Search

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to compare early and long-term results in terms of survival and aortic complications for traumatic aortic injuries depending on the initial management strategy. METHODS From January 1980 to January 2017, 101 patients with aortic injuries were divided into 3 groups according to management strategy at admission: 60 patients, conservative management; 26 patients, open surgery and 15 patients, endovascular repair. The groups were similar in terms of gender and trauma severity scores. RESULTS All but 1 aortic-related complications and aortic-related mortality occurred in the conservative group (11.6% conservative vs 2.4% in both surgical and endovascular groups, P  = 0.091). Total follow-up was 1109.27 patient-years. Survival in the conservative, surgical and endovascular group was 71.7%, 80.8% and 79.4% at 1 year, 68.2%, 80.8% and 79.4% at 5 years and 63.9%, 72.7% and 79.4% at 10 years, respectively (log-rank = 0.218). The rate of aortic-related complications was 58.3% in the conservative cohort. Cox regression identified the following risk factors for aortic-related complications: aortic injuries grade >I [odds ratio (OR), 3.05; P  = 0.021], Trauma Injury Severity Score >50% (OR 1.21; P  = 0.042) and the decade of treatment (OR 0.49; P  = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS Minimal aortic injuries seem to be an amenable target for medical management, but patients remain at risk of developing aortic-related complications. Close, long-term imaging surveillance is mandatory to detect such complications at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Bioprostheses with pericardial leaflets mounted externally on the stent pose a high risk for valve-in-valve (ViV) procedures. This study analyzed the efficacy and safety of ViV procedures for treating structural valve deterioration (SVD) in Mitroflow bioprostheses.Methods: Between January 2012 and August 2017, 11 patients (mean age 80.3 ± 5.6 years) were treated for SVD of Mitroflow bioprostheses with transcatheter ViV procedures (six transapical [TA] and five transfemoral [TF]) using balloon expandable bioprostheses.Results: All patients but one were in NYHA class III-IV. Mean STS PROM, euroSCORE I, and euroSCORE II were 8 ± 6.5%, 27.8 ± 11.5%, and 12 ± 5.9%, respectively. Two patients had a "porcelain aorta." The size of implanted valves were 23 mm in 10 cases and 26 mm in one case. One patient suffered a coronary occlusion during a TF approach. The mean volume of contrast used in TF implants was 163 ± 69.8 mL. No contrast media were used in TA procedures. There was one in-hospital death (10%). At 1 year of follow-up, peak and mean aortic gradients were 25.5 ± 5.8 mmHg and 15.5 ± 5.7 mmHg, respectively. One patient had mild paravalvular regurgitation. Cumulative survival was 90.9% at 1 year, 70.7% at 2 years, and 53% at 3 years.Conclusions: ViV procedures with balloon-expandable aortic valves provide good hemodynamic and clinical mid-term results for treating patients with a degenerated Mitroflow aortic bioprosthesis. Special care must be taken in small aortic roots, when the stented valve is in the supra-annular position to avoid coronary ostial obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to determine the incidence and causes of structural valve deterioration (SVD) among all models of Mitroflow bioprostheses (A12/LX/DL), as well as to define their long-term clinical and hemodynamic performance. Methods and Results: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 1023 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with Mitroflow bioprostheses between 2001 and 2014. A small aortic root was found in 22.4% of patients. There were two cases of severe patient-prosthesis mismatch. Only 31 patients developed SVD. The rate of incidence was 8.1 cases per 1000 patient-years. Cumulative incidence of SVD was 1.4% and 3% at five and 10 years, respectively. Freedom from SVD was 97.4% and 88.2% at five and 10 years, respectively. Anticalcification phospholipid reduction treatment (PRT) for model DL was a protective factor for SVD. Multivariable analysis confirmed age <70 years and use of 19 mm valve as independent predictors of SVD. Cumulative survival was 76.6% at five years and 42.3% at 10 years (mean follow-up 3.8 ± 3.1 years). In multivariable analysis, neither the use of small aortic prosthesis (p = 0.18) nor the occurrence of SVD (p = 0.85) was found to be independent predictors of long-term survival. Conclusions: Mitroflow valves demonstrate an acceptable rate of SVD and satisfactory long-term hemodynamic performance, particularly in patients with small aortic roots, age >70 years, and cases with severe left ventricular hypertrophy. PRT might contribute to improved long-term durability. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12726 (J Card Surg 2016;31:264-273). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most feared complications of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and hybrid arch repair is retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD). More than two-thirds of RTAD occurs in the immediate postoperative period and first postoperative month. In presentations beyond that point, progression of the native aortopathy must be considered. We report a late presentation of an RTAD seven months after hybrid repair of an aortic intramural hematoma with an ulcer-like projection, and review the causes and management of this TEVAR complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To report the clinical and radiological characteristics, management and outcomes of traumatic ascending aorta and aortic arch injuries. Methods: Historic cohort multicentre study including 17 major trauma patients with traumatic aortic injury from January 2000 to January 2011. Results: The most common mechanism of blunt trauma was motor-vehicle crash (47%) followed by motorcycle crash (41%). Patients sustaining traumatic ascending aorta or aortic arch injuries presented a high proportion of myocardial contusion (41%); moderate or greater aortic valve regurgitation (12%); haemopericardium (35%); severe head injuries (65%) and spinal cord injury (23%). The 58.8% of the patients presented a