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Objective: Total aortic arch replacement (TAR) after previous cardiovascular surgery is technically challenging and is becoming more frequent as outcomes for primary arch repair have improved. primary. We analyzed outcomes of reoperative compared with first-time TAR., Methods: The institutional aortic database was queried to identify consecutive patients undergoing TAR between 1997 and 2022. In total, 426 patients underwent TAR, of whom 150 (35%) had previous cardiovascular surgery (reop TAR) and 276 (65%) underwent their first cardiovascular operation., Results: The reop TAR group was younger (61 ± 13 vs 71 ± 11, P < .001) with more comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease (12% vs 4.3%, P = .006), previous stroke (36% vs 14.5%, P < .001), and renal impairment (24% vs 12.7%, P = .004). Reop TAR had longer cardiac ischemic times (119.3 ± 45.5 minutes vs 98 ± 31.9 minutes, P < .001), a greater operative mortality (3.3% vs 0.4%, P = .040), and incurred a 4-fold increased risk of major adverse event (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-11.49, P = .009). Ten-year survival was also lower in the reop TAR cohort (76% vs 82.2%; hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.12-2.86, P = .015) and there was greater need for late reinterventions, mainly on the downstream aorta (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.62, P = .024)., Conclusions: Reop TAR is a technically challenging operation and is associated with increased operative mortality and adverse events. Gratifying results can be obtained with meticulous surgical planning and focused attention on end-organ protection. Late reinterventions occur in a significantly greater percentage of patients undergoing reop TAR, and future studies should focus attention on identifying those at-risk groups who may benefit from a more aggressive index procedure., 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 © 2023 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: In this study, we sought to identify independent risk factors for mortality and reintervention after early surgical correction of truncus arteriosus using a novel statistical method., Methods: Patients undergoing neonatal/infant truncus arteriosus repair between January 1984 and December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. An innovative statistical strategy was applied integrating competing risks analysis with modulated renewal for time-to-event modeling., Results: A total of 204 patients were included in the study. Mortality occurred in 32 patients (15%). Smaller right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit size and truncal valve insufficiency at birth were significantly associated with overall mortality (right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit size: hazard ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.66, P = .008; truncal valve insufficiency: hazard ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-5.53, P = .024). truncal valve insufficiency at birth, truncal valve intervention at index repair, and number of cusps (4 vs 3) were associated with truncal valve reoperations (truncal valve insufficiency: hazard ratio, 2.38; 95%, confidence interval, 1.13-5.01, P = .02; cusp number: hazard ratio, 6.62; 95% confidence interval, 2.54-17.3, P < .001). Right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit size 11 mm or less was associated with a higher risk of early catheter-based reintervention (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.28, P = .03) and reoperation (hazard ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.89, P = .001) on the right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit., Conclusions: Smaller right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit size and truncal valve insufficiency at birth were associated with overall mortality after truncus arteriosus repair. Quadricuspid truncal valve, the presence of truncal valve insufficiency at the time of diagnosis, and truncal valve intervention at index repair were associated with an increased risk of reoperation. The size of the right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit at index surgery is the single most important factor for early reoperation and catheter-based reintervention on the conduit., (Copyright © 2021 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: There is an increased risk of mortality in patients in whom acute kidney injury and fluid accumulation develop after cardiothoracic surgery, and the risk is especially high when renal replacement therapy is needed. However, renal replacement therapy remains an essential intervention in managing these patients. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality in surgical patients requiring renal replacement therapy in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit., Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients requiring renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury or fluid accumulation after cardiothoracic surgery between January 2009 and December 2017. Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared with respect to multiple variables, and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with mortality., Results: The mortality rate for the cohort was 75%. Nonsurvivors were younger (nonsurvivors: 0.8 years; interquartile range, 0.1-8.2; survivors: 14.6 years; interquartile range, 4.2-19.7; P = .002) and had a lower weight-for-age z-score (nonsurvivors: -1.5; interquartile range, -3.1 to -0.4; survivors: -0.5; interquartile range, -0.9 to 0.3; P = .02) compared with survivors. There was no difference with respect to fluid accumulation. In multivariable analysis, a longer duration of stage 3 acute kidney injury before initiation of renal replacement therapy was independently associated with mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.83; P = .021)., Conclusions: Mortality in patients requiring renal replacement therapy after congenital heart disease surgery is high. A longer duration of acute kidney injury before renal replacement therapy initiation is associated with increased mortality., (Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Retrograde cerebral perfusion is becoming less frequently used as a method of neuroprotection during aortic surgery. The present meta-analysis aims to compare outcomes after arch surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest versus hypothermic circulatory arrest + retrograde cerebral perfusion., Methods: Electronic searches were performed using 7 databases from their inception to September 2016. Relevant comparative studies that included patient groups who underwent aortic arch surgery using hypothermic circulatory arrest with continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion or hypothermic circulatory arrest alone were identified, and data were extracted by 2 independent researchers. Data were aggregated using a random-effects model per predefined clinical end points., Results: Twenty-eight comparative studies were identified, with 2705 hypothermic circulatory arrest cases and 2817 hypothermic circulatory arrest + retrograde cerebral perfusion cases. No significant differences were seen between both groups in terms of age, gender, proportion of dissections and aneurysms, and hemiarch/total arch repair. The hypothermic circulatory arrest + retrograde cerebral perfusion group had slightly longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and lower body arrest time. Mortality was significantly increased for the hypothermic circulatory arrest cohort compared with the hypothermic circulatory arrest + retrograde cerebral perfusion cohort (odds ratio, 1.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.63; P = .007; I 2  = 54%), but not on pooling of adjusted estimates. Stroke was also increased for the hypothermic circulatory arrest cohort (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.10; P = .02; I 2  = 29%). No difference in temporary neurologic deficit was identified (P = .66). Meta-regression found the treatment effect for mortality and stroke to be less pronounced in more contemporary series., Conclusions: These results suggest that the addition of retrograde cerebral perfusion during aortic arch surgery may provide better outcomes than using hypothermic circulatory arrest alone, although significant confounders exist. Further robust studies are required to confirm the utility of retrograde cerebral perfusion in arch surgery., (Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The overall therapeutic goal of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with postcardiotomy shock is bridging to myocardial recovery. However, in patients with irreversible myocardial damage prolonged ECMO treatment would cause a delay or even withholding of further permanent potentially life-saving therapeutic options. We therefore assessed the prognostic effect of duration of ECMO support on survival in adult patients after cardiovascular surgery., Methods: We enrolled into our single-center registry a total of 354 patients who underwent venoarterial ECMO support after cardiovascular surgery at a university-affiliated tertiary care center., Results: Through a median follow-up period of 45 months (interquartile range, 20-81 months), 245 patients (69%) died. We observed an increase in mortality with increasing duration of ECMO support. The association between increased duration of ECMO support and mortality persisted in patients who survived ECMO support with a crude hazard ratio of 1.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.40-2.74; P < .001) for 2-year mortality compared with the third tertile and the second tertile of ECMO duration. This effect was even more pronounced after multivariate adjustment using a bootstrap-selected confounder model with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.30 (95% confidence interval, 1.52-3.48; P < .001) for 2-year long-term mortality., Conclusions: Prolonged venoarterial ECMO support is associated with poor outcome in adult patients after cardiovascular surgery. Our data suggest reevaluation of therapeutic strategies after 7 days of ECMO support because mortality disproportionally increases afterward., (Copyright © 2018 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Previous studies have developed cardiovascular surgery outcome prediction models using only patient risk factors, but surgery outcomes from the patient's perspective seem to differ between hospitals. We have developed outcome prediction models that incorporate preoperative patient risks, as well as hospital processes and structure., Methods: Data were collected from the Japan Cardiovascular Database for patients scheduled for cardiovascular surgery between January 2005 and December 2007. We analyzed 33,821 procedures in 102 hospitals. Logistic regression was used to generate risk models, which were then validated through split-sample validation., Results: Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and