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The article discusses the process of perfecting aortic valve repair, specifically focusing on the use of internal ring annuloplasty. The study examines the outcomes of a series of aortic valve repairs performed over a 5-year period, with a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. The authors highlight the technical modifications made to reduce repair failure and improve patient outcomes. The results show that the majority of patients had successful repairs, with low rates of operative deaths and complications. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to enhance aortic valve repair techniques. [Extracted from the article]

OBJECTIVES Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide Current guidelines recommend prophylactic replacement of the ascending aorta at an aneurysmal diameter of >55 mm to prevent acute Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) in non-Marfan patients. Several publications have challenged this threshold, suggesting that surgery should be performed in smaller aneurysms to prevent this devastating disease. We reviewed our experience with measuring aortic size at the time of TAAD to validate the existing recommendation for prophylactic ascending aorta replacement. METHODS All patients who had been admitted for TAAD to our emergency department from 2014 to 2019 and underwent ascending aorta replacement were included. Marfan patients were excluded. The maximum diameter of the dissected aorta was measured preoperatively using CT scan. We estimated the aortic diameter at the time of dissection to be 7 mm smaller than the measured maximum diameter of the dissected aorta (modelled pre-dissection diameter). RESULTS Overall, 102 patients were included. Of these, 67 were male (65.6%) and 35 were female (34.4%), and the cohort's mean age was 65 ± 12.1 years. In addition, 66% were treated for arterial hypertension. The mean maximum modelled pre-dissection diameter was 39.6 ± 4.8 mm: 39.1 ± 5.1 mm in men and 40.7 ± 2.8 mm in women (P  = 0.1). The cumulative 30-day mortality rate was 19.6% (20/102). CONCLUSIONS TAAD occurred at a modelled aortic diameter below 45 mm in 87.7% of our patients. Therefore, the current aortic diameter threshold of 55 mm excludes ∼99% of patients with TAAD from prophylactic replacement of the ascending aorta. The maximum diameter of the ascending aorta warrants reappraisal and this parameter should be a distinct part of a personalized decision-making process that also takes into account age, gender and body surface area to establish the surgical indication for preventive aorta replacement aimed to improve the survival benefit of this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its clinical implementation in the late nineties, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the standard treatment of several acute and chronic diseases of the thoracic aorta. While TEVAR has been embraced by many, this disruptive technology has also stimulated the continuing evolution of open surgery, which became even more important as late TEVAR failures do need open surgical correction justifying the need to unite both treatment options under one umbrella. This fact shows the importance of—in analogy to the heart team—aortic centre formation and centralization of care, which stimulates continuing development and improves outcome. The next frontier to be explored is the most proximal component of the aorta—the aortic root, in particular in acute type A aortic dissection—which remains the main challenge for the years to come. The aim of this document is to provide the reader with a synopsis of current evidence regarding the use or non-use of TEVAR in acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease, to share latest recommendations for a modified terminology and for reporting standards and finally to provide a glimpse into future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the guidelines on the surgery for the aneurysms of the ascending aorta. The author states that aneurysms of the ascending aorta must need to be attacked surgically to prevent catastrophic events such as aortic dissection and aortic rupture. He mentions that the size of the aneurysm, the body surface area, and the experience of the surgical team are of paramount importance.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, a propensity-matching analysis was used to compare biological versus mechanical composite valve graft implantation for early mortality and morbidities and for late complications including the need for aortic reintervention. METHODS: Between 1978 and 2011, 1112 consecutive patients underwent a complete aortic root replacement using either a biological Bentall (BB, n = 356) or a mechanical Bentall (MB, n = 756) valve conduit. Preoperative data were stratified according to the type of valve graft, and treatment bias was addressed by propensity score analysis. RESULTS: Two homogeneous groups of 138 patients were obtained. Hospital mortality between them was comparable (MB = 7.2% and BB = 5.8%, P = 0.6). They also had similar results after a mean follow-up time of 40 ± 38 months. Propensity-adjusted Cox-regression analysis showed no relationship between the type of prosthesis