PubMed Posts

Objective: To review the evidence on neurologic complications in adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients with regard to incidence, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, monitoring techniques, prevention, and management.

Design: Literature review.

Setting: Observational studies and case reports from a variety of institutions.

Participants: Adult ECMO patients.

Interventions: Six electronic databases were searched from their dates of inception to October 2016.

Measurements and main results: The range of neurologic complications reported in adult ECMO patients included stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and brain death. Due to a lack of standardized reporting, their true incidence may have been underestimated significantly. A variety of pathophysiologic mechanisms and risk factors have been proposed. Some of these are specific to venoarterial ECMO, whereas others may be more relevant to venovenous ECMO (eg, rapid correction of hypercarbia). With regard to diagnosis and monitoring, clinical examination alone can be challenging and insufficiently sensitive, particularly for the confirmation of brain death. Computed tomography is the main imaging modality for acute neurologic assessment because magnetic resonance imaging is not feasible in these patients. Options for neuromonitoring are limited, although cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy may be useful. There are very limited data to guide the management of specific complications such as intracranial hemorrhage, which remains a leading cause of mortality in ECMO patients.

Conclusions: ECMO can be lifesaving and is being used increasingly for severe respiratory and/or cardiac failure. However, it remains associated with significant neurologic morbidity and mortality. Greater research clearly is needed to determine the best approach to the assessment and management of neurologic complications in this rapidly growing patient population.

No abstract available

Objective: Multivessel minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting, performed chiefly with left internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein grafts through a left anterolateral thoracotomy, has recently emerged as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting. The present study involves our initial experience with respect to early postoperative and angiographic outcomes after total arterial multivessel off-pump minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral internal thoracic arteries.

Methods: A total of 88 consecutive patients undergoing total arterial off-pump minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral internal thoracic arteries without ascending aortic manipulation were included in this study. Bilateral internal thoracic arteries were harvested under direct vision through a left anterolateral thoracotomy and used as Y or in situ grafts. Multivessel grafting was performed off pump. Postoperative graft assessment was performed in 51 patients.

Results: The mean age of patients was 67.1 ± 7.2 years, and 79 patients (89.8%) were male. The mean body mass index and ejection fraction were 26.7 ± 2.7 kg/m² and 57.6% ± 6.6%, respectively, and 40 patients (45.5%) had left main disease. No intraoperative conversions to cardiopulmonary bypass or sternotomy occurred. A total of 209 distal anastomoses (mean 2.4 ± 0.5) were performed, with 57 patients undergoing double, 29 patients undergoing triple, and 2 patients undergoing quadruple coronary artery bypass grafting. There was no in-hospital mortality, and 5 patients underwent reexploration for bleeding. No patient had stroke or chest wound infections. Predischarge coronary angiography revealed an overall graft patency rate of 96.8%.

Conclusions: Off-pump minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting using total arterial revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic arteries is a feasible and safe operation that is associated with excellent short-term outcomes and early graft patency. Future studies should focus on improving the generalizability and reproducibility of this technique.

Objectives: Non-leaflet resection techniques including loop chordal replacement are being used with increasing frequency, but the long-term results of these techniques are still unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term results of loop neochord replacement with leaflet resection techniques in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) repair for MV prolapse.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2014, 2134 consecutive MV prolapse patients underwent minimally invasive MV repair with isolated loop (n = 1751; 82.1%) or resection techniques (n = 383, 17.9%) at our institution. Follow-up data were available for 86% of patients with a mean follow-up time of 6.1 ± 4.3 years.

Results: The 30-day mortality was 0.8% for all patients (loop: 0.7%, resection: 1.6%; P = 0.09). Leaflet resection was associated with more moderate or more mitral regurgitation on predischarge echocardiography (P = 0.003). The 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 98 ± 1%, 95 ± 1% and 86 ± 2% for the loop technique versus 97 ± 1%, 92 ± 1% and 81 ± 2% for resection patients, respectively (P = 0.003). Significant predictors for late mortality were MV repair technique (P = 0.004), left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001) and myocardial infarction (P < 0.001). Freedom from MV reoperation at 1, 5 and 10 years was 98 ± 1%, 97 ± 1%, 97 ± 1% and 97 ± 1%, 97 ± 1%, 96 ± 1% for patients operated on with the loop technique and leaflet resection (P = 0.4).

Conclusions: In our patient cohort, MV repair with loop chordal replacement is associated with less early recurrent mitral regurgitation and very good long-term results when compared to classical leaflet resection techniques for MV prolapse and is therefore an excellent option for such patients.

Background: Septal myectomy during open aortic valve replacement (AVR) is an effective surgical treatment for asymmetric secondary basal septal hypertrophy. Concerns regarding higher rates of complications associated with this procedure have been raised – such as permanent pacemaker implantation. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes and complications of patients with and without concomitant septal myectomy using propensity score matching applied to a large, consecutive single center cohort.

