Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels after Aortic Valve Replacement: What Do They Tell Us?

Introduction:  Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a standard postoperative marker for hemolysis in the presence of paravalvular leakage (PVL) after replacement of the aortic valve (AVR). LDH is elevated in certain valves by a fluttering phenomenon. Previous studies suggested a correlation between microparticles (MPs) and LDH elevation after AVR.

Less invasive replacement of aortic root, ascending aorta and hemiarch via partial upper sternotomy: a propensity-score-matched comparison with full sternotomy.

Objectives: Less invasive surgery has emerged as an option for aortic pathologies. The current study compared our experience on early postoperative results of patients with aortic surgery between partial upper sternotomy (PUS) and full sternotomy (FS).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of patients undergoing aortic root surgery with concomitant ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement.

External stenting for saphenous vein grafts reduces early postoperative graft failure.

Objectives: Multiple studies have shown that external stenting (ExSt) mitigates the progression of vein graft disease years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We used computed tomography to evaluate the effect of ExSt on perioperative vein graft patency.

Methods: This study assessed graft patency rates of saphenous vein grafts (SVG) in consecutive patients with isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 2018 and 2021.

Thirteen Years of Impactful, Minimally Invasive Coronary Surgery: Short- and Long-Term Results for Single and Multi-Vessel Disease.

Objectives: Minimally invasive coronary surgery (MICS) via lateral thoracotomy is a less invasive alternative to the traditional median full sternotomy approach for coronary surgery. This study investigates its effectiveness for short- and long-term revascularization in cases of single and multi-vessel diseases.

Methods: A thorough examination was performed on the databases of two cardiac surgery programs, focusing on patients who underwent minimally invasive coronary bypass grafting procedures between 2010 and 2023.

Navigating the challenges of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: a risk analysis and learning curve evaluation.

Background: This study aimed to report the risk and learning curve analysis of a minimally invasive mitral valve surgery program performed through a right mini-thoracotomy at a single institution.

Methods: From January 2013 through December 2019, 266 consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive mitral valve surgery in our department and were included in the current study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used for the adverse event outcome.

Conversion from off-pump to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: impact of surgeon and anaesthetist experience.

Objectives: Intraoperative conversion from off-pump to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of surgeon and anaesthetist experience on the conversion rate.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of all patients who underwent planned off-pump CABG in a single centre in 2007-2021, some of whom were non-electively converted to on-pump.

Isolated Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery in Octogenarians: Perioperative Outcome.

Introduction: Despite the feasibility, safety, and excellent outcomes of mitral valve surgery through a right mini-thoracotomy, there is data paucity about its use in octogenarians. In this study, we assess the outcomes of mitral valve surgery via right mini-thoracotomy in octogenarians.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the in-hospital perioperative data of 38 octogenarian patients with severe mitral regurgitation undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery via right mini-thoracotomy from 2013 to 2021 in our institution.

Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch after Aortic Valve Replacement with the Mosaic Ultra Bioprosthesis.

Background:  Several studies have reported high rates of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with the Mosaic prosthesis. This work assesses the incidence of PPM after AVR with a modified version of the Mosaic prosthesis, the Mosaic Ultra.

Methods:  We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of 532 patients who underwent AVR with implantation of the Mosaic Ultra prosthesis in the period 2007-2016 in our institution.

Thrombocytopenia after Implantation of the Perceval, Intuity, and Sapien Aortic Valve Prostheses.

Background: An increased incidence of thrombocytopenia was reported after implantation of the LivaNova Perceval and the Edwards Sapien aortic valve bioprostheses. Aim of this study is to assess the perioperative platelet count and bleeding complications in three different types of aortic valve bioprostheses intended for high-risk patients, the sutureless LivaNova Perceval, the rapid deployment Edwards Intuity, and the transcatheter Edwards Sapien.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the perioperative data of patients receiving the Perceval, Intuity, and Sapien aortic valve bioprosthesis.

Transseptal versus left atrial approach for mitral valve surgery: postoperative need for pacemaker.

Objectives: Concerns exist about higher rates of pacemaker implantation using the extended superior transseptal approach for mitral valve surgery. This study aims to compare the extended superior transseptal and the left atrial approach regarding the need for pacemaker implantation after mitral valve surgery.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery through either a sternotomy and transseptal approach or a mini-thoracotomy and left atrial approach in a single centre in the period January 2010 to May 2021.

Modified transventricular and transaortic mitral valve edge-to-edge repair mimicking MitraClip overcorrection.

Objective: In the current study, we present our mid-term experience with modified edge-to-edge repair technique through a transventricular and transaortic route in patients requiring left ventricular remodeling or aortic root/valve surgery.

Methods: From December 2006 through April 2015, 49 high-risk patients (median age: 69 years; median European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II: 11.4 [6.

Ejection Fraction Recovery after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Controversy exists about left ventricular systolic function recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the temporal evolvement of left ventricular systolic function after coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 50 patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in a single center in the period 2017 to 2019.

Impact of postoperative hypothermia on outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Even though the physiological derangements caused by hypothermia are well described, there is no consensus about its impact on postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of postoperative hypothermia on outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: A total of 1979 patients undergoing isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in a single center in the period 2007-2018 were classified according to their axillary temperature measurement at intensive care unit admission postoperatively to either hypothermic (<36°C) or normothermic (≥36°C).

Aortic Root Replacement with Reimplantation of the Aortic Valve: A Low-Volume Center Experience.

Background: Most data after root replacement with reimplantation of the aortic valve originate from high-volume centers. This raises concerns about the generalizability of these data and the reproducibility of this complex procedure. Aim of this study is to assess the perioperative and midterm outcomes of this procedure in a low-volume center.

Active clearance of chest tubes after cardiac surgery: a propensity score matched analysis.

Aims Of The Study: Chest tubes inserted to drain shed mediastinal blood after cardiac surgery often become clogged, limiting their capacity to evacuate blood, and leading to blood retention and retained blood syndrome. The aim of this study was the assessment of the efficacy of an active tube clearance (ATC) system in the reduction of retained blood syndrome after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study included 2461 adult patients undergoing major cardiac surgery.

Left atrial myxoma: Unusual presentation as a cystic tumor.

Myxomas are the most common cardiac tumors, benign, and usually located in the left atrium. Typically echocardiography reveals a solid tumor, whereas cystic myxomas are rare with only a few cases documented in the literature. We describe the case of a 63-year-old, female patient with an unusual presentation of a left atrial myxoma as a cystic tumor.

First in Switzerland: concomitant off-pump transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation and mitral valve reconstruction with the NeoChord system.

Old and polymorbid patients with multivalvular heart disease comprise a special patient group, with high perioperative morbidity and mortality. We report the case of an 80-year-old, female, polymorbid patient with severe mitral valve regurgitation and moderate to severe aortic valve stenosis. This is the first case in Switzerland of a concomitant transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation and mitral valve reconstruction with the NeoChord system, on a beating heart and with a minimally invasive approach through a left anterolateral thoracotomy.