A new alternative to the Bentall procedure: aortic valve neocuspidization (Ozaki procedure) with the Florida sleeve aortic root reconstruction.

Aortic valve operations for the sinus of Valsalva aneurysm are challenging. Several techniques are described in the literature for these kinds of pathologies, such as the David procedure, the Yacoub procedure and the Bentall procedure. The Florida sleeve technique was described in the last decade as a valve-sparing technique for a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. More recently, the J-Mart technique was described: It combines the Florida sleeve technique with aortic valve replacement. Our goal was to describe our new technique, which depends mainly on combining the Florida sleeve technique and the Ozaki procedure in a small group of patients who had aortic valve disease and a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Procedure Provides Better Postoperative Outcomes When Compared to Rapid Deployement Aortic Valves.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the early results of rapid deployment aortic valves (RD-AVR) and aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) techniques. METHODS: Between December 2019 to May 2022, 104 patients were operated on with aortic stenosis by RD-AVR (N = 52) and AVNeo (N = 52) techniques. Patients with isolated aortic valve stenosis and aortic stenosis concomittant with planned other cardiac surgeries were included. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in the RD-AVR and AVNeo groups were 67.4 ± 7.8 vs. 62.9 ± 8.7, respectively. Aortic cross-clamp time in the RD-AVR group was 56.7 ± 23.3 minutes, while it was 104.1 ± 27.9 minutes in the AVNeo group (P < 0.001). Cardiopulmonary bypass time in the RD-AVR group and in the AVNeo group was 89.8 ± 27.6 minutes and 141.8 ± 36.7 minutes, respectively (P < 0.001). Permanent pacemaker become necessary in four patients in the RD-AVR group secondary to type 2 AV block. Paravalvular leak was observed in six patients, who underwent RD-AVR, while grade 2 central aortic regurgitation was observed in one patient in the AVNeo group. Hospital mortality was 8% in the RD-AVR group and 6% in the AVNeo group (P = 0.696). CONCLUSIONS: AVNeo procedure is a feasible technique in all age groups of patients with successful hemodynamic results in the early postoperative period and with the advantage of not requiring anticoagulants. It also can be applied with other cardiac surgical interventions.

Robotic-assisted beating heart mitral valve surgery: Preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: Robotic mitral valve surgery is a challenging issue, particularly in patients who are not suitable for aortic cross-clamping. In this study, we aimed to determine the feasibility and benefits of robotic, beating heart mitral valve surgery. METHODS: From February 2019 to February 2022, 17 patients underwent robotic beating heart mitral valve surgery. Fourteen of the patients had previous cardiac surgery. The mean age was 58.1 ± 10.3. Dense periaortic adhesions, heavily calcified aorta, and low ejection fraction were retained as indications for beating heart surgery. RESULTS: Mitral valve replacement was performed in 14 patients. Mitral ring annuloplasty was performed in two patients with low ejection fraction (EF). A severe paravalvular leak was repaired in one patient. Additional tricuspid annuloplasties were performed in three patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass time were 185.6 ± 55 min. There were no cases of conversion to sternotomy or thoracotomy. No cerebrovascular event occurred in the follow-up. One patient died as a result of secondary hepatorenal syndrome and multiorgan failure. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic beating heart mitral valve surgery is a feasible and effective technique with favorable early and mid-term results, especially in patients who are not suitable for aortic cross-clamping, secondary to periaortic adhesions, severe aortic calcifications, and low ejection fraction.

Surgical Correction of a Complex Aorto-Mitral Pathology.

Pseudoaneurysm of mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa is a rare entity related to mostly infective endocarditis and surgical trauma of aortic valve. Its diagnosis may be missed following trans-thoracic echocardiographic assessment. Therefore, further imaging investigation such as transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomographic angiography may play a key diagnostic role. Here we present the successful surgical treatment of a 30- year-old male patient referred for surgical treatment of mixed severe calcific aortic valve disease and apparently without additional anatomical abnormalities.

