Heterogeneous reduction in regional wall stress after aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation: a distinct feature from aortic stenosis.

Geometric changes caused by volume reduction early after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic regurgitation (AR) may not be uniform, resulting in varying regional end-systolic wall stress (ESS). This study compared changes in regional ESS between AR and aortic stenosis (AS) patients in the early phase following AVR. Computer-tomographic left ventricular (LV) angiography was performed for 10 patients with AR and 13 with AS before and three months after AVR. Regional ESS at the base, middle, and apex levels, each subdivided into four segments, was calculated based on the Janz equation: ESS = end-systolic LV pressure × local cross-sectional area of LV cavity/that of LV wall. Following AVR, median LV end-diastolic volume index fell from 106 to 69 ml/m2 (P = 0.001) in AR and 60 to 46 ml/m2 (P = 0.01) in AS patients. Global ESS also declined in both (AR, 186 to 124 kdyne/cm2, P = 0.02; AS, 187 to 108 kdyne/cm2, P < 0.001, respectively). Regional ESS was reduced in all segments in AS patients, accompanied by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement (71-80%, P = 0.02). In contrast, regional ESS in AR patients was heterogeneously reduced, as regional ESS fell significantly in the antero-septal wall but was unchanged in the infero-lateral wall, and LVEF remained unchanged (65 to 62%, P = 0.42). In the early postoperative phase after AVR, the loading condition of the regional LV wall in AR patients was characterized by a heterogeneous reduction in regional ESS in contrast to a uniform decline in AS patients.

Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting Improves Survival for Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: In patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the association between diabetic status and outcomes after surgery, as well as with survival benefit following bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafting, remain largely unknown.Methods and Results:Patients (n=188; mean [±SD] age 67±9 years) with LV ejection fraction ≤40% who underwent isolated initial CABG were classified into non-diabetic (n=64), non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDM; n=74), and insulin-dependent diabetic (IDM; n=50) groups. During follow-up (mean [±SD] 68±47 months), the 5-year survival rate was 84% and 65% among non-diabetic and diabetic patients, respectively (P=0.034). After adjusting for all covariates, both NIDM and IDM were associated with increased mortality, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-3.7; P=0.049) and 2.4 (95% CI 1.2-4.8; P=0.016), respectively. Among non-diabetic patients, there was no difference in the 5-year survival rate between single and bilateral ITA grafting (86% vs. 80%, respectively; P=0.95), whereas bilateral ITA grafting increased survival among diabetic patients (57% vs. 81%; P=0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that bilateral ITA was significantly associated with a decreased risk of mortality (HR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.8; P=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: NIDM and IDM were significantly associated with worse long-term clinical outcome after CABG for severe LV dysfunction. Bilateral ITA grafting has the potential to improve survival in diabetic patients with severe LV dysfunction.

[Reports of 12 Cases of Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection Emergent Surgery for Jehovah's Witnesses patients].

The Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) is well known for declining blood transfusions. Especially, cardiovascular surgery on JW poses unique challenges. We herein report 12 JW emergent cases of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection which underwent graft replacement between 2003 and 2019. Graft replacement of ascending aorta was performed in all cases. Operative time and anesthetic time were 344±100 and 396±109 minutes respectively. The mean intraoperative hemoglobin nadir was 4.9±1.2 g/dl. The postoperative hemoglobin nadir was 6.3 ±2.4 g/dl. There were 2 deaths within 24 hours after surgery. We did not transfuse any packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma or platelets for JW patients of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection surgery.

Intermediate-term outcomes of our original multiple-knot technique using ePTFE sutures for anterior mitral leaflet prolapse.

