Role of ECLS in Managing Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for ventricular septal rupture (VSR) after myocardial infarction (MI) and the preoperative use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a bridge to surgery. METHODS: We included patients undergoing surgery for VSR from January 2009 until June 2021 from two centers in Germany. Patients were separated into two groups, those with and without ECLS, before surgery. Pre- and intraoperative data, outcome, and survival during follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 47 consecutive patients were included. Twenty-five patients were in the ECLS group, and 22 were in the group without ECLS. All the ECLS-group patients were in cardiogenic shock preoperatively. Most patients in the ECLS group were transferred from another hospital [n = 21 (84%) vs. no-ECLS (n = 12 (57.1%), p = 0.05]. We observed a higher number of postoperative bleeding complications favoring the group without ECLS [n = 6 (28.6%) vs. n = 16 (64%), p < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the persistence of residual ventricular septal defect (VSD) between groups [ECLS n = 4 (16.7%) and no-ECLS n = 3 (13.6%)], p = 1.0. Total in-hospital mortality was 38.3%. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality [n = 6 (27.3%) vs. n = 12 (48%), p = 0.11] and survival at last follow-up between the groups (p = 0.50). CONCLUSION: We detected no statistical difference in the in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients who received ECLS as supportive therapy after MI-induced VSR compared to those without ECLS. ECLS could be an effective procedure applied as a bridge to surgery in patients with VSR and cardiogenic shock.

In-Hospital Outcomes Following Surgical Revascularization of Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions.

Background and Objectives: Patients with chronic total occlusions of the coronary arteries are either treated with PCI or referred for surgical revascularization. We analyzed the patients with chronic occluded coronary arteries that were surgically treated and aimed to describe the anatomical characteristics, revascularization rates, and in-hospital outcomes achieved with coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: Angiographic data of 2005 patients with coronary artery disease treated in our institution between January 2005 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 1111 patients with at least one coronary total occlusion were identified. We reviewed the preoperative coronary angiograms and surgical protocols to determine the presence, localization, and revascularization of coronary occlusions. We also evaluated the perioperative data and in-hospital outcomes. Results: The median age of the study population was 68 years (25th-75th percentiles, 61.0-74.0). Three-vessel disease was present in 94.8% of patients and the rest (5.8%) had a two-vessel disease. The localizations of the occlusions were as follows: 68.4% in the RCA system, 26.4% in the LAD, and 28.5% in the LCX system. Multiple occlusions were present in 22.6% of the patients. Complete coronary total occlusion revascularization was achieved in 86.1% of the patients. The overall in-hospital mortality was 2.3%. The median in-hospital stay was 14.0 days. After logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio 3.44 [95% confidence interval, 1.81-6.53], p < 0.001, for a 10-year increase) and the presence of peripheral artery disease (odds ratio 3.32 [1.39-7.93], p = 0.007) were the only statistically significant independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: A high revascularization rate and favorable in-hospital outcomes are achieved with coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with multi-vessel diseases and coronary total occlusions. Older age and the presence of peripheral artery disease are independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. A long-term follow-up and the type of graft (arterial vs. venous) used would bring more useful data for this type of revascularization.

Bilateral Minithoracotomy for Mitral Valve Repair and Coronary Bypass Grafting.

Background Combined mitral valve and coronary artery surgery is usually accomplished via a median sternotomy and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Case Description We report on a 67-year-old patient with mitral valve regurgitation and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). The mitral valve was repaired using the loops and ring technique, and the left anterior descending artery was revascularized using the left internal mammary artery through a bilateral minithoracotomy approach. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusion Patients with mitral valve pathologies and concomitant CAD can be successfully operated via a bilateral minithoracotomy approach.

Clinical Outcomes after Mitral Valve Surgery in Failed MitraClip Procedures.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively evaluated in-hospital and overall outcome of patients who received mitral valve replacement (MVR) after failed MitraClip procedure. METHODS: A total of 26 out of 740 patients received MVR after treatment with MitraClip between June 2010 and December 2020. We analyzed in-hospital mortality and overall mortality during the median follow-up period of 72 days after MVR. RESULTS: The median age in the entire cohort was 77.5 years. In-hospital mortality was 15.4% (n = 4) and the overall mortality during the follow-up period was 27% (n = 7). The median time between the MitraClip procedure and surgery was 34.5 days. The main reasons for surgery were mitral stenosis (23.1%), persistent prolapse of the mitral valve leaflets (42.3%), and persistent tethering of the mitral valve leaflets (34.6%). At the time of surgery all of the patients presented with New York Heart Association 3 and above. The underlying mitral valve pathology was mainly secondary 61.5% (n = 16). Median left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 60 mm. Preoperative ejection fraction was 40% and above in 73% of the cohort. In addition to the mitral valve procedure, 57.7% of patients received either concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty, aortic valve surgery, ascending aortic replacement, or coronary artery bypass grafting. CONCLUSION: The need for MVR for failed MitraClip repair is low and the results are acceptable. However, remaining options for reconstruction are usually limited and MVR is often needed. Anticipating success or failure according to the underlying pathology more than according to concomitant risk factors should form the basis in decision making for the treatment modality of first choice.

