Unpredictable Aortic Behavior in Identifying Risk Factors for Reintervention: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background:  Although advancements in the management of thoracic aortic disease have led to a reduction in acute mortality, individuals requiring postoperative reintervention experience substantially worse long-term clinical outcomes and increased mortality. We aimed to identify the risk factors for postoperative reintervention in this high-risk population.

Patients And Methods:  This prospective observational cohort study included patients who survived endovascular or open surgical treatment for thoracic aortic disease between January 2009 and June 2020.

Impact of Preoperative Sinus Rhythm on Concomitant Surgical Ablation's One-Year Success in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Registry Cohort Study.

: The surgical ablation (SA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) during cardiac surgery is performed in only 8-40% of patients. We performed a subgroup analysis of the 1-year follow-up from the German CArdioSurgEry Atrial Fibrillation (CASE-AF) registry to determine how preoperative sinus rhythm (SR) prior to SA affected the outcomes. : The CASE-AF registry enrolled AF patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with concomitant SA.

Prevalence and Influence of Genetic Variants on Follow-Up Results in Patients Surviving Thoracic Aortic Therapy.

To investigate the prevalence and effects of genetic variants (GVs) in survivors of thoracic aortic dissection/aneurysm repair. Patients aged 18-80 years who survived follow-up after cardiosurgical or endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection at a single tertiary center between 2008 and 2019 and underwent genetic testing were enrolled. The exclusion criteria were age >60 years, no offspring, and inflammatory- or trauma-related pathogenesis.

Evaluation of the Value of Histological Examination for the Prediction of Genetic Thoracic Proximal Aortopathies.

: Heritable connective tissue disorders are often accompanied by an increased risk for thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD). Profound knowledge of the underlying pathology may have an impact on individual treatment, systematic follow-up, and early detection by the screening of offspring. The aim of this study, based in a single high-volume tertiary center, was an analysis of the diagnostic validity of histopathologic findings in patients with TAAD due to these findings' accuracy in diagnosing heritable connective tissue disorders.

The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Thoracic Aortic Disease: Are They Indicators for the Pathogenesis of Dissections?

The pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm and dissection continues to be under discussion. Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling processes in the aortic wall are hypothesized to be involved in the development of the disorders. Therefore, in a histological study, we investigated the expression of metalloproteases 1 and 9 (MMP1 and MMP9) and their inhibitors (TIMP 1 and TIMP 2) in cardiac surgery patients.

Screening for Peripheral Vascular Stiffness in Lipedema Patients by Automatic Electrocardiogram-Based Oscillometric Detection.

Body mass index (BMI) is seen as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in lipedema patients. A valid predictor of CVD is increased aortic stiffness (IAS), and previous research described IAS in lipedema. However, it is not known if this applies to all patients.

Prevalence of Genetic Variants and Deep Phenotyping in Patients with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: A Cross-Sectional Single-Centre Cohort Study.

Background: There is a paucity of evidence on people with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. We aimed to determine the prevalence of genetic variants and their associations with phenotypes.

Methods: In this cross-sectional single-centre cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent endovascular or open-surgical repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, genetic analysis was performed using four-stage Next Generation Sequencing, and findings were confirmed with Sanger sequencing.

T4 Lung Carcinoma with Infiltration of the Thoracic Aorta: Indication and Surgical Procedure.

Lung carcinomas infiltrate the aorta mostly on the left side and are altogether rare. As an initial step, complete staging is performed and the results are evaluated in an interdisciplinary tumor board. If the patient's general condition including cardiopulmonary reserves is sufficient, and if there is neither distant metastasis nor an N2 situation, surgical resection may be indicated.

Combined Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Hybrid Concept for Patients with Mitral Valve and Coronary Pathologies.

We evaluated the feasibility of hybrid percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) in patients with concomitant coronary and mitral disease. Of 534 patients who underwent MIMVS at our institution between 2012 and 2018, those with combined mitral and single vessel coronary pathologies who underwent MIMVS and PCI were included. Patients were excluded if they had endocarditis or required emergency procedures.

MRI detects increased aortic stiffening and myocardial dysfunction after TEVAR of blunt injury in young patients.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a well-established technique for the management of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI). Despite improvements in vascular imaging, graft material properties, and implant techniques, stent-graft deployment artificially induces aortic stiffening. This study aimed to evaluate the midterm effect of thoracic endovascular aortic repair after blunt thoracic aortic injury on aortic stiffness and cardiac function in young patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Invasive Giant B-Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Fulminant Pulmonary Embolism.

 Cardiac non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is rare and has a poor prognosis. Here we report a rare case mimicking pulmonary embolism.  A 38-year-old woman suffered from severe dyspnea after cesarean section.

Influence of cardioplegic solution on incidence of delirium after CABG surgery: Use of Calafiore blood cardioplegia versus HTK - Bretschneider - solution in a single-center retrospective analysis from 2017 to 2021.