high degree aortic injury (types III and IV). Expected in-hospital mortality was over 50% as defined by mean TRISS 59.7 (SD 38.6) and mean ISS 48.2 (SD 21.6) on admission. Observed in-hospital mortality was 53%. The cause of death was directly related to the ATAI in 45% of cases, head and abdominal injuries being the cause of death in the remaining 55% cases. Long-term survival was 46% at 1 year, 39% at 5 years, and 19% at 10 years. Conclusions: Traumatic aortic injuries of the ascending aorta/arch should be considered in any major thoracic trauma patient presenting cardiac tamponade, aortic valve regurgitation and/or myocardial contusion. These aortic injuries are also associated with a high incidence of neurological injuries, which can be just as lethal as the aortic injury, so treatment priorities should be modulated on an individual basis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The objective of this study is to report the clinical and radiological characteristics and early and long-term survival of a series of acute traumatic aortic injuries (ATAI) in crush trauma patients, and to compare such data with our last 30 years experience managing ATAI in deceleration non-crush trauma patients. Methods: From January 1980 to December 2010, 5 consecutive ATAI in crush trauma and 69 in non-crush trauma patients were admitted at our institution. ISS, RTS and TRISS scores were similar in both groups. Results: Overall in-hospital mortality was 24.3%. There was no in-hospital mortality in crush patients and 26.1% in non-crush patients (p =0.32). All aortic-related complications occurred in non-crush patients. Median follow-up was 129 months (range 3–350 months). Non-crush group survival was 76.8% at 1 year, 73.6% at 5 years, and 71.2%% at 10 years. There was no mortality during follow-up in the crush group. Mean (SD) peak creatine phosphokinase was significantly higher in crush group than in non-crush group: 7598 (3690)IU/L vs. 3645 (2506)IU/L; p =0.041. Incidence of acute renal injury was higher in crush trauma patients (100% vs. 36.2%; p =0.018). Low-severity injuries were more common in crush trauma patients (100% in crush patients vs. 43.5% in non-crush patients, p =0.04). Conclusions: Aortic injuries in crush thoracic trauma patients seem to present in a different clinical scenario from aortic injuries in high-speed thoracic trauma thus requiring distinct considerations. When planning the initial management of aortic injuries in crush trauma, the increased risk of rhabdomiolysis and subsequent acute renal failure, as well as a tendency to develop lower-risk aortic wall injuries, must be considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The surgical approach to a large pseudoaneurysm of the brachiocephalic trunk may be hazardous because of its high risk of rupture. An adequate vascular control is vital before attempting to manage the pseudoaneurysm. We describe a surgical technique using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest to repair a giant pseudoaneurysm of the brachiocephalic trunk with impending rupture and severe respiratory distress and superior vena cava compression secondary to multisystem trauma. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12117 (J Card Surg 2013;28:430-432) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the case of a 63-year-old man who underwent surgical closure of a paravalvular mitral leak. Immediately after surgery, transesophageal echocardiography revealed the appearance of a mediastinal hematoma encroaching on the left atrium and separating the esophageal probe from the posterior left atrial wall. The cause was an inadvertent puncture of the carotid artery, presumably during central venous line insertion prior to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombus formation can be a significant cause for morbidity and mortality after Fontan operation. Intracardiac thrombus formation can lead to chronic pulmonary embolic disease if formed on the right side, or stroke, if on the left side of the heart. Right-sided embolism may result in ventilation/perfusion mismatch or elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance, both of which may seriously hamper cavopulmonary physiology. We report the case of a 22-year-old patient, with past history of classic Fontan procedure performed at the age of six to palliate a single-ventricle tricuspid atresia, who presented with a massive pulmonary embolism and hemodynamic instability. Due to his critical status, mechanical fragmentation of the clot using the angiography catheter was started, followed by a local catheter-directed infusion of urokinase. This case demonstrated that pharmacomechanical thrombolysis therapy with a standard Pig-tail catheter and thrombolytic therapy with urokinase is secure, effective, and appropriated to manage heart chamber and pulmonary arterial thrombosis in patients with congenital heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(J Card Surg 2010;25:566-567) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an endovascular technique for the treatment of large neck pulmonary artery aneurysms. This technique consists of the synchronized parallel deployment of two vascular plugs. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12301 ( J Card Surg 2014;29:647-649) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Elderly patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease are often referred for pharmacological stress testing. Data on the value of exercise echocardiography (ExEcho) for predicting outcome (particularly all- cause mortality) in these patients are scarce. Methods Peak treadmill ExEcho was performed in 2159 patients ‡ 70 years of age with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Left ventricular wall motion was evaluated at baseline and with exercise, and the increase in wall motion score index from rest to peak exercise (DWMSI) was calculated. Ischaemia was diagnosed when new or worsening wall motion abnormalities developed with exercise. The end points were all-cause mortality and major cardiac events (cardiac death or myocardial infarction). Results Ischaemia developed in 844 patients (38Æ6%) during exercise. Over a mean follow-up of 3Æ5 ± 3Æ1 