Novel Use of the Perceval Valve for Prosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis Requiring Root Replacement

The surgical management of aortic valve endocarditis can be challenging. Infection with abscess formation can destroy the root and annulus, making it difficult to anchor a valve conduit. In this article, we present a novel and efficient strategy for proximal aortic reconstruction. We used a Dacron tube graft and anchored it proximally with a running suture line deep in the left ventricular outflow tract. The coronary buttons were attached, and a Perceval valve was then deployed inside the neo-root to create a bio-Bentall.

Early and mid-term outcomes of thoracic aortic reconstruction using the frozen elephant trunk technique: A single-center retrospective study

<p><strong>Background.</strong> The frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique for the treatment of both thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections has become universally popular over the past two decades because extensive open surgical reconstruction of the thoracic aorta has been found to be associated with high complication and mortality rates or unfavourable long-term outcomes as it requires repeated interventions. The FET technique has also been shown to produce excellent, immediate and long-term results. Hence, it is important to evaluate the outcomes of thoracic aortic reconstruction using this technique.<br /><strong>Aim.</strong> This study aimed to investigate immediate and long-term outcomes of the FET technique in patients with thoracic aortic diseases.<br /><strong>Methods.</strong> We retrospectively analysed the pre-, intra- and post-operative data of 40 patients with distal aortic arch aneurysm who had undergone aortic arch reconstruction using the FET technique at Meshalkin National Research Medical Center from February 2012 to October 2020. To assess the early and long-term post-operative survival of these patients, we categorised them into group I (including 14 patients without aortic dissection) and group II (including 26 patients with type I and type III aortic dissections).<br /><strong>Results.</strong> The in-hospital survival rates for groups I and II were found to be 68.5% and 95.9%, respectively (log rank, p = 0.048). Groups I and II did not differ significantly in the incidence of stroke (7.1% vs 7.7%, respectively; p = 0.724) and spinal cord ischaemia (14.3% vs 0%, respectively; p = 0.117). Long-term (1-, 3- and 5-year) survival rates in group II remained unchanged at 95.9%, whereas survival rates at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year in group I were 91.3%, 68.5% and 57%, respectively. The risk of mortality was 90% lower in group II than in group I, with a hazard ratio of 0.096 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.01–0.81 (p = 0.038). The rates of freedom from thoracoabdominal aortic interventions in group II were 91.8%, 83%, 64.7%, 59.3% and 59.3% at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, respectively; these rates in group I were 90.9%, 75.7% and 75.7% at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups concerning thoracoabdominal aortic interventions (log rank, p = 0.587).<br /><strong>Conclusion.</strong> The use of the FET technique in patients with thoracic aortic diseases is associated with acceptable rates of mortality and thoracoabdominal aortic interventions in immediate and long-term post-operative periods.</p><p>Received 28 January 2021. Revised 28 April 2021. Accepted 29 April 2021.</p><p><strong>Funding:</strong> This work was carried out within the framework of the state task of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (No. 121032300337-5).</p><p><strong>Conflict of interest:</strong> The authors declare no conflicts of interests.</p><p><strong>Contribution of the authors:</strong> The authors contributed equally to this article.</p>

Transfusion in Elective Proximal Aortic Reconstruction: Where Do We Currently Stand?

Background Aortic procedures are associated with higher risks of bleeding, yet data regarding perioperative transfusion in this patient population are lacking. We evaluated transfusion patterns in patients undergoing proximal aortic surgery to provide a benchmark against which future standards can be assessed. Methods Between June 2014 and July 2017, 247 patients underwent elective aortic reconstruction for aneurysm. Patients with acute aortic syndrome, endocarditis, and/or prior cardiac surgery were excluded. Transfusion data were analyzed by type of operation: ascending aorta replacement ± aortic valve procedure (group 1, n = 122, 49.4%); aortic root replacement with a composite valve–graft conduit ± ascending aorta replacement (group 2, n = 93, 37.7%); valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) ± ascending aorta replacement (group 3, n = 32, 13.0%). Results Thirty-day mortality for the entire cohort was 2.02% (5 deaths). Overall, 75 patients (30.4%) did not require any transfusion of blood or other products. Patients in groups 1 and 3 were significantly more likely to avoid transfusion than those in group 2. Mean transfusion volume for any individual patient was modest; those who underwent VSARR (group 3) required less intraoperative red blood cells (RBC) than others. Intraoperative transfusion of RBC was independently associated with an increased risk of death at 30 days. Conclusions Elective proximal aortic reconstruction can be performed without the need for excessive utilization of blood products. Composite root replacement is associated with a greater need for transfusion than either VSARR or isolated replacement of the ascending aorta.

