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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the midterm results of the reimplantation technique with a straight tubular graft in patients with aortic root aneurysms with or without aortic insufficiency. METHODS: From February 2002 to November 2012, 51 consecutive patients underwent the David I valve-sparing aortic procedure for aortic root aneurysm; the mean age was 59.9±12.3 years. Nine patients (17.6%) had a bicuspid aortic valve. Patients were followed prospectively for 4.78±3.60 years (median, 5 years). Operative results, survival, freedom from redo aortic surgery and from recurrent aortic insufficiency greater than 2+ were assessed. RESULTS: No in-hospital mortality was recorded. In 5 cases, adjunctive procedures on the aortic valve were needed to achieve good leaflet coaptation. Aortic regurgitation was significantly lower at discharge (2.3±1.0 vs 0.3±0.5; P

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of aortic valve replacement with the sutureless Perceval S aortic valve bioprosthesis (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Saluggia, Italy). Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 314 patients (mean age, 77.9 ± 5.0 years, mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, 9.0% ± 7.6%) who underwent aortic valve replacement with the Perceval S valve with (94 patients) or without (220 patients) concomitant coronary artery bypass surgery at 5 European centers. Results The Perceval S valve was successfully implanted in all but 1 patient (99.7%). The mean aortic crossclamping time was 43 ± 20 minutes (isolated procedure, 39 ± 15 minutes; concomitant coronary surgery, 52 ± 26 minutes). Severe paravalvular leak occurred in 2 patients (0.6%). In-hospital mortality was 3.2% (1.4% after isolated procedure and 7.4% after concomitant coronary surgery). In-hospital mortality was 2.8% and 4.0% among patients with a European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II less than 10% and 10% or greater, respectively ( P = .558). Octogenarians had slightly higher in-hospital mortality (5.2% vs 2.0%, P = .125; after isolated procedure: 2.7% vs 0.7%, P = .223; after concomitant coronary surgery: 9.5% vs 5.8%, P = .491) compared with younger patients. Full sternotomy did not increase the in-hospital mortality risk compared with ministernotomy or minithoracotomy access (1.3% vs 1.4%, when adjusted for baseline covariates: P = .921; odds ratio, 0.886; 95% confidence interval, 0.064-12.346). One-year survival was 90.5%. Freedom from valve-related mortality, stroke, endocarditis, and reoperation was 99.0%, 98.1%, 99.2%, and 98.3%, respectively. Conclusions The sutureless Perceval S valve is associated with excellent early survival in high-risk patients, particularly among those undergoing an isolated procedure. Further studies are needed to prove the durability of this bioprosthesis.

ObjectivesThe purposes of this study were to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of 10F, 15F, and 19F Blake drains (Ethicon, Sommerville, NJ) in a pediatric population after cardiac surgery and to compare their clinical effect with that of conventional chest drains.MethodsFrom January 2002 through December 2004, a prospective randomized trial was conducted on 189 patients who underwent surgical intervention for congenital heart disease at our institution. Statistical analyses were conducted to test the null hypothesis that there was no difference in the incidence of pericardial or pleural effusion requiring drainage. Secondary end points included total volume of drainage, drain size, and time to drain removal.ResultsNinety-eight patients (group A) received Blake drains, and 91 patients (group B) received conventional chest drains. There were no statistically significant difference in age, weight at the time of surgical intervention, open- and closed-heart procedures, and number of drains applied. Statistically significant differences were detected in the frequency of pericardial effusion (group A: 1.1% vs group B: 4.8%, P < .01), pleural effusion (group A: 1.1% vs group B: 5.3%, P < .01), size of the drain (group A: 12.37 French ± 1.72 French vs group B: 16.81 French ± 0.70 French, P < .001), and time to removal (group A: 43.75 ± 20.76 hours vs group B: 55.62 ± 26.48 hours, P < .001).ConclusionsBlake drains are safer and more efficient than conventional chest tubes in pediatric populations after cardiac surgery. In comparison with conventional chest tubes, they showed fewer occurrences of effusions and the same amount of fluid drained but smaller size and earlier removal.

DOI:€10.1016/j.jtcvs.2005.07.015 J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005;130:1711-1712 Trimarchi Carmelo Mignosa, Salvatore Agati, Placido Gitto, Dario Salvo and Eugenio SantoCardiac tamponade: Rare presentation of acquired pericardial-esophageal fistulahttp://jtcs.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/130/6/1711 located on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is

Clinical Summary A 56-year-old patient with dysphagia was admitted to our hospital for evaluation. On medical history, he was found to have neurodevelopmental delay and was receiving antihypertensive therapy. An extrinsic stenosis on the midportion of the esophagus did not allow us to complete full gastroenteral screening. Computed tomographic scanning showed the presence of a mediastinal mass 11 cm in diameter compressing the esophagus (Figure 1), which was diagnosed as an isolated aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva. The echocardiogram showed the presence of an SVAS with a gradient of 70 mm Hg, and the pulmonary trunk and bifurcation were normal. Angiography showed normal peripheral pulmonary vascularization and normal left coronary artery anatomy. The right coronary artery at its origin from the aorta opened up in a huge dilatation of 11 cm. The patient was taken to the operating theater on an urgent basis. Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted through femorofemoral cannulation. The heart was emptied, and the chest was opened. At opening, it was possible to visualize a huge aneurysmal mass compressing the right atrium and superior vena cava and covering the ascending aorta (Figure 2, A). The aorta was crossclamped and transected. Warm blood cardioplegic solution was administered directly into the coronary ostia. When the aorta