Is postoperative cognitive decline after cardiac surgery associated with plasma beta amyloid 1–42 levels?

Background Postoperative cognitive decline following cardiac surgery is one of the frequently reported complications affecting postoperative outcome, characterized by impairment of memory or concentration. The aetiology is considered multifactorial and the research conducted so far has presented contradictory results. The proposed mechanisms to explain the cognitive decline associated with cardiac surgery include the neurotoxic accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) proteins similar to Alzheimer's disease. The comparison of coronary artery bypass grafting procedures concerning postoperative cognitive decline and plasmatic Aβ1-42 concentrations has not yet been conducted. Methods The research was designed as a controlled clinical study of patients with coronary artery disease undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization with or without the use of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine. All patients completed a battery of neuropsychological tests and plasmatic Aβ1-42 concentrations were collected. Results The neuropsychological test results postoperatively were significantly worse in the cardiopulmonary bypass group and the patients had larger shifts in the Aβ1-42 preoperative and postoperative values than the group in which off-pump coronary artery bypass was performed. Conclusions The conducted research confirmed the earlier suspected association of plasmatic Aβ1-42 concentration to postoperative cognitive decline and the results further showed that there were less changes and lower concentrations in the off-pump coronary artery bypass group, which correlated to less neurocognitive decline. There is a lot of clinical contribution acquired by this research, not only in everyday decision making and using amyloid proteins as biomarkers, but also in the development and application of non-pharmacological and pharmacological neuroprotective strategies.

Effect of different storage solutions on oxidative stress in human saphenous vein grafts

Background Ischemia–reperfusion injury of saphenous vein grafts (SVG) during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery negatively impacts endothelial integrity and functionality and is associated with vein graft failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of oxidative stress in human SVG segments following ischemic storage in three intraoperative graft storage solutions: saline (S), autologous heparinized blood (HB) and DuraGraft (DG). Methods 3 mm tissue rings derived from surplus SVG segments from 50 patients were stored at room temperature for 30 min in DG, S or HB. Total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were determined from which the oxidative stress index (OSI: TOS/TAS ratio) was calculated. A p-value < 0.017 was considered significant implementing a Bonferroni correction. Results TOS values were significantly lower for DG stored samples in comparison to both S and HB; there was no difference between S and HB (DG: 32.6 ± 1.8, S: 39.6 ± 2.8 and HB: 40.6 ± 2.4 µmol H2O2 eqv.; DG vs. S and DG vs. HB p < 0.0001, S vs. HB p = 0.047). TAS was higher for both DG and HB in comparison to S (DG: 8.9 ± 0.9, S: 6.9 ± 1.0 and HB: 8.6 ± 0.9 mmol Trolox eqv.; DG vs S p < 0.0001, DG vs. HB p = 0.263, S vs. HB p < 0.0001). OSI differed between all groups with the lowest value for DG (DG: 3.7 ± 0.2, S: 5.8 ± 0.4 and HB: 4.7 ± 0.2 µmol H2O2 eqv./mmol Trolox eqv.; all p < 0.0001). Conclusions Saphenous veins grafts stored in DuraGraft had a lower oxidative level, higher antioxidant level and a lower oxidative stress index in comparison to saphenous vein grafts stored in saline or heparinized blood. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02922088.

Left ventricle reverse remodeling in chronic aortic regurgitation patients with dilated ventricle after aortic valve replacement

Background Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) with a severe dilated left ventricle and dysfunction leads to left ventricle remodeling. But there are rarely reports on the left ventricle reverse remodeling (LVRR) after AVR. This study aimed to investigate the LVRR and outcomes in chronic AR patients with severe dilated left ventricle and dysfunction after AVR. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical datum of chronic aortic regurgitation patients who underwent isolated AVR. The LVRR was defined as an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at least 10 points or a follow-up LVEF ≥ 50%, and a decrease in the indexed left ventricular end-diastolic diameter of at least 10%, or an indexed left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ≤ 33 mm/m2. The changes in echocardiographic parameters after AVR, survival analysis, the predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), the association between LVRR and MACE were analyzed. Results Sixty-nine patients with severe dilated left ventricle and dysfunction underwent isolated AVR. LV remodeling in 54 patients and no LV remodeling in 15 patients at 6–12 months follow-up. The preoperative left ventricular dimensions and volumes were larger, and the EF was lower in the LV no remodeling group than those in the LV remodeling group (all p < 0.05). The adverse LVRR was the predictor for MACE at follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 47.29 months (range 6 to 173 months). The rate of freedom from MACE was 94.44% at 5 years and 92.59% at 10 years in the remodeling group, 60% at 5 years, and 46.67% at 10 years in the no remodeling group. Conclusions The left ventricle remodeling after AVR was the important predictor for MACE. LV no remodeling may not be associated with benefits from AVR for chronic aortic regurgitation patients with severe dilated LV and dysfunction.

