Contemporary experience with the Commando procedure for anterior mitral anular calcification.

Objective: Anterior mitral anular calcification, particularly in radiation heart disease, and previous valve replacement with destroyed intervalvular fibrosa are challenging for prosthesis sizing and placement. The Commando procedure with intervalvular fibrosa reconstruction permits double-valve replacement in these challenging conditions. We referenced outcomes after Commando procedures to standard double-valve replacements. Methods: From January 2011 to January 2022, 129 Commando procedures and 1191 aortic and mitral double-valve replacements were performed at the Cleveland Clinic, excluding endocarditis. Reasons for the Commando were severe calcification after radiation (n = 67), without radiation (n = 43), and others (n = 19). Commando procedures were referenced to a subset of double-valve replacements using balancing-score methods (109 pairs). Results: Between balanced groups, Commando versus double-valve replacement had higher total calcium scores (median 6140 vs 2680 HU, P = .03). Hospital outcomes were similar, including operative mortality (12/11% vs 8/7.3%, P = .35) and reoperation for bleeding (9/8.3% vs 5/4.6%, P = .28). Survival and freedom from reoperation at 5 years were 54% versus 67% (P = .33) and 87% versus 100% (P = .04), respectively. Higher calcium score was associated with lower survival after double-valve replacement but not after the Commando. The Commando procedure had lower aortic valve mean gradients at 4 years (9.4 vs 11 mm Hg, P = .04). After Commando procedures for calcification, 5-year survival was 60% and 59% with and without radiation, respectively (P = .47). Conclusions: The Commando procedure with reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrosa destroyed by mitral anular calcification, radiation, or previous surgery demonstrates acceptable outcomes similar to standard double-valve replacement. More experience and long-term outcomes are required to refine patient selection for and application of the Commando approach.

Perioperative Assessment of the Hemodynamic Ventriculoarterial Junction of the Aortic Root by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography.

Improved strategies in aortic valve-preserving operations appreciate the dynamic, three-dimensional complexity of the aortic root and its valve. This depends not only on detailed four-dimensional imaging of the planar dimensions of the aortic root but also on quantitative assessment of the valvar leaflets and their competency. The zones of apposition and resulting hemodynamic ventriculoarterial junction formed in diastole determine valvar competency. Current understanding and assessment of this junction is limited, often relying on intraoperative direct surgical inspection. However, this direct inspection itself is limited by evaluation in a nonhemodynamic state with limited field of view. In this review, we discuss the anatomy of the aortic root, including its hemodynamic junction. We review current echocardiographic approaches toward interrogating the incompetent aortic valve for presurgical planning. Furthermore, we introduce and standardize a complementary approach to assessing this hemodynamic ventriculoarterial junction by three-dimensional echocardiography to further personalize presurgical planning for aortic valve surgery.

Outcomes of aortic root replacement with tricuspid aortic valve reimplantation in patients with residual aortic regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize residual aortic regurgitation (AR), identify its risk factors, and evaluate outcomes following aortic root replacement with aortic valve reimplantation. METHODS: From 2002 to 2020, 756 patients with a tricuspid aortic valve underwent elective reimplantation for aortic root aneurysm. AR on transthoracic echocardiograms before hospital discharge was graded as mild or greater. Machine learning was used to identify risk factors for residual AR and subsequent aortic valve reoperation. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (8.6%) had mild (58 [7.7%]) or moderate (7 [0.93%]) residual postoperative AR. They had more severe preoperative AR (38% vs 12%; P < .0001), thickened cusps (7.7% vs 2.2%; P = .008), aortic valve repair (38% vs 23%; P = .004), and multiple returns to cardiopulmonary bypass for additional repair (11% vs 3.3%; P = .003) than those without AR. Predictors of residual AR were severe preoperative AR, smaller aortic root graft, and concomitant cusp repair. At 10 years, patients with versus without residual AR had more moderate or severe AR (48% vs 7.0%; P < .0001) and freedom from reoperation was worse (89% vs 98%; P < .0001). Residual AR was a risk factor for early reoperation. Concomitant coronary bypass, lower body mass index, and lower ejection fraction were risk factors for late reoperation. Ten-year survival was similar among patients with and without residual AR (97% vs 93%; P = .43). CONCLUSIONS: Residual AR after elective reimplantation of a tricuspid aortic valve for aortic root aneurysm is uncommon. Patients with severe preoperative AR and those who undergo valve repair have higher risk for residual AR, which can progress and increase risk of aortic valve reoperation.

