Triple valve surgery: results from a multicenter experience.

AIMS: Triple valve surgery (TVS) may still be considered a challenge in cardiac surgery, and is still associated with a not negligible mortality and morbidity. This study analyzed retrospectively patients' data from RERIC (Registro Regionale degli Interventi Cardiochirurgici) registry, to evaluate early and mid-term results of TVS. METHODS: From April 2002 to December 2013, data from n = 44 211 cardiac surgical procedures were collected from six Cardiac Surgery Departments (RERIC). Two hundred and eighty patients undergoing TVS were identified, including aortic and mitral replacement with tricuspid repair in 211 patients (75.3%), aortic replacement with mitral and tricuspid repair in 64 (22.9%) and triple valve replacement in 5 (1.8%). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of overall mortality or adverse outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.5 ±â€Š12.2. Overall in-hospital mortality rate was 7.9%: in-hospital mortality was 10.9% in mitral valve repair and 6.6% in mitral valve replacement, respectively. Tricuspid valve replacement was associated with the highest mortality rate (40%). Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were serum creatinine greater than 2 mg/dl [odds ratio (OR) 4.5; P = 0.03], concomitant coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (OR 3.8; P = 0.01) and previous cardiac surgery (OR 5.1; P = 0.04). Overall cumulative mortality rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 14.7, 24.1 and 28.9%, respectively. Mitral valve replacement associated with tricuspid valve repair showed better survival rate (hazard ratio 0.1; P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: TVS has demonstrated satisfactory results in terms of in-hospital and mid-term mortality rate. Renal failure, reoperations and concomitant CABG resulted as risk factors for mortality; moreover, we could not demonstrate a mid-term better survival rate of mitral valve repair compared with the replacement.

The Impact of Age on Clinical Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Long-Term Results of a Real-World Registry.

The aim of this retrospective multicenter registry study was to investigate age-dependent trends in mortality, long-term survival, and comorbidity over time in patients who underwent isolated CABG from 2003 to 2015. The percentage of patients < 60 years of age was 18.9%. Female sex, chronic pulmonary disease, extracardiac arteriopathy, and neurologic dysfunction disease were significantly less frequent in this younger population. The prevalence of BMI ≥ 30, previous myocardial infarction, preoperative severe depressed left ventricular ejection fraction, and history of previous PCI were significantly higher in this population. After PS matching, at 5 years, patients < 60 years of age reported significantly lower overall mortality (p < 0.0001), cardiac-related mortality (p < 0.0001), incidence of acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.01), and stroke rates (p < 0.0001). Patients < 60 years required repeated revascularization more frequently than older patients (p = 0.05). Patients < 60 who underwent CABG had a lower risk of adverse outcomes than older patients. Patients < 60 have a different clinical pattern of presentation of CAD in comparison with more elderly patients. These issues require focused attention in order to design and improve preventive strategies aiming to reduce the impact of specific cardiovascular risk factors for younger patients, such as diet, lifestyle, and weight control.

Gender differences in outcomes following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender on outcomes after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, in terms of 5-year rates of overall death, cardiac-related death, myocardial infarction, re-hospitalization, repeat percutaneous or surgical revascularization, stroke, new pacemaker implantation, postoperative renal failure, heart failure and need for long-term care. METHODS: Two propensity-score matched cohorts, each of 1331 patients, undergoing isolated surgical coronary revascularization at the regional public and private centers of Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) from January 1st 2003 to December 31th 2013, were used to compare long-term outcomes of male (5976 patients) versus female gender (1332 patients). RESULTS: In the matched cohort, males received significantly more bypass grafts (3.0 ± 1.0 vs 2.8 ± 1.0, p = 0.001). Left internal mammary artery use and total arterial revascularization were similarly performed in both matched subgroups. Both groups reported similar cumulative rate of all-cause, cardiac-related mortality and stroke at five years. Females experienced significantly higher rate of myocardial infarction, and not significantly higher occurrence of heart failure, and need for long-term care. Males experienced significantly higher rate of cumulative re-hospitalization and higher need for pacemaker implantation. Female gender was not an independent predictor of death at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Women are more likely to be readmitted with myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure after CABG but experience survival similar to that observed in men. Female gender was not an independent risk factor for mortality. Prevention of new occurrence of postoperative myocardial infarction and enhancement of complete coronary revascularization should be future endpoints.

