Search

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a less invasive alternative to mitral valve surgery. In patients with advanced heart failure (HF), TEER can improve pulmonary hypertension (PH) and decelerate the progression of HF. TEER could be considered as a possible bridging strategy before orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in suitable patients. We report our experience in patients with advanced HF and severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) who underwent TEER prior to OHT. In this retrospective single-center study, we evaluated the periprocedural characteristics and clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of 14 patients with advanced HF on guideline-directed medical therapy and severe FMR who underwent TEER prior to OHT. In 6 patients who were not eligible for transplantation because of PH, TEER was performed as bridge-to-candidacy (BTC) strategy, in 8 unstable patients on the waiting list as bridge-to-transplant (BTT) strategy.Severity of FMR was reduced by 2 degrees from 4 (3–4) to 2 (1.25–2.25) (p

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a common complication after lung transplantation. A plethora of contributing factors are known and assessment of donor lung function prior to organ retrieval is mandatory for determination of lung quality. Specialized centers increasingly perform ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to further assess lung functionality and improve and extend lung preservation with the aim to increase lung utilization. EVLP can be performed following different protocols. The impact of the individual EVLP parameters on PGD development, organ function and postoperative outcome remains to be fully investigated. The variables relate to the engineering and function of the respective perfusion devices, such as the type of pump used, functional, like ventilation modes or physiological (e.g. perfusion solutions). This review reflects on the individual technical and fluid components relevant to EVLP and their respective impact on inflammatory response and outcome. We discuss key components of EVLP protocols and options for further improvement of EVLP in regard to PGD. This review offers an overview of available options for centers establishing an EVLP program and for researchers looking for ways to adapt existing protocols.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this project was to assess the efficacy of a reoperative frozen elephant trunk (FET) operation for treating residual type A aortic dissections. METHODS Between April 2015 and October 2023, a total of 237 patients underwent elective redo surgical aortic arch replacement via the FET technique to treat residual type A aortic dissection in 11 European aortic centres. Data were pooled and analysed retrospectively. RESULTS The time between an acute type A dissection repair to an FET implant was 5 years. More than half of all patients (54%) presented with an entry within the aortic arch, and 174 patients (73%) presented residual dissections of supra-aortic vessels. During FET repair, the axillary artery was cannulated in 181 patients (76%), whereas 83 patients (35%) underwent additional cardiac procedures including 39 root replacements (16%) and 15 coronary bypass procedures (6%). Zone 2 was the most common arch anastomosis site (n  = 163, 69%), and bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion was most frequent (n  = 159, 67%). Fifteen patients (6%) died in-hospital. Age in years (P  < 0.001, odds ratio: 1.069) proved to be predictive for overall mortality in our Cox regression model. CONCLUSIONS Elective redo surgical aortic arch replacement using the FET technique for treating residual type A aortic dissection following ascending aortic replacement revealed a favourable outcome. The decision to undertake stage two therapy of a residually dissected aortic arch should be made by an aortic team on a patient-by-patient basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lung microbiome plays a crucial role in the development of chronic lung diseases, which may ultimately lead to the need for lung transplantation. Also, perioperative results seem to be connected with altered lung microbiomes and its dynamic changes providing a possible target for optimizing short-term outcome after transplantation. A literature review using MEDLINE, PubMed Central and Bookshelf was performed. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) seems to be influenced and partly triggered by changes in the pulmonary microbiome and dysbiosis, e.g. through increased bacterial load or abundance of specific species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, the specific indications for transplantation, with their very heterogeneous changes and influences on the pulmonary microbiome, influence long-term outcome. Next to composition and measurable bacterial load, dynamic changes in the allografts microbiome also possess the ability to alter long-term outcomes negatively. This review discusses the "new" microbiome after transplantation and the associations with direct postoperative outcome. With the knowledge of these principles the impact of alterations in the pulmonary microbiome in hindsight to CLAD and possible therapeutic implications are described and discussed. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literature regarding pre- and postoperative lung microbiomes and how they influence different lung diseases on their progression to failure of conservative treatment. This review provides a summary of current literature for centres looking for further options in optimizing lung transplant outcomes and highlights possible areas for further research activities investigating the pulmonary microbiome in connection to transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim Due to improved therapy in childhood, many patients with congenital heart disease reach adulthood and are termed adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). ACHD often develop heart failure (HF) as a consequence of initial palliative surgery or complex anatomy and subsequently require advanced HF therapy. ACHD are usually excluded from trials evaluating heart failure therapies, and in this context, more data about heart failure trajectories in ACHD are needed to guide the management of ACHD suffering from HF. Methods and results The pAtients pResenTing with cOngenital heaRt dIseAse Register (ARTORIA‐R) will collect data from ACHD evaluated or listed for heart or heart‐combined organ transplantation from 16 countries in Europe and the Asia/Pacific region. We plan retrospective collection of data from 1989–2020 and will include patients prospectively. Additional organizations and hospitals in charge of transplantation of ACHD will be asked in the future to contribute data to the register. The primary outcome is the combined endpoint of delisting due to clinical worsening or death on the waiting list. The secondary outcome is delisting due to clinical improvement while on the waiting list. All‐cause mortality following transplantation will also be assessed. The data will be entered into an electronic database with access to the investigators participating in the register. All variables of the register reflect key components important for listing of the patients or assessing current HF treatment. Conclusion The ARTORIA‐R will provide robust information on current management and outcomes of adults with congenital heart disease suffering from advanced heart failure.