The full cohort of 512 patients and the nested controlled trial in 93 patients in the Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Colorectal Cancer (PulMiCC) study raise doubts about the effective size at present claimed

A comparison of the relative merits of video-assisted pulmonary metastasectomy versus thoracotomy is predicated on the assumption that removal of asymptomatic lung metastases favourably influences survival and that it does so by a large degree. Recently published but long-awaited evidence from a prospective cohort study and a randomised trial of Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Colorectal Cancer (PulMiCC) challenges that assumption.

Initial experience of video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus toripalimab in a patient with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a case report

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors were used for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) more and more frequently and the effects were thrilling. Toripalimab as a new immune checkpoint inhibitor has been shown to be effective in patients with advanced NSCLC. However, data regarding the safety and feasibility of surgical resection after treatment with toripalimab for NSCLC remain scarce. Here, we present a case with locally advanced NSCLC that received video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy after treatment with toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy. Case presentation A 62-year-old male patient with a history of coronary artery stenting operation for two times was found a 3.4 × 3.2 cm cavity mass in the upper lobe of the left lung and enlarged left hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. Pathological results identified squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was diagnosed with a locally advanced NSCLC and received VATS left upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus toripalimab for 3 cycles. The postoperative pathological results showed complete tumor remission. Short-term follow-up results were excellent, and long-term results remain to be revealed. Conclusions Our preliminary results showed that the use of neoadjuvant toripalimab and chemotherapy for the locally advanced NSCLC before surgical resection is safe and feasible.

Nuss procedure for combined pectus excavatum and carinatum in a patient with a history of congenital esophageal atresia repair surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery usually causes tissue adhesion on the operation site which increases the risk of complications in the subsequent thoracic surgery including Nuss procedure. Disorders that require cardiothoracic surgery include chest wall deformities such as pectus excavatum, congenital heart diseases, lung diseases such as congenital cystic adenomatiod malformation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Recently, we encountered a rare case of combined pectus excavatum and carinatum in a patient with a history of congenital esophageal atresia repair surgery. Commendably, despite tissue adhesion from the previous surgery, a modified Nuss procedure was performed successfully with no complications. We agree that the Nuss procedure is feasible for thoracic deformities in patients with a surgical history of cardiothoracic surgery.

Individualized strategy of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in congenital cardiac septal defects

Background Intracardiac septal defect is repaired using median sternotomy in most centers; however, there are several reports using minimally invasive surgery in both children and adults. This study summarized our strategy of minimally invasive therapy using various lateral mini-thoracotomies in patients with congenital septal defect. Methods In this study, 472 patients who underwent minimally invasive repair of intracardiac septal defects (atrial septal defect, (ASD), ventricular septal defect, (VSD), and atrioventricular septal defect, (AVSD)) from January 2012 to June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Those who underwent device closure were excluded. The minimally invasive strategy included three groups: the right sub-axillary vertical incision (RSAVI) group (N = 335, including192 ASDs, 135 VSDs and 8 AVSDs); the right anterolateral thoracotomy (RALT) group (N = 132, including 77 ASDs, 51 VSDs and 4 AVSDs); and the left anterolateral thoracotomy (LALT) group (N = 5, all subpulmonary VSDs). Results Concomitant surgeries included nine cases of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction relief, nine cases of mitral repairs and 37 cases of tricuspid repairs. There was one transition from thoracotomy to sternotomy. Three patients required second pump run for residual lesions (two residual VSD shunts and one mitral regurgitation). The age and body weight of the RSAVI group were significantly lower than those of the RALT and LALT groups (all P < 0.01). No postoperative death was observed. Postoperative complications included one case of chest exploration for bleeding, one case of reoperation due to patch dehiscence during the same admission, one case of transient neural dysfunction, three cases of diaphragmatic paresis and 13 cases of atelectasis. The median stay in the intensive care unit was two days, while the median postoperative hospitalization duration was six days. The echocardiography results before discharge indicated no significant residual lesions. No reoperation, no new onset of chest deformities and no sclerosis were observed during the follow-up. Conclusions Intracardiac septal defects can be safely and effectively repaired by minimally invasive surgery with good cosmetic results. RSAVI is suitable in infants and children, while RALT is more commonly used in adolescents and adults. LALT is an alternative incision to repair subpulmonary VSD.

