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Introduction: Due to their favourable hemodynamic performance and the ability to enable minimally invasive access procedures, sutureless aortic valve prostheses have found their place in the armamentarium of cardiothoracic surgeons. In this study, we sought to review our institutional experience of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR). Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 200 consecutive patients who underwent an SU-AVR with a Perceval valve between December 2019 and February 2023. Results: The mean age of patients was 69.3 ± 8.1 years, and patients showed a moderate-risk profile with a mean logistic EuroSCORE-II of 5.2 ± 8.1%. An isolated SU-AVR was performed in 85 (42.5%) patients, concomitant CABG was performed in 75 (37.5%) and 40 patients (20%) underwent a multivalve procedure involving SU-AVR. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross-clamp (CC) times were 82.1 ± 35.1 and 55.5 ± 27.8 min, respectively. In-hospital, 30-day, 6-month and 1-year mortality rates were 4.5%, 6.5%, 7.5% and 8.2%, respectively. The postoperative transvalvular mean pressure gradient was 6.3 ± 1.6 mmHg and stayed stable over the follow-up time. We reported no cases of paravalvular leakage, and the incidence of stroke was 0.5%. Conclusions: With their favourable hemodynamic performance and shorter CC and CPB times, sutureless aortic valve prostheses facilitate minimally invasive access surgery, being a safe and durable promising approach for the surgical AVR.

Background and Objectives: Sutureless aortic valve prostheses have presented favorable hemodynamic performance while facilitating minimally invasive access approaches. As the population ages, the number of patients at risk for aortic valve reoperation constantly increases. The aim of the present study is to present our single-center experience in sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) in reoperations. Materials and Methods: The data of 18 consecutive patients who underwent SU-AVR in a reoperation between May 2020 and January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.9 ± 11.1 years; patients showed a moderate-risk profile with a median logistic EuroSCORE II of 7.8 (IQR of 3.8–32.0) %. The implantation of the Perceval S prosthesis was technically successful in all patients. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 103.3 ± 50.0 min, and the cross-clamp time was 69.1 ± 38.8 min. No patients required a permanent pacemaker implantation. The postoperative gradient was 7.3 ± 2.4 mmHg, and no cases of paravalvular leakage were observed. There was one case of intraprocedural death, while the thirty-day mortality was 11%. Conclusions: Sutureless bioprosthetic valves tend to simplify the surgical procedure of a redo AVR. By maximizing the effective orifice area, sutureless valves may present an important advantage, being a safe and effective alternative not only to traditional surgical prostheses but also to transcatheter valve-in-valve approaches in select cases.

Since the development of endoscopic vision in the late 1970s, the implementation of minimally invasive surgical methods has been rapidly progressing throughout a wide range of surgical disciplines, including cardiovascular surgery. The benefits of minimally invasive procedures including a reduction in operative trauma and postoperative morbidity, have been well-documented and compared to open-heart procedures, eventually becoming the preferred modality of treatment by many centers. Due to the cost ineffectiveness of the robotic systems for numerous institutions, new technologies have been developed to provide the advantages of robotic surgical systems at a lower price, thus making them more widely available. In this paper, we aimed to share our first experiences with Artisential® surgeon-powered robotic instruments and review their general advantages compared to conventional and robotic devices.

Background: The ideal timing of a durable assist device implantation in patients with end-stage heart failure presenting with INTERMACS profile I is still controversial. The data on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) bridge to durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in these patients is limited. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 35 patients in acute cardiogenic shock (CS) who, between December 2013 and September 2020, were bridged with ECLS to durable LVAD. The mean age was 52.3 ± 12.0 years. The primary endpoints of this study were in-hospital, 30-day, 6-month, and 1-year mortality. The secondary endpoint was the development of any postoperative adverse events and other characteristics during the follow-up period. We also assessed the impact of the rescue ECLS on the recovery of the end-organ function. Results: In-hospital, 30-day, 6-month, and 1-year survival was 65.6%, 75.9%, 69.2%, and 62.7% respectively. The median time on ECLS was 7 days (IQR 5.0–13.0). We observed a high incidence of a severe right heart failure (22.9%), acute kidney injury on dialysis (68.6%), and respiratory failure (77.1%). Bridge with ECLS provided a significant recovery of liver and kidney function prior to durable LVAD implantation. Conclusion: The concept of bridging patients presenting in end-stage heart failure and cardiogenic shock with ECLS prior to durable LVAD implantation is a feasible method to ensure acceptable survival rates and significant recovery of the end-organ function.

