graft obstruction by CTA. In all four, IVUS confirmed an extraluminal etiology. Patient 1 was treated with stenting and had a good outcome. Patient 2's obstruction was from twisting, rather than biodebris accumulation, and had sub-optimal stent expansion and ultimately required surgery. Balloon "graftoplasty" was used in subsequent cases to ensure subsequent stent expansion. Patients 3 and 4 were successfully stented. All improved after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LVAD outflow graft obstruction, IVUS can distinguish intraluminal thrombus from extraluminal compression. Balloon "graftoplasty" can ensure that the outflow graft will respond to stenting. Many cases of LVAD outflow graft obstruction should be amenable to endovascular treatment.

Transcatheter Valve Implantation for Failed Surgical Aortic and Mitral Bioprostheses: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: We share our center's experience with the use of transcatheter valvular therapies in the setting of failed bioprostheses. BACKGROUND: As medicine continues to advance, the lifespan of individuals continues to increase, and current surgical valvular therapies begin to degrade prior to a person's end of life. It is important to evaluate the efficacy and durability of transcatheter valves within failed surgical bioprostheses. METHODS: Baseline characteristics, periprocedural complications, and long-term outcomes were collected and assessed in patients who received transcatheter valves for failing surgical aortic valve bioprostheses and mitral valve and ring bioprostheses from March 2011 to July 2018. RESULTS: From our cohort of 1048 patients, we identified 45 individuals (4.3%) who underwent transcatheter replacement of a failed bioprosthetic valve or ring. Mean age at presentation was 80.8 ± 10.7 years and 75.5 ± 9.3 years, mean STS score was 9.3 ± 5.1 and 13.3 ± 8.7, and mean time to failure was 12.0 ± 5.2 years and 7.3 ± 4.5 years for aortic and mitral positions, respectively. At 1 year, time to event analysis suggested a 16.4% mortality rate for aortic replacement and 12.8% mortality rate for mitral replacement. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate outcomes from one of the largest single-center United States based cohorts of transcatheter replacements of failed surgical bioprostheses. Our center has demonstrated that it is feasible to pursue the replacement of failed surgical bioprostheses in the aortic and mitral positions with transcatheter valves given appropriate patient selection.

Causes and predictors of 30-day readmissions in patients with cardiogenic shock requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and healthcare cost. Utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock has increased in the United States. We sought to identify the rates and predictors of hospital readmissions in patients with cardiogenic shock after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. METHODS: Using the 2016 Nationwide Readmission Database, we identified all patients (⩾18 years) with cardiogenic shock (ICD-10 CM R57.0) that have been implanted with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ICD-10-PSC of 5A15223) and were discharged alive (January-November 2016). We explored the rates, causes, and predictors of all-cause readmissions within 30 days. RESULTS: Out of 69,040 admissions with cardiogenic shock, 1641 (2.4%) underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (581 were implanted during or after cardiac surgery). A total of 734 (44.7%) patients of all extracorporeal membrane oxygenations survived to discharge, and 661 were available for analysis. Out of those, 158 (23.9%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. More than 50% of these readmissions happened within the first 11 days. Out of 158 patients who were readmitted, 12 (7.4%) died during the readmission hospitalization. Leading causes of readmission were cardiovascular (31.6%) (heart failure: 24.1%, arrhythmia: 20.6%, neurovascular: 10.3%, hypertension: 10.3%, and endocarditis: 6.8%), followed by complications of medical/device care (17.7%), infection (11.3%), and gastrointestinal/liver (10.1%) complications. Factors associated with readmissions include the following: discharge to skilled nursing facility or with home healthcare (odds ratio: 2.10; 95% confidence interval: 1.18-3.74), durable ventricular assisted device implantation, asthma, and chronic liver disease. CONCLUSION: Patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation had a readmission rate. Identifying patients at high risk of readmissions might help improve outcomes.

Fatty infiltration of a stenotic aortic valve: an unusual histopathologic finding.

Aortic valve tissue excised during stenotic valve replacement surgery commonly exhibits histopathologic changes including prominent calcification of variable severity. We present briefly a case of a 78-year-old man with aortic valve stenosis and coronary artery disease undergoing aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting. After pathologic examination of excised tissue, the aortic valve was determined to have nodular calcification and myxoid degeneration, as well as evidence of prominent, contiguous fatty infiltration of the valve's spongiosa layer. Although osseous and chondroid metaplasia have been described within excised cardiac valves, a significant constituent of adipose tissue contiguous through the length of a valve and not representing a discrete mass-forming, neoplastic lesion has been only described in isolated case reports.