Clinical cases referring to the EACTS/STS Guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute and chronic syndromes of the aortic organ aim to assist physicians in selecting the best management strategies for individual patients with a given condition. These expert opinions consider the impact on patient outcomes as well as the risk–benefit ratio of different diagnostic or therapeutic methods. These cases serve as a vital tool to aid physicians in making decisions in their daily practice. However, in essence, although these recommendations serve as a valuable resource to guide clinical practice, their application should be tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Each patient's case is unique, presenting its own set of variables and circumstances. This editorial is a tool designed to support, but not supersede, the decision-making process of physicians, based on their knowledge, expertise and understanding of their patients' individual situations. Furthermore, these clinical cases are based on the EACTS/STS Guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute and chronic syndromes of the aortic organ but should not be interpreted as legally binding documents. The legal responsibilities of healthcare professionals remain firmly grounded in applicable laws and regulations, and the guidelines and the clinical cases presented in this document do not alter these obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transaortic (TAo) transcatheter aortic valve implantation has become a valid alternative access route in patients with unsuitable femoral arteries. The current literature does not allow to clearly favor one of the alternative access routes. Every approach has its specific advantages. Transaortic (TAo) access is of particular importance in the case of calcifications of the supra-aortic branches and the aortic arch, as under these circumstances other alternative access routes, such as transaxillary or transcarotid, are not feasible. The purpose of this minireview is to give an overview and update on TAo transcatheter aortic valve implantation focusing on indication, technical aspects, and recent clinical data.

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) aggravates the pre-existing dismal prognosis of patients suffering from acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). We aimed to identify factors affecting survival and outcome in ATAAD patients requiring CPR at presentation at 2 European aortic centres. METHODS Data on 112 surgical candidates and undergoing preoperative CPR were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to 30-day mortality. A multivariable model identified predictors for 30-day mortality. RESULTS Preoperative death occurred in 23 patients (20.5%). In the remaining 89 surgical patients (79.5%) circulatory arrest time (41 ± 20 min in 30-day non-survivors vs 30 ± 13 min in 30-day survivor, P  = 0.003) as well as cardiopulmonary bypass time (320 ± 132 min in 30-day non-survivors vs 252 ± 140 min in 30-day survivor, P  = 0.020) time was significantly longer in patients with worse outcome. Thirty-day mortality of the total cohort was 61.6% (n  = 69) with cardiac failure in 48% and aortic rupture or haemorrhagic shock (28%) as predominant reasons of death. Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.09, P  = 0.034], preoperative coronary (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.34–9.26, p = 0.012) and spinal malperfusion (OR 12.49, 95% CI 1.83–225.02, P  = 0.028) emerged as independent predictors for 30-day mortality while CPR due to tamponade was associated with improved early survival (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.091–0.81, P  = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Assessment of underlying cause for CPR is mandatory. Pericardial tamponade, rapidly resolved with pericardial drainage, is a predictor for improved survival, while age and presence of coronary and spinal malperfusion are associated with dismal outcome in this high-risk patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify predictors of periprocedural success and safety in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery and to determine the impact of pathology localization and repair technique on reoperation-free survival. METHODS We isolated 686 patients (mean age 60.5, standard deviation 12.3 years, 69.4% male) who underwent surgery for mitral valve prolapse between 2002 and 2020 in a single institution. Patients with concomitant disease, redo or mitral pathology other than degenerative mitral disease were excluded from the analysis. Periprocedural safety was defined as: freedom from perioperative death, myocardial infarction, stroke, use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or reoperation for bleeding. Operative success was defined as: successful primary mitral repair without conversion to replacement or to larger thoracic incisions, without residual mitral regurgitation > mild at discharge or reoperation within 30 days. Predictors for perioperative success and safety were identified using univariable and multivariable analyses. The impact of prolapse localization and repair technique on reoperation-free survival was assessed by Cox regression. RESULTS The mitral repair rate and the need for concomitant tricuspid repair were 94.6% and 16.5%, respectively. Perioperative mortality occurred in 5 patients (0.7%). The criteria for perioperative safety and success were met in 646/686 (94.2%) and 648/686 (94.5%) patients, respectively. The absence of tricuspid disease requiring repair was the only independent predictor of safety in this cohort [hazard ratio (HR) 0.460 (0.225–0.941), P  = 0.033]. The only independent predictor of operative success was the use of chordal replacement [0.27 (0.09–0.83), P  = 0.022]. Reoperation-free survival was 98.5%, 94.5% and 86.9% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Posterior leaflet pathology demonstrated a higher reoperation-free survival as compared to other localizations (log-rank P  = 0.002). The localization of leaflet pathology but not the repair method was an independent predictor for reoperation-free survival (HR 1.455, 95% confidence interval 1.098–1.930; P  = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS In minimally invasive mitral surgery for degenerative disease, chordal replacement yields higher rates of periprocedural success than leaflet resection. Posterior leaflet pathology is an independent predictor of reoperation-free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to externally validate a lab-based risk score (lactate, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase or bilirubin) by Ghoreishi et al. to predict perioperative mortality in patients undergoing surgical repair for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS The risk score to predict operative mortality was applied to a large and homogenous validation cohort that consisted of 632 patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in 2 centres. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine the impact on survival. Receiver operating characteristics with deduced area under the curve were used to assess the ability to predict perioperative mortality. RESULTS A total of 632 patients (54% male, mean age 62 ± 14 years) were assigned to 3 different risk groups according to the calculated mortality score [low risk <7 (31.2%), moderate risk 7–20 (36.1%) and high >20 (32.7%)]. Perioperative mortality was 8% in the low-risk group, 10% in the moderate-risk group and 24% in the high-risk group (P  < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of this new score revealed an area under the curve of 0.69 with adequate calibration. In addition, multivariable analysis revealed an independet assocation with perioperative mortality (odds ratio 1.509; 95% confidence interval 1.042–2.185). While overall survival differed between the risk groups (P  < 0.0001), the score does not serve as an independent predictor of long-term mortality when adjusted for relevant covariates. CONCLUSIONS The external validation process confirmed that a newly proposed risk score offers clinicians a helpful and reliable tool to improve the preoperative risk assessment of acute type A aortic dissection patients based on easily accessible and broadly available laboratory parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high ATP demand of myocardium, cardiac function is highly dependent on an efficient mitochondrial respiration. Ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R) has severe impact on the function of the mitochondrial respiratory system. In donation after circulatory death (DCD), extent of I/R damage is decisive for posttransplant graft function. We aimed to investigate the mitochondrial respiration using high-resolution respirometry (HRR) in a porcine ex-situ heart perfusion (ESHP) model. 12 German domestic pigs (65-75kg) were used to simulate two different organ donation protocols: "donation after brain death" (DBD) (n=6) and DCD (n=6). ESHP was performed for 6 hours. Mitochondrial function in tissue homogenates of porcine myocardium was assessed by HRR. Samples were obtained at baseline (b), and after 1, 3, and 6 hours of ESHP. Comparison of repeated measurements were performed with two-way ANOVA followed by Sidak's post hoc test. The oxidative phosphorylation capacity after addition of NADH-generating substrates, fatty acids and succinate decreased slightly in the DCD group. A significant difference after 6 hours of perfusion was found (DBD 200.5±27.9 vs DCD 143.4±22.7 pmol−1·s−1·mL−1, p=0.038). The flux control ratio of the NADH-linked (Complex I) respiration declined in the DCD group (6h: DBD 0.16 vs DCD 0.05, p=0.007) (Figure 1). The mitochondrial outer membrane damage, assessed by cytochrome c addition was significantly lower after 6 hours of ESHP (p<0.001) without a difference between the groups. We performed the first in-depth analysis of mitochondrial respiratory function during ESHP in a DCD model. Interestingly, mitochondrial respiration is preserved over 3 hours in DCD hearts with a decline in function after 6 hours. Importantly, the initial mitochondrial outer membrane damage recovered over time in both groups. Next, the predictive value of HRR might be evaluated in clinical practice to promote organ acceptance in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single coronary ostium is a very rare coronary anomaly with an reported incidence of 0.024% in angiographic series. Due to the progress in organ donor evaluation, coronary angiography is available in more and more donor hearts identifying patients with congenital anomalies. We present a case report of a 54 year old female organ donor suffering from subarachnoid haemorrhage. Echocardiography revealed normal left and right ventricular function. Due to the history of strong smoking coronary angiogram was performed. Right coronary ostium could not be intubated selectively but there was clear evidence of a posterior descending artery arising from the left circumflex. An interdisciplinary discussion with heart failure surgeons and cardiologist was conducted evaluation the risk of suboptimal distribution of organs preservation due to this anatomic variance. There was concern that the right ventricle might suffer from ischemia as a boundary zone of the left coronary perfusion. In clear contrast to this risk evaluation was the normal echocardiographic results and the absence of cardiac events in the donor's past medical history. Therefore, the donor heart was accepted for a 61 year old male patient in high urgency status due to ongoing hypoperfusion syndrome based on ischemic cardiomyopathy. Organ procurement went uneventful and inspection of the explanted donor heart clearly identified a prominent right coronary artery. Following an ischemic time of 209 minutes the cardiac performance was excellent and the patient could be discharged three weeks after transplantation. Coronary anomalies are rare but will be of interest if coronary angiography is included in donor evaluation more often. We conclude that an atypical rise of the right coronary artery from the left without evidence of prior coronary ischemia, is associated with good graft outcome and should therefore not be considered contraindication for organ acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]