The Impact of Frailty on Outcomes of Proximal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis.

(1) Background: This study examines frailty's impact on proximal aortic surgery outcomes. (2) Methods: All patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm who underwent aortic root, ascending aorta, or arch surgery from the 2016-2017 National Inpatient Sample were included. Frailty was defined by the Adjusted Clinical Groups Frailty Indicator. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and a composite of death, stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), and major bleeding (MACE). (3) Results: Among 5745 patients, 405 (7.0%) met frailty criteria. Frail patients were older, with higher rates of chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. There was no difference in in-hospital death (4.9% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.169); however, the frail group exhibited higher rates of stroke and AKI. Frail patients had a longer length of stay (17 vs. 8 days), and higher rates of non-home discharge (74.1% vs. 54.3%) than non-frail patients (both p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis confirmed increased morbidity and mortality in frail individuals. After adjusting for patient comorbidities and hospital characteristics, frailty independently predicted MACE (OR 4.29 [1.88-9.78], p = 0.001), while age alone did not (OR 1.00 [0.99-1.02], p = 0.568). Urban teaching center status predicted a lower risk of MACE (OR 0.27 [0.08-0.94], p = 0.039). (4) Conclusions: Frailty is associated with increased morbidity in proximal aortic surgery and is a more significant predictor of mortality than age. Coordinated treatment in urban institutions may enhance outcomes for this high-risk group.

Aortic valve replacement with Y-incision/rectangular patch aortic annular enlargement.

A small aortic root and annulus would need extensive aortic annular enlargement during valve replacement in adult patients to avoid patient-prosthesis mismatch. This report describes a technique that enlarges the aortic annulus by 4-5 valve sizes as well as a modification of the aortotomy with the roof technique to make the aortotomy closure easier and more hemostatic while enlarging the sinotubular junction and proximal ascending aorta effectively for future transcatheter valve-in-valve replacement. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-023-01606-4.

Outcomes of Mitral Valve Repair Among High- and Low-Volume Surgeons Within a High-Volume Institution.

BACKGROUND: Volume-outcome relationships have been described for mitral valve repair at the institution and surgeon level. We aimed to assess whether this relationship is mitigated at high-volume (HV) mitral repair centers between HV and low-volume (LV) surgeons. METHODS: All mitral repair cases at an HV mitral center (mean, 192 annual repairs) from 1992 to 2018 were considered. Cases with concomitant procedures other than tricuspid and atrial fibrillation procedures were excluded. Surgeons who performed ≥25 repairs per year were considered HV. The primary outcome was operative mortality; secondary outcomes were operative complications, long-term mortality, and reoperation. RESULTS: In total, 2653 mitral repairs from 19 surgeons were included. The mean age of the patients in the HV and LV groups was 59.6 years and 61.8 years, respectively (P = .005), with no difference in other baseline characteristics. HV surgeons had significantly shorter median aortic cross-clamp times (80 vs 87 minutes; P < .001) compared with LV surgeons; however, there was no significant difference in operative mortality (0.9% vs 1.6%; P = .19), reoperation, perioperative complications, or length of stay. LV surgeons had higher repair conversion to replacement than HV surgeons did (9.0% vs 3.4%; P < .001). In the risk-adjusted analyses, surgeon volume group did not have an impact on longitudinal survival or reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: At an HV mitral repair institution, LV surgeons appear to have short- and long-term outcomes similar to those of HV surgeons despite increased conversion rates. These findings suggest that institutional volume may mitigate the surgeon volume outcome. However, complex repairs may benefit from referral to HV surgeons, given the lower conversion rate.

