The role of delayed aortic surgery in type A aortic dissection and mesenteric ischemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately one third of patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (ATAAD) present with pre-operative malperfusion syndromes (MPS). Of these, mesenteric malperfusion represents the greatest risk to patients with respect to increased short-term mortality. In select patients, it may be feasible to offer a staged approach by treating the mesenteric malperfusion first, optimizing the patient in the intensive care setting and then, following with a central aortic repair. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize cohort studies assessing the role of pre-operative interventions for mesenteric malperfusion. METHODS: An electronic literature search of five databases was performed to identify all relevant studies providing studies examining short-term mortality on patients who underwent either endovascular or open revascularisation of mesenteric ischemia prior to central aortic repair. The primary outcome was all-cause, short-term mortality. Secondary outcomes were comparative mortality between a delayed repair vs. aortic repair first strategy, rates of postoperative laparotomy, bowel resection, and mortality following delayed aortic repair. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 8 studies qualifying for inclusion, with a total of 180 patients who underwent delayed aortic surgery in the setting of mesenteric MPS. The weighted short-term mortality following a mesenteric revascularisation first, delayed aortic surgery strategy was 22.5%. This strategy was also associated with a significantly lower mortality than a central repair first strategy (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.02-0.27), and a significantly lower rate of postoperative laparotomy/bowel resection (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.14). If patients survive to receive central repair, the weighted short-term mortality postoperatively is low (2.1%). CONCLUSION: A summary of this evidence reveals a lower short-term mortality in hemodynamically stable patients with mesenteric malperfusion, along with a reduction in postoperative laparotomy/bowel resections. Of those patients who survive to receive central repair, short-term mortality remains very low in the select group of hemodynamically stable patients. Further high-quality studies with randomized or propensity matched data are required to verify these results.

Mid term freedom from atrial fibrillation following hybrid ablation, a systematic review and meta analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common tachyarrhythmia affecting 33 million people worldwide. Hybrid AF ablation utilises a surgical (epicardial) ablation followed by an endocardial catheter-based ablation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the literature reporting mid-term freedom from AF following hybrid ablation. METHODS: An electronic search of databases was performed to identify all relevant studies providing mid-term (2 year) outcomes following hybrid ablation for AF. The primary study outcome was to assess the mid-term freedom from AF following hybrid ablation, utilising the metaprop function on Stata® (Version 17.0, StataCorp, Texas, USA). Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the impact of various operative characteristics on mid-term freedom from AF. The secondary outcomes assessed mortality and procedural complication rate. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 16 studies qualifying for inclusion in this meta-analysis, with 1242 patients in total. The majority of papers were retrospective cohort studies (15) and one study was a randomized control trial (RCT). The mean follow up was 31.5 ± 8.4 months. Following hybrid ablation, the overall mid-term freedom from AF was 74.6% and 65.4% for patients off antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD). Actuarial freedom from AF was 78.2%, 74.2% and 73.6% at 1, 2 and 3 years respectively. No significant differences in mid-term freedom from AF based epicardial lesion set (box vs pulmonary vein isolation) or Left atrial appendage/Ganglionated Plexus/Ligament of Marshall ablation or staged vs concomitant procedures. There were 12 deaths overall following the hybrid procedure with a pooled complication rate of 5.53%. CONCLUSION: Hybrid AF ablation offers promising mid-term freedom from AF reported at a mean follow-up of 31.5 months. The overall complication rate remains low. Further analysis of high-quality studies with randomized data and long-term follow up will help verify these results.

Hybrid convergent ablation versus endocardial catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials and propensity matched studies.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. Hybrid convergent ablation (HCA) is an emerging procedure for treating longstanding AF with promising results. HCA consists of a subxiphoid, surgical ablation followed by completion endocardial ablation. This meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCT's) and propensity score-matched studies aims to examine the efficacy and safety of HCA compared to endocardial catheter ablation (ECA) alone on patients with AF. METHODS: This review was written in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses recommendations and guidance. The primary outcome for the analysis was freedom from AF (FFAF) at final follow up. Secondary outcomes were mortality and significant complications such as tamponade, sternotomy, esophageal injury, atrio-esophageal fistulae post procedurally. RESULTS: Four studies where included, with a total of 233 patients undergoing HCA and 189 patients undergoing ECA only. Pooled analysis demonstrated that HCA cohorts had significantly higher rates of FFAF than ECA cohorts, with an OR of 2.78 (95% CI 1.82-4.24, P < 0.01, I2 = 0). Major post-operative complications were observed in significantly more patients in the HCA group, with an OR of 5.14 (95% CI 1.70-15.54, P < 0.01). There was only one death reported in the HCA cohorts, with no deaths in the ECA cohort. CONCLUSION: HCA is associated with a significantly higher FFAF than ECA, however, it is associated with increased post-procedural complications. There was only one death in the HCA cohort. Large RCT's comparing the HCA and ECA techniques may further validate these results.