Multifocal disease progression and subsequent intervention in patients with actin alpha-2 variants: A single-center experience.

OBJECTIVES: To describe patient characteristics and indications for surgical intervention, reoperation, and outcomes in patients with actin alpha-2 (ACTA2) variants. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study with prospective follow-up was performed for 38 patients with an ACTA2 variant. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2020, 26 (70%) patients underwent surgery; 11 remain under surveillance (mean follow-up, 7.5 ± 5 years). Median age at index operation was 42 (range, 10-69) years, with 4 pediatric cases. Thoracic aortic aneurysm was present in 19 (73%) patients (mean adult max diameter, 5.2 ± 0.8 cm; pediatric z score, 10.7 ± 5.4). Aortic dissection was present in 13 (50%) patients, with 4 (15%) having type A dissection. Operations included replacement of the aortic root in 16 (17%), ascending aorta in 20 (77%), and aortic arch in 14 (54%) patients. Four (15%) patients had coronary artery disease, and 2 (7.7%) underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. There was no operative mortality, stroke, reoperation for bleeding, or dialysis-dependent renal failure; One (3.8%) patient developed acute on chronic kidney injury. Three patients (12%) required prolonged ventilation. Eleven (42%) patients underwent 26 reoperations, median time 45 (range, 4-147) months, including 5 open thoracoabdominal aneurysm repairs. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ACTA2 variants frequently develop aortic aneurysm and are at risk of aortic dissection and coronary artery disease. However, age at diagnosis and symptoms at presentation are highly variable. Multiple operations are often required for disease management, particularly after dissection. Close monitoring and timely intervention are important in mitigating disease progression and improving outcomes.

Re-operation for a detached left coronary button from an aortic root conduit causing a large retro-sternal pseudoaneurysm.

Our goal was to replace the previous composite graft with a bioprosthesis. The approach involved axillary artery and femoral vein cannulation and cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia for re-entry of the chest and deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest to get control of and to clamp the aorta when entering the pseudoaneurysm. The myocardial protection strategy was general cooling and retrograde cardioplegia through direct coronary sinus cannulation and antegrade cardioplegia in the coronary ostia when possible. After the pseudoaneurysm was entered, the graft was divided in the middle, and the distal end was dissected out under circulatory arrest sufficiently to allow clamping and to resume systemic circulation. The graft was not dissected out beyond the previous anastomosis. Under another period of circulatory arrest, the distal graft was removed to the mid-arch, and a new graft was attached with a hemiarch anastomosis. Then the root was dissected out, and both coronary ostia were mobilized. The mechanical aortic valve and previous graft material were explanted. A new bioprosthetic valved conduit was used to replace the aortic root, and the coronary buttons were re-implanted directly in the new graft.

What determines outcomes in multivalve reoperations? Effect of patient and surgical complexity.

OBJECTIVE: Patient characteristics, risks, and outcomes associated with reoperative multivalve cardiac surgery are poorly characterized. Effect of patient variables and surgical components of each reoperation were evaluated with regard to operative mortality. METHODS: From January 2008 to January 2022, 2324 patients with previous cardiac surgery underwent 2352 reoperations involving repair or replacement of multiple cardiac valves at Cleveland Clinic. Mean age was 66 ± 14 years. Number of surgical components representing surgical complexity (valve procedures, aortic surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, and atrial fibrillation procedures) ranged from 2 to 6. Random forest for imbalanced data was used to identify risk factors for operative mortality. RESULTS: Surgery was elective in 1327 (56%), urgent in 1006 (43%), and emergency in 19 (0.8%). First-time reoperations were performed in 1796 (76%) and 556 (24%) had 2 or more previous operations. Isolated multivalve operations comprised 54% (1265) of cases; 1087 incorporated additional surgical components. Two valves were operated on in 80% (1889) of cases, 3 in 20% (461), and 4 in 0.09% (2). Operative mortality was 4.2% (98 out of 2352), with 1.7% (12 out of 704) for elective, isolated multivalve reoperations. For each added surgical component, operative mortality incrementally increased, from 2.4% for 2 components (24 out of 1009) to 17% for ≥5 (5 out of 30). Predictors of operative mortality included coronary artery bypass grafting, surgical urgency, cardiac, renal dysfunction, peripheral artery disease, New York Heart Association functional class, and anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Elective, isolated reoperative multivalve surgery can be performed with low mortality. Surgical complexity coupled with key physiologic factors can be used to inform surgical risk and decision making.

