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Background: Data regarding the association of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) are scarce., Objectives: The aims of this study were: 1) to investigate the impact of PH on outcomes after T-TEER; and 2) to shed further light on the role of precapillary- and postcapillary PH in patients undergoing T-TEER for relevant tricuspid regurgitation (TR)., Methods: The study included patients from EuroTR (European Registry of Transcatheter Repair for Tricuspid Regurgitation; NCT06307262) who underwent T-TEER for relevant TR from 2016 until 2023 with available invasive evaluation of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) using right heart catheterization. Study endpoints were procedural TR reduction, improvement in NYHA function class, and a combined endpoint of death or heart failure hospitalization (HFH) at 2 years., Results: Among a total of 1,230 patients (mean age 78.6 ± 7.0 years, 51.4% women), increasing sPAP was independently associated with increasing rates of 2-year death or HFH (HR: 1.027; 95% CI: 1.003-1.052; P = 0.030; median survival follow-up 343 days [Q1-Q3: 114-645 days]). No significant survival differences were observed for patients with pre- vs postcapillary PH. Sensitivity analysis revealed an sPAP value of 46 mm Hg as the optimized threshold for the prediction of death or HFH. Being observed in 526 patients (42.8%), elevated sPAP (>46 mm Hg) was associated with more severe heart failure symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Importantly, NYHA functional class significantly improved and TR severity was significantly reduced irrespective of PH., Conclusions: PH is an important outcome predictor in patients undergoing T-TEER for relevant TR. In contrast to previous studies, no significant differences were observed for patients with precapillary and postcapillary PH in terms of survival free from HFH., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Stolz has received speaker honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Kresoja has received travel expenses from Edwards Lifesciences. Dr von Stein has received lecture honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Rottbauer has received speaker honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences and Abbott. Dr Denti has served as a consultant for InnovHeart, Picardia, HVR, and Approxima; and has received speaker honoraria from Abbott and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Rassaf has received speaker honoraria and consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pfizer, and Daiichi-Sankyo. Dr Barreiro-Perez has received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular, Edwards Lifesciences, and Venus Medtech. Dr Adamo has received consulting fees in the past 3 years from Abbott Structural Heart and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr von Bardeleben has received institutional grants from and has served as a speaker for Abbott Vascular and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Toggweiler has received personal honoraria from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Biosensors, Abbott Vascular, Medira, Shockwave Medical, Teleflex, atHeart Medical, Cardiac Dimensions, Polares Medical, Amarin, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, ReCor Medical, and Daiichi-Sankyo; has received institutional research grants from Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, Fumedica, Novartis, and Boehringer Ingelheim; and holds equity in Hi-D Imaging. Dr Metra has received consulting fees in the past 3 years from Abbott Structural Heart, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Edwards Lifesciences, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Geisler has received speaker honoraria and research grants from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb/Pfizer, Ferrer/Chiesi, Medtronic, and Edwards Lifesciences (all unrelated to this study). Dr Estévez-Loureiro has received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular, Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, and Venus Medtech. Dr Lüdike has received speaker honoraria and consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pfizer, and Edwards Lifesciences; and has received research honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Maisano has received grant and/or research institutional support from Abbott, Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, NVT, Terumo, and Venus Medtech; has received consulting fees and personal and institutional honoraria from Abbott, Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences, Xeltis, Cardiovalve, Occlufit, Simulands, Mtex, Venus Medtech, Squadra, and Valgen; has received royalty income from and holds intellectual property rights with Edwards Lifesciences; and is a shareholder (including share options) in Magenta, Transseptal Solutions, and 4Tech. Dr Praz has received travel expenses from Edwards Lifesciences, Abbott Vascular, Polares Medical, Medira, and Siemens Healthineers. Dr Kessler has received speaker honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences and Abbott. Dr Kalbacher has received personal fees from Abbott Medical, Edwards Lifesciences, Pi-Cardia, and Medtronic. Dr Rudolph has received research grants from Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific, and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Iliadis has received consultant fees and travel expenses from Abbott Medical and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Lurz has received institutional grants from Edwards Lifesciences and honoraria from Innoventrics. Dr Hausleiter has received research grant support and speaker honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Sticchi has served on an advisory board for Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Tarantini has received speaker fees for Abbott Vascular and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Karam has received consultant fees from Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic; and has received proctor fees from Abbott. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Extended reality includes both virtual and augmented realities. In virtual reality objects are rendered in an artificial environment where the user can move and interact with a head mounted display. In augmented reality virtual objects are superimposed to real environment enriching it via a head mounted display. In human medicine these technologies have been already used for educational surgical purposes, but remain relatively unknown in veterinary medicine. We report a case of a 1-year-old, female, French bulldog presented for exercise intolerance and dyspnea. Echocardiography showed signs of left ventricular enlargement with reduced fractional shortening and turbulent flow distal to the pulmonary artery bifurcation. Computed tomography revealed a complex vascular network comprising the descending aorta and left pulmonary artery resembling a patent ductus arteriosus. Virtual reality was used for the surgical planning and a left thoracotomy was performed to close the abnormal vessel at the level of the entrance in the left pulmonary artery with augmented reality assistance. No complications were reported during or after the surgery and the dog completely recovered. Echocardiographic findings 3 days, 1 month and 18 months after the surgery demonstrated absence of residual flow and improving ventricular dimensions. To our knowledge this report documents the first use of extended reality for the visualization, planning and execution of the surgical correction of a complex vascular defect in veterinary medicine., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: Ethical review and approval were waived for this study because, being a case report derived from clinical practice, all medical procedures were performed after obtaining written consent from the owner. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

An anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery (AOPA) from the ascending aorta is a relatively rare but important cardiac malformation that frequently involves the right pulmonary artery (RPA). Its clinical manifestations depend mainly on the associated significant pulmonary hypertension, with an extremely high mortality rate in the first year of life. Here, we present a rare survival case of an 11-year-old child with the disease, who was hospitalized due to intermittent abdominal pain, but without any apparent signs of chest tightness or shortness of breath. The low oxygen saturation as discovered during the physical examination. Subsequent examination with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and pulmonary artery computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed this unexpected congenital malformation. Although the estimated mean pulmonary artery pressure (MAP) from the TTE was 51 mmHg, which seemed to contraindicate corrective cardiac surgery, the limitations of TTE were considered. Consequently, after multidisciplinary consultation, surgical intervention was ultimately decided upon, resulting in a favorable prognosis for the patient. This case provides a new insight for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of complex congenital heart diseases., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The detailed mechanism of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations after Glenn surgery (G-PAVMs) in cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) remains unclear. Microarray in situ hybridization was performed to assess the miRNA (miRNA) profiles of serum from pediatric patients (0-6 years of age) with G-PAVMs and after the Fontan procedure without G-PAVMs. In addition, we investigated the tube formation, migration, and proliferation of human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L) transfected with miR-25-3p mimic, miR-25-3p inhibitor, or PHLPP2 small interfering RNA, and examined HIF-1α/VEGF-A signaling after hypoxic stimulation. Serum miRNAs that showed ≥ 2-fold higher levels in patients with G-PAVMs than in other patients were selected. MiR-25-3p was significantly upregulated in the pulmonary artery sera of the post-Glenn group than in the post-Fontan group. We identified PHLPP2 as a direct target of miR-25-3p. PHLPP2 expression was significantly decreased in HMVEC-L transfected with miR-25-3p mimic compared to the control cells. HIF-1α and VEGF-A expression levels were increased in HMVEC-L transfected with miR-25-3p mimic compared to the control cells in a PHLPP2/Akt/mTOR signaling-dependent manner after hypoxic stimulation. MiR-25-3p promoted HMVEC-L angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration under hypoxic conditions. MiR-25-3p in the pulmonary arteries may contribute to G-PAVM development., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

