The relationship of sex and aortic diameter at the time of acute type A aortic dissection.

Objective: Evaluate sex differences in patients undergoing repair of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: Sex-stratified, single-center cohort study of patients undergoing ATAAD repair from 1997 to 2022. The primary outcome was aortic diameter at time of presentation with ATAAD.

Sequential Grafting of the Left Internal Thoracic Artery to the Left Anterior Descending Artery and Graft Failure.

Background: There is concern that left internal thoracic artery (LITA)-to diagonal (D)-to left anterior descending artery (LAD) grafts may be more susceptible to failure compared with single LITA-LAD grafts.

Methods: Pooled individual patient data from 8 clinical trials with systematic graft imaging were analyzed to assess the incidence of sequential LITA-D-LAD vs single LITA-LAD grafts. Mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for patient characteristics and clustering within trials, was used.

Bypass and Ligation of Right Subclavian Artery Aneurysm in a Patient with Marfan's Syndrome via Reoperative Partial Upper Median Sternotomy.

Subclavian artery aneurysms are rare and can result in thromboembolism or rupture. We present the case of a 41-year-old man with a history of Marfan's syndrome and multiple previous operations, who presented with an enlarging asymptomatic 5.2 cm right subclavian artery aneurysm and was successfully treated with a hybrid surgical operation.

Reoperative aortic root replacement following previous cardiac surgery or type A aortic dissection repair.

Objective: Reoperative aortic root replacement (ARR) is a technically challenging procedure. This study assesses the influence of reoperation on outcomes following ARR, particularly after prior acute type A aortic dissection repair.

Methods: Of the 1823 patients in this study, 1592 (87.

Predictors of premature termination of cardiac surgery trials: insights from the Clinicaltrial.gov database.

Objectives: Clinical trials that are terminated prematurely may generate incomplete and potentially biased data and the reasons for premature trials termination are poorly understood. Our objective was to describe the incidence of premature trial termination and identify factors associated with it.

Methods: We performed a systematic search on ClinicalTrials.

Aortic valve degeneration after valve-sparing root replacement in patients with bicuspid aortopathy or connective tissue disorder.

Objective: We sought to evaluate outcomes of valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) in patients with bicuspid aortopathy (BAV) versus other connective tissue disorder (CTD).

Methods: This was a single-center cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing VSRR via reimplantation from 2000 to 2023 with BAV or CTD. Operative outcomes, Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, and cumulative risk of reoperation and recurrent aortic insufficiency (AI) with the competing risk of death were assessed.

Risk of Pacemaker Implantation After Aortic Root Replacement With and Without Valve Preservation.

Background: We compared the outcomes of aortic root replacement by composite valve grafts (CVG) and valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) operations, with an emphasis on postoperative conduction block and the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM).

Methods: From 1997 to 2023, 1712 consecutive patients underwent ARR by VSRR (501 [29%]) or CVG (1211 [71%]) at a high-volume aortic center.

Results: Patients undergoing CVG were older (59 ± 14 vs 49 ± 14 years, P < .

Association between lipoprotein levels and outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a variant of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and has been associated with increased risk of vascular inflammation and thrombosis. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been associated with local inflammation of the myocardium. It is plausible, therefore, that patients with elevated baseline Lp(a) may be prone to unfavorable clinical outcomes following CABG.

Association between overweight and obesity with coronary artery bypass graft failure: an individual patient data analysis of clinical trials.

Objectives: The association between obesity and graft failure after coronary artery bypass grafting has not been previously investigated.

Methods: We pooled individual patient data from randomized clinical trials with systematic postoperative coronary imaging to evaluate the association between obesity and graft failure at the individual graft and patient levels. Penalized cubic regression splines and mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression models were performed.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion.

Objectives:  Mechanisms of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) differ as CABG provides surgical collateralization and may prolong life by preventing future myocardial infarctions (MIs). However, evidence for CABG in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) has not been fully elucidated and the impact of PCI is discussed controversially.

Methods:  We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing outcomes in patients with/without multivessel disease undergoing CABG or PCI for CTO.

