Search

Aortic valve disease is a prevalent disorder that affects approximately 2% of the general adult population. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic patients. This treatment has demonstrably proven to be both safe and effective. Over the last few decades, in an attempt to reduce surgical trauma, different minimally invasive approaches for aortic valve replacement have been developed and are now being increasingly utilized. A narrative review of the literature was carried out to describe the surgical techniques for minimally invasive aortic valve surgery and report the results from different experienced centers. Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is associated with low perioperative morbidity, mortality and a low conversion rate to full sternotomy. Long-term survival appears to be at least comparable to that reported for conventional full sternotomy. Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery, either with a partial upper sternotomy or a right anterior minithoracotomy provides early- and long-term benefits. Given these benefits, it may be considered the standard of care for isolated aortic valve disease.

The RotaFlow (Maquet, Jostra Medizintechnik AG, Hirrlingen, Germany) and Levitronix CentriMag (Levitronix LCC, Waltham, MA, USA) veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support systems have been investigated as treatment for refractory cardiogenic shock. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2012, 119 consecutive adult patients were supported on RotaFlow (n=104) or CentriMag (n=15) ECMO at our Institution (79 men; mean age 57.3 ± 12.5 years, range 19-78 years). Indications for support were: failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass in the setting of postcardiotomy (n=47) and primary graft failure (n=26); post-acute myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock (n=11); acute myocarditis (n=3), and cardiogenic shock on chronic heart failure (n=32). RESULTS: A central ECMO setting was established in 64 (53.7%) patients while peripherally in 55 (46.2%). Overall mean support time was 10.9 ± 8.7 days (range 1-43 days). Forty-two (35.2%) patients died on ECMO. Overall success rate, in terms of survival on ECMO (n=77), weaning from mechanical support (n=51; 42.8%) and bridge to heart transplantation (n=26; 21.8%), was 64.7%. Sixty-eight (57.1%) patients were successfully discharged. Stepwise logistic regression identified blood lactate levels and creatine kinase-MB relative index at 72h after ECMO initiation, and number of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfused on ECMO as significant predictors of mortality. Central ECMO population had a higher rate of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration need and bleeding events compared with the peripheral setting. CONCLUSIONS: ECMO support provides encouraging results in different subsets of patients in cardiogenic shock. Blood lactate levels, creatine kinase-MB relative index and PRBCs transfused should be strictly monitored during veno-arterial ECMO running. Type of ECMO implantation, if peripheral or central, should be decided according to the specific patient subset.

BACKGROUND: Different approaches are available to treat patients with complex and extensive diseases of the thoracic aorta. This study aims to report and comment on our experience with the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique. METHODS: Between January 2007 and July 2012, 122 patients (male: 86.9%; mean age: 61 years) underwent extensive thoracic aorta surgery using the FET approach with an E-vita open prosthesis. The most frequent indications for surgery included residual type A chronic dissection (45.9%), extensive degenerative aneurysm of the thoracic aorta (27%), and type A acute aortic dissection (7.4%). Sixty-nine patients had already undergone cardiac/aortic interventions through a median sternotomy. A total of 60 associated procedures were performed, with 76.6% on the aortic root. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion and moderate hypothermia were used in all cases. RESULTS: Overall, hospital mortality was 15.2%. Post-operatively, 7.4% and 9.0% of patients were complicated by permanent neurologic dysfunction and spinal cord injury, respectively. For the surviving patients, 1- and 3-year freedom from all-cause mortality was (91.7±2.8)% and (79.1±6.1)%, respectively. 1- and 3-year freedom from re-intervention was (83.1±3.5)% and (74.1±4.3)%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, FET surgery allowed treatment of complex patients with extensive thoracic aortic diseases with satisfactory short- and mid-term results. Acute and chronic dissections represent interesting subsets for FET application. While further larger and longer-term studies are required to show the survival benefits of the FET technique versus other types of management, new strategies for spinal cord injury (paraplegia/paraparesis) reduction should also be researched.

