The left atrial appendage closure by surgery-2 (LAACS-2) trial protocol rationale and design of a randomized multicenter trial investigating if left atrial appendage closure prevents stroke in patients undergoing open-heart surgery irrespective of preoperative atrial fibrillation status and stroke risk.

Background: Current recommendations regarding the use of surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) closure to prevent thromboembolisms lack high-level evidence. Patients undergoing open-heart surgery often have several cardiovascular risk factors and a high occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF)-with a high recurrence rate-and are thus at a high risk of stroke. Therefore, we hypothesized that concomitant LAA closure during open-heart surgery will reduce mid-term risk of stroke independently of preoperative AF status and CHADS-VASc score.

Mortality and rehospitalization after mitral valve surgery as a function of age and key comorbidities.

Background: Mitral valve surgery is associated with substantial perioperative risk and long-term complications. Data on long-term outcomes following surgery remain scarce and are hypothetically modified by age and comorbidities.

Methods: This Danish nationwide study included patients ≥60 years of age undergoing mitral valve surgery from 2000-2018.

Detailed statistical analysis plan for the neurological complications in endoscopic versus open radial artery harvest (NEO) randomised clinical trial.

Introduction: Coronary artery bypass grafting can be conducted using the radial artery as a bypass graft. However, it remains unclear which harvesting method is superior, i.e.

Randomized Trial of Surgical Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Protection Against Cerebrovascular Events.

Following open-heart surgery, atrial fibrillation and stroke occur frequently. Left atrial appendage closure added to elective open-heart surgery could reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. We aim to examine if routine closure of the left atrial appendage in patients undergoing open-heart surgery provides long-term protection against cerebrovascular events independently of atrial fibrillation history, stroke risk, and oral anticoagulation use.

Reintervention rates following bioprosthetic surgical aortic valve replacement-a Danish Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objectives: Updated European guidelines recommend annual echocardiographic evaluation after bioprosthetic surgical aortic valve replacement (bio-SAVR). Given the increased demand on health care resources, only clinically relevant controls can be prioritized. We therefore aimed to explore reintervention rates following bio-SAVR.

Patient-Tailored Aortic Valve Replacement.

Contemporary surgical and transcatheter aortic valve interventions offer effective therapy for a broad range of patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve disease. Both approaches have seen significant advances in recent years. Guidelines have previously emphasized 'surgical risk' in the decision between surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), although this delineation becomes increasingly obsolete with more evidence on the effectiveness of TAVR in low surgical risk candidates.

Late presentation of left atrial appendage erosion and perforation by an Amplatzer™ Amulet™ closure device: a case report.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure may reduce the risk of cardioembolic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Given the prophylactic nature of the procedure, identifying and managing complications are paramount.

Case Summary: A 73-year-old man presented 14 months after percutaneous LAA closure with syncope and acute pericardial tamponade which required surgical exploration and haemostasis; the most temporally remote account of this complication albeit amongst very few case reports.

Coronary artery bypass surgery plus medical therapy versus medical therapy alone for ischaemic heart disease: a protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Background: Despite increasing survival, cardiovascular disease remains the primary cause of death worldwide with an estimated 7.4 million annual deaths. The main symptom of ischaemic heart disease is chest pain (angina pectoris) most often caused by blockage of a coronary artery.

[Saphenous vein harvesting techniques for coronary artery bypass grafting].

The saphenous vein is a frequently used graft material in coronary artery bypass grafting. In this review, three harvesting techniques are presented, and their benefits and disadvantages are discussed. Endoscopic harvesting (EVH) has reduced harvest site complications.

New-onset of postoperative atrial fibrillation is likely to recur in the absence of other triggers.

Background: Incident atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported in 10%-65% of patients without previous AF diagnosis after open heart surgery. The risk of late AF recurrence after a postoperative AF onset is unclear, and it is controversial whether AF limited to the postoperative period should elicit oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term recurrence of AF in patients developing new-onset peri-procedural AF.

Endoscopic versus open radial artery harvest and mammario-radial versus aorto-radial grafting in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: protocol for the 2 × 2 factorial designed randomised NEO trial.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting using the radial artery has, since the 1990s, gone through a revival. Observational studies have indicated better long-term patency when using radial arteries. Therefore, radial artery might be preferred especially in younger patients where long time patency is important.