BACKGROUND: Surgical aortic valve replacement remains the gold standard of treatment in patients with active infective endocarditis. Such procedures tend to carry a significantly higher operative risk when compared to the conventional aortic valve replacement for a non-infective aortic valve disease. Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) has been introduced into cardiac surgery to allow for a simpler implementation of minimally invasive procedures. Although SU-AVR in several extended indications has proven to be successful, the data on the implementation of SU-AVR in patients with infective aortic valve endocarditis remain scarce. The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility of SU-AVR in high-risk patients with active infective aortic valve endocarditis.METHODS: Between December 2019 and March 2022, a total of 151 consecutive patients underwent a SU-AVR for various indications at our institution. Of those, in 13 consecutive high-risk patients SU-AVR was indicated because of infective aortic valve endocarditis. In all cases Perceval S aortic valve prosthesis (Corcym, Saluggia, Italy) was used and the implantation has been performed with Snugger-method.RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at operation was 74.05±11.6 years. Eight of the patients suffered from prosthesis endocarditis while the other five patients presented with the endocarditis of the native aortic valve. All patients suffered from multiple comorbidities, as reflected by a mean logistic EuroSCORE of 47.9%±23.1% and EuroSCORE II of 28.7%±22.0%. In 8 patients (61.5%) a concomitant procedure was necessary. Also 8 patients (61.5%) underwent a redo procedure. Bypass- and cross-clamp (CC) times were 89.8±33.6 and 59.1±27.8 minutes, respectively. We observed no paravalvular leakage and no cases of left-ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Postoperative mean gradients after SU-AVR implantation were 8.1±4.8 mmHg.CONCLUSIONS: SU-AVR in patients presenting with active infective endocarditis is a safe and feasible surgical alternative to the conventional operation. Clearly, this operative approach should be considered particularly for high-risk patients in whom successful operative outcomes are determined by a reduction in bypass and CC time. SU-AVR provides excellent hemodynamic performance with a low risk of paravalvular leakage and low transvalvular gradients, whilst simplifying the surgical procedure.

Introduction Primary cardiac sarcomas (PCSs) are an extremely rare and aggressive type of malignancies that have been described only by a limited number of observational studies. This study aimed to evaluate the currently existing evidence comparing surgical to multimodality treatment of PCS. Methods We systematically reviewed Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar, from inception to December 2020, for original articles about surgical and multimodality treatment of PCS. The outcomes included were mortality at various time points, resection margin status, and mean estimated survival. The pooled treatment effects were calculated using a random-effects model. Results Ten studies including a total of 1570 patients met our inclusion criteria. Surgery was associated with significantly lower mortality when compared to conservative treatment at 1, 2, and 3 years, whereas no significant difference was found at 5 years. Furthermore, multimodality treatment showed significantly lower mortality at 1 year when compared to surgery alone, but not at 2 and 5 years. We found no difference in mortality between angiosarcomas and other PCS subtypes. Conclusion Overall, surgery was found to provide a significant mortality advantage to PCS patients up to 3 years following treatment. Multimodality treatment might be of additional benefit, although only within the first year. Prospective randomized studies are needed to further explore these differences in the treatment of PCS.

Background: There is an ongoing debate about the influence of the female gender on postoperative outcomes after durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Despite the differences in pathophysiology of heart failure in females, therapy concepts are the same as in the male population. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the female gender in surgical heart failure therapy. Materials and methods: Between August 2010 and January 2020, 207 patients were treated with durable LVAD at out institution. We matched 111 patients in two groups to compare the outcomes in male and female patients and to stratify the risk factors of mortality. Results: The groups were matched 2:1 and were comparable after matching. We found no difference in in-hospital and follow-up mortality between male and female patients. Postoperative adverse events and complications were found to be unvaried across male and female patients. Female patients had higher rates of postoperative LVAD-thrombosis compared to their male counterparts (13.5% vs 0, p = 0.001) and the rates of renal replacement therapy lasting over 90 days were also higher in the female group (33.8% vs 56.8%, p = 0.021). Furthermore, the female gender was not an independent predictor neither of in-hospital nor follow-up mortality. Conclusions: Durable continuous flow left ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation or recovery in female patients are associated with a higher risk of acute kidney injury requiring RRT and are at a higher risk of LVAD-thrombosis. Nevertheless, survival rates between genders are similar.

