Clinically atypical abdominal manifestation of the lipoma localized in the right atrium: "Invagination hypothesis" revisited.

Cardiac lipomas are the second most common cardiac tumors. They are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed as incidental findings. We describe a 71-year-old patient with a tumor in the right atrium. In echocardiography and MRI scan, the diagnosis of a cardiac lipoma was suspected. Moreover, MRI demonstrated continuity of pericardial fat and the tumor in the right atrium by infolding of the atrial wall and epicardial adipose tissue in the space between the atrial walls, which might be a hint for the Waterstone groove hypothesis. An operative resection was performed which confirmed the suspected diagnosis.

The HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD): A Single Institutional 10-Year Experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze our 10-year experience with the HVAD in a real-world scenario in a high-volume German heart center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of adults (≥18 years) with terminal heart failure (HF), who underwent HVAD implantation for durable LVAD therapy in our center between October 2009 and March 2020. Primary and secondary end points were all-cause death after implantation and LVAD-associated complications, respectively. We focused the distinct analyses on risk profiles at the time of implantation and implant strategies, i.e., bridge-to-transplant (BTT) or destination therapy (DT). RESULTS: A total of 510 patients were included, with 229 and 281 individuals in Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) level 1 (45%) and 2 to 4, respectively. Median follow-up was 26 months (IQR: 5-54 months). Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years after HVAD implantation was 66% (95% CI; 61.7-70%), 49.4% (95% CI; 44.9-53.8%), and 37.4% (95% CI; 32.8-42%), not censored for LVAD exchange, LVAD explantation, or heart transplantation. INTERMACS level 1 and peri-operative temporary right heart assistance were independent risk factors for survival. Survival was best in BTT patients undergoing heart transplantation at any time during follow-up. The INTERMACS level at time of HVAD implantation did not affect survival after heart transplantation. Freedom from the combined end point of any device-associated severe complication and death was 44.5% (95% CI; 40-48.8%) at 1-year after implantation. CONCLUSION: The HVAD is a reliable pump for durable mechanical circulatory support even in high-risk patients. Still, heart transplantation outperforms durable MCS therapy for a superior long-term survival.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I after coronary artery bypass grafting for post-operative decision-making.

AIMS: Current troponin cut-offs suggested for the post-operative workup of patients following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are based on studies using non-high-sensitive troponin assays or are arbitrarily chosen. We aimed to identify an optimal cut-off and timing for a proprietary high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assay to facilitate post-operative clinical decision-making. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing elective isolated CABG at our centre between January 2013 and May 2019. Of 4684 consecutive patients, 161 patients (3.48%) underwent invasive coronary angiography after surgery, of whom 86 patients (53.4%) underwent repeat revascularization. We found an optimal cut-off value for peak hs-cTnI of >13 000 ng/L [>500× the upper reference limit (URL)] to be significantly associated with repeat revascularization within 48 h after surgery, which was internally validated through random repeated sampling with 1000 iterations. The same cut-off also predicted 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality after a median follow-up of 3.1 years, which was validated in an external cohort. A decision tree analysis of serial hs-cTnI measurements showed no added benefit of hs-cTnI measurements in patients with electrocardiographic or echocardiographic abnormalities or haemodynamic instability. Likewise, early post-operative hs-cTnI elevations had a low yield for clinical decision-making and only later elevations (at 12-16 h post-operatively) using a threshold of 8000 ng/L (307× URL) were significantly associated with repeat revascularization with an area under the curve of 0.92 (95% confidence interval 0.88-0.95). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that for hs-cTnI, higher cut-offs than currently recommended should be used in the post-operative management of patients following CABG.

Long-Term Clinical Outcome in Elderly Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Repair.