Survival and repair durability in patients undergoing concomitant aortic valve reimplantation and mitral valve repair.

Objective: The study objective was to determine repair durability and survival in patients with and without connective tissue disorders undergoing concomitant aortic valve reimplantation and mitral valve repair. Methods: From 2002 to 2019, 68 patients underwent concomitant aortic valve reimplantation and mitral valve repair, including 27 patients with Marfan syndrome (39.7%). Follow-up echocardiograms were analyzed using nonlinear multiphase mixed-effects cumulative logistic regression. The regurgitation grade over time was estimated by averaging patient-specific profiles. Survival and freedom from reoperation were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: At 7 years, 11% of patients had aortic insufficiency greater than mild (severe in 2 patients). There was no difference in greater than mild aortic insufficiency between patients with or without Marfan syndrome (P = .37). Twenty percent of patients had progressed to mitral regurgitation greater than mild (severe in only 1 patient). The prevalence of recurrent mitral regurgitation was higher in those without Marfan syndrome, with greater than mild regurgitation increasing to 24% by 2 years and remaining constant thereafter (P = .04). Freedom from reoperation on the aortic valve or mitral valve was 83% at 10 years and did not differ between Marfan syndrome groups. There were no cases of perioperative mortality. Survival at 5 and 10 years was 94% and 87%, respectively, without a difference between those with and without Marfan syndrome. Conclusions: Patients can undergo a total repair strategy using combined aortic valve reimplantation and mitral valve repair procedures with a low risk of mortality and complications, with favorable freedom from both residual valve regurgitation and reoperation.

Age is superior to aortopathy phenotype as a predictor of aortic mechanics in patients with bicuspid valve.

OBJECTIVES: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy is defined by 3 phenotypes-root, ascending, and diffuse-based on region of maximal aortic dilation. We sought to determine the association between aortic mechanical behavior and aortopathy phenotype versus other clinical variables. METHODS: From August 1, 2016, to March 1, 2023, 375 aortic specimens were collected from 105 patients undergoing elective ascending aortic aneurysm repair for BAV aortopathy. Planar biaxial data (191 specimens) informed constitutive descriptors of the arterial wall that were combined with in vivo geometry and hemodynamics to predict stiffness, stress, and energy density under physiologic loads. Uniaxial testing (184 specimens) evaluated failure stretch and failure Cauchy stress. Boosting regression was implemented to model the association between clinical variables and mechanical metrics. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in mechanical metrics between the root phenotype (N = 33, 31%) and ascending/diffuse phenotypes (N = 72, 69%). Biaxial testing demonstrated older age was associated with increased circumferential stiffness, decreased stress, and decreased energy density. On uniaxial testing, longitudinally versus circumferentially oriented specimens failed at significantly lower Cauchy stress (50th [15th, 85th percentiles]: 1.0 [0.7, 1.6] MPa vs 1.9 [1.3, 3.1] MPa; P < .001). Age was associated with decreased failure stretch and stress. Elongated ascending aortas were also associated with decreased failure stress. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic mechanical function under physiologic and failure conditions in BAV aortopathy is robustly associated with age and poorly associated with aortopathy phenotype. Data suggesting that the root phenotype of BAV aortopathy portends worse outcomes are unlikely to be related to aberrant, phenotype-specific tissue mechanics.

Emergency and Compassionate Use of a Novel Ascending Endograft for Ascending and Arch Aortic Pathology.

