Partial versus Complete Sternotomy for Aortic Valve Replacement-Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of minimally invasive techniques in cardiac surgery remain poorly defined. We evaluated the short- and mid-term outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement through partial upper versus complete median sternotomy (MS) in a large, German multicenter cohort. METHODS: A total of 2,929 patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement via partial upper sternotomy (PUS, n = 1,764) or MS (n = 1,165) at nine participating heart centers between 2016 and 2020. After propensity-score matching, 1,990 patients were eligible for analysis. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke at 30 days and in follow-up, up to 5 years. Secondary end points were acute kidney injury, length of hospital stay, transfusions, deep sternal wound infection, Dressler's syndrome, rehospitalization, and conversion to sternotomy. RESULTS: Unadjusted MACCE rates were significantly lower in the PUS group both at 30 days (p = 0.02) and in 5-year follow-up (p = 0.01). However, after propensity-score matching, differences between the groups were no more statistically significant: MACCE rates were 3.9% (PUS) versus 5.4% (MS, p = 0.14) at 30 days, and 9.9 versus 11.3% in 5-year follow-up (p = 0.36). In the minimally invasive group, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was shorter (p = 0.03), Dressler's syndrome occurred less frequently (p = 0.006), and the rate of rehospitalization was reduced significantly (p < 0.001). There were 3.8% conversions to full sternotomy. CONCLUSION: In a large, German multicenter cohort, MACCE rates were comparable in surgical aortic valve replacement through partial upper and complete sternotomies. Shorter ICU stay and lower rates of Dressler's syndrome and rehospitalization were in favor of the partial sternotomy group.

A Strategy for Minimizing Circulatory Arrest Duration in Complex Aortic Arch Procedures.

Background and Objectives: Aortic arch pathologies represent a surgical challenge. The challenge is partly due to the necessity of complex cerebral, visceral, and myocardial protection measures. Aortic arch surgery generally requires a significant duration of circulatory arrest, which includes deep hypothermia levels with the associated sequelae. This retrospective observational study shows the feasibility of a strategy that reduces circulatory arrest duration and eliminates the need for deep hypothermia during the procedure. Materials and Methods: Between January 2022 and January 2023, 15 patients (n = 15) with type A aortic dissection underwent total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk. Cardiopulmonary bypass and organ perfusion were established via arterial lines in the right axillary artery and one of the femoral arteries. In the latter vessels, a y-branched arterial cannula was used (ThruPortTM), allowing for endo-clamping of the stent part of the frozen elephant trunk with a balloon and subsequent perfusion of the lower body. Results: Applying this modified perfusion technique, circulatory arrest time could be reduced to a mean of 8.1 ± 4.2 min, and surgery was performed at a mean lowest body temperature of 28.9 ± 2.3 °C. The mean ICU and hospital stays were 18.3 ± 13.7 days and 23.8 ± 11.7 days, respectively. The rate for 30-day survival was 100%. Conclusions: By applying our modified perfusion technique, the circulatory arrest duration was below ten minutes. As a consequence, deep hypothermia could be avoided, and surgery could be performed at moderate hypothermia. Future studies will have to show whether these changes may be translated into a clinical benefit for our patients.

Conduction Disorders after Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Using a Rapid Deployment Aortic Valve Prosthesis: Medium-Term Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that the incidence of postoperative conduction disorders, especially left bundle branch block (LBBB), after implantation of a rapid deployment Intuity™ Elite aortic valve prosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA), was significantly increased compared with conventional aortic valve replacement. We were now interested in how these disorders behaved at intermediate follow-up. METHODS: All 87 patients who had undergone surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) using the rapid deployment Intuity™ Elite prosthesis and were shown to have conduction disorders at the time of hospital discharge were followed up after surgery. These patients' ECGs were recorded at least 1 year after surgery, and the persistence of the new postoperative conduction disorders was assessed. RESULTS: At hospital discharge, 48.1% of the patients had developed new postoperative conduction disorders, with LBBB being the predominant conduction disturbance (36.5%). At medium-term follow-up (526 days, standard deviation (SD) = 169.6, standard error (SE) = 19.3 days, respectively), 44% of the new LBBB and 50% of the new right bundle branch block (RBBB) had disappeared. There was no new atrio-ventricular block III (AVB III) that occurred. One new pacemaker (PM) was implanted during follow-up because of AVB II Mobitz type II. CONCLUSIONS: At medium-term follow-up after the implantation of a rapid deployment Intuity™ Elite aortic valve prosthesis, the number of new postoperative conduction disorders, especially LBBB, has considerably decreased but remains high. The incidence of postoperative AV block III remained stable.

Coronary Anastomosis In Stent-Useful to Do When No Other Alternative Is Given?

