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International audience; OBJECTIVES: Aortic root aneurysms often affect younger patients in whom valve-sparing surgery is challenging. Amongst current techniques, aortic valve-sparing root replacement described by Tirone David has shown encouraging results. The AORTLANTIC registry was instituted for a multicentre long-term evaluation of this procedure. The current initial study evaluates the hospital outcomes of the procedure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a retrospective study of patients operated between January 01, 2004, and December 31, 2020, in 6 hospitals in western France. All study data were recorded in the national digital database of the French Society of Cardiac Surgery: EPICARD. RESULTS: 524 consecutive patients with a mean age of 53(15.1) years underwent surgery. 13% (n = 68) patients presented with acute aortic dissection, 16.5% (n = 86) had associated connective tissue pathology and 7.3% (n = 37) had bicuspid aortic valves. Preoperative aortic regurgitation ≥ 2/4 was present in 65.3% (n = 341) of patients. Aortic valvuloplasty was required in 18.6% (n = 95) patients. At discharge, 92.8% (n = 461) patients had no or 1/4 aortic regurgitation. The stroke rate was 1.9% (n = 10). Intra-hospital mortality was 1.9% (n = 10). CONCLUSION: The AORTLANTIC registry includes 6 centers in western France with more than 500 patients. Despite numerous complex cases (acute aortic dissections, bicuspid aortic valves, preoperative aortic regurgitation), aortic valve-sparing root replacement has a low intra-hospital mortality. The initial encouraging results of this multicentre study warrant further long-term evaluation by future studies. CLINICAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Nov 2021: This registry was approved by an ethics committee mandated by the CNIL (Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés) to approve scientific projects of the Nantes Hospital Centre.

We have developed a new technique avoiding autograft distortion and narrowing at inclusion during Ross procedure, in order to preserve the functional anatomy and the process of adaptation.

Leaflet reconstruction outcomes in young patients can be compromised by treated autologous pericardium utilization. We present a new and simple unicuspid/unicommissural aortic valve repair technique with an autologous pulmonary artery wall graft. With comparative and longitudinal follow-up studies, this technique could constitute a living reconstruction of the aortic valve that does not preclude a future Ross procedure.

Objectives Mitral valve replacement using a bioprosthesis remains controversial in young patients because data on long-term outcomes are missing. This study evaluated the long-term results of the PERIMOUNT pericardial mitral bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or younger. Methods From 1984 to 2010, 148 Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT mitral bioprostheses were implanted in 148 patients aged 65 years or younger. Baseline clinical, perioperative and follow-up data were recorded prospectively. Structural valve deterioration (SVD) was defined by strict echocardiographic assessment. Results The mean follow-up period was 8.6 ± 5.5 years, for a total of 1269 valve-years. Operative mortality rate was 2.0%. Fifty-one late deaths occurred (linearized rate 4.0% per valve-year). Actuarial survival rates averaged 70 ± 4%, 53 ± 6% and 31 ± 7% after 10, 15 and 20 years of follow-up, respectively. Actuarial freedom from SVD at 10, 15 and 20 years was 78 ± 5%, 47 ± 7% and 19 ± 7%, respectively. Reoperation was associated with no operative mortality. Actuarial freedom from reoperation due to SVD at 10, 15 and 20 years was 82 ± 4%, 50 ± 6% and 25 ± 8%, respectively. Competing risk analysis demonstrated an actual risk of explantation secondary to SVD at 20 years of 44 ± 5%. Expected valve durability was 14.2 years for this age group. Conclusions In the selected patients aged 65 years or younger undergoing mitral valve replacement with a pericardial bioprosthesis, the expected valve durability was 14.2 years. Reoperation for SVD was associated with a low risk of mortality.

Objective Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction is a common feature for the treatment of congenital heart disease. However, the best substitute for pulmonary valvulation is still unknown, since the whole valves impair in above ten years. Pulmonary homograft appears to be the best substitute, but the lack of availability of this substitute, especially the low diameter, conducted to the development of other valves, biological or synthetic. The Contegra® valve is a bioprosthesis obtained from bovine jugular vein. Available in diameters from 12 to 22 mm, these conduits should constitute a good alternative to the homograft, especially concerning low weight children. The objective of this study was to describe the long-term evolution of Contegra® in our institution. Methods We conducted a retrospective monocentric observational study at the CHRU of Tours including all patients implanted with a Contegra® valve between January 2001 and December 2018. Results Over this 17-year period, 58 Contegra® implanted in 52 patients were included (average age 6.7 ± 5.4 years at valvulation). Survival without revision surgery for conduit failure was 87% (95 CI {79–97}) at 2 years, 67% (95 CI {54–84}) at 5 years and 60% (95 CI {43–82}) at 10 years ( Fig. 1 ). A lower age at implantation, a smaller diameter, and the occurrence of infective endocarditis was significantly associated with the revision surgery. Only 5 patients had infectious endocarditis over this period. Endocarditis-free survival was 94% (95 CI {88–100}) at 2 years, 92% (95 CI {84–100}) at 5 years and 92% (95 CI {84–100}) at 10 years. Conclusion Our study suggests that Contegra® valve could constitute an attractive substitute for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. A multicenter study comparing long-term evolution of the whole valves currently available for pulmonary valvulation could confirm our results.

