Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon最新文献

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery total arterial coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS-CABG) has emerged as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Its safety and efficacy in obese patients remain a concern due to technical challenges. The current study compares early and long-term outcomes of MICS-CABG in obese and non-obese patients.Between January 2015 and December 2023, 279 patients underwent off-pump MICS-CABG at our center. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥30 (kg/m²). The primary endpoint was 30-day survival. Secondary endpoints were survival and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 5 years.Of all 279 patients, 56 (20.1%) were classified as obese and 223 (79.9%) as non-obese. Obese patients had a higher EuroSCORE II (2.06 ± 1.53 vs. 1.63 ± 0.94, p = 0.008) and a higher prevalence of comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001) and pulmonary hypertension (p = 0.03). The incidence of postoperative complications including repeat thoracotomy for bleeding (p = 0.18), low cardiac output syndrome (p = 0.70), or wound infection (p = 0.38) did not differ between obese and non-obese patients. There were no deaths or myocardial infarctions within 30 days in obese patients (0% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.95; 0% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.47). Long-term outcome at 5 years, including survival (91.9% vs. 92.4%, p = 0.99) and freedom from MACCE (83.3% vs. 84.6%, p = 0.63), showed no difference between the two groups.MICS-CABG can be performed safely and efficaciously in select obese patients by specialized coronary surgeons at high-volume cardiac centers.

Coronary artery disease patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI (NSTEMI) require rapid decision on invasive therapy relying on state-of-the-art concepts. This article provides evidence-based recommendations on the choice between, or the combination of, the mechanistically different options, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-with a special focus on multivessel disease patients. Furthermore, strategies of modern CABG in STEMI and NSTEMI patients are presented.

Background In patients at elevated risk for redo mitral valve surgery, transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) can be taken into consideration as a less invasive alternative. However, long-term outcome data on mitral valve-in-ring (ViR) and valve-in-valve (ViV) procedures is scarce. We herein report the 3-year outcomes following these interventions. Methods Between 2014 and 2023, 51 consecutive patients received ViR/ViV TMVR at our center. Baseline, periprocedural and 3-year outcome parameters were analyzed according to M-VARC criteria. Results Among 51 patients (70.9±13.6 years, STS-Score 3.3±2.3 %, LVEF 50±12%), 19 underwent ViR and 32 ViV TMVR. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 71 months. The 30-day mortality rate was 5.9% (3/51 patients). Over time, access shifted from transapical to transseptal (p for trend <0.01). Rehospitalization, neurological events and myocardial infarction occurred in 2.0% (1/51 patients), 2.0% (1/51 patients) and 0.0% of the cases, respectively. No structural valve failure was observed. Functional failure was 3.9% of cases due to significant residual mitral regurgitation. Most paravalvular leak occluder implantations were performed in ViR patients (6/9, 66.7%) (4 rigid rings and 2 semi-rigid rings). Three-year survival was 87.5% for ViR and 83.4% for ViV, with no differences between groups. Conclusions Mitral ViR and ViV procedures demonstrate acceptable safety and clinical efficacy up to 3 years. Rigid annuloplasty rings are associated with an increased risk of significant residual regurgitation. Over the last decade, a clear transition from the transapical to the transseptal access has been observed, further reducing procedural trauma in this high-risk subset of patients.

Coagulatory alterations are common after pediatric cardiac surgery and can be addressed with point-of-care (POC) coagulation analysis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate a preventive POC-controlled coagulation algorithm in pediatric cardiac surgery.This single-center, retrospective data analysis included patients younger than 18 years who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and received a coagulation therapy according to a predefined POC-controlled coagulation algorithm. Patients were divided into two groups (<10 and >10 kg body weight) because of different CPB priming strategies.In total, 173 surgeries with the use of the POC-guided hemostatic therapy were analyzed. In 71% of cases, target parameters were achieved and only in one case primary sternal closure was not possible. Children with a body weight ≤10 kg underwent surgical re-evaluation in 13.2% (15/113), and respectively 6.7% (4/60) in patients >10 kg. Hemorrhage in children ≤10 kg was associated with cyanotic heart defects, deeper intraoperative hypothermia, longer duration of CPB, more complex procedures (RACHS-1 score), and with more intraoperative platelets, and respectively red blood cell concentrate transfusions (all p-values < 0.05). In children ≤10 kg, fibrinogen levels were significantly lower over the 12-hour postoperative period (without revision: 3.1 [2.9-3.3] vs. with revision 2.8 [2.3-3.4]). Hemorrhage in children >10 kg was associated with a longer duration of CPB (p = 0.042), lower preoperative platelets (p = 0.026), and over the 12-hour postoperative period lower platelets (p = 0.002) and fibrinogen (p = 0.05).The use of a preventive, algorithm-based coagulation therapy with factor concentrates after CPB followed by POC created intraoperative clinical stable coagulation status with a subsequent executable thorax closure, although the presented algorithm in its current form is not superior in the reduction of the re-exploration rate compared to equivalent collectives. Reduced fibrinogen concentrations 12 hours after surgery may be associated with an increased incidence of surgical revisions.