and all-cause mortality at follow-up (hazards ratio: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.50--2.14; P = 0.4). Freedom from proximal aortic reintervention at 1, 5 and 7 years was 99.1 ± 0.9% in the MB group compared with 98.4 ± 1.1%, 93.0 ± 3.2% and 93.0 ± 3.2% in the BB group (long-rank P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The Bentall procedure is a safe and reproducible treatment for ascending aorta pathologies. The choice of either a mechanical or a biological valve graft seems to have no influence on early and late midterm adverse outcomes including need for aortic reinterventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of mild-to-moderate aortic dilatation at the time of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is still controversial. We aimed to estimate late progression of aortopathy in patients who underwent isolated AVR for BAV stenosis with concomitant proximal aortic dilatation of ≥40 mm. METHODS: The review of our institutional BAV database (n = 510) revealed a subgroup of 96 consecutive BAV patients (57 ± 10 years, 78% male) with BAV stenosis and concomitant ascending aortic dilatation of ≥40 mm [i.e. as defined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ computed tomography (CT)], who underwent isolated AVR from 1995 to 2006. Aortic diameters were quantified by preoperative MRI/CT in all patients (i.e. all cases without MRI/CT were excluded). Moreover, we excluded all cases of simultaneous aortic surgery. MRI/CT follow-up (855 patient-years) was obtained in 83 (87%) patients. Study end-points were progression of proximal aortic diameters (mm/ patient-year) and prevalence of aortic events (sudden death, aortic dissection and aortic surgery). RESULTS: MRI/CT follow-up (mean 10.3 ± 3.8 years post-AVR) revealed no significant progress of maximal cross-sectional aortic diameters (i.e. 46.4 ± 4.4 mm pre-AVR vs 46.9 ± 4.6 mm post-AVR, P = 0.1). Aortic diameters were identical in 54 (65%) patients. The mean progression rate of maximal cross-sectional aortic diameter was 0.09 mm/patient-year for the whole study cohort, whereas diameter increase of ≥5 mm was revealed in 1 (1%) patient. No aortic dissection occurred. Five (5%) patients underwent redo aortic surgery for aneurysm, whereas 3 of them had aortic diameters identical to pre-AVR. CONCLUSIONS: Mild-to-moderate ascending aortic dilatation remains stable in most BAV patients who underwent isolated AVR surgery for aortic valve stenosis at least 10-year post-AVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have shown that aortic diameter alone is an insufficient parameter to identify patients at risk for aortic dissection. The aim of this study was to determine the value of the ratio of aortic diameter to medial wall thickness as a new marker of risk. METHODS: We obtained data from 181 patients with an ascending aortic aneurysm (n = 94) or an acute type A aortic dissection (n = 87), surgically treated at our institution (1996-2012). Measurements of the maximum aortic diameter and the medial wall thickness were conducted by retrospective review of preoperative imaging studies and histological specimens, respectively. RESULTS: Nearly 60% of the dissection patients had aortic diameters smaller than 50 mm. There was a significant negative linear correlation between medial wall thickness and aortic diameter (P = 0.01) in the dissection group only. Among patients with aortic diameters above 50 mm, dissection patients had significantly thinner aortic media (P = 0.04). Among patients with a mildly dilated aorta (>45 mm), the aortic diameter to medial wall thickness ratio was significantly higher in the dissection group (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with a dilatation of the ascending aorta of more than 45 and 49 mm, patients experiencing aortic dissection have a significantly higher aortic diameter to wall thickness ratio and a thinner aortic media, respectively. In the subset of patients with mild aortic dilatation, wall thickness might in the future serve as an additional parameter to help identify those patients who would benefit from prophylactic aortic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The higher risk of adverse aortic events in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease and ascending aorta aneurysm is known, but the management of moderate aortic root dilatation in younger patients is a controversial issue. The aim of the study was to compare survival in patients with or without root replacement. METHODS: We reviewed 166 consecutive patients with BAV disease and concomitant ascending aorta aneurysm (mean ascending aorta diameter: 51.4 ± 7.2 mm) undergoing cardiac surgery from 1994 to 2010. A total of 77 patients underwent Bentall procedure (90.9% male, mean age: 55.7 ± 12.7 years, Bentall group), whereas the remaining 89 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with supracoronary ascending aorta replacement (SAAR 71.9% male, mean age: 60.5 ± 11.2 years, SAAR group, P = 0.002). The preoperative mean diameter of the root was 44.0 ± 7.2 mm in the Bentall, and 38.5 ± 4.8 mm in the SAAR group (P < 0.0001). RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 2.6% in the Bentall, and 2.3% in the SAAR groups. Overall survival was 84 and 81% in the Bentall (median follow-up: 105 months) versus 89 and 88% in the SAAR (median follow-up: 73 months) groups at 10 and 15 years (P = 0.36), respectively. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 201 ± 56 min and 174 ± 58 min (P = 0.0016), the mean cross-clamp time 156 ± 42 min and 132 ± 38 min (P = 0.0008) in the Bentall and SAAR groups, respectively. Four sudden deaths have occurred in the Bentall group and in 2 in the SAAR group. Progressive dilatation of the aortic root in the SAAR group was not significat (postoperative mean diameter: 36.3 ± 4.4 mm). Neither subgroup of patients in the SAAR with preoperative moderate dilatation of aortic root had significat aortic dilatation at the mean follow-up of 73 ± 39 months (preoperative diameter: 43.5 ± 2.3 mm versus postoperative: 39.1 ± 4.2 mm). One patient in Bentall and 1 in the SAAR groups were reoperated for tubular graft infection. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BAV disease, ascending aorta aneurysm and moderate dilatation of the root, the significat reduction of CPB and cross-clamp times, the stability of the residual root at long term and the low risk of adverse aortic events associated with SAAR compared with the Bentall procedure have led us to consider the isolated aortic valve replacement with supracoronary aorta replacement an alternative strategy to the Bentall procedure, especially in high-risk and older patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Aortic dissection DeBakey type I and II may require distal reinterventions after initial proximal repair. We evaluated outcomes following open versus endovascular approaches to distal aortic pathologies after surgery for acute dissection. METHODS: One hundred and forty-one consecutive patients underwent 152 distal reinterventions after previous type I or II dissection repair [63 (first quartile, 55; third quartile, 72) years old; initially 86% DeBakey type I; 54% hemiarch, 39% isolated ascending, 7% total arch replacement] at two tertiary centres in the USA and Europe over the last 14 years. Among them, 56 and 85 required reintervention for the aortic arch and the descending aorta, respectively. The median follow-up was 2.1 (first quartile, 0.8; third quartile, 5.8) years (439 patientyears). RESULTS: The median time between acute aortic dissection repair and descending aortic reintervention was longer in the open group (2.7 (first quartile, 0.8; third quartile, 6.7) vs 0.6 (first quartile, 0.1; third quartile, 3.5) years, P < 0.01). There was one irreversible spinal ischaemia in the open and one stroke in the endovascular group. Two patients in the open and none in the endovascular group required re-exploration for bleeding. Two open and 4 endovascular patients required more than 1 distal reintervention (6 vs 8%, P = 1). Descending aortic open-repair patients experienced higher in-hospital mortality (23 vs 0%, P < 0.01) and lower survival at 1 and 5 years (74 ± 8% vs 96 ± 3%, 65 ± 9% vs 92 ± 5%, P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular intervention for descending aortic pathologies after DeBakey type I or II dissection surgical repair is associated with lower in-hospital mortality and better survival, and does not raise the likelihood of later reinterventions at the mid-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iatrogenic paraplegia has been accompanying cardiovascular surgery since its beginning. As a result, surgeons have been developing many theories about the exact mechanisms of this devastating complication. Thus, the impact of single arteries that contribute to the spinal perfusion is one of the most discussed subjects in modern surgery. The subsequent decision of reattachment or the permanent disconnection of these intercostal arteries divides the surgical community. On the one hand, the anatomical or vascular approach pleads for the immediate reimplantation to reconstruct the anatomical situation. On the other hand, the decision of the permanent disconnection aims at avoiding stealing phenomenon away from the spinal vascular network. This spinal collateral network can be described as consisting of three components—the intraspinal and two paraspinal compartments–that feed the nutrient arteries of the spinal cord. The exact functional impact of the different compartments of the collateral network remains poorly understood. In this review, the function of the intraspinal compartment in the context of collateral network principle as an immediate emergency backup system is described. The exact structure and architectural principles of the intraspinal compartment are described. The critical parameters with regard to the risk of postoperative spinal cord ischaemia are the number of anterior radiculomedullary arteries (ARMAs) and the distance between them in relation to the longitudinal extent of aortic disease. The paraspinal network as a sleeping reserve is proposed as the long-term backup system. This sleeping reserve has to be activated by arteriogenic stimuli. These are presented briefly, and prior findings regarding arteriogenesis are discussed in the light of the collateral network concept. Finally, the role of preoperative visualization of the ARMAs in order to evaluate the risk of postoperative paraplegia is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Conflicting results have been reported on late aortic growth and complication rates of the descending thoracic aorta in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) after proximal aortic surgery. METHODS Of 198 Marfan patients followed up regularly, 121 (43% David-I, 7% David-II, 11% supracoronary replacement, 52% mechanical conduit, 8% arch replacement) were analysed after proximal aortic surgery retrospectively. 