Aortic valve repair versus mechanical valve replacement for root aneurysm: the CAVIAAR multicentric study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite growing evidence that aortic valve repair improves long-term patient outcomes and quality of life, aortic valves are mostly replaced. We evaluate the effect of aortic valve repair versus replacement in patients with dystrophic aortic root aneurysm up to 4 years. METHODS: The multicentric CAVIAAR (Conservation Aortique Valvulaire dans les Insuffisances Aortiques et les Anévrismes de la Racine aortique) prospective cohort study enrolled 261 patients: 130 underwent standardized aortic valve repair (REPAIR) consisting of remodelling root repair with expansible aortic ring annuloplasty, and 131 received mechanical composite valve and graft replacement (REPLACE). Primary outcome was a composite criterion of mortality, reoperation, thromboembolic or major bleeding events, endocarditis or operating site infections, pacemaker implantation and heart failure, analysed with propensity score-weighted Cox model analysis. Secondary outcomes included major adverse valve-related events and components of primary outcome. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.1 years, and valve was bicuspid in 115 patients (44.7%). Up to 4 years, REPAIR did not significantly differ from REPLACE in terms of primary outcome [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.66 (0.39; 1.12)] but showed significantly less valve-related deaths (HR 0.09 [0.02; 0.34]) and major bleeding events (HR 0.37 [0.16; 0.85]) without an increased risk of valve-related reoperation (HR 2.10 [0.64; 6.96]). When accounting for the occurrence of multiple events in a single patient, the REPAIR group had half the occurrence of major adverse valve-related events (HR 0.51 [0.31; 0.86]). CONCLUSIONS: Although the primary outcome did not significantly differ between the REPAIR and REPLACE groups, the trend is in favour of REPAIR by a significant reduction of valve-related deaths and major bleeding events. Long-term follow-up beyond 4 years is needed to confirm these findings.

Guidelines on enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump.

OBJECTIVE: To provide recommendations for enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery (ERACS) based on a multimodal perioperative medicine approach in adult cardiac surgery patients with the aim of improving patient satisfaction, reducing postoperative mortality and morbidity, and reducing the length of hospital stay. DESIGN: A consensus committee of 20 experts from the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation, SFAR) and the French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Société française de chirurgie thoracique et cardio-vasculaire, SFCTCV) was convened. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. The entire guideline process was conducted independently of any industry funding. The authors were advised to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide the assessment of the quality of evidence. METHODS: Six fields were defined: (1) selection of the patient pathway and its information; (2) preoperative management and rehabilitation; (3) anaesthesia and analgesia for cardiac surgery; (4) surgical strategy for cardiac surgery and bypass management; (5) patient blood management; and (6) postoperative enhanced recovery. For each field, the objective of the recommendations was to answer questions formulated according to the PICO model (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). Based on these questions, an extensive bibliographic search was carried out and analyses were performed using the GRADE approach. The recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology and then voted on by all the experts according to the GRADE grid method. RESULTS: The SFAR/SFCTCV guideline panel provided 33 recommendations on the management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump. After three rounds of voting and several amendments, a strong agreement was reached for the 33 recommendations. Of these recommendations, 10 have a high level of evidence (7 GRADE 1+ and 3 GRADE 1-); 19 have a moderate level of evidence (15 GRADE 2+ and 4 GRADE 2-); and 4 are expert opinions. Finally, no recommendations were provided for 3 questions. CONCLUSIONS: Strong agreement existed among the experts to provide recommendations to optimise the complete perioperative management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Standardized approach to valve repair using an expansible aortic ring versus mechanical Bentall: early outcomes of the CAVIAAR multicentric prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare the 30-day outcomes of a standardized aortic valve repair technique (REPAIR group) associating root remodeling with an expansible aortic ring annuloplasty versus mechanical composite valve and graft (CVG group) replacement in treating aortic root aneurysms. METHODS: A total of 261 consecutive patients with aortic root aneurysm were enrolled in this multicentric prospective cohort (131 in the CVG group, 130 in the REPAIR group) in 20 centers. The main end point is a composite criterion including mortality; reoperation; thromboembolic, hemorrhagic, or infectious events; and heart failure. Secondary end points were major adverse valve-related events. Crude and propensity score adjusted estimates are provided. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.1 years, and the valve was bicuspid in 115 patients (44.7%). The median (interquartile range) preoperative aortic insufficiency grade was 2.0 (1.0-3.0) in the REPAIR group and 3.0 (2.0-3.0) in the CVG group (P = .0002). Thirty-day mortality was 3.8% (n = 5) in both groups (P = 1.00). Despite a learning curve and longer crossclamp times for valve repair (147.7 vs 99.8 minutes, P < .0001), the 2 groups did not differ significantly for the main criterion (odds ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-2.40; P = .38) or 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-3053; P = .99), with a trend toward more frequent major adverse valve-related events in the CVG group (odds ratio, 2.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-7.40; P = .09). At discharge, 121 patients (96.8%) in the REPAIR group had grade 0 or 1 aortic insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: A new standardized approach to valve repair, combining an expansible aortic annuloplasty ring with the remodeling technique, presented similar 30-day results to mechanical CVG with a trend toward reducing major adverse valve-related events. Analysis of late outcomes is in process for 3- and 10-year follow-ups.

