Aortic valve replacement using the Freedom SOLO stentless bioprosthesis: clinical and haemodynamic performance in 625 patients at medium-term follow-up.

Objectives: Our goal was to analyse the haemodynamic and clinical results after implantation of the Freedom SOLO stentless aortic valve replacement by assessing the immediate postoperative results regarding mortality, discharge echocardiographic gradients and reoperation rates and by evaluating these results in the medium term.

Methods: This study was designed as a single-centre retrospective observational trial. Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected retrospectively from 625 patients undergoing an aortic valve replacement using the Freedom Solo stentless valve (LivaNova, London, UK) at the Sint-Jan Hospital, Bruges, between May 2009 and May 2017.

Type B aortic dissection: new perspectives.

Background: Stanford type B aortic dissection is one of the aortic catastrophes with a high mortality and morbidity that needs immediate or delayed treatment, either surgically or endovascularly. This comprehensive review article addresses the current status of open, endovascular and hybrid treatment options for type B aortic dissections with the focus on new therapeutic perspectives.

Methods: Evaluation of currently available evidence based on randomized and registry data and personal experience.

State-of the-art review on the renal and visceral protection during open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

During open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair (OTAAAR), there is an inevitable organ ischemic period that occurs when the abdominal arteries are being reattached to the aortic graft. Despite various protective techniques, the incidence of renal and visceral complications remains substantial. This state-of-the-art review gives an overview of the current and most evidence-based organ protection methods during OTAAAR, based on the most recent publications and personal experience.

Open surgical repair of post-dissection thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms: early and late outcomes of a single-centre study involving over 200 patients.

Objectives: Chronic, post-dissection thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) are increasingly being treated by (hybrid) endovascular means. Although it is less invasive, thoracic endovascular aortic repair is technically complex with the risk of incomplete aneurysm exclusion, necessitating frequent reinterventions with potentially reduced long-term outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate contemporary early and late outcomes after open surgical repair of post-dissection TAAA.

Left heart bypass for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: technical aspects.

There are different surgical techniques for providing circulatory support during the repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. They all aim at reducing the afterload of the heart and the preservation of distal organ perfusion. Partial or total extracorporeal circulation with or without cooling and left heart bypass (LHB) are actually the most used surgical approaches.

Contemporary spinal cord protection during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery and endovascular aortic repair: a position paper of the vascular domain of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery†.

Ischaemic spinal cord injury (SCI) remains the Achilles heel of open and endovascular descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal repair. Neurological outcomes have improved coincidentially with the introduction of neuroprotective measures. However, SCI (paraplegia and paraparesis) remains the most devastating complication.

The classic elephant trunk technique for staged thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair: long-term results.

Objective: The classic elephant trunk (ET) technique has become the standard approach for patients with diffuse aortic disease requiring a staged thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic repair. The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes and predictors for survival after surgical repair of extensive thoracic aortic disease with the ET technique.

Methods: Between 1984 and 2013, 248 consecutive patients were treated in our institution and analyzed retrospectively.

Infectious aortitis with multiple mycotic aneurysms caused by Streptococcus agalactiae.

We report a case of a 66-year-old man with multiple thoracoabdominal mycotic aortic aneurysms caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (S agalactiae). The infectious aortitis (IA) was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography and confirmed by positive blood cultures. The patient was treated with antibiotics, but, after worsening of the aortitis, a successful surgical procedure was performed.

Interdisciplinary expert consensus document on management of type B aortic dissection.

An expert multidisciplinary panel in the treatment of type B aortic dissection reviewed available literature to develop treatment algorithms using a consensus method. Data from 63 studies published from 2006 to 2012 were retrieved for a total of 1,548 patients treated medically, 1,706 patients who underwent open surgery, and 3,457 patients who underwent thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR). For acute (first 2 weeks) type B aortic dissection, the pooled early mortality rate was 6.

Reoperation after acute type a aortic dissection repair: a series of 104 patients.

Background: Our objective was to analyze the causes, timing, and results of reoperation after primary repair for acute type A dissection.

Methods: One hundred and four consecutive patients underwent a reoperation after previous type A aortic dissection repair (1972 to 2008). Supracoronary ascending aorta replacement (SCAR) was commonly performed during primary repair and it was associated with aortic root replacement in 13 cases and with hemiarch replacement in 26 patients.