Comparison between off- and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: long-term results of a real-world registry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare 5-year rates of overall death, cardiac-related death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke and new occurrence of postoperative renal failure in a large cohort of patients with coronary disease, treated with on- or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Two propensity score-matched cohorts, each of 560 patients, undergoing isolated surgical coronary revascularization at the regional public and private centres of Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) over the period 1 January 2003 - 31 December 2013, were used to compare long-term outcomes of on-pump CABG (6711 patients) and off-pump CABG (597 patients). RESULTS: The matched on-pump group received significantly more bypass grafts than the matched off-pump group (2.4 ± 1.1 vs 1.6 ± 0.9, P < 0.0001). The on-pump group reported statistically significant lower cardiac-related mortality. There was a trend towards higher overall mortality and the need for repeat revascularization procedures in the off-pump group. No difference was found for myocardial infarction, stroke or new occurrence of postoperative renal failure between groups in the follow-up. The multivariate analysis of significant predictors of mortality in the overall population confirmed that the off-pump revascularization strategy was an independent predictor of death at long-term follow-up. On-pump CABG reported significantly better results in terms of mortality in the subgroups of patients with a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and in patients with three-vessel disease. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing elective isolated CABG, on-pump strategy conferred a long-term survival advantage compared with off-pump strategy, particularly for patients with more extensive coronary disease. No benefits were found in terms of reduction of postoperative morbidity with the off-pump strategy. On-pump surgery should be the preferred revascularization technique, and off-pump surgery reserved for patients for whom the perioperative risk of cardiopulmonary bypass is greater than the risk of a less complete coronary revascularization.

Coronary artery surgery versus percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare 7-year rates of all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, and stroke in a large cohort of octogenarians with left main coronary artery or multivessel disease, treated with coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Two propensity score-matched cohorts of patients undergoing revascularization procedures at regional public and private centers of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, from July 2002 to December 2008 were used to compare long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (947 patients) and coronary artery bypass grafting (441 patients). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in 30-day mortality. In the follow-up the overall and the matched percutaneous coronary intervention population experienced significantly worse outcomes in terms of cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. No difference was found for stroke between treatment groups. Percutaneous coronary intervention was an independent predictor of increased death at long-term follow-up. The subgroups in which coronary artery bypass grafting reduced more clearly the risk of death were age 80 to 85 years, previous myocardial infarction, history of cardiac heart failure, chronic renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, and patients with three-vessel disease associated with the left main coronary artery. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world setting, surgical coronary revascularization remains the standard of care for patients with left main or multivessel disease. The long-term outcomes of current percutaneous coronary intervention technology in octogenarians are yet to be determined with adequately powered prospective randomized studies.

Outcomes of patients undergoing concomitant mitral and aortic valve surgery: results from an Italian regional cardiac surgery registry.

OBJECTIVES: There are limited reliable data on the long-term survival of patients operated upon with double-valve surgery (DVS) in the literature. In this study, in-hospital mortality and 5-year survival were determined and the potential risk factors for increased mortality were identified and discussed. METHODS: This is a report of an observational retrospective study of 1167 patients undergoing concomitant aortic and mitral valve surgery from 2002 to 2011. Data were prospectively collected in a regional database from Emilia-Romagna (Italy). RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality rate for DVS was 6.9%. Both in-hospital and 1-year mortality were statistically significant between age groups. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher for patients with a smaller body mass index (BMI), for those who had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and those who received mitral valve replacement (MVR) instead of plasty (MVP). In-hospital and 1-year mortality were highest in patients ≥70 who had implantation of mitral and aortic mechanical valves. There were significant differences in 5-year follow-up survival according to age, BMI and concomitant CABG. The choice of MVR and MVP did not affect 5-year survival. Multivariable analysis showed that patient-related factors appear to be the major determinant of late survival, irrespective of the type of operation or other intraoperative variables. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age, smaller BMI and concomitant CABG are significant risk factors for mortality in DVS. MVP provided comparable 5-year outcomes with MVR. Multivariable analysis demonstrates that preoperative and clinical patient-related factors are the real burden in the successful treatment of patients undergoing double-valve procedures.

