Aortic valve endocarditis in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves.

Objective: To determine the long-term survival and rate of reoperation after surgical treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and patients with a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).

Methods: Between 1997 and 2017, 210 patients underwent surgical treatment for native aortic valve endocarditis, including 51 patients with BAV (24%) and 159 patients with TAV (76%). Data were obtained from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons data warehouse and hospital medical record review, supplemented with surveys and national death index data for more complete follow-up.

Stentless Versus Stented Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis.

Background: The differences in long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis between stentless and stented bioprostheses are controversial.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2018, 1173 patients underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis, including 559 treated with a stentless valve and 614 with a stented valve. A propensity score matched cohort with 348 pairs was generated by matching for age, sex, body surface area, bicuspid aortic valve, chronic lung disease, previous cardiac surgery, coronary artery disease, renal failure on dialysis, valve size, concomitant procedures, and surgeon.

Aortic Root Replacement of Small Roots to Prepare for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Small aortic root is a significant limitation of optimal hemodynamics for surgical aortic valve replacement due to a small annulus and application of transcatheter aortic valve replacement due to low coronary ostia and limited space at the root. We sutured a bioprosthetic valve that was up-sized by 2 to 3 valve sizes in the skirt portion of a Valsalva graft (Terumo Medical Corp) and implanted the coronary button high, close to sinotubular junction, to achieve optimal hemodynamics and prepare patients for future transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Outcomes of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Thoracic Aorta (4.0-4.5 cm) After Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: There is little evidence on managing the proximal aorta of 4.0-4.5 cm during aortic valve replacement (AVR) in bicuspid aortic valve patients.

Open Repair of Aortic Arch Mycotic Pseudoaneurysms With Distal Perfusion.

An 80-year-old man presented with a fast expanding 9.5-cm mycotic arch pseudoaneurysm. The right axillary and femoral arteries were cannulated.

Treatment of aortic valve endocarditis with stented or stentless valve.

Objective: The study objective was to provide evidence for choosing a bioprosthesis in treating patients with active aortic valve endocarditis.

Methods: From 1998 to 2017, 265 patients with active aortic valve endocarditis underwent aortic valve replacement with a stented valve (n = 97, 37%) or a stentless valve (n = 168, 63%) with further breakdown into inclusion technique (n = 142, 85%) or total root replacement (n = 26, 15%). Data were obtained from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database aided with chart review, surveys, and National Death Index data.

Impact of Chronic Renal Failure on Surgical Outcomes in Patients With Infective Endocarditis.

Background: Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who are undergoing hemodialysis are at increased risk for infective endocarditis (IE). However, outcomes of surgical treatment for IE in these patients have not been well studied.

Methods: Between 1997 and 2017, 539 patients underwent surgical treatment for IE.

Cryoablation of Intercostal Nerves Decreased Narcotic Usage After Thoracic or Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

To improve surgical pain control through cryoablation of intercostal nerves and reduce narcotic usage in patients undergoing open thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA or TAAA) repair. From 2012 to 2018, 117 patients underwent open repair of TAA or TAAA. Of those patients, 25 (21%) received cryoablation (2016-2018) of their intercostal nerves and 92 (79%) did not (2012-2018).