On-Support and Postweaning Mortality in Postcardiotomy Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Postcardiotomy venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is characterized by discrepancies between weaning and survival-to-discharge rates. This study analyzes the differences between postcardiotomy VA ECMO patients who survived, died on ECMO, or died after ECMO weaning. Causes of death and variables associated with mortality at different time points are investigated. METHODS: The retrospective, multicenter, observational Postcardiotomy Extracorporeal Life Support Study (PELS) includes adults requiring postcardiotomy VA ECMO between 2000 and 2020. Variables associated with on-ECMO mortality and postweaning mortality were modeled using mixed Cox proportional hazards, including random effects for center and year. RESULTS: In 2058 patients (men, 59%; median age, 65 years; interquartile range [IQR], 55-72 years), weaning rate was 62.7%, and survival to discharge was 39.6%. Patients who died (n = 1244) included 754 on-ECMO deaths (36.6%; median support time, 79 hours; IQR, 24-192 hours), and 476 postweaning deaths (23.1%; median support time, 146 hours; IQR, 96-235.5 hours). Multiorgan (n = 431 of 1158 [37.2%]) and persistent heart failure (n = 423 of 1158 [36.5%]) were the main causes of death, followed by bleeding (n = 56 of 754 [7.4%]) for on-ECMO mortality and sepsis (n = 61 of 401 [15.4%]) for postweaning mortality. On-ECMO death was associated with emergency surgery, preoperative cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, right ventricular failure, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and ECMO implantation timing. Diabetes, postoperative bleeding, cardiac arrest, bowel ischemia, acute kidney injury, and septic shock were associated with postweaning mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A discrepancy exists between weaning and discharge rate in postcardiotomy ECMO. Deaths occurred during ECMO support in 36.6% of patients, mostly associated with unstable preoperative hemodynamics. Another 23.1% of patients died after weaning in association with severe complications. This underscores the importance of postweaning care for postcardiotomy VA ECMO patients.

Graft preservation confers myocardial protection during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: During on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (ONCAB), graft flushing for distal anastomoses testing also perfuses the downstream myocardium. This single-center retrospective study evaluated the impact of specific preservation solutions on myocardial protection during ONCAB. Materials and methods: Between July 2019 and March 2020 either DuraGraft (DG) or 0.9% Saline/Biseko (SB) was applied to 272 ONCAB. Overall, 166 patients were propensity-matched into two groups. Cardiac enzymes [high-sensitive Troponin I (hs-TnI) and creatine kinase (CK)] were evaluated 7 days post-surgery. Results: Post-surgery, hs-TnI values were significantly lower from 3 to 6 h (h) up to 4 days in the DG group: 3-6 h: 4,034 ng/L [IQR 1,853-8,654] vs. 5,532 ng/L [IQR 3,633-8,862], p = 0.05; 12-24 h: 2,420 ng/L [IQR 1,408-5,782] vs. 4,166 [IQR 2,052-8,624], p < 0.01; 2 days: 1,095 ng/L [IQR 479-2,311] vs. 1,564 ng/L [IQR 659-5,057], p = 0.02 and at 4 days: 488 ng/L [IQR 232-1,061] vs. 745 ng/L [IQR 319-1,820], p = 0.03. The maximum value: 4,151 ng/L [IQR 2,056-8,621] vs. 6,349 ng/L [IQR 4,061-12,664], p < 0.01 and the median area under the curve (AUC): 6,146 ng/L/24 h [IQR 3,121-13,248] vs. 10,735 ng/L/24 h [IQR 4,859-21,484], p = 0.02 were lower in the DG group. CK values were not significantly different between groups: maximum value 690 [IQR 417-947] vs. 631 [464-979], p = 0.61 and AUC 1,986 [1,226-2,899] vs. 2,081 [1,311-3,063], p = 0.37. Conclusion: Repeated graft flushing with DG resulted in lower Troponin values post-surgery suggesting enhanced myocardial protection compared to SB. Additional studies are warranted to further assess the myocardial protection properties of DG.