Comparison of two antiplatelet therapy strategies in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Dual antiplatelet therapy is commonly used in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), but the optimal antiplatelet regimen is uncertain and remains to be determined. The objective of this study was to compare 2 strategies of antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing TAVI. A strategy using monoantiplatelet therapy (group A, n = 164) was prospectively compared with a strategy using dual antiplatelet therapy (group B, n = 128) in 292 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI. The primary end point was a combination of mortality, major stroke, life-threatening bleeding (LTB), myocardial infarction, and major vascular complications at 30 days. All adverse events were adjudicated according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium. The primary end point occurred in 22 patients (13.4%) in the group A and in 30 patients (23.4%) in the group B (hazard ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.94, p = 0.026). LTB (3.7% vs 12.5%, p = 0.005) and major bleedings (2.4% vs 13.3%, p <0.0001) occurred less frequently in the group A, whereas the incidence of stroke (1.2% vs 4.7%, p = 0.14) and myocardial infarction (1.2% vs 0.8%, p = 1.0) was not significantly different between the 2 groups. The benefit of a strategy using mono versus dual antiplatelet therapy persisted after multivariate adjustment and propensity score analysis (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.95, p = 0.033). In conclusion, a strategy using mono versus dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing TAVI reduces LTB and major bleedings without increasing the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. The results of our study question the justification of dual antiplatelet therapy and require confirmation in a randomized trial.

Remodeling of the aortic root combined to an expansible aortic ring annuloplasty.

Aortic root aneurysms are characterized by dilation of both functional aortic annulus diameters (aortic annular base and sino-tubular junction), preventing coaptation of otherwise pliable valves often associated with cusp prolapse. Multiple techniques of aortic valve sparing procedures try to restore the complex interplay of aortic valve and root function in order to improve durability of the repair. Ideally, procedures should treat dilatation of the aortic annular base, while preserving dynamics of the aortic root with vortices (neosinuses of Valsalva) and root expansibility (interleaflet triangles). We describe a standardized approach, combining the advantages of both the remodeling and reimplantation technique by adding an external subvalvular ring annuloplasty to the physiological remodeling of the aortic root. To address the need for a dedicated aortic annuloplasty device, a new expansible aortic ring was designed in order to achieve a complete and calibrated annuloplasty in diastole, while maintaining systolic expansibility of the aortic root.

An aortic ring: from physiologic reconstruction of the root to a standardized approach for aortic valve repair.

