Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery最新文献

Objective: Minimally invasive surgery for mitral annular calcification (MAC) has been reported sporadically, but data on endoscopic surgery are scarce. We summarize current surgical understanding of MAC and how it applies to endoscopic surgery through our experience.

Methods: All patients with severe MAC undergoing endoscopic mitral surgery at a single institution (December 2020 to August 2024) were studied.

Results: Twenty-five patients (3 female patients) with an average left ventricular ejection fraction of 52.12% (46.25% to 60%), average age of 69.13 (64 to 75.7) years, average body surface area of 1.92 (1.69 to 2.09) m², and average Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality score of 8.30% (2.13% to 8.66%) underwent endoscopic surgery. Twelve patients had regurgitation (48%), 10 had stenosis (48%), and 3 had a combination (12%). Circumferential MAC was found in 4 patients (16%), 80% circumference in 7 (28%), 60% circumference in 7 (28%), and 40% circumference in 7 (28%). Mitral valve replacement was done in 72% (n = 18) with tissue valves (n = 11), mechanical valves (n = 4), or transcatheter balloon-expandable valves (n = 3). Seven patients (28%) had repairs. There were no operative deaths, atrioventricular complications, or strokes. The average duration of surgery was 5 h 40 min (4 h 13 min to 8 h 22 min), with average cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times of 214 (166 to 241) min and 152 (117 to 193) min, respectively. MAC was debrided in 20 patients with ultrasonic emulsification (n = 13) or mechanical debridement (n = 7).

Conclusions: Endoscopic surgery for severe MAC can be safely and successfully performed using a combination of surgical techniques including ultrasonic decalcification, mechanical debridement, annular patching, and direct implantation of balloon-expandable valves.

Objective: Open aortic repair is considered the standard of care for patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) due to the perceived durability advantages compared with endovascular intervention. However, some complex CTD patient presentations increase risk with open repair, favoring endovascular intervention. This analysis sought to review our experience with endovascular intervention in CTD patients and identify scenarios in which this approach may reasonably be considered.

Methods: Patients with CTD undergoing endovascular intervention at our institution from 2006 to 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was freedom from aorta-related mortality. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality and freedom from secondary intervention.

Results: Forty-five CTD patients underwent endovascular intervention. Thirty-five patients (77.8%) had at least 1 previous aortic intervention. Urgent or emergent presentation was common (n = 31, 68.8%). At index hospitalization, 32 patients (71.1%) underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and 6 patients (13.3%) underwent fenestrated and/or branched endovascular repair. Aneurysm (n = 40, 88.9%) and dissection (n = 36, 80.0%) were the most common indications; many patients (n = 31, 68.9%) presented with both. Freedom from aorta-related mortality was 88.7% ± 5% and 83.2% ± 6% at 1 and 3 years, respectively. No clinical or procedural factors were predictive of aorta-related mortality. Twenty-one patients (46.7%) required secondary intervention; the median time to secondary intervention was 6.5 months (6.5, 18.9 months). Freedom from secondary intervention was 60.0% ± 8% and 51.4% ± 9% at 1 and 3 years, respectively.

Conclusions: Endovascular intervention is often lifesaving in CTD patients who are not initially candidates for open repair. Aorta-related mortality was low, and fewer than half of patients required secondary intervention during the study period. This illustrates the utility of endovascular intervention in bridging CTD patients to definitive open repair.

In the evolving landscape of endoscopic aortic valve replacement (AVR), the alignment of instruments is crucial for overcoming difficulties related to the narrow aortic space. Here, we describe a technique of lateral suturing based on the principle of instrument triangulation, which allows perpendicular stiches to the aortic annulus like an open aortic valve procedure. This technique facilitates endoscopic AVR, performed through a 3 cm long right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy without rib retraction using a 3-dimensional endoscope and femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass. Our approach uses a more lateral positioning of the vent and the transthoracic clamp as well as the addition of a single lateral port, which allows optimal angulation of the instruments to the aortic annulus and the ascending aorta. This technique facilitates endoscopic suturing without the use of automated devices through a transverse aortotomy. Annular sutures are placed in a perpendicular way in the aortic annulus by avoiding challenging "hook" stitches. In this case, we use an additional 10 mm port in the fourth right intercostal space through a small periareolar incision. With this technique, it is possible to implant any type of aortic prosthesis, either biological or mechanical.

Enhancing recovery protocols seek to optimize multiple aspects of care throughout the patient's perioperative cardiac surgery journey. Fast-track recovery protocols, specifically those involving earlier extubation, have been among the early methods to enhance a patient's recovery. However, how early these protocols should be implemented after surgery remains a source of ongoing controversy. Strong opinions exist on whether it is appropriate to extubate patients after cardiac surgery in the operating room (OR). Although OR extubation may offer benefits such as reduced intensive care unit length of stay and resource utilization, there are concerns regarding safety, patient selection, and inconsistent outcomes, which have raised significant controversy. This review aims to discuss the reasons why a team may consider exploring extubation in the OR and provide a practical approach for the interdisciplinary team seeking to implement this practice in appropriately selected patients.