Patient Safety During Chest Drain Insertion-A Survey of Current Practice.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the degree of awareness of the current guidelines and common practices for pleural drain insertion. METHODS: A 10-item questionnaire was sent electronically to junior physicians from 4 different hospitals in the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. Participants were asked to give their level of experience and management practices for chest drain insertion. RESULTS: A total of 94 junior medical officers from 4 hospitals in the district completed the survey. More than 20% had never inserted a chest drain at the time; 72% had primarily learned from bedside teaching and peer learning, but 11% had no training at all. More than 50% of physicians felt that the biggest threat to the procedure was their own lack of confidence for drain insertion. Despite current guidelines, 25% insert chest drains routinely without the aid of ultrasound. A third of interviewees were aware of local guidelines but had not read them. Most physicians (86%) believe that formal standardized training should be available for junior physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the ongoing need for improved procedural training in chest drain insertion, with emphasis on mandatory thoracic ultrasound. We consider it important to continue to raise concern and awareness that chest drain insertion is not a harmless procedure, and further physician procedural competence is required.

Octogenarians and aortic valve surgery: surgical outcomes in the geriatric population.

BACKGROUND: The era of percutaneous aortic valve intervention has challenged the continuing indication for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes of the elderly patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement via median sternotomy, in order to assess the impact of surgery on patient outcomes and discharge destination. METHODS: The study involves a retrospective observational analysis in a single centre, including all octogenarian patients who underwent aortic valve surgery between January of 2011 and July of 2016. The study assessed pre-operative co-morbidities and post-operative outcomes, including long-term mortality and discharge destination following on from surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 82.7 years (± 2.9), 67% of whom were male. The mean EuroSCORE II was 8.1 (± 7.6). The most common pre-operative co-morbidities were dyslipidaemia (82%), hypertension (80%), and ischaemic heart disease (78.8%). The median length of stay was 10 days (± 6.9 days). Discharge home occurred in 71.8% of patients, with 21.2% of patients requiring transfer to a rehabilitation facility, and 1.2% of patients required placement into an aged care facility. There were five peri-operative deaths, equating to 5.9% of the cohort. CONCLUSION: Despite high EuroSCORE II values for the majority of our patients, our data adds to overall suggestions that the octogenarian population can be considered eligible for SAVR and should not be excluded due to age alone. The use of the EuroSCORE II index more accurately predicts adequacy for treatment however does not entirely predict overall course of events, and proceduralist discretion should still be used.

Semiquantification of Systemic Venous Admixture During Venovenous Extracorporeal Oxygenation Via Bicaval Double-Lumen Cannula in Critically Ill Patients.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is increasingly utilized in acute reversible cases of severe respiratory failure and as a bridge to lung transplantation. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using a bicaval double-lumen cannula (BCDLC) has several advantages over the traditional ECMO configuration; however, it also presents with several unique challenges. The assessment and quantification of venous admixture is difficult due to the specific position of BCDLC within the circulatory system. We describe the nature of the double-lumen bicaval venovenous ECMO cannula and relevant specific issues associated with monitoring complex details of oxygenation within different parts of circulation, including existing barriers for quantification of recirculation and venous admix. New conceptual approach to the quantification of venous admix is described. Right side echocardiographic contrast, when sequentially injected in separate superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) venous basins, bypasses drainage ports of the catheter in double-lumen bicaval VV-ECMO configuration together with deoxygenated returning from the periphery venous blood. It was easily detectable entering right heart chambers by two- and three-dimensional echocardiography. Amount of bubbles from the agitated fluid contrast within right atrium indicates relative amount of venous admixture in relation to the returning from the oxygenator blood which is bubble free.

Aortic valve laceration following coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

Valve complications following coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions are rare. We report a case of an aortic valve laceration following cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention, which required surgical valve replacement.

Ejection fraction - A number to be interpreted with caution!

Cardiogenic shock is frequently seen following acute myocardial infarction complicated by the rupture of interventricular septum and formation of functional ventricular septal defect. Despite significant advances in medical, interventional and surgical management, the mortality in this group of patients remains very high. We present a case of refractory cardiogenic shock following an exclusion bovine pericardial patch repair of post infarction ventricular septal defect, where the residual functional left ventricular cavity size was insufficient to maintain end organ function. This case illustrates the concept of "Normal ejection fraction low cardiac output cardiogenic shock", where reporting left ventricular ejection fraction number in isolation can be misleading.