Acute aortic dissection: epidemiology and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Little epidemiological information on acute aortic dissection (AAD) is available in the literature. The objective of the present study was to determine the incidence and mortality rates of AAD in the general population and to analyze its clinical features. METHODS: Data from the Emilia-Romagna regional database of hospital admissions was analyzed. Urgent admissions with the diagnosis of dissection of the aorta, dissection of the thoracic aorta and dissection of the thoracoabdominal aorta were selected. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and December 2008, 1499 Emilia-Romagna residents were hospitalized with a diagnosis of AAD. The patients were divided into three groups: Group A, 617 patients (41.2%) surgically treated for type A AAD; Group B, 93 complicated patients (6.2%) with type B AAD treated by endovascular stent-grafting and Group C, 789 patients (52.6%) suffering from any type of AAD medically treated. The overall annual incidence rate was 4.7%/100,000 people and was higher for men than for women (6.7% vs 2.9%).Two hundred ninety-six patients (19.8%) were 80 years of age or older.The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 27.7%, with mortality rates of 21.1%, 26.9% and 33% in Groups A, B and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of AAD is not negligible and a notable rate of patients is ultra-octogenarian. A large number of patients with AAD had no surgery or interventional treatment. The results of surgical treatment for patients with type A dissection are acceptable but the results obtained in patients with complicated type B dissection who were treated with an endoprosthesis are dismal.

Five-year outcomes of surgical or percutaneous myocardial revascularization in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: The study compares five-year clinical outcomes of CABG vs PCI in a real world population of diabetic patients with multivessel coronary disease since it is not clear whether to prefer surgical or percutaneous revascularization. METHODS: Between July 2002 and December 2008, 2885 multivessel coronary diabetic patients underwent revascularization (1466 CABG and 1419 PCI) at hospitals in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy and were followed for 1827 ± 617 days by record linkage of two clinical registries with the regional administrative database of hospital admissions and the mortality registry. Five-year incidences of MACCE (mortality, acute myocardial infarction [AMI], stroke, and repeat revascularization [TVR]) were assessed with Kaplan-Meier estimates, Cox proportional hazards regression and cumulative incidence functions of death and TVR, to evaluate the competing risk of AMI on death and TVR. The same analyses were applied to the propensity score matched subgroup of patients undergoing CABG or PCI with DES and with complete revascularization. RESULTS: PCI had higher mortality for all causes (HR: 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.2 p<0.0001), AMI (HR: 3.3, 95% CI 2.4-4.6 p<0.0001) and TVR (HR: 4.5, 95% CI 3.4-6.1 p<0.0001). No significant differences emerged for stroke (HR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.2 p=0.26). The higher incidence of AMI caused higher mortality in PCI group. Results did not change comparing CABG with PCI patients receiving complete revascularization or DES only. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetics show a higher incidence of MACCE with PCI than with CABG: thus diabetes and its degree of control should be considered when choosing the type of revascularization.

Acute type A aortic dissection: significance of multiorgan malperfusion.

