Metastatic Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Unmasked by an Acute Myocardial Infarction and Terminal Heart Failure.

A young patient, recently treated for squamous cell penile carcinoma, presented with acute myocardial infarction and severe heart failure. Despite repeatedly ruling out metastatic disease on imaging, surgery for a mechanical assist device revealed unexpected squamous cell metastasis in the pericardium. Consequently, palliative care was initiated.

Comparison of modified Del Nido and Custodiol® cardioplegia in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated if modified Del Nido cardioplegia delivers comparable cardiac protection in comparison to Custodiol® in patients undergoing isolated minimally invasive mitral valve repair. METHODS: From January 2018 to October 2021, all patients undergoing non-emergent isolated minimally invasive mitral valve repair were included in this study. The cardioplegia was chosen at the surgeons' discretion. The primary end points of this study were peak postoperative cardiac enzyme levels. Secondary end points were in-hospital mortality, hospital stay, occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias, pacemaker implantations, postoperative lactate and sodium levels and postoperative incidence of renal failure requiring dialysis. RESULTS: A total of 355 patients were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 57. After propensity score matching, a total of 156 pairs were identified. There was no difference in cross-clamp time between both groups. Postoperative creatine kinase levels were higher in patients receiving Custodiol on the 1st and 2nd postoperative days. Creatine kinase isoenzyme MB levels were higher in patients receiving Custodiol on the 2nd postoperative day (0.5 ± 0.2 vs 0.4 ± 0.1 µmol/l s; P < 0.001). Postoperative Troponin T concentrations were similar between both groups. Maximum lactate concentrations were higher in patients receiving Custodiol on the day of surgery (2.4 ± 1.9 vs 2.0 ± 1.1 mmol/l; P = 0.04). The overall hospital stay was longer in patients receiving Del Nido cardioplegia (10.6 ± 3.2 vs 8 ± 4.1 days; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Modified Del Nido cardioplegia based on Ionosteril® solution offers equivalent protection compared to Custodiol for isolated minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

Baseline NT-proBNP predicts acute kidney injury following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) increases morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the role of baseline N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a predictor of AKI following TAVI. METHODS: All consecutive TAVI patients were included in the analysis, except patients with dialysis and those with a GFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline. Rates of AKI after TAVI were assessed according to the updated valve academic research consortium definitions using AKIN classification in three stages. NT-proBNP was measured at baseline. One-year mortality rates were assessed. RESULTS: We included 1973 patients treated with TAVI between January 2006 and December 2016. Median [IQR] age was 81.0 [77.0;84.0] years, the STS score was 6.2 [3.9;9.0], and the logEuroScore was 14.5 [9.0;23.0]. 30-day and one-year mortality was 5.1 % and 16.1 % for all patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with NT-proBNP levels higher than two times above the upper level of normal (ULN) had an increased risk for AKI after TAVI compared to patients with NT-proBNP levels < 2× ULN (OR 1.40 [1.03-1.91]). CONCLUSIONS: Routine assessment of baseline NT-proBNP levels might be an additional tool to identify patients at increased risk for AKI after TAVI.

Transcatheter or Surgical Treatment of Aortic-Valve Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Among low-risk patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who are eligible for both transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic-valve replacement (SAVR), data are lacking on the appropriate treatment strategy in routine clinical practice. METHODS: In this randomized noninferiority trial conducted at 38 sites in Germany, we assigned patients with severe aortic stenosis who were at low or intermediate surgical risk to undergo either TAVI or SAVR. Percutaneous- and surgical-valve prostheses were selected according to operator discretion. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause or fatal or nonfatal stroke at 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 1414 patients underwent randomization (701 to the TAVI group and 713 to the SAVR group). The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 74±4 years; 57% were men, and the median Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score was 1.8% (low surgical risk). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the primary outcome at 1 year was 5.4% in the TAVI group and 10.0% in the SAVR group (hazard ratio for death or stroke, 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.79; P<0.001 for noninferiority). The incidence of death from any cause was 2.6% in the TAVI group and 6.2% in the SAVR group (hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.73); the incidence of stroke was 2.9% and 4.7%, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.06). Procedural complications occurred in 1.5% and 1.0% of patients in the TAVI and SAVR groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with severe aortic stenosis at low or intermediate surgical risk, TAVI was noninferior to SAVR with respect to death from any cause or stroke at 1 year. (Funded by the German Center for Cardiovascular Research and the German Heart Foundation; DEDICATE-DZHK6 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03112980.).