We report the use of the ŌNŌ retrieval system to remove a fully inflated 3.9 cm length by 24 mm diameter NuDEL CP Stent from the left pulmonary artery. There was no damage to any cardiac structures or venous anatomy following stent removal. To our knowledge, this is the first case of removal of a large caliber covered CP stent with the ŌNŌ system., (© 2025 The Author(s). Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The arterial switch operation for d-transposition of the great arteries achieves anatomic repair but creates the potential for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction as a result of the LeCompte maneuver. The resultant right ventricular hypertension is generally well tolerated but a select group are referred for cardiac catheterization. The outcomes of these catheterizations have not been well described. The objective of this study was to describe the degree and nature of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction found during cardiac catheterization among patients following the arterial switch operation as well as determine the rate of intervention and assess the acute impact of any catheter intervention undertaken. We conducted a retrospective study of patients after arterial switch operation with the LeCompte maneuver and subsequent right heart catheterization. Descriptive statistics were reported, and paired sample t tests were used for analysis. 544 children had an arterial switch operation, of which 110 children (20%) had a cardiac catheterization procedure after surgery and 11% had a right heart catheterization. Of the right heart catheterizations, 90% had an intervention (balloon and/or stent). In the interventional group, the right ventricle to systemic pressure ratio decreased modestly, from 2/3 to half systemic, after balloon dilation and/or stent placement (p < 0.01). No serious complications were observed., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: No conflicting relationship exists for any author., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pulmonary artery stenosis, neoaortic dilatation, and neoaortic valve insufficiency are among the most frequent complications of the arterial switch operation for repair of dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). It remains difficult to predict which patients will require great arterial reintervention., Objective: We aimed to characterize hemodynamics within the great arteries using 4D flow MRI in patients with d-TGA after the arterial switch operation., Materials and Methods: Patients with d-TGA after the arterial switch operation and controls with normal cardiac anatomy who underwent 4D flow MRI between 2012 and 2024 were included in this IRB-approved retrospective cohort study. Controls included patients undergoing MRI for other indications who consented or assented to the addition of a 4D flow sequence, as well as patients who underwent clinically indicated 4D flow MRI and were found to have normal cardiac anatomy and function. Velocity, stasis, kinetic energy, energy loss, wall shear stress, and pulse wave velocity were quantified in the aorta and pulmonary arteries. To compare each parameter between d-TGA patients and controls, unpaired t-tests were used for normally distributed data and Mann-Whitney tests for non-normal data. P < 0.05 was significant., Results: Patients with d-TGA after the arterial switch operation (15.7 years ± 2.4, 2 females) demonstrated significantly higher maximum and mean velocity, maximum and mean kinetic energy, energy loss, and maximum and mean wall shear stress within the pulmonary arteries (P < 0.0001 for all parameters) compared with age-matched controls (15.5 years ± 2.4, 14 females). Aortic maximum (P = 0.001) and mean (P = 0.048) velocity, maximum (P = 0.0008) and mean (P = 0.003) kinetic energy, energy loss (P < 0.0001), maximum wall shear stress in five of six regions (range P < 0.0001 to P = 0.002), and mean wall shear stress in three regions (range P = 0.005 to P = 0.03) were significantly higher in patients with d-TGA after the arterial switch operation patients compared with age-matched controls., Conclusion: Patients with d-TGA after the arterial switch operation demonstrate hemodynamic abnormalities within the great arteries, which may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying postoperative consequences of the arterial switch operation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflicts of interest: None, (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Bronchial stenosis associated with bronchial anastomosis dehiscence after lung transplantation is a catastrophic complication following lung transplantation with a paucity of therapeutic solutions., Purpose: To describe an adaptation of the parallel stent grafting technique in the pulmonary arterial territory to treat this challenging situation., Research Design: This is a case report of a 52-year-old patient who presented bronchus stenosis and bronchial anastomosis dehiscence after lung transplantion. Bronchial stenting and lung retransplantation were contraindicated. Therefore, an endovascular approach using pulmonary artery endograft placement to prevent bleeding during repeated right bronchial balloon dilation was propposed. The technique consists of the deployment of an aortic extender endoprosthesis in the right main pulmonary artery and a balloon expandable stent in the upper lobe pulmonary artery (using a parallel graft configuration) through the common femoral and right internal jugular veins, respectively. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram and one-lung ventilatory ventilation are needed., Results: The patient underwent a new bronchoscopy 16 days after the procedure, that showed epithelization at the previous eroded zone, enabling bronchocopic balloon dialtion to be safely performed. A post-operative contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed an adequate positioning of the stent grafts. Despite all eforts, the patient succumbed to ventilator associated pneumonia on postoperative day 108., Data Analysis: The technique's advantages include its feasibility even in situations in which other techniques may be contraindicated and its potential use in emergencies. Its limitations include the need for experienced interventionists to perform it, and the potential risk of acute tricuspid regurgitation., Conclusion: This study illustrates the early feasibility of the parallel stent grafting technique applied to the pulmonary artery territory. However, it's safety profile regarding infectious risk was not demontrated., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of fluorescence thoracoscopy-assisted temporary occlusion of pulmonary arteries and veins during sublobar resection for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Patients with early-stage NSCLC who underwent fluorescence thoracoscopy-assisted temporary occlusion of pulmonary arteries and veins for sublobar resection in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January to April 2024 were included. Based on whether the artery or vein was blocked during surgery, the patients were divided into the arterial group and the venous group. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, distance from the lesion to the resection margin, and boundary duration were collected and compared between the two groups. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ 2 test was used to compare the data between the two groups. Results: A total of 64 patients were enrolled. There were 25 males and 39 females, aged (57.3±12.1) years (range: 34 to 80 years). The tumor diameter was (9.8±2.9) mm (range: 5 to 16 mm). The distance between the surgical margin and the lesion was (16.5±3.9) mm (range: 10 to 30 mm) and the surgical time was (61.5±13.9) minutes (range: 30 to 120 minutes). Pathological examination of the surgical specimens showed that all margins met pathological requirements. The chest drainage tube retention time ( M (IQR)) was 2 (1) days (range: 1 to 7 days), and no serious postoperative complications occurred. The boundary duration for the arterial group ( n =23) and venous group ( n =41) was (147.9±22.2) seconds (range: 119 to 188 seconds) and (40.9±8.0) seconds (range: 20 to 60 seconds), respectively ( t =27.935, P <0.01). Conclusion: Fluorescence thoracoscopy-assisted temporary occlusion of pulmonary arteries and veins can effectively and accurately delineate surgical resection boundaries, ensuring sufficient margin width to meet oncological requirements.