Peripheral Cardiopulmonary Bypass under Local Anaesthesia for Tracheal Tumour Resection.

A 63 year-old female was diagnosed with an adenoid cystic carcinoma causing near total tracheal lumen obstruction. The tumour was successfully resected using cardiopulmonary bypass via femoral vessels under local anaesthetic before induction to secure the airway and facilitate the operation.

Ruptured left ventricular false aneurysm following acute myocardial infarction: case report and review of the literature.

False aneurysms of the left ventricle complicating acute myocardial infarction are rare. Given they are only contained by pericardial adhesions, they are prone to rupture and hence surgical repair is mandatory. We report a successful repair of a ruptured false aneurysm and then briefly review the current literature.

Should clopidogrel be discontinued before coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with acute coronary syndrome? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are treated with dual antiplatelet agents, including aspirin and clopidogrel, to prevent mortality and recurrent ischemia. However, those who require coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) could have increased postoperative bleeding and bleeding-related adverse outcomes. The current guidelines on clinical management differ significantly. The present meta-analysis examined the evidence for clopidogrel in the treatment of patients presenting with ACS requiring CABG, with a focus on the timing of medication cessation before surgery. METHODS: A systematic review of 9 electronic databases was performed to identify all relevant studies with comparable outcomes for patients with ACS treated with clopidogrel before CABG. The endpoints included reoperation, major bleeding, mortality, and a composite endpoint of mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Five relevant studies were identified according to the predefined selection criteria. Patients who had received clopidogrel had a significantly lower incidence of composite endpoints than those who had not. However, patients who underwent CABG < 5 days after the last dose of clopidogrel had a significantly greater incidence of reoperation, major bleeding, and combined adverse outcomes than those who had had a washout period >5 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present meta-analysis suggest that patients who present with ACS should be treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, including clopidogrel. However, for patients subsequently referred for CABG, a minimum washout period of 5 days should be observed to minimize perioperative bleeding and bleeding-related complications, unless emergency indications exist. These results differ from those of previous studies and guidelines.

Systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative treatment to aortic valve replacement (AVR) for selected patients with severe aortic stenosis. The present systematic review was conducted to analyze the cost-effectiveness of this novel technique within reimbursed healthcare systems. METHODS: Two reviewers used 7 electronic databases from January 2000 to November 2012 to identify relevant cost-effectiveness studies of TAVI versus AVR or medical therapy. The primary endpoints were the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and the probability of cost-effectiveness. The eligible studies for the present systematic review included those in which the cost-effectiveness data were measured or projected for TAVI and either medical therapy or AVR. All forms of TAVI were included, and all retrieved publications were limited to the English language. RESULTS: Eight studies were included for quantitative assessment. The ICER for TAVI compared with medical therapy for surgically inoperable patients ranged from US$26,302 to US$61,889 per quality-adjusted life year gained. The probability of TAVI being cost-effective compared with medical therapy ranged from 0.03 to 1.00. The ICER values for TAVI compared with AVR for high-risk surgical candidates ranged from US$32,000 to US$975,697 per quality-adjusted life year gained. The probability of TAVI being cost-effective in this cohort ranged from 0.116 to 0.709. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the ICER threshold selected, TAVI is potentially justified on both medical and economic grounds compared with medical therapy for patients deemed to be surgically inoperable. However, in the high-risk surgical patient cohort, the evidence is currently insufficient to economically justify the use of TAVI in preference to AVR.

Right ventricular loop indicating malposition of J-wire introducer for double lumen bicaval venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) cannula.

