Zero-Contrast Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation vs. Standard Practice: Periprocedural and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes.

: We aimed to compare the procedural efficacy and long-term clinical results of a totally contrast-free Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure (i.e., contrast dye was not used for either the pre-procedural assessment or during the procedure) to those of standard practice in patients with severe renal dysfunction.

The Role of Microbes in Surgical Decision Making for Infective Endocarditis: Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement?

Background: The benefits of mitral repair versus replacement for endocarditis are inconclusive. This study compares outcomes of patients with infective endocarditis undergoing mitral valve repair versus replacement and investigates the impact of microbial etiology.

Methods: All 251 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery for active endocarditis between 2010 and 2023 were enrolled, 180 (71.

Surgical Treatment of Active Endocarditis Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Onset.

Background: Despite advanced diagnosis and treatment, infective endocarditis (IE) is a potentially life-threatening condition. The impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and outcome of the surgical treatment of IE is uncertain. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of surgically treated IE before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Less Is More? Combined Approaches to Improve Mortality and Morbidity after Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Nowadays, one of the main goals of aortic valve surgery is to reduce the biological impact, mortality, and complications. It is well-known that long operative times in terms of the extracorporeal circulation, but above all, of the aortic cross-clamp time (ACC), represent a risk factor for mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In order to shorten the aortic cross-clamp time, many technological improvements, such as sutureless prostheses, have been introduced, but their actual effectiveness has not been proven yet.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors, Statins, and Beta-Blockers in Diabetic Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia and Foot Lesions.

Medical therapy for secondary prevention is known to be under-used in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Few data are available on the subgroup with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Prescription of cardiovascular preventive therapies was recorded at discharge in a large, prospective cohort of patients admitted for treatment of CLI and foot lesions, stratified for coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis.

Surgical aortic valve replacement for low-gradient aortic stenosis.

Aims: Low-gradient aortic stenosis is a challenging entity that needs accurate preoperative evaluation. For this high-risk patient population, ad hoc predictive scores are not available and profile risk is currently revealed by the EuroSCOREs. Aims of this study are to verify the suitability of the ES II as predictor of mortality in low-gradient aortic stenosis and to analyse the role of surgery as a treatment.

Impact of comorbidities on older patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Background: The number of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery is increasing. Age greater than 80 years has been identified as a strong independent risk factor for shortand long-term survival. The current study is aimed to identify the impact of preoperative comorbidities on early and late outcomes in older patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Sutureless versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A multicenter analysis of "real-world" data.

Background: Recent data suggested that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be indicated also for low-risk patients. However, robust evidence is still lacking, particularly regarding valve performance at follow-up that confers a limitation to its use in young patients. Moreover, a literature gap exists in terms of 'real-world' data analysis.

Impairment of mitophagy and autophagy accompanies calcific aortic valve stenosis favouring cell death and the severity of disease.

Aims: In the last 15 years, some observations tried to shed light on the dysregulation of the cellular self-digestion process in calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), but the results obtained remain still controversial. This work is aimed to definitively establish the trend of autophagy in patients affected by CAVS, to analyse the putative involvement of other determinants, which impact on the mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and to explore possible avenues for pharmacological interventions in the treatment of CAVS.

Methods And Results: This observational study, performed exclusively in ex vivo human samples (cells and serum), by using biochemical approaches and correlations with clinical data, describes new biological features of the calcified valve in terms of mitochondrial dysfunctions.

A naturally occurring mutation in ATP synthase subunit c is associated with increased damage following hypoxia/reoxygenation in STEMI patients.

Preclinical models of ischemia/reperfusion injury (RI) demonstrate the deleterious effects of permeability transition pore complex (PTPC) opening in the first minutes upon revascularization of the occluded vessel. The ATP synthase c subunit (Csub) influences PTPC activity in cells, thus impacting tissue injury. A conserved glycine-rich domain in Csub is classified as critical because, when mutated, it modifies ATP synthase properties, protein interaction with the mitochondrial calcium (Ca) uniporter complex, and the conductance of the PTPC.

Use of a negative pressure wound therapy system over closed incisions option in preventing post-sternotomy wound complications.

Post-sternotomy surgical site infections may be serious complications responsible for increased morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay. A variety of wound-healing strategies can be used over closed surgical incisions, including negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The aim of the study is to assess sternal wound complications after heart surgery using NPWT in patients at risk for surgical site complication.

Patient with Unicuspid Aortic Valve and Ascending Aorta Aneurysm Treated with Ozaki Procedure and Ascending Aorta Replacement.