Introduction Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) techniques are increasingly being adopted into clinical routine for various risk groups. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is seen in up to 75% of patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) presenting with typical angina pectoris. Due to high mortality rates and procedural complications in these patients, a hybrid concept of simultaneous transaortic TAVI and off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) can be a feasible treatment option. Methods Between April 2014 and July 2020, 10 consecutive high-risk patients underwent concomitant transaortic TAVI and OPCAB at our institution. All indications were discussed in Heart Team and decisions were made based on patients' comorbidities and complexity of CAD. The study endpoints were 30-day mortality, device success, and development of postoperative adverse events defined by the Valve Academic Research Consorium. Results The mean age of the patients was 77.9 ± 7.1 years old. All patients presented with multiple comorbidities (mean logistic EuroSCORE 26.5 ± 12.3%, median EuroSCORE II 5.13% [interquartile range 4.2-9.5], mean STS-Score 6.04 ± 1.6%). Five patients (50%) presented with porcelain aorta. No conversion to conventional procedures was needed. 30-day mortality occurred in one patient (10%). Complete revascularization was achieved in seven (70%) of the patients. Device success rate was 100%. No paravalvular leakage was detected. No stroke, myocardial infarction or vascular complications were observed. Conclusions A hybrid approach combining transaortic TAVI and OPCAB might be a safe and feasible method of treatment in high-risk patients presenting with severe AS and CAD who are not eligible for conventional surgical or interventional solutions.

Background: With the rapid development of mechanical circulatory support technologies, patients presenting with cardiogenic shock have gained access to various treatment opportunities which were not until recently available. The Impella (R) pump (Abiomed, Danvers, USA) is a minimally invasive device which provides excellent left ventricular unloading and full circulatory support. The aim of the study was to review our center's experience with Impella (R) and to analyze the major adverse events associated with the device. Methods: From January 2020 to January 2022, a total of 32 patients underwent impella (R) implantation at our center for various indications. Results: The mean age at surgery was 60.3 +/- 12.4 years and 9.4% were female. All patients presented with acute cardiogenic shock in INTERMACS Class I (53.1%) and INTERMACS Class II (46.9%). Twenty-six patients (81.25%) out of the whole cohort have been mobilized on impella (R) support. Seventeen patients (53.1%) have been weaned from the Impella (R) support and 10 patients (31.3%) have been bridged to durable LVAD. The median time on Impella (R) was 7days (IQR 5.0-11.0). 30-day mortality was 37.5%, with 56.25% survival until hospital discharge. Only one patient developed vascular complications consisting of arm hypoperfusion. There were no cases of stroke on Impella (R) support. Conclusion: The Impella (R) axial-flow pump seems an appropriate therapeutic option for patients with acute cardiogenic shock requiring partial or full hemodynamic support. It also provides sufficient left ventricular unloading to allow full mobilization and neurological assessment of the patients. Furthermore, Impella (R) offers a high rate of myocardial recovery.

PURPOSE: Bypass surgery in patients undergoing cardiogenic shock caused by acute coronary syndrome is one of the most urgent and often performed cardiac operations. It remains unclear if patients gender independently influences the outcome. Literature reveals that females and males primarily differ from each other with regard to many important preoperative characteristics. Our objective was to compare the outcome and postoperative courses of both genders, using matched samples, eliminating these preoperative differences. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2015, 491 patients in cardiogenic shock underwent urgent bypass surgery in our institution. To assess the impact of gender on outcomes, we performed a propensity score matching to create two groups [males and females] which were matched for age, severity of shock, coronary artery disease morphology, and other comorbidities. Two groups were created: (1) 103 female and (2) 103 male patients. We analyzed the outcomes, complications and potential mortality predictors. RESULTS: Most of the patients had three-vessel disease (70.1%, n = 344) with proximal left anterior descending lesion (88%, n = 432). Our study showed no differences between female and male patients regarding choice of conduits, number of anastomosed vessels, and outcome. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred significantly more often in female patients and pericardial tamponade in their male counterparts. There were no differences regarding other major complications. CONCLUSION: Gender does not appear to influence long-term outcomes in the study sample. Female gender is an independent risk factor for postoperative AKI. Other complications occurred with comparable rates in both genders. Exertion tolerance in the follow-up period was similar between genders.

