Evaluating neurological outcomes of and risk factors for hypoattenuated leaflet thickening following aortic root replacement and arch surgery.

Objectives: In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess incidence, possible causes and clinical consequences of hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) following aortic root replacement with valved composite grafts and concomitant aortic arch repair.

Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2022, 454 patients underwent Bentall procedures with arch replacements in hypothermic circulatory arrest at the University Aortic Centre MunichLMU, Germany. Sequential postoperative ECG-gated, high-resolution computed tomography angiographies were analyzed, and the presence of HALT correlated with neurologic events and transvalvular gradients over time.

Agreement of in-ear temperature to core body temperature measures during invasive whole-body cooling for hypothermic circulatory arrest in aortic arch surgery.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) during aortic arch surgery requires valid estimations of core body temperature. The ear canal and epitympanic region might be an easy-to-assess, noninvasive site for the read-out of supra-aortic, cerebral temperature. This observational cohort study comparatively investigated in-ear temperature and different core body temperature (cBT) measurements during TTM/TH for moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (mHCA) in aortic arch surgery.

Distal Endovascular Extension After FET: Short and Mid-Term Outcome in a High-Volume Single-Center Experience.

Background: This study aims to investigate results and outcomes of distal endovascular extensions after frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure.

Methods: Between September 2018 and December 2022, all consecutive patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) or complex thoraco-abdominal repair (TAA-EVAR) after FET were included in the study. Patients were assigned to "Aneurysm" group or to "Dissection" group according to underlying patology before FET repair.

The Use of Short Dilator Tip in Endovascular Branched Arch Repair: A Case Series.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the safety and feasibility of branched endovascular arch repair (b-TEVAR) with a custom-made double or triple inner branched arch endograft using a short dilator tip (35 mm) in patients with aortic arch pathologies.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing b-TEVAR with a short dilator tip for the treatment of aortic arch pathologies in a high-volume tertiary center between January 2019 and July 2023. The combined primary endpoint was technical success and perioperative complications caused by the endograft, including tip-induced cardiac injury and trackability issues.

Outcomes after Endovascular Arch Repair in Patients with a Mechanical Aortic Valve: Results from a Multicentre Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes after endovascular aortic arch repair in patients with a mechanical aortic valve where the valve needs to be crossed.

Methods: An international, multicentre, retrospective observational study was undertaken including all consecutive patients who underwent endovascular arch repair with mechanical aortic valve crossing.

Results: From March 2020 to August 2023, 12 patients were included in the study (median age 55 years, interquartile range 45, 67 years; 58% male).