Background Branch pulmonary artery (BPA) stenosis is frequently associated with congenital heart disease. Management of BPA stenosis is challenging for surgeons due to a high rate of recurrence. The purpose of this study was to assess the results of intraoperative pulmonary artery stenting associated with or without surgical angioplasty. Methods We included 33 children from our center between January 2008 and July 2014. Patients had pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (13), tetralogy of Fallot (10), troncus arteriosus (4), double outlet right ventricle (2), and single left or right ventricle (4). A total of 44 balloon-expandable stents (mean diameter, 9.5 mm; range, 4 to 16 mm) were deployed in left or right PA under direct visualization, without the use of fluoroscopy, after branch angioplasty for 28 of them (64%). The mean age at surgery was 4.3 ± 4.3 years (range, 6 days to 15 years) and the mean weight was 14.3 ± 11.9 kg (range, 2.8 to 63 kg). Results Postoperative mortality was 9% (3 patients), but only 1 death was related to the stenting procedure. Twenty-five patients underwent angiographic control after a mean follow-up of 22 months after surgery. All stents were well positioned. The mean stented BPA Z-score increased from –2.6 ± 1.8 to –0.4 ± 1.6 ( p 0.0001). Eleven patients experienced intrastent proliferation (44%). Among them, 2 patients required a reoperation for severe intrastent stenosis, whereas the 9 others had mild intrastent neointimal proliferation, which was successfully managed by balloon expansion. Conclusions Intraoperative stenting of BPA is a safe and effective option to treat BPA stenosis and prevent recurrence.

Branch pulmonary artery stenosis complicates the management of congenital heart diseases. Surgical branch pulmonary artery angioplasty is associated with a high reintervention rate. As an alternative, percutaneous or intraoperative branch pulmonary artery stents have been implanted to improve efficiency, but long-term evaluations are limited.To describe the long-term evolution of branch pulmonary artery stents.We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Tours University Hospital. All stents implanted by surgery or catheterization in branch pulmonary arteries with a minimum follow-up of 12 months and at least one catheterization control were included. The primary endpoint combined cardiovascular mortality, surgical or percutaneous reintervention for stent complication or new stent implantation.Between 2007 and 2017, 76 stents in 51 patients were included (62 stents implanted by surgery, 14 by catheterization). At implantation, the patients' mean age and weight were 4.7years (interquartile range 4.2years) and 17.3kg (interquartile range 11.0kg), respectively. Mean branch pulmonary artery minimum diameter was 4.1±2.1mm (mean Z-score-4.9±2.9), and mean initial stent diameter was 9.1±3.1mm. During a follow-up of 5.3years (range 0-11.2 years), freedom from primary endpoint was 86.8% (95% confidence interval 79.6-94.8%) at 1 year, 71.5% (95% confidence interval 61.9-82.7%) at 5years and 69.6% (95% confidence interval 59.6-81.2%) at 10 years. We did not identify any factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Among stents without major adverse cardiovascular events, the mean branch pulmonary artery diameter Z-score at last evaluation had increased by +4.8±3.2 compared with the initial diameter (P0.001). After stent implantation, a median of 2 re-expansions were performed for each stent (range 0-7).Stent implantation should offer a good long-term solution for branch pulmonary artery stenosis, although iterative re-expansions are required.

Rhabdomyomas are the most common benign cardiac tumors. They may often be associated with tuberous sclerosis. In many cases, cardiac rhabdomyomas undergo spontaneous regression. Here, we report the unusual case of an infant with a large nonobstructive right ventricular rhabdomyoma at birth and at four months of age, which subsequently caused severe right ventricle outflow tract obstruction at six months of age, prompting surgery to remove the tumor. Close monitoring should be done in infants with large nonobstructive cardiac rhabdomyomas.

