Prognostic models for prediction of perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion in adult cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Identifying cardiac surgical patients at risk of requiring red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is crucial for optimizing their outcome. We critically appraised prognostic models preoperatively predicting perioperative exposure to RBC transfusion in adult cardiac surgery and summarized model performance.

Methods: Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Erratum: Publisher's Note: Augmented and virtual reality imaging for collaborative planning of structural cardiovascular interventions: a proof-of-concept and validation study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1117/1.JMI.

Coronary Physiological Indexes to Evaluate Myocardial Ischemia in Patients With Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Valve Replacement.

Background: The evaluation of myocardial ischemia in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) and possible microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is challenging because fractional flow reserve (FFR) and the resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) have not been validated in this clinical setting.

Objectives: The objectives of this study in patients with AS and CAD were: 1) to describe the relationship between hyperemic and resting indexes; 2) to investigate the acute and long-term effects of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on epicardial indexes and microvascular function; 3) to assess the impact of these changes on clinical decision making; and 4) to determine FFR/RFR ischemia cutoff points in AS.

Methods: In this prospective multicentric study, we performed serial measurements of FFR and RFR and evaluated MVD by means of coronary flow reserve, the index of microvascular resistance, and microvascular resistance reserve in patients with severe AS and intermediate to severe CAD before and 6 months after AVR.

Long-term outcome after the Ross procedure in 173 adults with up to 25 years of follow-up.

Objectives: The potential risk of autograft dilatation and homograft stenosis after the Ross procedure mandates lifelong follow-up. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine long-term outcome of the Ross procedure, investigating autograft and homograft failure patterns leading to reintervention.

Methods: All adults who underwent the Ross procedure between 1991 and 2018 at the University Hospitals Leuven were included, with follow-up data collected retrospectively.

Cell signaling and tissue remodeling in the pulmonary autograft after the Ross procedure: A computational study.

In the Ross procedure, a patient's pulmonary valve is transplanted in the aortic position. Despite advantages of this surgery, reoperation is still needed in many cases due to excessive dilatation of the pulmonary autograft. To further understand the failure mechanisms, we propose a multiscale model predicting adaptive processes in the autograft at the cell and tissue scale.

Serial Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse-A Single-Center Retrospective Registry.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral annular disjunction (MAD) are common valvular abnormalities that have been associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has a key role in risk stratification of VA, including assessment of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Single-center retrospective analysis of patients with MVP or MAD who had >1 CMR and >1 24 h Holter registration available.

Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic valve stenosis: Meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Objectives: Randomized controlled trials comparing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with surgical aortic valve replacement demonstrate conflicting evidence, particularly in low-risk patients. We aim to reevaluate the evidence using trial sequential analysis, balancing type I and II errors, and compare with conventional meta-analysis.

Methods: Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials, which were divided into higher-risk and lower-risk randomized controlled trials according to a pragmatic risk classification.

Clinical Impact of the Endo-aortic Clamp for Redo Mitral Valve Surgery.

Aim of this study was to compare redo MV surgery patients undergoing right mini-thoracotomy and EAC with redo MV patients undergoing surgery through other approaches. Redo MV patients from 7 European centers were analyzed. Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality; secondary endpoints were stroke, re-exploration, low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), respiratory failure, and intensive care unit (ICU) and in-hospital length-of-stay.

An interventional sheep model of severe aortic valve stenosis hemodynamics for the evaluation of alterations in coronary physiology and microvascular function.

We aimed to develop a large animal model of subcoronary aortic stenosis (AS) to study intracoronary and microcirculatory hemodynamics. A total of three surgical techniques inducing AS were evaluated in 12 sheep. Suturing the leaflets together around a dilator ( = 2) did not result in severe AS.

Stiffness matters: Improved failure risk assessment of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Objectives: Rupture and dissection are feared complications of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms caused by mechanical failure of the wall. The current method of using the aortic diameter to predict the risk of wall failure and to determine the need for surgical resection lacks accuracy. Therefore, this study aims to identify reliable and clinically measurable predictors for aneurysm rupture or dissection by performing a personalized failure risk analysis, including clinical, geometrical, histologic, and mechanical data.

Bleeding and thrombotic risk of different antiplatelet regimens posttranscatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in patients with an indication for oral anticoagulation: Results from an all-comers national registry.

Background: Evidence-based recommendations for antithrombotic treatment in patients who have an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) are lacking.

