Future is Brighter: New Potential Paradigm-Shifting Medications and Regimens for Diabetes and Obesity.

Diabetes is a chronic illness that can become debilitating owing to its microvascular and macrovascular complications. Its prevalence is increasing and so is its cost. Diabetes, particularly type 2, appears to have a very close relationship with obesity. While lifestyle modifications, exercises, and current therapeutics have substantially improved clinical outcomes, the need for new therapeutics and regimens continue to exist. Several new medications and regimens for diabetes, obesity, and diabesity are showing promising results in advanced clinical trials. For type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), they include teplizumab, ustekinumab, jakinibs, and cell therapies, whereas for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), they include once-weakly insulin, tirzepatide, high oral dose of semaglutide, orforglipron, retatrutide, CagriSema, and survodutide. Given their structural and mechanistic diversity as well as their substantial efficacy and safety profiles, these medications and regimens are paradigm shifting and promise a brighter future. They will likely enable better disease prevention and management. This review will provide details about each of the above strategies to keep the scientific community up to date about progress in the fields of diabetes and obesity.

Implementation of enhanced recovery in cardiac surgery: An experimental study with the control group.

INTRODUCTION: The Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery protocol is the most recent addition to cardiac treatment. In this paper, we aimed to test the safety and viability of this protocol in our hospital to improve our standard of care. METHODS: This study was conducted as an experimental study with a historical control at the Maritime Heart Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. In order to quantify the success of this protocol, we measured the postoperative Length of Hospital Stay and three intensive care unit variables: time to extubation, time to ambulation, and opioid consumption. In the study, 100 patients were in the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery group, and 103 patients were used as historic controls-selected by strenuous chart review and selection criteria. RESULTS: The primary outcome (Length of Hospital Stay) was reduced from a mean of 8.88 ± 3.50 days in the control group to a mean of 5.13 ± 1.34 days in the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery group (p < 0.001). Likewise, we observed a significant reduction in intensive care unit variables: time to extubation was reduced from 10.54 ± 7.83 h in the control group to 6.69 ± 1.63 in the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery group (p < 0.01), and time to ambulation was reduced from 36.27 ± 35.21 h in the control group to 9.78 ± 2.03 in the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery group (p < 0.01) and opioid consumption was reduced from 50.58 ± 11.93 milligram morphine equivalent in the control group to 11.58 ± 4.43 milligram morphine equivalent in the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery protocols were seamlessly integrated into selected cardiac surgical patients, contingent on a high level of interprofessional communication and collaboration.

Structural valve deterioration of bioprosthesis in the aortic position: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is one of the most common open-heart surgical procedures. The durability of the tissue valve in the aortic position is crucial in AVR and transcatheter AVR. We reviewed structural valve deterioration using echocardiographic follow-up in three types of surgical aortic tissue valves. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted where hemodynamic deterioration was evaluated and compared using transthoracic echocardiography, including pressure gradients and effective orifice area. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to summarize the time to failure. RESULTS: The study included 133 Trifecta, 156 Epic, and 321 Magna Ease valves. Seventy-six percent (1941/2551) of patients had to be excluded due to insufficient echo data. Through univariate analysis, 34% (216/610) of valves met deterioration criteria after 24 months. Unadjusted survival curves showed a significant difference between valves (p ≤ .001), with a longer mean time to deterioration for the Magna Ease versus Trifecta and Epic of 68.9 versus 50.1 and 38.2 months, respectively. A Cox proportional hazard analysis found worse hazard ratios of 1.69 (p ≤ .04) and 2.4 (p ≤ .01) for Trifecta versus Magna and Epic versus Trifecta, respectively. CONCLUSION: All three valve types demonstrated structural valve deterioration on echocardiographic follow-up with significant differences in rate. The Magna Ease appeared to have the highest durability, and the Epic the lowest. Further investigation is warranted to confirm the results in a larger multicenter study.

Successful drainage of periaortic graft abscess and transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the same setting-A hybrid approach.