Background Hepatic fibrosis increasing over time after a Fontan procedure is well documented, but the others potential risk factors of the severity of hepatopathy are still lacking. Method Since 2016, we started a systematic hepatic evaluation of patients undergoing a total cavo-pulmonary connection (TCPC) for at least 10 years, including clinical features, blood sample, abdominal ultrasound, liver elastography and liver biopsy. We look for clinical, biological and hemodynamic factors potentially associated with greater degree of fibrosis at biopsy. Results Fourteen patients had a complete evaluation with liver biopsy. Median time from TCPC to hepatic assessment was 15.9 years (range 3.0–25.9). Seventy one percent had biological cholestasis, and only 14% had cytolysis. Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatomegaly in 4 patients and splenomegaly in 3, but no liver nodularity. METAVIR score of liver fibrosis at biopsies showed pre-cirrhotic or cirrhotic lesions (F3–4) in 9 patients out the 14 (F1 = 3; F2 = 2; F3 = 5; F4 = 4). The degree of fibrosis was significantly correlated to inferior vena cava pressure (IVCP) obtained by cardiac catheterization 1.4 years (range 0–3.9) after the Fontan procedure (r = 0.57, P = 0.05), and to IVCP*time from Fontan operation (r = 0.60, P = 0.03), and tended to be correlated with intrahepatic pressure recorded during the liver biopsy, but without statistical significance (r = 0.44, P = 0.11). There was no association between fibrosis and gender, age, age at the Fontan operation, type of systemic ventricle, functional status, liver stiffness at elastography, and blood markers of hepatic function. Conclusion In this study, two-thirds of patients undergoing TCPC experienced severe liver fibrosis, correlated with early measurement of IVCP and time from Fontan after the Fontan completion. Reduction of pulmonary pressure in this population should be considered to decrease the risk of severe fibrosis or cirrhosis.

Introduction Primary or secondary branch pulmonary artery (BPA) stenosis complicates the management of congenital heart diseases. Surgical pulmonary plasty is the gold standard treatment, but is associated with a low freedom from reintervention rate of 46% at 10 years [1] . As an alternative, percutaneous or intraoperative stents have been implanted to improve efficiency, but limited data are available concerning longterm outcome [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] . We hypothesized that prognosis of intraoperative or percutaneous stent implantation in BPA stenosis is good with further re-expansion and limited complications. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at CHU de Tours. All stents implanted by surgery or catheterization in BPA with a minimum follow-up of 12 months and at least 1 catheterization control have been included. The primary endpoint was composite, combining cardiovascular mortality, surgical stent removing or percutaneous implantation of a new homolateral stent. Results Between February 2007 and December 2017, 76 stents in 51 patients were included (62 stents implanted by surgery, 14 by catheterization). At the time of implantation, patients had mean age and weight of 56.3 months (IQR 65.4) and 17.4 kgs (IQR 11.0) respectively. There was 68.4% of secondary stenosis. Mean BPA minimum size was 4.1 mm (mean Z-score of − 5.0), and mean initial stent diameter was 9.1 mm. During a mean follow-up of 5.3 years (range 0–11,2 years), freedom from primary endpoint was 86.8% (CI 79.6–94.8%) at 1 year, 78.9% (CI 70.2–88.6%) at 2 years, 71.5% (CI 61.9–82.7%) at 5 years and 69.6% (CI 59.6–81.2%) at 10 years ( Fig. 1 ). Among surviving stents, mean BPA size Z-score at last evaluation was increase of +4.69 compared to initial size (P Fig. 2 ). A lower BPA size at implantation seemed to be associated with a worse outcome of the stent (P Conclusion Our results suggest that percutaneous or intraoperative stent implantation could constitute a good alternative to BPA plasty alone.

Acute valve-sparing procedures are effective in the treatment of aortic root dilation when there is no valve pathology. In this review, we discuss the role of aortic valve-sparing procedures in the presence of connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12239 (J Card Surg 2014;29:55-58)

BACKGROUND Several publications have considered results of percutaneous angioplasty for aortic recoarctation, but none focused on procedures performed in children aged

Objective The main objective was to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of balloon angioplasty of post-surgical aortic recoarctation before one year of age. The secondary objective was to identify factors potentially associated with a failure of the procedure. Method Data from children who have one or more balloon angioplasty for aortic recoarctation before one year of age were retrospectively collected from 2006 to 2014. Results 14 children (17 procedures) have been included. The procedure immediately failed in 2 patients who underwent a new surgery. All the other 12 patients still remained free of recoarctation after one procedure for 10 of them, 2 procedures for another one and 3 procedures for the last one. Three complications due to the procedure occurred: one iliac artery thrombosis, one coronary embolism and one transitory stroke. These complications totally recovered before discharge. No aortic dissection or aneurysm has been reported. Comparing the 5 procedures which need a further intervention with the others, we observed that a higher peak gradient measured during the catheterization before (45mmHg (range 36-60) vs 32mmHg (range 10-47)) and after the angioplasty (36mmHg (range 30-50) vs 25mmHg (range 5-50)), and a lower ratio balloon size/transverse arch diameter (1.07 (range 0.88-1.20) vs 1.28 (range 0.94-1.82)) were associated with a failure of the procedure. Conclusion Balloon angioplasty of aortic recoarctation before one year of age is efficient. A lower ratio balloon size/transverse arch diameter was associated with a higher failure of the procedure that suggests the use of bigger balloon.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality are higher for cardiac reoperations than first operation due to the presence of post-operative adhesions. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of the bioresorbable membrane Seprafilm to prevent pericardial adhesions after cardiac surgery in a paediatric congenital heart disease population. METHODS: Seventy-one children undergoing reoperations with sternotomy redo and cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital malformations were included. Twenty-nine of these patients were reoperated after previous application of Seprafilm (treatment group). The duration of dissection, aortic cross clamping and total surgery were recorded. A tenacity score was established for each intervention from the surgeon's description in the operating report. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, the duration of dissection and the tenacity score were lower in the treatment than control group (p\