For the 11th consecutive time, we systematically reviewed the cardio-surgical literature for the past year (2024), using the PRISMA approach for a results-oriented summary. In 2024, the discussion on the value of randomized and registry evidence increased, triggered by consistent findings in the field of coronary artery disease (CAD) and discrepant results in structural heart disease. The literature in 2024 again confirmed the excellent long-term outcomes of CABG compared with PCI in different scenarios, generating further validation for the CABG advantage reported in randomized studies. This has been reflected in the new guidelines for chronic CAD in 2024. Two studies indicate novel perspectives for CABG, showing that cardiac shockwave therapy in CABG improves myocardial function in ischemic hearts and that CABG guided by computed tomography is safe and feasible. For aortic stenosis, an early advantage for transcatheter (TAVI) compared with surgical (SAVR) treatment has found more support; however, long-term TAVI results keep being challenged, this year by new FDA and registry data in favor of SAVR. For failed aortic valves, redo-SAVR showed superior results compared with valve-in-valve TAVI. In the mitral field, studies showed short-term noninferiority for transcatheter treatment compared with surgery for secondary mitral regurgitation (MR), and significant long-term survival benefit in registries with surgery for primary MR. Finally, surgery was associated with better survival compared with medical therapy for acute type A aortic intramural hematoma. This article summarizes publications perceived as important by us. It cannot be complete nor free of individual interpretation but provides up-to-date information for patient-specific decision-making.

This study presents the early and midterm outcomes of combining atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) at our center.From January 2017 to June 2022, our center treated a total of 86 patients with both MIMVS and surgical AF ablation. The patient cohort included 62 women (72.1%) and 24 men (27.9%). The average EuroScore II was 2.64 ± 1.49%, and the patients were followed up for an average period of 46.31 ± 9.84 months.Postoperatively, 95.3% of patients experienced a change in sinus rhythm, and 86.2% were discharged in sinus rhythm. The hospital's mortality rate was 2.3%, with a late mortality rate of 3.5%. Survival analysis revealed an atrial fibrillation-free 5-year follow-up rate of 59.1 ± 9.1%. The 5-year survival rate was 92.7 ± 3.3%.Our 5-year experience demonstrates that the combination of MIMVS and surgical AF ablation can be routinely performed with favorable peri- and postoperative outcomes. This reflects our hospital's culture and guidance on patient selection, particularly when adopting minimally invasive approaches for multiple procedures.

Surgical atrial ablation is evaluated by surgeons in relation to the estimated surgical risk. We analyze whether high-risk patients (HRPs) experience risk escalation by ablation procedures.The CASE-Atrial Fibrillation (AF) registry is a prospective, multicenter, all-comers registry of atrial ablation in cardiac surgery. We analyzed the 1-year outcome regarding survival and rhythm endpoints of 1,000 consecutive patients according to the operative risk classification (EuroSCORE II ≤ 2 vs. >2).Higher NYHA (New York Heart Association) score, ischemic heart failure, status poststroke, renal insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus were strongly represented in HRPs. HRPs exhibit more left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% (19.2 vs. 8.8%; p < 0.001) but identical left atrial diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter compared with low-risk patients (LRPs). CHA2DS-Vasc-score (2.4 ± 1 vs. 3.6 ± 1.5; p < 0.001), sternotomies, combination surgeries, coronary artery bypass graft, and mitral valve procedures were increased in HRPs. LRPs underwent stand-alone ablations as well. Ablation energy did not differ. Left atrial appendage closure was performed in up to 86.1% (mainly cut-and-sew procedures). Mortality corresponded to the original risk class without an escalation that may be related to ablation, stroke rate, or myocardial infarction. A total of 60.6% of HRPs versus 75.1% of LRPs were discharged in sinus rhythm. Long-term EHRA (European Heart Rhythm Association) score symptoms were lower in HRPs. Repeated rhythm therapies were rare. Additional antiarrhythmics received a minority without group dependency. A total of 1.6 versus 4.1% of HRPs (p = 0.042) underwent long-term stroke; excess mortality was not observed. Anticoagulation remained common in HRPs.Surgical risk and long-term mortality are determined by the underlying disease. In HRPs, freedom from AF and symptom relief can be achieved. Preoperative risk scores should not lead to withholding an ablation procedure.

We assessed whether implementation of an immediate preoperative treatment in anemic patients could result in fewer perioperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions and improved outcomes in a real-world setting.From January 1, 2020, to November 31, 2022, we implemented a perioperative protocol for anemic patients (hemoglobin (Hb) level in women <11.5 g/dL, men <12.5 g/dL), which included subcutaneous erythropoietin α, intravenous Iron, and intramuscular vitamin B12 (all given preoperatively) and per os iron and folic acid given once a day postoperatively. We retrospectively compared all patients receiving the protocol to all eligible patients who were operated upon in the 4 years prior to implementation of the protocol. Primary outcome was amount of PRBC transfusions during surgery and index admission.In the months after protocol implementation, 114 patients who received the treatment protocol were compared with 236 anemic patients in the 4 years prior to who did not receive the protocol. The treatment reduced total PRBC use (control group median 4 [2-7] units vs. treatment 2 [1-3] units, p < 0.0001) and the incidence of postoperative blood products transfusions (treatment group 58 patients, 50.88% vs. control group 177 patients, 75%, p < 0.0001). Hb prior to discharge was higher among the protocol group (treatment median 9 g/dL [8.3-9.5 g/dL] vs. control 8.6 g/dL [8.1-9.1 g/dL], p = 0.0081).Despite some differences compared with previously described protocols, the implementation of a perioperative treatment protocol for anemic patients was associated with a reduction in PRBC transfusion in a real-world setting.