BACKGROUND: Long-term data on patients over 75 years undergoing mitral valve (MV) repair are scarce. At our high-volume institution, we, therefore, aimed to evaluate mortality, stroke risk, and reoperation rates in these patients. METHODS: We investigated clinical outcomes in 372 patients undergoing MV repair with (n = 115) or without (n = 257) tricuspid valve repair. The primary endpoint was the probability of survival up to a maximum follow-up of 9 years. Secondary clinical endpoints were stroke and reoperation of the MV during follow-up. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to assess independent predictors of mortality. Mortality was also compared with the age- and sex-adjusted general population. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 37 months (range: 0.1-108 months), 90 patients died. The following parameters were independently associated with mortality: double valve repair (hazard ratio, confidence interval [HR, 95% CI]: 2.15, 1.37-3.36), advanced age (HR: 1.07, CI: 1.01-1.14 per year), diabetes (HR: 1.97, CI: 1.13-3.43), preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (HR: 1.41, CI: 1.01-1.97 per class), and operative creatininemax levels (HR: 1.32, CI: 1.13-1.55 per mg/dL). The risk of stroke in the isolated MV and double valve repair groups at postoperative year 5 was 5.0 and 4.1%, respectively (p = 0.65). The corresponding values for the risk of reoperation were 4.0 and 7.0%, respectively (p = 0.36). Nine-year survival was comparable with the general population (53.2 vs. 53.1%). CONCLUSION: Various independent risk factors for mortality in elderly MV repair patients could be identified, but overall survival rates were similar to those of the general population. Consequently, our data indicates that repairing the MV in elderly patients represents a suitable and safe surgical approach.

Midterm outcomes with a sutureless aortic bioprosthesis in a prospective multicenter cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to report midterm clinical outcomes with a self-expandable sutureless aortic valve. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2013, 658 patients at 25 European institutions received the Perceval sutureless valve (LivaNova Plc, London, United Kingdom). Mean follow-up was 3.8 years; late cumulative follow-up was 2325.2 patient-years. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 78.3 ± 5.6 years and 40.0% (n = 263) were 80 years of age or older; mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons-Predicted Risk of Mortality score was 7.2 ± 7.4. Concomitant procedures were performed in 31.5% (n = 207) of patients. Overall duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time was 64.8 ± 25.2 minutes and aortic cross-clamping time was 40.7 ± 18.1 minutes. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 3.7% (23 patients), with an observed:expected ratio of 0.51. Overall survival was 91.6% at 1 year, 88.5% at 2 years, and 72.7% at 5 years. Peak and mean gradients remained stable during follow-up, and were 17.8 ± 11.3 mm Hg and 9.0 ± 6.3 mm Hg, respectively, at 5 years. Preoperatively, 33.4% of those who received the Perceval valve (n = 210) were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II versus 93.1% (n = 242) at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: This series, representing, to our knowledge, the longest follow-up with sutureless technology in a prospective, multicenter study, shows that aortic replacement using sutureless valves is associated with low mortality and morbidity and good hemodynamic performance.

Donor-recipient risk assessment tools in heart transplant recipients: the Bad Oeynhausen experience.

AIMS: Some risk assessment tools have been developed to categorize mortality risk in heart transplant recipients, but it is unclear whether these tools can be used interchangeable in different transplant regions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective single-centre study in 1049 adult German heart transplant recipients under jurisdiction of Eurotransplant. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to generate a risk scoring system. C-statistics were used to compare our score with a US score and a French score regarding their ability to discriminate between 1 year survivors and non-survivors within our study cohort. Of 38 parameters assessed, seven recipient-specific parameters [age, height, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), total bilirubin, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and biventricular assist device/total artificial heart (BVAD/TAH) implant], one donor-specific parameter (cold ischaemic time), and one recipient-independent and donor-independent other parameter (late transplant era) were statistically significant in predicting 1 year mortality. The initial score was generated by using the regression coefficients from the multivariable analysis as follows: 1.70 * ln age - 4.0 * ln height - 0.9 * diagnosis (= 1 if diagnosis = DCM) - 0.67 * diagnosis (= 1 if diagnosis = ICM) + 0.33 * ln total bilirubin + 1.74 * ln cold ischaemic time + 0.98 * mechanical circulatory support (MCS) implant (= 1 if MCS implant = ECMO) + 0.47 * MCS implant (= 1 of MCS implant = BVAD/TAH) - 0.66 * transplant era (= 1 if transplant era = 2017-2018). The initial score was converted into the Bad Oeynhausen (BO) score as a positive integer variable by means of the following formula: BO score = (initial score + 8) * 3. In patients scoring 2 to <7 points (n = 112), 7 to <11 points (n = 580), 11 to <15 points (n = 339), and 15 to 20 points (n = 18), 1 year survival was 93.1%, 84.2%, 66.9%, and 27.8%, respectively. The c-index of our score was 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.77]. Values were in our cohort for the US and French scores 0.66 (95% CI: 0.62-0.70) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.59-0.67), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that our score, but also risk assessment tools from other transplant regions, may be used as a reliable support for risk-adjusted organ allocation and potentially help to improve outcomes in heart transplantation. Further developments will have to include as yet unaccounted risk factors for even more reliable predictions.