Although aortic valve replacement remains the gold standard treatment for aortic valve diseases like stenosis (AS) or insufficiency, new surgical methods have been developed with a focus in the reconstruction of the aortic valve rather than replacing it. The Ozaki procedure involves a tailored replacement of each individual valvular leaflet with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium and aims to reproduce the normal anatomy of the aortic valve. Cases of patients with unicuspid aortic valve treated with the Ozaki procedure are uncommon in the litrature and become even more rare when it comes to concomitant diseases like AS and ascending aorta aneurysm.

Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery in obese patients: Can the bigger afford the smaller?

Background: Ministernotomy and right minithoracotomy are well-known minimally invasive approaches for aortic valve replacement (AVR); however, controversial opinions exist for their utilization in obese patients. The aim of this study is to check a potential positive role of minimally invasive surgery in this population.

Methods: From January 2010 to November 2019, 613 obese patients (defined by a body mass index ≥30) underwent isolated AVR at our institution.

Pacemaker need after sutureless aortic valve replacement: the role of the learning curve.

Aim: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) using sutureless prosthesis is a reasonable alternative in those patients with aortic stenosis who would benefit from reduced cross clamp time, such as elderly and high-risk patients. Actually, excellent performances have been demonstrated in hemodynamic outcomes and safety, but some questions remain open regarding long-term durability and the need for postoperative pacemaker implantation.

Methods: Between January 2014 and August 2019, all 436 patients [male 40.

Aortic valve endocarditis complicated by proximal false aneurysm.

Background: Aortic valve endocarditis remains a life-threatening condition, especially in cases of periannular complications. Aorto-ventricular discontinuity associated with proximal false aneurysm represents a severe picture caused by extensive tissue disruption and is usually associated with prosthetic valve infection. Complex surgical repair is required in these cases and continues to be associated with high mortality and morbidity rates.

Clinical experience with dalbavancin for the treatment of deep sternal wound infection.

Objectives: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a complication of major heart surgery with high morbidity as well as prolonged antimicrobial treatment and hospital length of stay (LoS). Dalbavancin is a new lipoglycopeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive micro-organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with a long half-life. This small case series assessed the feasibility of dalbavancin for the treatment of DSWI.

Full Sternotomy, Hemisternotomy, and Minithoracotomy for Aortic Valve Surgery: Is There a Difference?

Background: This study compared perioperative results and mortality rates of different approaches to perform aortic valve replacement (AVR), describing predictors favoring one approach over the others.

Methods: All patients who underwent AVR were enrolled. The choice of the approach was left to surgeon's preference.

Right anterior mini-thoracotomy conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement: a propensity-matched comparison.

Background: Right anterior mini-thoracotomy (MIAVR) is a promising technique for aortic valve replacement. We aimed at comparing its outcomes with those obtained in a propensity-matched group of patients undergoing sternotomy at our two high-volume centers.

Methods: Main clinical and operative data of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement between January 2010 and May 2016 were retrospectively collected.

Mini-Bentall: An Interesting Approach for Selected Patients.

Objective: Minimally invasive surgery through an upper hemisternotomy for aortic valve replacement has become the routine approach with excellent results. Actually, the same minimally invasive access is used for complex ascending aorta procedures only in few centers. We report our experience with minimally invasive approach for aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement using Bentall technique.

Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy: A 'New Gold Standard' for Aortic Valve Replacement?

Background: Details are provided of the authors' four-year experience with minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a right mini-thoracotomy, using totally central cannulation.

Methods: Between November 2011 and October 2014, a total of 248 patients (143 males, 105 females; mean age 72.6 ± 11.

Minimally invasive reoperative aortic valve replacement.

The operative mortality associated with repeat heart valve surgery is supposedly higher than the mortality associated with the primary operation. However, controversy still surrounds the risk factors and optimal surgical approach for patients requiring repeat cardiac surgery, particularly for those requiring aortic valve replacements (AVR). While the standard approach generally utilizes full sternotomy and peripheral cannulation, alternative approaches such as minimally invasive sternotomy may play an increasingly important role in this field.

Aortic valve replacement through right minithoracotomy: is it really biologically minimally invasive?

Background: Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through a right mini-thoracotomy is a procedure developed in the past few years. Currently, the main limits of this technique are longer cardiopulmonary bypass time compared with the standard approach and the need for peripheral cannulation.

Methods: From January 2010 to March 2014, 206 patients underwent an aortic valve replacement using a minimally invasive technique through a right mini-thoracotomy.

Upper 'J' ministernotomy versus full sternotomy: an easier approach for aortic valve reoperation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) after previous cardiac surgery is usually associated with an increased risk profile. The study aim was to compare the outcome after AVR through an upper 'J' ministernotomy compared to a standard full sternotomy approach in a redo operation.

Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent reoperative AVR at the authors' institution between October 2007 and January 2012 was retrospectively reviewed.