Initial experience with CytoSorb therapy in patients receiving left ventricular assist devices.

Background: The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) in patients with advance heart failure is still associated with an important risk of immune dysregulation and infections. The aim of this study was to determine whether extracorporeal blood purification using the CytoSorb device benefits patients after LVAD implantation in terms of complications and overall survival.

Materials And Methods: Between August 2010 and January 2020, 207 consecutive patients underwent LVAD implantation, of whom 72 underwent CytoSorb therapy and 135 did not.

Risk Factors for Deep Sternal Wound Infection after Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: a Case-Control Study.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting surgery.

Methods: A total of 8,442 patients undergoing OPCAB from April 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 956 were eventually enrolled on this study based on our exclusion criteria.

High Residual Gradient Following a Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve-in-Valve Implantation - Risk Factor Analysis, Outcomes, and Survival.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation (TAVI-ViV) can be associated with unfavorable hemodynamic outcomes. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, identify the risk factors, and evaluate the outcomes and survival of patients with high residual gradients after TAVI-ViV.

Methods: A total of 85 patients were included in the study.

Strategies to Prevent Acute Kidney Injury after Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: AKI is a common complication after pediatric cardiac surgery and has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We aimed to compare the efficacy of available pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies to prevent AKI after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for randomized controlled trials from inception until August 2020.

Open Access and Article Processing Charges in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Journals: a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Introduction: Open access (OA) publishing often requires article processing charges (APCs). While OA provides opportunities for broader readership, authors able to afford APCs are more commonly associated with well-funded, high-income country institutions, skewing knowledge dissemination. Here, we evaluate publishing models, OA practices, and APCs in cardiology and cardiac surgery.

Extended, virtual and augmented reality in thoracic surgery: a systematic review.

Objectives: Extended reality (XR), encompassing both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality, allows the user to interact with a computer-generated environment based on reality. In essence, the immersive nature of VR and augmented reality technology has been warmly welcomed in all aspects of medicine, gradually becoming increasingly feasible to incorporate into everyday practice. In recent years, XR has become increasingly adopted in thoracic surgery, although the extent of its applications is unclear.

Aortic Root Replacement for Destructive Endocarditis - Clinic and Microbiology.

Introduction: Destructive aortic root endocarditis is associated with high mortality rates. The objective of this article was to characterize the clinical and microbiological profiles of these patients, especially concerning an already implanted aortic valve prosthesis. We also focused on prognostic factors.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Brazil: A nationwide perspective.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a worldwide challenge, and efforts to "flatten the curve," including restrictions imposed by policymakers and medical societies, have forced a reduction in the number of procedures performed in the Brazilian Health Care System. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) from 2008 to 2020 in the SUS and to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the number of procedures and death rate of CABG performed in 2020 through the database DATASUS.

Methods: This study is based on publicly available material obtained from DATASUS, the Brazilian Ministry of Health's data processing system, on numbers of surgical procedures and death rates.

Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation for degenerated bioprosthetic aortic and mitral valves - an update on indications, techniques, and clinical results.

: Aortic and mitral bioprosthesis are the gold standard treatment to replace a pathological native valve. However, bioprostheses are prone to structural valve degeneration, resulting in limited long-term durability. During the past decade, the implantation of transcatheter stent-valves within degenerated aortic and mitral bioprostheses, (the so-called 'valve-in-valve' procedure), represents a valid alternative to redo surgery in patients with high-risk surgical profiles.

Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Using Xenologous Pericardium Versus Bioprosthetic Valve Replacement.

Background: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) with small aortic root is associated with a higher rate of prosthesis-patient mismatch and suboptimal clinical outcomes. Aortic valve neocuspidization using xenologous pericardium (xAVNeo) has shown a favorable hemodynamic performance. The aim was to compare 6-year clinical outcomes of xAVNeo with SAVR.