Introduction: Destructive aortic root endocarditis is associated with high mortality rates. The objective of this article was to characterize the clinical and microbiological profiles of these patients, especially concerning an already implanted aortic valve prosthesis. We also focused on prognostic factors. Methods: Eighty patients underwent aortic root replacement due to destructive endocarditis from 1999 to 2018 in our institution. We analyzed their pre, intra, and postoperative data, outcomes, and predictors of mortality. Results: Thirty-one patients had native valve endocarditis (NVE), eight patients had early-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), and 41 patients had late-onset PVE. Streptococcus was found in 19.4% of NVE cases and no PVE case. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was responsible for 62.5% of the cases of early-onset PVE. Thirty-four (42.5%) patients had received inappropriate antibiotics before admission. No microorganism was associated with higher risk of mortality. Aortoventricular dehiscence was identified as an independent risk factor of mortality along with PVE, concomitant bypass surgery, and delayed diagnosis. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar in all three groups. Rates of long-term survival (P=0.044) and freedom from the composite endpoint (P=0.024) defined as death, stroke, aortic valve reinfection, and aortic valve reoperation were the lowest within the NVE group and the highest among the PVE patients. Conclusion: In endocarditis, prolonged diagnostics, inadequate antimicrobial treatment, and late surgery led to destructive local complications and worsened the prognosis. PVE is associated with higher mortality than NVE.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is a common finding in patients with end-stage heart failure. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of preoperative moderate-to-severe MR on postoperative outcomes and survival after durable left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.METHODS: From August 2010 to May 2021, 246 patients underwent a durable LVAD implantation. We stratified the patients into two groups: Group A (n = 109) presented with MR 0-I°, and Group B presented with MR II-III° (n = 137). MR II-III° was defined according to the current recommendations (i.e., vena contracta ≥ 7 mm, regurgitation volume ≥ 30 ml or effective regurgitation orifice area ≥ 20 mm2 ).RESULTS: Significantly more patients in Group B suffered from pulmonary hypertension and presented with chronic obstructive lung disease. We observed significantly higher rates of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) II-III° in Group B (76.1%) versus Group A (14.8%) (p < 0.001) and TR III° in Group B (30.4%) versus Group A (3.7%) (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of right heart failure between the groups. Within our cohort, the in-hospital, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year mortality was 22.4%, 32.1%, 50.7%, and 64.4%, respectively. Group B showed significantly worse overall survival (p = 0.05). Patients with preoperative TR II-III° had a significantly worse survival than those with TR 0-I° (p = 0.048). In patients presenting with MR II-III°, we discovered that TR III° seems to predict both in-hospital and mid-term mortality.CONCLUSION: MR II-III° negatively affects the outcomes in patients requiring LVAD implantation. Persisting MR II-III° is an independent predictor of mortality. Patients with concomitant preoperative TR II-III° are at increased risk of developing postoperative major adverse events. Addressing the MR might be considered for these patients.

Introduction Redo surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) remains the gold standard treatment in patients with a history of mitral valve surgery presenting with recurrent mitral valve pathologies. Whilst this procedure is demanding, it is an inevitable intervention for some indications, such as infective endocarditis, thrombosis, or multivalve procedures. In this study, we aim to evaluate our institutional experience with SMVR on a real-life cohort, identifying the factors that contribute to poor surgical outcomes whilst avoiding selection bias. Methods Between March 2012 and November 2020, 58 consecutive high-risk patients underwent a redo SMVR at our institution. The primary endpoints of this study were 30-day and 1-year mortality. The secondary endpoint was the development of any postoperative adverse events. We analyzed and compared the survival in patients undergoing an isolated SMVR and in those that required at least one concomitant procedure. Results The overall operative, 30-day, and 1-year mortality were 3.4%, 22.4%, and 25.9%, respectively. The mortality in patients undergoing isolated SMVR was significantly lower than in patients requiring concomitant procedures. The multivariable regression model showed that NYHA Class IV, infective endocarditis, and postoperative dialysis were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Society of Thoracic Surgeons Score, infective endocarditis, concomitant procedures, and mechanical valve implantation appeared to predict long-term mortality. Conclusion This study illustrates that SMVR after prior mitral valve surgery presents a demanding procedure with high operative risk, significant mortality, and morbidity. Whilst this procedure is inevitable for some indications, a careful patient selection and risk stratification provides acceptable surgical results in this cohort.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an equivalent alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement also in patients at low surgical risk. Prosthetic valve endocarditis after TAVR (TAVR-PVE) is a dangerous complication with the highest mortality rate among endocarditis patients. Only a minority of patients receive surgical treatment of TAVR-PVE. We present a case of surgical treatment of TAVR-PVE in a 75-year-old patient. The success of the treatment is based on the reduction of the operative trauma and length of the procedure with the use of minimally invasive right-sided thoracotomy and the Perceval sutureless aortic valve prosthesis (LivaNova, London, United Kingdom).