Sleeve lobectomy or resection with pulmonary artery reconstruction is a technique that allows for resection of locally advanced central lung carcinoma, preserving lung function, and is associated with lower morbidity and mortality than pneumonectomy. This survey aimed to assess the long-term survival comparing different types of sleeve lobectomy and identify risk factors affecting survival.All consecutive patients who underwent anatomical resection for primary non-small cell lung cancer with bronchial sleeve or pulmonary artery reconstruction in our department between September 2003 and September 2021 were included in this study. Cases with carinal sleeve pneumonectomy were excluded. Data were evaluated retrospectively.Bronchial sleeve resection was performed in 227 patients, double sleeve resection in 67 patients, and 45 cases underwent isolated lobectomy with pulmonary artery reconstruction. The mean follow-up was 33.5 months. The 5-year survival was 58.5% for patients after bronchial sleeve, 43.2% after double sleeve, and 36.8% after resection with vascular reconstruction. The difference in overall survival of these three groups was statistically significant (p = 0.012). However, the UICC stage was higher in cases with double sleeve resection or resection with vascular reconstruction (p = 0.016). Patients with lymph node metastases showed shorter overall survival (p = 0.033). The 5-year survival rate was 60.1% for patients with N0 and 47% for patients with N1 and N2 status. Induction therapy, vascular sleeve resection, and double sleeve resection were independent adverse predictors for overall survival in multivariate analysis.Sleeve lobectomy and resection with vascular reconstruction are safe procedures with good long-term survival. However, double sleeve resection and vascular sleeve resection were adverse predictors of survival, possibly due to a higher UICC stage in these patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling is an important predictor of long-term survival following transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. However, its impact on survival in patients undergoing indirect mitral annuloplasty is unknown. The study aimed to assess the impact of baseline RV-PA coupling on survival following indirect mitral annuloplasty in heart failure patients., Methods: Patients were classified according to baseline RV-PA coupling: TAPSE (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion)/PASP (pulmonary artery systolic pressure) > 0.55 (group 1), ≤ 0.55 ≥ 0.32 (group 2) and ≤ 0.32 (group 3). Clinical follow-up and RV function were assessed 3 and 12 months following indirect annuloplasty., Results: A TAPSE/PASP > 0.55 was found in 19 patients, while 47 patients showed a TAPSE/PASP ≤ 0.55 > 0.32 and 26 a TAPSE/PASP ≤ 0.32. A significant reduction in vena contracta and regurgitant volume compared to baseline was found in all groups at 3-months and 12-months follow-up. One-year mortality was significantly increased in group 3 compared to the other groups (group 1: 0.95, group 2: 0.91, group 3: 0.77; Log-Rank test p = 0.018). In groups 2 and 3 the TAPSE/PASP significantly improved during the 12-months follow-up, while it remained unchanged in group 1 (group 1: baseline = 0.71 ± 0.03, 12-months = 0.67 ± 0.01; group 2: baseline = 0.43 ± 0.06, 12-months: 0.56 ± 0.04; group 3: baseline = 0.25 ± 0.06, 12-months: 0.4 ± 0.03; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: RV-PA uncoupling before indirect mitral annuloplasty is associated with poor survival. However, Carillon device implantation improved right heart function and RV-PA coupling in patients with severe RV dysfunction at baseline. Therefore, Carillon device implantation can be a valuable option for transcatheter treatment of patients with FMR and right heart failure., (© 2024 The Author(s). Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), while balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an alternative for inoperable patients. We aimed to compare right ventricular (RV) remodelling and late survival after PEA and BPA., Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, we performed echocardiography at baseline and follow-up in patients with CTEPH treated with PEA (n=54) or BPA (n=44) between 2011 and 2022., Results: Follow-up echocardiography was performed at 5 months (IQR 4-7) after PEA and 3 months (IQR 2-4) after the last BPA. Both groups showed significant improvements in left ventricular end-systolic eccentricity index, RV basal diameter and RV fractional area change (RV FAC). Tricuspid regurgitation pressure decreased by 26±18 mm Hg after PEA and 13±21 mm Hg after BPA (p=0.02 for between-group difference). Tricuspid annular systolic excursion (TAPSE) decreased by 4±5 mm after PEA but increased by 1±4 mm after BPA (p<0.001). The TAPSE/systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio improved similarly in both groups. Five-year survival was 96% (95% CI 86% to 99%) for PEA and 79% (95% CI 61% to 89%) for BPA (p=0.25). Change in RV FAC was an independent predictor of survival (HR 0.9, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99, p=0.03)., Conclusions: Both PEA and BPA led to significant RV reverse remodelling, with no clear evidence of a difference in survival rates. Improvement in RV function, particularly RV FAC, was associated with better outcomes, highlighting the importance of RV recovery in CTEPH treatment., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital anomaly, characterized by aberrant lung tissue supplied by an aberrant systemic artery or arteries coursing within the inferior pulmonary ligament. The intralobar variety is the most frequent form. Clinical presentation may include recurrent haemoptysis and infection. Standard treatment involves surgical resection of the affected tissue with maximal preservation of healthy lung. This video tutorial presents the surgical technique for resecting intralobar pulmonary sequestration involving the right lower lobe. Rather than attempting to skeletonize the frequently friable aberrant artery(ies), the lung is mobilized, and the inferior pulmonary ligament containing the aberrant artery is isolated before being divided en masse; in this way, one may decrease the risk of intraoperative arterial injury and haemorrhage. Subsequent lung resection is performed in the standard fashion, in this case, an S10 segmentectomy. Transarterial embolization has been described both as a definitive treatment and as a preoperative intervention to decrease the risk of intraoperative bleeding. In the case of preoperative embolization, one must be wary to avoid embolic material when positioning the vascular stapler to divide the aberrant artery., (© The Author 2025. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pulmonary artery sling (PAS) is a rare congenital anomaly where the left pulmonary artery (LPA) branches from the right pulmonary artery, compressing the trachea and esophagus and frequently leading to respiratory distress in infants. Surgical intervention, such as LPA reimplantation or translocation, is crucial to relieve airway compression and restore normal pulmonary function., Case Presentation: This report highlights varied LPA anatomies, including a unique case of an anomalous LPA without true sling formation but causing tracheal compression, alongside two typical PAS cases. Respiratory symptoms were successfully mitigated in all three cases without concomitant tracheal reconstruction., Conclusions: This report underscores the necessity of thorough preoperative assessment of airway anatomy and highlight the importance of individualized surgical planning for anomalous LPA., Competing Interests: Declarations. Consent for publication: Verbal and written consent for participation and publication of the cases and any accompanying images was granted by each patient’s respective parent/guardian. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an effective intervention for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD). We aimed to identify the patient group with a low success rate or high complication rate of BPA, which is still unclear., Methods: Both CTEPD patients with or without pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH and NoPH-CTEPD) were included. CTEPH patients were divided into groups with or without pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA-CTEPH and NoPEA-CTEPH). The efficacy and safety of BPA were compared among the groups., Results: There were 450, 66, and 41 sessions in the NoPEA-CTEPH, PEA-CTEPH, and NoPH-CTEPD groups, respectively. The success rate (≥1 degree improvement in flow grade) in the PEA-CTEPH group was 94.5%, significantly lower than that in the NoPEA-CTEPH (97.1%) and NoPH-CTEPD (98.4%) groups (p = 0.014). The percentage of complete flow recovery in treated vessels was also lower in PEA-CTEPH group. BPA-related complication rate in NoPEA-CTEPH, PEA-CTEPH, and NoPH-CTEPD patients was 6.1%, 6.0%, and 0.0%, respectively (p = 0.309). One BPA-related death occurred (solely in NoPEA-CTEPH). Mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥41.5 mm Hg was a predictor of BPA-related complications. NoPEA-CTEPH patients had more improvement in 6-min walk distance (6MWD, 87 ± 93 m NoPEA-CTEPH vs. 40 ± 43 m PEA-CTEPH vs. 18 ± 20 m NoPH-CTEPD, p = 0.012)., Conclusions: BPA was safe and effective for all CTEPD groups with less improvement for the PEA-CTEPH and NoPH-CTEPD groups. The success rate of BPA was lower in the PEA-CTEPH group and the complication rate was lower in the NoPH-CTEPD group. Pre-BPA treatment to lower pulmonary artery pressure should not be overlooked in CTEPD patients., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the safety of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) across body mass index (BMI) strata. However, long-term survival and patient-reported outcome measures by BMI strata remain unknown. We examined the impact of preoperative BMI on long-term survival, QOL, and functional outcomes for patients undergoing PEA for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)., Methods: Retrospective review of 2,004 patients from the UK National Cohort between 2007 and 2021 undergoing PEA for CTEPH (mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance >160 dynes). Patients were stratified into BMI<20, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50+. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were 3- to 6-month postoperative hemodynamics, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, and Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR) scores., Results: Hemodynamics and 6MWD at 3 to 6 months were similar across BMI strata. Patients with BMI 50+ reported the highest incidence of postoperative NYHA III/IV limitation (53.3%, p < 0.001) and the highest residual symptom burden by CAMPHOR (p < 0.001). Five-year survival was lowest in patients with BMI 50+ (70.2%) and BMI<20 (73.4%), while highest in BMI 30 to 39 (88.2%, p = 0.008). Ten-year Kaplan-Meier estimates predicted the lowest survival in BMI 50+ and BMI<20., Conclusions: PEA remains safe and effective for all patients regardless of BMI. Despite similar hemodynamic outcomes, patients with BMI 50+ are at the greatest risk of long-term all-cause mortality, and patients with BMI 50+ experience residual symptomatic limitation., (Copyright © 2024 International Society for the Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present a case of a 36 year old adult with anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery from the aorta (hemitruncus), pulmonary hypertension, and moderate mitral regurgitation. Moreover, selective contrast echocardiogram (agitated saline injection into the right pulmonary artery) performed during preoperative cardiac catheterization demonstrated a moderate amount and prompt appearance of echo contrast in the left atrium (right pulmonary arteriovenous fistula). We successfully performed a reconstruction of the right pulmonary artery using a woven Dacron graft (12 mm in diameter). Six months postsurgery, the pulmonary arteriovenous fistula had substantially regressed, and the pulmonary arterial pressure and mitral regurgitation had both dramatically improved., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Anomalous origin of the right subclavian artery (AORSA) from the right pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly usually diagnosed by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or angiography. We present a very rare case of diagnosis and surgical correction of AORSA coexisting with d-transposition of the great arteries in a newborn's first hours of life. Due to the critical local hospital and patient conditions, additional cross-sectional imaging was not feasible. The diagnosis was suspected by clinical signs, confirmed by transthoracic echocardiogram, and the patient was urgently taken to the operating room. We discuss clinical and echocardiographic signs of this child with d-transposition of the great arteries and AORSA from the right pulmonary artery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Hybrid procedure of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, comprising ductus arteriosus stenting and bilateral pulmonary artery banding, is a good surgical option for initial palliative procedure for high-risk patients for Norwood procedure. However, ductal stenting may cause retrograde aortic blood flow obstruction. Furthermore, complete removal of stent while performing the Norwood procedure make the operation more difficult. We report a case that overcame these problems using a novel surgical technique.

We report a case of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit angioplasty in which a valvuloplasty balloon ruptured circumferentially and was retained within the conduit. A high-pressure balloon was used to relieve the obstruction and free the ruptured balloon. The procedure was further complicated when the distal part of the balloon broke away from the proximal part during an attempt to retrieve it back into the femoral sheath. This report highlights the inappropriate use of a soft balloon in a calcified xenograft conduit, which led to a series of complications, and discusses potential strategies for managing these complications.

