Optimal temperature management in aortic arch surgery: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: New temperature management concepts of moderate and mild hypothermic circulatory arrest during aortic arch surgery have gained weight over profound cooling. Comparisons of all temperature levels have rarely been performed. We performed direct and indirect comparisons of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) (≤20°C), moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) (20.1-25°C), and mild hypothermic circulatory arrest (mild HCA) (≥25.1°C) in a network meta-analysis. METHODS: The literature was systematically searched for all papers published through February 2022 reporting on clinical outcomes after aortic arch surgery utilizing DHCA, MHCA and mild HCA. The primary outcome was operative mortality. The secondary outcomes were postoperative stroke and acute kidney failure (AKI). RESULTS: A total of 34 studies were included, with a total of 12,370 patients. DHCA was associated with significantly higher postoperative incidence of stroke when compared with MHCA (odds ratio [OR], 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.78) and mild HCA: (OR, 1.50, 95% CI, 1.14-1.98). Furthermore, DHCA and MHCA were associated with higher operative mortality when compared with mild HCA (OR 1.71, 95% CI, 1.23-2.39 and OR 1.50, 95% CI, 1.12-2.00, respectively). Separate analysis of randomized and propensity score matched studies showed sustained increased risk of stroke with DHCA in contrast to MHCA and mild HCA (OR, 1.61, 95% CI, 1.18-2.20, p value = .0029 and OR, 1.74, 95% CI, 1.09-2.77, p value = .019). CONCLUSIONS: In the included studies, the moderate to mild hypothermia strategies were associated with decreased operative mortality and the risk of postoperative stroke. Large-scale prospective studies are warranted to further explore appropriate temperature management for the treatment of aortic arch pathologies.

Cerebral protection in aortic arch surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Consensus regarding optimal cerebral protection strategy in aortic arch surgery is lacking. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess outcome differences between unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP), bilateral ACP, retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). A systematic literature search was performed in Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google Scholar for all papers published till February 2021 reporting on early clinical outcome after aortic arch surgery utilizing either unilateral, bilateral ACP, RCP or DHCA. The primary outcome was operative mortality. Other key secondary endpoints were occurrence of postoperative disabling stroke, paraplegia, renal and respiratory failure. Pooled outcome risks were estimated using random-effects models. A total of 222 studies were included with a total of 43 720 patients. Pooled postoperative mortality in unilateral ACP group was 6.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3-8.1%], 9.1% (95% CI 7.9-10.4%), 7.8% (95% CI 5.6-10.7%), 9.2% (95% CI 6.7-12.7%) in bilateral ACP, RCP and DHCA groups, respectively. The incidence of postoperative disabling stroke was 4.8% (95% CI 3.8-6.1%) in the unilateral ACP group, 7.3% (95% CI 6.2-8.5%) in bilateral ACP, 6.4% (95% CI 4.4-9.1%) in RCP and 6.3% (95% CI 4.4-9.1%) in DHCA subgroups. The present meta-analysis summarizes the clinical outcomes of different cerebral protection techniques that have been used in clinical practice over the last decades. These outcomes may be used in advanced microsimulation model. These findings need to be placed in the context of the underlying aortic disease, the extent of the aortic disease and other comorbidities. Prospero registration number: CRD42021246372 METC: MEC-2019-0825.

Virtual Reality in the Preoperative Planning of Adult Aortic Surgery: A Feasibility Study.