PURPOSE: To define the outcomes of our original simple chordal replacement technique using ePTFE sutures for mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Between January, 2004 and March, 2014, 38 patients underwent mitral valve repair using our chordal replacement technique for anterior leaflet prolapse. The mitral regurgitation was caused by degenerative disease in 34 patients and infective endocarditis in 4 patients. RESULTS: The follow-up period was 66 ± 37 months and the 5-year survival rate was 95 ± 4%. Two patients had recurrent mitral regurgitation, caused by degenerative change not associated with the procedure. The 5-year rate of freedom from recurrent mitral regurgitation was 94 ± 4%. In the late postoperative period, 15 (42%) patients had a mean pressure gradient > 5 mmHg. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the use of a full ring (odds ratio 8.9; 95% confidence interval 1.2-64; p = 0.031) and a 26 mm annuloplasty (odds ratio 7.5; 95% confidence interval 1.1-50; p = 0.037) were significant independent risk factors for a mean pressure gradient > 5 mmHg. CONCLUSION: The intermediate-term outcomes of our original chordal replacement technique were not inferior to those in previous reports, although a 26 mm annuloplasty was found to be associated with a higher mitral valve gradient at rest.

Predictors and Clinical Impact of Functional Mitral Stenosis Induced by Restrictive Annuloplasty for Ischemic and Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: There are few reports of the determinants of "functional" mitral stenosis in terms of a residual mitral valve (MV) pressure gradient >5 mmHg following restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) or the effect on long-term outcome in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (MR).Methods and Results:Serial cardiac catheterization and echocardiographic studies were performed in 55 patients with functional MR who underwent RMA using a 24/26-mm semi-rigid complete ring. The mean postoperative (1 month) catheter-measured MV gradient was 3.4±1.6 mmHg, which was independently associated with corresponding cardiac output [standardized partial regression coefficient (SPRC)=0.59] and indexed effective orifice area (SPRC=-0.25). Body surface area (BSA) had the greatest contribution to MV gradient (SPRC=0.38), followed by use of a 24-mm ring (SPRC=0.33) and hemodialysis (SPRC=0.26). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated an optimal BSA cutoff value of 1.86 m2to predict post-MV stenosis (21% for <1.86 m2vs. 86% for ≥1.86 m2, P=0.002). During follow-up (75±32 months), freedom from adverse events did not differ between patients with (n=16) and without (n=39) an MV gradient ≥5 mmHg (log-rank P=0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Post-RMA MV gradient was determined not only by the degree of annular reduction but also by patients' hemodynamic factors (e.g., cardiac output). Implantation of a 24/26-mm annuloplasty ring for patients with BSA ≥1.86 m2indicated a high likelihood of post-MV stenosis. However, mild MV stenosis did not adversely affect late outcome after RMA.

Rare Complication of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Ventricular Septal Perforation with Septal Dissection.

We describe a rare case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated by acute ventricular septal perforation with ventricular septal dissection. The ventricular perforation was successfully closed by repairing the dissecting site with a bovine pericardial patch.

Mitral valve repair for medically refractory functional mitral regurgitation in patients with end-stage renal disease and advanced heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding patient selection for mitral valve repair for chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with severe heart failure (HF) as well as outcome is limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: We classified 208 patients with advanced HF symptoms (Stage C/D) undergoing mitral valve repair for functional mitral regurgitation into 3 groups: estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (control group, n=144); estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2), not dependent on hemodialysis (late chronic kidney disease group, n=45), and ESRD on hemodialysis (ESRD group, n=19; preoperative hemodialysis duration 83 ± 92 months). Follow-up was completed with a mean duration of 49 ± 25 months. Postoperative (1-month) cardiac catheterization showed that left ventricular end-systolic volume index decreased from 109 ± 38 to 79 ± 41, 103 ± 31 to 81 ± 31, and 123 ± 40 to 76 ± 34 mL/m(2), in the control, late chronic kidney disease, and ESRD groups, respectively. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased, whereas cardiac index increased in all groups with no intergroup differences for those postoperative values. Freedom from mortality and HF readmission at 5 years was 18% ± 7% in late chronic kidney disease (P<0.0001 versus control, P=0.01 versus ESRD), and 64% ± 12% in ESRD (P=1 versus control) as compared with 52% ± 5% in the control group (median event-free survival, 26, 67, and 63 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve repair for medically refractory functional mitral regurgitation in patients with advanced HF yielded improvements in left ventricular function and hemodynamics irrespective of preoperative renal function status. Patients with ESRD showed favorable late outcome in terms of freedom from mortality and readmission for HF as compared with those with late chronic kidney disease. Further studies are needed to assess the survival benefits of mitral valve repair in patients with ESRD and advanced HF.