OBJECTIVES: Intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been suggested to be a valuable technique for the evaluation of the mechanisms of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Studies comparing multiplane two-dimensional (2D) with 3D TEE reconstruction of the mitral valve using the new mitral valve quantification (MVQ) software are lacking. We undertook a prospective comparison between multiplane 2D and 3D TEE for the assessment of IMR. METHODS: We evaluated echocardiographically 45 patients with IMR who underwent mitral valve surgery in our institution. 2D and 3D TEE examinations followed by a 3D offline assessment of the mitral valve apparatus were performed in all patients. Offline analysis of mitral valve apparatus was conducted with QLAB-MVQ. RESULTS: 3D TEE image acquisitions were performed in a short period of time and were feasible in all patients. Real time 3D TEE imaging was superior to 2D in identifying specific mitral scallops (A1, A3, P1, P3) and commissures. When compared with 2D TEE, 3D offline reconstruction of the mitral valve allows an accurate quantification of the shape and diameters of the mitral annulus. Both approaches provide almost similar values for the tenting area and the coaptation depth. The 3D approach gave the advantage of direct calculation of the leaflets angles, tenting volume, and surface of the leaflets. The interpapillary muscles distance at the level of the papillary muscle head was greater in 2D than in 3D. CONCLUSIONS: 3D TEE imaging provides valuable and complementary information to multiplane 2D TEE for the assessment of patients with IMR.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine perioperative factors influencing neurologic outcome in a single-center cohort of patients undergoing elective aortic arch operations. METHODS: From January 2005 to June 2015, 791 consecutive patients received open aortic arch operations with either antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ASCP) (636 patients [80.4%]) or deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) (155 patients [19.6%]). Main indications were degenerative aneurysm (85%) and chronic postdissection aneurysm (9.1%). RESULTS: Hospital mortality (30 days) was 5.3%. Permanent neurologic dysfunction (PND) was observed in 42 patients (5.3%). Significant risk factors for PND appeared to be femoral artery cannulation (p = 0.003), progressive cardiopulmonary bypass (p = 0.001), circulatory arrest (p = 0.001), and ASCP time (p = 0.011). ASCP, in contrast to DHCA, was protective against PND (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; p = 0.003). Temporary neurologic dysfunction (TND) was observed in 49 patients (6.2%). Preoperative transient ischemic attack (TIA) (p = 0.001), progressive EuroSCORE (p = 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 50% (p = 0.003), and the use of femoral artery cannulation (p = 0.049) showed correlation in the univariate analysis. Stepwise logistic regression indicated TIA (p = 0.002; OR, 3.24) and the EuroSCORE (p = 0.003; OR, 1.23) as independent predictors of TND. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary elective aortic arch repair can be achieved with low mortality and a low incidence of neurologic dysfunction. ASCP was confirmed to be the safest method of cerebral protection. The extent of aortic arch replacement (apart from the frozen elephant trunk [FET] procedure) was not related to increased rates of TND or PND.

