: The optimal choice of cardioplegia solution in minimally invasive cardiac surgeries (MICS) remains debated, as prolonged myocardial protection is essential to avoid interruptions to the surgical flow, which can prolong aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time, especially in the constrained surgical field. We conducted a network meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the del Nido (DN), histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK), blood cardioplegia (BC), and St. Thomas' (STH) solutions in MICS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) is a condition that affects both genders and requires urgent surgical intervention as non-operative treatment is often associated with a poor prognosis. Studies have proven that less aggressive surgical treatments influence the outcome for female patients in the fields of several diseases. The purpose of this study was to report and analyze our results in the selective cohort of female patients with AADA to detect differences in the treatment of this group of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver the past two decades, significant advancements in mitral valve surgery have focused on minimally invasive techniques. Some surgeons consider obesity as a relative contraindication for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the specific characteristics of obese patients contribute to increased surgical complexity and whether this, in turn, leads to worse clinical outcomes compared to non-obese patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComplications after aortic coarctation repair are associated with high mortality and require surgical or endovascular reintervention. For patients unsuitable for endovascular therapies, reoperation remains the only therapeutic option. However, surgical experience and up-to-date follow-up data concerning this overall rare entity in the spectrum of aortic reoperations are still highly limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: The management of patients with aortic valve pathologies can sometimes fall into a "gray zone", where the optimal treatment approach is not straightforward. The comparative benefits of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) using the Perceval bioprosthesis versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for the "gray zone" of aortic valve replacement procedures remain a topic of debate. To further explore this issue, we conducted a study with pairwise, single-arm, and Kaplan-Meier-based meta-analyses to compare the outcomes of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis versus TAVI, as well as to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and durability of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis over mid-term and long-term follow-up periods.
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