Subsequent cardiac surgery after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Indications and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study was to report on indications and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent subsequent open-cardiac surgery after transcatheter aortic valve implantation TAVI. METHODS: Between 01/2011 and 12/2020 our centre performed 4043 TAVI procedures. Twenty-seven patients (including patients in whom TAVI was performed in other centres) underwent subsequent open-heart surgery via cardiopulmonary bypass. Demographic, intraprocedural data, indications for, and outcomes after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Indications for cardiac surgery (aged 79 [IQR 76-84]; 59.3% male) were endocarditis (n = 11; 40.7%), annular rupture, severe paravalvular leak and severe stenosis in three (11.1%) patients, respectively as well as in one patient each (3.7%) severe tricuspid valve regurgitation, valve thrombosis, valve malposition, valve migration, ostial right coronary artery obstruction, left ventricular rupture and type A aortic dissection. The interval between the index TAVI procedure to open surgery was 3 months (IQR 0-26 months). Eight patients underwent emergent surgical conversions. Immediate procedural and procedural mortality was 25.9% and 40.7%, respectively and all-cause mortality was 51.9% (11/12 died for cardiovascular reasons). No disabling stroke was observed postoperatively. New permanent pacemaker implantation was required in three patients (11.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent open-cardiac surgery after TAVI is rare, but may urgently become necessary due to TAVI related complications or progressing other cardiac pathologies. Despite a substantial early attrition rate clinical outcome is acceptable and a relevant number of these high-risk patients can be discharged even after emergency conversions. The option of subsequent surgical conversion remains.

Invasive Coronary Angiography in Patients with Native or Prosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is essential to detect significant coronary artery disease (CAD) but is generally not recommended in patients with infective aortic valve endocarditis. This study aimed to evaluate the risks and benefits of preoperative ICA in patients before aortic valve replacement. METHODS: Between March 2008 and September 2020, 232 patients were surgically treated for infectious endocarditis of the aortic valve. Sixty-seven (29%) of them underwent preoperative diagnostic ICA and were compared with the patients without preoperative ICA. We collected their baseline characteristics, including the neurological status, previous cardiac surgical procedures, and reviewed the preoperative echocardiograms and the ICA data. The intraoperative data and clinical outcomes after ICA and after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: ICA revealed a CAD in the majority of our patients (n = 36; 54%): One-vessel disease n = 19 (28%), two-vessel disease n = 6 (9%), and three-vessel disease n = 11 (16%). We observed no adverse events following preoperative diagnostic ICA, particularly no thromboembolic complications, including stroke, visceral, or lower body ischemia were detected. During surgical aortic valve replacement, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 20 patients (30%). In patients with preoperative ICA, postoperative in-hospital mortality was significantly lower (n = 8 [12%] vs. n = 30 [18%]; p < 0.001), while the incidence of postoperative bleeding was higher (n = 18 [27%] vs. n = 22 [13%]; p = 0.022). The new-onset stroke incidence was 5% in each group. CONCLUSION: Taking a multidisciplinary team approach, ICA is safe in selected patients with aortic valve infectious endocarditis with no adverse clinical outcomes, but significant clinical implications.

Distal Aortic Failure Following the Frozen Elephant Trunk Procedure for Aortic Dissection.