Postdischarge Pain and Opioid Use After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The rate of chronic opioid use after cardiac surgery is high compared with other surgical specialties; however evidence regarding optimal prescribing is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patterns of opioid consumption after cardiac surgery to guide prescribing practices. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing sternotomy-based cardiac operations were considered for enrollment. Patients with opioid use within 3 months of surgery and those discharged to a nonhome facility were excluded. A patient diary and researcher-directed pill count was used to track pain and opioid use for 10 days after discharge. RESULTS: One hundred four patients were included in the final analysis. Of the 63 patients discharged with an opioid, 22 (34.9%) used none and 12 (19.0%) used fewer than half of the pills prescribed. Overall, pain and opioid consumption decreased significantly throughout the discharge period (P < .001). In those who used opioids after discharge, median total consumption was 64 morphine milligram equivalents (interquartile range, 38-128), or the equivalent of 9 oxycodone 5-mg tablets. Patients who used opioids were younger (60.9 vs 70.0, P < .001), but there were no differences based on sex, history of substance use, smoking, or procedure. After risk adjustment the mean pain score ≥ 3 on the day of discharge was predictive of opioid use (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-4.8; P < .001). Most patients (88.5%) were satisfied or very satisfied with pain management. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half of all patients used opioids after discharge in this study. These data support the need for the development of prescription recommendations after cardiac surgery.

Association Between Peripheral Versus Central Access for Alternative Access Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Mortality and Stroke: A Report From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry.

BACKGROUND: In some patients, the alternative access route for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is utilized because the conventional transfemoral approach is not felt to be either feasible or optimal. However, accurate prognostication of patient risks is not well established. This study examines the associations between peripheral (transsubclavian/transaxillary, and transcarotid) versus central access (transapical and transaortic) in alternative access TAVR and 30-day and 1-year end points of mortality and stroke for all valve platforms. METHODS: Using data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry with linkage to Medicare claims, patients who underwent alternative access TAVR from June 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018 were identified. Adjusted and unadjusted Cox proportional hazards modeling were performed to determine the association between alternate access TAVR site and 30-day and 1-year end points of mortality and stroke. RESULTS: Of 7187 alternative access TAVR patients, 3725 (52%) had peripheral access and 3462 (48%) had central access. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in peripheral access versus central access group at in-hospital and 1 year (2.9% versus 6.3% and 20.3% versus 26.6%, respectively), but stroke rates were higher (5.0% versus 2.8% and 7.3% versus 5.5%, respectively; all P<0.001). These results persisted after 1-year adjustment (death adjusted hazard ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.62-0.85] and stroke adjusted hazard ratio, 2.92 [95% CI, 2.21-3.85]). When broken down by individual subtypes, compared with transaxillary/subclavian access patients, transapical, and transaortic access patients had higher all-cause mortality but less stroke (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world, contemporary, nationally representative benchmarking study of alternate access TAVR sites, peripheral access was associated with favorable mortality and morbidity outcomes compared with central access, at the expense of higher stroke. These findings may allow for accurate prognostication of risk for patient counseling and decision-making for the heart team with regard to alternative access TAVR.

Well-functioning bicuspid aortic valves should be preserved during aortic replacement for the ascending aortopathy phenotype.

OBJECTIVES: Consensus has not been reached on whether or not to replace or preserve a well-functioning bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) in patients undergoing aortic replacement for the ascending phenotype of BAV aortopathy. We characterize morphology, evaluate progression of aortic regurgitation or aortic stenosis, and investigate the need for aortic valve replacement in patients whose well-functioning BAV was preserved during ascending aortic replacement ≥10 years prior. METHODS: From January 1991 to August 2011, 191 patients with a well-functioning BAV underwent supracoronary aortic replacement (113 valves were minimally repaired). Aortic morphology was evaluated, aortic regurgitation grade and transvalvular aortic gradient modeled parametrically, and survival assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Median follow-up was 10 years. RESULTS: Mean aortic diameter was 2.9 ± 0.53 cm at the annulus and 4.2 ± 0.55 cm at the sinuses. Mean maximum ascending diameter was 5.1 ± 0.49 cm. All patients exhibited a cusp-fusion BAV phenotype. Fifteen-year progression to severe aortic regurgitation was 3.2%. Mean aortic valve gradient began to rise 5 years postoperatively to 27 mm Hg by 14 years. Freedom from aortic valve replacement at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years was 100%, 95%, 83%, and 63%, respectively. Minimal valve repair was not associated with late aortic valve replacement. Fifteen-year survival was 74%. CONCLUSIONS: Preserving a well-functioning BAV should be considered in carefully selected patients undergoing aortic replacement for the ascending phenotype of BAV aortopathy. The valves remain durable in the long term, with slow progression of regurgitation or stenosis, and low probability of aortic valve replacement through 10 years.