Mortality in patients with normal left ventricular function requiring emergency VA-ECMO for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock due to coronary malperfusion.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze outcomes in patients with normal preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) therapy due to postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) related to coronary malperfusion. METHODS: Retrospective single-center analysis in patients with normal preoperative LVEF treated with VA-ECMO for coronary malperfusion-related PCCS between May 1998 and May 2018. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, which was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 62,125 patients underwent cardiac surgery at our institution. Amongst them, 59 patients (0.1%) with normal preoperative LVEF required VA-ECMO support due to coronary malperfusion-related PCCS. The mean duration of VA-ECMO support was 6 days (interquartile range 4-7 days). The 30-day mortality was 50.8%. Under VA-ECMO therapy, a complication composite outcome of bleeding, re-exploration for bleeding, acute renal failure, acute liver failure, and sepsis occurred in 51 (86.4%) patients. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were lactate levels > 9.9 mmol/l before VA-ECMO implantation (odds ratio [OR]: 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-7.0; p = 0.002), delay until revascularization > 278 minutes (OR: 2.9; 95% CI 1.3-6.4; p = 0.008) and peripheral arterial artery disease (OR: 3.3; 95% 1.6-7.5; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates are high in patients with normal preoperative LVEF who develop PCCS due to coronary malperfusion. The early implantation of VA-ECMO before the development of profound tissue hypoxia and early coronary revascularization increases the likelihood of survival. Lactate levels are useful to define optimal timing for the VA-ECMO initiation.

Early and long-term outcomes following redo mitral valve surgery in patients with prior minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The frequency of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MVS) has steadily increased over the last decades and therefore surgeons are now encountering an increasing number of patients requiring mitral valve (MV) reoperations post-minimally invasive MVS. The aim of this study was to analyse the early postoperative outcomes and the long-term survival in patients who undergo reoperative MVS following previous minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent redo MVS following prior minimally invasive MVS between January 2002 and December 2021 were included in our analysis. Study data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analysed. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and long-term survival. RESULTS: Among the 187 included patients, 34 (18.2%) underwent repeat MV repair and 153 (81.8%) MV replacement. The median age was 66 years (interquartile range 56-74) and 80 (42.8%) patients were female. Redo MVS was performed through median sternotomy in 169 patients (90.4%). A total of 77 (41.2%) patients had additional concomitant procedures. The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (1-5). The 30-day mortality was 6.4% (12/187). Estimated survival at 5 and 12 years was 61.8% and 38.3%, respectively. Preoperative stroke (hazard ratio 3.28, 95% confidence interval 1.37-7.85, P = 0.007) as well as infective endocarditis (hazard ratio 1.85; 95% confidence interval 1.09-3.11, P = 0.021) were independent predictors of long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Redo MVS following prior minimally invasive MVS can be performed safely with low early perioperative mortality and acceptable long-term survival. Preoperative stroke, infective endocarditis and concomitant tricuspid valve surgery are independent predictors of long-term mortality.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with unfavorable functional outcome after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is calculated in every blood count test and reflects variability in erythrocyte size. High levels mirror dysregulated erythrocyte homeostasis and have been associated with clonal hematopoiesis as well as higher mortality in several conditions.We aimed to determine the impact of preprocedural RDW levels on functional outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed 176 consecutive patients receiving TAVI between 2017 and 2021. RDW upper limit of normal was < 15 %. Patients were stratified according to preprocedural RDW as having normal or elevated values. We assessed all-cause-mortality and a composite endpoint comprising cardiovascular/ valve-related mortality and cardiovascular, valve-related and heart failure hospitalization at 1 year. Results: 43 patients (24.4 %) had RDW ≥ 15 %. There were significant baseline differences between groups (Society of Thoracic Surgeons - Predicted Risk of Mortality score 3.18 %[interquartile range 1.87-5.47] vs. 6.63 %[4.12-10.54] p < 0.001; hemoglobin 13.2 g/dL[11.8-14.1] vs. 10.4 g/dL[9.8-12.2], p < 0.001, RDW-normal vs. RDW-high, respectively). Age was not distinct (80.2 years [77.5-84.1] vs 81.2[71.3-84.7], p = 0.78). 1-year-all-cause mortality was not different (7.9 % vs. 9.4 %, p = 0.79). The RDW-high group showed markedly higher NT-proBNP levels after 1 year (647 ng/ml[283-1265] vs. 1893 ng/ml[744-5109], p = 0.005), and experienced more clinical endpoints (hazard ratio 2.57[1.28-5.16] for the composite endpoint, p = 0.006). RDW remained an independent predictor of the composite endpoint when accounting for all baseline differences in multivariable regression. Conclusion: Elevated preprocedural RDW identifies patients at risk for impaired functional outcome after TAVI and may represent a useful low-cost parameter to guide intensity of outpatient surveillance strategies.