PURPOSE: Patients with complicated ascending aortic pathology, including patients with acute type A aortic dissection may be at extreme risk for open repair. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), infrequently used for the ascending aorta, may be considered an alternative in this setting. We describe early results for emergency and compassionate (E&C) use of a novel endograft, specifically designed for use to treat pathology of the ascending aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case series evaluated 19 patients (mean age, 68.84±13.12 years; 57.9% female) treated with ascending TEVAR for acute and chronic acute (4), subacute (1), or chronic (1) aortic dissection or pseudoaneurysm (13). Six of the 19 patients (31.5%) were treated under compassionate use and 13 patients (68.4%) were treated under the emergency use exemption. Ten patients (52.6%) received additional devices to extend treatment into the arch and descending aorta. RESULTS: Device delivery was achieved in all patients (100%). Thirty-day mortality and stroke occurred in 3 patients (15.8%) and in 1 patient (5.3%), respectively. In 1 patient (5.3%), with an Unanticipated Adverse Device Event, the aorta ruptured when the endograft eroded into the adventitial portion of dissection site at the posterior aspect of the ascending wall. Devices were explanted in 2 patients (10.5%), 353 and 610 days after the index procedure, respectively. Six patients had endoleaks (31.6%), including type I (n=2, 10.5%), type II endoleaks (n=3, 15.8%), and indeterminate endoleak (n=1, 5.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Delivery and deployment of a novel ascending thoracic stent graft with or without an additional branched arch extension is feasible in patients with complex anatomy and pathology, including acute aortic dissection and pseudoaneurysm. Additional experience with this novel device will further refine the patient population most suitable for endovascular ascending aortic repair for these pathologies. CLINICAL IMPACT: This study describes a novel stent graft specifically designed for treatment of ascending aortic pathology, including acute type A dissection. The patients described in this series constituted a group outside the formal US FDA sponsored clinical trial, and were those accepted as part of an emergency and compassionate use basis.

Increasing surgeon experience and cumulative institutional experience drive decreasing hospital mortality after reoperative cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to identify the effects of surgeon experience and age, in the context of cumulative institutional experience, on risk-adjusted hospital mortality after cardiac reoperations. METHODS: From 1951 to 2020, 36 surgeons performed 160,338 cardiac operations, including 32,871 reoperations. Hospital death was modeled using a novel tree-bagged, generalized varying-coefficient method with 6 variables reflecting cumulative surgeon and institutional experience up to each cardiac operation: (1) number of total and (2) reoperative cardiac operations performed by a surgeon, (3) cumulative institutional number of total and (4) reoperative cardiac operations, (5) year of surgery, and (6) surgeon age at each operation. These were adjusted for 46 patient characteristics and surgical components. RESULTS: There were 1470 hospital deaths after cardiac reoperations (4.5%). At the institutional level, hospital death decreased exponentially and became less variable, leveling at 1.2% after approximately 14,000 cardiac reoperations. For all surgeons as a group, hospital death decreased rapidly over the first 750 reoperations and then gradually decreased with increasing experience to less than 1% after approximately 4000 reoperations. Surgeon age up to 75 years was associated with ever-decreasing hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon age and experience have been implicated in adverse surgical outcomes, particularly after complex cardiac operations, with young surgeons being novices and older surgeons having declining ability. However, at Cleveland Clinic, outcomes of cardiac reoperations improved with increasing primary surgeon experience, without any suggestion to mid-70s of an age cutoff. Patients were protected by the cumulative background of institutional experience that created a culture of safety and teamwork that mitigated adverse events after cardiac surgery.

Branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair: Early results from a physician-sponsored investigational device exemption study.