Subclinical hypothyroidism and clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Despite the recognized negative impact of SCH on cardiovascular health, research on cardiac postoperative outcomes with SCH has yielded conflicting results, and patients are not currently treated for SCH before cardiac surgery procedures.

Methods: We performed a study-level meta-analysis on the impact of SCH on patients undergoing nonurgent cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting and valve and aortic surgery.

Thorax support vest to prevent sternal wound infections in cardiac surgery patients-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Midline sternotomy is the main surgical access for cardiac surgeries. The most prominent complication of sternotomy is sternal wound infection (SWI). The use of a thorax support vest (TSV) that limits thorax movement and ensures sternal stability has been suggested to prevent postoperative SWI.

External Stenting for Saphenous Vein Grafts in Coronary Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The external stenting of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been proven to reduce intimal hyperplasia (IH) in animal models, paving the way for human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to be conducted. Herein, we performed a study-level meta-analysis to assess the impact of the Venous External SupporT (VEST) device, an external stent, on the outcomes of SVGs. A systematic search was conducted to identify all RCTs comparing VEST-stented to non-stented SVGs in patients undergoing CABG.

The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery-Extended Follow-Up study (PALACS-EF): rationale and design.

Aims: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication of cardiac surgery and has been associated with increased postoperative morbidity and hospital costs. The Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of AtriaL fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery (PALACS) trial found that posterior pericardiotomy significantly reduced the incidence of POAF (17% vs. 32%, < 0.

The VEST External Support for Saphenous Vein Grafts in Coronary Surgery: A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are the most frequently used conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but their higher rate of occlusion compared to arterial conduits remains a concern. Previous studies have shown that SVG failure is mainly driven by intimal hyperplasia, an adaptative response to higher pressures of the arterial circulation. The VEST device (Vascular Graft Solutions, Tel Aviv, Israel), an external support designed to mitigate intimal hyperplasia in SVGs, has been tested in few clinical trials (RCTs).

Comparative Analysis of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Outcomes in Women Using Different Conduits in the National UK Data Set.

Background: There is limited report of outcomes in women undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with left internal thoracic artery and different second conduits (saphenous vein graft [SVG], radial artery [RA], and right internal thoracic artery [RITA]).

Methods: The National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit database was queried for women undergoing isolated CABG with left internal thoracic artery graft in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2019. Propensity score-based pairwise comparisons were performed between graft types.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of internal thoracic artery harvesting techniques: Skeletonized vs pedicled.

Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare clinical and angiographic outcomes of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: A comprehensive search on Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and Scopus was performed from inception to December 2022. The primary outcome was follow-up mortality and graft failure.

Spinal cord injury after open and endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a rare but severe complication after open or endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysms (DTAs) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of SCI rates and factors associated with SCI.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in September 2022 looking for studies on open and/or endovascular repair of DTA and/or TAAA published after 2018, to update the results of our previously published meta-analysis.

Differences in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Incidence and Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery According to Assessment Method and Definition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most frequent complication of cardiac surgery. Despite clinical and economic implications, ample variability in POAF assessment method and definition exist across studies. We performed a study-level meta-analysis to evaluate the influence of POAF assessment method and definition on its incidence and association with clinical outcomes.

Reoperative total arch replacement after previous cardiovascular surgery: Outcomes in 426 consecutive patients.

Objective: Total aortic arch replacement (TAR) after previous cardiovascular surgery is technically challenging and is becoming more frequent as outcomes for primary arch repair have improved. primary. We analyzed outcomes of reoperative compared with first-time TAR.

Short- and long-term results of total arch replacement: Comparison between island and debranching techniques.

Objective: The 2 most acceptable techniques for reimplantation of the supra-aortic vessels in total arch replacement include the branched graft technique (debranching) or en bloc technique (island). We aim to review our experience with total arch replacement and report short- and long-term outcomes from a high-volume center dedicated to surgery for the thoracic aorta.

Methods: The aortic surgery database was queried to identify all consecutive patients undergoing total arch replacement between 1997 and 2022.