Risk-adjusted analysis of long-term outcomes after on- versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVES: Recent data suggested that off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) may carry a higher risk for mortality in the long term when compared to on-pump coronary artery bypass (ONCAB). We, therefore, compared long-term survival and morbidity in patients undergoing ONCAB versus OPCAB in a large single-centre cohort. METHODS: A total of 8981 patients undergoing isolated elective/urgent coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2009 and December 2019 were analysed. Patients were stratified into 2 groups (OPCAB n = 6649/ONCAB n = 2332). The primary end point was all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included repeat revascularization, stroke and myocardial infarction. To adjust for potential selection bias, 1:1 nearest neighbour propensity score (PS) matching was performed resulting in 1857 matched pairs. Moreover, sensitivity analysis was applied in the entire study cohort using multivariable- and PS-adjusted Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: In the PS-matched cohort, 10-year mortality was similar between study groups [OPCAB 36.4% vs ONCAB 35.8%: hazard ratio (HR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-1.12; P = 0.84]. While 10-year outcomes of secondary endpoints did not differ significantly, risk of stroke (OPCAB 1.50% vs ONCAB 2.8%: HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.83; P = 0.006) and mortality (OPCAB 3.1% vs ONCAB 4.8%: HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.91; P = 0.011) at 1 year was lower in the OPCAB group. In the multivariable- and the PS-adjusted model, mortality at 10 years was not significantly different (OPCAB 34.1% vs ONCAB 35.7%: HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.87-1.08; P = 0.59 and HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.90-1.13; P = 0.91, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Data do not provide evidence that elective/urgent OPCAB is associated with significantly higher risks of mortality, repeat revascularization, or myocardial infarction during late follow-up when compared to ONCAB. Patients undergoing OPCAB may benefit from reduced risks of stroke and mortality within the first year postoperatively.

Prevalence of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Patients with Primary Mitral Regurgitation Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a frequent comorbidity in cardiac disease patients. Nevertheless, the prevalence and relationship between SDB and severe primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) has not been well investigated to date. METHODS: A cohort of 121 patients with significant PMR undergoing mitral valve surgery were prospectively enrolled and received a cardiorespiratory single night polygraphy screening using ApneaLink before surgery. Eighty-two of them underwent a follow-up examination including a follow-up single-night sleep study 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 65.3 ± 12.0 years. Sixty patients (49.6%) were female. The mean EuroSCORE II was 2.5 ± 2.4%. Initially, 91 (75.2%) patients presented with SDB, among whom 50.4% (46 patients, 38.0% of total cohort) were classified as moderate to severe. These patients tended to require significantly longer postoperative intensive care and mechanical ventilation. Among the 82 patients who completed follow-up exams, mitral valve surgery led to a significant reduction in relevant SDB (20.7%). The apnea-hypopnea index (from 11/h [4;18] to 4/h [3;14] (p = 0.04)), the oxygenation-desaturation index (from 8/h [3;18] to 5/h [3;12] (p = 0.008)) as well as the saturation time below 90% (from 32 min [13;86] to 18 min [5;36] (p = 0.005)), were all shown to be improved significantly. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of SDB is very high in patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation and may contribute to postoperative complications and prolonged intensive care. A significantly reduced but still high prevalence of SDB was observed 3 months after mitral valve surgery, highlighting the bidirectional relationship between SDB and heart failure.