Aortic root management in acute type A aortic dissection: A nationwide analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening condition and surgical repair often includes aortic valve replacement (AVR). Aortic valve repair (AVr) is increasingly being reported with favorable outcomes from single-center experiences. This study examined national trends and outcomes of AVr in patients with ATAAD. METHODS: Adults with a primary diagnosis of acute thoracic aortic dissection who underwent proximal aortic surgery from January 2016 to December 2017 were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample. Patients were stratified into an isolated aortic surgery group (no aortic valve procedure), concomitant AVR, or concomitant AVr groups. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes included stroke, acute kidney injury, heart block, and bleeding. Propensity score matching was used to address patient and hospital-level confounders between AVR and AVr groups. RESULTS: In total, 5115 patients underwent surgery for ATAAD and were included. Overall, 3220 (63%) underwent isolated ATAAD repair, while 1120 (22%) had concomitant AVR, and 775 (15%) had concomitant AVr. In 455 propensity-matched pairs, there was no difference in mortality or stroke between AVr and AVR groups, however, heart block (1.1% vs. 7.5%, p < .001) and bleeding (65.9% vs. 81.3%, p < .001) were significantly less common among those who underwent AVr. Patients who underwent AVr had shortest LOS (11.9 vs. 13.5 days, p < .001). There were no differences in outcomes of AVr in ATAAD based on hospital size or teaching status. CONCLUSION: In selected patients, AVr is being performed safely in the setting of ATAAD with mortality and composite outcomes comparable to AVR.

Marital Status and Sex-Based Differences in Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Studies have shown improved outcomes among married patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery; however, this has not been well studied in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVi). We examined the impact of marital status and patient sex on outcomes after TAVi. Patients who underwent TAVi from January 2015 to June 2018 were reviewed and stratified into 3 groups: single, married, and widowed. The impact of marital status and sex on 30-day outcomes was assessed using a stepwise logistic regression analysis. Cumulative survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and adjusted survival with multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling. A total of 785 patients were included: 149 single, 413 married, and 223 widowed. Widowed patients were older (84 vs 79 years) with higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores (6.79% vs 5.51%, both p ≤0.001) than married patients. Neither marital status nor sex was associated with 30-day mortality or home discharge. However, 1-year survival revealed a differential survival penalty, with married females (p = 0.041) having lower survival and married males (p = 0.007) having higher survival than their single counterparts. This survival penalty persisted in the adjusted analyses (married females hazard ratio [HR] 2.24, p = 0.009; widowed males HR 2.42, p = 0.057). For patients who were readmitted in the first year, adjusted analysis showed widowed status was associated with higher 30-day readmissions (HR 1.91, p = 0.012) in both sexes. In conclusion, these findings suggest that marital status does not impact both sexes equally after TAVi; identifying at-risk patients and targeted interventions, such as adjusting discharge planning to ensure adequate home social support, may help improve outcomes.

Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Outcomes in Non-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Centers: Implications for Tier-Based Systems of Care.