[Summary: International consensus statement on nomenclature and classification of the congenital bicuspid aortic valve and its aortopathy, for clinical, surgical, interventional and research purposes]. / Resumen: Consenso internacional para la nomenclatura y clasificación de la válvula aórtica bicúspide congénita y su aortopatía, con fines clínicos, quirúrgicos, intervencionistas y de investigación.

This consensus of nomenclature and classification for congenital bicuspid aortic valve and its aortopathy is evidence-based and intended for universal use by physicians (both pediatricians and adults), echocardiographers, advanced cardiovascular imaging specialists, interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, pathologists, geneticists, and researchers spanning these areas of clinical and basic research. In addition, as long as new key and reference research is available, this international consensus may be subject to change based on evidence-based data1.

Este consenso de nomenclatura y clasificación para la válvula aórtica bicúspide congénita y su aortopatía está basado en la evidencia y destinado a ser utilizado universalmente por médicos (tanto pediatras como de adultos), médicos ecocardiografistas, especialistas en imágenes avanzadas cardiovasculares, cardiólogos intervencionistas, cirujanos cardiovasculares, patólogos, genetistas e investigadores que abarcan estas áreas de investigación clínica y básica. Siempre y cuando se disponga de nueva investigación clave y de referencia, este consenso internacional puede estar sujeto a cambios de acuerdo con datos basados en la evidencia1.

Pre-Implant Immune Status is Associated with Infection Risk After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Purpose: Infection is the most common complication after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The immune status of LVAD patients is relevant for the incidence and severity of infection, but it is unknown if there is a predisposing immune status prior to LVAD implantation that contributes to an increased risk for infection in the post-implant period. We analyzed the pre-LVAD immune status in patients with infection within 3 months after LVAD implantation in comparison to infection-free patients. Patients and Methods: Fifty-four consecutive LVAD patients were included in this study. According to their infectious history in the first 3 months after LVAD implantation, these patients were grouped into an infection (n=23) and an infection-free group (n=31). Pre-LVAD blood samples were obtained for flow cytometric analysis of immunological parameters including B cells, subsets of T, dendritic and natural killer cells. Patient-specific, clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Results: Blood count analysis prior to LVAD implantation showed comparable counts of erythrocytes (p=0.19), platelets (p=0.33) and leukocytes (p=0.50) between patients with infection and infection-free patients in the post-implant period. Patients with infection in the first 3 months after LVAD implantation had lower concentrations of lymphocytes (p=0.02). Forty percent of the patients with infection showed more often pre-LVAD neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) >7 than patients without infection in the first 3 months after LVAD implantation (14%, p=0.05). Patients with infection already had lower percentages of CD3+ T cells (p=0.03), CD19+ B cells (p<0.01), BDCA2+ pDCs (p=0.03) and BDCA4+ plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) (p=0.05) prior to LVAD implantation than infection-free patients. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that patients with infection in the early post-implant period showed lower concentrations of lymphocytes, especially of CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells, decreased percentages of BDCA2+ and BDCA4+ pDCs, and had more often NLRs >7 indicating moderate-to-severe inflammation. Thus, we identified specific immunological changes pre-LVAD that could help to identify patients at risk for infection in the early post-implant period.

