Comparative Effectiveness of Intravascular Ultrasound versus Angiography in Abdominal and Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The effectiveness of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with angiography compared with angiography-guidance alone in the treatment of aortic conditions, such as dissections, aneurysms, and blunt traumatic injuries, remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the current literature for IVUS use during thoracic (TEVAR) and abdominal (EVAR) endovascular aortic repair. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases was conducted in March 2024 adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies comparing outcomes of TEVAR/EVAR with and without IVUS were identified. The outcomes of interest included contrast volume, fluoroscopy and procedural time, perioperative endoleak, and reinterventions and all-cause mortality during follow-up. Data with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted. Pooled analysis was performed using a random-effect model. Subgroup analysis was performed stratified by the condition being treated. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. A total of 4219 patients (n=2655 IVUS and n=1564 non-IVUS) from 9 observational studies were included. The IVUS group exhibited a reduction in contrast agent volume (weighted mean difference (WMD) [95% CI] = -34.65 mL [-54.73, -14.57]) and fluoroscopy time (WMD [95% CI] = -6.13 min [-11.10, -1.15]), with no difference in procedural time. The perioperative type I and III endoleak occurrence were similar (RR [95% CI] = 2.36 [0.55-10.11], RR [95% CI] = 0.72 [0.09-5.77], respectively). Reintervention and mortality during follow-up were comparable (HR [95% CI] = 0.80 [0.33-1.97], HR [95% CI] = 0.75 [0.47-1.18], respectively). All the included studies had low risks of bias. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides evidence that IVUS enables the safe deployment of TEVAR/EVAR with reduced contrast agent less radiation exposure.

The mid-term effect of intravascular ultrasound on endovascular interventions for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is an important adjunctive tool for patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT). The evidence regarding the advantages of IVUS use is evolving, and recent studies have reported conflicting results. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of IVUS during angiography-guided EVT for patients with PAD. METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through April 2023 to identify studies that investigated the outcomes of IVUS with angiography-guided EVT vs angiography-alone-guided EVT. The primary outcome was restenosis/occlusion rate; secondary outcomes were target lesion revascularization, major amputation, and mortality. RESULTS: One randomized controlled trial and 14 observational studies, largely of moderate quality, were included, yielding a total of 708,808 patients with 709,189 lesions that were treated with IVUS-guided EVT (n = 101,405) vs angiography-alone (n = 607,784). Compared with angiography alone, IVUS-guided EVT was associated with a non-significant trend towards decreased restenosis/occlusion (relative risk [RR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-1.00; I2 = 60%). Although the risk of target lesion revascularization and mortality were comparable (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.65-1.10; I2 = 70%; RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.79-1.28; I2 = 43%, respectively), the use of IVUS was also associated with significantly lower risk of major amputation (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67-0.82; I2 = 47%). Subgroup analysis focusing on femoropopliteal disease demonstrated significantly higher patency (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-0.98; I2 = 73%). However, superiority with major amputation was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: IVUS-guided EVT for PAD may possibly be associated with a lower major amputation rate compared with angiography alone-guided EVT, although the difference in patency remained an insignificant trend in favor of IVUS-guided EVT. Adjunctive use of IVUS during EVT may be beneficial, and further prospective studies are warranted to delineate this relationship and the applicability of this technology in routine practice.

Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on coagulation factors II, VII and X in a primate model: an exploratory pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiac surgery is a major risk factor for postoperative bleeding. We hypothesized that consumptive coagulopathy and haemodilution influence the coagulation factors; therefore, we aimed to estimate the activity profiles of coagulation factors II, VII and X during CPB circulation. METHODS: A 120-min bypass was surgically established in cynomolgus monkeys (n = 7). Activities of coagulation factors II, VII and X were measured at 6 time points during the experiment (baseline, 0, 30, 60, 120 min of bypass and 60 min after bypass). To assess the influence of consumptive coagulopathy, the values were adjusted for haemodilution using the haematocrit values. Data were expressed as mean (standard deviation). RESULTS: Activities of coagulation factors decreased during the experiment. In particular, the activities for II, VII and X were decreased the most by 44.2% (5.0), 61.4% (4.3) and 49.0% (3.7) at 30 min following CPB initiation (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Following adjustments for haemodilution, change magnitudes lessened but remained significant for factor VII. The adjusted concentration of factor VII was observed to decrease from the baseline to the initiation of bypass circulation. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, coagulation factor II, VII and X concentrations decreased during CPB. Following adjustment for haemodilution, a decrease in concentration was observed with factor VII.