BACKGROUND: With wide expansion of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and dissemination of multidisciplinary-based approaches to care, societies are discussing the implementation of a tier system to valve centers. This study explores the impact of tier-based systems of care on surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) outcomes at institutions that perform SAVR only. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries undergoing SAVR procedures from 2012 to 2015 were included. The SAVR hospitals were stratified into either tier A, valve centers with a TAVR program; or tier B, valve centers without a TAVR program. Adjusted survival, assessed by multivariable Cox regression, controlled for program type and patient risk profile. Time-dependent analysis accounted for hospitals that initiated a TAVR program during the study period. RESULTS: Overall, there were 562 tier A and 485 tier B SAVR hospitals. Tier A hospitals had significantly higher comorbidity burden compared with tier B hospitals (all P < .05) but had significantly lower rates of 30-day mortality (3.2% vs 4.1%) and 1-year mortality (8.1% vs 9.4%; both P < .05). After risk stratification, tier B hospitals had significantly worse 30-day mortality compared with tier A hospitals for all patient risk-profiles, except for the low-risk patients (P < .01). These findings persisted in the time-dependent analysis. Adjusted midterm survival was higher in tier A vs tier B hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Low-risk patients can safely undergo SAVR in both tier level hospitals without compromising outcomes. Establishment of quality of care measures, especially in the SAVR-only hospitals, remains paramount and should be closely integrated when designing tier-based systems for aortic valve replacement care.

Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways have improved clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction across multiple non-cardiac surgical specialties. Since the adaptation of ERAS in cardiac surgery is rapidly increasing yet still evolving, herein, we demonstrate early results of our implementation of ERAS cardiac guidelines. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who were managed with our institutional ERAS Cardiac Surgery guidelines between 5/2018 and 6/2019(N = 102). Postoperative primary outcomes (total ventilation times(hours), intensive-care unit(ICU) stay, and postoperative hospital length of stay (LOS)) were compared to 1:1 propensity matched controls from the pre ERAS era between January 2017 and March 2019. A total of 76 propensity-matched pairs were identified. Compared to the matched controls, ERAS patients had significantly shorter median ventilation times(3.5 vs. 5.3 hours, p = .01), ICU stays(median 28 vs 48 hours, p=.005) and postoperative hospital LOS (median 5 vs. 6 days, p = .03). There were no operative mortalities and no significant differences in 30-day readmission rates. There were also no significant differences in post-operative stroke, acute kidney injury, atrial fibrillation, and reoperation rates for bleeding. Two-year survival was also not statistically different between the two cohorts (p = .22). Our initial experience with implementation of ERAS protocols in cardiac surgery appear to demonstrate that these protocols are associated with shorter ventilation times, ICU stay, and hospital LOS without compromising patient outcomes. While these results are promising yet preliminary, further studies are warranted to demonstrate whether ERAS algorithms in cardiac surgery can consistently expedite postoperative recovery and improve outcomes.

Debunking the July Effect in Transcatheter Interventions in Structural Heart Disease: Truth or Myth?

Background: The "July effect", the perception of worse outcomes in the first month of training, has been previously demonstrated in critical care medicine and general surgery. However, the July effect in the context of structural heart interventions (i.e., transcatheter aortic valve replacement [TAVR] and MitraClip) remains unknown. Methods: All adult patients undergoing TAVR or MitraClip in the 2012-2016 National Inpatient Sample were included. Outcomes were compared by procedure month and academic year quartiles (i.e., between the first academic year quartile [Q1] vs. the fourth quartile [Q4]). Outcomes between teaching and nonteaching hospitals were compared using risk-adjusted logistic difference-in-difference regression. Results: During the study period, 94,170 TAVR (Q1: 25,250; Q4: 23,170) and 8750 MitraClip (Q1: 2220; Q4: 2150) procedures were performed. In-hospital mortality did not vary as per academic year quartiles for either procedure, even after risk adjustment. These findings persisted in sensitivity analysis by procedure month and newer device era (2015-2016; all p > 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, the unadjusted and adjusted Q1 vs. Q4 in-hospital mortality between teaching and nonteaching hospitals were similar for either procedure. In-hospital mortality also did not vary by procedure month when stratified by hospital teaching status for both procedures. However, postprocedural complication rates appeared to be improving among the TAVR teaching hospitals for stroke, major bleeding, and vascular complications (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this large, nationwide study, the July effect was not evident for structural heart interventions. With increasing interest and growth in transcatheter procedures, early resident and fellow teaching can be achieved with appropriate supervision.

