Sutureless versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A multicenter analysis of "real-world" data.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggested that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be indicated also for low-risk patients. However, robust evidence is still lacking, particularly regarding valve performance at follow-up that confers a limitation to its use in young patients. Moreover, a literature gap exists in terms of 'real-world' data analysis. The aim of this study is to compare the cost-effectiveness of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SuAVR) versus transfemoral TAVR. METHODS: Prospectively collected data were retrieved from a centralized database of nine cardiac surgery centers between 2010 and 2018. Follow-up was completed in June 2019. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed. RESULTS: Patients in the TAVR group (n=1002) were older and with more comorbidities than SuAVR patients (n=443). The PSM analysis generated 172 pairs. No differences were recorded between groups in 30-day mortality [SuAVR vs TAVR: n=7 (4%) vs n=5 (2.9%); p=0.7] and need for pacemaker implant [n=10 (5.8%) vs n=20 (11.6%); p=0.1], but costs were lower in the SuAVR group (20486.6±4188€ vs 24181.5±3632€; p<0.01). Mean follow-up was 1304±660 days. SuAVR patients had a significantly higher probability of survival than TAVR patients (no. of fatal events: 22 vs 74; p<0.014). Median follow-up was 2231 days and 2394 days in the SuAVR and TAVR group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The treatment of aortic valve stenosis with surgical sutureless or transcatheter prostheses is safe and effective. By comparing the two approaches, patients who can undergo surgery after heart team evaluation show longer lasting results and a more favorable cost ratio.

Venous Hemodynamic Insufficiency Severity Score variation after endovascular treatment of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is a vascular condition characterized by anomalies of the internal jugular veins (IJVs) and/or azygos veins with disturbed flow and formation of collateral venous channels. The presence of CCSVI has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Percutaneous venous angioplasty (PVA) has been proposed to improve extracranial outflow; however, a non-invasive, post-procedural follow-up outcome measure has not been established. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the short-term hemodynamic follow-up of CCSVI after PVA using color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and to investigate whether hemodynamic variation correlated with clinical variation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients affected by MS with confirmed CCSVI underwent IJVs PVA. Venous hemodynamic (VH) parameters indicative of CCSVI and the Venous Hemodynamic Insufficiency Severity Score (VHISS) were evaluated by CDU at baseline and 3 months post-PVA. Concurrently, the MS-related disability status (EDSS) was evaluated. RESULTS: The VH parameters and VHISS 3 months after IJVs PVA significantly decreased: the VH parameters -32.1% and the VHISS -33.8% (p < 0.001). The EDSS score 3 months after IJVs PVA was significantly lower than the baseline (-5.5%, p < 0.001). Using the median value of the VHISS variation as the cut-off, we were able to identify two groups of patients: responders, group A; and non-responders, group B. The EDSS score variation at 3 months was 0.310 in group A and 0.275 in group B (p = 0.746). CONCLUSIONS: CCSVI endovascular treatment can induce an improvement in VH parameters and the VHISS. The neurological disability score (EDSS) also improved after PVA; however, there was no correlation to the VHISS variation after PVA, MS type and duration.

Retrograde pulmonary perfusion as an adjunct to standard pulmonary embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism.

Mortality rates for pulmonary embolectomy in patients with acute massive pulmonary embolism have decreased in recent years. However, it still ranges from 30 to 45% when surgery is performed on critically ill patients, and the mortality rates reach 60% in patients who have experienced a cardiac arrest before the procedure. The causes of death in these patients are generally attributed to right heart failure due to persistent pulmonary hypertension, intractable pulmonary oedema, and massive parenchymal and intrabronchial haemorrhage. Clinical and experimental findings indicate that venous air embolism causes severe or even lethal damage to the pulmonary microvasculature and the lung parenchyma consequent to the release of endothelium-derived cytokines. These findings are similar to those observed when severely compromised patients undergo pulmonary embolectomy for air entrapped in the pulmonary artery during embolectomy, which may lead to fatal outcomes. Retrograde pulmonary perfusion (RPP), besides enabling the removal of residual thrombotic material from the peripheral branches of the pulmonary artery, fills the pulmonary artery with blood and prevents pulmonary air embolism. We believe that the use of RPP as an adjunct to conventional pulmonary embolectomy decreases the morbidity and mortality rates associated with pulmonary embolectomy in critically ill patients.

Bilateral surgical reconstruction for internal jugular veins disease in patients with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and associated multiple sclerosis.

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is a vascular condition characterized by morphologic alterations involving efferent cerebral vascular paths. CCSVI has been implicated as a contributing factor to multiple sclerosis (MS) but this theory is highly controversial. We report 3 cases of CCSVI patients with MS who had undergone internal jugular veins (IJVs) angioplasty to restore vessels patency. All patients reported significant symptomatic improvement after angioplasty until symptoms recurred after restenosis of the treated IJVs. Surgical IJVs reconstruction was performed. Patients' symptoms gradually improved and the benefits were maintained at the 1-year follow-up.

Perioperative management of a heterozygous carrier of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is a congenital hemorrhagic disorder transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait and characterized by altered production and/or assembly of the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor. We describe the perioperative management of a heterozygous carrier of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia submitted to cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and the case was complicated by early excessive postoperative bleeding.

Sternal closure using semirigid fixation with thermoreactive clips.

Sternomy represents the standard approach to the heart and great vessels in most cardiothoracic procedures. Closure of this incision is simple; however, healing complications such as dehiscence, osteomyelitis, mediastinitis, and superficial wound infection or fistula may occur. We describe an alternative technique for sternal closure using semirigid fixation with thermoreactive clips.