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Background: This study compared the costs associated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in Korea by utilizing the National Health Insurance Service database. Methods: Between June 2015 and May 2019, 1,468 patients underwent primary isolated transfemoral TAVI, while 2,835 patients received primary isolated SAVR with a bioprosthesis. We assessed the costs of index hospitalization and subsequent healthcare utilization, categorizing the cohort into 6 age subgroups:

Background: This study compared the outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients aged 50 to 70 years based on the type of prosthetic valve used. Methods: We compared patients who underwent mechanical AVR to those who underwent bioprosthetic AVR at our institution between January 2000 and March 2019. Competing risk analysis and the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method based on propensity score were employed for comparisons. Results: A total of 1,580 patients (984 patients with mechanical AVR; 596 patients with bioprosthetic AVR) were enrolled. There was no significant difference in early mortality between the mechanical AVR and bioprosthetic AVR groups (0.9% vs. 1.7%, p=0.177). After IPTW adjustment, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the bioprosthetic AVR group than in the mechanical AVR group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–1.80; p=0.014). Competing risk analysis revealed lower risks of stroke (sub-distributional hazard ratio [sHR], 0.44; 95% CI, 0.28–0.67; p

A coronary artery fistula (CAF) is an abnormal vascular connection between the coronary arteries and the cardiac chambers or major vessels. Although rare, CAFs can lead to substantial coronary morbidity and mortality. This study outlines the surgical management of a CAF originating from the left coronary artery and connecting to the right atrium, in a patient experiencing angina with a marked left-to-right shunt. The surgical approach involved ligation of the coronary artery and reduction of the aneurysmal portion, resulting in the patient’s uneventful recovery.

Coronary ostium obstruction due to dislodgement of the prosthetic valve is a rare and life-threatening complication, and particular caution is required for sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) with concomitant valvular surgery. In general, coronary artery bypass surgery is performed when coronary ostium obstruction occurs after AVR, but other options may need to be considered in some cases. Herein, we present a case of coronary artery occlusion in an 82-year-old female patient who had undergone AVR and mitral valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve stenosis at the age of 77 years. A hybrid procedure involving redo AVR and percutaneous coronary intervention after left main coronary ostium endarterectomy was performed. To summarize, we present a case of hybrid AVR in a patient with coronary artery obstruction after AVR that was successfully managed using this method.

Background: In this study, we present recent trends in heart valve surgery in Korea through analyses of data from the Korea Heart Valve Surgery Registry (KHVSR). Methods: We enrolled 8,981 patients who were registered in the KHVSR from 2017 to 2020. Yearly trends in patients’ baseline characteristics, surgical profiles, and early mortality rates were explored. The observed/expected mortality ratio (O/E ratio), calculated from the actual mortality in the KHVSR and the predicted mortality estimated using the EuroSCORE II, was also analyzed. Results: The proportion of aortic valve surgery significantly increased from 56.8% in 2017 to 60.3% in 2020. The proportion of all combined procedures and minimally invasive surgery significantly increased over the 4-year study period. The operative mortality rate was 2.9% in the entire cohort, while mitral valve repair showed the lowest mortality risk (0.9%). The mortality rates of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) significantly decreased from 2.1% in 2017 to 0.8% in 2020 (p=0.016). Overall, the O/E ratio was 0.784 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.677–0.902) demonstrating significantly lower actual mortality risks than expected based on the EuroSCORE II. In particular, the O/E ratios were as low as 0.364 (95% CI, 0.208–0.591) for isolated AVR. Conclusion: The recent data from the KHVSR showed increasing trends for complex procedures and minimally invasive surgery in heart valve surgery in Korea, and demonstrated remarkably low risks of operative mortality.

Untreated severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with poor outcomes. Functional TR occurs secondary to dilatation of the annulus and tethering of the leaflets. Ring annuloplasty alone can correct most cases, but is insufficient in cases of severe annular dilatation due to severe leaflet tethering. In such cases, a tricuspid edge-to-edge technique may be an option. However, stitching of the leaflet tips alone is likely to result in tearing of the leaflets. Approximation of the durable chordae tendineae is considered helpful for this problem. Herein, we present the case of a 39-year-old man who had undergone openheart surgery for acute type A aortic dissection 13 months earlier. A right mini-thoracotomy approach with a beating-heart strategy was used, which did not require unnecessary pericardial adhesiolysis and dissection. This technique had the advantage of reducing the operation time and the risk of bleeding. To summarize, we present a case of tricuspid valve repair in a high-risk patient with severe leaflet tethering that was successfully managed using these methods.

Background: This study aimed to develop a new risk prediction model for operative mortality in a Korean cohort undergoing heart valve surgery using the Korea Heart Valve Surgery Registry (KHVSR) database. Methods: We analyzed data from 4,742 patients registered in the KHVSR who underwent heart valve surgery at 9 institutions between 2017 and 2018. A risk prediction model was developed for operative mortality, defined as death within 30 days after surgery or during the same hospitalization. A statistical model was generated with a scoring system by multiple logistic regression analyses. The performance of the model was evaluated by its discrimination and calibration abilities. Results: Operative mortality occurred in 142 patients. The final regression models identified 13 risk variables. The risk prediction model showed good discrimination, with a c-statistic of 0.805 and calibration with Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p-value of 0.630. The risk scores ranged from -1 to 15, and were associated with an increase in predicted mortality. The predicted mortality across the risk scores ranged from 0.3% to 80.6%. Conclusion: This risk prediction model using a scoring system specific to heart valve surgery was developed from the KHVSR database. The risk prediction model showed that operative mortality could be predicted well in a Korean cohort.