Transcatheter Compared With Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Previous Chest-Directed Radiation Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery for radiation-induced valvular disease is associated with adverse outcomes. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly used in patients with a history of chest-directed radiation therapy and aortic stenosis (CRT-AS). OBJECTIVES: We examined outcomes of TAVR compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with CRT-AS. METHODS: We identified 69 patients with CRT-AS who underwent TAVR from January 2012 to September 2018. Operative mortality, postoperative morbidities, and length of hospitalization were compared with 117 contemporaneous patients with CRT-AS who underwent isolated SAVR. Age-adjusted survival was evaluated by means of Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: Compared with SAVR patients, TAVR patients were older (mean age 75 ± 11.5 vs 65 ± 11.5 years), with more comorbidities, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral vascular disease (all P < 0.050). Operative mortality was 4.3% for SAVR vs 1.4% for TAVR (P = 0.41). Most SAVR deaths (4 of 5) occurred in the intermediate-/high-risk group (Society for Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of operative mortality >3%; P = 0.026). The ratio of observed to expected mortality was better for low-risk SAVR patients and all TAVR patients (0.72 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.86] and 0.24 [95% CI: 0.05-0.51], respectively) compared with intermediate-/high-risk SAVR patients (2.52 [95% CI: 0.26-4.13]). SAVR patients had significantly longer median intensive care unit and overall length of stay and higher blood transfusion requirements but similar rates of stroke and pacemaker implantation. CONCLUSIONS: TAVR was associated with excellent in-hospital outcomes and better survival compared with intermediate-/high-risk SAVR in patients with CRT-AS. While SAVR still has a role in low-risk patients or those for whom TAVR is unsuitable for technical or anatomical reasons, TAVR is emerging as the standard of care for intermediate-/high-risk CRT-AS patients.

Nationally Representative Repeat Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Outcomes: Report From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine real-world experience with repeat transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in a population-based national database. BACKGROUND: Repeat TAVR is a growing option in patients requiring reintervention for TAVR. However, large-scale studies with longitudinal follow-up are limited. METHODS: All Medicare beneficiaries who underwent TAVR from 2012 to 2017 were included. Outcomes included 30-day and longitudinal mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as death, stroke, pacemaker insertion, major bleeding, acute kidney injury, or cardiac arrest. Outcomes of repeat TAVR were compared with surgical explantation after TAVR (TAVR explantation) in a matched analysis. RESULTS: Of 133,250 patients who underwent TAVR, 617 (0.46%) underwent subsequent repeat TAVR at a median interval of 154 days (interquartile range: 58-537 days). Mortality at 30 days and 1 year was 6.0% and 22.0%, respectively. Rates of 30-day stroke and pacemaker insertion were 1.8% and 4.2%. Mortality at 30 days was lower in those who underwent their first TAVR during the later era (2015-2017) compared with earlier years (2012-2014) (4.6% vs 8.7%; P = 0.049). Repeat TAVR was associated with lower 30-day mortality compared with a matched group undergoing TAVR explantation (6.2% vs 12.3%; P = 0.05), although 1-year mortality was similar (21.0% vs 20.8%; P = 1.000). The incidence of 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events was higher with TAVR explantation compared with repeat TAVR (risk ratio: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.88-4.99; P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat TAVR was performed with acceptable 30-day mortality in this high-risk population. Short-term outcomes were superior to surgical explantation, but 1-year outcomes were similar. Repeat TAVR will likely be an important option for aortic valve reintervention after TAVR.

Reoperative Mitral Surgery Versus Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review.