Modified technique for reconstructing the visceral arteries in thoracoabdominal aortic repair.

We present a modified technique for reconstructing the visceral arteries in thoracoabdominal aortic repair. After the proximal and distal anastomosis of a main tubular graft with four pre-sewn side branches, each visceral artery is cannulated and perfused with 25 °C blood (sum total, 800 mL/min). Then, each side branch is placed around the main graft, forming a gently curved loop around it. Finally, the orifice of each visceral artery is sutured to a side branch. This technique prevents kinking of the side branches and enables hemostasis to be secured with a clear view of all the suture lines.

Fas-deficient fully allogeneic dendritic cells administered via an intratumoral injection route show efficient antitumor effects in murine models.

Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy is a potent, active and specific cancer immunotherapy, as DCs are preferable professional APCs (pAPCs) that prime the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) -specific CD8+ T-cell response. In DC-based immunotherapy, allogeneic DCs may be an alternative source of DCs for patients in whom it is difficult to obtain a sufficient number of quality-guaranteed, autologous DCs. However, the usefulness of fully allogeneic DCs in DC-based immunotherapy is controversial, and many investigators have failed to demonstrate that fully allogeneic DCs can induce an efficient antitumor effect in various experimental settings. In this study, we found that the injection of Fas-deficient fully allogeneic DCs via an intratumoral injection route exerted efficient antitumor effects, as did syngeneic DCs, but wild-type fully allogeneic DCs did not. Intratumoral injection therapy using Fas-deficient syngeneic DCs does not show superior tumor growth suppression compared to that using wild-type syngeneic DCs, suggesting that the inhibition of functional Fas may be critical for overcoming the unfavorable factor related to allogeneic DCs, especially overcoming the rejection response to alloantigens, in therapy using fully allogeneic DCs. In addition, the intratumoral injection therapy using Fas-deficient fully allogeneic DCs induced the generation of a significant tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell response, which is restricted by a host-derived major histocompatibility antigen. Therefore, intratumoral injection therapy using fully allogeneic DCs of which functional Fas is inhibited may be an alternative in clinical DC-based immunotherapy, under circumstances that do not allow the use of autologous DCs.

Midterm outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement with the INSPIRIS RESILIA from a multicenter AVR registry.

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports on the mid- to long-term safety and efficacy validation of the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic bioprosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Irvine, CA, USA) in Japan. Herein, we report the mid-term results of surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis using INSPIRIS and evaluate the hemodynamics compared to the CEP Magna series from the multicenter AVR registry (the ACTIVIST registry). METHODS: Of the 1967 patients who underwent surgical or transcatheter AVR from the ACTIVIST registry, 66 patients who underwent isolated surgical AVR with INSPIRIS by December 2020 were included in this study, and the early and mid-term results were evaluated. Hemodynamics were evaluated by comparing 272 patients undergoing isolated surgical AVR with the Magna group using propensity score matching. RESULTS: The mean age was 74.0 ±â€¯7.8 years, and 48.5 % were women. In-hospital mortality was 1.5 %, and the survival rates at 1- and 2-years were 95.2 % and 95.2 %, respectively. After propensity score matching, echocardiographic findings at discharge demonstrated that peak velocity and mean pressure gradient in the INSPIRIS group were comparable, while the effective orifice area in the INSPIRIS group was significantly larger than those in the Magna group (p = 0.048). A patient-prosthesis mismatch at discharge was significantly lower in the INSPIRIS group (11.8 %) than in the Magna group (36.4 %) (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical AVR with INSPIRIS was performed safely and the mid-term results were satisfactory. The hemodynamics of INSPIRIS were comparable to those of Magna.