Background Many patients being referred for coronary artery bypass grafting have a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Case Description In a patient after multiple PCI of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), repeated in-stent stenosis was diagnosed. The LAD being covered with stents to the periphery, no meaningful anastomosis with stent-free vessel was possible. After thorough discussion with the patient, the referring cardiologist, and our local heart team, an in-stent anastomosis was planned and created, that was found to be angiographically patent 21 months after surgery with the patient free from angina. Conclusion Without any alternative treatment method given, our approach of in-stent anastomosis confers a good mid-term angiographic result.

Postoperative ST-segment elevation caused by mechanical compression of the native right coronary artery by a pericardial drainage tube.

ST-segment elevation is often the first remarkable sign of postoperative cardiac ischaemia. It requires prompt diagnostic measures and an early treatment to improve the patient's outcome. We describe a case of early postoperative ST-segment elevation due to mechanical compression of the native right coronary artery by a pericardial drainage tube in a patient after replacement of the ascending aorta.

Pass On What You Have Learned: A Structured Mentor-Mentee Concept for the Implementation of a Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery Program.

INTRODUCTION: Starting a minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) for mitral valve repair (MVR) program is challenging as it requires a new learning curve, but compromising surgical results at the same time is not acceptable. Here, we describe our surgical educational experience of starting a new MICS program at a university heart center in Germany. METHODS: A dedicated team for the new MICS program including 2 cardiac surgeons, 1 cardiac anesthetist, 1 perfusionist, and 1 scrub nurse was chosen. The use of long shafted instruments was trained in a low-cost self-assembled MICS simulator, and the EACTS endoscopic dry lab course was visited. Thereafter, 1 MICS center was visited for direct observation and peer-to-peer education for 6 weeks. The mentor observed the first 10 cases performed by the mentee. The surgical mitral valve expertise of 1 single cardiac surgeon was retrospectively analyzed between April 2016 and April 2021. RESULTS: Before the implementation of the MICS-MVR program, 18 mitral valve operations have been performed through sternotomy between April 2016 and October 2018 including 12 replacements and 6 ring annuloplasties. After starting the MICS-MVR program, 73 mitral operations have been performed by the same surgeon of which 53 video-assisted through minithoracotomy (72.6%). 83.1% of the MICS procedures included complex repair (n = 38) and ring annuloplasty (n = 6). Open heart MV surgery was necessary in 20 patients due to concomitant procedures (n = 8), redo procedures (n = 2), severe endocarditis (n = 4), or contraindication for MICS such as PAD (n = 6). There have been no deaths, 1 stroke, and 1 cardiac vascular (RCX) complication. Two patients required conversion to sternotomy and one pericardiocentesis in the long term. CONCLUSION: Typically, excellent exposure and high repair rates of the MV has led us offer MICS approach to a majority of patients with isolated MV disease. Careful planning and a strict mentor-mentee concept facilitated a safe startup of an MICS program in a busy university heart center.

Concomitant tumourous lesions in the left atrium and aortic valve suspected to be myxoma.

The occurrence of multiple primary cardiac tumours in a single patient is extremely rare. Despite growing expertise in non-invasive diagnostic modalities, especially in transoesophageal echocardiography, only a few cases report the coincidence of papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve and myxoma of the left atrium. Moreover, echocardiographic as well as a macroscopic distinction between cardiac myxoma and cardiac fibroelastoma may be difficult. Only post-excisional histopathology provides diagnostic safety. Cryoablation of the remnant tissue prevents recurrence in both the aortic valve and the left atrium.

Tricuspid valve repair in acute endocarditis in a young patient with active IV drug abuse.

Right-sided infective endocarditis is common in patients who use intravenous drugs. However, even when leaflets are heavily damaged as a result of the endocarditis, an attempt of valve repair is worth a try. Tricuspid valve repair is superior to valve replacement because it is associated with  a lower rate of recurrence and reoperation.

New postoperative conduction abnormalities after the implantation of a rapid-deployment aortic valve prosthesis.

OBJECTIVES: Sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic valves have enlarged the selection of prostheses available for surgical aortic valve replacement. However, the rate of postoperative pacemaker implantation seems to have increased. METHODS: In addition to pacemaker implantation, we were interested in the incidence of new postoperative conduction abnormalities, namely left bundle branch block, right bundle branch block and atrioventricular block III after the implantation of the EDWARDS INTUITY Elite™ sutureless prosthesis. All patients undergoing isolated or concomitant surgical aortic valve replacement between May 2014 and May 2017 were included in the study. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were operated on. Of them, 14 patients dropped out because of concomitant endocardial or epicardial ablation or because of septal myectomy. Three more patients dropped out because the treatment was converted to conventional aortic valve replacement, and 183 patients remained. At the time of discharge from hospital, 38.1% of the 183 patients had new left bundle branch block, 2.5% of patients had new right bundle branch block and 9.6% had atrioventricular block III requiring either a pacemaker or defibrillator. The postoperative mean transvalvular gradient over the prosthesis was 8.4 ± 3.4 mmHg, the occurrence of paravalvular leakage more than trivial was 1% and hospital mortality was 3.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of new postoperative conduction abnormalities is considerable with the EDWARDS INTUITY Elite rapid-deployment aortic valve prosthesis. We will focus our future research on the follow-up of patients with postoperative left bundle branch block, which was the most frequently observed form of new conduction abnormality.