Reduction ascending aortoplasty: A retrospective analysis of outcomes and risk factors.

Objectives: Indication for Reduction of Ascending Aortoplasty (RAA) and long-term outcomes remain unclear. This study analyzed the outcomes after nonreinforced RAA in two Austrian centers. Methods: Patients with RAA at two Austrian centers between 6/2,009 and 6/2,017 were retrospectively analyzed. Aortic diameters were measured by CT pre- and post-operatively. Patients were assigned according to valve morphology and imaging modality. Results: Overall, 253 patients underwent RAA [women: 30.8%; median age 74 (63-79) years] with a mean preoperative ascending diameter of 44.7 (±3.5) mm. RAA-related postoperative adverse events occurred in 1.2% (n = 3) over a follow-up of a median of 3.8 (2.4-5.5) years: One type A aortic dissection, one lethal aortic rupture at the suture line, and one suture line bleeding with cardiac tamponade and need of surgical revision. The overall survival rate was 89.7%. Aortic valve morphology itself was no risk factor for mortality (Log-Rank: 0.942). One hundred and forty patients had a tricuspid [TAV: (55.3%)] aortic valve and 113 patients had a bicuspid aortic valve [BAV: (44.7%)]. Redilatation to a diameter >50 mm according to CT follow-up occurred in 5.7% (n = 5 of 87). One patient needed reoperation with RAA and aortic valve replacement due to a prosthesis-patient mismatch after aortic valve replacement and aortic redilatation. Conclusion: Non-reinforced RAA is a safe, feasible, and reproducible procedure with low rates of perioperative complications in selected patients primarily undergoing aortic valve repair with a dilated ascending aorta. Aortic valve morphology has no impact on mortality after RAA.

Transcatheter versus Isolated Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Young High-Risk Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Younger patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis are a particularly challenging collective with regard to the choice of intervention. High-risk patients younger than 75 years of age are often eligible for both the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and the isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (iSAVR). Data on the outcomes of both interventions in this set of patients are scarce. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four propensity score-matched patients aged 75 years or less who underwent TAVR or iSAVR at the Hietzing Heart Center in Vienna, Austria, were included in the study. The mean age was 68.9 years (TAVR 68.7 vs. SAVR 67.6 years; p = 0.190) and the average EuroSCORE II was 5.4% (TAVR 4.3 [3.2%] vs. iSAVR 6.4 (4.3%); p = 0.194). RESULTS: Postprocedural adverse event data showed higher rates of newly acquired atrial fibrillation (6.9% vs. 19.4%; p = 0.049), prolonged ventilation (2.8% vs. 25.0%; p < 0.001) and multi-organ failure (0% vs. 6.9%) in the surgical cohort. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality was significantly higher for iSAVR (1.4% vs. 13.9%; p = 0.012; 12.5% vs. 2.8%; p = 0.009, respectively). The long-term survival (median follow-up 5.0 years (2.2-14.1 years)) of patients treated with the surgical approach was superior to that of patients undergoing TAVR (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the survival analysis revealed a higher in-hospital and 30-day survival rate for high-risk patients aged ≤75 years who underwent TAVR, iSAVR was associated with a significantly higher long-term survival rate.

The impact of antiplatelet and antithrombotic regimen after TAVI: Data from the VIenna CardioThOracic Aortic Valve RegistrY (VICTORY).