Patient: Male, 66 Final Diagnosis: Ischemic cardiomyopathy Symptoms: Angina pectoris • dyspnoea Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Surgery Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: We report a 66-year-old patient who received implantation of HeartMate II LVAD (St. Jude Medical, Minneapolis, MN, USA) as destination therapy 10 years ago. Case Report: Preoperatively, the patient developed acute heart failure due to transmural myocardial infarction requiring catecholamine therapy and intra-aortic balloon pump. Echocardiography revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 15%. We saw an indication for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The intraoperative course was uncomplicated. The operation time was 153 minutes and the cardiopulmonary bypass time was 69 minutes. The procedure was performed in normothermia, and no further combined procedures were necessary. Only one re-hospitalization, due to driveline infection, was required. Once a month, the patient visited our heart failure outpatient clinic for laboratory control, echocardiographic examination, and device measurement. There was always a normal LVAD function. During the 10 years of follow-up, the patient did not have any other complications. Conclusions: Patients with a strict indication for LVAD and fewer risk factors can show a relatively uncomplicated postoperative course. Our case report demonstrates the opportunity to care for a patient for years using LVAD. Modern LVADs are reliable cardiac support systems as destination therapy from the long-term perspective. Careful patient selection, timely decision on LVAD implantation, and structured patient care are critical.

Patient: Male, 26 Final Diagnosis: Pulmonary valve replacement Symptoms: No symptom Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Surgery Objective: Congenital defects/diseases Background: One of the most common complications after repair of Fallot’s tetralogy is pulmonary valve regurgitation (PR). There are many concepts of treatment, such as surgical, percutaneous, or hybrid pulmonary valve repair. Surgical pulmonary valve replacement is associated with low operative morbidity and mortality and shows very good long-term results. For that reason, it remains the standard of treatment. Case Report: We present a case of a 26-year-old male patient who underwent a successful emergent surgical pulmonary valve replacement after a failed percutaneous pulmonary valve intervention, which was performed due to pulmonary regurgitation. Conclusions: Despite the modern (interventional and hybrid) procedures in the treatment of pulmonary valve regurgitation after repair of Fallot’s tetralogy, surgical treatment for pulmonary regurgitation still remains the gold standard for young adult patients.

Our aim was to analyse the hospital outcome for the worldwide largest series of stentless bioroot xenografts (Medtronic Freestyle) as full root replacement in a single centre over a period of 18 years. Retrospective data analysis was performed for the entire cohort of patients undergoing aortic root surgery with the Medtronic Freestyle valve prosthesis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyse predictors of in-hospital mortality. 971 patients underwent aortic full root replacement with the Medtronic Freestyle valve in the period from 1999–2017, with an average age of 68.8 ± 10.3y and gender distribution of 608:363 (male:female). Concomitant surgery was performed in 693 patients (71.4%). In-hospital all-comers mortality was 9.8% (95 patients), with the respective highest risk profiles including dissections (6.4%), endocarditis (5.6%) and re-do procedures (12.5%). In-hospital mortality for elective patients was 7.6% while isolated aortic root replacement demonstrated a mortality of 3.6%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated age (OR 1.05, p = 0.005), dissection (OR 5.78, p

Background: We sought to evaluate the outcomes of transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement in patients with degenerated mitral bioprostheses or failed mitral ring annuloplasty and high surgical risk for redo mitral valve procedure. Methods: Between August 2012 and December 2020, 41 consecutive high-risk patients underwent transcatheter mitral ‘valve-in-valve' (TM-ViV, n=25) or ‘valve-in-ring' (TM-ViR, n=16) implantation at our institution. All procedures were performed in a hybrid operating theater using the SAPIEN XT/3™ or the DIRECT FLOW MEDICAL™ prostheses. Data was collected prospectively according to MVARC criteria. Results: The logistic EuroSCORE-I was 42.3%±20.5% (mean ± SD), the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was 11.9%±10.8%, and the STS/ACC-score was 7.6%±4.2%. Transcatheter mitral valve implantations were successful in all patients (100%). Early echocardiographic examinations showed no obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), no paravalvular leakage, and only trace transvalvular leakage in eight patients. There was no operative mortality; thirty-day mortality was 9.8%. Survival was 72% at one year and 63% at three years. At two-year follow-up, transvalvular mean pressure gradients were 4.6±1.4 mmHg. Conclusions: Transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve or valve-in-ring implantation represents a true minimally invasive alternative to surgical redo procedures, especially in high-risk patients with failed bioprosthetic mitral valves or annuloplasty and favorable anatomy. CA Zubarevich