Objective The assessment of the mitral valve apparatus (MVA) and its modifications during ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is better performed by three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The aim of our study was to carry out nonrestrictive mitral annuloplasty in addition to relocation of papillary muscles (PPMs) oriented by preoperative real-time 3D TEE through the mitral valve quantification dedicated software. Methods Since January 2008, a total of 70 patients with severe IMR were examined both before and after mitral valve repair. The mean (SD) coaptation depth and the mean (SD) tenting area were 1.4 (0.4) cm and 3.2 (0.5) cm2, respectively. Intraoperative 3D TEE was performed, followed by a 3D offline reconstruction of the MVA. A schematic MVA model was obtained, and a geometric model as a “truncated cone” was traced according to preoperative data. The expected truncated cone after annuloplasty was retraced. A conventional normal coaptation depth of approximately 6 mm was used to detect the new position of the PPMs tips. Results Perioperative offline reconstruction of the MVA and the respective truncated cone was feasible in all patients. The expected position of the PPMs tips, desirable to reach a normal tenting area with a coaptation depth of 6 mm or more, was obtained in all patients. After surgery, all parameters were calculated, and no statistically significant difference was found compared with the expected data. Conclusions Relocation of PPMs plus ring annuloplasty reduce mitral valve tenting and may improve mitral valve repair results in patients with severe IMR. This technique may be easily and precisely guided by preoperative offline 3D echocardiographic mitral valve reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The functional aortic valve annulus (FAVA) is a complex unit with proximal (aorto-ventricular junction) and distal (sinotubular junction) components. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the total FAVA remodelling, using a prosthetic ring, on mid-term clinical and echocardiographic-RESULTS:-after aortic valve repair. METHODS: Since February 2003, 250 patients with tricuspid aortic valve insufficiency (AI) underwent aortic valve repair. FAVA dilatation was treated by prosthetic ring in 52 patients, by isolated subcommissural plasty in 62, by subcommissural plasty plus ascending aortic replacement in 57 and by David's reimplantation procedure in 79. Survival rate and freedom from recurrent AI greater than or equal to moderate were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier. RESULTS: Overall late survival was 90.4%. Late cardiac-related deaths occurred in 15 patients. At follow-up, 36 (16%) patients had recurrent AI greater than or equal to moderate because of cusp reprolapse and/or FAVA redilatation. Freedom from recurrent AI was significantly higher for patients who underwent David's procedure or FAVA remodelling by prosthetic ring than those who underwent isolated subcommissural plasty (P < 0.01) or subcommissural plasty plus ascending aortic replacement (P = 0.02). There was no statistical difference between David's procedure and prosthetic ring annuloplasty (P = 0.26).CONCLUSIONFAVA remodelling using a prosthetic ring is a safe procedure in aortic valve repair surgery thanks to long-term annulus stabilization and it is a pliable alternative to David's procedure in selected patients. This technique may be used in all patients with slight root dilatation to avoid aggressive root reimplantation. We also recommended total FAVA annuloplasty in all patients who underwent aortic valve repair to improve long-term repair-RESULTS:. © 2013 The Author.

Not available

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common valvular heart disease in the Western populations, with an estimated overall prevalence of 3% in adults over 75 years. To understand its patho-biological processes represents a priority. In elderly patients, AS usually involves trileaflet valves and is referred to as degenerative calcific processes. Scientific evidence suggests the involvement of an active "atherosclerosis-like" pathogenesis in the initiation phase of degenerative AS. To the contrary, the progression could be driven by different forces (such as mechanical stress, genetic factors and interaction between inflammation and calcification). The improved understanding presents potentially new therapeutic targets for preventing and inhibiting the development and progression of the disease. Furthermore, in clinical practice the management of AS patients implies the evaluation of generalized atherosclerotic manifestations (i.e., in the coronary and carotid arteries) even for prognostic reasons. In counselling elderly patients, the risk stratification should address individual frailty beyond the generic risk scores. In these regard, the co-morbidities, and in particular those linked to the global atherosclerotic burden, should be carefully investigated in order to define the risk/benefit ratio for invasive treatment strategies. We present a detailed overview of insights in pathogenesis of AS with possible practical implications.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) represents a common complication after myocardial infarction. The valve is anatomically normal and the incompetence is the result of papillary muscles displacement and annular dilatation, causing leaflets tethering. Functionally the leaflets present a restricted systolic motion due to tethering forces that displaces the coaptation surface toward the left ventricle apex. The patients present poor left ventricular function at the time of surgery and the severity of the mitral regurgitation increases the risk of mortality. Currently there is general agreement to treat surgically severe IMR nevertheless strong evidences for patient with moderate insufficiency remains poor and proper treatment debated. The most effective surgical approach for the treatment of IMR remains debated. Some authors demonstrated that coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) alone is beneficial in patients with IMR. Conversely, in most patients, moderate IMR will persist or worsen after CABG alone which translate in higher long-term mortality as a function of residual mitral regurgitation severity. A probable reason for this unclear surgical management of functional MR is due to the contemporary suboptimal results of reparative techniques. The standard surgical treatment of chronic IMR is CABG associated with undersized annuloplasty using complete ring. Though, the recurrence of mitral regurgitation remains high (> 30%) because of continous left ventricle remodeling. To get better long term results, in the last decade, several subvalvular procedures in adjunct to mitral anuloplasty have been developed. Among them, surgical papillary muscle relocation represents the most appreciated option capable to restore normal left ventricle geometry. In the next future new preoperative predictors of increased mitral regurgitation recurrence are certainly needed to find an individual time period of treatment in each patient with moderate IMR.