This article discusses a pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP) formation following pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) placement for cardiac surgery. The patient, an 82-year-old female with a history of hypertension and chronic heart failure, underwent elective mitral and tricuspid valve surgery. After surgery, bleeding was observed in the endotracheal tube, indicating a potential complication. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed bleeding mainly in the right bronchus. Subsequent computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) confirmed the presence of a small pseudoaneurysm in a branch of the pulmonary artery. Prompt collaboration between anesthesiologists, cardiac surgeons, and interventional radiologists led to the successful embolization of the pseudoaneurysm with a minimally invasive approach by using the PAC as a guide catheter to reach the PAP. The article outlines the potential causes of PAP formation, clinical presentation, and management strategies. While conservative, surgical, and interventional approaches are discussed, the preferred treatment is coil embolization due to its effectiveness and minimal invasiveness. The authors emphasize the importance of rapid diagnosis, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the feasibility of using the pulmonary artery route for embolization to rapidly reach the lesion to stabilize. Overall, the case demonstrates the successful resolution of a life-threatening complication through timely intervention and coordinated teamwork., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The use of prostaglandin infusion to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosus in patients with critical coarctation of the aorta (CoA) to support systemic circulation is the standard of care. However, pulmonary overcirculation resulting from a patent ductus arteriosus in patients with critical CoA is not well described in the literature. We report two cases of critical CoA that required invasive measures to control pulmonary blood flow before surgical repair of the CoA. Both patients had signs of decreased oxygen delivery, hyperlactatemia, and systemic to pulmonary flow via the ductus arteriosus. One patient required surgical pulmonary artery banding and the second patient underwent pulmonary flow restrictor device placement for the control of pulmonary blood flow. A rapid improvement in oxygen delivery and normalization of lactate levels were observed after control of pulmonary overcirculation. Both patients underwent successful surgical repair of the coarctation A and were discharged home., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

To assess the feasibility and outcome of stent strut dilation after arterial duct stenting with associated branch pulmonary artery (BPA) stenosis. Stenting of arterial duct in infants with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation is technically challenging. The presence of BPA stenosis is a relative contraindication for stent implantation. Infants with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation and associated BPA stenosis were assessed either by transthoracic echocardiogram alone or additional computerized tomography angiogram when required. Following ductal stenting, the stent struts of the stenosed BPA were crossed with an additional 0.014″ coronary guide wire and dilated using coronary balloons (2.0 or 2.5 mm in diameter). Seventeen (12 male) patients were considered for the procedure. The median age and weight were 27 days (range 2-94) and 2.6 kg (range 2.2-5), respectively. Fourteen patients (82.4%) underwent stent strut dilation after arterial duct stenting. Struts to left pulmonary artery was opened in 9 (64.3%) and right pulmonary artery in 5 (35.7%). The mean systemic oxygen saturation increased from 66.23 ± 8.9% at baseline to 86 ± 2.2% immediately after the stent deployment and final saturations after stent strut dilation were 89.29 ± 4.3%. Angiographic pulmonary flow improved in all cases. Stent strut dilation could not be done in 3 patients due to unfavorable anatomy. One patient had acute stent thrombosis and died in the hospital. Two others died during follow-up, during an acute febrile illness and gastroenteritis. All survivors underwent cardiac surgery and were on regular follow-up. Strut dilation of BPA stenosis is feasible to augment pulmonary blood flow, following arterial duct stenting. This procedure may be useful in selected patients with BPA stenosis to have uniform growth of pulmonary arteries., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The diabolo stent technique enables the controlled dilation of stenosis, improving blood flow while avoiding hyperflow. In our case, it was successfully applied to a young girl with a single-ventricle heart. This approach offers a valuable alternative to surgical treatment., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

CHDs affecting the right ventricular outflow tract often require repeated surgical or transcatheter interventions due to pulmonary insufficiency or stenosis. This study presents percutaneous implantation of large self-expanding valves in patients with complex right ventricular outflow tract anatomy after prior pulmonary branch stenting.

Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) typically presents in infancy; however, there are cases of patients who survive the infant period and present later in life. We aimed to characterize patients with late ALCAPA diagnoses and to assess perioperative and functional outcomes. A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ALCAPA repair between 1996 and 2020 at Boston Children's Hospital was performed. This cohort was divided into early ALCAPA (< 1 year) and late ALCAPA (≥ 1 year) groups. Perioperative data were collected. Longitudinal functional assessments were made by echocardiography, exercise stress test, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The median age of the late ALCAPA group was 7.6 years with 25% (6/24) of patients over 18 years. The late ALCAPA group was more likely to present as an incidental finding (63%) and required less preoperative intervention compared to the early group. On preoperative echocardiogram, the late ALCAPA group had less moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (16.7% vs 62%, p < 0.001) or left ventricular dysfunction (16.7% vs 89%, p < 0.001) compared to the early group. Reoperation was uncommon, and both groups demonstrated almost complete resolution of mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction over time. There are important differences between late and early ALCAPA subtypes. Revascularization results in excellent outcomes in both early and late groups, but long-term surveillance of ALCAPA patients is warranted as they may have functional deficits after repair., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Ethical Approval: This research study was conducted retrospectively from data obtained for clinical purposes. We consulted extensively with the Internal Review Board (IRB) of Boston Children’s Hospital who determined that our study did not need ethical approval and an IRB official waiver of ethical approval was granted from the IRB of Boston Children’s Hospital (IRB #P00024042, approval date 9/30/2016, last continuing review 2/17/2023). Informed Consent: A waiver of ethical approval was granted by the IRB of Boston Children’s Hospital as noted above., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Transcatheter Pulmonary Flow Restrictors (TPFRs) represent a significant advancement in managing pulmonary blood flow for congenital heart disease patients. However, there is a paucity of comprehensive studies addressing the diversity of these devices and identifying their critical features., Aims: This review aims to consolidate the existing knowledge on TPFRs, pinpoint crucial design and development aspects, identify gaps in current practices, and spotlight directions for future research and advancement., Methods: An exhaustive search was conducted across multiple databases, using specific search terms related to transcatheter and percutaneous pulmonary artery banding., Results: Between 2005 and 2024, 82 patients were reported to have received TPFR implants, including fenestrated atrial septal defect occluders, diabolo-shaped stents, and MVP™ Micro Vascular Plug with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes partially removed. Microvascular plugs were the most commonly used and the most successful devices. However, the primary complications and challenges associated with MVPs included pulmonary overflow, unprotected flow to the right upper lobe, difficulty in creating an appropriately sized fenestration, the need for device replacement due to incorrect sizing, distal migration into the right pulmonary artery, left pulmonary artery stenosis, partial device collapse, thrombosis, jailing of the right upper lobe, potential injury to the pulmonary arterial wall, as well as device fracture and infection. TPFRs can be categorized based on the duration they are designed to remain within the pulmonary artery. Strategies should be devised to enable the device's easy removal without harming the pulmonary arterial wall while also preventing embolization. The ideal device should minimize migration, embolization, thrombosis, inflammation, and endothelialization risks. It should also prevent peri-device flow and adapt to the growth of the pulmonary artery, ensuring long-term efficacy and safety., Conclusion: The long-term outcomes and the potential for employing biodegradable and smart biomaterials remain areas for further investigation. Successful development of these devices requires a collaborative effort among biomaterial engineers, device developers, and interventional cardiologists., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: The study objective was to describe the course and outcomes of children under 18 years of age, with left-to-right shunts and pulmonary arterial hypertension undergoing 1 of 2 management approaches: pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment before left-to-right shunt repair (Treat First) and left-to-right shunt repair first with or without subsequent pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment (Repair First)., Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center study, conducted from September 2015 to September 2021, of children with left-to-right shunts and pulmonary arterial hypertension (defined as indexed pulmonary vascular resistance ≥ 4 Wood units [WU]∗m 2 ) but without Eisenmenger physiology. Patient characteristics, longitudinal hemodynamics data, pulmonary arterial hypertension management, left-to-right shunt repair, and outcomes were reviewed., Results: Of 768 patients evaluated for left-to-right shunt closure, 51 (6.8%) had left-to-right shunts associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (median age 1.1 [0.37-5] years, median indexed pulmonary vascular resistance 6 [5.2-8.7] WU∗m 2 ). In the "Treat First" group (n = 33, 65%), 27 patients (82%) underwent left-to-right shunt closure and 6 patients (18%) did not respond to pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy and did not undergo left-to-right shunt closure. In the "Repair First" group (n = 18, 35%), 12 patients (67%) received pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy and 6 patients (33%) did not. Mortality rates were 6% in the "Treat First" group and 11% in "Repair First" group with follow-ups of 3.4 and 2.5 years, respectively. After left-to-right shunt closure, there was no significant change in indexed pulmonary vascular resistance over a median follow-up of 2 years after surgery (P = .77)., Conclusions: In children with left-to-right shunts and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension, treatment with pulmonary arterial hypertension-targeted therapy before defect repair does not appear to endanger the subjects and may have some benefit. The response to pulmonary arterial hypertension-targeted therapy before shunt closure persists 2 to 3 years postclosure, providing valuable insights into the long-term management of these patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement D.F.T.: royalties or licenses from McGraw Hill. R.L.K.: payment for expert testimony University of Michigan. All other authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The underlying mechanism why segmentectomy has demonstrated the non-inferiority to lobectomy in several randomized trials remains unclear. Computed tomography (CT)-measured pulmonary artery (PA) enlargement reflects PA pressure and predicts the prognosis of certain respiratory diseases. We compared the preoperative and postoperative PA diameter to the ascending aorta diameter (PA/A) ratio, investigating its impact on right ventricular function in lung resection., Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with lower-lobe lung tumors who underwent anatomical lung resection between 2017 and 2022. The PA diameter at the bifurcation and the ascending aorta diameter at the same CT image slice were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. We calculated the enlargement of PA/A ratio (PA/A change) and compared lobectomy and segmentectomy., Results: This analysis included 279 patients (235 with lobectomy and 44 with segmentectomy). The PA/A change was significantly greater in patients with lobectomy than segmentectomy (104% vs. 102%, P = 0.02). In the multivariable analysis, airflow obstruction (yes, P = 0.04) and the type of surgery (segmentectomy, P = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors for PA/A change., Conclusions: The PA/A change was greater in lobectomy than in segmentectomy. This change could reflect a burden on right ventricular function after lobectomy.