The key to safe placement of a bicaval double lumen cannula for Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV ECMO) is to visualise correct guide wire placement in the inferior vena cava (IVC), thus aiding subsequent correct advancement of the cannula. Transoesophageal (TOE) and transthoracic (TTE) echocardiography, as well as fluoroscopy, have been described as aiding imaging techniques. We report a case of guide wire malposition into the right ventricle, despite echocardiographic confirmation of guide wire position deep into the IVC. This malposition, if undetected, may have resulted in potential life threatening complications.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an acceptable treatment modality for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are deemed inoperable by conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). However, the role of TAVI in patients who are potential surgical candidates remains controversial. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using five electronic databases, identifying all relevant studies with comparative data on TAVI versus AVR. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. A number of periprocedural outcomes were also assessed according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium endpoint definitions. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were quantitatively assessed and included for meta-analysis, including two randomized controlled trials and eleven observational studies. Results indicated no significant differences between TAVI and AVR in terms of all-cause and cardiovascular related mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction or acute renal failure. A subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials identified a higher combined incidence of stroke or transient ischemic attacks in the TAVI group compared to the AVR group. TAVI was also found to be associated with a significantly higher incidence of vascular complications, permanent pacemaker requirement and moderate or severe aortic regurgitation. However, patients who underwent AVR were more likely to experience major bleeding. Both treatment modalities appeared to effectively reduce the transvalvular mean pressure gradient. CONCLUSIONS: The available data on TAVI versus AVR for patients at a higher surgical risk showed that major adverse outcomes such as mortality and stroke appeared to be similar between the two treatment modalities. Evidence on the outcomes of TAVI compared with AVR in the current literature is limited by inconsistent patient selection criteria, heterogeneous definitions of clinical endpoints and relatively short follow-up periods. The indications for TAVI should therefore be limited to inoperable surgical candidates until long-term data become available.

Drug-eluting stents versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery in left main coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of early outcomes from randomized and nonrandomized studies.

OBJECTIVE: The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the short-term safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents and coronary artery bypass graft surgery for patients with left main coronary artery disease. METHODS: Fourteen relevant studies were identified from 5 electronic databases. End points included mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. RESULTS: Results indicate that all-cause mortality was similar between drug-eluting stents and coronary artery bypass grafting at 30 days and at follow-up beyond 1 year. Likewise, the incidence of myocardial infarction was similar between drug-eluting stents and coronary artery bypass grafting at 12 months and at follow-up beyond 1 year. However, drug-eluting stents were associated with a lower incidence of all-cause mortality at 12 months and a higher incidence of myocardial infarction at 30 days compared with coronary artery bypass grafting. Drug-eluting stents were consistently associated with a higher incidence of repeat revascularization, whereas coronary artery bypass grafting had a higher incidence of stroke. The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was similar between the 2 groups at 30 days but higher for drug-eluting stents at 12 months and beyond. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated by drug-eluting stents in randomized controlled trials and observational studies in the current literature are often a preselected subgroup with less complex lesions compared with the overall target population. Results drawn from these studies should be viewed with caution. Coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with a lower incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 1 year and beyond, and thus should be regarded as the standard of treatment. However, drug-eluting stents may have a role for selected patients with percutaneously amenable left main disease who are poor surgical candidates.

Angiographic outcomes of radial artery versus saphenous vein in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for patients with ischemic heart disease is dependent on the patency of the selected conduit. The left internal thoracic artery is considered to be the best conduit for CABG. However, the preferred conduit between the radial artery (RA) and saphenous vein (SV) remains controversial. The present meta-analysis aims to establish the current level IA evidence on patency outcomes comparing the RA and SV. METHODS: Electronic searches were performed using 6 databases from their inception to March 2012. Two reviewers independently identified all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing patency outcomes of RA and SV grafts after CABG. Data were extracted and meta-analyzed according to angiographic end points at specified follow-up intervals. RESULTS: Five relevant RCTs were identified for inclusion in the present meta-analysis. Angiographic results indicated that the RA was significantly more likely to be completely patent and less likely to be associated with graft failure or complete occlusion at 4 years' follow-up and beyond. However, the RA was significantly more likely to be associated with string sign at 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: While acknowledging the limitations of heterogeneous surgical techniques, results from the present meta-analysis suggest potential superiority of the RA compared with the SV at midterm angiographic follow-up. However, the increased incidence of string sign associated with the RA is of potential clinical concern. Further research should be directed at correlating angiographic findings of string sign and graft failure to clinical symptoms and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at long-term follow-up.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of propensity score-matched patients.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with open thoracotomy for propensity score-matched patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Four relevant studies with propensity score-matched patients were identified from six electronic databases. Endpoints included perioperative mortality and morbidity, individual postoperative complications and duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: Results indicate that all-cause perioperative mortality was similar between VATS and open thoracotomy. However, patients who underwent VATS were found to have significantly fewer overall complications, and significantly lower rates of prolonged air leak, pneumonia, atrial arrhythmias and renal failure. In addition, patients who underwent VATS had a significantly shorter length of hospitalization compared with those who underwent open thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: In view of a paucity of high-level clinical evidence in the form of large, well-designed randomized controlled trials, propensity score matching may provide the highest level of evidence to compare VATS with open thoracotomy for patients with NSCLC. The present meta-analysis demonstrated superior perioperative outcomes for patients who underwent VATS, including overall complication rates and duration of hospitalization.