Secondary aortic valve replacement in continuous flow left ventricular assist device therapy.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the outcome of secondary surgical aortic valve replacement (sSAVR) in patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in the context of ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy. From 2009 to 2020, 792 patients underwent cf-LVAD implantation [HVAD (Medtronic, USA), n = 585, and HM 3 (Abbott, USA), n = 207]. All cf-LVAD patients with severe AR requiring secondary AVR were enrolled in this study. A total of six patients (median, 40 years, IQR; 34-61 years, 50% male) underwent secondary surgical aortic valve replacement (sSAVR) after cf-LVAD implantation. Median time of previous LVAD support was 26 months (IQR: 21-29 months). Two patients required additional tricuspid valve repair (TVR) and one patient underwent SAVR after failed TAVR. Four patients needed temporary right ventricular assist device (RVAD) with a median of 30 days (IQR; 29-33 days). Three patients were bridged to urgent heart transplantation due to persevering right heart failure, whereas two destination therapy (DT) candidates survived without any associated complications. An additional DT patient died of pneumonia 1 month after sSAVR. Secondary surgical aortic valve replacement in ongoing LVAD patients is an advanced procedure for a complex cohort. In our series, sSAVR was safely performed and effective, but involved a high-risk for subsequent right heart failure, requiring urgent heart transplantation. In LVAD patients with severe AR requiring treatment where TAVR is not feasible, sSAVR can be evaluated as salvage option for bridge to transplant patients or selected destination therapy candidates.

Myocardial adaptation as assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography after isolated mitral valve surgery for primary mitral regurgitation.

The risk of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) maladaptation after surgery for isolated primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) is poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate LV and RV contractile function using speckle-tracking analysis alongside with quantification of exercise tolerance in patients with PMR after mitral valve surgery. All consecutive patients with symptomatic PMR undergoing mitral valve surgery between July 2015 and May 2017 were prospectively enrolled. Sequential echocardiographic studies along with clinical assessment were performed before and three months after surgery. Mean age in 138 patients was 65.8 ± 12.7 years, 48.2% (66) of whom were female. Mean LV ejection fraction decreased from 57 ± 12% to 50 ± 11% (p < 0.001), LV global longitudinal strain deteriorated from -19.2 ± 4.1% to -15.7 ± 3.8% (p < 0.001), and mechanical strain dispersion increased from 88 ± 12 to 117 ± 115 ms (p = 0.004). There was a reduction in tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion from 22 ± 5 mm to 18 ± 4 mm (p < 0.001), as well as a slight deterioration of RV free wall mean longitudinal strain from -16.9 ± 5.6% to -15.7 ± 4.1% (p = 0.05). The rate of moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation significantly decreased (p < 0.005). Regarding exercise tolerance, the New York Heart Association class improved (p < 0.001) and the walking distance increased (p < 0.001). During mid-term follow up after surgery for PMR, a deterioration of LV and RV contractile function measures could be observed. However, the clinical status, LV dimensions, and concomitant tricuspid regurgitation improved which in particular imply more effective RV contractile pattern.

Mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to candidacy in adults with transposition of the great arteries and a systemic right ventricle.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical experience with continuous flow ventricular assist devices (VADs) in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) including dextro-TGA and congenitally corrected TGA is rare, and indications as well as potential benefits or specific hurdles remain unclear. Therefore, our goal was to report on our experience regarding VAD therapy in adult patients with TGA as a bridge to candidacy. METHODS: We performed a single-centre retrospective study of all adult patients with TGA with systemic right ventricular failure who had continuous flow VAD implants between 2010 and 2018. Study end points were all causes of death, major cardiac and cerebrovascular adverse events or pump thrombosis. Follow-up continued until the time of the heart transplant. RESULTS: A total of 6 patients (4 men) had a continuous flow VAD implanted in the context of a failing systemic right ventricle (dextro-TGA after the Mustard procedure: n = 3; congenitally corrected TGA: n = 3). Demographics: mean age 32 ± 5.7 years; median Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support: level II (range 1-4), mean pulmonary artery 48 ± 13 mmHg, mean pulmonary vascular resistance 5.6 ± 3.5 Wood units. Postoperative data: intensive care unit stay: 16 ± 9.7 days; in-hospital survival: 100%; no early VAD-related complications occurred. Mean follow-up: 33 ± 18 months; persistent left-side paresis: n = 1; minor (non-disabling) stroke: n = 2. Post-VAD pulmonary artery: 19 ± 3.4 mmHg; P < 0.005; post-VAD pulmonary resistance: 2.2 ± 0.55 Wood units; P = 0.066. Four patients had heart transplants after a mean waiting time of 30 months after the VAD was implanted; 2 patients are still on the waiting list (waiting time: 52 and 24 months). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous flow VAD therapy is a feasible therapeutic option in adult patients with TGA and a failing systemic right ventricle as a bridge to candidacy and a bridge to a heart transplant.