Objective: Berry syndrome is a group of rare congenital cardiac malformations including aortopulmonary window (APW), aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery (AORPA), interruption of the aortic arch (IAA), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (supplying the descending aorta) and intact ventricular septum. This paper will analyze the clinical data of 7 patients with Berry syndrome who underwent surgical treatment in our institution and discuss the one-stage surgical correction of Berry syndrome in combination with the literature., Methods: From January 2013 to July 2024, a total of 7 children with Berry syndrome were admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Department of Beijing Children's Hospital. The median age was 3 months (range, 1-36 months). All patients' IAA morphology were type A. The APW morphology was type IIA in 2, type IIB in 4, and type III in 1 patient. Three different surgical correction techniques were used to repair the APW and AORPA, including intra-aortic patch in 2, RPA angioplasty with aortic cuff in 2, RPA detachment and reimplant in 3 patients., Results: Among the 7 patients, one died in the early postoperative period, (1/7, 14.3%). The remaining 6 surviving patients, mechanical ventilation was lasted for 51 to 166 h postoperatively, with an average of (113.3 ± 50.8) hours; the CCU stay was 6 to 23 days, with an average of (11.8 ± 6.5) days. Two cases (2/7, 28.6%) of patients adopted the strategy of delayed sternal closure. The 6 surviving children were followed up for a period ranging from 3 to 132 months, with a median follow-up duration of 36 months. During the follow-up, 2 patients underwent a second operations (2/6, 33.3%). The remaining 4 patients showed no obvious RPA stenosis, descending aorta (DAO) stenosis, aortic valve stenosis or aortic valve regurgitation (AR) during the follow-up period. In the latest follow-up, the average velocity of the RPA of the 4 patients was 1.68 ± 0.36 m/s, and the average pressure gradient was 11.9 ± 4.8 mmHg; the average velocity of the DAO was 2.1 ± 1.7 m/s, and the average pressure gradient was 17.9 ± 2.6 mmHg. All the AR were less than mild., Conclusion: Most children can achieve one-stage surgical correction. For children with APW type IIA, the intra-aortic patch method can be attempted, but its therapeutic effect still requires medium to long-term follow-up. The surgical approach of RPA detachment and reimplant can be applied to all types of patients with Berry syndrome, and the medium to long-term follow-up result is favorable. For the treatment of IAA, it is recommended that end-to-side anastomosis be performed between the DAO and the aortic arch, and the anterior wall be augmented by using bovine pericardial tissue patches. For the residual obstruction at the postoperative anastomosis site, balloon dilation angioplasty can be considered. Compression of the left main bronchus can be supported by intratracheal stents., Perspective Statement: In the English literature accessed thus far, there are less than 50 cases associated with the surgical treatment of Berry syndrome. In this work, we analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients from January 2013 to July 2024 with Berry syndrome who underwent surgical treatment in our institution and showed one-stage surgical correction can achieved acceptable outcomes., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The hospital ethics committee approved this study (ID number [2024]-E-124-R) and waived the need for individual consent. Data were collected retrospectively from hospital records and outpatient clinics. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A 9-day-old male neonate was found to have a systolic murmur during a routine follow-up for skin jaundice. Imaging revealed a large mass at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery, causing significant bilateral stenosis. The patient underwent emergency surgery due to critically compromised pulmonary blood flow. Intraoperative exploration demonstrated a large ductus arteriosus aneurysm (DAA) with extensive thrombosis. The DAA was completely resected under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, followed by reconstruction of the descending aorta and repair of the pulmonary artery bifurcation defect. The patient was discharged on the 20th postoperative day and remained asymptomatic at the 3-month follow-up, exhibiting normal growth and cardiac function., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital Ethics Committee (No. GDREC2019338H(R2)) on 17th September 2019. The written informed consent was obtained from the patient’s parents. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Consent: Written consent was obtained from the patient., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The optimal approach for supravalvar right ventricular outflow tract obstruction(RVOTO) after arterial switch operation(ASO) is unclear. The results of percutaneous balloon dilatation have been variable. We report the results of simultaneous double balloon dilation for RVOTO after ASO. Sixteen patients (1.3(0.7-3.8) years; 9.8(8.1-15.1) kgs underwent the procedure at 14(8-44.5) months after ASO. Salient technical features included placement of balloons over stiff guide-wires positioned in both branch pulmonary arteries to enable dilation of the distal-most main pulmonary artery (MPA) with high inflation pressures (~ 12-14 atmospheres) and short inflation-deflation cycles. Effective balloon size was based on the PA annulus or MPA distal to the narrowing. The final balloon: narrowest segment diameter ratio was 2.7. Following dilation, the right ventricle to systemic systolic pressure ratio decreased from 0.9 ± 0.18 to 0.52 ± 0.16 (p  < 0.001) and mean RVOT gradient from 78 ± 18 to 34 ± 13.9 mmHg (p < 0.001). Narrowest diameter improved from 5.4 ± 2.2 to 9.2 ± 2.2 mm. There were no major complications. Two patients with inadequate relief (final RV-systemic ratios: 1.03 and 0.7) were referred for surgery. At median follow up of 9 months, IQR 7-22, range 5-73, others are free of re interventions with median RVOT gradient of 42, IQR 27-49, range 21-55 mmHg. The immediate and short-term follow up results of double balloon dilatation for supravalvar RVOTO is encouraging and may avoid the need for repeat surgery in the majority of patients. Further follow up is needed to determine the long-term durability of the results., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Right ventricular (RV) donor-recipient sizing has been demonstrated to be a sensitive predictor for mortality after heart transplantation. We sought to understand the relationship between donor-recipient RV mass (RVM) ratio and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) on outcomes after heart transplantation., Methods: Adult heart transplant recipients from the United Network for Organ Sharing database were included (N = 42,594). The influence of RVM ratio and PVR on 1-year mortality was assessed by logistic regression