Robot-Assisted MIDCAB Using Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery: A Propensity Score-Matched Study With OPCAB Patients.

Objective: Robot-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (RA-MIDCAB) is an attractive strategy for coronary revascularization. Growing evidence supports the use of total arterial grafting in coronary surgery. We evaluated total arterial left-sided coronary revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) using RA-MIDCAB and compared it with a propensity score-matched (PSM) off-pump CAB (OPCAB) surgery population.

Robotic-assisted MIDCAB procedure through a minithoracotomy: Step-by-step instructions.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has evolved in recent years. Complex minimally invasive surgical techniques can further reduce the morbidity associated with surgical coronary bypass grafting. Robotic-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting is an effective and safe procedure in all risk groups.

Corrigendum: Robotic Cardiac Surgery in Europe: Status 2020.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.

Robotic Cardiac Surgery in Europe: Status 2020.

Background: European surgeons were the first worldwide to use robotic techniques in cardiac surgery and major steps in procedure development were taken in Europe. After a hype in the early 2000s case numbers decreased but due to technological improvements renewed interest can be noted. We assessed the current activities and outcomes in robotically assisted cardiac surgery on the European continent.

Safe implementation of robotic-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass: application of learning curves and cumulative sum analysis.

Background: Learning curves are inevitably encountered when first implementing an innovative and complex surgical technique. Nevertheless, a cluster of failures or complications should be detected early, but not deter learning, to ensure safe implementation. Here, we aimed to examine the presence and impact of learning curves on outcome after robotic-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (RA-MIDCAB).

Starting an aortic valve repair program: is it worthwhile? Aortic valve repair compared to replacement.

Objectives: Increasing evidence suggests that aortic valve (AV) repair may have better long-term outcomes than AV replacement for aortic insufficiency. However, most literature is limited to centres of excellence and has not sufficiently been replicated in nascent programs. This single-centre experience of a newly established AV repair program aims to compare short-term outcomes of AV sparing versus replacement surgery.

A novel tissue treatment to reduce mineralization of bovine pericardial heart valves.

Objective: With the increasing use of bioprostheses worldwide, continuous efforts have been made to improve tissue durability. We introduce a new treatment for bovine pericardium combining octanediol-ethanol based phospholipid removal with taurine-based glutaraldehyde neutralization and storage in an aldehyde-free solution (FREE).

Methods: Treated tissues were evaluated by mechanical and biochemical characterization, phospholipid content, aldehyde levels, cell cultures on pericardial samples (L929 fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells), rat subcutaneous implantations, and long-term juvenile sheep mitral valve implantations (n = 3).

Hospital cost savings and other advantages of sutureless vs stented aortic valves for intermediate-risk elderly patients.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes and hospital costs of using sutureless aortic valves vs conventional stented aortic valves.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2011, 52 elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in our center had a sutureless valve inserted. From among 180 patients who had a stented valve inserted during the same period, 52 patients were matched to the sutureless group, based on age, gender, and operation type.

Functional performance and quality of life in high-risk comorbid patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation for symptomatic aortic valve stenosis.

Aims: We assessed the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on functional performance and quality of life (QoL) in a high-risk patient population with multiple comorbidities.

Methods And Results: Between January 2009 and December 2014, 145 high-risk patients (EuroSCORE II 7.3% [4.

Control of a hybrid robotic system for computer-assisted interventions in dynamic environments.

Purpose: Minimally invasive surgery is becoming the standard treatment of care for a variety of procedures. Surgeons need to display a high level of proficiency to overcome the challenges imposed by the minimal access. Especially when operating on a dynamic organ, it becomes very difficult to align instruments reliably and precisely.

Aortic valve replacement through full sternotomy with a stented bioprosthesis versus minimally invasive sternotomy with a sutureless bioprosthesis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse early postoperative outcomes and 2-year survival after aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a ministernotomy with a sutureless bioprosthesis implantation compared with a full sternotomy with implantation of a stented bioprosthesis.

Methods: Patients who underwent primary isolated non-emergent AVR at six European centres were included in the study. Of these, 182 (32%) underwent a ministernotomy with a sutureless bioprosthesis (ministernotomy sutureless group) and 383 (68%) a full sternotomy with a stented bioprosthesis (full sternotomy stented group).

Ministernotomy versus full sternotomy aortic valve replacement with a sutureless bioprosthesis: a multicenter study.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze early postoperative outcomes and 2-year survival after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with the sutureless Perceval bioprosthesis (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Salluggia, Italy) performed through ministernotomy compared with full sternotomy.

Methods: This was a study of 267 consecutive patients who underwent isolated AVR with the sutureless Perceval bioprosthesis between 2007 and 2014 at 6 European centers. Of these, 189 (70.

Starting minimally invasive valve surgery using endoclamp technology: safety and results of a starting surgeon.

Objectives: To critically review the learning curve, safety issues and outcome of a single surgeon while starting up minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS).

Methods: We performed a descriptive, retrospective study of 138 patients with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery between March 2004 and December 2010. The learning curve was assessed using a logarithmic curve-fit regression analysis of the cardiopulmonary bypass parameters and defined as the end of the steepest part.

Post-operative echocardiographic evaluation of bioprosthetic mitral valve implantation in sheep.

The ovine model is generally considered to be the best for testing bioprosthetic heart valve durability. Although echocardiography is the method of choice for the interim evaluation of the valve, literature on sheep echocardiography is scarce. Within the context of a study on treatment of pericardial heart valve prostheses, 19 adolescent sheep underwent transthoracic echocardiography six days after mitral implantation of bioprosthetic valves.

20 years of arterial switch operation for simple TGA.

Background: Arterial switch operation became the golden treatment for simple transposition of the great arteries (sTGA). We describe our experience with the arterial switch operation regarding long-term outcome and the need for re-intervention. Nevertheless, supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SPS) remains a concern in the long run.

Early and intermediate outcome after aortic valve replacement with a sutureless bioprosthesis: Results of a multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of aortic valve replacement with the sutureless Perceval S aortic valve bioprosthesis (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Saluggia, Italy).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 314 patients (mean age, 77.9 ± 5.

Migration of a broken scalpel into the heart after spine surgery.

Iatrogenic vascular problems during posterior lumbar interbody fusion are a rare entity. Migration of a broken scalpel towards the heart has, to our knowledge, never been reported. We present the successful surgical retrieval of a broken scalpel from the heart after posterior lumbar interbody fusion without the use of a cardiopulmonary bypass.

Evolving Bioprosthetic Tissue Calcification Can Be Quantified Using Serial Multislice CT Scanning.

Background. We investigated the value of serial multislice CT scanning for in vivo determination of evolving tissue calcification in three separate experimental settings. Materials and Methods.

Transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a heart transplant recipient with severely depressed left ventricular function.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is becoming a valuable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in non-operable and high-risk surgical patients. As the population of heart donors and recipients ages, the prevalence of degenerative valvular disease after transplantation will increase. The optimal treatment strategy of valvulopathies in these patients with extensive comorbidity is still unknown because of insufficient published experience.

Can a central stitch over the Arantius' nodules provide a solution for preoperative severe native AI in LVAD patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the evolution of aortic valve insufficiency (AI) after Park's central stitch in patients with severe, preoperative, native aortic valve insufficiency.


Methods: We retrospectively studied 71 continuous flow LVAD patients between January 2004 and December 2010. Four patients with AI≥3/4 were treated with a central stitch.