Thoracoscopic infrared ablation to create a box lesion as a treatment for atrial fibrillation

Background Creating a box lesion in the posterior wall of the left atrium from the epicardial side of the beating heart remains a challenge. Although a transmural lesion can be created by applying radiofrequency (RF) energy at clampable sites, it is still difficult to create a transmural lesion at unclampable sites because the inner blood flow in the unclampable free wall weakens the thermal effect on the outside. Our aim was to apply the newly developed infrared coagulator to create linear transmural lesions on the beating heart thoracoscopically to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Case presentation A 71-year-old male was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and permanent atrial fibrillation. The patient was first diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 20 years before. Direct current cardioversion had been performed every few years a total of four times, but sinus rhythm restoration had always been temporary. On February 27, 2020, thoracoscopic PV isolation together with infrared roof- and bottom-line ablation to create a box lesion and left atrial appendage amputation (LAAA) were performed. The coagulator could be applied to clinical thoracoscopic surgery to successfully create a box lesion without any complication. The patient restored a regular sinus rhythm, it has been maintained for eleven months, and there have been no adverse events. Conclusions The infrared coagulator might have enough potential to create transmural lesions on the beating heart in thoracoscopic AF surgery.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy versus open lobectomy in the treatment of large lung cancer: propensity-score matched analysis

Background There are several concerns on thoracoscopic surgery for large tumors because of the increased risk of tumor cell spillage. This study aimed to compare perioperative outcomes and oncological validity between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with tumor size > 5 cm. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 355 patients who underwent lobectomy with clinical N0 NSCLC with solid tumor component diameter > 5 cm between January 2009 and December 2016. Patients with tumor invading adjacent structures were excluded. The patients were divided into the VATS group (n = 132) and thoracotomy group (n = 223). Propensity score matching (1:1) was applied. Results After propensity score matching, 204 patients were matched, and clinical characteristics of the two groups were well balanced. The VATS group was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay (6 days vs. 7 days; P < 0.001) than the thoracotomy group. There were no significant differences in the 5-year overall survival (71.5% in VATS vs. 64.4% in thoracotomy, P = 0.390) and 5-year recurrence-free survival (60.1% in VATS vs. 51.5% in thoracotomy, P = 0.210) between the two groups. The cumulative incidence of ipsilateral pleural recurrence was not significantly different between the two groups (12.0% in VATS vs. 7.9% in thoracotomy; P = 0.582). Conclusions In clinical N0 NSCLC larger than 5 cm, VATS lobectomy resulted in shorter hospital stay and similar survival outcome compared to open lobectomy. Based on these results, VATS lobectomy is a valuable option in this subset of patients.

Permanent His-bundle pacing in the right atrium in a patient with a Mobitz II atrioventricular block: a case presentation

Background This case report presents a patient diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome who was successfully treated with permanent His-bundle pacing (PHBP). Case presentation A 36-year-old man was transferred to our hospital due to recurrent syncope. He was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome based on the 24-h Holter and a history of syncope. He was admitted to hospital and successfully treated with PHBP. The postoperative examination showed that the pacing rhythm, pacemaker pacing and perception function were normal. He was discharged without any complications after a successful pacemaker implantation. Conclusions We described a case in which PHBP may become an optimal approach to the management of patients with sick sinus syndrome. Right ventricular pacing has been attempted with inconsistent efficacy outcomes. HBP provides a promising alternative pacing option that might provide symptom resolution to patients with sick sinus syndrome.