after multivariable adjustment., Results: Among transplant recipients, median PVR was 2.4 Wood units (WU) (range, 1.7-3.3 WU) and median RVM ratio was 1.2 (1.0-1.3). Without considering PVR, RVM ratio was highly associated with postoperative dialysis (odds ratio [OR], 0.49; P < .001) and 1-year mortality (OR, 0.64; P < .001). Without considering RVM ratio, PVR was highly associated with 1-year mortality (OR, 1.05; P < .001), but not postoperative dialysis (OR, 0.98; P = .156). When considering both RVM ratio and PVR, the risk associated with each remained significant, but PVR did not modify the effect of RVM ratio on 1-year mortality (RVM ratio × PVR: OR, 0.99; P = .858). To maintain a consistent predicted 1-year mortality, RVM ratio would need to increase by 0.12 for each WU increase in PVR. Secondary analyses found that a 1 WU change in PVR was associated with an 11% increase in mortality risk in RVM ratio mismatched patients (RVM ratio < 1; P = .001), but only a 5% increase in RVM ratio matched patients (RVM ratio ≥ 1; P = .003)., Conclusions: RVM ratio and recipient PVR are independent predictors of 1-year mortality. Still, a larger RV mass may be utilized to mediate the effects of an elevated PVR., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The outcomes of single-ventricle palliation in unbalanced atrioventricular canal defect with coarctation of aorta (uAVC+CoA) have not been well studied. Systemic ventricle outflow tract obstruction has a propensity to develop in these patients after aortic arch repair with pulmonary artery banding (arch-PAB), which may adversely affect survival and Fontan candidacy., Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent single-ventricle palliation for uAVC+CoA from 2000 to 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on initial palliation: (1) arch-PAB and (2) Norwood procedure. Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed and compared along with survival data., Results: Stage 1 palliation for uAVC+CoA was performed in 41 patients. Arch-PAB was performed in 14 infants and Norwood in 27 infants. Arch-PAB patients had more chromosomal abnormalities (28.6 vs 7.4%, P < .009) and less severe systemic ventricle outflow tract obstruction on baseline echocardiogram (0.0 vs 70.4%, P < .001). Survival to stage 3 palliation was lower for the arch-PAB group (28.6% vs 66.6%, P = .02). Arch-PAB remained a significant risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.05-8.53; P = .04) after adjusting for chromosomal abnormalities and atrioventricular valve regurgitation. After arch-PAB, systemic ventricle outflow tract obstruction was diagnosed in 13 of 14 patients. Echocardiography underestimated the degree of outflow tract obstruction in 10 of 13 arch-PAB patients., Conclusions: Arch-PAB has worse outcomes than Norwood for uAVC+CoA. Systemic ventricle outflow tract obstruction develops in almost all patients after arch-PAB. Outflow tract obstruction is underestimated by the echocardiogram and requires a high index of suspicion, along with advanced imaging, to ensure timely diagnosis and management., Competing Interests: Disclosures Fawwaz R. Shaw is a member of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Editorial Board. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Heritable dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or DCM associated with congenital or acquired left ventricular diseases carries a significant mortality risk. Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) has been proposed as an alternative to heart transplantation. This study aimed to delineate the clinical development, ventricular reverse remodelling, and functional regeneration of the dilated left ventricle, presenting as a pioneering approach in China., Methods and Results: This prospective study was initiated in November 2021, involving paediatric patients with a significant dilated left ventricle and preserved right ventricle who underwent surgical PAB. The baseline characteristics and clinical information during follow-up were collected. Seven patients (five boys) with a median age of 240 (148, 1028) days have been included thus far. No procedural or follow-up mortality was observed. The modified Ross functional class improved from treatment to follow-up of 348 (200, 629) days, and the median left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 27.0 (15.0, 34.0) % before surgery to 61.0 (52.0, 68.0) % (P < 0.05); the median left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and corresponding Z-scores decreased from 43.0 (40.0, 55.0) mm [+9.4 (+7.7, +11.7)] to 33.0 (29.0, 39.0) mm [+1.8 (+1.3, +3.8)] (P < 0.05). Functional regeneration of the left ventricle was observed in five patients. Three of them underwent balloon dilation of the PAB to relieve excessively elevated right ventricular pressures., Conclusions: The application of PAB should adhere to strict criteria. Initial results are promising for infants and even toddlers with a dilated left ventricle and limited probability of spontaneous recovery. PAB can be an alternative when there is a shortage of donor transplants and assist devices, especially for low- and middle-income countries., (© 2024 The Author(s). ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

We present the case of 53-year-old woman with a late diagnosis of an right pulmonary artery-left atrium fistula who underwent transcatheter device closure using multi-modality imaging for pre-procedural planning and procedural guidance.

Objectives: For percutaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with a mushroom-shaped occluder, the establishment of a guidewire rail with the antegrade venous approach may be difficult in some cases. The retrograde technique can be used instead; however, the use of a snare system may bring extra costs and risks. The aim of the study was to report on a new method that fulfills the retrograde technique without the use of a snare system in transcatheter closure of PDA., Methods: From May 2019 to January 2023, we attempted transcatheter closure using the kissing-catheter technique after failure of the conventional antegrade venous approach on 22 consecutive patients with PDA. This technique involves docking the distal ends of the antegrade catheter and retrograde catheter in the main pulmonary artery, and sending an exchange guidewire from one catheter, through the docking junction, and externalized from the proximal end of the other. Then an artery-PDA-vein guidewire loop was established for the delivery of the occluder. The results and operation time of this method were analyzed., Results: Successful establishment of the guidewire rail was achieved in all patients. The average time from attempting to dock the 2 catheters to successfully passing the guidewire was 26 ± 15 seconds. There were no complications during or after the procedures., Conclusions: The snare-free kissing-catheter technique is an efficient and reliable method for transcatheter closure of PDA in cases where the antegrade approach is difficult.