Background: Complex aortic anatomy needs careful preoperative planning in which a patient-tailored approach with novel immersive techniques could serve as a valuable addition to current preoperative imaging. This pilot study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of virtual reality (VR) as an additional imaging tool for preoperative planning in ascending aortic surgery. Methods: Ten cardiothoracic surgeons were presented with six patients who had each undergone a recent repair of the ascending aorta. Two-dimensional computed tomography images of each patient were assessed prior to the VR session. After three-dimensional (3D) VR rendering and 3D segmentation of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, the reconstructions were analyzed by each surgeon in VR via a head-mounted display. Each cardiothoracic surgeon completed a questionnaire after each planning procedure. The results of their assessments were compared to the performed operations. The primary endpoint of the present study was a change of surgical approach from open to clamped distal anastomosis, and vice versa. Results: Compared with conventional imaging, 80% of surgeons found that VR prepared them better for surgery. In 33% of cases (two out of six), the preoperative decision was adjusted due to the 3D VR-based evaluation of the anatomy. Surgeons rated CardioVR usefulness, user-friendliness, and satisfaction with median scores of 3.8 (IQR: 3.5-4.1), 4.2 (IQR: 3.8-4.6,) and 4.1 (IQR: 3.8-4.7) on a five-point Likert scale, respectively. Conclusions: Three-dimensional VR imaging was associated with improved anatomical understanding among surgeons and could be helpful in the future preoperative planning of ascending aortic surgery.

Current and Future Applications of Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: This review aims to examine the existing literature to address currently used virtual, augmented, and mixed reality modalities in the areas of preoperative surgical planning, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative management in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. In addition this innovative technology provides future perspectives and potential benefits for cardiothoracic surgeons, trainees, and patients. METHODS: A targeted, nonsystematic literature assessment was performed within the Medline and Google Scholar databases to help identify current trends and to provide better understanding of the current state-of-the-art extended reality (XR) modalities in cardiothoracic surgery. Related articles published up to July 2020 were included in the review. RESULTS: XR is a novel technique gaining increasing application in cardiothoracic surgery. It provides a 3-dimensional and realistic view of structures and environments and offers the user the ability to interact with digital projections of surgical targets. Recent studies showed the validity and benefits of XR applications in cardiothoracic surgery. Examples include XR-guided preoperative planning, intraoperative guidance and navigation, postoperative pain and rehabilitation management, surgical simulation, and patient education. CONCLUSIONS: XR is gaining interest in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. In particular there are promising roles for XR applications in televirtuality, surgical planning, surgical simulation, and perioperative management. However future refinement and research are needed to further implement XR in the aforementioned settings within cardiothoracic surgery.

Initial clinical experience with minimally invasive surgical aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The ministernotomy approach is increasingly used in aortic valve surgery. However, the advantages are still a matter of discussion. The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative outcome in patients undergoing elective aortic valve operation, either through mini-sternotomy or conventional sternotomy. METHODS: We included 317 patients who were treated for their aortic valve, 63 patients underwent a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (mini-AVR) and 254 patients underwent a full-sternotomy AVR. Patients with endocarditis, those who underwent previous cardiac surgery and those who required a concomitant procedure were excluded from the analysis. The method of matching weights according to propensity score was used to adjust for differences between the two treatment groups, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The mediastinal drainage was significantly lower at 6, 24 hours and total after mini-AVR procedure than after full-sternotomy AVR (median: 373 vs. 499 mL, P<0.001). However, the number of patients receiving packed red blood cells transfusion was similar. Overall, the hospital mortality was lower in the full-sternotomy group, 0% vs. 3.2%, P=0.039. No difference was found in the median hospital length of stay, perioperative myocardial infarction, postoperative incidence of new pacemaker implantation, stroke, prolonged mechanical ventilation and mediastinitis. No patients in the mini-AVR group experienced paravalvular leakage. Midterm survival resulted in no difference between the treatment groups at 4-year (90.5% vs. 95.2%), P=0.75. CONCLUSIONS: Although the minimally invasive surgery for AVR may increasingly be applied, our initial experience calls for a careful approach of adapting this procedure.

Outcomes of different aortic arch replacement techniques.