PRESENTATION: 81-year-old man with a history of Bio-Bentall surgery presented to the emergency department with fever, chills and back pain. Initial physical examination was inconclusive apart from sudden onset of delirium. INVESTIGATION: Elevated white blood cells, anemia, and neutrophilia. Further studies revealed gram-positive cocci on the initial blood culture, which was then confirmed to be Methicillin Sensitive Staph Aureus bacteremia. Subsequently, a transesophageal echocardiography showed a periaortic abscess, moderate aortic regurgitation and severe aortic stenosis with no evidence of endocarditis. MANAGEMENT: Antibiotics were started and urgent abscess drainage was planned. In a hybrid operative setting, a multidisciplinary team of cardiology, and cardiac surgery managed the periaortic graft abscess drainage through a median sternotomy and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Postoperatively, the complications included bradycardia, and right heart failure. Six-week course of IV Rifampin, Probenecid, and Cefazolin was initiated, and patient was to remain on lifelong Cefadroxil. CONCLUSION: A hybrid approach should be considered for patients with high morality risks in the field of cardiovascular medicine as it offers the best available combination of treatments.

Carotid to Left Subclavian Artery Bypass Grafting for the Treatment of Coronary Subclavian Steal Syndrome.

Recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass grafting is rarely caused by left subclavian artery (LSCA) stenosis resulting in reduced left internal mammary artery blood flow. We present 2 cases of coronary-subclavian artery steal syndrome resulting from LSCA stenosis and their successful surgical management with left carotid to LSCA bypass. Based on the successful management described in this case report, and the limitations of other options in addressing coronary-subclavian artery steal syndrome, left carotid to LSCA bypass surgery should be considered for revascularization in patients who develop postoperative coronary-subclavian artery steal syndrome due to LSCA stenosis.

La récidive d'angine après le pontage aortocoronarien est rarement causée par la sténose de l'artère sous-clavière gauche (ASCG) entraînant la réduction du débit sanguin de l'artère mammaire interne. Nous présentons deux cas de syndrome du vol coronaro-sous-clavier résultant de la sténose de l'ASCG et la réussite de leur prise en charge par pontage entre l'artère carotide gauche et l'ASCG. Compte tenu de la réussite de la prise en charge décrite dans cette observation et des limites des autres options dans le traitement du syndrome du vol coronaro-sous-clavier, le pontage entre l'artère carotide gauche et l'ASCG devrait être envisagé lors de la revascularisation des patients qui présentent le syndrome du vol coronaro-sous-clavier postopératoire en raison de la sténose de l'ASCG.

Patient-prosthesis mismatch and surgical aortic valve replacement outcomes: Retrospective analysis of single-center surgical data.

BACKGROUND: Patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) has been identified as a risk factor for mortality and reoperation in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). We present a retrospective analysis of risk factors for PPM and the effects of PPM on early postoperative outcomes after SAVR. METHODS: Chart review was conducted for patients (N = 3003) undergoing SAVR. PPM was calculated from valve reference orifice areas and patient body surface area. Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for PPM and develop a risk score from these results. Regression was also conducted to identify associations between projected PPM status and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Risk factors for PPM included female sex, higher body mass index (BMI), and use of the St. Jude Epic valve. Patients receiving St. Jude trifecta valves or mechanical valves were less likely to have predicted PPM. We developed a risk score using BMI, sex, and valve type, and retrospectively predicted PPM in our cohort. Mild PPM (odds ratio [OR] = 2.267), severe PPM (OR = 2.869), male sex (OR = 2.091), and younger age (OR = 0.940) were all predictors of SAVR reoperation, while aortic root replacement was associated with reduced reoperation rates (OR = 0.122). Severe PPM carried a risk of in-hospital mortality (OR = 3.599), and moderate PPM carried a smaller but significant risk (OR = 1.920). Other factors increasing postoperative morbidity and mortality included older age, renal failure, and diabetes. CONCLUSION: PPM could be retrospectively predicted in our cohort using a risk calculation from sex, BMI and valve type. We conclude that all degrees of PPM carry risk for mortality and reoperation.