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare lung malformation seldomly accompanied by aneurysmal deformation of its arterial vasculature. This is a first report of aneurysmal PS presenting with acute aneurysmal rupture. The ruptured aneurysm was treated uneventfully by emergency endovascular coiling, and thoracoscopic hemothorax drainage., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: Right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery coupling has been associated with outcomes in mitral regurgitation treated by transcatheter approaches. We evaluated right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery coupling as a predictor of survival and postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with mitral regurgitation undergoing mitral valve surgery., Methods: In this retrospective analysis (median follow-up: 5.8 years), right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery coupling was quantified as the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) using transthoracic echocardiography. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimum cut-point of TAPSE/PASP to predict all-cause mortality, and the study population was dichotomized according to this value. The primary end point was all-cause mortality. A secondary end point of LOS was also assessed., Results: Out of 142 patients (median age: 67, female: 49%), 35 showed impaired coupling at baseline (TAPSE/PASP ≤0.35). Patients with TAPSE/PASP ≤0.35 had higher absolute mortality (37% vs 8%, P < 0.001) and longer LOS (7 days vs 9 days, P = 0.04). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed lower survival in patients with TAPSE/PASP ≤0.35 (log-rank: P < 0.0001). In multivariable Cox regression, TAPSE/PASP ≤0.35 was the most significant predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 3.69, 95% confidence interval 1.31-10.1, P = 0.011), alongside chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and estimated glomerular filtration rate. TAPSE/PASP ≤0.35 was associated with significantly increased LOS (β: 4.6, 95% confidence interval 0.66-8.5, P = 0.022) alongside left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral valve replacement and urgent operation., Conclusions: In mitral regurgitation patients undergoing mitral valve surgery, TAPSE/PASP ≤0.35 is associated with increased mortality and LOS. Further validation is indicated in larger, prospective cohorts., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pulmonary Atresia, Ventricular Deptal Defect, and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (PA-VSD-MAPCAs) is a congenital cyanotic heart defect with poor prognosis. Due to its complex and highly variable anatomy, the best treatment plan is not clear. We aimed (1) to investigate the survival of PA-VSD-MAPCAs patients according to the underlying original anatomy and treatment strategy, and (2) to evaluate life expectancy between patients with or without severe hypoplastic native pulmonary arteries (NPAs) after surgical versus non-surgical treatment., Methods: A prospectively established database of 169 PA-VSD-MAPCAs patients treated and followed up at University Hospitals Leuven was accessed. Patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment strategy. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted, and Log Rank tests were used for comparison., Results: The overall mean survival for patients with PA-VSD-MAPCAs was 38.5 years (95%-CI: 33.1-43.9). Patients with complete intracardiac repair had the longest mean survival of 43.8 years (95%-CI: 38.1-49.6) versus the other groups (p < 0.001). A longer mean event-free survival time was found in patients with normal, well-developed NPAs (p = 0.047). Finally, patients with poorly developed or absent NPAs had worse survival rates when a surgical approach was followed. Systemic-pulmonary shunt placement or unifocalisation had limited effect on prognosis in the absence of total repair (p = 0.167)., Conclusions: Patients with PA-VSD-MAPCAs who underwent complete intracardiac repair and/or with well-developed native pulmonary arteries had the best prognosis. Our analyzed data suggest that incomplete surgical repair resulted in survival rates comparable to those seen with a non-surgical approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest These authors take responsibility for all aspects of the reliability and freedom from bias of the data presented and their discussed interpretation; no grant support; no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A male neonate (2.5 kg) who presented with an interrupted aortic arch type C, hypoplasia of the aortic valve and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction received bilateral pulmonary artery bands as a first step of a hybrid interim palliation. Due to an intimal tissue flap at the origin of the left common carotid artery and a high-risk situation for PDA stenting, a complete early correction was undertaken. For full correction, the large curvature of the aortic arch was reconstructed using the aberrant right subclavian artery as a free graft by implanting it between the right and left common carotid arteries. The left common carotid artery was shortened, and an intimal tissue flap at the origin of the vessel was removed. A Damus-Kaye-Stansel anastomosis was created, and the ventricular septal defect was closed through a right ventricular incision. Right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery continuity was established with a Contegra bovine jugular vein conduit., (© The Author 2024. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: The benefit of additional pulmonary blood flow (APBF) in Fontan pathway remains controversial. The aim of the study was to analyze the systemic arterial saturation, ventricular and atrioventricular (AV) valve function, development of pulmonary arteries and postoperative course after Fontan operation in children with preserved or eliminated APBF between stages 2 and 3 of the Fontan pathway., Methods: A group of 180 consecutive children (median age: 2.92(1.83-16.83) years) with single ventricle underwent extracardiac conduit Fontan operation. The patients were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the presence of APBF between stages 2 and 3., Results: Preoperative echocardiography showed no differences in ventricular function (good - 105[95%] vs. 65[98.5%]; reduced - 9[5%] vs 1[1.5%]; p = 0.07) or AV valve function (p = 0.78). There was no difference in oxygen saturation at admission (p = 0.48), in preoperative blood gas analysis (p = 0.62), or at the discharge (p = 0.73). There was no difference in size of the left pulmonary artery (9.5(0-16.2) vs 10.6 (4.9-21.7) mm; p = 0.13), however the right pulmonary artery was significantly larger (11.2(6.5-19.6) vs. 12.8(7.8-2.5) mm; p = 0.048) in APBF group. In this group the mean pressure in the pulmonary artery was significantly higher as well (8[4-17.5] vs 9.5[4-17.3] mmHg; p = 0.03)., Conclusions: APBF does not result in higher oxygen saturation, both before and after Fontan completion. APBF can stimulate the growth of the pulmonary arteries and increase the pulmonary artery pressure. The presence of APBF does not affect the post-operative course after Fontan operation, however it can increase the need of AV valve reconstruction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is performed as a palliative surgery for congenital heart diseases. Although pulmonary stenosis is one of the complications of PAB, symptomatic supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SVPS) in adulthood after PAB is an extremely rare condition. Further, very few studies have focused on surgical cases of SVPS in adult. Herein, we describe a case of symptomatic SVPS in adulthood after PAB that was successfully managed with surgery., Case Presentation: A 55-year-old male patient had been presenting with worsening shortness of breath for 10 years. Of note, he had been diagnosed with membranous ventricular septum defect at birth and he underwent PAB at 11 months of age. The patient underwent direct closure of ventricular septum defect and pulmonary artery debanding at 3 years and 6 months old. Medical examinations showed SVPS, with a pressure gradient of 60 mmHg. We planned pulmonary artery anterior wall plasty. However, based on the operative findings, the pulmonary stenosis was located in the whole circumference just above the annulus. Hence, it was challenging to completely relieve the stenosis with a pulmonary patch, and the Yacoub remodeling technique was applied to pulmonary artery reconstruction. Intraoperative pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the distal pulmonary artery dropped to 11 mmHg. Post operative course was uneventful., Conclusions: Patient with SVPS could present with symptoms in the long term after PAB in childhood. Therefore, due to the currently increasing number of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cases, attention should be paid to patients who underwent PAB. In this case, pulmonary artery was degenerated in the whole circumference because of the remained banding tape and the stenosis part was just above the annulus. Therefore, we applied Yacoub remodeling technique to this reconstruction. This pulmonary root remodeling procedure was an effective option for such SVPS., (© 2024. The Author(s).)