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Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery in conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC), with an incidence of 15-50%. The POAF pathophysiology is not known, and no blood biomarkers exist. However, an association between increased ferritin levels and increased AF risk, has been demonstrated. Based on such evidence, here, we evaluated the effectiveness of ferritin and other haematological parameters as POAF risk biomarkers in patients subjected to cardiac surgery. We enrolled 105 patients (mean age = 70.1 ± 7.1 years; 70 men and 35 females) with diverse heart pathologies and who were subjected to cardiothoracic surgery. Their blood samples were collected and used to determine hematological parameters. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters were also evaluated. The data obtained demonstrated significantly higher levels of serum ferritin, red cell distribution width (RDW), and platelets (PLTs) in POAF patients. However, the serum ferritin resulted to be the independent factor associated with the onset POAF risk. Thus, we detected the ferritin cut-off value, which, when ≥148.5 ng/mL, identifies the subjects at the highest POAF risk, and with abnormal ECG atrial parameters, such as PW indices, and altered structural heart disease variables. Serum ferritin, RDW, and PTLs represent predictive biomarkers of POAF after cardiothoracic surgery in CECC; particularly, serum ferritin combined with anormal PW indices and structural heart disease variables can represent an optimal tool for predicting not only POAF, but also the eventual stroke onset.

Background: Adiponectin (APN) possesses anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is burdened by enhanced systemic inflammation and platelet activation, as documented by increased blood levels of soluble CD40L (sCD40L). The interplay between APN and platelet activation in AF is still undefined., Materials and Methods: Circulating levels of APN and sCD40L were measured in 257 anticoagulated nonvalvular AF patients. Exclusion criteria were as follows: prosthetic heart valves, cardiac revascularization in the previous year, severe cognitive impairment, chronic infectious or autoimmune diseases, and active cancer., Results: Mean age was 72.9 (±8.7) years and 41.6% were female. Serum APN and plasmatic sCD40L were inversely correlated (R -0.626, P < 0.001). A progressive increase of sCD40L across tertiles of CHA2DS2-VASc score was observed (rS 0.473, P < 0.001), whilst APN was inversely correlated (rS -0.463,  P < 0.001). A multivariable linear regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score (B -0.227, P < 0.001) and sCD40L (B -0.524, P < 0.001) correlated to APN., Conclusions: AF patients at high risk of stroke disclose low and high levels of APN and sCD40L, respectively, suggesting a role for APN if it favors platelet activation in vivo in this clinical setting. Enhancing APN levels may be a future goal to reduce the risk of vascular outcomes in AF patients.

Background: Atrial fibrillation has been identified as an independent risk factor for thromboembolic events. Since 1948 different surgical techniques have described the feasibility and the rationale of left atrial surgical appendage closure. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the reported patency rates of different surgical techniques. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two independent investigators searched the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and OVID® (Wolters Kluwer, Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands) to identify relevant studies. Consecutively, a PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes) strategy assessment of literature was performed to search eventual other relevant studies that may have been ignored. Results: A total of 42 studies were included in our analysis. The total number of patients who underwent surgical left atrial appendage closure was 5671, and in 61.2% an imaging follow up was performed, mostly with transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation. Success rate for the different techniques was: Clip deployment 98%; Lariat procedure 88%; Surgical amputation 91%; Endocardial suture 74.3%, Epicardial suture 65%; Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) ligation 60.9%; Stapler technique with excision of left atrial appendage (LAA) 100%; Stapler without excision 70%. Conclusions: To date, data on surgical left atrial appendage closure are poor and not standardized, even if reported rates are acceptable and comparable to transcatheter procedures. If validated on large-scale non-retrospective and multicentric studies, these promising developments may offer a valuable alternative for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ineligible for oral anticoagulation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Adiponectin (APN) possesses anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is burdened by enhanced systemic inflammation and platelet activation, as documented by increased blood levels of soluble CD40L (sCD40L). The interplay between APN and platelet activation in AF is still undefined. Materials and Methods. Circulating levels of APN and sCD40L were measured in 257 anticoagulated nonvalvular AF patients. Exclusion criteria were as follows: prosthetic heart valves, cardiac revascularization in the previous year, severe cognitive impairment, chronic infectious or autoimmune diseases, and active cancer. Results. Mean age was 72.9 (±8.7) years and 41.6% were female. Serum APN and plasmatic sCD40L were inversely correlated (ρ-0.626, ρ < 0.001).Aprogressive increase of sCD40L across tertiles of CHA2DS2-VASc score was observed (rS 0.473, ρ < 0.001), whilst APN was inversely correlated (rS -0.463, ρ < 0.001). Amultivariable linear regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score (β -0.227, ρ < 0.001) and sCD40L (β -0.524, ρ < 0.001) correlated to APN. Conclusions. AF patients at high risk of stroke disclose low and high levels of APN and sCD40L, respectively, suggesting a role for APN if it favors platelet activation in vivo in this clinical setting. Enhancing APN levels may be a future goal to reduce the risk of vascular outcomes in AF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The results of mitral repair for complex Barlow valves are adequate and support earlier intervention. It is unknown whether these results are reproducible in the context of minimally invasive surgery via right minithoracotomy. Methods: We randomized patients with Barlow mitral disease (bileaflet prolapse) to have conventional open repair via median sternotomy (MS group) or minimally invasive (MI group) repair. Repair was done using polytetrafluoroethylene chordal reimplantation for both leaflets. In the MI group, we adopted right minithoracotomy, peripheral cannulation, external aortic clamping, and surgery under direct vision. Results: Both groups comprised 70 patients. The operative and the cardiopulmonary bypass times were significantly longer in the MI group (P = .003 and P = .012). Mitral repair was successful in 98.5% MI patients and 100% MS patients. Operative mortality was comparable. The mean mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay were lower in the MI group (P = .014, P =.02, and P = .03,). Mean pain score was lower in the MI group at postoperative days 2 and 4. At follow-up, the freedom from moderate (2+) or severe (3+ or 4+) mitral regurgitation was 98% versus 97% (P = .9). Two patients underwent reoperation (1 in each group) for late failure of repair. The Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed these results. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the optimal standard-of-care results of mitral repair for complex disease (Barlow) are reproducible in the minimally invasive settings through right minithoracotomy and direct vision. The minimally invasive technique can be proposed for complex mitral disease and early referral of these patients can be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]