HeartMate II pump exchange with HeartMate III implantation to the descending aorta.

Removal of the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (LVAD) usually requires a sternotomy. We report a case of HeartMate III LVAD implantation to the descending aorta via a left thoracotomy while leaving most of the HeartMate II device in place to avoid redo-sternotomy.

Simultaneous Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Percutaneous Left Ventricular Decompression Therapy with Impella Is Associated with Improved Outcomes in Refractory Cardiogenic Shock.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been used for refractory cardiogenic shock; however, it is associated with increased left ventricular afterload. Outcomes associated with the combination of a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (Impella) and VA-ECMO remains largely unknown. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for refractory cardiogenic shock with VA-ECMO (2014-2016). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days of VA-ECMO implantation. Secondary outcomes included duration of support, stroke, major bleeding, hemolysis, inotropic score, and cardiac recovery. Outcomes were compared between the VA-ECMO cohort and VA-ECMO + Impella (ECPELLA cohort). Sixty-six patients were identified: 36 VA-ECMO and 30 ECPELLA. Fifty-eight percent of VA-ECMO patients (n = 21) had surgical venting, as compared to 100% of the ECPELLA cohort (n = 30) which had Impella (±surgical vent). Both cohorts demonstrated relatively similar baseline characteristics except for higher incidence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the ECPELLA cohort. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the ECPELLA cohort (57% vs. 78%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.51 [0.28-0.94], log rank p = 0.02), and this difference remained intact after correcting for STEMI and PCI. No difference between secondary outcomes was observed, except for the inotrope score which was greater in VA-ECMO group by day 2 (11 vs. 0; p = 0.001). In the largest US-based retrospective study, the addition of Impella to VA-ECMO for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock was associated with lower all-cause 30 day mortality, lower inotrope use, and comparable safety profiles as compared with VA-ECMO alone.

Relationship between intraoperative serum lactate and hemoglobin levels on postoperative renal function in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We examined the relationship between serum lactate and hemoglobin levels on renal function and postoperative outcome in low-risk elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. METHODS: Intraoperative hemoglobin and lactate levels were measured in elective isolated CABG patients. Patients with renal dysfunction (baseline creatinine>2 mg/dL) were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine associations between lactate, hemoglobin, and acute kidney injury (AKI). RESULTS: A total of 375 patients met study requirements, and 56/375 (15%) developed AKI. Of the patients who developed AKI, 43/278 (15.5%) were males, 13/97 (13.4%) females, and 11/44 (25%) African-Americans. Bivariate analysis between AKI and non-AKI subgroups found significant differences in age, race, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, preoperative hemoglobin, peak serum lactate, initial hemoglobin, and nadir hemoglobin. A high peak Lactate level (odds ratio [OR] 1.44[1.15-1.82]), low hemoglobin (OR 0.69[0.49-0.96]), and African American race (OR 2.26[0.96-5.05]) were independently associated with acute kidney injury. A significant relationship between decreasing intraoperative hemoglobin and increasing intraoperative serum lactate levels was observed exclusively in patients who developed postoperative AKI. Serum creatinine levels peaked, on average, 48 h postoperatively in the AKI subset of patients. CONCLUSION: In this series, 15% of patients who underwent elective cardiopulmonary bypass developed transient acute renal dysfunction. High lactate levels and low hemoglobin levels during cardiopulmonary bypass were associated with an increased risk of kidney injury.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Under Direct Visualization in Homograft Valve Endocarditis.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis is a very grave and often terminal disease. Surgical valve replacement remains the cornerstone treatment for this disease. However, it is often contraindicated. Herein, we describe the implantation under direct visualization of a self-expandable transcatheter heart valve in a prohibitive surgical risk patient with homograft aortic valve endocarditis.

Comparison of radial and bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in patients with peripheral vascular disease†.