Background— Obesity and diabetes mellitus are independently associated with the development of heart failure. In this study, we determined the respective effects of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus on the intrinsic contraction and mitochondrial function of the human myocardium before the onset of cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results— Right atrial myocardium was obtained from 141 consecutive patients presenting no sign of cardiomyopathy. We investigated ex vivo isometric contraction, mitochondrial respiration and calcium retention capacity, and respiratory chain complex activities and oxidative stress status. Diabetes mellitus was associated with a pronounced impairment of intrinsic contraction, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased myocardial oxidative stress, regardless of weight status. In contrast, obesity was associated with less pronounced contractile dysfunction without any significant perturbation of mitochondrial function or oxidative stress status. Tested as continuous variables, glycated hemoglobin A 1C , but neither body mass index nor the insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance), was independently associated with cardiac mitochondrial function. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus was associated with cardiac mitochondrial network fragmentation and significantly decreased expression of the mitochondrial fusion related protein MFN1. Myocardial MFN1 content was inversely proportional to hemoglobin A 1C . Conclusion— Worsening of intrinsic myocardial contraction in the transition from obesity to diabetes mellitus is likely related to worsening of cardiac mitochondrial function because impaired mitochondrial function and dynamics and contractile dysfunction are observed in diabetic patients but not in “metabolically healthy” obese patients at early stage in insulin resistance.

The reimplantation technique for valve-sparing aortic root replacement is increasingly used to treat aortic root pathology. The systematic approach described by El Khoury in 2009 and modified in 2011 using the Valsava graft is simple and reproducible. However, in-conduit suturing of the aortic valve annulus and small rim of sinus remnant to the graft sinuses is time-consuming and may lead to bleeding or distortion of the prosthetic root. We describe a simple technique to facilitate the native valve reimplantation.

Acute valve-sparing procedures are effective in the treatment of aortic root dilation when there is no valve pathology. In this review, we discuss the role of aortic valve-sparing procedures in the presence of connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma.

Surgical management of extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity, including spinal cord ischemia. We report a successful three-stage repair combining open and endovascular surgery in a patient presenting with an ascending, arch, and thoracoabdominal aneurysm. Spinal cord protective measures included a staged approach, preserved antegrade flow to the left subclavian and hypogastric arteries, absence of aortic cross-clamping, and aggressive perioperative hemodynamic monitoring.

The reimplantation technique for valve-sparing aortic root replacement is increasingly used to treat aortic root pathology. The systematic approach described by El Khoury in 2009 and modified in 2011 using the Valsava graft is simple and reproducible. However, in-conduit suturing of the aortic valve annulus and small rim of sinus remnant to the graft sinuses is time-consuming and may lead to bleeding or distortion of the prosthetic root. We describe a simple technique to facilitate the native valve reimplantation. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12311 (J Card Surg 2014;29:485–486)

Background To set up an experimental model of cadaveric heart in order to evaluate and compare histologic transmurality of lesions immediately caused by different energy sources of anti-arrhythmic epicardial devices. Methods Procedures were performed on a cadaveric human heart in orthotopic position with an ischemic time of 48 h at 37° and supported through the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Three anti-arrhythmic epicardial devices were studied: the bipolar forceps Cardioblate BP (Medtronic) for the radiofrequency, the Epicor Ultracinch LP Ablation device (St. Jude) for ultrasound and the Cardioblate CryoFlex (Medtronic) device for cryoablation. Histological features of lesions made at the pulmonary venous confluence assessed the effectiveness of different energy sources. Results Over 45 experimentations performed, only 28 were considered correct and retained for histological analysis. Three distinct groups were studied according to the type of procedure performed: group 1 (Radiofrequency, n = 12), group 2 (ultrasound, n = 4), group 3 (cryoablation, n = 10) and controls (n = 2). All analysed samples showed histological changes with a success rates of transmurality of 33% for radiofrequency, 25% for ultrasound and 90% for cryotherapy (p