Meta-analysis of phase-specific survival after transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement from randomized control trials.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, although phase-specific survival and cause of death are implicated following these procedures. Herein, we conducted a phase-specific meta-analysis to compare outcomes after TAVR versus SAVR. METHODS: A systematic search of databases was performed from inception through December 2022 to identify randomized controlled trials that compared outcomes of TAVR and SAVR. For each trial, the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of outcomes of interest was extracted for the following each specific phase: the very short-term (0-1 years after the procedure), short-term (1-2 years), and mid-term (2-5 years). Phase-specific HRs were separately pooled using the random-effects model. RESULTS: Our analysis included 8 randomized controlled trials, which enrolled a total of 8885 patients with a mean age of 79 years. The survival after TAVR compared with SAVR was greater in the very short-term periods (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.98; P = .02) but similar in the short-term periods. In contrast, lower survival was observed in the TAVR group compared with the SAVR group in the mid-term periods (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.03-1.29; P = .02). Similar temporal trends favoring SAVR in the mid-term were present for cardiovascular mortality and rehospitalization rates. In contrast, the rates of aortic valve reinterventions and permanent pacemaker implantations were initially greater in the TAVR group, although SAVR's superiority eventually disappeared in the mid-term. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrated phase-specific outcomes following TAVR and SAVR.

Alcohol septal ablation versus surgical septal myectomy of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the optimal septal reduction therapy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, we conducted a meta-analysis comparing alcohol septal ablation (ASA) and septal myectomy. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched to identify studies investigating the outcomes of ASA and septal myectomy in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in January 2023. The primary outcome of interest was all-cause mortality in studies with ≥1 year of follow-up. The secondary outcomes of interest comprised left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pressure gradient reduction and reoperations of LVOT. A subgroup analysis of all-cause mortality including studies with follow-up ≥5 years was performed. RESULTS: 27 observational studies were included (15 968 patients). Analysis demonstrated similar all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval) (CI) 1.24 (0.88-1.76); P = 0.21; I2 = 56%]. In contrast, ASA was associated with less reduction of LVOT pressure gradient and a reoperation rate [weighted mean difference (95% CI) 11.04 mmHg (5.60-16.48); P < 0.01; I2 = 64%, HR (95% CI) 9.14 (6.55-12.75); P < 0.001; I2 = 0%, respectively]. The subgroup analysis with follow-up ≥5 years revealed higher long-term mortality with ASA [HR (95% CI) 1.50 (1.04-2.15); P = 0.03; I2 = 52%]. CONCLUSIONS: Although both septal reduction therapies were associated with similar all-cause mortality, ASA was associated with a higher rate of reoperation and less reduction of LVOT pressure gradient. Furthermore, all-cause mortality with follow-up ≥5 years showed favourable outcomes with septal myectomy, although the result is only hypothesis-generating given a subgroup analysis.

Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Patching for Recurrent Pulmonary Venous Obstructions.

Recurrent postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction after total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair is a challenging complication. Here, we present such a case that required 4 reoperations, focusing on a sutureless method with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch for the fourth reoperation. The use of artificial patch materials to reconstruct the atrial septum and neoatrial roof could be a promising alternative approach of this method to expand its applicability.

Architecture matters: Tissue preservation strategies for tetralogy of Fallot repair.

BACKGROUND: Great variability exists in repair strategies for the tetralogy of Fallot. While transannular patching, as introduced by Kirklin, was a breakthrough for primary repair, pulmonary regurgitation and a need for reoperation have led to the development of methods that preserve the natural morphology of the right ventricular outflow tract. METHODS: State-of-the-art details of tetralogy of Fallot repair are explained from the standpoint of architectural preservation, especially with regard to sparing native tissue such as the annulus, valve, or infundibulum. Particular attention is given to the latest technical details of each approach, benefits and disadvantages, and any long-term data available. RESULTS: The choice of procedure is complex and unique to each case as transannular patching alone may carry long-term pulmonary risks. Modifications that spare the annulus, valves, or infundibulum may thus be essential as preservation of natural morphology has resulted in excellent mid-term results. CONCLUSIONS: The complexity of tetralogy of Fallot repair demands constant attention to clinical presentation and vigilance against long-term sequelae. Techniques will continue to improve over time as long-term data guides the refinement of these innovative surgical methods.