Background Despite current progress in antibiotic therapy and medical management, infective endocarditis remains a serious condition presenting with high mortality rates. It also is a life-threatening complication in patients with a history of chronic intravenous drug abuse. In this study, we analyzed our institutional experience on the surgical therapy of infective endocarditis in patients with active intravenous drug abuse. The aim of the study is to identify the predictive factors of mortality and morbidity in this subgroup of patients. Methods Between 2007 and 2020, a total of 24 patients (7 female, mean age 38.5 ± 8.7) presenting with active intravenous drug abuse underwent a surgical treatment for the infective endocarditis at out center. The primary endpoint was survival at 30th day after the surgery. The secondary composite endpoint included freedom from death, recurrent endocarditis, re-do surgery, and postoperative stroke during the follow-up period. Mean follow-up was 4.2 ± 4.3 years. Results Staphylococcus species was the most common pathogen detected in the preoperative blood cultures. Infection caused by Enterococcus species as well as liver function impairment were identified as mortality predictor factors. Logistic EuroSCORE and EusoSCORE-II were also predictive factors for mortality in univariate analysis. Survival at 1 and 3 years was 78 and 72% respectively. Thirty-day survival was 88%. 30-day freedom from combined endpoint was 83% and after 1 and 3 years, 69 and 58% of the patients respectively were free from combined endpoint. Five patients (20.8%) were readmitted with recurrent infective endocarditis. Conclusion In patients presenting with active intravenous drug abuse, treatment of infective endocarditis should be performed as aggressively as possible and should be followed by antibiotic therapy to avoid high mortality rates and recurrent endocarditis. Early intervention is advisable in patients with an infective endocarditis and enterococcus species in the preoperative blood cultures, liver function deterioration as well as cardiac function impairment. Attention should be also payed to addiction treatment, due to the elevated relapse rate in patients who actively inject drugs. However, larger prospective studies are necessary to support our results. As septic shock is the most frequent cause of death, new treatment options, e.g. blood purification should be evaluated.

BACKGROUND: Despite the rapid expansion of transcatheter approaches for aortic valve implantation, surgical aortic valve replacement remains the treatment of choice in patients presenting with multiple valvular heart disease. We sought to review our clinical experience with sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) in the setting of multivalve procedures, addressing the postoperative outcomes and technical challenges.METHODS: Between December 2019 and December 2020, 20 consecutive high-risk patients at our institution underwent SU-AVR and concomitant mitral valve procedure for various indications.RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at operation was 72.6±9.3 years. Fifty five percent of the patients (n=11) presented with moderate to severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis, while 35% (n=7) suffered from severe aortic regurgitation. All patients had concomitant moderate to severe mitral valve disease, including regurgitation in 95% (n=19) and stenosis in 25% (n=5). Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 34.3%±24.7%. Cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times were 101 (88.0-123) minutes and 67.5 (51.7-85.2) minutes, respectively. Optimal sutureless aortic valve prosthesis device success was achieved in 20 patients (100%). One patient (5%) required permanent pacemaker implantation. Thirty-day mortality was 10% and no strokes were detected.CONCLUSIONS: SU-AVR is a safe and feasible surgical alternative to conventional procedures in patients presenting with multiple valvular heart disease. It provides excellent hemodynamic performance with low risk of paravalvular leakage and low transvalvular gradients, whilst simplifying the surgical procedure. Precise sizing and positioning of the valve prostheses is crucial to ensure optimal postoperative outcome.

Objectives Long-term data on isolated surgical tricuspid valve procedures is limited. Current guidelines on heart valve disease recommend valve repair over valve replacement. In this study we report our 12-year single-center experience with isolated surgical tricuspid valve repair in patients with various tricuspid valve pathologies. Methods Between May 2007 and December 2019, 26 consecutive patients underwent isolated tricuspid valve annuloplasty/repair for various indications. In 18 patients (69.2%) an open ring or band annuloplasty (26.9 and 42.3%, respectively) was performed, 5 patients (19.2%) underwent a tightening of the annulus using the DeVega technique, 5 patients (19.2%) had a leaflet reconstruction with patch or bicuspidalization and in 3 patients (11.5%) a leaflet debridement was performed. In 15.4% of the cohort a combination of the techniques was utilized. Results The mean follow-up time was 2.1 (0.3–5.0) years. Early survival at 30 days after surgery was 84.6%. Mean hospital stay was 11 (6.7–16) days. One-year survival was 73%. No patient required a redo procedure on the tricuspid valve during follow-up. Conclusion Tricuspid valve repair is suggested as a treatment of choice according to recent guidelines on heart valve disease. If chosen correctly, various repair techniques provide good long-term results. Tricuspid valve repair may be safely applied in patients undergoing surgical isolated tricuspid valve procedures.

