Statin loading before coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized trial.

Aims: Evidence suggests that a high-dose statin loading before a percutaneous coronary revascularization improves outcomes in patients receiving long-term statins. This study aimed to analyse the effects of such an additional statin therapy before surgical revascularization.

Methods And Results: This investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted from November 2012 to April 2019 at 14 centres in Germany.

Radial artery versus saphenous vein versus right internal thoracic artery for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: We used individual patient data from 4 of the largest contemporary coronary bypass surgery trials to evaluate differences in long-term outcomes when radial artery (RA), right internal thoracic artery (RITA) or saphenous vein graft (SVG) are used to complement the left internal thoracic artery-to-left anterior descending graft.

Methods: Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke).

Selective sinus replacement for aortic root repair in bicuspid aortopathy.

Objectives: To evaluate the results after selective sinus replacement (SSR) for aortic root remodeling in bicuspid aortopathy.

Methods: Among 662 patients who underwent root repair using SSR between 2005 and 2020, there were 114 with bicuspid aortopathy. SSR was performed either as an isolated procedure (31) or as an adjunct to aortic valve repair (83) and was adjusted to the existing aortic annulus diameter rather than a downsized diameter.

Augmentation of the posterior mitral leaflet in secondary mitral valve insufficiency, mid-term results.

Objectives: We evaluate the mid-term results of mitral valve (MV) repair with patch augmentation of the posterior leaflet in secondary mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Patients were included after diagnosis of a severe symptomatic secondary MV insufficiency with grade III and IV according to the Carpentier classification IIIb. Indication for a patch augmentation technique was a dilatation of the left ventricle leading to a displacement of the papillary muscles, causing restricted leaflet motion and a marked leaflet tenting height.