Heart transplantation after SynCardia® total artificial heart implantation.

BACKGROUND: The SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH)® is the only approved TAH device. This report summarizes our single-center experience with the SynCardia TAH® with particular focus on the outcome after subsequent heart transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the outcome of all transplanted SynCardia TAH® patients at our center between 2001 and 2019 in comparison to transplanted left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and biventricular assist device (BVAD) patients and to transplanted patients without prior durable mechanical circulatory support (non-MCS). RESULTS: Only a fraction (n=69; 37.3%) of all SynCardia TAH® patients (n=193) were transplanted. The majority (81.2%) of those were in high-urgency status at the time of transplantation. Survival in transplanted SynCardia TAH® patients was significantly poorer when compared to LVAD-, BVAD- and non-MCS patients (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Heart transplantation in SynCardia TAH® patients requires distinct risk stratification to improve outcomes.

Comparing short-term outcome after implantation of the HeartWare® HVAD® and the Abbott® HeartMate 3®.

AIMS: Centrifugal continuous flow pumps are currently the state of the art in left ventricular assist device therapy. This study was conducted to compare the results after implantation of the HVAD® and the HeartMate 3®. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analysed preoperative and post-operative patient data of all 106 patients, who received a HeartMate 3 (HM3) at our centre between 2014 and 2018. A total of 392 patients receiving a sintered HVAD® served as controls. Patient matching was performed for age, sex, Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support level at the time of implant, perioperative right heart failure, and implantation strategy, that is, bridge to transplant or destination therapy, as well as preoperative renal function, that is, as indicated by serum creatinine levels. A total of 79 matched pairs could be identified. During a median follow-up of 15.3 months (range: 0-30 months), 23 (29.1%) and 19 (24.1%) patients died in the HVAD and HM3 groups, respectively, with a hazard ratio for mortality of 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46-1.54; P = 0.568]. Freedom from cerebrovascular events did not differ significantly between study groups, with a hazard ratio of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.23-1.45; P = 0.241). The risk of driveline infection was significantly lower in the HM3 (n = 33) than in the HVAD (n = 55) group (hazard ratio = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35-0.84; P = 0.006). Eight HVAD, but no HM3, patients developed a pump thrombosis during follow-up (P = 0.148). CONCLUSIONS: Performance of both currently used centrifugal left ventricular assist device systems is comparable in terms of short-term patient survival and freedom from cerebrovascular events. In our single-centre experience, HM3 patients less frequently develop driveline infections and no pump thrombosis, which requires further evaluation.

Papillary Muscle Heads Focalization for Functional Mitral Valve Regurgitation.

Mitral valve annuloplasty has been the gold standard for treatment of functional mitral valve regurgitation. However, annuloplasty for functional mitral regurgitation may cause augmented posterior leaflet tethering, which results in functional anterior prolapse. Herein we added papillary muscle heads focalization for such patients. All separated papillary muscle heads are sutured together, and the roots of chordae at each papillary muscle are unifocalized on both sides. Stitches are positioned at the same distances from corresponding leaflet edges to adjust the height of leaflet edges in each segment. This is a simple and effective technique to correct for functional anterior prolapse after annuloplasty.