Several studies have shown that after DeBakey type 1 acute aortic dissection (DB1-AAD) surgery, 70% of the surviving patients still present with a dissected distal aorta that can eventually dilate, rupture, lead to distal malperfusion or require secondary extensive interventions. In order to minimize these complications, different surgeons have advocated total thoracic aorta remodelling procedures during primary aortic repair to promote false-lumen obliteration and distal thrombosis. Such management, which includes arch replacement and antegrade stenting of the dissected descending thoracic aorta (DTA), remains controversial due to its perceived increased operative mortality. Furthermore, the desired long-term benefits remain to be confirmed. The present article aimed to evaluate results of antegrade stenting of DTA during surgery for DB1-AAD, focusing on in-hospital mortality and morbidity, and long-term survival, occurrence of distal aortic remodelling and freedom from aortic reinterventions. Early results from the identified studies suggested that hybrid repair of DB1-AAD with antegrade DTA stenting was associated with satisfactory in-hospital mortality (10.0%) and stroke (4.8%) rates, while the risk of spinal cord injury appeared to be higher (4.3%) than that reported from historical controls. Furthermore, antegrade stenting of DTA was associated with promising rates of partial/complete thrombosis of the peristent DTA false lumen (88.9%), suggesting that aortic remodelling is highly probable with this approach. Evidence on long-term results after proximal acute dissection repair is still sparse, and mostly jeopardized by limited data beyond 5 years. Further investigations with longer term follow-up and with specifically designed protocols to assess long-term clinical outcomes (late aortic mortality and freedom from distal aortic reinterventions) of total thoracic aortic remodelling procedures vs more conservative management are warranted to reach more definitive conclusions.

Most usually, the aortic tunnels empty into the left ventricle. Very rarely, they open to the left atrium. The essence of the aortic tunnels is that they bypass the hinges of the valvar leaflets within the aortic root. We have recently encountered an aorto-left atrial tunnel satisfying this criterion.

Objectives The surgical approach for ischemic mitral regurgitation remains unclear. Many studies are in favor of adding the subvalvular procedure to mitral annuloplasty to reduce recurrent mitral regurgitation. This study reports the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of papillary muscle relocation combined with mitral annuloplasty.Methods From 2003, 115 patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation who underwent papillary muscle relocation plus nonrestrictive mitral annuloplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting were retrospective analyzed. Patients' mean age was 52 ± 12.8 years, New York Heart Association class III or IV was 71%, and preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 43% ± 6%. The study end points were New York Heart Association functional class, reversal in left ventricle remodeling, reduction of mean tenting area and mean coaptation depth, freedom from cardiac-related deaths and events, and freedom from recurrent mitral regurgitation. Follow-up data were obtained in all patients and were 100% complete. Mean follow-up was 45 ± 6 months.Results Five-year freedom from cardiac-related death and events was 91.3% ± 1.6% and 84% ± 2.2%, respectively. Recurrent mitral regurgitation more than moderate occurred in 3 patients (2.7%). Reversal in left ventricular remodeling, measured by a change in the end-diastolic and systolic diameter, was observed in our patients (P

