Sutureless aortic valve replacement in high risk patients neutralizes expected worse hospital outcome: A clinical and economic analysis

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) by sutureless prostheses is changing surgeon options, although which patients benefit most, as well as their possible economic impact is still to be defined. Methods: Perceval-S prosthesis (LivaNova) is reserved, at the documented Institution, for patients at perceived high surgical risk. This retrospective analysis of outcome and resource consumption compared Perceval with other tissue valves. To clarify the comparison, only patients respecting ‘instructions-for- use’ of Perceval were reviewed. Inclusion criteria: > 65 years, +/– coronary artery bypass grafting, patent foramen ovale closure or myectomy. Exclusion criteria: bicuspid, combined valve or aortic sur- gery. Costs were calculated per patient on a daily basis including preoperative tests, operating costs (hourly basis), disposables, drugs, blood components and personnel. Results: The sutureless group (SU-AVR) had a higher risk profile than the sutured group (ST-AVR). Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross-clamp times were significantly shorter in SU-AVR (isolated AVR: cross-clamp 52.9 ± 12.6 vs. 69 ± 15.3 min, p < 0.001; CPB 79.4 ± 20.3 vs. 92.7 ± 18.2 min, p < 0.001). Hospital mortality was 0.9% in SU-AVR and nil in ST-AVR, p = 0.489; intubation 7 (IQR 5–10.7) and 7 h (IQR 5–9), p = 0.785; intensive care unit 1 (IQR 1–1) and 1 day (IQR 1–1), p = 0.258; ward stay 5.5 (IQR 4–7) and 5 days (IQR 4–6), p = 0.002; pacemaker 5.7% (6/106) and 0.9% (1/109), p = 0.063, respectively. Hospital costs (excluding the prosthesis) were $12,825 (IQR 11,733–15,334) for SU-AVR and$12,386 (IQR 11,217–14,230) in ST-AVR, p = 0.055. Conclusions: Despite higher operative risks in SU-AVR, hospital mortality, morbidity and resource consumption did not differ. Operative times were shorter with the sutureless device and this improve- ment, along with more frequent ministernotomy, may have improved many postoperative aims.

A new shape for an old function: lasting effect of a physiologic surgical restoration of the left ventricle

BACKGROUND: Long-term morphofunctional outcome may vary widely in surgical anterior left ventricular wall restoration, suggesting variability in post-surgical remodeling similar to that observed following acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this pilot study was to demonstrate that surgical restoration obtained with a particular shape of endoventricular patch leads to steady morphofunctional ventricular improvement when geometry, volume and residual akinesia can be restored as normal as possible. METHODS: This study involved 12 consecutive patients with previous anterior myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy and no mitral procedures, who underwent left ventricular reconstruction and coronary revascularization between May 2002 and May 2003 using a small, narrow, oval patch aiming at a volume ≤ 45 mL/m(2 )with elliptical shape. Eleven geometric parameters were examined preoperatively and at least 3, 12 and 24 months after the operation by serial echocardiographic studies and evaluated by paired t test taking the time of surgery as a starting point for remodeling. RESULTS: All patients were in NYHA class 1 at follow-up. Patch geometry obtained a conical shape of the ventricle with new apex, physiologic rearrangement of functioning myocardial wall and small residual akinesia. Ventricular changes at the four time-points showed that all parameters improved significantly compared to preoperative values (end-diastolic volume = 184.2 ± 23.9 vs 139.9 ± 22.0, p = 0.001; vs 151.0 ± 33.8, p = 0.06; vs 144.9 ± 34.0, p = 0.38; end-systolic volume = 125.7 ± 20.6 vs 75.2 ± 14.1, p = 0.001; vs 82.1 ± 23.9, p = 0,18; vs 77.1 ± 19.4, p = 0.41) without further changes during follow-up except for wall motion score index (2.0 ± 0.2 to 1.7 ± 0.2, to 1.4 ± 0.2, to 1.3 ± 0.2) and percentage of akinesia (30.4 ± 7.5 to 29.3 ± 4.2, to 19.8 ± 11.6, to 14.5 ± 7.2) which slowly and significantly improved suggesting a positive post-surgery remodeling. CONCLUSION: Ventricular reconstruction caring of physiological shape, volume, revascularization and residual akinesia obtained a steady geometry. Positive remodeling and equalization of geometrical outcome may persistently prevent long-term redilation

Contemporary outcomes of cardiac surgery patients supported by the intra-aortic balloon pump

OBJECTIVES: Although the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been the most widely adopted temporary mechanical support device in cardiac surgical patients, its use has declined. The current study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and predictors of early mortality and complication rates in contemporary cardiac surgery patients supported by an IABP. METHODS: A multicentre, retrospective analysis was performed of all consecutive cardiac surgical patients receiving perioperative balloon pump support in 8 centres between January 2010 to December 2019. The primary outcome was early mortality, and secondary outcomes were balloon-associated complications. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was applied to evaluate predictors of the primary outcome. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 2615 consecutive patients. The median age was 68 years [25th percentile 61, 75th percentile 75 years], with the majority being male (76.9%), and a mean calculated 30-day mortality risk of 10.0%. Early mortality was 12.7% (n = 333), due to cardiac causes (n = 266), neurological causes (=22), balloon-related causes (n = 5) and other causes (n = 40). A composite end point of all vascular complications occurred in 7.2% of patients, and leg ischaemia was observed in 1.3% of patients. The most important predictors of early mortality were peripheral vascular disease [odds ratio (OR) 1.63], postoperative dialysis requirement (OR 10.40) and vascular complications (OR 2.57). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the perioperative IABP proved to be safe and demonstrated relatively low complication rates, particularly for leg ischaemia. As such, we believe that specialists should not be held back to use this widely available treatment in high-risk cardiac surgical patients when indicated

