Operative data.

<p>Values are expressed as numbers or frequency (%). CABG indicates coronary artery bypass graft; TV, tricuspid valve.</p><p>Operative data.</p

Multivariate regression analysis of factors influencing overall mortality.

<p>CABG indicates coronary artery bypass graft; TR, tricuspid regurgitation; RV, right ventricle</p><p>Multivariate regression analysis of factors influencing overall mortality.</p

Overall survival in patients with versus without significant TR.

<p>TR indicates tricuspid regurgitation.</p

Causes of death.

<p>Values are expressed as numbers or frequency (%).</p><p>Causes of death.</p

Operative data.

<p>Values are expressed as numbers or frequency (%). CABG indicates coronary artery bypass graft; TV, tricuspid valve.</p><p>Operative data.</p

Baseline patient characteristics

<p>Values are expressed as mean±SD or frequency (%). BSA indicates body surface area; BMI, body mass index; CAD, coronary artery disease, defined as any degree of coronary lumen diameter narrowing; ≥2 vessels, affecting two or three coronary arteries; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NYHA, New York Heart Association; AV, aortic valve; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LV, left ventricle; RV, right ventricle; EDD, end-diastolic diameter from the apical 4-chamber view; LA, left atrial longitudinal diameter from the apical 4-chamber view; RA, right atrial longitudinal diameter from the apical 4-chamber view; IVS, interventricular septal thickness by M-Mode from the parasternal short-axis view; sPAP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure.</p><p>Baseline patient characteristics</p

Echocardiographic and Doppler parameters used for grading of TR severity.

<p>Presence of three or more of the five parameters shown defines severity grade (mild, moderate or severe).</p><p>RV indicates right ventricular; RA, right atrium; IVC, inferior vena cava; VC, vena contracta; PISA, proximal isovelocity surface area.</p><p>* Unless there are other reasons for RV or RA enlargement (e.g. pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary valve disease).</p><p>Echocardiographic and Doppler parameters used for grading of TR severity.</p

Scatterplot demonstrating the association between aortic root diameter and EOA/BSA separately for mechanical and biological valve grafts.

<p>By the use of mechanical prostheses, PPM is avoided to a larger extent when compared with bioprostheses. Crosses give values for mechanical prostheses and circles for biological prostheses. Bold lines show the regression lines separately for mechanical (dashed line) and biological prostheses (solid line). Horizontal lines show the mean values of EOA/BSA, separately for mechanical (dashed line) and biological prostheses (solid line). Vertical lines show the mean values of the aortic root diameter, separately for mechanical (dashed line) and biological prostheses (solid line).</p

Kaplan Meier plot demonstrating overall survival according to presence or absence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM).

<p>Kaplan Meier plot demonstrating overall survival according to presence or absence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM).</p

Table1_Automated titanium fastener vs. hand-tied knots for prosthesis fixation in infective endocarditis.docx

ObjectivesTo date, there is no evidence regarding the safety of automated titanium fastener compared with hand-tied knots for prosthesis fixation in infective endocarditis.MethodsBetween January 2016 and December 2022, a total of 220 patients requiring surgery for infective endocarditis were included in this retrospective analysis. The primary study endpoint was re-endocarditis during follow-up. The secondary study endpoints included stroke onset, all-cause mortality, and a composite outcome of either re-endocarditis, stroke, or all-cause mortality during follow-up.ResultsSuture-securing with an automated titanium fastener was performed in 114 (51.8%) patients, whereas the conventional technique of hand knot-tying was used in 106 (48.2%) patients. The risk of re-endocarditis was significantly lower in the automated titanium fastener group, as shown in a multivariable proportional competing risk regression model (adjusted sub-hazard ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.99, p = 0.048). The multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that the automated titanium fastener group was not associated with an increased risk of stroke-onset or attaining the composite outcome, respectively, (adjusted hazard ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.27–1.08, p = 0.082), (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.42–1.02, p = 0.061). Also, this group was not associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, as demonstrated in the multivariable Poisson regression analysis (adjusted incidence-rate ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 0.83–2.42, p = 0.202).ConclusionsThe use of automated titanium fastener device seems to be safe for infective endocarditis. Analyses of larger cohorts are required.</p