years, 439 deaths occurred. The cumulative 5-year mortality rate was 29Æ3% in patients with ischaemia versus 16Æ8% in those without ischaemia (P < 0Æ001). After covariate adjustment, DWMSI remained an independent predictor of mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2Æ37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1Æ66–3Æ39, P < 0Æ001] and major cardiac events (HR 3Æ48, 95% CI 2Æ11–5Æ74, P < 0Æ001). These results remained significant even in patients with chronotropic incompetence. When added to a model with clinical, resting echocardiographic and exercise electrocardiogram variables, ExEcho results provided incremental value for the prediction of both end points (P < 0Æ001). Conclusions ExEcho is feasible in elderly patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease and provides useful information for risk stratification in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of atrial fibrillation (AF) with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. In addition, the relation of AF to myocardial ischemia and outcomes in patients with known or suspected CAD referred for exercise stress testing has been poorly explored. In this study, 17,100 patients aged ≥50 years with known or suspected CAD who underwent exercise electrocardiography (n = 11,911) or exercise echocardiography (n = 5,189) were evaluated. End points were all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization. Overall, 619 patients presented with AF at the time of the tests. Patients with AF who had interpretable electrocardiograms had a lower likelihood of exercise-induced ischemic ST-segment abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.34 to 0.76, p = 0.001), and those with AF who underwent exercise echocardiography had a lower likelihood of new or worsening exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.87, p = 0.006). During a mean follow-up period of 6.5 ± 3.9 years, 2,364 patients died, 1,311 had nonfatal myocardial infarctions, 1,615 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 922 underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The 10-year mortality rate was 43% in patients with AF compared to 19% in those without AF (p <0.001). In multivariate analysis, AF remained an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.20 to 1.76, p <0.001), but not of nonfatal myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. In conclusion, despite being associated with an apparently lower likelihood of myocardial ischemia, AF was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with known or suspected CAD referred for exercise stress testing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The prognostic value of an exaggerated exercise systolic blood pressure response (EESBPR) remains controversial. Our aim was to assess whether an EESBPR is associated with the long-term outcome in patients with diabetes mellitus and known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). From an initial population of 22,262 patients with known or suspected CAD who underwent treadmill exercise electrocardiography or exercise echocardiography at our institution, 2,591 patients with a history of diabetes mellitus were selected for the present study. EESBPR was defined as systolic blood pressure >220 mm Hg during exercise. The end points were all-cause mortality and hard events (ie, death or myocardial infarction). A total of 236 patients (9.1%) developed an EESBPR during the tests. During a mean follow-up of 6.5 ± 3.9 years, 484 patients died and 646 experienced hard events. The 10-year mortality rate was 16.6% in patients with an EESBPR compared to 30.9% in those without an EESBPR (p <0.001). The 10-year hard event rate was also lower in patients with an EESBPR (23.2% vs 38.9% in patients without an EESBPR; p <0.001). On multivariate analysis, an EESBPR remained independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.78, p = 0.001) and hard events (hazard ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.41 to 0.79; p <0.001). These results remained consistent in the subgroup of patients without a known history of CAD. In conclusion, an EESBPR was associated with improved survival and a lower rate of death or myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus and known or suspected CAD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: We sought to assess the value of exercise echocardiography (EE) for predicting outcome in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease and normal exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) testing. Background: The prognostic value of EE in patients with normal exercise ECG testing has not been characterized. Methods: We studied 4,004 consecutive patients (2,358 men, mean age [± SD] 59.6 ± 12.5 years) with interpretable ECG who underwent treadmill EE and did not develop chest pain or ischemic ECG abnormalities during the tests. Wall motion score index (WMSI) was evaluated at rest and with exercise, and the difference (ΔWMSI) was calculated. Ischemia was defined as the development of new or worsening wall motion abnormalities with exercise. End points were all-cause mortality and major cardiac events (MACE). Results: Overall, 669 patients (16.7%) developed ischemia with exercise. During a mean follow-up of 4.5 ± 3.4 years, 313 patients died, and 183 patients had a MACE before any revascularization procedure. The 5-year mortality and MACE rates were 6.4% and 4.2% in patients without ischemia versus 12.1% and 10.1% in those with ischemia, respectively (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, ΔWMSI remained an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40 to 5.32, p = 0.003) and MACE (HR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.42 to 9.07, p = 0.007). The addition of the EE results to the clinical, resting echocardiographic and exercise hemodynamic data significantly increased the global chi-square of the models for the prediction of mortality (p = 0.005) and MACE (p = 0.009). Conclusions: The use of EE provides significant prognostic information for predicting mortality and MACE in patients with interpretable ECG and normal exercise ECG testing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]