Contemporary outcomes of cardiac surgery patients supported by the intra-aortic balloon pump

OBJECTIVES: Although the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been the most widely adopted temporary mechanical support device in cardiac surgical patients, its use has declined. The current study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and predictors of early mortality and complication rates in contemporary cardiac surgery patients supported by an IABP. METHODS: A multicentre, retrospective analysis was performed of all consecutive cardiac surgical patients receiving perioperative balloon pump support in 8 centres between January 2010 to December 2019. The primary outcome was early mortality, and secondary outcomes were balloon-associated complications. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was applied to evaluate predictors of the primary outcome. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 2615 consecutive patients. The median age was 68 years [25th percentile 61, 75th percentile 75 years], with the majority being male (76.9%), and a mean calculated 30-day mortality risk of 10.0%. Early mortality was 12.7% (n = 333), due to cardiac causes (n = 266), neurological causes (=22), balloon-related causes (n = 5) and other causes (n = 40). A composite end point of all vascular complications occurred in 7.2% of patients, and leg ischaemia was observed in 1.3% of patients. The most important predictors of early mortality were peripheral vascular disease [odds ratio (OR) 1.63], postoperative dialysis requirement (OR 10.40) and vascular complications (OR 2.57). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the perioperative IABP proved to be safe and demonstrated relatively low complication rates, particularly for leg ischaemia. As such, we believe that specialists should not be held back to use this widely available treatment in high-risk cardiac surgical patients when indicated

Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis (CASTER) study: early and long-term outcomes

patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) undergoing cardiac surgery (CS) face perioperative high mortality and morbidity, but extensive studies on this topic are lacking

Sheathless Versus Sheathed Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Implantation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is the most widely available mechanical support device, but its use has been disputed in recent decades. Although several efforts have been made to reduce the associated complication rate, contemporary data on this matter is lacking. The present study aims to evaluate the differences in vascular complications between the sheathless and the sheathed IABP implantation technique in cardiac surgery patients. A retrospective multi-center cohort, consisting of patients treated in 8 cardiac surgical centers, was evaluated. Patients who underwent cardiac surgery with peri-operative IABP support were included. Primary outcome was a composite end point of vascular complications. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed, and a multivariable regression model was applied to evaluate predictors of vascular complications. The unmatched cohort consisted of 2,615 patients (sheathless n = 1,414, 54%, sheathed n = 1,201, 46%). A total of 878 patients were matched (n = 439 for both groups). The composite vascular complication end point occurred in 3% of patients in the sheathless group, compared with 8% in the sheathed group (p <0.001). Vascular complications were significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio [OR] 3.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01 to 7.40, p <0.001). Peripheral arterial disease was associated with vascular complications (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.46 to 6.55, p = 0.003), whereas the sheathless implantation technique was found to be protective (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.73, p = 0.005). In conclusion, the present retrospective multi-center analysis demonstrated the sheathless implantation technique to be associated with a significant reduction in vascular complication rate. Future studies should focus on even less invasive implantation techniques using smaller-sized catheters, sheathless implantation, and imaging guiding

Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis (CASTER) study: early and long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND: patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) undergoing cardiac surgery (CS) face perioperative high mortality and morbidity, but extensive studies on this topic are lacking.METHODS: All adult patients with LC undergoing a CS procedure between 2000-2017 at ten Italian Institutions were included in this retrospective cohort study. LC was classified according to preoperative Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) Score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Early and medium-term outcomes analysis was performed in the overall population and according to CTP classes.RESULTS: The study population included 144 patients (mean age:66\ub19 years; male=69%). Ninety-eight, 20 and 26 patients were in CTP class-A, in early (MELD &lt;12) or advanced (MELD &gt;12) CTP class-B respectively. The main LC etiologies were viral (43%) and alcoholic (36%). Liver-related clinical presentation (ascites, esophageal varices and encephalopathy) and laboratory values (EGFR, serum albumin and bilirubin, platelet count) significantly worsened across the CTP-classes(p=.001). CABG or valve surgery (87% bioprosthesis) were performed in 36% and 50% respectively. Postoperative complications (especially AKI, liver complication and LOS) significantly worsened in advanced CTP class-B(p=.001). Notably, observed mortality was 3 or 4-fold higher than the EuroscoreII-predicted mortality, in the overall population, and in the subgroups. At Kaplan-Meier analysis, 1- and 5-years cumulative survival in the overall population was 82\ub13% and 77\ub14% respectively. The 5-years survival in CTP class A, early- and advanced-B was 72\ub15%, 68\ub111% and 61\ub110% respectively(p=.238).CONCLUSIONS: CS outcomes in patients with LC are significantly affected in relation to the extent of preoperative liver dysfunction, but in the early CTP classes medium-term survival is acceptable. Further analysis are needed to better estimate the preoperative risk stratification of these patients