Unrecognized indication for aortic valve neocuspidization: Patient with warfarin-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe disorders, characterized by necrosis and epidermal detachment. Most important known acquired etiological factor is medications. Warfarin is one of the most common medications of cardiac valve surgery, which may rarely cause SJS or TEN. From this perspective, Aortic Valve Neocuspidization (AVNeo) procedure may be a good treatment option for such kind of patients, with a unique advantage of anticoagulation free postoperative course. In this report we aimed to share a patient with warfarin-induced STS/TEN, who was successfully treated with AVNeo procedure and mitral valve replacement.

Robotic repair of atrial septal defect with partial pulmonary venous return anomaly: Our 5 year experience.

INTRODUCTION: Partial pulmonary venous return anomalies (PPVRA) were not considered as a good candidate for robotic surgery in early time of robotic cardiac surgery. In this study, we present our experience in patients undergoing robotic atrial septal defect (ASD) and PPVRA surgery. METHODS: Between November 2014 and January 2020, data of 21 patients underwent robotic ASD with PPVRA was collected. Inclusion criterion was presence of right-sided PPVRA with ASD. All operations were performed robotically. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 26.7 ± 10.3 years. Seventeen patients (81%) had superior-caval ASD with supracardiac PPVRA and double-patch technique was used. Four patients had inferior-caval ASD with intracardiac PPVRA and single-patch technique was preferred. Cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were 92.8 ± 29.6 and 127.8 ± 38.1, respectively. There was no mortality. One patient had atrioventricular-block and required pacemaker. CONCLUSION: Robotic repair of ASD with PPVRA is feasible and effective method as an alternative to conventional surgery.

Early- and mid-term results of cryoablation of atrial fibrillation concomitant with robotic mitral valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia, which is also associated with mitral valve disease. Surgical ablation is still known to be an important procedure in restoring sinus rhythm (SR) concomitant with mitral valve surgery (MVS). In this study, we aimed to pres-ent our early- and mid-term result of AF cryoablation during robotic MVS. METHODS: Between November 2014 and January 2020, total 34 patients who underwent robotic MVS with concomitant AF ablation were ret-rospectively analyzed. Ten patients had a <1 year AF history, 14 had 1-5 years, and 10 had >5 years. The primary end point of the study was postoperative AF recurrence. RESULTS: Total 32 and 2 patients underwent mitral valve replacement and mitral valve repair, respectively. Mean aortic cross-clamp and cardio-pulmonary bypass times were 141.8±32.1 min and 196±25.6 min, respectively. The SR was restored with the removal of cross-clamp and cardiac junctional rhythm was observed in 29 (85.3%) and 5 (14.7%) patients, respectively. Two in-hospital deaths secondary to low cardiac output and hepatorenal failure were recorded. Among the rest, 24 (75%) patients were in SR, 6 (18.75%) in AF, and 2 (6.25%) in paced rhythm at discharge. CONCLUSION: Robotic cryoablation of AF during MVS is a feasible method with favorable early- and mid-term results.

The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio as a new predictor for postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the predictive significance of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio for postoperative atrial fibrillation occurrence in patients who were underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: Among 830 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2016 and February 2020, 137 patients with no prior arrhythmia history were included in this cross sectional study. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-seven (16.5%) patients developed atrial fibrillation in postoperative period. Patients who experienced postoperative atrial fibrillation were more likely to be older but displayed similar rates of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For prediction of postoperative atrial fibrillation development, diagnostic odds ratio (OR) and positive likelihood ratio of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio value (OR: 1.854; confidence interval [CI]: 1.598-2.142; P < .001) was higher than serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels. (OR: 1.159; CI: 1.115-1.201; P < .001; OR: 0.438; CI: 0.258-0.865; P < .001, respectively). Which means that C-reactive protein/albumin ratio may detect postoperative atrial fibrillation development better C-reactive protein itself. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, patients who developed postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting had significantly higher preoperative C-reactive protein/albumin ratio levels than patients who remained in normal sinus rhythm in the postoperative period. Also, higher C-reactive protein/albumin ratio value was one of the independent predictive factors for postoperative atrial fibrillation. Therefore, we concluded that evaluating preoperative C-reactive protein/albumin ratio value might provide early identification of patients with high risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Taurine relaxes human radial artery through potassium channel opening action.