OBJECTIVES: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) remains one of the most challenging diseases in cardiothoracic surgery, and despite numerous innovations, early mortality still remains high. The aim of this study was to review the Emilia-Romagna experience in the treatment of AAAD and to evaluate the effect of malperfusion on mortality and morbidity. METHODS: We examined data of 502 patients between January 2000 and December 2008, from the Emilia-Romagna Regional Registry of AAAD. The mean age was 62.4 ± 13 years and 66.5% were male. At presentation, various types of malperfusion syndromes (cerebral, cardiac, ileo-femoral, renal, mesenteric and spinal cord) were present in 103 patients (20.5%; malperfusion [MPS] group). Three hundred ninety-nine patients (No-MPS group) did not have pre-operative malperfusion. Arterial access for cardiopulmonary bypass was usually via the femoral artery (81.9%), while the axillary artery was used only in 14.7%. The aortic repair was performed using the 'open technique' in 348 patients (69.3%) and with aortic cross-clamping without circulatory arrest in 154 patients (30.7%). RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 20.9%: 43.7% in the MPS group vs 15% in the No-MPS group (P = 0.001). The operative technique and the cannulation site did not influence post-operative outcomes. Multivariate regression analysis identified mesenteric (odds ratio [OR] 9.5, confidence interval [CI] 2.4-37.4; P = 0.0012), cardiac malperfusion (OR 3.7, CI 1.7-8.0; P < 0.0001) and shock (OR 2.1, CI 1.2-3.5; P = 0.007) as significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality after surgery for type A dissection. Patients who presented single-organ malperfusion had a mortality rate of 34.7%, which increased to 61.9% and to 85.7% if two or more than two organ systems were involved, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the surgical treatment of AAAD are acceptable and mainly influenced by patient's status at presentation. Malperfusion of more organ systems makes the prognosis unfavourable and immediate proximal aortic repair may be sub-optimal. In these situations, alternative management strategies should be considered.

Aortic valve replacement with and without combined coronary bypass grafts in very elderly patients: early and long-term results.

OBJECTIVE: The number of older patients being referred for aortic valve replacement with or without combined coronary bypass grafting (CABG) is increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate operative risk factors, early and long-term results of isolated aortic valve and aortic valve replacement combined with CABG in octogenarians and nonagenarians. METHODS: In the last 10 years, 285 very elderly patients who underwent aortic valve replacement either alone or in combination with coronary artery bypass grafts were retrospectively studied. The population was divided into two groups; isolated aortic valve replacement was performed in 188 patients (group A) and 97 patients had aortic valve replacement combined with coronary surgery (group B). RESULTS: The overall hospital mortality was 5.3%, without statistical difference between groups. The incidence of low-output syndrome was higher in group B (P = 0.0001). The multivariate analysis for hospital mortality showed that urgency status, ejection fraction (EF) <35%, intra-operative variables such as clamping time, need for intra aortic balloon pump and post-operative variables such as prolonged ventilation, dialysis, post-operative myocardial infarction and re-thoracotomy for bleeding were independent prognostic factors for hospital mortality. The mean follow-up time was 49.03 ± 19 months. Survival at one, three and five years was 97.1 ± 1.8%, 92.2 ± 2.2% and 82.4 ± 3.6% for group A and 97.2 ± 2.0%, 88.4 ± 2.7% and 75.6 ± 3.2% for group B (P = 0.62), respectively. Age, male gender, post-operative myocardial infarction, urgency status, dialysis, low EF, mean aortic gradient were risk factors for the impaired survival. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, a careful pre-operative evaluation has yielded good surgical results even in older patients with different comorbidities. Associated coronary grafts slightly increase the surgical risk. The role of revascularization on long-term morbidity and mortality is still not clear. It is essential to compare the results of percutaneous and trans-apical aortic valve replacement with the literature results of conventional aortic valve replacement with and without CABG before it can be used as an alternative for very older patients.