OBJECTIVE: We suggest standardizing aortic valve repair using a physiologic approach by associating root remodeling with resuspension of the cusp effective height and external subvalvular aortic ring annuloplasty. METHODS: A total of 187 patients underwent remodeling associated with subvalvular aortic ring annuloplasty (14 centers, 24 surgeons). Three strategies for cusp repair were evaluated: group 1, gross visual estimation (74 patients); group 2, alignment of cusp free edges (62 patients); and group 3, 2-step approach, alignment of the cusp free edges and effective height resuspension (51 patients). The composite outcome was defined as recurrence of aortic insufficiency of grade 2 or greater and/or reoperation. RESULTS: The operative mortality rate was 3.2% (n = 6). Treatment of a cusp lesion was most frequently performed in group 3 (70.6% vs 20.3% in group 1 and 30.6% in group 2, P < .001). Nine patients required reoperation during a follow-up period of 24 months (range, 12-45), 6 patients in group 1 and 3 patients in group 2. At 1 year, no patients in group 3 presented with composite outcome events compared with 28.1% in group 1 and 15% in group 2 (P < .001). Residual aortic insufficiency and tricuspid anatomy were independent risk factors for the composite outcome in groups 1 and 2. The annulus diameter, the presence of Marfan syndrome, and cusp repair had no effect on aortic insufficiency recurrence or reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized and physiologic approach to aortic valve repair, considering both the aorta (root remodeling) and the valve (resuspension of the cusp effective height and subvalvular ring annuloplasty) improved the preliminary results and might affect their long-term durability. The ongoing Conservative Aortic Valve Surgery for Aortic Insufficiency and Aneurysm of the Aortic Root (CAVIAAR) trial will compare this strategy to mechanical valve replacement.

Impact of purely internal thoracic artery T-graft technique on the mode and quality of surgical myocardial revascularization evaluated by early postoperative coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND: The use of the internal thoracic artery for coronary artery bypass has improved the results of such surgery. However, bypass using only the internal thoracic arteries sometimes requires a T-graft. This purely internal thoracic artery T-graft technique has progressively become part of our surgical protocol for coronary artery bypass surgery. AIMS: The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of this surgical technique on the degree and quality of coronary revascularization using early postoperative angiography. METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2006, 148 patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery exclusively using both internal thoracic arteries in a T-graft configuration. Systematic postoperative angiography was offered to all 148 patients; it was accepted by 108 patients and refused by 40 patients. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. In-patient mortality was 2.02% (n=3) for the whole population studied, and 1.49% (n=2) for the 134 patients who received only coronary artery bypass grafts. The revascularization rate was 89% and 3.46 coronary anastomoses were constructed per patient (range 2-6). Angiography was performed on 108 right internal thoracic artery to left internal thoracic artery anastomoses, 374 anastomoses of internal thoracic arteries to coronary arteries and 382 inter-anastomosis segments: 98% of the anastomoses and segments were patent. CONCLUSION: The exclusive recourse to the purely internal thoracic artery T-graft technique meant that it has been possible to dispense with other types of graft while achieving complete and effective revascularization of the coronary artery.

Short-term hemodynamic advantages of stentless CryoLife-O'Brien valve over stented bioprostheses for aortic valve replacement.

For the CryoLife-O'Brien valve (CryoLife Inc, Kennesaw, GA, USA), implanted with a single suture line, we aimed to analyze the surgical requests and the hemodynamic results compared to stented bioprostheses. Two groups of patients requiring isolated aortic valve replacement from this population were compared retrospectively: 84 patients receiving the stentless CryoLife-O'Brien valve (Group A) and 94 patients receiving stented bioprostheses (Group B). Preoperative characteristics of patients were statistically equivalent for both groups. Statistically significant differences were observed only for operative durations and post-operative transprosthetic gradients: Aorta cross-clamp and cardio-pulmonary bypass durations were statistically longer for Group A than for Group B (45.9+/-5.7 min vs. 41.1+/-6.8 min; P<0.0001; and 64.3+/-11.6 min vs. 59.3+/-11.9 min, respectively; P=0.0053); maximal gradients and mean gradients were 19.9+/-10.9 mmHg vs. 25.6+/-10.4 mmHg (P=0.0008) and 10.8+/-5.3 mmHg vs. 14.8+/-6.4 mmHg (P<0.0001). Few surgical constraints and early post-operative hemodynamic efficiency of the stentless CryoLife-O'Brien valve means that this bioprosthesis can be intented in current practice for the aortic valve replacement in elderly patients.