Impact of complete revascularization in coronary artery bypass grafting for ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: In patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery bypass grafting ensures better survival than medical therapy. However, the long-term clinical impact of complete revascularization remains unclear. This observational study aimed to evaluate the effects of complete revascularization on long-term survival and left ventricular functional recovery in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed outcomes of 498 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent complete (n = 386) or incomplete (n = 112) myocardial revascularization between 1993 and 2015. The baseline characteristics were adjusted using inverse probability of treatment weighting to reduce the impact of treatment bias and potential confounding. The mean follow-up duration was 77.2 ± 42.8 months in survivors. Results: The overall 5-year survival rate (complete revascularization, 72.5% vs incomplete revascularization, 57.9%, P = .03) and freedom from all-cause death and/or readmission due to heart failure (54.5% vs 40.1%, P = .007) were significantly greater in patients with complete revascularization than those with incomplete revascularization. After adjustments using inverse probability of treatment weighting, the complete revascularization group demonstrated a lower risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.86; P = .005) and composite adverse events (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.79; P < .001) and a greater improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction 1-year postoperatively (absolute change: 11.0 ± 11.9% vs 8.3 ± 11.4%, interaction effect P = .05) than the incomplete revascularization group. Conclusions: In patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, complete revascularization was associated with better long-term outcomes and greater left ventricular functional recovery and should be encouraged whenever possible.

Restrictive mitral annuloplasty with or without surgical ventricular restoration in ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy with severe mitral regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: We assessed changes in left ventricular (LV) volume and function and in regional myocardial wall stress in noninfarcted segments after restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) with or without surgical ventricular restoration (SVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction ≤ 0.35) and severe mitral regurgitation (≥ 3) were studied before and 2.8 months after surgery with cine-angiographic multidetector computed tomography (cine-MDCT). Eighteen underwent RMA alone (RMA group) and 21 underwent RMA and SVR (RMA+SVR group). In addition to measuring conventional parameters (LV end-diastolic volume index [LVEDVI], LV end-systolic volume index [LVESVI], and LV ejection fraction), we evaluated the regional circumferential end-systolic wall stress and mean circumferential fiber shortening in both the basal and mid-LV regions using 3-dimensional cine-MDCT images. LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes were significantly greater in the RMA+SVR group than in the RMA group preoperatively, but these values did not differ significantly postoperatively. LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes decreased significantly, by 21% and 27% after RMA and by 35% and 42% after RMA and SVR, and the percent reductions in LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes were significantly larger in the RMA+SVR group. Regional end-systolic wall stress decreased and circumferential fiber shortening increased significantly in the noninfarcted regions after RMA with or without SVR. CONCLUSIONS: RMA plus SVR showed a potentially greater reduction of LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes than RMA alone. In selected patients with more advanced LV remodeling, concomitant SVR may favorably affect the LV reverse-remodeling process induced by RMA.

Does stringent restrictive annuloplasty for functional mitral regurgitation cause functional mitral stenosis and pulmonary hypertension?

BACKGROUND: It remains controversial whether restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) for functional mitral regurgitation (MR) can induce functional mitral stenosis (MS) that may cause postoperative residual pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred eight patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and severe MR underwent RMA with stringent downsizing of the mitral annulus. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and mitral valve performance variables were determined by Doppler echocardiography prospectively and 1 month after RMA. Fifty-eight patients underwent postoperative hemodynamic measurements. Postoperative echocardiography showed a mean pressure half-time of 92 ± 14 ms, a transmitral mean gradient of 2.9 ± 1.1 mm Hg, and a mitral valve effective orifice area of 2.4 ± 0.4 cm(2), consistent with functional MS. Doppler-derived systolic PAP was 32 ± 8 mm Hg, which correlated weakly with the transmitral mean gradient (ρ=0.23, P=0.02). Postoperative cardiac catheterization also showed significant improvements in LV volume and systolic function, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, and systolic PAP; the latter was associated with LV end-diastolic pressure [standardized partial regression coefficient (SPRC)=0.51], pulmonary vascular resistance (SPRC=0.47), cardiac index (SPRC=0.37), and transmitral pressure gradient (SPRC=0.20). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, postoperative PH (systolic PAP >40 mm Hg), but not mitral valve performance variables, was strongly associated with adverse cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: RMA for functional MR resulted in varying degrees of functional MS. However, our data were more consistent with the residual PH being caused by LV dysfunction and pulmonary vascular disease than by the functional MS. The residual PH, not functional MS, was the major predictor of post-RMA adverse cardiac events.

Late left ventricular perforation by active fixation pacemaker lead implanted in the right ventricular septum.