P values for structures and processes in the mortality prediction model were as follows: "hospital annual adult cardiac surgery volume (continuous; every 1 procedure increase per year)" (odds ratio, 0.998; confidence interval, 0.997-0.999; P < .001); "recommended staffing and equipment" (odds ratio, 0.75; confidence interval, 0.64-0.87; P < .001); "daily conferences with cardiologists" (odds ratio, 0.79; confidence interval, 0.60-1.02; P = .073); "intensivists involved in postsurgical management" (odds ratio, 0.89; confidence interval, 0.77-1.02; P = .90); "public hospitals" (odds ratio, 0.80; confidence interval, 0.70-0.93; P = .003); "surgeons lacking miscellaneous duties" (odds ratio, 0.80; confidence interval, 0.70-0.93; P = .003); and "surgeons who work no more than 32 hours per week" (odds ratio, 0.55; confidence interval, 0.32-0.95; P = .032). The mortality prediction model had a C-index of 0.85 and a Hosmer-Lemeshow P value of .79., Conclusions: Our models yielded good discrimination and calibration, so they may prove useful for hospital selection based on individual patient risks and circumstances. Improved surgeon work environments were also shown to be important for both surgeons and patients., (Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We proposed that a right-sided right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit during the stage I Norwood procedure would facilitate pulmonary artery reconstruction during the stage II procedure., Methods: Between 2002 and 2006, 153 patients underwent Norwood stage I reconstruction with a right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit (125 in the right-sided group and 28 in the left-sided group). The previous 150 consecutive classic Norwood procedures (1997-2002) were used as a control group. Outcomes from stages I and II were analyzed, including ventricular function and pulmonary artery morphology., Results: The 30-day survival was 88% (110/125) in the right-sided group, 75% (21/28) in the left-sided group, and 70% (105/150) in the control group (P < .001, right-sided vs control groups). The conduit length was 35 +/- 9 mm in the right-sided group and 26 +/- 8 mm in the left-sided group (P = .001). Survival at 6 months demonstrated a significant survival benefit in the right-sided right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit group over the control group (P = .009, log-rank test). There was no difference in ventricular function between the groups and no regional dyskinesia associated with the right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit. Despite larger branch pulmonary artery size in the right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit groups (compared with the control group), central pulmonary artery stenoses were common (62% in the right conduit and 80% in the left conduit). Bypass and ischemic times at stage II were 49 +/- 10 and 23 +/- 13 minutes in the right-sided group compared with 61.5 +/- 9.5 and 31 +/- 14 minutes in the left-sided group (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively). The 30-day mortality after the stage II procedure was 1.3% (1/76) in the right-sided group, 0% (0/18) in the left-sided group, and 3.3% (3/90) in the control group., Conclusion: The right-sided conduit is a safe technique and has improved 30-day and overall post-stage II survival compared with that seen with the classic Norwood procedure. The right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit is associated with central pulmonary artery stenosis but good development of the branch pulmonary arteries and preservation of ventricular function. The right-sided conduit significantly reduces cardiopulmonary bypass times at stage II.

Objective: Previous reports of neonatal coarctation repair demonstrate a high rate of recurrent arch obstruction in small neonates. This study assesses the effect of patient size on reintervention and survival in neonates and infants undergoing repair of simple aortic coarctation., Methods: From 1996 to 2006, 167 neonates and infants younger than 90 days with simple coarctation underwent repair. Median patient age was 16 days (range, 1-85 days). Median patient weight was 3.4 kg (range, 0.8-6.0 kg), with 29 patients weighing less than 2.5 kg. All 167 patients included in the study underwent repair through a left thoracotomy., Results: There was 1 early death (1/167, 0.6%). Median follow-up of 4.8 years (range, 0-11.8 years) demonstrated 2 late deaths unrelated to recurrent coarctation. Eighteen patients underwent intervention for recurrent arch obstruction a median of 0.48 years postoperatively (range, 0.14-9.8 years). All were treated with balloon angioplasty and have required no additional intervention. Actuarial freedom from reintervention was 90% at 1 year and 89% at 5 years for infants weighing more than 2.5 kg and 89% at 1 year and 86% at 5 years (P = .31) for infants weighing less than 2.5 kg. There was no difference between survival or reintervention for neonates 30 days of age or younger compared with infants 31 to 90 days of age. Use of polypropylene sutures and female sex did correlate with increased reintervention., Conclusions: Low weight does not affect survival or reintervention rates after coarctation repair in neonates and infants less than 3 months of age. Balloon angioplasty is an effective treatment for recurrent obstruction after coarctation repair in infancy. In the current era, timing of the operation should be based on clinical status.