Outcomes after surgical revascularization in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been repeatedly demonstrated to have worse clinical outcomes compared to patients without DM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of DM on 1-year clinical outcomes after isolated CABG. METHODS: The European DuraGraft registry included 1130 patients (44.6%) with and 1402 (55.4%) patients without DM undergoing isolated CABG. Intra-operatively, all free venous and arterial grafts were treated with an endothelial damage inhibitor. Primary end point in this analysis was the incidence of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, repeat revascularization or myocardial infarction at 1 year post-CABG. To balance between differences in baseline characteristics (n = 1072 patients in each group), propensity score matching was used. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify independent predictors of MACE. RESULTS: Diabetic patients had a higher cardiovascular risk profile and EuroSCORE II with overall more comorbidities. Patients were comparable in regard to surgical techniques and completeness of revascularization. At 1 year, diabetics had a higher MACE rate {7.9% vs 5.5%, hazard ratio (HR) 1.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.95], P = 0.02}, driven by increased rates of death [5.6% vs 3.5%, HR 1.61 (95% CI 1.10-2.36), P = 0.01] and myocardial infarction [2.8% vs 1.4%, HR 1.99 (95% CI 1.12-3.53) P = 0.02]. Following propensity matching, no statistically significant difference was found for MACE [7.1% vs 5.7%, HR 1.23 (95% CI 0.87-1.74) P = 0.23] or its components. Age, critical operative state, extracardiac arteriopathy, ejection fraction ≤50% and left main disease but not DM were identified as independent predictors for MACE. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 1-year outcomes in diabetics undergoing isolated CABG were comparable to patients without DM.

Neochordal Goldilocks: Analyzing the biomechanics of neochord length on papillary muscle forces suggests higher tolerance to shorter neochordae.

OBJECTIVE: Estimating neochord lengths during mitral valve repair is challenging, because approximation must be performed largely based on intuition and surgical experience. Little data exist on quantifying the effects of neochord length misestimation. We aimed to evaluate the impact of neochord length on papillary muscle forces and mitral valve hemodynamics, which is especially pertinent because increased forces have been linked to aberrant mitral valve biomechanics. METHODS: Porcine mitral valves (n = 8) were mounted in an ex vivo heart simulator, and papillary muscles were fixed to high-resolution strain gauges while hemodynamic data were recorded. We used an adjustable system to modulate neochord lengths. Optimal length was qualitatively verified by a single experienced operator, and neochordae were randomly lengthened or shortened in 1-mm increments up to ±5 mm from the optimal length. RESULTS: Optimal length neochordae resulted in the lowest peak composite papillary muscle forces (6.94 ± 0.29 N), significantly different from all lengths greater than ±1 mm. Both longer and shorter neochordae increased forces linearly according to difference from optimal length. Both peak papillary muscle forces and mitral regurgitation scaled more aggressively for longer versus shorter neochordae by factors of 1.6 and 6.9, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Leveraging precision ex vivo heart simulation, we found that millimeter-level neochord length differences can result in significant differences in papillary muscle forces and mitral regurgitation, thereby altering valvular biomechanics. Differences in lengthened versus shortened neochordae scaling of forces and mitral regurgitation may indicate different levels of biomechanical tolerance toward longer and shorter neochordae. Our findings highlight the need for more thorough biomechanical understanding of neochordal mitral valve repair.