Atrial myxoma: minimally invasive surgical approach and application of cryoablation to prevent recurrence.

The strategy for the successful removal of gigantic myxoma of the left atrium obstructing inflow into the left ventricle is presented. We consider an anterolateral minithoracotomy approach superior to median sternotomy for complete and comfortable atrial tumour excision because of the excellent exposure and the cosmetic outcome. After removal, local cryodestruction of potential remnant cells is mandatory to prevent recurrency.

Massive Left Atrial Thrombus in Two Patients with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Type II after Cardiac Surgery.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II (HIT type II) can have devastating consequences in cardiac surgical patients. We report two cases of massive left atrial thrombus after mitral valve replacement and endocardial cryoablation in patients with HIT type II.

Severe aortic regurgitation after implantation of a sutureless valve prosthesis using an automatic knot fastener device.

We report the case of severe aortic regurgitation 8 months after implantation of a 25-mm sutureless pericardial aortic valve prosthesis. On echocardiography, the regurgitation was suspected to be paravalvular. The sutureless prosthesis had been implanted using an automatic knot fastener device, which renders the suture tails less pliable because of the metal clip that is crimped around the suture. The patient was reoperated, a paravalvular leak was not observed. The sutureless prosthesis was explanted and a conventional biologic valve prosthesis was implanted instead. On examination of the explanted valve prosthesis, a perforation was observed in one of the leaflets. The leaflet perforation was in alignment with one of the knots produced by the automatic knot fastener. Obviously, the leaflet had hit the knot repeatedly which had caused the perforation. We conclude that knots produced by an automatic fastener device have the potential to cause leaflet perforation.

Evolution of a minimally invasive mitral valve program.

Minimally invasive valve surgery is evolving into a procedure of choice in the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). Visualization techniques have improved vastly over the past decades. With the use of 3D technology rib retractors can be avoided, incision size has come down to a minimum without reducing and even improving the surgeons view.

Does the euroSCORE equally well predict perioperative cardiac surgical risk for men and women?

The euroSCORE is a widely applied scoring system to estimate perioperative risk in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. It acknowledges an increased risk in women but does not apply a gender-specific weighing of individual risk indicators. We separately investigated the performance of the euroSCORE for men and women. Cardiac surgical patients operated in 2002 and 2003 (n = 1930) served as training group. Patients operated in 2004 served as validation group (n = 870). Using binary regression analysis, we developed a gender-specific model on the basis of the original euroSCORE risk indicators. The individual risk indicators were assigned gender-specific correlation coefficients. Applying ROC analysis to the validation group, the original euroSCORE performed well, with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.758, for men but poor, with an AUC 0.676, for women. After gender-specific re-weighing, ROC analysis revealed considerably improved predictive values of the modified euroSCORE. AUC for women increased to 0.755, AUC for men further increased to 0.772. The original euroSCORE failed to accurately predict perioperative mortality in women. A binary regression model, assigning a gender-specific weight to each of the risk indicators of the original euroSCORE, considerably improved the predictive power of the modified euroSCORE.

Use of donors who have suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation in lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Shortage of donors is one of the major limitations in lung transplantation (LuTX) and an aggressive expansion of criteria for donor selection has been proposed. This study evaluates the outcome of recipients of pulmonary grafts coming from resuscitated donors when compared with recipients of non-resuscitated donors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the donor and recipient charts of all double LuTX performed at our institution between 2000 and 2008 with regard to the performance of donor-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). RESULTS: Out of 186 eligible transplants, 22 patients (11.8%) received lungs from donors who have suffered cardiac arrest (CA) and subsequent CPR. Mean duration of CPR was 15.2 ± 11.3 min. Terminal laboratory profiles of CPR donors and non-CPR donors were similar as were ventilation time and paO(2)/FiO(2) ratio before organ harvesting or chest X-ray. CPR-donor status did not affect the following indices of graft function: length of postoperative ventilation, paO(2)/FiO(2) ratio up to 48 h and lung function up to 60 months. Length of intensive care and hospital stay, need for inotropic support and 30-day mortality were not significantly different for the transplantation of CPR or no-CPR donor lungs. One- and 3-year survival rates were comparable as well with 84.4% and 66.3% for CPR donors versus 88.5% and 69.8% no-CPR donors. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that transplantation of lungs from resuscitated donors may not affect outcome after LuTX. Therefore, donor history of CA should not automatically preclude LuTX.

