Warm Blood Cardioplegia for Myocardial Protection: Concepts and Controversies.

Warm blood cardioplegia has been an established cardioplegic method since the 1990s, yet it remains controversial in regard to myocardial protection. This review will describe the physiologic and technical concepts behind warm blood cardioplegia, as well as outline the current basic and clinical research that evaluates its usefulness. Controversies regarding this technique will also be reviewed.

Management of Aortic Pseudoaneurysms: Evolving Concepts and Controversies.

Background:  Techniques to repair aortic pseudoaneurysms have been rapidly evolving. We present our results following open and endovascular repair of aortic pseudoaneurysms from 2009 to 2013.

Methods:  A total of nine patients underwent pseudoaneurysm repair from April 2009 to February 2013.

Repair of Acute Type-A Aortic Dissection in the Present Era: Outcomes and Controversies.

Acute Type-A aortic dissection (AAAD) remains a surgical emergency with a relatively high operative mortality despite advances in medical and surgical management over the past three decades. In spite of the severity of disease, there is a paucity of studies reviewing key controversies surrounding AAAD repair and management. A systematic literature search was performed using Cochrane review and PubMed bibliography review.

Alternative Access Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Nonagenarians versus Younger Patients.

Background:  Numerous studies have documented the safety of alternatives access (AA) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients who are not candidates for transfemoral or surgical approach. There is a scarcity of studies relating use of AA TAVR in nonagenarian patients, a high-risk, frail group. Our study sought to investigate the clinical outcomes of nonagenarians who underwent AA TAVR for aortic stenosis, with comparison of nonagenarians age ≥90 years with patients age <90 years.

Whole Blood del Nido versus Cold Blood Microplegia in Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

 Few studies have evaluated the outcomes of whole blood microplegia in adult cardiac surgery. Our novel protocol includes removing the crystalloid portion and using the Quest Myocardial Protection System (MPS) for the delivery of del Nido additives in whole blood. This study sought to compare early and late clinical outcomes of whole blood del Nido microplegia (BDN) versus cold blood cardioplegia (CBC) following adult cardiac surgery.

Predictors and outcomes of patient-prosthesis mismatch after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) has been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement. There is limited data on its risk and impact after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), especially with the newer generation heart valves.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the incidence, predictors, and clinical outcomes of PPM after TAVR.

Predictors and outcomes of stroke after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Stroke is a devastating complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Many studies have investigated risk factors for postoperative stroke, but reliable predictors are not yet well-established. The objective of this study was to further characterize the predictors and outcomes of stroke after TAVR.

Outcomes After Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction With a Tube Graft for Annular Erosion.

Background: Aortic annular erosion is a serious complication of aortic valve endocarditis or previous aortic valve replacement. This study examined the outcomes of a technique for left ventricular outflow tract reconstruction using a polyester tube graft, followed by translocation of the aortic valve and coronary arteries.

Methods: A total of 23 patients with extensive annular erosion resulting from endocarditis or previous aortic valve replacement with or without pseudoaneurysm formation, or occurring after excision of the native valve, underwent suture of a polyester tube graft in the left ventricular outflow tract below the annulus, replacement of the aortic valve and proximal ascending aorta with a composite graft, and reimplantation of the coronary arteries with the use of interposition polyester grafts.

Early Experience With Embolic Protection Devices During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Objectives: Embolic protection devices (EPDs) have been employed to combat the risk of cerebrovascular events during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The use of EPD has been shown in some studies to decrease periprocedural stroke incidence when compared with non-EPD TAVR. Our study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes of TAVR with versus without EPD.

Continuous Suture Technique for Aortic Valve Replacement: Technical Considerations and Controversies.

Continuous suture technique (CST) for aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a simple, secure, and fast surgical technique that has been shown to significantly decrease cross clamp time and cardiac bypass time, ultimately resulting in decreased myocardial ischemic injury, operation time, and hospital stay. However, previous studies have reported increased risk of periprosthetic regurgitation with CST for AVR. We describe our technique for AVR using CST in 100 patients with low complication rate and no perioperative paravalvular aortic insufficiency.

Transcatheter aortic valve in valve implantation with bioprosthetic valve fracture.

Valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV TAVR) has emerged as a preferable option for high surgical risk patients requiring redo aortic valve replacement. However, VIV TAVR may restrict flow, especially in small native aortic valves. To remedy this, bioprosthetic valve fracture has been utilized to increase the effective orifice area and improve hemodynamics.

Modified whole blood microplegia in high-risk patients.

Background: Numerous studies have documented the safety of whole blood cardioplegia on clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery. However, there is a paucity of studies investigating the outcomes of whole blood microplegia after cardiac surgery. Our protocol of whole blood microplegia includes removal of the crystalloid portion and utilizing the Quest Myocardial Protection System, for delivery of del Nido cardioplegia additives in whole blood.

