Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling after Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Regurgitation-An Explorative Study.

Background: The timing of treatment for chronic aortic valve regurgitation (AR), especially in asymptomatic patients, is gaining attention since less invasive strategies have become available. The aim of the present study was to evaluate left ventricular reverse remodeling after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe AR.

Methods: Patients (n = 25) who underwent surgical AVR for severe AR with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 55% were included in this study.

Impact of CytoSorb® on interleukin-6 in cardiac surgery.

Objective: Cardiac surgery is known to activate a cascade of inflammatory mediators leading to a systemic inflammatory response. Hemadsorption (HA) devices such as CytoSorb® have been postulated to mitigate an overshooting immune response, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and thus improve outcome. We aimed to investigate the effect of CytoSorb® on interleukin (IL)-6 levels in patients undergoing complex cardiac surgery in comparison to a control group.

Long-Term Results with 187 Frozen Elephant Trunk Procedures.

The frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique is an established therapeutic option in the treatment of complex aortic diseases. We report our long-term clinical outcomes after FET repair. A total of 187 consecutive patients underwent FET repair at our department between 8/2005 and 3/2023.

Alterations in Coronary Resistance Artery Network Geometry in Diabetes and the Role of Tenascin C.

Background: Geometrical alterations in the coronary resistance artery network and the potential involvement of Tenascin C (TNC) extracellular matrix protein were investigated in diabetic and control mice.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injections (n = 7-11 animals in each group) in Tenascin C KO (TNC KO) mice and their Wild type (A/J) littermates. After 16-18 weeks the heart was removed and the whole subsurface network of the left coronary artery was prepared (down to branches of 40 m outer diameter), pressure-perfused and studied using video-microscopy.

Specific Graft Treatment Solution Enhances Vascular Endothelial Function.

Background: Saline is still the most widely used storage and rinsing solution for vessel grafts during cardiac surgery despite knowing evidence of its negative influence on the human endothelial cell function. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of DuraGraft©, an intraoperative graft treatment solution, on human saphenous vein segments and further elaborate the vasoprotective effect on rat aortic segments in comparison to saline.

Methods: Human Saphenous vein (HSV) graft segments from patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery (n = 15), were randomized to DuraGraft© (n = 15) or saline (n = 15) solution before intraoperative storage.

Graft preservation confers myocardial protection during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: During on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (ONCAB), graft flushing for distal anastomoses testing also perfuses the downstream myocardium. This single-center retrospective study evaluated the impact of specific preservation solutions on myocardial protection during ONCAB.

Materials And Methods: Between July 2019 and March 2020 either DuraGraft (DG) or 0.

The Role of Telocytes and Telocyte-Derived Exosomes in the Development of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

A hallmark of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) is the degenerative remodeling of aortic wall, which leads to progressive aortic dilatation and resulting in an increased risk for aortic dissection or rupture. Telocytes (TCs), a distinct type of interstitial cells described in many tissues and organs, were recently observed in the aortic wall, and studies showed the potential regulation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) homeostasis by TC-released shed vesicles. The purpose of the present work was to study the functions of TCs in medial degeneration of TAA.

Subcutaneous implanted cardioverter-defibrillator in ventricular noncompaction, coronary artery disease and stroke.

Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is associated with arrhythmias. Guidelines for prevention of sudden cardiac death by implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) also apply to LVHT-patients. Right ventricular perforation by the ICD-lead is a matter of concern.

Taking the frozen elephant trunk technique to the next level by a stented side branch for a left subclavian artery connection: a feasibility study.

Objectives: Our goal was to develop a modified frozen elephant trunk (FET) prosthesis with a stented left subclavian artery (LSA) side branch for LSA connection and to perform preclinical testing in a human cadaver model.

Methods: We measured aortic diameters, distance between and diameters of supra-aortic vessels and the distance from the LSA offspring to the level of the left vertebral artery offspring in 70 patients. Based on these measurements, a novel FET prosthesis was developed (Cryolife/Jotec, Hechingen, Germany) featuring a stented side branch for an intrathoracic LSA connection.

Multicentre experience with two frozen elephant trunk prostheses in the treatment of acute aortic dissection†.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate early- and mid-term outcome and aortic remodelling in patients undergoing implantation of 2 different frozen elephant trunk prostheses, either the Thoraflex™ hybrid (Vascutek, Inchinnan, UK) and the E-vita Open (Jotec Inc., Hechingen, Germany) for acute aortic dissection.

Methods: All consecutive patients [n = 88; median age 59 (49-67) years; 69% male] undergoing surgery with a frozen elephant trunk prosthesis for acute aortic dissection from August 2005 until March 2018 were included in this study.