Association Between Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Stroke.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is correlated with endothelial dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, increased mortality and recent studies showed a possible association with the increased risk of stroke. We performed a systematic review of studies evaluating the association between EAT and stroke. Eighty studies met the inclusion criteria and were consequently analyzed.

Surgical and multimodality treatment of cardiac sarcomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Primary cardiac sarcomas (PCSs) are an extremely rare and aggressive type of malignancies that have been described only by a limited number of observational studies. This study aimed to evaluate the currently existing evidence comparing surgical to multimodality treatment of PCS.

Methods: We systematically reviewed Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar, from inception to December 2020, for original articles about surgical and multimodality treatment of PCS.

Total Arterial Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery is Associated with Better Long-Term Survival in Patients with Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: The benefit of total arterial revascularization (TAR) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a controversial issue. This study sought to evaluate whether there is any difference on the long-term results of TAR and non-TAR CABG patients.

Methods: The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL/CCTR), Clinical Trials.

Balloon versus self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve implantation for bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: There is a rising trend for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in bicuspid aortic stenosis patients. Data on the use of self-expandable (SEV) vs. balloon-expandable (BEV) valves in these patients are scarce.

Percutaneous closure of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm in a patient with concomitant true left ventricular aneurysm.

Background: Left ventricular aneurysms (LVA) are serious complications of myocardial infarction, being divided into true and false type. The false one-pseudoaneurysm (PA), is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent treatment due to the high risk of rupture.

Case Presentation: An 84-year-old female presented with progressive heart failure symptoms.

Simultaneous transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation and off-pump coronary artery bypass: An effective hybrid approach.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) techniques are increasingly being adopted into clinical routine for various risk groups. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is seen in up to 75% of patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) presenting with typical angina pectoris. Due to high mortality rates and procedural complications in these patients, a hybrid concept of simultaneous transaortic TAVI and off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) can be a feasible treatment option.

Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Versus Redo Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate early results of valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus redo surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for structural valve degeneration (SVD).

Background: ViV TAVR has been increasingly used for SVD, but it remains unknown whether it produces better or at least comparable results as redo SAVR.

Methods: Observational studies comparing ViV TAVR and redo SAVR were identified in a systematic search of published research.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Brazil from 2008 to 2017.

Background: Brazil is an upper middle-income country in South America with the world's sixth largest population. Despite great advances in health-care services and cardiac surgical care in both its public and private health systems, little is known on the volume, outcomes, and trends of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Brazil's public health system.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of CABG on the public health system from January 2008 to December 2017 through the database DATASUS.

Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Tetralogy of Fallot: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background: The benefits of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) for pulmonary insufficiency in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot are still incompletely understood, and optimal timing remains challenging.

Methods: We systematically reviewed databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials /Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde, and Google Scholar) and reference lists of relevant articles for studies about PVR in repaired tetralogy of Fallot patients that reported any of the following outcomes: mortality and redo PVR rates, right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular measures, QRS duration, cardiopulmonary exercise test results, or brain natriuretic peptide.

Outcomes of left ventricular assist device implantation for advanced heart failure in critically ill patients (INTERMACS 1 and 2): A retrospective study.

The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for advanced heart failure is becoming increasingly common. However, optimal timing and patient selection remain controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes of LVAD implantation for advanced heart failure in critically ill patients (INTERMACS 1 and 2).

Impact of Preoperative Aspirin on Long-Term Outcomes in Diabetic Patients Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: a Propensity Score Matched Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effect of preoperative aspirin administration on early and long-term clinical outcomes in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: In this observational study, a total of 315 patients were included and grouped according to the time interval between their last aspirin dose and the time of surgery; patients who had been continued aspirin intake with last administered dose ≤ 24-hours before CABG (n=144) and those who had been given the last dose of aspirin between 24 to 48 hours before CABG (n=171).

Results: Multivariable analysis showed that the continuation of preoperative aspirin intake ≤ 24 hours before CABG in patients with DM is associated with reduced incidence of 30-day major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) (P=0.