Bioprosthetic mitral structural valve degeneration and failed mitral valve repair (MVr) have traditionally been treated with reoperative mitral valve surgery. Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve (MVIV) and valve-in-ring (MVIR) replacement are now feasible, but data comparing these approaches are lacking. We sought to compare the outcomes of (1) reoperative mitral valve replacement (redo-MVR) and MVIV for structural valve degeneration, and (2) reoperative mitral valve repair (redo-MVr) or MVR and MVIR for failed MVr. A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to July 31, 2020. Thirty-two studies involving 25 832 patients were included. Redo-MVR was required in ≈35% of patients after index surgery at 10 years, with 5% to 15% 30-day mortality. MVIV resulted in >95% procedural success with 30-day and 1-year mortality of 0% to 8% and 11% to 16%, respectively. Recognized complications included left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (0%-6%), valve migration (0%-9%), and residual regurgitation (0%-6%). Comparisons of redo-MVR and MVIV showed no statistically significant differences in mortality (11.3% versus 11.9% at 1 year, P=0.92), albeit higher rates of major bleeding and arrhythmias with redo-MVR. MVIR resulted in 0% to 34% mortality at 1 year, whereas both redo-MVr and MVR for failed repairs were performed with minimal mortality and durable long-term results. MVIV is therefore a viable alternative to redo-MVR for structural valve degeneration, whereas redo-MVr or redo-MVR is preferred for failed MVr given the suboptimal results with MVIR. However, not all patients will be candidates for MVIV/MVIR because anatomical restrictions may preclude transcatheter options from adequately addressing the underlying pathology.

A step-by-step guide to transseptal valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

With the recent success of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter options for the management of mitral valve pathology have also gained considerable attention. Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is one such technique that has emerged as a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with degenerated mitral valve bioprostheses at high-risk for repeat surgical mitral valve replacement. Several access strategies, including trans-apical, transseptal, trans-jugular, and trans-atrial access have been described for ViV-TMVR. Initial experiences were performed primarily via a trans-apical approach through a left mini-thoracotomy because it offers direct access and coaxial device alignment. With the advancements in TMVR technology, such as the development of smaller delivery catheters with high flexure capabilities, the transseptal approach via the femoral vein has emerged as the preferred option. This technique offers the advantages of a totally percutaneous approach, avoids the need to enter the thoracic cavity or pericardial space, and provides superior outcomes compared to a trans-apical approach. In this review, we outline key aspects of patient selection, imaging, procedural techniques, and examine contemporary clinical outcomes of transseptal ViV-TMVR.

Long-term Outcomes of Aortic Valve Replacement With Aortic Homograft: 27 Years Experience.

BACKGROUND: Aortic homografts have been used in young patients requiring aortic valve replacement. Currently, these grafts are generally reserved for aortic valve endocarditis with or without root abscess; however, longitudinal data are lacking. Our aim was to assess the long-term safety and durability of homograft implantation. METHODS: All adult patients undergoing aortic homograft implantation at a single institution from 1992 to 2019 were included. Outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality and aortic valve reoperation, studied over a median follow-up duration of 19 years. RESULTS: In all, 252 patients with a mean age of 49 years were included. Infective endocarditis was the primary indication for surgery in 95 patients (38%). The endocarditis group, compared with the no-endocarditis group, had a higher prevalence of New York Heart Association class III-IV (56% vs 26%), chronic kidney disease (22% vs 1%), prior cardiac surgery (40% vs 10%), and emergency status (7% vs 0%; all P < .001). Operative mortality was higher among endocarditis patients (16% vs 0.6%, P < .001), which persisted after risk adjustment. Among patients who survived to discharge, however, there was no difference in long-term survival between the endocarditis group and no-endocarditis group. Overall survival and freedom from reoperation were 88.3% and 80% at 15 years and 87.2% and 78% at 25 years, respectively. Indications for reoperation included structural valve deterioration (83%), endocarditis (12%), and mitral valve disease (5%). Reoperative mortality occurred in 2 patients (4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic homografts are associated with good long-term survival and admissible freedom from reoperation. Operative mortality is high among patients with endocarditis; however, for those who survive to discharge, long-term survival and durability are the same as for patients without endocarditis.

The Sky Is Not Falling: Surgical Perspectives on a New Transcatheter Paradigm.