Off-pump Revascularization with Bilateral versus Single Mammary Arteries-A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting is the first-line therapy for severe multivessel coronary artery disease. We aimed to investigate the clinical outcome in patients undergoing isolated off-pump surgery with the single or bilateral internal mammary artery (SIMA or BIMA) approach. METHODS: We performed a propensity score-matched analysis in 1,852 consecutive patients, aged 50 to 70 years, who underwent myocardial revascularization at our institution between July 2009 and August 2016. Primary end point was the probability of survival. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 36.3 (range: 0.1-89.6) months. The probability of survival in the SIMA and BIMA groups was 98.6 and 99.0% at year 1, 92.0 and 92.5% at year 5, and 85.6 and 81.6% at year 7, respectively, with a hazard ratio (HR) of mortality for the BIMA group versus the SIMA group of 0.98 (95% confidence interval[CI]: 0.64-1.52; p = 0.94). There was evidence for interaction between diabetes and study group on mortality risk (HR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.07-6.23; p = 0.034). Freedom from mediastinitis/wound infection was higher in the SIMA group than in the BIMA group (99.5 and 96.9%, respectively; HR of an event = 6.39, 95% CI: 2.88-14.18; p < 0.001). The corresponding values in the subgroups of diabetic patients were 98.6 and 90.9%, respectively (HR = 6.45, 95% CI: 2.24-18.58; p = 0.001). Mediastinitis/wound infection was associated with increased mortality risk (HR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.29-6.78; p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Overall, our data indicate similar probability of survival up to a maximum follow-up of 7 years by off-pump surgery with the SIMA or BIMA approach. However, in diabetic patients, the clinical outcome indicates caution regarding the use of the BIMA approach.

Current perspectives on mechanical circulatory support.

Mechanical circulatory support gained a significant value in the armamentarium of heart failure therapy because of the increased awareness of the prevalence of heart failure and the tremendous advances in the field of mechanical circulatory support during the last decades. Current device technologies already complement a heart transplant as the gold standard of treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure refractory to conservative medical therapy. This article reviews important aspects of mechanical circulatory support therapy and focuses on currently debated issues.

Risk factors for adverse outcomes after left ventricular assist device implantation and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Left ventricular assist device implantation following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation has been associated with ambivalent results. In a series of patients who underwent left ventricular assist device implantation after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, we investigated whether the outcome can be predicted by preoperative risk factors or established risk scores. Primary endpoint was a composite of mortality and severe neurological disabling over 1 year of follow-up. To assess predictors of the primary endpoint, we performed univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Of the 40 patients included, 24 patients (60%) experienced the primary endpoint. Renal replacement therapy and the Vasoactive-Inotropic Score were independently associated regarding the primary endpoint with a hazard ratio for renal replacement therapy of 2.50 (95% confidence interval: 1.09-5.70; P = 0.021) and for the Vasoactive-Inotropic Score of 1.02 per unit (95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.03; P = 0.040). The risk of experiencing an unfavorable outcome during follow-up in patients with a Vasoactive-Inotropic Score of 20 who needed renal replacement therapy or did not need renal replacement therapy was 78% and 54%, respectively. Our data indicate that a decision to implant a left ventricular assist device in patients requiring renal replacement therapy and revealing a high Vasoactive-Inotropic Score after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be reached with caution.

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair or replacement for degenerative mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes our experience with minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) repair and chordal-sparing replacement in patients with degenerative MV regurgitation. METHODS: Between February 2009 and October 2015, a total of 960 patients underwent isolated minimally invasive MV repair, whereas 95 patients underwent chordal-sparing MV replacement. We performed a propensity score-matched analysis in 85 pairs to compare overall survival and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) -free survival over an 8-year follow-up period. For sensitivity analyses, in the entire study cohort, we used the multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis to assess the overall mortality and MACCE. RESULTS: In the propensity score-matched pairs, the 7-year probability of survival was 76.3% in the repair group and 78.8% in the replacement group (P = 0.60). Similarly, freedom from MACCE at year 7 of follow-up did not differ between the repair and replacement groups (78.6% and 72.3%, respectively; P = 0.48). The corresponding values for 7-year freedom from valve reintervention were 95.6% and 98.8%, respectively (P = 0.31). In the entire study cohort, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of mortality for the replacement versus the repair group was 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-2.50; P = 0.42], and the multivariable-adjusted HR of MACCE was 1.03 (95% CI 0.61-1.74; P = 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that mid-term clinical outcomes do not significantly differ between patients undergoing MV repair or chordal-sparing MV replacement.