Left ventricular remodeling, hemodynamics and early clinical outcomes after aortic valve replacement with the Pericarbon Freedom stentless bioprosthesis: results from the Italian Prospective Multicenter Trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The aims of this multicenter prospective observational trial were to evaluate: (i) the left ventricular remodeling, hemodynamics and early clinical outcomes of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with the Pericarbon Freedom (PF) stentless bioprosthesis; and (ii) the impact of the two suture techniques--continuous and interrupted--on the hemodynamic performance of the bioprosthesis. METHODS: Between November 2001 and April 2004, a total of 226 patients (131 females, 95 males; mean age 73.2 +/- 8.8 years) underwent AVR with the PF valve (Sorin Group, Saluggia, Italy) at eight Italian cardiac surgery centers. Associated surgery was performed in 73 patients (32%); of these operations, 54 were coronary artery bypass grafting. A continuous-suture technique was used in 132 patients (58%), and an interrupted-suture in 90 (40%). The suture technique was not available for four patients. All patients underwent clinical and echocardiographic evaluation immediately before surgery, and at one, six, and 12 months thereafter. The median follow up was 380 days (Q1: 363 days; Q3: 410 days), and the total cumulative follow up 236.9 patient-years (pt-yr). RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality was 3.5% (n = 8). Late deaths occurred in 10 patients (4%/pt-yr), of which three were valve-related (1%/pt-yr). The overall and valve-related survivals at one year were 92 +/- 2% and 98 +/- 1%, respectively. Freedom from structural valve deterioration, endocarditis, reoperation and thromboembolic events was 100%, 93 +/- 1%, 98 +/- 1% and 99 +/- 1% at one year, respectively. The peak and mean transprosthetic gradients at one year were: 19.7 +/- 12.27 and 8.7 +/- 6.0 mmHg, respectively. After 12 months, significant reductions (compared to preoperative) were observed in the left ventricular mass (148.5 +/- 48.8 versus 194.4 +/- 54.6 g/m2; p < 0.001) and mean wall thickness (1.08 +/- 0.19 versus 1.32 +/- 0.23 cm; p < 0.001). The continuous-suture technique showed a trend towards lower postoperative gradients than did the interrupted-suture technique. CONCLUSION: The data obtained indicated that the PF bioprosthesis provided excellent results in terms of left ventricular mass regression, hemodynamics, and early clinical outcome. Although a trend towards a better hemodynamic performance of the continuous-suture technique was observed, this aspect requires further evaluation.

Aortic valve replacement: results and predictors of mortality from a contemporary series of 2256 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The study's objectives were to evaluate results and identify predictors of hospital and mid-term mortality after primary isolated aortic valve replacement; compare early and mid-term survival of patients aged more than 80 years or less than 80 years; and assess the effectiveness of the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation in predicting the risk for hospital mortality in octogenarians with a logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation greater than 15% who are undergoing aortic valve replacement. METHODS: Data from 2256 patients undergoing primary isolated aortic valve replacement between January 2003 and December 2007 were prospectively collected in a Regional Registry (Regione Emilia Romagna Interventi Cardiochirurgia) and analyzed to estimate hospital and mid-term results. RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 2.2%. By multivariate analysis, New York Heart Association III and IV, Canadian Cardiovascular Society III and IV, pulmonary artery pressure greater than 60 mm Hg, dialysis, central neurologic dysfunction, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease emerged as independent predictors of hospital mortality. At 3 years, the survival was 89.3%. The same predictors of hospital mortality plus ejection fraction of 30% to 50% and age more than 80 years emerged as independent risk factors for 3-year mortality. Compared with younger patients, octogenarians had a higher hospital mortality rate (3.72% vs 1.81%; P = .0143) and a reduced 3-year survival (82.3% vs 91.3%; P < .001). Three-year survival of octogenarians was comparable to the expected survival of an age- and gender-matched regional population (P = .157). The observed mortality rate in octogenarians with a logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation greater than 15% (mean: 22.4%) was 7% (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides contemporary data on the characteristics and outcome of patients undergoing first-time isolated aortic valve replacement.

Short-term and long-term results of cardiac surgery in elderly and very elderly patients.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac operations in elderly patients are increasingly frequent and imply major clinical, ethical, and economic issues. Operative and 5-year results of cardiac operations in patients aged 79 years or more are known in limited series, and a debate is ongoing on the appropriateness of selection of patients for surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our experience in 6802 patients aged 79 years or more who had received a cardiac operation. Surgical candidates were selected according to functional status, crude operative risk, and social context and were managed according to a multimodality protocol. RESULTS: Mean age was 82 years and surgery was nonelective in 1613 cases (23.5%, 31 salvage). Procedures consisted of valve replacement (aortic, 2817; mitral, 532; and tricuspid, 2 cases), valve repair (aortic, 66; mitral, 532; and tricuspid, 232 cases), coronary bypass grafting (12,034 coronary vessels bypassed), and replacement of the thoracic aorta (ascending, 315; arch, 28 cases). Overall operative mortality was 3.4%. Nonelective presentation, need for aortic counterpulsation, cardiopulmonary bypass time, blood transfusion, depressed systolic function, and chronic lung disease predicted operative mortality. Five-year cumulative mortality was 7.5%. Poor systolic function, previous myocardial infarction, and combined coronary/mitral surgery predicted late mortality. The operative risk of nonagenarians operated on electively did not differ from that of risk-matched octogenarians. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery in elderly and very elderly patients can be performed with acceptable mortality provided that accurate selection and a multifactorial risk evaluation are adopted. Whenever possible, nonelective operations should be avoided and earlier surgery should be encouraged. Five-year survival and functional recovery are good.