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of recurrent mitral regurgitation (MR) after restrictive annuloplasty (RA) was 5% to 20% in several reports. There are many opinions in favor of adding subvalvular procedures to RA to reduce the tenting forces and improve the repair results. METHODS: From March 2003 to May 2010, 55 patients with severe ischemic MR who had undergone papillary muscle (PPM) relocation in conjunction with mitral annuloplasty in our institutions were enrolled. The patients were matched 1:1 with those who underwent isolated RA using the propensity score. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 42% ± 6%. The mean tenting area and coaptation depth was 3.2 ± 0.6 cm(2) and 1.3 ± 0.2 cm, respectively. The study endpoints were early mortality and clinical and echocardiographic outcomes, freedom from cardiac-related deaths, and cardiac-related events. RESULTS: In-hospital death occurred in 5 patients (4.5%), without a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .72). The 5-year freedom from cardiac-related deaths and cardiac-related events in the PPM relocation group versus the RA group was 90.9% ± 1.8% versus 89% ± 1.6% (P = .82) and 83% ± 2.1% versus 65.4% ± 1.2% (P < .001), respectively. Recurrent MR equal to or greater than moderate occurred in 2 (3.7%) and 6 (11.5%) patients in the PPM relocation group and RA group (P = .01), respectively. Moreover, we found statistically significant differences for the postoperative mean tenting area and coaptation depth in both groups (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: PPM relocation in conjunction to mitral annuloplasty is an easy and safe method and can be performed without an increase in-hospital mortality. This technique reduced the tenting area and coaptation depth compared with isolated RA, leading to improvement in the incidence of recurrent MR. The PPM group of patients experienced fewer cardiac-related events.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of aortic valve morphology and different surgical aortic valve repair techni- ques on long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: Between February 2003 and May 2010, 216 patients with aortic insufficiency underwent aortic valve repair in our institu- tion. Ages ranged between 26 and 82 years (mean 53 ± 15 years). Aortic valve dysfunctions, according to functional classification, were: type I in 55 patients (25.5%), type II in 126 (58.3%) and type III in 35 (16.2%). Sixty-six patients (27.7%) had a bicuspid valve. Aortic valve repair techniques included sub-commissural plasty in 138 patients, plication in 84, free-edge reinforcement in 80, resection of raphe plus re-suturing in 40 and the chordae technique in 52. Concomitant surgical procedures were CABG in 22 (10%) patients, mitral valve repair in 12 (5.5%), aortic valve-sparing re-implantation in 78 (36%) and ascending aorta replacement in 69 (32%). Mean follow- up was 42 ± 16 months and was 100% complete. RESULTS: There were six early deaths (2.7%). Overall late survival was 91.5% (18 late deaths). There were 15 (6.9%) late cardiac-related deaths. NYHA functional class was ≤II in all patients. At follow-up, 28 (14.5%) patients had recurrent aortic insufficiency ≥ grade II. The freedom from valve-related events was significantly different between bicuspid and tricuspid valve implantation (P < 0.01), between type I + II and type III (P < 0.001) dysfunction and between the chordae technique and plication, compared to free-edge reinforcement (P < 0.01). Statistically-significant differences were found between patients who underwent aortic valve repair plus root re-implantation, compared to those who underwent isolated aortic valve repair (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: aortic valve repair including aortic annulus stabilization is a safe surgical option with either tricuspid or bicuspid valves; even more so if associated with root re-implantation. Patients with calcified bicuspid valves have poor results.

Objective The study of the mitral valve apparatus and its modifications during functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is better revealed by 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TOE). To plan mitral valve repair by annuloplasty and papillary muscle (PPM) relocation, we proposed a valve repair procedure oriented by the new main features obtained by real-time 3D TOE reconstruction of the mitral valve apparatus. Methods Since January 2008, 25 patients with severe FMR before mitral valve repair were examined. Mean coaptation depth and mean tenting area were 1.3 ± 0.2 cm and 3.2 ± 0.5 cm 2 , respectively. Intraoperative 2D and 3D TOE were performed, followed by a 3D offline reconstruction of the mitral valve apparatus. A schematic mitral valve apparatus model was obtained. A geometric model like a truncated cone was traced in according to the preoperative measurements. The size of the prosthetic ring was selected preoperatively according to the anterior leaflet surface. The expected truncated cone after annuloplasty was retraced. A conventional normal coaptation depth about 0.6 cm was used to detect the new position of the PPM tips. Results Offline reconstruction of the mitral valve apparatus and respective truncated cone were feasible in all patients. The expected position of the PPM tips desirable to reach a normal tenting area with a coaptation depth 0.6 cm or less was obtained in all patients. After surgery, all parameters were calculated and no statistically significant difference was found compared with the expected data. Conclusions PPM relocation plus ring annuloplasty reduce mitral valve tenting and may improve mitral valve repair results for patients with severe FMR. This technique may be easily and precisely guided by preoperative offline 3D echocardiographic mitral valve reconstruction.