BACKGROUND: Multisegment thoracic aortic disease typically requires total aortic arch replacement, affects a heterogenous population, and carries a high risk even at centers of excellence. Risk has been associated with the duration of operation and complexity of repair. A novel branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair (B-SAFER) technique has been developed at our center and is currently being studied as a physician-sponsored investigation device exemption (PS-IDE). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the early safety of using this investigational technique to treat the proximal aorta in subjects with aortic disease involving multiple segments. METHODS: This prospective, single center, nonrandomized study enrolled patients undergoing B-SAFER for acute aortic syndrome (n = 73), aortic aneurysm with chronic aortic dissection (n = 68), degenerative aortic aneurysm (n = 33), or congenital aortic arch disease (n = 4). Devices are delivered antegrade under hypothermic circulatory arrest, and the arch reconstruction is performed as a single anastomosis single stent (SASS; n = 70), single anastomosis multiple stent (SAMA; n = 68), multiple anastomosis single stent (MASS; n = 21), or multiple anastomosis multiple stent (MAMS; n = 16) reconstruction. The primary safety endpoints were operative mortality, disabling stroke, and paraparesis/paralysis. RESULTS: Between May 27, 2021, and December 31, 2022, 178 patients underwent B-SAFER in the configurations and for the indications as described above. The median patient age was 65 years (range, 21 to 85 years), and 52 (29%) were female. The median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 188 minutes (interquartile range [IQR], 155 to 226 minutes), and 97% of the patients underwent repair with antegrade brain perfusion for a median of 46 minutes (IQR, 38 to 61 minutes). Operative mortality occurred in 10 patients (5.6%, including 6 [8.2%] with acute dissection, 2 [2.9%] with chronic dissection, 2 [6.1%] with degenerative aneurysm, and 0 with a congenital disorder), disabling stroke in 5 patients (2.9%), and paraparesis in 1 patient. Other serious complications included respiratory failure (n = 20; 11.4%) and acute kidney injury (n = 18; 10%). Thirty-two patients (18%) had undergone second-stage repairs (28 endovascular and 4 open), with 1 operative mortality after that procedure due to distal rupture. Estimated survival was 95% at 30 days, 88% at 90 days, 84% at 6 months, and 79% at 1 year. One-year survival differed by indication (72% for acute dissection, 91% for chronic dissection, 71% for degenerative aneurysm, and 100% for congenital disorders). CONCLUSIONS: The B-SAFER technique for total arch replacement in a complex cohort of patients with various indications for surgery is a safe and reproducible operation, as demonstrated by the early results from a very inclusive PS-IDE study. Further follow-up and analysis will help refine the technique. Novel devices to perform this procedure should be developed.

Longitudinal versus circumferential biomechanical behavior of the aneurysmal ascending aorta.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluate the independent effects of patient and aortic tissue characteristics on biaxial physiologic mechanical metrics in aneurysmal and nonaneurysmal tissues, and uniaxial failure metrics in aneurysmal tissue, comparing longitudinal and circumferential behavior. METHODS: From February 2017 to October 2022, 382 aortic specimens were collected from 134 patients; 268 specimens underwent biaxial testing, and 114 specimens underwent uniaxial testing. Biaxial testing evaluated Green-Lagrange transition strain and low and high tangent moduli. Uniaxial testing evaluated failure stretch, Cauchy stress, and low and high tangent moduli. Longitudinal gradient boosting models were implemented to estimate mechanical metrics and covariates of importance. RESULTS: On biaxial testing, nonaneurysmal tissue was less deformable and exhibited a lower transition strain than aneurysmal tissue in the longitudinal (0.18 vs 0.30, P < .001) and circumferential (0.25 vs 0.30, P = .01) directions. Older age and increasing ascending aortic length contributed most to predicting transition strain. On uniaxial testing, longitudinal specimens failed at lower stretch (1.4 vs 1.5, P = .003) and Cauchy stress (1.0 vs 1.9 kPa, P < .001) than circumferential specimens. Failure stretch and Cauchy stress were most strongly associated with tissue orientation and decreased sharply with older age. Age, ascending aortic length, and tissue thickness were the most frequent covariates predicting mechanical metrics across 10 prediction models. CONCLUSIONS: Age was the strongest predictor of mechanical behavior. After adjusting for age, nonaneurysmal tissue was less deformable than aneurysmal tissue. Differences in longitudinal and circumferential mechanics contribute to tissue dysfunction and failure in ascending aneurysms. This highlights the need to better understand the effects of age, ascending aortic length, and thickness on clinical aortic behavior.

Atrial Fibrillation after Descending Aorta Repair: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: As risks of repairing the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta diminish, common complications that may prolong hospital stay, or actually increase risk, require attention. One such complication is postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we characterized prevalence of, risk factors for, and effects of postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) after descending and thoracoabdominal aorta repair. METHODS: From January 2000 to January 2011, 696 patients underwent open descending or thoracoabdominal aorta repair at Cleveland Clinic. Operations approached via median sternotomy (n = 178) and patients treated preoperatively for arrhythmias (32 amiodarone, 9 paced) or in AF on preoperative electrocardiogram (n = 14) were excluded, leaving 463. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors for PoAF. Temporal relation of PoAF with postoperative morbidities was determined, and outcomes following PoAF were compared between propensity-matched pairs. RESULTS: New-onset PoAF occurred in 101 patients (22%) at a median 68 hours of postincision. Risk factors included older age (p = 0.002) and history of remote AF (p = 0.0004) but not operative details, such as pericardiotomy for cardiac cannulation. Hypoperfusion and neurologic complications tended to precede PoAF, whereas sepsis, respiratory failure, and dialysis followed. Among 94 propensity-matched patient pairs, those developing PoAF were more likely to experience hypoperfusion (p = 0.006), respiratory failure (p = 0.009), dialysis (p = 0.04), paralysis (p < 0.0001), longer intensive care unit stay (median 7 vs. 5 d, p = 0.02), and longer postoperative hospital stay (median 15 vs. 13 d, p = 0.004). However, hospital death was similar (6/94 PoAF [6.4%] vs. 7/94 no PoAF [7.4%], p = 0.8). CONCLUSION: PoAF after descending thoracic aorta surgery is relatively common and a part of a constellation of other serious complications prolonging postoperative recovery. While PoAF was associated with adverse events, it did not impact postoperative cost and mortality. Descending thoracic aorta surgery is by itself comorbid enough, which is likely why PoAF does not have a more significant effect on postoperative recovery and cost.