[ESC guidelines 2023 on the management of endocarditis : What is new?] / ESC-Leitlinien 2023 zum Management der Endokarditis : Was ist neu?

In August 2023 the new European guidelines on the management of infective endocarditis were published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Numerous recommendations were revised and supplemented by new ones. This review article outlines the essential modifications of the current ESC guidelines focusing on the prevention including antibiotic prophylaxis, the role of the endocarditis team, the revision of the diagnostic criteria, the paradigm shift towards oral antibiotic treatment, the timing and the indications for surgical treatment as well as the relevance of infections of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices.

A new approach to quantify visceral fat via bioelectrical impedance analysis and ultrasound compared to MRI.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has been linked to systemic proinflammatory characteristics, and measuring it accurately usually requires sophisticated instruments. This study aimed to estimate VAT applying a simpler method that uses total subcutaneous fat and total body fat (BF) measurements. METHOD: As part of our experimental approach, the subcutaneous fat mass (SFT) was measured via US (SFTtotal), and VAT was quantified by assessing MRI data. Both parameters were added to obtain total body fat (BFcalc). Those results were then compared to values obtained from a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BFBIA). Multiple regression analyses were employed to develop a simplified sex-specific equation for SFT, which was subsequently used in conjunction with BFBIA to determine VAT (VATEq). RESULT: We observed excellent reliability between BFBIA and BFcalc, with no significant difference in body fat values (20.98 ± 8.36 kg vs. 21.08 ± 8.81 kg, p = 0.798, ICC 0.948). VATEq_female/male revealed excellent reliability when compared to VATMRI, and no significant difference appeared (women: 0.03 ± 0.66 kg with a 95% CI ranging from -1.26 kg to 1.32 kg, p = 0.815, ICC: 0.955.; men: -0.01 ± 0.85 kg with a 95% CI ranging from -1.69 kg to 1.66 kg, p = 0.925, ICC: 0.952). CONCLUSION: Taking an experimental approach, VAT can be determined without MRI.

Left ventricular fibrosis and CMR tissue characterization of papillary muscles in mitral valve prolapse patients.

PURPOSE: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is associated with left ventricle (LV) fibrosis, including the papillary muscles (PM), which is in turn linked to malignant arrhythmias. This study aims to evaluate comprehensive tissue characterization of the PM by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and its association with LV fibrosis observed by intraoperative biopsies. METHODS: MVP patients with indication for surgery due to severe mitral regurgitation (n = 19) underwent a preoperative CMR with characterization of the PM: dark-appearance on cine, T1 mapping, conventional bright blood (BB) and dark blood (DB) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). CMR T1 mapping was performed on 21 healthy volunteers as controls. LV inferobasal myocardial biopsies were obtained in MVP patients and compared to CMR findings. RESULTS: MVP patients (54 ± 10 years old, 14 male) had a dark-appearance of the PM with higher native T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) values compared with healthy volunteers (1096 ± 78ms vs. 994 ± 54ms and 33.9 ± 5.6% vs. 25.9 ± 3.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). Seventeen MVP patients (89.5%) had fibrosis by biopsy. BB-LGE + in LV and PM was identified in 5 (26.3%) patients, while DB-LGE + was observed in LV in 9 (47.4%) and in PM in 15 (78.9%) patients. DB-LGE + in PM was the only technique that showed no difference with detection of LV fibrosis by biopsy. Posteromedial PM was more frequently affected than the anterolateral (73.7% vs. 36.8%, p = 0.039) and correlated with biopsy-proven LV fibrosis (Rho 0.529, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: CMR imaging in MVP patients referred for surgery shows a dark-appearance of the PM with higher T1 and ECV values compared with healthy volunteers. The presence of a positive DB-LGE at the posteromedial PM by CMR may serve as a better predictor of biopsy-proven LV inferobasal fibrosis than conventional CMR techniques.

Degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Degenerative mitral regurgitation is a major threat to public health and affects at least 24 million people worldwide, with an estimated 0.88 million disability-adjusted life years and 34,000 deaths in 2019. Improving access to diagnostic testing and to timely curative therapies such as surgical mitral valve repair will improve the outcomes of many individuals. Imaging such as echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance allow accurate diagnosis and have provided new insights for a better definition of the most appropriate timing for intervention. Advances in surgical techniques allow minimally invasive treatment with durable results that last for ≥20 years. Transcatheter therapies can provide good results in select patients who are considered high risk for surgery and have a suitable anatomy; the durability of such repairs is up to 5 years. Translational science has provided new knowledge on the pathophysiology of degenerative mitral regurgitation and may pave the road to the development of medical therapies that could be used to halt the progression of the disease.

Comparison of aortic blood flow rotational direction in healthy volunteers and patients with bicuspid aortic valves using volumetric velocity-sensitive cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The rotational direction (RD) of helical blood flow can be classified as either a clockwise (RD+) or counter-clockwise (RD-) flow. We hypothesized that this simple classification might not be sufficient for analysis in vivo and a simultaneous existence of RD+/- may occur. We utilized volumetric velocity-sensitive cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) to analyze rotational blood flow in the thoracic aorta. Methods: Forty volunteers (22 females; mean age, 41±16 years) and seventeen patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) (9 females; mean age, 42±14 years) were prospectively included. The RDs and the calculation of the rotating blood volumes (RBVs) in the thoracic aorta were performed using a pathline-projection strategy. Results: We could confirm a mainly clockwise RD in the ascending, descending aorta and in the aortic arch. Furthermore, we found a simultaneous existence of RD+/RD-. The RD+/--volume in the ascending aorta was significantly higher in BAV patients, the mean RD+/RD- percentage was approximately 80%/20% vs. 60%/40% in volunteers (P<0.01). The maximum RBV always occurred during systole. There was significantly more clockwise than counter-clockwise rotational flow in the ascending aorta (P<0.01) and the aortic arch (P<0.01), but no significant differences in the descending aorta (P=0.48). Conclusions: A simultaneous occurrence of RD+/RD- indicates that a simple categorization in either of both is insufficient to describe blood flow in vivo. Rotational flow in the ascending aorta and in the aortic arch differs significantly from flow in the descending aorta. BAV patients show significantly more clockwise rotating volume in the ascending aorta compared to healthy volunteers.

Aortic arch redo surgery: early and mid-term outcomes in 120 patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the indications, surgical extent and results of treatment, as well as determine the risk factors for adverse outcomes after redo arch surgery. METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2022, 120 patients underwent aortic arch reoperations after primary proximal aortic surgery. We retrospectively analysed perioperative data, as well as early and mid-term outcomes in these patients. RESULTS: Indications for arch reintervention included new aortic aneurysm in 34 patients (28.3%), expanding post-dissection aneurysm in 36 (30.0%), aortic graft infection in 39 (32.5%) and new aortic dissection in 9 cases. Two patients underwent reoperation due to iatrogenic complications. Thirty-one patients (25.8%) had concomitant endocarditis. In-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 11.7% and 15.0%, respectively. Stroke was observed in 11 (9.2%) and paraplegia in 1 patient. Prior surgery due to aneurysm [odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-17.3] and critical preoperative state (odds ratio 5.9; 95% CI 1.5-23.7) were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Overall 1- and 5-year survival was 65.8 ± 8.8% and 51.2 ± 10.6%, respectively. Diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio 2.4; 95% CI 1.0-5.1) and peripheral arterial disease (hazard ratio 4.7; 95% CI 1.1-14.3) were independent predictors of late death. The cumulative incidence of reoperations was 12.6% (95% CI 6.7-20.4%) at 5 years. Accounting for mortality as a competing event, connective tissue disorders (subdistribution hazard ratio 4.5; 95% CI 1.6-15.7) and interval between primary and redo surgery (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.06) were independent predictors of reoperations after redo arch surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being technically demanding, aortic arch reoperations are feasible and can be performed with acceptable results.