Early Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain Deterioration After Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Impact of Aortic Stiffness

Purpose To associate the impact of aortic reconstruction using currently available grafts and endografts on pulse wave velocity in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to evaluate its effect on early cardiac systolic function indices. Materials and Methods Seventy-three consecutive patients with AAA (mean age 70±8 years; all men) who underwent open (n=12) or endovascular repair (EVAR; n=61) were prospectively enrolled in an observational cohort study. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS; an important diagnostic and prognostic index of early systolic dysfunction) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) were estimated 1 week preoperatively, as well as at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Results A significant time effect was found for cf-PWV, which showed an increase at 1 month that remained through 6 months (p=0.007). Additionally, a deterioration in GLS values was revealed, with a significant change at 1 month that persisted 6 months later (p<0.001). No significant group effect was observed between EVAR and open repair (p=0.98), and there was no significant interaction (p=0.96). Notably, the difference in GLS between baseline and 6 months significantly correlated with the corresponding changes in cf-PWV (r=0.494, p<0.001). Conclusion AAA repair leads not only to an increase in aortic stiffness, as measured by the increase in pulse wave velocity, but also to reduced cardiac systolic function. Our findings highlight the need for a more intense cardiac surveillance program after aortic reconstruction. Further studies are needed to investigate how this may translate into long-term manifestations of cardiovascular complications and symptomatology.

Left ventricular global longitudinal peak strain deterioration in patients undergoing endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: the effect of arterial stiffness

Purpose Invasive abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) replacement with an endograft interposes between the normal arterial tree which may acutely reduce overall systemic compliance and increase the input impedance. We evaluated the impact of aortic reconstruction, using currently available grafts and endografts, on pulse wave velocity (pwv) and its effect on early cardiac systolic function indices in these patients. Methods A total of 73 men, mean age 70±8 years, were evaluated. Of these, 61 underwent endovascular repair (EVAR) and 12 open repair (OS). All patients underwent an assessment with a standard conventional transthoracic and a two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography at baseline, at 1 and 6 months after the intervention. Carotid - femoral (c-f) artery waveforms were measured and pwv was determined in all participants on each follow up visit. Results No significant changes in blood pressure were observed during the study period. Notably, our findings revealed a significant reduction in global longitudinal peak strain (GLPS) during the 6 months follow-up (from −19.7±−5.9% at baseline to −17.1±−5.9% at 6 months, p=0.03). C-r pwv showed a significant increase 6 months after the procedure (from 10.7±−2.9 m/sec at baseline to 13.9±3.3 m/sec at 6 months, p&lt;0.001). A significant time effect was found on cf-pwv, which showed an increase at 1 month and remained thereafter (p=0.007). Additionally, a deterioration in GLS values was revealed, with a significant increase at 1 month that persisted 5 months later (p&lt;0.001). No significant group effect was observed between EVAR and open repair (p=0.98) and there was no significant interaction (p=0.96). Notably, the difference of global longitudinal strain (ΔGLS) between baseline and 6 months significantly correlated with the corresponding changes in cf-pwv (r=0.494, p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions AAA repair not only leads to an increase in aortic stiffness, as measured by the increase in pwv, but also reduces cardiac systolic function. Our findings highlight the need a more intense cardiac surveillance program after aortic reconstruction. Further studies are needed to investigate how this may translate into long-term manifestations of cardiovascular complications and symptomatology. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None