Objective: To analyze patients’ preoperative characteristics, surgical data, postoperative courses, and short- and long-term outcomes after implantation of different full-root prostheses for destructive aortic valve endocarditis. Methods: Between 1999 and 2018, 80 patients underwent aortic root replacement due to infective endocarditis in our institution. We analyzed the abovementioned data with standard statistical methods. Results: The Freestyle stentless porcine prostheses were implanted in 53 (66.25%) patients, biological valve conduits in 13 (16.25%), aortic root homografts in nine (11.25%), and mechanical valve conduits in five (6.25%). There were no significant preoperative differences between the groups. The incidence of postoperative complications and intensive care unit length of stay did not differ significantly between the groups. The 30-day mortality rate was low among Freestyle patients (n=8, 15.1%) and high in the mechanical conduit cohort (n=3, 60%), though with borderline statistical significance (P=0.055). The best mean survival rates were observed after homograft (13.7 years) and stentless prosthesis (8.1 years) implantation, followed by biological (2.8 years) and mechanical (1.4 years) conduits (P=0.014). The incidence of reoperations was low in the mechanical conduit group (0) and stentless bioroot group (n=1, 1.9%), but two (15.4%) patients with biological conduits and three (33.3%) patients with homografts required reoperations in the investigated follow-up period (P=0.005). Conclusion: In patients with the destructive form of aortic valve endocarditis, homografts and stentless porcine xenografts offer better survival rates than stented valve conduits; however, the reoperation rate among patients who received homograft valves is high.

We present a modified implantation technique of the Perceval® sutureless aortic valve (LivaNova, London, United Kingdom) that involves the usage of snuggers for the guiding sutures during valve deployment. Both limbs of each guiding suture are pulled through an elastic tube, which is fixed with a Pean clamp, which tightens the sutures and fixes the prosthesis to the aortic annulus during valve deployment. This method proved safe and useful in over 120 cases. Valve implantation was facilitated and the need for manipulation by the assistant or the nurse was eliminated.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a leading arrhythmia with high incidence and serious clinical implications after cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery is associated with systemic inflammatory response including increase in cytokines and activation of endothelial and leukocyte responses. Aim This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the strength of evidence for evaluating the association of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukins (IL), with POAF following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), isolated valvular surgery, or a combination of these procedures. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies evaluating measured baseline (from one week before surgical procedures) and postoperative levels (until one week after surgical procedures) of inflammatory markers in patients with POAF. A comprehensive search was performed in electronic medical databases (Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Science Direct, and Google Scholar) from their inception through May 2017 to identify relevant studies. A comprehensive subgroup analysis was performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Results: A literature search of all major databases retrieved 1014 studies. After screening, 42 studies were analysed including a total of 8398 patients. Pooled analysis showed baseline levels of CRP (standard mean difference [SMD] 0.457 mg/L, p < 0.001), baseline levels of IL-6 (SMD 0.398 pg/mL, p < 0.001), postoperative levels of CRP (SMD 0.576 mg/L, p < 0.001), postoperative levels of IL-6 (SMD 1.66 pg/mL, p < 0.001), postoperative levels of IL-8 (SMD 0.839 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and postoperative levels of IL-10 (SMD 0.590 pg/mL, p < 0.001) to be relevant inflammatory parameters significantly associated with POAF. Conclusions: Perioperative inflammation is proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of POAF. Therefore, perioperative assessment of CRP, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 can help clinicians in terms of predicting and monitoring for POAF.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical presentation, operative data, and early and late outcomes of a large patient cohort undergoing surgical treatment for cardiac tumors in our institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 181 patients underwent surgery because of suspected cardiac tumor in our institution between 1998 and 2016. In 162 cases, the diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively and these patients were included in this study. Preoperative baseline characteristics, operative data, and postoperative early and long-term outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS Mean age at presentation was 56.6±17.6 years, and 95 (58.6%) patients were female. There were 126 (77.8%) patients with benign cardiac tumors, while the remaining patients had malignant tumors (primary and metastasized). The mean follow-up time was 5.2±4.7 years. The most frequent histologically verified tumor type was myxoma (63%, n=102). In terms of malignant tumors, various types of sarcomas presented most primary malignant cardiac tumors (7.4%, n=12). The mean ICU length of stay was 1.7±2.2 days and overall in-hospital mortality was 3.1% (n=5). Frequent postoperative complications included mediastinal bleeding (5.8%, n=9), wound infection (1.3%, n=2), acute renal failure (5.6%, n=9), and major cerebrovascular events (n=7, 4.6%). The overall cumulative survival after cardiac tumor resection was 94% at 30 days, 85% at 1 year, 72% at 5 years, and 59% at 15 years. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment of cardiac tumors is a safe and highly effective strategy associated with good early and long-term outcomes.