BACKGROUND: We compared the outcomes and adverse events of TAVI patients based on the discharge and long-term antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatment regimens (single antiplatelet [SAPT] vs. dual antiplatelet [DAPT] vs. anticoagulation [OAC] vs. no treatment [NT]). METHODS: The outcome of 532 consecutive patients treated with TAVI was evaluated. As the main study endpoint, the 1-year all-cause mortality was chosen to compare the different discharge treatment regimens and the 3-year all-cause mortality to compare the different long-term treatment regimens. The secondary endpoints were adverse events as defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-II. RESULTS: One-year survival after TAVI was highest amongst patients treated with DAPT compared to SAPT (P < .001) and OAC (P = .003), and patients under OAC demonstrated improved 1-year survival over patients treated with SAPT (P = .006). Furthermore, there was a strong trend towards improved 3-year survival for patients in the OAC cohort treated with non-vitamin K antagonists compared to vitamin K antagonists (N-VKAs vs. VKA; log-rank P = .056). CONCLUSION: The lower all-cause mortality for DAPT within the first year and N-VKAs over VKA within the first 3 years warrant considerable attention in further recommendations of antithrombotic and anticoagulation regimens after TAVI.

The use of semi-compliant versus non-compliant balloon systems for predilatation during the implantation of self-expandable transcatheter aortic valves: Data from the VIenna CardioThOracic Aortic Valve RegistrY (VICTORY).

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the differences in outcome arising from the use of semi-compliant (SCB) versus non-compliant balloon (NCB) systems for predilatation during self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: 251 TAVR procedures with the implantation of self-expanding valves after predilatation were analyzed. SCB systems were used in 166 and NCB systems in 85 patients. The primary endpoint was defined as device success, a composite endpoint comprising the absence of procedural mortality, correct valve positioning, adequate valve performance and the absence of more than a mild paravalvular leak. The secondary endpoints were chosen in accordance with the valve academic research consortium (VARC-2) endpoint definitions. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed with regard to procedural device success between the SCB- and NCB cohort (SCB: 142 [85.5%%] vs. NCB: 77 [90.6%]; P = .257). There was a notable difference between the rates of conversion to open surgery and the postdilatation rate, both of which were higher for the NCB group (SCB: 1 [0.6%] vs. NCB: 4 [5.1%]; P = .042; SCB: 30 [18.1%] vs. NCB: 34 [40%]; P < .001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the use of semi-compliant balloon systems for predilatation was associated with a lower risk for postdilatation (OR: 0.296; 95% CI: 0.149-0.588) and conversion to open surgery (OR: 0.205; 95% CI: 0.085-0.493; P = .001) but not for device success. CONCLUSION: While the balloon compliance did not affect the procedural mortality, device success or the rate of paravalvular leakage, the use of semi-compliant balloons for predilatation during TAVR should be investigated in larger randomized trials in the light of the lower rates of postdilatation and conversion to open surgery compared to their non-compliant counterparts.

The Iliofemoral tortuosity score predicts access and bleeding complications during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement: DataData from the VIenna Cardio Thoracic aOrtic valve registrY (VICTORY).

BACKGROUND: Arterial tortuosity is linked to a higher risk of adverse clinical events after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR). Currently, there are no assessment tools that can quantify this variable in three-dimensional space. This study investigated the impact of novel scoring methods of iliofemoral tortuosity on access and bleeding complications after TF-TAVR. METHODS: The main access vessel was assessed between the aortoiliacal and femoral bifurcation in preoperative multislice computed tomography scans of 240 consecutive patients undergoing TF-TAVR. Tortuosity was assessed by three methods: largest single angle, sum of all angles, and iliofemoral tortuosity (IFT) score [((true vessel length/ideal vessel length)-1)*100]. The primary study endpoint was a composite of access and bleeding complications. The secondary study endpoints were 30-day mortality and long-term survival. RESULTS: Among 240 patients, only the IFT score demonstrated a good positive correlation with the composite primary endpoint of access and bleeding complications (P = 0.031). A higher incidence of access and bleeding complications was found in patients with a higher IFT score (56 [36.8%] vs 17 [19.3%]; P = 0.003). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the IFT score was a significant predictor of the primary endpoint (OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.09-4.05; P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Vascular tortuosity is an underestimated risk factor during TF-TAVR. The IFT score is a valuable tool in risk stratification before TF-TAVR, predicting periprocedural access and bleeding complications.