Operative and middle-term results of cardiac surgery in nonagenarians: a bridge toward routine practice.

BACKGROUND: Age >90 years represents in many centers an absolute contraindication to cardiac surgery. Nonagenarians are a rapidly growing subset of the population posing an expanding clinical problem. To provide helpful information in regard to this complex decision, we analyzed the operative and 5-year results of coronary and valvular surgical procedures in these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 127 patients aged >or=90 years who underwent cardiac surgery within our hospital group in the period 1998 to 2008. Kaplan-Meier and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. A longer follow-up than most published studies and the largest series published thus far are presented. Mean age was 92 years (range, 90 to 103 years). Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 21.3+/-6.1. Sixty patients had valvular surgery (including 11 valve repairs), 49 patients had coronary artery bypass grafting, and 18 had valvular plus coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (55 left mammary artery grafts implanted). Forty-five patients (35.4%) were operated on nonelectively. Operative mortality was 13.4% (17 cases). Fifty-four patients (42.5%) had a complicated postoperative course. There were no statistically significant differences in the rate and type of complications between patient strata on the basis of type of surgery performed. Nonelective priority predicted a complicated postoperative course. Predictors of operative mortality were nonelective priority and previous myocardial infarction. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 5 years were comparable between patient groups on the basis of procedure performed. CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of postoperative complications remains high, cardiac surgery in nonagenarians can achieve functional improvement at the price of considerable operative and follow-up mortality rates. Cardiac operations in these very elderly subjects are supported if appropriate selection is made and if the operation is performed earlier and electively. Our results should contribute to the development of guidelines for cardiac operations in nonagenarians.

Very early malfunction of a large stentless aortic valve.

Since their introduction in 1990, modern stentless aortic prostheses have by now obtained wide acceptance in the treatment of aortic valve disease. Despite the favourable results of using different techniques, concerns still remain about the durability of this device, especially regarding mineralisation. We present the first report, to our knowledge, of an early and unexpected malfunction of a large Sorin Solo stentless valve due to calcification only 18 months after implantation.

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left lung base without sequestration.

Systemic arterial supply from the descending thoracic aorta to the basal segment of the left lower lobe without a pulmonary arterial supply is a rare congenital anomaly within the spectrum of the sequestration lung disease. We report a case of a young man with anomalous systemic arterial supply to a normal left lower lobe referred to our department because of recurrent haemoptysis who underwent a successful left lower lobectomy.

Acute coronary syndrome in a patient with a single coronary artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva: a case report.

Coronary anomalies can involve origin or distribution of the artery. Most of these anomalies are not clinically important. A single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva is an extremely rare anatomic anomaly. Usually coronary artery malformation is associated with other cardiac malformations and the diagnosis is made after birth. More rarely, coronary artery anomalies are an isolated and asymptomatic cardiac malformation.

Modified Bentall operation: the double sewing ring technique.

The Bentall-DeBono operation is the technique of choice for aortic root replacement. As more patients do not accept or have contraindications to lifelong anticoagulation, the biological Bentall operation is a good option for these patients, even though complex reoperations would then be required for bioprosthesis degeneration. We studied a modified technique to simplify the reoperations in patients undergoing biological Bentall procedure. A bioprosthetic valved conduit was obtained creating two separate sewing rings at different levels of the vascular graft. One ring was used to sew the bioprosthesis on the vascular graft. The second ring was used to fix the vascular graft on the native aortic annulus. In case of reoperation, the bioprosthesis could be removed cutting only the suture on the first ring. Then the same ring could be used to fix the new prosthesis. Since 2006, we have performed 12 biological Bentall operations with our modification. The mean age was 63.2 years (range 43-77 years), the mean cardiopulmonary time was 79+/-12 min and the mean aortic cross-clamping time was 68+/-10 min. We had no in-hospital mortality; the postoperative period was uneventful in all patients. In our experience this modification seems to be simple and reproducible, without increasing the operative risk and postoperative morbidity.