Comparison of Outcomes and Discharge Location After Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement With Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Published trials have shown that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a safe alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) after prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, differences in morbidity and discharge location between the 2 procedures are less thoroughly characterized. Methods: From January 1, 2006 to January 7, 2020, 1059 patients with severe aortic stenosis after CABG underwent either SAVR (n = 315/30%), transfemoral TAVR (TF-TAVR) (n = 575/54%), or alternative access TAVR (n = 169/16%) at a single, tertiary care, academic institution. Propensity-weighted matching was used to compare morbidity, mortality, length of postprocedure stay, and nonhome discharge between TF-TAVR (effective n = 163) and SAVR (effective n = 163) groups. Results: Among propensity-weighted groups, the TF-TAVR group experienced fewer transfusions than the SAVR group (effective n = 16 [9.5%] vs. 132 [81%]; p < 0 .0001), less new-onset atrial fibrillation (effective n = 5.1 [3.1%] vs. 43 [27%]; p = 0.009), and less prolonged mechanical ventilation >24 â€‹hours (effective n = 0.41 [0.25%] vs. 30 [18%]; p <0.0001). Permanent pacemaker implant was 9.3% (effective n = 13) after TF-TAVR vs. 5.5% (effective n = 7.9; p = 0.2) after SAVR, stroke 0.41% (effective n = 0.67) vs. 2.1% (effective n = 3.5; p = 0.2), and operative mortality 0.5% (effective n = 0.8) vs. 1.7% (effective n = 2.8; p = 0.8). The TF-TAVR group had shorter postprocedure lengths of stay (2.0 vs. 7.6 days; p < 0.0001). Discharge home was more common after TF-TAVR than SAVR (effective n = 156 [95%] vs. 118 [73%]; p = 0.01). Conclusions: For patients developing severe aortic stenosis after CABG, TF-TAVR rather than SAVR should be strongly considered because of lower morbidity, shorter length of stay, and greater likelihood of home discharge.

Ascending Aortic Endograft and Thoracic Aortic Deformation After Ascending Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: We aim to quantify multiaxial cardiac pulsatility-induced deformation of the thoracic aorta after ascending thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) as a part of the GORE ARISE Early Feasibility Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients (7 females and 8 males, age 73±9 years) with ascending TEVAR underwent computed tomography angiography with retrospective cardiac gating. Geometric modeling of the thoracic aorta was performed; geometric features including axial length, effective diameter, and centerline, inner surface, and outer surface curvatures were quantified for systole and diastole; and pulsatile deformations were calculated for the ascending aorta, arch, and descending aorta. RESULTS: From diastole to systole, the ascending endograft exhibited straightening of the centerline (0.224±0.039 to 0.217±0.039 cm-1, p<0.05) and outer surface (0.181±0.028 to 0.177±0.029 cm-1, p<0.05) curvatures. No significant changes were observed for inner surface curvature, diameter, or axial length in the ascending endograft. The aortic arch did not exhibit any significant deformation in axial length, diameter, or curvature. The descending aorta exhibited small but significant expansion of effective diameter from 2.59±0.46 to 2.63±0.44 cm (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with the native ascending aorta (from prior literature), ascending TEVAR damps axial and bending pulsatile deformations of the ascending aorta similar to how descending TEVAR damps descending aortic deformations, while diametric deformations are damped to a greater extent. Downstream diametric and bending pulsatility of the native descending aorta was muted compared with that in patients without ascending TEVAR (from prior literature). Deformation data from this study can be used to evaluate the mechanical durability of ascending aortic devices and inform physicians about the downstream effects of ascending TEVAR to help predict remodeling and guide future interventional strategies. CLINICAL IMPACT: This study quantified local deformations of both stented ascending and native descending aortas to reveal the biomechanical impact of ascending TEVAR on the entire thoracic aorta, and reported that the ascending TEVAR muted cardiac-induced deformation of the stented ascending aorta and native descending aorta. Understanding of in vivo deformations of the stented ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta can inform physicians about the downstream effects of ascending TEVAR. Notable reduction of compliance may lead to cardiac remodeling and long-term systemic complications. This is the first report which included dedicated deformation data regarding ascending aortic endograft from clinical trial.