We report a rare case of late left ventricular perforation caused by a migrated pacemaker lead, which had been implanted in the right ventricular septum three months prior. Preoperative computed tomography findings revealed that the tip of the migrated pacemaker lead had perforated the ventricular wall near the intraventricular groove into the anterior chest wall.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair With Subclavian Revascularization for Symptomatic Nonaneurysmal Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery.

Aberrant right subclavian artery is a common aortic arch anomaly that can cause dysphagia as a result of compression by the aberrant artery. For patients with an aneurysm associated with an aberrant right subclavian artery, surgical or endovascular intervention is a well-described treatment. However, for patients with a nonaneurysmal aberrant right subclavian artery, treatment with thoracic endovascular aortic repair has been limited. We describe the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair and subclavian revascularization to treat esophageal stricture in a patient with a symptomatic nonaneurysmal aberrant right subclavian artery. The patient's dysphagia was successfully relieved after the operation.

Restrictive mitral annuloplasty for functional mitral regurgitation: acute hemodynamics and serial echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Long-term effects of restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA), especially on hemodynamics and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (MR), have not been fully investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1999 to 2008, 44 patients with refractory heart failure and functional MR underwent RMA with stringent downsizing of the mitral annulus. Serial echocardiography was performed to evaluate LV function (reverse remodeling), estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and mitral valve geometry at baseline and at discharge, and annually thereafter. Cardiac catheterization was performed at baseline, and at discharge to evaluate acute hemodynamic change. There were 3 early deaths, and the 5-year survival rate was 78 ± 8%. In 41 survivors the clinical symptoms, stratified according to New York Heart Association class, significantly improved after surgery. Postoperative cardiac catheterization showed significant unloading for left ventricle, as well as improvement in LV systolic function. Serial echocardiography showed that improvements in LV function and systolic PAP were sustained in the majority of patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified preoperative pulmonary hypertension (systolic PAP>60 mm Hg) as the significant predictor for postoperative adverse cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: RMA for functional MR resulted in sustained improvement of hemodynamics and LV function over time. Additional studies are needed to define the negative impact of preoperative pulmonary hypertension in patients with this condition.

Detrimental effects of elevated transpulmonary gradient on outcomes following restrictive mitral annuloplasty in patients with pre-existing pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: This study retrospectively examined the association between elevated trans-pulmonary gradient (TPG), which reflects pre-capillary contribution to pulmonary hypertension (PH), and postoperative pulmonary hemodynamics and outcomes following restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) in patients with pre-existing PH. METHODS: Pre- and postoperative (1 month) cardiac catheterization was performed in 64 patients with severely impaired left ventricular function (i.e., ejection fraction ≤40%) and pre-existing PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) ≥25 mmHg) who underwent RMA. Patients were segregated into two groups: low TPG (≤12 mmHg) and elevated TPG (>12 mmHg). The mean follow-up period was 54±27 months. The primary outcome seen was a change in pulmonary hemodynamics after RMA; secondary outcomes were composite adverse events, including all-cause mortality and readmission for heart failure. RESULTS: Compared to the low TPG group, patients in the elevated TPG group were more likely to show a postoperative mean PAP of ≥25 mmHg (84% vs. 38%), TPG of >12 mmHg (79% vs. 11%), and pulmonary vascular resistance of ≥240 dynes/sec/cm-5 (84% vs. 6.7%) (all P<0.001), although both groups showed comparable degrees of mitral regurgitation improvement. Serial echocardiography demonstrated that Doppler-derived systolic PAP, which once decreased in both groups, remained stable in the low group while steadily increasing in the elevated group (group effect P<0.001). Patients with elevated TPG had lower freedom from composite adverse events (5-year, 20% vs. 70%, P=0.003). After adjusting for baseline covariates, the elevated TPG was independently associated with increased risk of adverse events (adjusted hazard ratio 2.9, 95% CI: 1.2-6.9, P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated TPG negatively affects postoperative pulmonary hemodynamics and late outcomes in patients with advanced cardiomyopathy and pre-existing PH who have undergone RMA. These findings suggest that the assessment of TPG should be included in post-RMA risk stratification.

