Totally biological composite aortic stentless valved conduit for aortic root replacement: 10-year experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To retrospectively analyze the clinical outcome of a totally biological composite stentless aortic valved conduit (No-React^®BioConduit) implanted using the Bentall procedure over ten years in a single centre.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 27/10/99 and 19/01/08, the No-React^®BioConduit composite graft was implanted in 67 patients. Data on these patients were collected from the in-hospital database, from patient notes and from questionnaires. A cohort of patients had 2D-echocardiogram with an average of 4.3 ± 0.45 years post-operatively to evaluate valve function, calcification, and the diameter of the conduit.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Implantation in 67 patients represented a follow-up of 371.3 patient-year. Males were 60% of the operated population, with a mean age of 67.9 ± 1.3 years (range 34.1-83.8 years), 21 of them below the age of 65. After a mean follow-up of 7.1 ± 0.3 years (range of 2.2-10.5 years), more than 50% of the survivors were in NYHA I/II and more than 60% of the survivors were angina-free (CCS 0). The overall 10-year survival following replacement of the aortic valve and root was 51%. During this period, 88% of patients were free from valved-conduit related complications leading to mortality. Post-operative echocardiography studies showed no evidence of stenosis, dilatation, calcification or thrombosis. Importantly, during the 10-year follow-up period no failures of the valved conduit were reported, suggesting that the tissue of the conduit does not structurally change (histology of one explant showed normal cusp and conduit).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The No-React^®BioConduit composite stentless aortic valved conduit provides excellent long-term clinical results for aortic root replacement with few prosthesis-related complications in the first post-operative decade.</p

Outcome of biventricular repair in infants with multiple left heart obstructive lesions

The decision to perform biventricular repair for infants with multiple obstructive or hypoplastic left heart lesions (LHL) and borderline left ventricle (LV) may be controversial. This study sought to assess the mortality and morbidity of patients with LHL after biventricular repair and to determine the growth of the left-sided cardiac structures. Retrospective analysis of 39 consecutive infants with LHL who underwent biventricular repair was performed. The median age at surgery was 7 days (range 1-225 days), and the median follow-up period was 34 months (range 1-177 months). Between diagnosis and the end of the follow-up period, the size of the aortic annulus (z-score -4.1 ± 2.8 vs. -0.1 ± 2.7) and the LV (LV end-diastolic diameter z-score -1.7 ± 2.8 vs. 0.21 ± 1.7) normalized. During the follow-up period, 23 patients required 39 reinterventions (62%) consisting of redo surgery for 21 patients (57%) and catheter-guided reinterventions for 8 patients (22%). At the end of the follow-up period, 25 of 34 patients were doing subjectively well; 10 children (29%) received cardiac medication; 12 (35%) presented with failure to thrive (weight ≤ P3) and 5 (15%) with pulmonary hypertension. The overall mortality rate was 13%. Biventricular repair for patients with multiple LHL results in sufficient growth of the left-sided cardiac structures. Nevertheless, residual or newly developing obstructive lesions and pulmonary hypertension are frequent, causing significant morbidity that requires reintervention

Bovine Pericardium Patch Wrapping Intestinal Anastomosis Improves Healing Process and Prevents Leakage in a Pig Model

Failure of intestinal anastomosis is a major complication following abdominal surgery. Biological materials have been introduced as reinforcement of abdominal wall hernia in contaminated setting. An innovative application of biological patch is its use as reinforcement of gastrointestinal anastomosis. The aim of study was to verify whether the bovine pericardium patch improves the healing of anastomosis, when in vivo wrapping the suture line of pig intestinal anastomosis, avoiding leakage in the event of deliberately incomplete suture. Forty-three pigs were randomly divided: Group 1 (control, n = 14): hand-sewn ileo-ileal and colo-colic anastomosis; Group 2 (n = 14): standard anastomosis wrapped by pericardium bovine patch; Group 3 (n = 1) and 4 (n = 14): one suture was deliberately incomplete and also wrapped by patch in the last one. Intraoperative evaluation, histological, biochemical, tensiometric and electrophysiological studies of intestinal specimens were performed at 48 h, 7 and 90 days after. In groups 2 and 4, no leak, stenosis, abscess, peritonitis, mesh displacement or shrinkage were found and adhesion rate decreased compared to control. Biochemical studies showed mitochondrial function improvement in colic wrapped anastomosis. Tensiometric evaluations suggested that the patch preserves the colic contractility similar to the controls. Electrophysiological results demonstrated that the patch also improves the mucosal function restoring almost normal transport properties. Use of pericardium bovine patch as reinforcement of intestinal anastomosis is safe and effective, significantly improving the healing process. Data of prevention of acute peritonitis and leakage in cases of iatrogenic perforation of anastomoses, covered with patch, is unpublished