Unplanned readmissions, community socioeconomic factors, and their effects on long-term survival after complex thoracic aortic surgery.

Objective: We evaluated community socioeconomic factors in patients who had unplanned readmission after undergoing proximal aortic surgery (ascending aorta, aortic root, or arch).

Methods: Unplanned readmissions for any reason within 60 days of the index procedure were reviewed by race, acuity at presentation, and gender. We also evaluated 3 community socioeconomic factors: poverty, household income, and education.

Accumulate and consolidate the traditional vernacular timber preservation technologies through a field survey.

There are remarks on diverse types of timber structures in the tropics. This paper examines several case histories in Sri Lanka, focusing on the culturally varied and ecologically diverse traditional buildings with wood used for construction. The main objective was to gather data and document the knowledge on wood preservation.

Variation of Tetrahydrofurans in Thyclotides Enhances Oligonucleotide Binding and Cellular Uptake of Peptide Nucleic Acids.

Selective incorporation of conformational constraints into thyclotides can be used to modulate their binding to complementary oligonucleotides, increase polarity, and optimize uptake into HCT116 cells without assistance from moieties known to promote cell uptake. The X-ray structure and biophysical studies of a thyclotide-DNA duplex reveal that incorporation of tetrahydrofurans into an PNA backbone promotes a helical conformation that enhances binding to complementary DNA and RNA. Selective incorporation of tetrahydrofurans into the PNA backbone allows polarity to be increased incrementally so that uptake into HCT116 cells can be optimized.

Independent associations with early mortality after open repair of Crawford extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: We aimed to identify outcomes and factors that independently associate with early mortality after open repair of Crawford extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, defined as aneurysms confined to the segment below the diaphragm.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 721 extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs performed in our institution from 1986 to 2021. Indications for repair were aneurysm without dissection in 627 cases (87.

Racial disparities in thoracic aortic surgery: Myth or reality?

Objective: We examined the relationship between Black or White race and adverse outcomes in patients who underwent surgery of the ascending aorta, aortic root, or aortic arch at our center.

Methods: We analyzed 2335 consecutive patients who identified as Black (n = 217, 9.3%) or White (n = 2118, 90.

Contemporary Midterm Outcomes After Primary Repair of Chronic Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: Without surgical repair, acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is usually fatal. However, some patients survive without an early operation and progress to the chronic phase. Contemporary outcomes of primary surgical repair of chronic TAAD are unclear, so we evaluated them at our single-practice service.

Thyclotides, tetrahydrofuran-modified peptide nucleic acids that efficiently penetrate cells and inhibit microRNA-21.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are promising therapeutic molecules for gene modulation; however, they suffer from poor cell uptake. Delivery of PNAs into cells requires conjugation of the PNA to another large molecule, typically a cell-penetrating peptide or nanoparticle. In this study, we describe a new PNA-based molecule with cyclic tetrahydrofuran (THF) backbone modifications that in some cases considerably improve cell uptake.

Early and late outcomes of surgical repair of mycotic aortic aneurysms: A 30-year experience.

Objective: Mycotic aortic aneurysm and its associated complications are often catastrophic. In this study, we examined the early and late outcomes of surgical repair of mycotic aortic aneurysm at our center over the last 3 decades.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained aortic surgery database with supplemental adjudication of medical records.

Aortic arch repair: lessons learned over three decades at Baylor College of Medicine.

The treatment of complex aortic arch disease continues to be among the most demanding cardiovascular operations, with a considerable risk of death and stroke. Since January 1990, our single-practice service has performed over 3000 repairs of the aortic arch. Our aim was to describe the progression of our technical approach to open aortic arch repair.

Endovascular therapy for patients with heritable thoracic aortic disease.

Background: Patients with genetic or heritable aortic conditions and thoracic aortic aneurysm syndrome often develop cardiovascular abnormalities originating at the aortic root and affecting the entire thoracoabdominal aorta. Although thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is usually avoided in these patients, TEVAR may be worthwhile for those at high risk for surgical complications and in certain emergency circumstances. We explored indications for TEVAR in patients with suspected or confirmed genetic or heritable aortic conditions and investigated early and mid-term outcomes.

Cyclopentane peptide nucleic acid: Gold nanoparticle conjugates for the detection of nucleic acids in a microfluidic format.

Routine patient testing for viral infections is critical to identify infected individuals for treatment and to prevent spreading of infections to others. Developing robust and reliable diagnostic tools to detect nucleic acids of viruses at the point-of-care could greatly assist the clinical management of viral infections. The remarkable stability and high binding affinity of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to target nucleic acids could make PNA-based biosensors an excellent starting point to develop new nucleic acid detection technologies.

Staged Repair of Extensive Aneurysms of the Thoracic Aorta by Using the Elephant Trunk Technique.

Background: Staged open repair of extensive aortic aneurysms by using the elephant trunk (ET) technique has facilitated the treatment of aortic aneurysms that affect the entire thoracic aorta. We describe our nearly 3-decade experience with classic ET repairs.

Methods: From 1990 through 2021, we performed 363 stage 1 ET repairs to replace the transverse aortic arch in patients with a median age of 65 years (interquartile range, 56-71 years).