Objective: Robotic navigational bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound have augmented diagnostic yield and localization of challenging pulmonary nodules. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding its role in decision-making during single-anesthesia bronchoscopy and resection (SABAR). We aim to describe our experience of SABAR via shape-sensing robotic navigational bronchoscopy (SSRNB).

Methods: A retrospective observational chart review was performed of adult patients who underwent SSRNB between August 2020 and April 2022. Diagnostic yield, localization success, treatment timelines, and cost were analyzed. Patients were categorized on the preoperative intent of SABAR for either localization or diagnostic yield. Localization was intended in nonpalpable peripheral nodules and multifocal nodules, whereas diagnostic yield was intended in deep nodules and multifocal nodules.

Results: A total of 73 patients and 96 nodules were analyzed. The average age was 67 years, with 43 of 73 (59%) being female. Approximately 58 of 73 patients (80%) identified as current or former smokers, and 12 of 73 (16.4%) had a history of lung cancer. The average tumor size was 1.4 cm. Localization confirmed by fluorescence imaging was achieved in 56 of 56 patients (100%) with localization intent and 76 of 76 (100%) of the entire sample. Successful diagnostic yield was obtained in 20 of 26 patients (76.9%) with biopsy intent who then underwent immediate resection. Diagnostic yield for the entire sample was 47 of 76 (61.8%). Eight of 14 benign nodules identified by SSRNB were resected due to persistent concern and concordant. Surgical resection occurred within 30 days of initial consultation for 50 of 73 patients (70%). A total variable cost saving of $4,000 was observed in SABAR relative to separate procedures.

Conclusions: This novel study demonstrates that SABAR with SSRNB is an effective way to intraoperatively localize and potentially diagnose difficult lung nodules during planned resection. This efficacy accelerates treatment timelines and decreases hospital costs. Future studies are warranted to delineate patient populations who would benefit most from SABAR using SSRNB.

Objective: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) is being increasingly adopted worldwide. Pivotal to the safe conduct of the procedure is optimal visualization to allow detailed valve analysis and assessment of reparability. Positioning of conventional transthoracic left atrial retractors used during MIMVS may be time-consuming and can result in a limited view or thoracic bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the FlexCrown™ retractor by Geister (Tuttlingen, Germany), an innovative self-expandable left atrial retractor, during MIMVS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 245 patients at 2 mitral specialist centers from January 2017 to July 2022. All patients underwent MIMVS via a right minianterolateral thoracotomy using the FlexCrown retractor.

Results: There were 129 female (53%) and 116 male (47%) patients with a mean age of 67 ± 10 years. The etiology of the mitral valve pathology was stenosis in 11% of patients (n = 27), regurgitation in 80% (n = 196), and mixed in 9% (n = 22). The device was used for both mitral valve repair (n = 125) and replacement (n = 120). There were no cases of tissue damage, dislodgement, or migration of the FlexCrown retractor. The postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram showed no or trivial mitral regurgitation in 90% of patients (n = 220).

Conclusions: The FlexCrown self-expandable left atrial retractor by Geister allows excellent and safe exposure of the mitral valve with fast deployment and removal during MIMVS. The use of this innovative retractor may represent a helpful alternative to conventional left atrial retractors.

Objective: Isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery remains underused despite guideline recommendations. This underuse may be related to perceived high risk in comorbid patients but also to high reported needs for postoperative permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). It is conceivable that PPI can be prevented by operating on the beating heart (BH). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the influence of BH versus arrested heart (AH) technique on short-term and long-term outcomes after isolated TV surgery with a specific focus on PPI requirements.

Methods: Three databases were assessed. The primary outcome was the rate of postoperative PPI. Secondary endpoints included short-term and long-term survival, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and procedural duration, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and postoperative stroke incidence. Hazard ratios, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A pooled Kaplan-Meier survival curve after reconstruction analysis was generated for the endpoint of long-term survival. Random-effects models were used.

Results: A total of 1,157 studies were identified. Six observational studies from different countries were included in the analysis. The cohorts receiving either BH or AH technique for isolated TV surgery showed no significant differences in the rate of PPI (range: 6.3% to 18.2%) or any secondary outcomes, including short-term and long-term survival, CPB and procedural duration, ICU and hospital stay, or stroke incidence.

Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that performing TV surgery on the BH is not likely to be associated with a reduced risk of postoperative PPI or with different incidences of major clinical endpoints.