BACKGROUND: Consensus on the best treatment for aortic arch pathology is unresolved due to an emerging variety of procedures. We aimed to compare the outcomes of two major techniques for open aortic arch replacement involving the supra-aortic branches and to identify the risk factors for specific adverse events. METHODS: Between 1974 and 2017, 172 patients were treated with either the en bloc (island, n = 59; 34.3%) or branched graft technique (n = 113, 65.7%). Most of the patients were treated in an emergent/urgent setting (52.4%). RESULTS: Patients who underwent the en bloc procedure had significantly shorter cardiopulmonary bypass (median: 241 vs 271 minutes, P = .041) and aortic cross clamp times (median: 124 vs 168 minutes, P = .005) than patients who underwent the separate graft technique. Overall, the hospital mortality was lower in the en bloc group, 8.5% vs 19.5%, although the difference was not significant (P = .077). No difference was found in the survival between the separate graft and en bloc groups at 1 (77.0 vs 86.3%), 5 (67.7 vs 66.3%) and 10 years (42.4 vs 51.3%), (P = .63). The postoperative stroke rate was comparable between the en bloc and separate graft cohorts (14.3 vs 19.6%, P = .52). Diabetics and those who underwent an elephant trunk procedure were at a higher risk for reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: The separate graft technique, which is more common today, showed no difference from the en bloc technique with regard to hospital mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, the late survival and reintervention rates were similar after both procedures.

Surgical repair of aortic coarctation in adults: half a century of a single centre clinical experience.

OBJECTIVES: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is rarely diagnosed and treated in adults and nowadays mostly treated with percutaneous techniques. The objective of this study is to report the long-term outcomes and health-related quality of life in a unique cohort of patients treated with an open surgical repair for their primary adult CoA. METHODS: Ninety adult patients underwent primary surgical repair of CoA at our tertiary referral centre between 1961 and 2008 when the treatment strategy for adult CoA was exclusively surgical. RESULTS: The median age at surgery was 24 years (interquartile range 20-36 years), and 39 patients (43%) were asymptomatic at presentation. CoA was located paraductally in most patients (64%), and bicuspid aortic valve was present in 39 (43%) patients. Surgical reconstruction of CoA with an end-to-end anastomosis was performed in majority of the patients (57%). Overall, in-hospital mortality occurred in 1 patient (1%). There was no in-hospital stroke, spinal cord ischaemia, renal replacement therapy or respiratory failure. The cumulative survival was 97.7%, 89.5%, 82.6%, 70.9% and 61.4% at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years, respectively. Thirty-one patients (34%) required an additional cardiac surgery during follow-up. The majority of patients (77%) suffered from refractory hypertension even after decades of surgery. Compared with the matched Dutch population, patients reported a lower social functioning, mental health, vitality and general health with a higher body pain. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with native adult CoA have low in-hospital morbidity and mortality when treated with an open surgical reconstruction. However, refractory hypertension and impaired quality of life remain important challenges during follow-up.

Current Trends in Aortic Root Surgery: The Mini-Bentall Approach.

OBJECTIVE: The mini-sternotomy approach is becoming a widespread technique for aortic valve surgery. However, its safety for aortic root replacement has yet to be established. The aim of the present study was to compare the operative outcomes of patients who underwent aortic root replacement via upper mini-sternotomy (mini-Bentall) to patients who underwent Bentall procedure via median sternotomy (full-sternotomy Bentall). METHODS: Between November 1998 and November 2016, 91 consecutive patients underwent full-sternotomy Bentall procedure and 26 patients underwent mini-Bentall procedure. The mini-Bentall procedure was performed via an upper hemisternotomy incision extending to the right fourth intercostal space. Patients with concomitant procedures and those who underwent deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were excluded from the analysis. Outcome variables were operative mortality and major surgical complications, including prolonged length of hospital stay, transfusion rates, reoperation for bleeding, and prolonged ventilatory support. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed on the preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics between the two treatment groups. The median cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times were 169 minutes (interquartile range = 156.0-188.5) and 148 minutes (interquartile range = 131.3-160.3) in the mini-Bentall group, respectively. The median duration of hospitalization in the mini-Bentall group was 6.5 days (interquartile range = 5.0-11.0 days). In-hospital mortality and new renal insufficiency occurred at a frequency of 1.1% and reoperation for bleeding at 6.6% in the group of patients who underwent the conventional Bentall procedure compared with 0% for all these measures in the mini-Bentall group (P > 0.33). There was no significant difference in intraoperative red blood cell transfusion and other major postoperative complications. No strokes were observed in either group, and there were no conversions to median sternotomy in the mini-Bentall group. CONCLUSIONS: An upper hemisternotomy is a feasible technique in patients undergoing elective aortic root replacement surgery. However, future prospective studies are required before these procedures become the standard of care.