Aims: To compare bleeding and thrombotic risk for different antithrombotic regimens post-TEER with MitraClip in an unselected population with the need for OACs.

Methods: Bleeding and thrombotic complications (stroke and myocardial infarction) up to 3 months after TEER with mitraclip were evaluated in 322 consecutive pts with an indication for OACs.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus sutureless aortic valve replacement: a single-centre cost analysis.

Aims: Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are both viable therapeutic interventions for aortic stenosis in elderly patients. Meta-analyses show similar all-cause mortality for both techniques albeit with a different pattern of adverse effects. This study means to compare costs and, to a lesser extent, clinical outcomes of both techniques.

Aortic valve replacement in non-elderly: the gap between reality, guidelines and evidence.

Objectives: There are several treatment options for non-elderly adults (18-60 years) in need of aortic valve replacement (AVR): a mechanical or biological substitute, a homograft, the Ross procedure or nowadays even transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This study evaluated the current opinions and practices of cardiac surgeons and cardiologists concerning AVR strategies in this patient group.

Methods: A 43-item online survey was sent out to several scientific organizations, individual cardiac surgeons, cardiologists and residents/fellows worldwide.

In vivo performance of a tri-leaflet mechanical heart valve prosthesis in an ovine model.

Objectives: We present the long-term results of a trileaflet (Triflo) versus bileaflet (On-X) mechanical valve in both aortic and pulmonary positions in a sheep model.

Methods: The Triflo valve was implanted in 21 female sheep in aortic (n = 8) and pulmonary position (n = 13). The On-X valve was implanted in 7 female sheep in aortic (n = 1) and pulmonary (n = 6) positions.

DOACs in the Anticoagulation of Mechanical Valves: A Systematic Review and Future Perspectives.

Unlabelled: Valvular heart disease is a common disease often necessitating valve replacement. Mechanical heart valves (MHVs) are often used in younger patients because of their longer durability. Their main disadvantage is the need for lifelong anticoagulation.

Erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in robotically-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Study Objective: To investigate if an erector spinae plane (ESP) block decreases postoperative opioid consumption, pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing robotically-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (RAMIDCAB).

Design: A single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Postoperative period; operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital ward in a university hospital.

Anatomical feasibility of an endovascular aortic arch repair with the NEXUS endograft in patients treated with a frozen elephant trunk procedure for aortic arch pathology.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an endovascular repair, using the NEXUS™ Aortic Arch Stent Graft System, in a real-world cohort of patients, treated with a Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) procedure for pathology involving the aortic arch.

Results: The preoperative computed tomography angiography scans of 37 patients were retrospectively analyzed using a dedicated workstation. In total, seven patients (N = 7/37; 18.

Efficacy of erector spinae plane block for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: Results of a double-blind, prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Study Objective: To investigate if an erector spinae plane (ESP) block decreases postoperative opioid consumption, pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS).

Design: A single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Postoperative period; operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital ward in a university hospital.

Matched comparison between external aortic root support and valve-sparing root replacement.

Objectives: Differences in indication and technique make a randomised comparison between valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) and personalised external aortic root support (PEARS) challenging. We performed a propensity score (PS)-matched comparison of PEARS and VSRR for syndromic root aneurysm.

Methods: Patients in the PEARS 200 Database and Aortic Valve Insufficiency and ascending aorta Aneurysm InternATiOnal Registry (undergoing VSRR) with connective tissue disease operated electively for root aneurysm <60 mm with aortic regurgitation (AR) <1/4 were included.

Cross-Feeding and Enzymatic Catabolism for Mannan-Oligosaccharide Utilization by the Butyrate-Producing Gut Bacterium A2-183.

β-Mannan is abundant in the human diet and in hemicellulose derived from softwood. Linear or galactose-substituted β-mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS/GMOSs) derived from β-mannan are considered emerging prebiotics that could stimulate health-associated gut microbiota. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet resolved.

A Large-Diameter Vascular Graft Replacing Animal-Derived Sealants With an Elastomeric Polymer.

Introduction: To assess the safety and efficacy of an experimental large-diameter vascular graft externally sealed with an elastomeric polymer when used as an interposition graft in the descending aorta of sheep.

Methods: The experimental vascular grafts as well as control gelatin sealed interposition grafts were inserted into the descending aorta of juvenile sheep. The grafts were assessed by time to hemostasis and blood loss during surgery and hematology and biochemistry panels at distinct time points.