Role of Moderate Hypothermia and Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion during Repair of Type A Aortic Dissection.

The goal of this study was to compare early postoperative outcomes and actuarial survival between patients who underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection with deep or moderate hypothermia. A total of 132 consecutive patients from a single academic medical center underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection between January 2000 and June 2014. Of those, 105 patients were repaired under deep hypothermia (< 24 C°), while 27 patients were repaired under moderate hypothermia (≥24 C°).

Axillary Versus Femoral Arterial Cannulation During Repair of Type A Aortic Dissection?: An Old Problem Seeking New Solutions.

Background: The goal of this study was to compare early postoperative outcomes and actuarial-free survival between patients who underwent repair of acute Type A aortic dissection with axillary or femoral artery cannulation.

Methods: A total of 305 patients from five academic medical centers underwent acute Type A aortic dissection repair via axillary ( = 107) or femoral ( = 198) artery cannulation between January 2000 and December 2010. Major morbidity, operative mortality, and 5-year actuarial survival were compared between groups.

Techniques of Proximal Root Reconstruction and Outcomes Following Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: The goal of this study was to compare the early and late outcomes of different techniques of proximal root reconstruction during the repair of acute Type A aortic dissection, including aortic valve (AV) resuspension, aortic valve replacement (AVR), and a root replacement procedure.

Methods: All patients who underwent acute Type A aortic dissection repair between January 2000 and October 2010 at four academic institutions were compiled from each institution's Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database. This included 189 patients who underwent a concomitant aortic valve (AV) procedure; 111, 21, and 57 patients underwent AV resuspension, AVR, and the Bentall procedure, respectively.

Comparison between antegrade and retrograde cerebral perfusion or profound hypothermia as brain protection strategies during repair of type A aortic dissection.

Background: The goal of this study was to compare early postoperative outcomes and actuarial-free survival between patients who underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection by the method of cerebral perfusion used.

Methods: A total of 324 patients from five academic medical centers underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection between January 2000 and December 2010. Of those, antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) was used for 84 patients, retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) was used for 55 patients, and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) was used for 184 patients during repair.

Effects of Gender on Outcomes and Survival Following Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Previous studies have demonstrated gender-related differences in early and late outcomes following type A dissection diagnosis. However, it is widely unknown whether gender affects early clinical outcomes and survival after repair of type A aortic dissection. The goal of this study was to compare the early and late clinical outcomes in women versus men after repair of acute type A aortic dissections.

Improved clinical outcomes and survival following repair of acute type A aortic dissection in the current era.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare early postoperative outcomes and actuarial-free survival between patients who underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection during 2000-2005 and 2006-2010.

Methods: A total of 251 patients from four academic medical centres underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection between January 2000 and October 2010. Of those, 111 patients underwent repair during 2000-2005, whereas 140 patients underwent repair during 2006-2010.

Aortic root surgery in the United States: a report from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the early clinical outcomes of aortic root surgery in the United States.

Methods: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database was queried to identify all patients who had undergone aortic root replacement from 2004 to early 2010 (n = 13,743). The median age was 58 years (range, 18-96); 3961 were women (29%) and 12,059 were white (88%).

Giant Aortic Root Aneurysm Presenting as Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

A 49-year-old woman with four months of increasing episodic palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath presented to an outside clinic where a new 4/6 systolic ejection murmur was identified. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a large aortic root aneurysm. The patient underwent emergent repair of the dissected root aneurysm with a modified Bentall procedure utilizing a #19 St Jude Valsalva mechanical valve conduit.

Hybrid arch debranching and endograft repair in a patient with a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Recent advances in hybrid techniques of aortic arch debranching allow for the repair of thoracic aortic arch aneurysm without requiring cardiopulmonary bypass or hypothermic circulatory arrest. We describe the repair of a ruptured proximal descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, using off-pump aortic arch debranching and antegrade transaortic deployment of a thoracic endograft in an elderly patient.

Effects of Hemodynamic Instability on Early Outcomes and Late Survival Following Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: The goal of this study was to compare operative mortality and actuarial survival between patients presenting with and without hemodynamic instability who underwent repair of acute Type A aortic dissection. Previous studies have demonstrated that hemodynamic instability is related to differences in early and late outcomes following acute Type A dissection occurrence. However, it is unknown whether hemodynamic instability at the initial presentation affects early clinical outcomes and survival after repair of Type A aortic dissection.

Differences in clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of intraoperative versus spontaneous acute type A aortic dissection.

Background: The clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients who had intraoperative aortic dissection (IAD) have not been thoroughly investigated. This study compared early and late clinical outcomes in patients with IAD vs spontaneous (non-IAD) acute type A aortic dissection.

Methods: Between January 1, 2000, and July 1, 2008, 251 patients from 4 academic medical centers underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection; of those, 11 had IAD.