Impact of Cannulation Strategy and Extracorporeal Blood Flow on Recirculation During Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Introduction: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) is increasingly used in the treatment of severe respiratory failure. Despite a significant increase in the worldwide use of extracorporeal lung assist devices recirculation remains a common complication and is associated with a reduced effectiveness of ECMO support and increased hemolysis. In this observational study we aimed to investigate the impact of cannula configuration and extracorporeal flow on recirculation.

Retrospective investigation of >400 patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair with or without cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the risks and benefits of cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) placement in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2020, 411 patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair in 1 institution where 236 patients (57%) received a preoperative CSFD. Patient and outcome characteristics were retrospectively analysed and compared between patients with and without preoperative CSFD placement.

Perioperative Mass Transfusion Affects In-Hospital but Not Follow-Up Survival in Patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of mass transfusion on the postoperative outcome and survival in patients presenting with acute Type A aortic dissection. : Between 2002 and 2020, a total of 505 patients were surgically treated for an acute Type A aortic dissection. Mass transfusion was defined as the peri- and postoperative replacement by transfusion of 10 units.

Comparative Study of Male and Female Patients Undergoing Frozen Elephant Trunk Total Arch Replacement.

Background: Our aim was to investigate outcomes and long-term survival in male and female patients after frozen elephant trunk (FET) total arch replacement.

Methods: Between March 2013 and January 2023, 362 patients underwent aortic arch replacement via the FET technique. We compared patient characteristics and intra- and postoperative data between male and female patients.

Branched endovascular iliac artery repair using the Zenith Branch Endovascular Iliac Bifurcation graft: outcomes and reinterventions in our retrospective cohort.

Background: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the outcomes and the need for reinterventions following branched iliac artery repair using the Zenith Branch Endovascular Iliac Bifurcation (ZBIS; Cook Medical Europe LTD, Limerick, Ireland) graft.

Methods: Patient characteristics and follow-up data on 63 patients following branched iliac artery repair using the ZBIS device were evaluated and compared between patients with and without iliac reinterventions. A competing risk regression model was analyzed to identify independent predictors of reinterventions, and to predict the reintervention risk.

Thoracic aortic emergencies involving the aortic arch: An integrated cardiovascular surgical treatment approach.

Thoracic aortic emergencies involving the aortic arch are potentially fatal conditions that require the entire surgical repertoire of conventional surgery, such as complete aortic arch replacement using the frozen-elephant-trunk technique, through hybrid procedures, to full surgical endovascular options with conventional or delivered/fenestrated stent-grafts. An interdisciplinary aortic team should choose the optimal treatment of the pathologies of the aortic arch, considering the morphology of the entire aorta, from the root to beyond the bifurcation, as well as the clinical comorbidities. The treatment goal is a complication-free postoperative result and lasting freedom from aortic reinterventions.

Concomitant tricuspid valve repair in left ventricular assist device implantation may increase the risk for temporary right ventricular support but does not impact overall outcomes.

Objectives: Tricuspid valve repair in left ventricular assist device implantation continues to pose a challenge and may impact the occurrence of early and late right heart failure. We investigated the effects of concomitant tricuspid repair on clinical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective, multicentre study enrolled adult patients who received continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices between 2005 and 2017 and compared those who received concomitant tricuspid valve repair to those who did not.

Similarities, differences and unmet needs regarding prosthetic materials in aortic arch replacement using the frozen elephant trunk technique: a review.

The constant improvement of operative techniques offers the possibility of treating an increasing number of patients with complex acute and chronic thoracic aortic pathologies involving the aortic arch. Reliable and durable prosthetic material forms the platform for these approaches. Besides the most important properties like impermeability for blood, infection and thrombotic resistance, there are also properties which are not seen at first glance but can nevertheless play a key role in the healing process and long-term results, such as endothelialization and immunostimulation.

Postoperative In-Stent Thrombus Formation Following Frozen Elephant Trunk Total Arch Repair.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the occurrence and clinical consequence of postoperative in-stent thrombus formation following the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure.

Methods: Postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans of all 304 patients following the FET procedure between 04/2014 and 11/2021 were analysed retrospectively. Thrombus size and location were assessed in multiplanar reconstruction using IMPAX EE (Agfa HealthCare N.

Early and mid-term outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair to treat aortic rupture in patients with aneurysms, dissections and trauma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair to treat aortic rupture.

Methods: Patient and outcome characteristics of all emergent endovascular treatments for thoracic aortic rupture between January 2009 and December 2019 were analysed.

Results: Thoracic aortic rupture occurred in patients with aortic aneurysms (n = 42, 49%), aortic dissection (n = 13, 16%) or after trauma (n = 30, 35%).