The completeness of the left atrial appendage amputation during routine cardiac surgery.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the origin of most heart thrombi which can lead to stroke or other cerebrovascular event in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to prove safety and low complication rate of surgical LAA amputation using cut and sew technique with control of its effectiveness.

Methods: 303 patients who have undergone selective LAA amputation were enrolled in the study in a period from 10/17 to 08/20.

Benefits of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Support in Patients with Postcardiotomy Shock Requiring Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: The benefit of the combined use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for postcardiotomy shock remains unclear. We aimed to analyse the potential benefits and safety of combining these two devices.

Methods: We enrolled 200 patients treated with either VA-ECMO only or in combination with IABP (ECMO-I group) between January 2012 and January 2021.

Decellularized Pulmonary Xenograft Matrix PplusN versus Cryopreserved Homograft for RVOT Reconstruction during Ross Procedure in Adults.

Background:  Decellularized pulmonary homografts are being increasingly adopted for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in adult patients undergoing the Ross procedure. Few reports presented Matrix PplusN xenograft (Matrix) in a negative light. The objective of this study was to compare our midterm outcomes of Matrix xenograft versus standard cryopreserved pulmonary homograft (CPHG).

First clinical experience with the novel cold storage SherpaPak™ system for donor heart transportation.

Background: The current gold standard for donor heart preservation is a three-bag-technique and storage in a cooler filled with slush ice. This technique can cause freezing injury with protein denaturation. We report our early experience with a single-use disposable device (SherpaPak™, Paragonix Technologies, MA, USA) specifically designed for sterile permanent temperature-controlled transportation of donor hearts.

Central Versus Peripheral Arterial Cannulation for Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Post-Cardiotomy Patients.

Different arterial cannulation strategies are feasible for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in postcardiotomy shock. We aimed to analyze potential benefits and safety of different arterial cannulation strategies. We identified 158 patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock requiring VA-ECMO between 01/10 and 01/19.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on the contractile properties of the left and right atrial myofilaments.

Objectives: The incidence of diabetes mellitus in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy is increasing. To evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus on contractility, we examined the calcium-induced force in left and right atrial myofilaments of patients with and without diabetes.

Methods: We included 149 patients (106 without diabetes, 43 with diabetes), scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting from August 2016 to June 2017.

Rapid deployment valve system shortens operative times for aortic valve replacement through right anterior minithoracotomy.

Background: There is growing evidence from the literature that right anterior minithoracotomy aortic valve replacement (RAT-AVR) improves clinical outcome. However, increased cross clamp time is the strongest argument for surgeons not performing RAT-AVR. Rapid deployment aortic valve systems have the potential to decrease cross-clamp time and ease this procedure.

Myofilament function and body mass index.

Body mass is reported to influence myocardial performance. Recent studies have emphasised the importance of negative inotropic adipocyte-derived factors and their impact on cardiac contractile function. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Different duration strategies of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery: an observational study.

Background: All international guidelines recommend perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAB) should be routinely administered to patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, the duration of PAB is heterogeneous and controversial.

Methods: Between 01.

Degree of Carotid Artery Stenosis in Neurologically Asymptomatic Cardiac Surgical Patients Suffering from Perioperative Stroke: Results of an Observational Study.

Background Postoperative stroke in cardiac surgical patients remains a serious adverse outcome. Methods A total of 2,784 consecutively operated cardiac surgical patients without preoperative neurologic impairment were analyzed retrospectively with regard to impact of preoperative carotid stenosis on the incidence of postprocedural new onset of stroke. Therefore, all analyzed patients were assigned to four groups depending on preoperative degree of carotid artery stenosis detected by carotid duplex sonography (group I: < 50%, group II: 50-75%, group III: 76-89%, and group IV: > 90%).

Cardiac surgery antibiotic prophylaxis and calculated empiric antibiotic therapy.

Background: Ongoing debate exists concerning the optimal choice and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis as well as the reasonable calculated empiric antibiotic therapy for hospital-acquired infections in critically ill cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: A nationwide questionnaire was distributed to all German heart surgery centers concerning antibiotic prophylaxis and the calculated empiric antibiotic therapy.

Results: The response to the questionnaire was 87.

The predictive value of multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (multiplate) in adult cardiac surgery.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to analyze the value of multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (Multiplate analyzer, Verum Diagnostica, Munich) as a point-of-care (POC) device in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-three cardiac surgical patients were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively with multiple electrode platelet aggregometry by stimulation ADPtest, ASPItest, and TRAPtest. End points were postoperative bleeding, need for reexploration, and perioperative transfusions requirements.

Policies of withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in critically ill patients on cardiac intensive care units in Germany: a national survey.

Objective: To determine the decision-making process of withholding and/or withdrawal (WH/WD) of life-sustaining treatment in cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) in Germany.

Methods: A questionnaire regarding 16 medical and 6 ethical questions of WH/WD of life-sustaining treatment was distributed to the clinical director, senior ICU physician and head nurses of all German heart surgery centres (n = 237 questionnaires). Furthermore, we present a literature survey using the key words 'End-of-life care AND withholding/withdrawal of life support therapy AND intensive care unit'.