OBJECTIVES: The composite T-graft with radial artery (RA) attached end-to-side to the left internal thoracic artery (ITA) provides arterial myocardial revascularization without the increased risk of deep sternal wound infection associated with harvesting 2 ITAs. However, many surgeons are reluctant to use RA in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) due to concerns regarding the quality of the conduit in this subset of patients. The purpose of this study is to compare early- and long-term outcomes of arterial grafting with bilateral ITAs (BITA) to that of single ITA and RA in patients with PVD. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2010, 619 consecutive patients with PVD (500 BITAs and 119 single ITA and RA) underwent myocardial revascularization in our institution. RESULTS: Occurrence of following risk factors as female sex, age 70+, diabetes, unstable angina, emergency operation, cerebrovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was higher in the RA-ITA group. The RA-ITA group also had a higher logistic EuroSCORE (22.1 vs 13.3). Operative mortality and occurrence of deep sternal wound infection of the two groups was similar (4.2% vs 5.0% and 2.5% vs 4.0% for the radial and bilateral ITA, respectively). Median follow-up was 9.75 years. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival of the two groups was similar (44.1% vs 49.6%, P = 0.7). After propensity score matching (100 pairs), assignment to BITA was not associated with better adjusted survival (hazard ratio 0.593, 95% confidence interval 0.265-1.327, P = 0.20, Cox model). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PVD, complete arterial revascularization with left ITA and RA can be justified with regards to survival.

Should Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting Be Used in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus?

BACKGROUND: Bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafting in patients with diabetes mellitus is controversial because of a higher risk for sternal infection. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcome of BITA grafting to that of single ITA (SITA) grafting in patients with diabetes. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2010, 964 diabetic patients with multivessel disease who underwent primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery with BITA were compared with 564 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery with SITA and saphenous vein grafts. RESULTS: The SITA patients were older, more often female, more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ejection fraction 30% or less, insulin-dependent diabetes, recent myocardial infarction, renal insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease, and emergency operation. The BITA patients more often underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery with three or more grafts. The two groups had similar operative mortality, 2.6% BITA versus 3.0% SITA, and sternal infection, 3.1% versus 3.9%, respectively. The mean follow-up was 12.2 ± 4.3 years. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival of the BITA group was better than that of the SITA group (65.3% ± 3.1% versus 55.5% ± 4.5%, respectively; p = 0.004), After propensity score matching (490 well-matched pairs), Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival was not significantly different between the matched groups; however, the Cox-adjusted survival of the BITA patients was better (hazard ratio 0.729, 95% confidence interval: 0.551 to 0.964, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this large cohort study suggest that the long-term outcome of patients with diabetes and multivessel disease who undergo BITA grafting is better than that of diabetic patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery with SITA and saphenous vein grafts.

Effect of Hepatitis C Positivity on Survival in Adult Patients Undergoing Heart Transplantation (from the United Network for Organ Sharing Database).

Concerns exist regarding orthotropic heart transplantation in hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositive recipients. Thus, a national registry was accessed to evaluate early and late outcome in HCV seropositive recipients undergoing heart transplant. Retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing registry (1991 to 2014) was performed to evaluate recipient profile and clinical outcome of patients with HCV seropositive (HCV +ve) and seronegative (HCV -ve). Adjusted results of early mortality and late survival were compared between cohorts. From 23,507 patients (mean age 52 years; 75% men), 481 (2%) were HCV +ve (mean age 52 years; 77% men). Annual proportion of HCV +ve recipients was comparable over the study period (range 1.3% to 2.7%; p = 0.2). The HCV +ve cohort had more African-American (22% vs 17%; p = 0.01), previous left ventricular assist device utilization (21% vs 14%; p <0.01) and more hepatitis B core Ag+ve recipients (17% vs 5%; p <0.01). However, both cohorts were comparable in terms of extracorporeal membrane oxygenator usage (p = 0.7), inotropic support (p = 0.2), intraaortic balloon pump (p = 0.7) support, serum creatinine (p = 0.7), and serum bilirubin (p = 0.7). Proportion of status 1A patients was similar (24% HCV + vs 21% HCV -); however, wait time for HCV +ve recipients were longer (mean 23 vs 19 days; p <0.01). Among donor variables, age (p = 0.8), hepatitis B status (p = 0.4), and Center for Diseases Control high-risk status (p = 0.9) were comparable in both cohorts. At a median follow-up of 4 years, 67% patients were alive, 28% died, and 1.1% were retransplanted (3.4% missing). Overall survival was worse in the HCV+ cohort (64.3% vs 72.9% and 43.2% vs 55% at 5 and 10 years; p <0.01), respectively. Late renal (odds ratio [OR] 1.2 [1 to 1.6]; p = 0.02) and liver dysfunction (odds ratio 4.5 [1.2 to 15.7]; p = 0.01) occurs more frequently in HCV +ve recipients. On adjusted analysis, HCV seropositivity is associated with poorer survival (hazard ratio for mortality 1.4 [1.1 to 1.6]; p <0.001). In conclusion, a small proportion of patients receiving a heart transplant in the United States have hepatitis C. Despite comparable preoperative hepatic function, hepatitis C seropositive recipients demonstrate poorer long-term survival.