Operative outcomes after open repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms in the era of endovascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: Since the advent of endovascular techniques for repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAAs), there has been a relative paucity of current data for open repairs. The purpose of this study was to assess the operative and long-term outcomes in a contemporary series of open repairs of DTAAs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 68 patients (63±14.5 years) who underwent DTAA repairs between January 1999 and December 2010. Forty-two patients (62%) were male, 16 (24%) had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 7 (10%) required dialysis preoperatively, 11 (16%) had contained rupture, 25 (37%) had previous cardioaortic operations, and 10 (15%) had previous aortic arch replacement (stage 1 elephant trunk). The entire descending thoracic aorta was replaced in 34 patients (50%). Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 64 patients (94%) and deep hypothermic arrest in 22 (32%). RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 3% (2 patients). There was no immediate paraplegia. Delayed paraplegia developed in 1 patient (1.5%). Postoperative stroke occurred in 3 patients (4.4%), and 20 (29%) required prolonged ventilatory support (intubation≥48 hours). New-onset renal insufficiency (creatinine≥2.5 mg/dL) developed postoperatively in 6 patients (9%), and 1 (1.5%) required temporary dialysis. The median follow-up time was 5.8±3.8 years. Sixteen of the 66 operative survivors (24.2%) died during follow-up. Probability of survival was 82%±0.05% at 5 years and 67%±0.07% at 10 years. Reintervention was necessary in 4 patients (6%). Freedom from reintervention was 98%±0.02% at 5 years and 89%±0.06% at 10 years. The univariable predictor of long-term death was postoperative reintubation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the era of endovascular repair of DTAAs, operative death and morbidity outcomes for open repairs are observed to be low. In addition to good long-term survival rates, open repairs are durable, as evidenced by low reintervention rates.

Somatosensory-evoked potential-guided intercostal artery reimplantation in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of somatosensory-evokedpotential (SSEP) monitoring on intercostal artery reimplantation (IAR) and spinal cord ischemia rates during thoracoabdominal ortic aneurysm repair. METHODS: Fifty-two patients had thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with IAR under SSEP guidance and 79 patients had repair with routine IAR without SSEP guidance from 1999 to 2010. RESULTS: No differences were observed between the two groups in age (63.1 ± 11.6 vs 64.8 ± 9.8 years), sex (57.7% vs 50.6% men), chronic dissections (40.4% vs 44.3%), renal insufficiency (11.5% vs 10.1%), and Crawford type 1 and 2 aneurysms (53.9% vs 53.9%). There was one case (1.9%) of immediate paraplegia and one case (1.9%) of delayed paraplegia in the SSEP group versus 2 cases (2.5%) of immediate paraplegia in the non-SSEP group (P = 0.92). In the SSEP group, 38 patients (73.1%) had SSEP changes, but only 15 (28.8%) required reimplantation. There were fewer IARs in the SSEP group compared with the non-SSEP group (28.8% vs. 59.5%, P = 0.004). No difference was observed in 30-day mortality between the SSEP and the non-SSEP group (3.9% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: The use of SSEP monitoring led to a significant decrease in the need for IAR without increasing the paraplegia rate.