The role of cardiac surgeons in the treatment of aortic valve disease is changing with the expansion of transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Recent trials in patients at low surgical risk will further this paradigm shift, and the future cardiac surgeons in this space remain uncertain. In this Viewpoint article, we discuss the role that surgeons can play in the future of structural heart medicine. We examine the potential effects of the low-risk transcatheter aortic valve replacement trials on overall operative volumes and how these effects may be limited through structured training programs and strong collaboration within the heart team. Finally, future considerations and cautions for the cardiac surgical community are discussed. The coming era presents an opportunity for growth, leadership, and strong interdisciplinary collaboration for the cardiac surgery community.

Aortic Root Replacement to Accommodate Future Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Coronary obstruction is a feared complication associated with valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) that may prevent patients with high anatomical risk from being considered. Aortic root replacement at the time of the index TAVR allows higher coronary implantation and augmentation of transcatheter heart valve to coronary ostial distance. This approach permits future valve-in-valve TAVR and may be an important strategy in lifetime valve selection management, particularly in young patients.

Wound complications and 30-day readmissions after single and bilateral internal mammary grafting: Analysis of the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

BACKGROUND: This study compares the postoperative outcomes, 30-day readmission rates, and incidence of sternal wound infection-related readmissions between patients receiving bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMA) and single internal mammary artery (SIMA) grafting during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: We utilized the weighted 2013-2014 National Readmission Database claims to identify all US adult patients who underwent CABG utilizing SIMA (n = 279,891) or BIMA (n = 11,651). Thirty-day overall and wound-related readmissions, in-hospital outcomes, costs, lengths of stay (LOS) at readmissions were compared between the two groups. Predictors of 30-day readmission were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: After propensity matching (n = 10,339 pairs), there were no significant differences between the two groups during the index hospitalization, except for higher total hospital costs in the BIMA group (p = .02). The incidence of wound infections was also comparable between BIMA and SIMA (1.1% vs. 1.2%; p = .50). At 30-days, the overall readmission rate was elevated in SIMA patients (9.5% vs. 8.8%; p < .01), primarily impacted by cardiovascular causes. While the proportion of 30-day readmissions due to infections was significantly higher among BIMA versus SIMA patients (20.4% vs. 15.9%; p < .01), wound infections during the index hospitalization did not predict all-cause 30-day readmission among BIMA patients (p = .24) in the risk-adjusted analysis. Among the readmitted patients, LOS (6.4 vs. 6.2 days), costs ($14,440 vs. $16,461), and in-hospital mortality (2.4% vs. 1.7%) were comparable between the two groups (all p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: BIMA grafting is not an independent predictor of all-cause 30-day readmissions. Cardiovascular causes remain the primary driver of 30-day readmissions among SIMA and BIMA patients after CABG.

Subclinical Structural Valve Degeneration in Young Patients With Bioprosthetic Aortic Valves.

BACKGROUND: Bioprosthetic structural valve degeneration (SVD) has previously been a clinical diagnosis, but subclinical changes have been increasingly recognized in transcatheter valves. The significance of subclinical SVD after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), however, is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence and outcomes of subclinical SVD in young patients after SAVR. METHODS: Patients aged ≤65 years who underwent bioprosthetic SAVR between January 2002 and June 2018 at a single institution were included. Endocarditis cases and those with in-hospital mortality were excluded. All available longitudinal postoperative echocardiograms were reviewed. Subclinical SVD was defined as an increase in mean transvalvular gradient of at least 10 mm Hg and/or new onset of mild intraprosthetic regurgitation or increase by at least 1 grade, compared with baseline postoperative echocardiogram. RESULTS: Overall, 822 unique SAVR cases were included. Over the study period, 356 (43.3%) patients developed subclinical SVD. Only 21.5% of those with subclinical SVD progressed to clinical SVD or to repeat aortic valve procedures. In those with progression, the first signs of SVD occurred significantly earlier than in those whose changes remained stable (11 months vs 23 months; P = .036). Anticoagulation did not impact the development or progression of subclinical SVD. There was no difference in long-term survival for those who did or did not develop subclinical SVD. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical SVD occurred in a large proportion of young patients undergoing bioprosthetic SAVR. Despite its high prevalence, subclinical SVD was not associated with decreased survival or repeat procedures.