Effect of ascending aorta replacement on the long-term outcomes of bicuspid aortic valve repair.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine the effect of sinutubular junction stabilization on long-term outcomes of bicuspid aortic valve repair. METHODS: From January 1998 to January 2020, 419 patients underwent bicuspid aortic valve repair with ascending aorta replacement and 421 without (bicuspid aortic valve repair alone). Propensity score matching (97 pairs) was used to compare outcomes. RESULTS: Before matching, prevalence of severe aortic regurgitation at 10 years was 5.4% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 10% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone; aortic valve gradient was 20 mm Hg after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 19 mm Hg after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone. Ten-year freedom from reoperation overall was 79% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 75% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone; freedom from late aortic regurgitation was 93% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 92% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone; and freedom from aortic stenosis was 87% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 93% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone. Ten-year survival was 95% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 96% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone. After matching, prevalence of severe aortic regurgitation at 10 years was 11% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 9.1% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone (P = .33); aortic valve gradient was 16 mm Hg after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 25 mm Hg after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone (P < .0001). Ten-year freedom from reoperation was 85% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 72% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone (P = .08) overall. Ten-year freedom from reoperation for late aortic regurgitation was 88% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 86% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone (P = .65). Freedom from aortic stenosis was 97% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 91% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone (P = .03). Ten-year survival was 96% after bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement and 96% after bicuspid aortic valve repair alone (P = .16). CONCLUSIONS: Bicuspid aortic valve repair with or without ascending aorta replacement is associated with good short- and long-term outcomes. Bicuspid aortic valve repair + ascending aorta replacement has a minimal effect on long-term repair durability. Sinutubular junction stabilization should not be performed for the sole purpose of long-term repair durability.

The modified frozen elephant trunk may outperform limited and extended-classic repair in acute type I dissection.

OBJECTIVES: A better surgical approach for acute DeBakey type I dissection has been sought for decades. We compare operative trends, complications, reinterventions and survival after limited versus extended-classic versus modified frozen elephant trunk (mFET) repair for this condition. METHODS: From 1 January 1978 to 1 January 2018, 879 patients underwent surgery for acute DeBakey type I dissection at Cleveland Clinic. Repairs were limited to the ascending aorta/hemiarch (701.79%) or extended through the arch [extended classic (88.10%) or mFET (90.10%)]. Weighted propensity score matched established comparable groups. RESULTS: Among weighted propensity-matched patients, mFET repair had similar circulatory arrest times and postoperative complications to limited repair, except for postoperative renal failure, which was twice as high in the limited group [25% (n = 19) vs 12% (n = 9), P = 0.006]. Lower in-hospital mortality was observed following limited compared to extended-classic repair [9.1% (n = 7) vs 19% (n = 16), P = 0.03], but not after mFET repair [12% (n = 9) vs 9.5% (n = 8), P = 0.6]. Extended-classic repair had higher risk of early death than limited repair (P = 0.0005) with no difference between limited and mFET repair groups (P = 0.9); 7-year survival following mFET repair was 89% compared to 65% after limited repair. Most reinterventions following limited or extended-classic repair underwent open reintervention. All reinterventions following mFET repair were completed endovascularly. CONCLUSIONS: Without increasing in-hospital mortality or complications, less renal failure and a trend towards improved intermediate survival, mFET may be superior to limited or extended-classic repair for acute DeBakey type I dissections. mFET repair facilitates endovascular reintervention, potentially reducing future invasive reoperations and warranting continued study.