The vascular actions and mechanisms of taurine were investigated in the isolated human radial artery (RA). RA rings were suspended in isolated organ baths and tension was recorded isometrically. First, a precontraction was achieved by adding potassium chloride (KCl, 45 mM) or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, 30 µM) to organ baths. When the precontractions were stable, taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) was added cumulatively. Antagonistic effect of taurine on calcium chloride (10 µM to 10 mM)-induced contractions was investigated. Taurine-induced relaxations were also tested in the presence of the K+ channel inhibitors tetraethylammonium (1 mM), glibenclamide (10 µM) and 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). Taurine did not affect the basal tone but inhibited the contraction induced by 5-HT and KCl. Calcium chloride-induced contractions were significantly inhibited in the presence of taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) (p<0.05). The relaxation to taurine was inhibited by tetraethylammonium (p<0.05). However, glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine did not affect taurine-induced relaxations. Present experiments show that taurine inhibits 5-HT and KCl-induced contractions in RA, and suggest that large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels may be involved in taurine-induced relaxation of RA.

Oxaliplatin Induced Digital Ischemia and Necrosis.

Introduction. Digital ischemia is a rare complication of several chemotherapeutic medications. We aimed to present a patient with digital ischemia, secondary to a new generation chemotherapeutic drug, oxaliplatin. Case Report. 62-year-old woman presented to our department with severe pain, paresthesia, and distal acrocyanosis on her right hand fingertips. Her complaints started five days after the third cycle of a chemotherapy protocol consisting of 5-fluorourasil (5-FU), folinic acid, and oxaliplatin due to advanced colon carcinoma. On physical examination, hemorrhagic and partly ulcerative lesions were detected at her right hand fingertips. Radial and ulnar pulses were absent at affected side. Digital subtraction angiography revealed severe vascular resistance in the affected extremity. Iloprost trometamol treatment was started with the dosage of 1 ng/kg/min. In addition, low-molecule-weight heparin was used for preventing possible microemboli. Symptomatic relief was provided after five days, and patient was discharged on 7th day of treatment. Discussion. The pathogenesis of oxaliplatin induced vascular toxicity remains unclear. Endothelial damage, increased adherence of platelets, deposition of immune complexes as an immunologic effect of oxaliplatin, and hypercoagulable state may be the reason for arterial thrombosis, digital microemboli, possible digital ischemia, and their several consequences.

Huge Intravascular Tumor Extending to the Heart: Leiomyomatosis.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare neoplasm characterized by histologically benign-looking smooth muscle cell tumor mass, which is growing within the intrauterine and extrauterine venous system. In this report we aimed to present an unusual case of IVL, which is originating from iliac vein and extended throughout to right cardiac chambers. A 49-year-old female patient, who was treated with warfarin sodium due to right iliac vein thrombosis, was admitted to our department with intermittent dyspnea, palpitation, and dizziness. Physical examination was almost normal except bilateral pretibial edema. On magnetic resonance venography, there was an intravenous mass, which is originated from right internal iliac vein and extended into the inferior vena cava. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a huge mass extending from the inferior vena cava through the right atrium, with obvious venous occlusion. Thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic MR showed an intravascular mass, which is concordant with leiomyomatosis. Surgery was performed through median sternotomy. A huge mass with 25-cm length and 186-gr weight was excised through right atrial oblique incision, on beating heart with cardiopulmonary bypass. Histopathologic assessment was compatible with IVL. Exact strategy for the surgical treatment of IVL is still controversial. We used one-stage approach, with complete resection of a huge IVL extending from right atrium to right iliac vein. In such cases, high recurrence rate is a significant problem; therefore it should be kept in mind.