Risk prediction and outcomes in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing open-heart surgery.

OBJECTIVE: There are few data assessing factors, which identify patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) facing high risk for open-heart surgery. We sought to compare the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification and the European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE) for risk prediction in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive patients with non-cardiac LC, who underwent open-heart surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass between 1998 and 2008, were studied at our institution. Potential preoperative predictors of outcome, as well as preoperative MELD score, CTP classification and EuroSCORE were calculated. The primary study end points were all-cause in-hospital and long-term mortality. RESULTS: MELD score and CTP classification both differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors for in-hospital (P<0.0001) and long-term mortality (P<0.0001). Univariate predictors of in-hospital mortality were emergency surgery (odds ratio (OR), 4.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-20.6; P=0.03), ascites (OR, 7.2; 95% CI, 2.0-25.5; P=0.002), total serum protein (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.8; P=0.01), CTP class (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.4-21.5; P=0.04) and MELD score (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6; P=0.001). Multivariable exact logistic regression analyses revealed MELD score (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.005-1.6; P=0.04) as the only independent factor associated with in-hospital mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed MELD score to be highly predictive with an optimal cut-off value of 13.5 (sensitivity: 82.0%, specificity: 78.5%) for postoperative in-hospital mortality (area under curve (AUC): 85.1 ± 0.05%) and superior compared to the CTP classification (AUC: 75.7±0.08%) and EuroSCORE (AUC: 65.9 ± 0.08%). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing open-heart surgery progressively increases with the severity of liver dysfunction. Therefore, the MELD score most reliably identifies those cirrhotic patients who are at high risk for open-heart surgery.

Lung transplantation using donors 55 years and older: is it safe or just a way out of organ shortage?

OBJECTIVES: Lung organ scarcity has led to more generous acceptance of organs under the idea of extended-donor criteria. However, long-term effects have to be monitored to redefine present practice. In this study, we investigated the impact of donor age over 55 years in lung transplantation. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 186 consecutive double-lung transplantation procedures from January 2000 to December 2008 were evaluated. A total of 19 recipients received lungs from donors aged 55 years or older (range 55-69 years) (group A) and 167 received lungs from younger donors (range 8-54) (group B). In-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, rejection episodes, lung function and survival up to 5 years were evaluated. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was similar in both groups (group A: 10.5%; group B: 13.7%). Postoperative ICU stay was 19+/-33 days versus 17+/-34 days (A vs B). Rejection episodes as well as postoperative lung function up to 5 years, and overall cumulative 5-year survival (group A: 52.4%; group B: 50.9%) did not reach statistical significance. However, a trend of increased bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) prevalence and reduced lung function was noted. Cause of death showed no differences in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Donor age > or =55 years does not compromise immediate and long-term results after lung transplantation, although long-term observation of patients receiving such an organ suggests earlier lung dysfunction. Due to the rising need of organs, lungs from donors aged 55 or older have to be considered for transplantation. However, the acceptance should be based on donor lung evaluation and individual recipient needs. Long-term outcomes over 5 years need to be further investigated.

Perioperative thrombocytopenia in cardiac surgical patients - incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, morbidities and mortality.

OBJECTIVES: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening complication of heparin therapy. At our institution, postoperative cardiac surgical patients are screened for HIT antibodies, when platelet counts persist to be less than 50% of the baseline level or less than 50000 nl(-1). In the present study, we compared the outcomes in HIT-antibody-positive and HIT-antibody-negative patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent a cardiac surgical procedure between 1999 and 2007 and in whom a clinical suspicion of HIT prompted a test for heparin-dependent platelet-activating antibodies, that is, the heparin-induced platelet activation (HIPA) test, were retrieved from the database. Patients were divided in group 1 (antibodies present) and group 2 (no antibodies present). RESULTS: In 153 of more than 10000 patients (1.5%), a HIPA test was performed, Of those, 21 patients tested positive (group 1) and 132 tested negative (group 2). Central venous and pulmonary thrombo-embolism was more frequent in group 1 (10% vs 2%, p=0.04). Intestinal, microvascular thrombo-embolism was more frequent in group 2 (15% as opposed to 0%, p=0.03). By multivariate analysis, only patient age (p=0.04, confidence interval (CI): 1.04 (1.00-1.08)), female sex (p=0.03 CI 3.45 (1.51-7.86)) and perioperative sepsis (p<0.001 CI 6.88 (2.96-16.02)) were associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Patients in whom a low platelet count prompted testing for HIT antibodies, had a high mortality (59%), independent of whether heparin-dependent antibodies were present, indicating that a persistently lowered platelet count is a bad prognostic sign after cardiac surgery. Interestingly, the HIPA-positive patients had more central venous and pulmonary embolisms. Patient age, female sex and perioperative sepsis were risk factors for perioperative mortality.