Objective: Genetic syndromes occur in more than 20% of patients with conotruncal heart defects. We investigated the impact of genetic syndromes on the surgical outcome of conotruncal anomalies in infancy., Methods: This retrospective study reviews the outcome of 787 patients (median age 6.3 months) who underwent primary (598) or staged (189) repair of a conotruncal defect between 1992 and 2007., Results: Proven genetic syndrome was diagnosed in 211 patients (26.8%), including del22q11 (91 patients), trisomy 21 (29 patients), VACTERL (18 patients), and other syndromes (73 patients). Primary repair was accomplished in 80.9% of nonsyndromic patients and 74.4% of syndromic patients (P = .18) Fifteen-year cumulative survival was 84.3% +/- 2.3% in nonsyndromic patients and 73.2% +/- 4.2% in syndromic patients (P < .001). Primary and staged repair allowed similar 15-year survival (81.4% +/- 4.5% vs 79.1% +/- 5.1%, P = .8). Freedom from noncardiac cause of death was significantly lower in syndromic patients (P = .0056). Fifteen-year Kaplan-Meier survival was 87.6% +/- 3.9% for del22q11, 95.8% +/- 4.1% for trisomy 21, 56.8% +/- 6.3% for VACTERL, and 62.3% +/- 12.7% for patients with other syndromes (P = .022). Total intensive care unit stay was 10.8 +/- 4.9 days in syndromic patients and 5.1 +/- 1.7 days in nonsyndromic patients (P < .001). Freedom from reintervention 15 years after repair was 79.6% +/- 4.9% in nonsyndromic patients and 62.4% +/- 7.4% in syndromic patients (P = .007)., Conclusion: Del22q11 and trisomy 21 do not represent risk factors for mortality after repair of conotruncal anomalies, whereas other syndromes adversely affect the surgical outcome for predominant noncardiac attrition. Higher morbidity and lower mid-term freedom from reintervention can be predicted in syndromic patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the morphologic characteristics and other risk factors that may predispose patients with mixed totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection to continuing high mortality after surgery., Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive patients aged 15 days to 18 years (median, 6 months) underwent rechanneling of mixed totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Twenty-three patients had "2+2" pattern (I category), 29 had "3+1" pattern (II category), and 5 patients had pulmonary venous connections of different combinations (III category). Obstructive patterns involving one or more pulmonary veins were present in 19 (33.3%) patients., Results: Operative and late mortality rates were 19.3% and 4.3%, respectively. At a mean follow-up of 63.26 +/- 58.47 months, actuarial survival was 86.9% +/- 0.07% in category I, 86.2% +/- 0.06% in category II, and 20.0% +/- 0.18% in category III (log-rank, P = .001), respectively. At their last follow-up, all survivors (n = 43) had a Ross clinical heart failure score of 0 to 2., Conclusions: Patients with a "2+2" pattern of mixed totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection constitute the safe anatomic category for rechanneling, followed by the "3+1" variety. Cross-sectional echocardiography and/or computed tomographic angiography are mandatory to provide necessary diagnostic information and define the anatomy. Patients aged 2 months or younger, obstructive totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and perioperative pulmonary hypertensive crises were significant risk factors for death by logistic regression analysis. The risk of death was 5.85 times higher (95% confidence interval: 1.46-35.68; P = .02) in patients with category III of mixed TAPVC. The precise technique adopted in an individual patient depends on the pattern of anatomic drainage, and an individualized surgical approach is recommended.

Background: Staged procedures for extensive aneurysmal disease of the thoracic aorta are associated with a substantial cumulative mortality (>20%) that includes hospital mortality for the 2 procedures and death (often from aortic rupture) in the interval between the 2 procedures. We have used a single-stage technique for operative repair of most or all of the thoracic aorta., Methods: Forty-six patients with extensive disease of the thoracic aorta were managed with a single-stage procedure by using a bilateral anterior thoracotomy and transverse sternotomy, hypothermic circulatory arrest, and reperfusion of the aortic arch vessels first to minimize brain ischemia. Thirty-one patients with chronic, expanding type A aortic dissections had previous operations for acute type A dissection (n = 22), aortic valve repair or replacement (n = 4), coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 4), or no previous operation (n = 1). The remaining 15 patients had degenerative aneurysms (n = 12) or chronic type B dissections with proximal extension (n = 3). The ascending aorta and aortic arch were replaced in all patients combined with resection of various lengths of descending aorta (proximal one third [n = 19], proximal two thirds to three quarters [n = 22], or all [n = 5]). Coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or both were performed concomitantly in 19 patients., Results: Hospital mortality was 6.5% (3 patients). Morbidity included reoperation for bleeding (17%), mechanical ventilation for more than 72 hours (42%), temporary tracheostomy (13%), and temporary renal dialysis (9%). No patient sustained a stroke. There have been 5 late deaths (3, 18, 34, 51, and 79 months postoperatively) unrelated to the aortic disease. Four patients have undergone successful reoperation on the aorta (false aneurysm [n = 1], endocarditis [n = 1], and progression of disease [n = 2]). Five-year survival was 75%., Conclusion: The single-stage, arch-first technique is a safe and suitable alternative to the 2-stage procedure for repair of extensive thoracic aortic disease.