Multiple percutaneous coronary interventions worsen outcomes for subsequent surgical correction of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Objective: We investigated whether or not a history of multiple percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) is associated with clinical outcomes after surgery for ischemic mitral regurgitation. Methods: A total of 309 patients with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% who underwent restrictive mitral annuloplasty were classified as follows: patients with no or 1 previous PCI (nonmultiple PCI group [n = 211]) and patients with 2 or more previous PCIs (multiple PCIs group [n = 98]). Mean follow-up duration was 53 ± 40 months. Results: Before surgery, there were no intergroup differences in patient demographic characteristics except for lower estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with multiple PCIs. These patients underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting less frequently with a lower number of distal anastomoses (P < .05 for both). The 30-day mortality was 3.3% and 2.0% in the nonmultiple and multiple PCIs group, respectively (P = .72). During follow-up, there were 157 deaths. Patients with multiple PCIs showed lower 5-year survival rate (44% vs 64%; P = .002). After adjustments with inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting, multiple PCIs history was an independent risk factor for mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.4; 95% confidential interval, 1.1-1.7; P = .002). Patients with multiple PCIs showed less improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (interaction effect P < .001). Conclusions: In patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation, a history of previous multiple PCIs was associated with increased risk of long-term postoperative mortality, with less improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction.

Incidence, determinants and clinical impact of left ventricular function recovery after surgical treatments for ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study aimed to clarify the incidence, determinants and clinical impact of left ventricular (LV) function non-recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: A total of 490 patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (LV ejection fraction ≤ 40%) undergoing CABG were analysed. Follow-up echocardiography was performed at 1 month, 1 year, and annually thereafter. LV function recovery was defined as ejection fraction (EF) ≥40% at least once during follow-up. LV function non-recovery was defined as EF <40% at any follow-up. The primary and secondary end points were changes in LV function and all-cause mortality, respectively. Clinical follow-up was completed in 461 patients (94.1%; mean follow-up: 64.5 ± 45.5 months). RESULTS: During follow-up, echocardiographic assessments were performed 1863 times (mean, 3.8 ± 2.4), and 193 patients (39.4%) exhibiting LV function non-recovery were identified. Overall survival was significantly higher in the recovery group (53.9%) than in the non-recovery group (31.4%) at 10 years (P < 0.001). Independent predictors of LV function non-recovery were preoperative LV end-systolic diameter [odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.10; P < 0.001] and bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.95; P = 0.028). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, LV function non-recovery was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.60-2.86; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Almost 40% of patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing CABG did not achieve LV function recovery and were associated with poor prognosis. To achieve LV function recovery, CABG with bilateral internal thoracic artery may be recommended before excessive LV remodelling occurs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Institutional review board of Osaka University Hospital, number 16105.

Surgical Ablation Concomitant With Nonmitral Valve Surgery for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Consensus regarding an optimal atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation lesion set concomitant with aortic valve replacement (AVR) and/or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has not been established. METHODS: We enrolled 125 consecutive patients (89 men; 70 ± 8 years old) with persistent AF who underwent radiofrequency-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) (PVI group, n = 53) or a Cox-Maze procedure (Maze group, n = 72) with AVR and/or CABG. To reduce the impact of treatment bias and potential confounding in the direct comparisons between patients who underwent Cox-Maze with and those who underwent PVI, we established weighted Cox proportional-hazards regression models with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Mean follow-up was 63 ± 34 months (maximum, 154 months). RESULTS: There was 1 in-hospital death in each group. Patients who underwent Cox-Maze showed a higher freedom from AF at all follow-up examinations. After the operation, there were 32 deaths, 13 thromboembolisms, 8 hemorrhagic events, and 22 heart failure readmissions. The Maze group had higher rates for 5-year survival (88% vs 64%, P = .013) and freedom from composite events (74% vs 42%, P < .001). After adjustment with inverse probability of treatment weighting, the Cox-Maze procedure still showed a lower risk of overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.66; P = .001) and composite adverse events (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.76; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with persistent AF indicated for nonmitral valve surgery, a concomitant Cox-Maze procedure resulted in superior AF- and event-free survival compared with PVI, without increased risk of early mortality. These findings may assist decision making for surgical management of persistent AF concomitant with AVR and/or CABG.