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Objectives: In recent years, minimally invasive approaches have been used with increasing frequency, even for more complex aortic procedures. However, evidence on the practicability and safety of expanding minimally invasive techniques from isolated operations of the ascending aorta towards more complex operations such as the hemiarch replacement is still scarce to date. Methods: A total of 86 patients undergoing elective surgical replacement of the ascending aorta with (n = 40) or without (n = 46) concomitant proximal aortic arch replacement between 2009 and 2023 were analyzed in a retrospective single-center analysis. Groups were compared regarding operation times, intra- and postoperative complications and long-term survival. Results: Operation times and ventilation times were significantly longer in the hemiarch replacement group. Despite this, no statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed for the duration of the ICU and hospital stay and postoperative complication rates. At ten-year follow-up, overall survival was 82.6% after isolated ascending aorta replacement and 86.3% after hemiarch replacement (p = 0.441). Conclusions: Expanding the indication for minimally invasive aortic surgery towards the proximal aortic arch resulted in comparable postoperative complication rates, length of hospital stay and overall long-term survival compared to the well-established minimally invasive isolated supracommissural ascending aorta replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the presence of any association of three CD4+CD25high regulatory T‐cell subpopulations at 3 weeks after lung transplantation with the later incidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction and graft survival. Among lung‐transplanted patients between January 2009 and April 2018, only patients with sufficient T‐cell measurements at 3 weeks after transplantation were included into the study. Putative regulatory T cells were defined as CD4+CD25high T cells, detected in peripheral blood and further analyzed for CD127low, FoxP3+, and CD152+ using fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Associations of regulatory T cells with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and graft survival were evaluated using Cox analysis. During the study period, 724 (71%) patients were included into the study. Freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and graft survival amounted to 66% and 68% at 5 years. At the multivariable analysis, increasing frequencies of CD127low were associated with better freedom from CLAD (hazard ratio for each 1% increase of %CD127low, HR = 0.989, 95% CI = 0.981–0.996, P = 0.003) and better graft survival (HR = 0.991, 95% CI = 0.984–0.999, P = 0.026). A higher frequency of CD127low regulatory T cells in peripheral blood early after lung transplantation estimated a protective effect against chronic lung allograft dysfunction, mortality, and re‐transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute aortic dissection Stanford type A (AADA) is a surgical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although surgical management has improved, the optimal therapy is a matter of debate. Different surgical strategies have been proposed for patients under 60 years old. This paper evaluates the postoperative outcome and the need for secondary aortic operation after a limited surgical approach (proximal arch replacement) vs. extended arch repair., Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2018, 530 patients received surgical treatment for AADA at our hospital; 182 were under 60 years old and were enrolled in this study - Group A (n=68), limited arch repair (proximal arch replacement), and group B (n=114), extended arch repair (> proximal arch replacement)., Results: More pericardial tamponade (P=0.005) and preoperative mechanical resuscitation (P=0.014) were seen in Group A. More need for renal replacement therapy (P=0.047) was seen in the full arch group. Mechanical ventilation time (P=0.022) and intensive care unit stay (P<0.001) were shorter in the limited repair group. Thirty-day mortality was comparable (P=0.117). New onset of postoperative stroke was comparable (Group A four patients [5.9%] vs. Group B 15 patients [13.2%]; P=0.120). Long-term follow-up did not differ significantly for secondary aortic surgery., Conclusion: Even though young patients received only limited arch repair, the outcome was comparable. Full-arch replacement was not beneficial in the long-time follow-up. A limited approach is justified in the cohort of young AADA patients. Exemptions, like known Marfan syndrome and the presence of an intimal tear in the arch, should be considered.

In this retrospective study, we analyzed the presence of any association of three CD4 + CD25 high regulatory T-cell subpopulations at 3 weeks after lung transplantation with the later incidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction and graft survival. Among lung-transplanted patients between January 2009 and April 2018, only patients with sufficient T-cell measurements at 3 weeks after transplantation were included into the study. Putative regulatory T cells were defined as CD4 + CD25 high T cells, detected in peripheral blood and further analyzed for CD127 low , FoxP3 + , and CD152 + using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Associations of regulatory T cells with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and graft survival were evaluated using Cox analysis. During the study period, 724 (71%) patients were included into the study. Freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and graft survival amounted to 66% and 68% at 5 years. At the multivariable analysis, increasing frequencies of CD127 low were associated with better freedom from CLAD (hazard ratio for each 1% increase of %CD127 low , HR = 0.989, 95% CI = 0.981-0.996, P = 0.003) and better graft survival (HR = 0.991, 95% CI = 0.984-0.999, P = 0.026). A higher frequency of CD127 low regulatory T cells in peripheral blood early after lung transplantation estimated a protective effect against chronic lung allograft dysfunction, mortality, and re-transplantation., (© 2020 Steunstichting ESOT.)