Methods: A total of 2199 consecutive patients undergoing either AVR with concomitant myectomy (AVR-M, N.=212) or AVR alone (N.=1987) were analyzed (2009-2015). Patients with previous cardiac or emergency surgery, concomitant cardiac procedures and endocarditis were excluded. As reference to previously published data, patient characteristics and outcomes of the overall cohort were examined and for comparison between groups propensity score matching utilized.

Results: In the unmatched cohort, AVR-M patients were older (71.2±8 vs. 67.6±10 years, P<0.001) and more often female (68% vs. 37%, P<0.001) in comparison to patients receiving only AVR. After matching (N.=374) no significant difference in baseline features was evident. No significant difference in hospital mortality (2.1% vs. 1.6%, P=1.000) and pacemaker-implantation rate (5.3% vs. 3.7%, P=0.621) was observed. Mid-term survival was comparable between the two groups (86.1±5% vs. 84.4±5% after 6 years, P=0.957). The overall patient cohort showed a survival comparable to that of an adjusted regional normal population (P=0.178).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that concomitant myectomy in patients undergoing AVR is a safe surgical technique resulting in comparable hospital mortality and mid-term survival. Concomitant septal myectomy seems not to be associated with an increased pacemaker implantation rate.

Background: We analyzed the results of the modified Bentall procedure in a high-risk group of patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: ATAAD patients undergoing a modified Bentall between 1996 and 2018 (n = 314) were analyzed. Mechanical composite conduits were used in 45%, and biological ones using either a bioprosthesis implanted into an aortic graft (33%) or xeno-/homograft root conduits (22%) in the rest. Preoperative malperfusion was present in 34% of patients and cardiopulmonary resuscitation required in 9%.

Results: Concomitant arch procedures consisted of hemiarch in 56% and total arch/elephant trunk in 34%, while concomitant coronary artery surgery was required in 20%. The average cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 126 ± 43 and 210 ± 76 min, respectively, while the average circulatory arrest times were 29 ± 17 min. A total of 69 patients (22%) suffered permanent neurologic deficit, while myocardial infarction occurred in 18 cases (6%) and low cardiac output syndrome in 47 (15%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 17% due to intractable low cardiac output syndrome (n = 29), major brain injury (n = 16), multiorgan failure (n = 6), and sepsis (n = 2). The independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were critical preoperative state (odds ratio [OR], 5.6; p < .001), coronary malperfusion (OR, 3.6; p = .002), coronary artery disease (OR, 2.6; p = .033), and prior cerebrovascular accident (OR, 5.6; p = .002).

Conclusions: The modified Bentall operation, along with necessary concomitant procedures, can be performed with good early results in high-risk ATAAD patients presenting.

Objective: The objective of this study was to report midterm clinical outcomes with a self-expandable sutureless aortic valve.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, 658 patients at 25 European institutions received the Perceval sutureless valve (LivaNova Plc, London, United Kingdom). Mean follow-up was 3.8 years; late cumulative follow-up was 2325.2 patient-years.

Results: The mean age of the population was 78.3 ± 5.6 years and 40.0% (n = 263) were 80 years of age or older; mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons-Predicted Risk of Mortality score was 7.2 ± 7.4. Concomitant procedures were performed in 31.5% (n = 207) of patients. Overall duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time was 64.8 ± 25.2 minutes and aortic cross-clamping time was 40.7 ± 18.1 minutes. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 3.7% (23 patients), with an observed:expected ratio of 0.51. Overall survival was 91.6% at 1 year, 88.5% at 2 years, and 72.7% at 5 years. Peak and mean gradients remained stable during follow-up, and were 17.8 ± 11.3 mm Hg and 9.0 ± 6.3 mm Hg, respectively, at 5 years. Preoperatively, 33.4% of those who received the Perceval valve (n = 210) were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II versus 93.1% (n = 242) at 5 years.

Conclusions: This series, representing, to our knowledge, the longest follow-up with sutureless technology in a prospective, multicenter study, shows that aortic replacement using sutureless valves is associated with low mortality and morbidity and good hemodynamic performance.

Objective: Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery involving left anterior descending coronary artery grafting with the left internal thoracic artery through a left anterior small thoracotomy is being routinely performed in some specified centers for patients with isolated complex left anterior descending coronary artery disease, but very few reports regarding long-term outcomes exist in literature. Our study was aimed at assessing and analyzing the early and long-term outcomes of a large cohort of patients who underwent MIDCAB procedures and identifying the effects of changing trends in patient characteristics on early mortality.

Methods: A total of 2667 patients, who underwent MIDCAB procedures between 1996 and 2018, were divided into 3 groups on the basis of the year of surgery: group A, 1996-2003 (n = 1333); group B, 2004-2010 (n = 627) and group C, 2011-2018 (n = 707). Groupwise characteristics and early postoperative outcomes were compared. Long-term survival for all patients was analyzed and predictors for late mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards methods.