Six-year follow-up of aortic valve reoperation rates: Carpentier-Edwards Perimount versus St. Jude Medical Trifecta.

BACKGROUND: The Carpentier-Edwards Perimount valves have a proven track record in aortic valve replacement: good durability, hemodynamic performance, rates of survival, and low rates of valve-related complications and prosthesis-patient mismatch. The St. Jude Medical Trifecta is a newer valve that has shown comparable early and midterm outcomes. Studies show reoperation rates of Trifecta are comparable with Perimount valves, with a few recent studies bringing into focus early structural valve deterioration (SVD), and increased midterm SVD in younger patients. Given that midterm data for Trifecta is still sparse, we wanted to confirm the early low reoperation rates of Trifecta persist over time compared with Perimount. METHODS: The Maritime Heart Centre Database was searched for AVR between 2011 and 2016, inclusive. The primary endpoint of the study was all-cause reoperation rate. RESULTS: In total, 711 Perimount and 453 Trifecta implantations were included. The reoperation hazards were determined for age: 0.96 (0.92-0.99; p = .02), female (vs. male): 0.35 (0.08-1.53; p = .16), smoker (vs. nonsmoker): 2.44 (0.85-7.02; p = .1), and Trifecta (vs. Perimount): 2.68 (0.97-7.39; p = .06). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis in subgroups-age <60, age ≥60, male, female, smoker, and nonsmoker-showed Perimount having lower reoperation rates than Trifecta in patients younger than 60 (p = .02) and current smokers (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The rates of reoperation of Perimount and Trifecta were comparable, with Trifecta showing higher rates in patients younger than 60 years, and current smokers. Continued diligence and further independent reporting of midterm reoperation and SVD rates of the Trifecta, including detailed echocardiographic follow-up, are needed to confirm these findings.

Pyoderma gangrenosum after cardiac surgery.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) can mimic early postoperative sternal wound infections. Steroid therapy is the only method of treatment for this condition, which recognizes the fact that steroids can lead to immunosuppression and potentially inhibit healing after major surgery.

Spontaneous bleeding from liver after open heart surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-abdominal hemorrhage after open heart surgery is very uncommon in routine clinical practice. There are case reports of having bleeding from spleen or liver after starting low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) postoperatively. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Our patient is a 58-year-old man with mitral valve regurgitation, who underwent mitral valve repair and developed intra-abdominal hemorrhage 8h after open heart surgery. The exploratory laparotomy revealed the source of bleeding from ruptured sub-capsular liver hematoma and oozing from raw areas of the liver surface. Liver packing was done to control the bleeding. DISCUSSION: The gastrointestinal complications after open heart surgery are rare and spontaneous bleeding from spleen has been reported. This is the first case from our hospital to have intra-abdominal hemorrhage after open heart surgery. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous bleeding from liver is a possible complication after open heart surgery. We submit the case for the academic interest and to discuss the possible cause of hemorrhage.

Cor triatriatum with persistent levoatrial cardinal vein late presented as severe mitral stenosis.

Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly that usually becomes symptomatic in the first years of life. We present a 28-year-old pregnant female patient presented with shortness of breath, palpitations and decreased exercise tolerance. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography showed cor triatriatum, features of severe mitral stenosis and atrial septal defect (ASD). The patient underwent successful surgical correction with an uneventful postoperative course.

Atrial septal defect with drainage of the inferior vena cava into the left atrium.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) with drainage of the inferior vena cava (IVC) into the left atrium (LA) is a rare congenital anomaly. Few cases have been reported in the literature. We present a 17-year-old female with an ASD and an anomalous drainage of the IVC into the LA leading to cyanosis since early childhood. Diagnosis was documented by computed tomography (CT) angiography and confirmed intra-operatively. The patient underwent successful surgical correction with an uneventful postoperative course.