Background: Aim of this study was to report and to identify risk factors for distal aortic failure following aortic arch replacement via the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure. Methods: One hundred eighty-six consecutive patients underwent the FET procedure for acute and chronic aortic dissection. Our cohort was divided into patients with and without distal aortic failure. Distal aortic failure was defined as: (I) distal aortic reintervention, (II) aortic diameter dilatation to ≥ 6 cm or > 5 mm growth within 6 months, (III) development of a distal stent-graft-induced new entry (dSINE) and/or (IV) aortic-related death. Preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and aortic morphological data were analyzed. Results: Distal aortic failure occurred in 88 (47.3%) patients. Forty-six (24.7%) required a distal reintervention, aortic diameter dilatation was observed in 9 (4.8%) patients, a dSINE occurred in 22 (11.8%) patients and 11 (6.4%) suffered an aortic-related death. We found no difference in the number of communications between true and false lumen (p = 0.25) but there were significantly more communications between Ishimaru zone 6-8 in the distal aortic failure group (p = 0.01). The volume of the thoracic descending aorta measured preoperatively and postoperatively within 36 months afterward was significantly larger in patients suffering distal aortic failure (p < 0.001; p = 0.011). Acute aortic dissection (SHR 2.111; p = 0.007), preoperative maximum descending aortic diameter (SHR 1.029; p = 0.018) and preoperative maximum aortic diameter at the level of the diaphragm (SHR 1.041; p = 0.012) were identified as risk factors for distal aortic failure. Conclusion: The incidence and risk of distal aortic failure following the FET procedure is high. Especially those patients with more acute and more extensive aortic dissections or larger preoperative descending aortic diameters carry a substantially higher risk of developing distal aortic failure. The prospective of the FET technique as a single-step treatment for aortic dissection seems low and follow-up in dedicated aortic centers is therefore paramount.

Composition of the surgical team in aortic arch surgery-a risk factor analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of varying experiences within each surgical team to identify team-related risk factors on clinical outcomes after total aortic arch replacement. METHODS: Each surgeon was rated from 1 to 5, and a surgical team's score was calculated (operating surgeon + assisting surgeon = team score) by relying on each member's experience. A composite end point (mortality, stroke or spinal cord injury) was defined. RESULTS: Total aortic arch replacement was performed in 264 patients by 19 cardiovascular surgeons. Analysis revealed that the composite end point was attained more frequently when the team score was <7 (n = 23; 29%) than >7 (n = 35; 19%) (P = 0.015). There was a significant difference depending on the surgeon's experience [3 = 23 (35%); 4 = 9 (22%); 5 = 26 (17%); P = 0.008] and whether he was equally experienced (n = 9, 45%) or not as the assisting surgeon (n = 49, 20%; P = 0.015). Logistic regression revealed age >70 years [OR 2.93 (1.52-5.66); P = 0.001], previous stroke [OR 3.02 (1.36-6.70); P = 0.007], acute type A aortic dissection [OR 2.58 (1.08-6.13); P = 0.033], previous acute kidney injury [OR 2.27 (1.01-5.14); P = 0.049] and 2 surgeons with the same experience [OR 4.01 (1.47-10.96); P = 0.007] as predictors for the composite end point. CONCLUSIONS: Total aortic arch replacement is equally safe whether an experienced surgeon carries it out or assists the procedure. A less experienced team may raise the risk for postoperative complications. Our data suggest an association of equally experienced surgeons in a team with worse outcomes than teams possessing different experience levels.

The 3-step approach for the treatment of multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic pathologies.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to describe our 3-step approach to treat multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic disease due to aortic dissection and to present our initial clinical results. METHODS: Nine patients with multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic pathology due to aortic dissection underwent our 3-step approach, which consisted of total aortic arch replacement via the frozen elephant trunk technique, thoracic endovascular aortic repair for distal extension down to the level of the thoraco-abdominal transition and, finally, open thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement for the remaining downstream aortic segments. We assessed their baseline and aortic characteristics, previous aortic procedures, intraoperative details, clinical outcomes and follow-up data. RESULTS: The median age was 58 (42-66) years; 4 patients (44%) presented connective tissue disease. Eight patients (89%) had undergone previous aortic surgery for aortic dissection. In-hospital mortality was 0% (n = 0). None suffered symptomatic spinal cord injury or disabling stroke. During the follow-up period, 1 patient died of acute biliary septic shock 6 months after thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement. CONCLUSIONS: The 3-step approach to treat multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic pathology due to aortic dissection, which involves applying both open and endovascular techniques, is associated with an excellent clinical outcome and low perioperative risk. Distal shifting of the disease process through the thoracic endovascular aortic repair extension-and thereby necessitating limited open thoraco-abdominal aortic repair-seems to be the major factor enabling these favourable results. IRB APPROVAL: IRB approval was obtained (No. 425/15) from the institutional review board of the University of Freiburg.