Results: The mean age was 64.5 ± 10.9 years and 691 (25.9%) patients were female. Group C patients (log EuroSCORE I = 4.9 ± 6.9) were older with more cardiac risk factors and comorbidities than groups A (log EuroSCORE I = 3.1 ± 4.5) and B (log EuroSCORE I = 3.5 ± 4.7). Overall and groupwise in-hospital mortality was 0.9%, 1.0%, 0.6%, and 1.0% (P = .7), respectively. Overall 10-, 15-, and 20-year survival estimates for all patients were 77.7 ± 0.9%, 66.1 ± 1.2%, and 55.6 ± 1.6%, respectively.

Conclusions: MIDCAB can be safely performed with very good early and long-term outcomes. In-hospital mortality remained constant over the 22-year period of the study despite worsening demographic profile of patients.

Objectives: Reoperative tricuspid valve (TV) surgery is considered high risk even in the absence of additional concomitant cardiac procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate preoperative clinical parameters as predictors for survival after isolated reoperative TV surgery.

Methods: From January 2005 to January 2019, 85 patients (mean age: 66.7 ± 10.3 years, 34 male) with severe isolated TV regurgitation and prior cardiac surgery were referred to our centre for elective or urgent TV repair/replacement; patients with endocarditis were excluded. We retrospectively analysed preoperative hepatorenal function [reflected by widely used clinical and laboratory parameters and the Model of End-stage-Liver Disease excluding International Normalized Ratio (MELD-XI) score] as a predictor for postoperative survival.

Results: At hospital admission, the patients’ average preoperative New York Heart Association class was 2.9 ± 0.6, left ventricular ejection fraction 52.5 ± 10.6%, mean pulmonary artery pressure 24.7 ± 8.0 mmHg, creatinine 115.4 ± 66.6 μmol/l, bilirubin 20.0 ± 19.6 μmol/l and the mean MELD-XI score was 13.3 ± 4.0 μmol/l. The mean follow-up was 5.4 ± 4.2 years. Thirty-day mortality was 5%, 5-year survival was 60.6 ± 5.4% and 10-year survival was 42.9 ± 6.5%. The multivariable Cox regression analysis evaluated the MELD-XI score [hazard ratio (HR 1.144, confidence interval 95% 1.0-1.3, P = 0.005] and diabetes mellitus (HR 2.27, confidence interval 95% 1.0-5.0, P = 0.04) as significant predictors for excess mortality while age and mean pulmonary artery pressure did not reliably predict clinical outcome.

Conclusions: Hepatorenal dysfunction was one main factor accounting for limited postoperative survival in our patient cohort. The MELD-XI score is easy to calculate and seems to reliably predict the perioperative risk in patients with prior cardiac surgery and indication for TV surgery.

Background: The objective was to provide initial data from our prospective valve-sparing aortic root replacement (V-SARR) registry and reasons for conversion to prosthetic aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Six centers established an intention-to-treat-design V-SARR-registry (the German Aortic Root Repair Registry; first patient in October 2016); the main inclusion criterion was being scheduled for V-SARR as plan A. Clinical information, operative details, intraoperative valve/root measurements, and clinical and transthoracic echocardiography follow-up-data are documented.

Results: Of a total of 449 patients, we report data for 401 (81% male; mean age 51 ± 14 years). Overall, 350 patients underwent V-SARR as scheduled, group A (David variants I 55%, III 2%, IV 13%, V 24%, V-Stanford 2%, and Yacoub remodeling 2%); and 51 were converted to aortic valve replacement (group B). Median follow-up was 11 months (range, 0 to 2.6 years), cumulative follow-up was 279 patient-years. In group B, there were fewer connective tissue disorders (6% vs 16%), fewer patients had left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50% (60% vs 90%), more had bicuspid aortic valves (45% vs 28%), and fewer patients had preoperative none/trace aortic regurgitation (2% vs 20%). Fewer patients in group B had rare types of bicuspid aortic valve (fused N/L, R/N, 10% vs 30%) and more had unbalanced roots (56% vs 40%). Immediate postoperative aortic regurgitation was none/trace in 79% and mild in 20%. At 30 days, the mean transvalvular pressure gradient was 7 ± 5 mm Hg. None of the patients died in hospital; two strokes occurred. One patient needed early aortic valve replacement as redo surgery.

Conclusions: The main factors causing surgeons to convert a planned V-SARR to aortic valve replacement include asymmetry of aortic valve/root, severity of aortic regurgitation, safety reasons (left ventricular ejection fraction), and bicuspid aortic valves (but not rare types). The German Aortic Root Repair Registry will help us identify the impact on long-term outcomes of preoperative and postoperative valvular anatomy and various V-SARR types.