97% had MFS1, 3% MFS2 (Loeys-Dietz-Syndrome); 56% were male and the mean age was 35 ± 13 years. 65% were initially operated on for root/ascending aortic aneurysm and 35% for aortic dissections. Using automated computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography cross-sectional analyses, the mean diameters of the distal arch, mid-descending and distal supradiaphragmatic descending thoracic aorta were measured at early and late follow-up (mean 6.3 years for aneurysms and 4.7 years for dissections). The mean duration of clinical follow-up was 7.6 years and the cumulative clinical follow-up comprised 894 patient-years. RESULTS At 20 years, overall freedom from distal aortic complications and/or reintervention was 76% (51–86%) for aneurysms and 52% (28–71%) for dissections (P = 0.03). In non-dissected aortas, distal aortic growth was significant, but minimal: arches grew from 25.2 ± 0.6 to 26.3 ± 0.8 mm (P = 0.01), mid-descending aortas from 22.2 ± 0.5 to 24.9 ± 1.2 mm (P = 0.05) and distal descending aortas from 22.1 ± 0.7 to 24.2 ± 1.4 (P = 0.02, 0.58 mm/year ± 0.5 mm). Dissected distal aortas increased by a mean of 0.3 ± 0.5 mm/year. Dissection (P < 0.001), urgent procedure (P = 0.02) and hypertension (0.052) were associated with larger distal aortic diameters at late follow-up and more significant aortic growth over time. CONCLUSIONS Late distal complication rates are low for patients initially presenting with aneurysms. The risk of late distal reoperation is dictated by the initial pathology and by the presence of an initial dissection and not by faster distal aortic growth. Strategies to completely restore a non-dissected anatomy might improve late surgical outcome in Marfan's syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

OBJECTIVES To avoid a two-stage surgical approach for complex thoracic aortic disease with its additive mortality and morbidity, a hybrid stent graft prosthesis was introduced 6 years ago for simultaneous treatment of the ascending, arch and descending aortas, relying proximally on a surgical suture line with an integrated distal stent graft for downstream splinting. We report the mid-term single-centre experience. METHODS Between January 2005 and March 2011, 77 patients (mean age 59 years, male 75%) with acute (AAD, n = 39) or chronic aortic dissection (CAD, n = 23) DeBakey type I or an extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA, n = 15) underwent one-stage repair. Periodic follow-up studies (100%, mean 29 months) included repeat aortic computed tomography imaging. Major adverse events (MAEs) were defined as permanent stroke, spinal cord injury and dialysis. RESULTS In-hospital mortality was 10% (8 of 77). The incidence of MAE in AAD, CAD and TAA was 5, 13 and 20%, respectively. At the last follow-up, the complete thrombosis of the thoracic false lumen was 92% for AAD, 91% for CAD and the full exclusion of aneurysms 100% in TAA. Throughout the follow-up, freedom from aortic disease-related death was 93% and 5-year survival 79%. Freedom from distal reoperation was 94% in AAD, 95% in CAD and 100% in TAA and the incidence of distal stent graft extension 10% (8 of 77). CONCLUSIONS The durable hybrid one-stage repair of complex thoracic aortic disease is feasible with acceptable mortality. Distal reintervention is infrequent and associated with low risk; thus, the indication for the optimization of the peripheral flow using the endovascular aortic repair techniques is gradually widened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the study "Too thin a beam of light in thick fog," by Alessandro Della Cortea and Amalia Forteb. The author states that the study investigates the thickness of aortic media in patients undergoing aortic surgery. The author adds that researchers revealed thinner aortic media in patients with aortic dissection than those with aortic aneurysm.

The author presents insights on bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-associated aortopathy. Topics discussed include a study wherein the BAV was replaced along with the ascending aorta but the native root was left in place, the anatomical form of BAV aortopathy, and Bentall procedure as a low-risk procedure for young patients with BAV aortopathy.

The author reflects on the study by E. Girdauskas and colleagues on the treatment of patients with stenotic bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and moderate aneurysm of the ascending aorta. He says that the study reports 153 patients with BAV stenosis and ascending aortic dilatation who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). He mentions that the findings support the theory that abnormal haemodynamics are responsible for aortopathy in stenotic biscuspid valve disease.