Midterm outcomes of aortic root surgery in patients with Marfan syndrome: A prospective, multicenter, comparative study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare midterm outcomes of aortic valve-replacing root replacement (AVR) and aortic valve-sparing root replacement (AVS) operations in patients with Marfan syndrome.

Methods: Patients who met strict Ghent diagnostic criteria for Marfan syndrome and who underwent either AVR or AVS between March 1, 2005 and December 31, 2010 were enrolled in a 3-year follow-up prospective, multicenter, international registry study; the study was subsequently amended to include 20-year follow-up. Enrollees were followed clinically and echocardiographically.

Effect of sarcopenia on survival and spinal cord deficit outcomes after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients 60 years of age and older.

Objective: Sarcopenia (core muscle loss) has been used as a surrogate marker of frailty. We investigated whether sarcopenia would adversely affect survival after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from patients aged 60 years or older who underwent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs from 2006 to 2016.

Sex Differences in Ascending Aortic and Arch Surgery: A Propensity-Matched Comparison of 1153 Pairs.

Background: We investigated the relationship of sex with clinical outcomes after proximal aortic (ascending and arch) operations, and whether sex-specific preoperative factors are associated with mortality.

Methods: Of 3745 patients who underwent elective, urgent, and emergency proximal aortic operations over a 30-year period, 1153 pairs of men and women were propensity-matched, and their early and long-term outcomes were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate late survival.

Open Repair of Acute Type A Intramural Hematoma in 3 Patients.

Acute aortic syndrome encompasses classic aortic dissection and less common aortic phenomena, including intramural hematoma (IMH), a hemorrhage within the aortic media that occurs without a discrete intimal tear. We reviewed our experience with treating acute type A IMH to better understand this acute aortic syndrome. A review of our clinical database identified 1,902 proximal aortic repairs that were performed from January 2006 through December 2018; of these, 266 were for acute aortic syndrome, including 3 (1.

A 23-year experience with the reversed elephant trunk technique for staged repair of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Objective: The reversed elephant trunk technique permits staged repair of extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm in patients whose distal (ie, descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal) aorta is symptomatic or disproportionately large compared with their proximal aorta (ie, ascending aorta and transverse aortic arch). We present our 23-year experience with the reversed elephant trunk approach.

Methods: Between 1994 and 2017, 94 patients (median age 62 [46-69] years) underwent stage 1 reversed elephant trunk repair of the distal aorta.

Propensity score analysis in patients with and without previous isolated coronary artery bypass grafting who require proximal aortic and arch surgery.

Objective: The risk posed by previous isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients who require proximal aortic or aortic arch surgery is unclear. We compared outcomes of ascending aortic and arch procedures in patients with and without previous CABG.

Methods: Using propensity scores, we created 2 matched groups of patients who underwent proximal aortic surgery, including total arch repairs, at our institution: 126 patients who underwent isolated CABG before the index operation and 126 without previous CABG.

Early Gastrointestinal Complications After Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background: The present study was done to examine the incidence, predictors, and impact of early gastrointestinal (GI) complications after open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 3587 open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs performed at our center from 1986 to 2019. We used univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors associated with GI complications, including bleeding, ischemia, obstruction, and acute pancreatitis.

Differential presentation in acuity and outcomes based on socioeconomic status in patients who undergo thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objectives: Socioeconomic differences can lead to differences in how patients present with surgical conditions. We attempted to determine whether socioeconomic status (SES) affects survival outcomes after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from 981 TAAA repairs performed on domestic (noninternational) patients between 2006 and 2016.

Is incidental splenectomy during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair associated with reduced survival?

Objective: The effect of incidental splenectomy during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair is unknown. We hypothesized incidental splenectomy was associated with decreased late survival.

Methods: We studied 1056 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs from 2006 to 2016.

Acute type I aortic dissection with or without antegrade stent delivery: Mid-term outcomes.

Objective: We determined the effect of antegrade stent delivery in the descending thoracic aorta on short- and mid-term clinical and imaging outcomes for patients who underwent repair of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

Methods: Outcomes were evaluated for 178 patients who underwent acute type I aortic dissection between 2005 and 2016 (standard repair, n = 115 [64.6%]; antegrade stent delivery, n = 63 [35.

Spinal cord deficit after 1114 extent II open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs.

Objective: Crawford extent II repairs are the most extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm operations and pose the greatest risk of postoperative spinal cord deficit. We sought to examine spinal cord deficit after open extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair to identify predictors of the most serious type: persistent paraplegia or paraparesis.

Methods: We included 1114 extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs performed from 1991 to 2017.

In the endovascular era, is elective open aortic arch surgery in elderly patients still justified?

Objective: The data supporting performing elective aortic arch surgery in patients aged 75 years or older are equivocal. We evaluated short- and long-term outcomes after elective arch surgery in patients aged ≥75 years to determine whether complex arch operations are justified in such patients.

Methods: Over a 10-year period, 805 patients aged 50 to 89 years underwent elective proximal or total arch surgery.