Background MitraClip implantation is a valid interventional option that offers acceptable short-term results. Surgery after failed MitraClip procedures remains challenging in high-risk patients. The data on these cases are limited by the small sample numbers. Aim The aim of our study is to show, that mitral valve surgery could be possible and more advantageous, even in high-risk patients. Methods Between 2010 and 2016, nine patients underwent mitral valve surgery after failed MitraClip therapy at our institution. Results The patients’ ages ranged from 19 to 75 years (mean: 61.2 ± 19.6 years). The median interval between the MitraClip intervention and surgical revision was 45 days (range: 0 to 1087 days). In eight of nine patients, the MitraClip intervention was initially successful and the mitral regurgitation was reduced. Only one patient had undergone cardiac surgery previously. Intra-operatively, leaflet perforation or rupture, MitraClip detachment, and chordal or papillary muscle rupture were potentially the causes of recurrent mitral regurgitation. There were three early deaths. One year after surgery, the six remaining patients were alive. Conclusions Mitral valve surgery can be successfully performed after failed MitraClip therapy in high-risk patients. The initial indication for MitraClip therapy should be considered carefully for possible surgical repair.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study was to investigate if concomitant tricuspid valve repair in patients undergoing continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has an impact on the outcome regarding survival and adverse events. METHODS: Between June 2007 and February 2018, 124 consecutive patients received HeartMate II (HMII) [74 (59.7%)] HeartWare (HVAD) [16 (12.9%)], or HeartMate III (HM III) [34 (27.4%)] for end-stage heart failure. Mean age was 63.5±10.9 years. Two 18-patient groups were identified; with [tricuspid valve reconstruction (TVR)] group and without (non-TVR group) accompanying TVR. The primary endpoint was overall survival after device implantation. Secondary endpoints were adverse events during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Survival was not significantly different between the groups (P>0.05). In TVR group, there was a higher need for open chest after surgery and a prolonged inotrope use because of right heart failure (RHF), a higher incidence of acute kidney dysfunction requiring dialysis, as well as a higher need for packed red blood cells due to postoperative bleeding (P0.05).

Background: Surgical management of aortic arch diseases is one of the most challenging issues in cardiovascular surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome after frozen elephant trunk (FET) with conventional elephant trunk (ET) technique. Methods: Out of a total of 551 patients after thoracic aortic surgery, we analyzed 70 consecutive patients, who underwent aortic arch replacement with ET or FET technique between 2001 and 2017 in our institution. The patients were case-control matched in regard to such variables as age, sex, presence of an acute aortic dissection and necessity for concomitant procedures. The analysis included 25 patient pairs. Results: Among the 25 FET patients, eleven patients were female, the median age was 69, 15 (60%) patients had an aortic dissection and thirteen needed various concomitant procedures. In the second group, treated with conventional ET technique, 10 (40%) patients were female, the median age was 66 years, thirteen presented with an aortic dissection and 16 (64%) underwent concomitant procedures. These and other characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups. In-hospital mortality was statistically similar: 5 (20%) in the FET group vs . 8 (32%) for ET group (P=0.52). The incidence of stroke, acute renal failure and postoperative bleeding was comparable. The length of stay in the intensive care unit did not differ between the cohorts (P=0.258). Predictors of in-hospital mortality were length of the operation, bleeding postoperatively, and acute renal failure. The one-year survival rates were higher in the FET cohort compared to the conventional approach (60% vs . 38%), however without statistical significance. Conclusion: In regard to the short- and mid-term outcome, there were only slight differences between both techniques. In patients with extensive aneurysmal aortic disease, conventional ET and FET procedures seem to be associated with acceptable satisfactory mid-term outcome.

Objective Open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm remains an important treatment option and continues to be challenging. The objective of this study was to investigate the results after open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms in a contemporary non–high-volume center collective. Methods A total of 38 patients underwent operation for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm between August 2007 and April 2017. Patients had aortic aneurysm and chronic aortic dissection. The majority of patients had already undergone previous aortic interventions. Results The mean age was 54.4 ± 13.4 years (range, 29-72.5 years), and 22 patients (57.9%) were female. Most commonly, patients (57.9%) presented with Crawford type II aneurysms. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 159 ± 65 minutes. The operative mortality was 10.5% (n = 4). The paraplegia rate and the incidence of stroke were 7.9% (n = 3). Postoperatively, 4 patients (10.5%) required temporary hemodialysis. In 4 patients (10.5%), reexploration due to bleeding was necessary. Sepsis developed in 4 patients (10.5%). Preoperative renal insufficiency was identified as a predictor of mortality. The patients were discharged from the hospital after a median length of stay of 21.5 days. The 1-year survival was 83%. Conclusions Despite the invasiveness of open thoracoabdominal aortic repair and significant risk of major complications, surgical repair can be accomplished in a non–high-volume center with acceptable results.