Clinical results of Hancock II versus Hancock Standard at long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a multi-institutional study to compare the long-term structural valve deterioration of isolated Hancock Standard versus Hancock II bioprostheses. METHODS: From 1983 to 2002, 714 Hancock Standard and 1293 Hancock II bioprostheses were implanted at hospitals of the Venetian territory (Padova, Treviso, and Venice). Follow-up on January 1, 2003, included 14,749 patient-years with a median of 12 years and was 96% complete: 115 Hancock Standard and 53 Hancock II bioprostheses were at risk at 15 years. The 2 series were nonconcomitant, and many covariates differed (Table 1). Survival was analyzed with Cox analysis, and durability was analyzed with Weibull analysis. Balancing analysis with the logistic propensity score model was performed. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was 6% in Hancock II and 12% in Hancock Standard operations. The overall unadjusted 15-year survival was identical (39.7% +/- 2.3% vs 39.9% +/- 2.4%, respectively), but age-adjusted survival at 15 years was 46% versus 25% (P < .001). Late survival was unrelated to the prosthetic model, whereas it was adversely affected by older age, previous operations, aortic regurgitation, male sex, higher New York Heart Association class, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery bypass grafting. In Hancock II patients aged 65 years and older, the cumulative hazard of structural valve deterioration at 15 years was 6%, versus 17.5% in Hancock Standard patients. In younger patients, it was 18% and 37%, respectively. Analysis of 541 propensity-balanced patients showed a hazard ratio of the Hancock Standard prosthesis of 2 and a risk reduction of older age of approximately 10% every 10 years. CONCLUSION: After balancing risk factors and calibrating age effects, Hancock II propensity-matched bioprostheses showed similar survival but definitely increased durability.

Fifteen-year results with the Hancock II valve: a multicenter experience.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to review the 15-year outcome of patients who received isolated aortic or mitral valve replacement with the Hancock II bioprosthesis. METHODS: From 1983 through 2002, 1274 patients underwent 1293 isolated valve replacements, 809 aortic valve replacements and 484 mitral valve replacements, at hospitals in the Venetian area (Padova, Treviso, and Venice). Mean age was 68 +/- 8 years in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement and 66 +/- 9 years in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement; 52% of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement and 63% of patients undergoing mitral valve replacement were in New York Heart Association class III or greater. Coronary artery disease was present in 32% of patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement and 18% of patients who had undergone mitral valve replacement. Follow-up included 8520 patient-years, with a median of 12 years, and was 97% complete. RESULTS: Overall 15-year survival was 39.7% +/- 2.4%, similar in both the aortic and mitral positions. Multivariable analysis of late survival showed the incremental risk of male sex, higher New York Heart Association class, coronary artery disease, and mitral position. Freedom from embolism was higher in the aortic position (81% +/- 2.9% in aortic vs 72% +/- 4.7% in mitral valve replacements). Freedom from endocarditis was similar in the aortic and mitral position (95% +/- 1.2% vs 94% +/- 1.7%). Freedom from reoperation (82% +/- 3.7% vs 71% +/- 5.0%) and from valve-related morbidity-mortality (52% +/- 3.6% vs 36% +/- 4.4%) was higher in patients who had undergone AVR. Actual freedom from structural valve deterioration for patients 60 years and older who had undergone aortic valve replacement was 96.5% +/- 1.3% versus 88% +/- 3.2% for patients who had undergone mitral valve replacement and 70% +/- 7.5% versus 77.5% +/- 5.3%, respectively, in younger patients. Multivariable Weibull analysis showed structural valve deterioration related to younger age and preoperative valve incompetence and inversely related to coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Optimal 15-year durability can be expected in male patients 60 years and older who have undergone aortic valve replacement and in male patients 65 years and older who have undergone mitral valve replacement, extending safely the age limits for the use of this valve.