Background: Purpose of the present study is an evaluation of postoperative incidence for delirium after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Study addressed whether application of Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) solution (Bretschneider) or blood cardioplegia (Calafiore) is associated with increased of postoperative delirium cases.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective, single center evaluation a total number of 273 patients were enrolled in the study from January 2017 to October 2021.

ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Right Atrial Myxoma.

 Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor. Although benign, it can cause life-threatening complications due to embolization.  We describe an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) involving a giant right atrial myxoma and persisting foramen ovale (PFO) in a 64-year-old male patient and report on emergency percutaneous interventional therapy and subsequent cardiac surgery to remove the right atrial myxoma.

Infrared Thermographic Imaging of Chest Wall Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Coronary artery disease represents a leading cause of death worldwide, to which the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the main method of treatment in advanced multiple vessel disease. The use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) as a graft insures an improved long-term survival, but impairment of chest wall perfusion often leads to surgical site infection and increased morbidity and mortality. Infrared thermography (IRT) has established itself in the past decades as a non-invasive diagnostic technique.

Does Preoperative Sinus Rhythm Influence Surgical Ablation's Perioperative Safety in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation?

Background: Despite excellent data on lowering long-term stroke and all-cause mortality rates, currently, only 25-40% of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergo simultaneous surgical ablation therapy (SA) during cardiac surgery. Surgeon's fear exposing their patients to an additional, unjustified, and disproportionate risk when performing SA in AF patients presenting with sinus rhythm (SR) before surgery. To clarify the influence of preoperative SR before SA for AF, we conducted a subgroup analysis of the German Cardiosurgical Atrial Fibrillation (CASE-AF) register.

Sexual Quality of Life in Men <60 Years Old after Coronary Bypass Surgery.

Purpose: To explore the effect of undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting on sexual quality of life as an integral part of patients' health-related quality of life.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 265 men ages 18 to 60 years (median age, 55) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting 1 to 5 years before the study. Standardized questionnaires were implemented to evaluate participant pre- and postoperative sexual quality of life and the quality of counseling provided to patients.

Mechanical circulatory support for early surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect with cardiogenic shock.

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (pVSD) due to acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of primary surgical repair of pVSD in patients with CS and examine whether it is influenced by the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. Between October 1994 and April 2016, primary surgical repair of pVSD complicated by CS was performed in 53 patients.

Giant Intramural Right Ventricular Hematoma after PCI in a Patient with Condition after CABG.

Coronary artery perforation secondary to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a rare, but a potentially life-threatening complication. There is a misconception that cardiac tamponade rarely occurs in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We first describe a giant right ventricular intramural hematoma following PCI via a saphenous vein graft to treat a distal stenosis of the right coronary artery, and its successful treatment with redo cardiac surgery.

Subclinical Endocarditis Might be a Hidden Trigger of Early Prosthetic Valve Calcification: A Histological Study.

Objective: Despite various improvements in valve prosthetics, early valve deterioration still occurs, leading to prosthetic failure. Studying the early phase of this deterioration is quite difficult, as the prosthesis to be examined is almost always explanted only after extensive deterioration. The objective of this research is to study the pathology of early valve deterioration in an early stage in order to reveal the possible trigger of the process.

Management of the left subclavian artery during TEVAR - complications and mid-term follow-up.

Background: Numerous conditions that affect the boundary between the aortic arch and descending aorta are treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). In 40 % of cases, coverage of the left subclavian artery (LSA) cannot be prevented. Subsequently, neurological complications such as stroke or ischemia of the left upper extremity may develop.

Effect of chlorhexidine skin disinfection and retrosternal gentamicin sponge on post-sternotomy mediastinitis: results from a prospective controlled registry of 2340 patients.

Background: Reducing post-sternotomy mediastinitis (PSM) requires incorporating multiple methods. However, the independent effects of these measures are not well studied.

Aim: To evaluate the independent effect of preoperative disinfection using isopropyl alcohol (IPA)-chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and the topical application of a retrosternal gentamicin collagen sponge at wound closure on reducing PSM.

Warfarin anticoagulation in acute type A aortic dissection survivors (WATAS).

Background: Early survivors of acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) remain at risk for late death and late aortic events. However, the frequency and long-term effects of warfarin anticoagulation on long-term outcome in post-surgical AAAD survivors have not been elucidated.

Methods: Two tertiary care centers performed a retrospective observational cohort study of warfarin anticoagulation in AAAD in 243 persons with early survival of surgical repair (WATAS).

Legitimacy of Entry-Oriented Strategy in DeBakey I Dissection in the Era of Endovascular Therapy.

Background: Legitimacy of entry-oriented therapy for DeBakey I aortic dissection is of eminent importance in the era of emerging ascending aorta endovascular therapy. This study aims to evaluate early, midterm, and reintervention results of entry-oriented operative strategy compared to more aggressive strategies for treatment of DeBakey type I aortic dissection with an isolated intimal tear in the ascending aorta.

Methods: This study prospectively followed 98 consecutive patients who received an operation for DeBakey type I aortic dissection with the intimal tear in the ascending aorta between 2007 and 2013 for up to 6 years.