Long-term outcome of revascularization with composite T-grafts: Is bilateral mammary grafting better than single mammary and radial artery grafting?

OBJECTIVE: Bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) grafting is associated with improved survival. However, many surgeons are reluctant to use this technique, owing to the potentially increased risk of sternal infection. The composite T-graft with radial artery (RA) attached end-to-side to the left internal mammary artery (IMA) provides complete arterial revascularization without increased risk of sternal infection. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes of these 2 strategies. METHODS: Patients who underwent BIMA grafting using the composite T-graft technique, between 1996 and 2010 (n = 1329), were compared with 389 patients who underwent composite grafting with a single IMA + RA during the same time period. RESULTS: Patients undergoing single IMA grafting were older, more often women, and more likely to have diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and COPD, and to need an emergency operation. Congestive heart failure, left main disease, and recent myocardial infarction were more prevalent with bilateral grafting. Propensity-score matching was used to account for differences between groups in preoperative patient characteristics. The 268 matched pairs had similar characteristics. The median follow-up time was 14.19 (95% confidence interval 13.43-14.95) years. Operative mortality and Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival of the 2 matched groups were similar (3.4% vs 3.7%, and 61.6% vs 64%, for the groups treated with BIMA and single IMA, respectively). Cox-adjusted survival was similar (P = .514). Age, chronic renal failure, and performance of <3 bypass grafts were independent predictors of decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that long-term outcomes of arterial revascularization with a composite T-graft constructed using left IMA and RA are not inferior to outcomes after BIMA grafting.

Model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score predicts heart transplant outcomes: Evidence from the registry of the United Network for Organ Sharing.

BACKGROUND: Hepato-renal function is a valuable predictor of success after left ventricular assist device therapy and heart transplantation. Hence, we analyzed the importance of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score to outcomes after heart transplant. METHODS: Adults undergoing heart transplant from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database were identified (1994 to 2014). Individual MELD-XI scores were calculated; patients were stratified by MELD-XI quartiles (Q1 to Q4). Multivariate logistic regression and the Cox proportional hazard model were implemented to determine any association between MELD-XI scores, survival and other outcomes. RESULTS: From 39,711 patients undergoing OHT during the study period, MELD-XI score [median 10.7 (interquartile range 7.0 to 14.4)] was calculated for 36,005 patients (76% male and 75% white, 34% Status 1A). Higher MELD-XI scores had higher rates of pre-transplant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intra-aortic balloon pump, inotrope use and mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001 for all). Adjusted long-term mortality (median follow-up 8.1 years) was associated with MELD-XI score (hazard ratio [HR] 1.021 [1.016 to 1.026], p < 0.001). The highest MELD-XI quartile was associated with an HR 1.364 [1.255 to 1.482] risk of mortality compared with Q1. MELD-XI score was also associated with increased post-transplant infections (adjusted HR Q4 vs Q1: 1.364 [1.153 to 1.614], p < 0.001), stroke (adjusted HR Q4 vs Q1: 1.410 [1.074 to 1.852], p = 0.013), dialysis (adjusted HR Q4 vs Q1: 3.982 [3.386 to 4.683], p < 0.001), rejection (adjusted HR Q4 vs Q1: 1.519 [1.286 to 1.795], p = 0.003) and prolonged hospitalization (adjusted HR Q4 vs Q1: 1.635 [1.429 to 1.871], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hepato-renal dysfunction, measured with MELD-XI score, predicts morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation. Etiology of hepato-renal dysfunction should be sought and treated before heart transplantation.