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.

Acute Type A Dissection, Coarctation of Aorta and Levoatriocardinal Vein -- A Rare Combination

Concomitant presence of acute type A dissection and coactation of aorta is rare (1). Levoatriocardinal vein has shown to be associated with left sided hypoplastic lesions as well as with normal hearts (2, 3 ). However, concurrent presence of levoatriocardinal vein with acute type A dissection, severe aortic regurgitation and Coarctation of aortic isthmus was not described. We here described a case of 20 year male presented to emergency department with acute chest pain radiating to back. On evaluation, he was found to have acute type A dissection with dilated aortic root, severe aortic regurgitation, normal mitral valve, severe coarctation of aorta and levoatriocardinal vein. Patient was managed successfully with composite valve conduit replacement of ascending aorta with ascending aortic to descending aortic graft (16mm graft) with levoatriocardinal vein ligation.

Abstract 14789: Multimodality Imaging in Mycobacterium Chimaera Cardiovascular Infections

Introduction: Mycobacterium Chimaera (MC) infections following cardiovascular surgery are challenging to diagnose given their insidious presentation. We therefore reviewed the various imaging modalities used to diagnose these infections at Mayo Clinic. Methods: Cases from 01/01/2010-06/01/2020 were identified using electronic medical records. Demographics and clinical history were collected. Imaging studies, including transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT), cardiac CT (CCT), and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were reviewed. Results: A total of 7 patients (85.7% male) were found. 6 underwent aortic valve replacement and 1 received an aortic composite valve conduit. Surgical dates ranged from 01/2010-12/2018. Mean age at presentation was 63.3 years. Mean time from surgery to symptom onset was 28.0 months. All patients underwent TTE and TEE; prosthetic valve endocarditis was identified in 6 cases between both, while CMR established the diagnosis in 1 case. TTE showed prosthetic valve obstruction in 2 cases and an anterior pseudoaneurysm in 1 case. TEE findings included thickened prosthesis and/or vegetations (n=5), thickened posterior root (n=4), and root abscess (n=3). Among the 3 patients who underwent PET/CT, 2 demonstrated increased fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake around the aortic prosthesis; in addition, 1 had elevated FDG uptake in the myocardium suggesting myocarditis. 1 patient did not have aortic prosthesis FDG uptake. In the 2 patients who had CCT, 1 showed a pseudoaneurysm that prompted suspicion for endocarditis, and the other revealed a fluid collection adjacent to the aortic valve conduit. 2 patients underwent CMR; 1 had aortic prosthesis thickening and patchy areas of myocardial delayed enhancement suspicious for myocarditis, whereas the other showed vegetation and an aortic root abscess. Conclusion: TTE plus TEE successfully identified MC prosthetic valve endocarditis in most cases with TEE having higher specificity. Advanced imaging techniques are helpful to support the diagnosis and assess for myocardial and/or aortic involvement. Combining these modalities is therefore crucial in unveiling this elusive organism.

Emergency aortic root replacement with the Bioconduit stentless aortic valve conduit

This report concerns a 73-year-old woman who presented with asymptomatic aortic root an-eurysm with severe aortic regurgitation. The purpose of this article is to present our first successful case for emergency aortic root replacement (Bentall operation) that involves annular implantation of a pericardial valved conduit (Bioconduit TM, Biointegral Surgical, Inc., Ontario, Canada) and to discuss some essential technical clue issues related to this approach.