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Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate changes in haematoma thickness during the early period and their association with disease progression in patients who received initial medical treatment for type A intramural haematoma (IMH). METHODS Medical records and serial computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of patients who did not undergo emergency aortic repair for type A IMH upon presentation were retrospectively reviewed. The haematoma remodelling rate was determined using the following equation: thickness   of   the   haematoma   on   the   first   CTA   (mm)   -   thickness   of   the   haematoma   on   the   second   CTA   (mm) time   between   the   first   and   second   CTAs   (h). RESULTS Among the 40 patients included in this study, 38 were indicated for initial watch-and-wait strategy, whereas 2 were indicated for emergency aortic repair but declined it. During hospitalization, 10 patients developed disease progression, with 2 in-hospital mortality cases. Analysis of the haematoma remodelling rate in 39 patients revealed that such a rate was significantly associated with the reciprocal of the time from onset. Analysis of all 70 CTA examinations performed within 24 h after the onset of IMH showed that haematoma thickness was significantly associated with the logarithm of the time from onset. Initial regression of the haematoma was not necessarily associated with avoidance of disease progression. CONCLUSIONS In type A IMH, the thickness of the haematoma in the ascending aorta tended to decrease in the very early period; however, prompt regression of the haematoma was not necessarily associated with avoidance of disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential thrombocythemia is a risk factor for thrombosis and hemorrhage. During the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, the risk of thrombosis and hemorrhage increases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is also associated with thrombosis. We present the case of a 69-year-old man with essential thrombocythemia complicated by COVID-19 who developed a left ventricular thrombus. We performed thrombectomy, but the patient developed recurrent left ventricular thrombus 8 days after surgery. Emergency redo thrombectomy was performed followed by aggressive blood-thinning therapy. The postoperative course was complicated by cardiac tamponade requiring surgical drainage 8 days after the second surgery. The patient was discharged home 25 days after the second operation without any complications. Left ventricular thrombus is a rare but fatal complication associated with essential thrombocythemia. COVID-19 has also been reported to cause coagulopathy. This case suggested that after surgery for left ventricular thrombus complicated by multiple risk factors including essential thrombocythemia and COVID-19, aggressive blood-thinning therapy with combination of anticoagulation, antiplatelet, and metabolic antagonist may help prevent recurrent thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate incidence and risk factors for permanent pacemaker implantation for sick sinus syndrome( SSS) after maze procedure., Methods: Medical records of 59 patients who underwent maze procedure for atrial fibrillation at our hospital from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed., Results: Mean age was 70 years and 32 patients (54%) were male. Major cardiac procedure was mitral valve surgery in 43( 72%). Radiofrequency ablation device was used in 35( 59%) and cryoablation was used in 24 (41%). Nineteen patients (32%) required temporary pacing after surgery;7 for type Ⅰ or Ⅱ SSS, 9 for type Ⅲ SSS and 3 for bradycardiac atrial fibrillation. Of these, all the 7 patients with type Ⅰ or Ⅱ SSS regained sinus rhythm, whereas 2 with type Ⅲ SSS underwent permanent pacemaker implantation. Overall, permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3( 5%). Forty-six patients( 78%) were in sinus rhythm at the outpatient clinic after surgery., Conclusions: Type Ⅰ or Ⅱ SSS after maze procedure is likely to resume sinus rhythm at the time of discharge whereas type Ⅲ is not. For type Ⅲ SSS after maze procedure, adequate anti-arrhythmic medication early after surgery may be required to avoid permanent pacemaker implantation.

Background: This study analyzed the safety and performance of the Perceval valve for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients at 1 year after undergoing aortic stenosis (AS) treatment, and its effect on significant declines in the platelet count during the immediate postoperative period., Methods and results: Data were collected retrospectively for the initial 121 patients (median age 77 years; 47.1% females) who underwent Perceval sutureless AVR between May 2019 and July 2022. Implantation was successful in all (100%), with median cross-clamp and CPB times of 59 and 100 min, respectively. Postoperative thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50×10 3 /μL) was noted in 80 (66.1%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed advanced age (>80 years), preoperative low platelet count (<200×10 3 /μL), and a sternotomy approach as significant risk factors for postoperative thrombocytopenia. One (0.8%) patient died within 30 days after the procedure. The 2-year site-reported event rate was 14% (n=17) for all-cause mortality, 0.8% (n=1) for cardiac mortality, 4.1% (n=5) for stroke, and 1.7% (n=2) for endocarditis and valve-related reoperation; there were no instances of paravalvular leakage or structural valve deterioration., Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia was common after Perceval sutureless AVR, although its impact was not significant. Although Perceval sutureless AVR was found to be a safe and effective option, preoperative assessment of potential bleeding should be performed and the Perceval valve should not be used for patients with a high bleeding risk.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term outcomes after the repair of aortic arch using a standard patch augmentation technique., Methods: The study included all patients who underwent repair of a hypoplastic/interrupted aortic arch (IAA) in a single institute from June 2012 to December 2019 by a standardized patch augmentation (irrespective of concomitant intra-cardiac lesions). End points evaluated were reintervention for arch obstruction and persistent/new-onset hypertension., Results: The study included 149 patients [hypoplastic aortic arch, n = 92 (62%), IAA, n = 9 (6%), Norwood procedure, n = 48 (32%)]. The patch material used for augmentation of the aortic arch included pulmonary homograft (n = 120, 81%), homograft pericardium (n = 18, 12%), CardioCel® (n = 9, 6%) and glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium (n = 2, 1%). The median age and weight at surgery were 7 days [interquartile range (IQR) 5-17 days] and 3.5 kg (IQR 3-3.9 kg), respectively. The median follow-up was 3.27 years (IQR 1.28, 5.08), range (0.02, 8.76). Freedom from reintervention at 1, 3 and 5 years was 95% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 89%, 98%], 93% (95% CI = 86%, 96%) and 93% (95% CI = 86%, 96%) respectively. One patient (0.6%) had persistent hypertension 8 years after correction for interrupted arch with truncus arteriosus., Conclusions: Repair of hypoplastic/IAA by transection and excision of all ductal tissue and standardized patch augmentation provide good mid-term durability. The freedom from reintervention at 5 years is >90%. The incidence of persistent systemic hypertension following arch reconstruction is low. The technique is reproducible and applicable irrespective of underlying arch anatomy., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)