Conventional versus minimally invasive extra-corporeal circulation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial (COMICS).

Introduction: The trial hypothesized that minimally invasive extra-corporeal circulation (MiECC) reduces the risk of serious adverse events (SAEs) after cardiac surgery operations requiring extra-corporeal circulation without circulatory arrest.

Methods: This is a multicentre, international randomized controlled trial across fourteen cardiac surgery centres including patients aged ≥18 and <85 years undergoing elective or urgent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery, or CABG + AVR surgery. Participants were randomized to MiECC or conventional extra-corporeal circulation (CECC), stratified by centre and operation.

Rivaroxaban in patients with mechanical heart valves: A pilot study.

Background: Patients with mechanical heart valves are still not eligible for treatment with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). We aimed to conduct a proof-of-principle study investigating the anti-Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban as antithrombotic treatment in patients with recent mechanical aortic valve replacement.

Materials And Methods: Low-risk patients scheduled for elective mechanical aortic valve replacement were treated with rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily (OD) in a prospective cohort study, started on day 3 postoperatively and given for 6 months.

A novel blood-sparing agent in cardiac surgery? First in-patient experience with the synthetic serine protease inhibitor MDCO-2010: a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Antifibrinolytics have been used for 2 decades to reduce bleeding in cardiac surgery. MDCO-2010 is a novel, synthetic, serine protease inhibitor. We describe the first experience with this drug in patients.

Early clinical experience with a new tubular equine pericardial stentless aortic valve.

Background: This study details a single-center experience with the 3F Therapeutics stentless aortic bioprosthesis(investigational device) and is part of a prospective,nonrandomized worldwide multicenter study. We assessed the implantation procedure and the valve's efficacy in terms of early mortality and morbidity and early echocardiographic valve performance.

Methods: Between June 2001 and March 2004, 24 patients (14 men/10 women) underwent aortic valve replacement(AVR) with a 3F valve.

Clinical and angiographic results after mechanical connection for distal anastomosis in coronary surgery.

Background: Sutureless anastomotic devices are of increasing interest in cardiovascular surgery. We investigated the stainless steel clip system of St Jude Medical/Anastomotic Technology Group (Maple Grove, Minn) to connect saphenous vein grafts with coronary arteries.

Methods: Forty-five patients were enrolled in this feasibility study performed on patients who had on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, but 32 patients only received 1 distal anastomosis with this investigational device (2.