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Background and Aims Severe tricuspid regurgitation is associated with increased mortality rates, but benefit of its correction and ideal timing are not clearly determined. This study aimed to identify patient subsets who might benefit from the surgery. Methods In TRIGISTRY, an international cohort study of consecutive patients with severe isolated functional tricuspid regurgitation (33 centres, 10 countries), survival rates up to 10 years were compared between patients who underwent isolated tricuspid valve surgery (repair or replacement) and those conservatively managed, overall and according to TRI-SCORE category (low: ≤3, intermediate: 4–5, and high: ≥6). Results One thousand and two hundred seventeen were managed conservatively, and 551 underwent isolated tricuspid valve surgery (200 repairs and 351 replacements). TRI-SCORE distribution was 33% low, 32% intermediate, and 35% high. At 10 years, survival rates were similar between surgical and conservative management [41% vs. 36%; hazard ratio (HR).97; 95% confidence interval (CI).88–1.08, P =.57]. Surgery improved survival compared with conservative management in the low TRI-SCORE category (72% vs. 44%; HR.27; 95% CI.20–.37, P <.0001), but not in the intermediate (36% vs. 37%; HR 1.17; 95%CI.98–1.40, P =.09) or high categories (20% vs. 24%; HR 1.06; 95% CI.91–1.25, P =.45). Both repair and replacement improved survival in the low TRI-SCORE category (84% and 61% vs. 44%; HR.11; 95% CI.06–.19, P <.0001, and HR.65; 95% CI.47–.90, P =.009). Repair showed benefit in the intermediate category (59% vs. 37%; HR.49; 95% CI.35–.68, P <.0001) while replacement was possibly harmful (25% vs. 37%; HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.18–1.72, P =.0002). Conclusions Higher survival rates were observed with repair than replacement and benefit of intervention declined as TRI-SCORE increased with no benefit of any type of surgery in the high TRI-SCORE category. These results emphasize the importance of timely intervention and patient selection to achieve the best outcomes and the need for randomized controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Both isolated thoracoscopic and hybrid thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation techniques have demonstrated favourable outcomes in the management of patients with (long-standing) persistent AF, as compared with catheter ablation. However, it is currently unknown whether there is a difference in short- and long-term outcomes when comparing these two minimally invasive surgical AF ablation procedures. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate these two techniques, with a specific emphasis on long-term freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs). Methods and results A systematic search through PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed. All studies reporting on short-term outcomes were included in the meta-analysis. A pooled analysis of long-term freedom from ATA was performed based on Kaplan–Meier (KM) curve-derived individual patient data. Reconstructed individual time-to-event data were analysed in a multivariable Cox frailty model with adjustments for age, sex, type of AF, duration of AF history, and study variable (frailty term in the frailty Cox model). In total, 53 studies were included in the meta-analysis, encompassing 4950 patients. There were no differences in major short-term outcomes (mortality or stroke) between isolated thoracoscopic and hybrid thoracoscopic ablation. A total of 18 studies reported KM curves for long-term freedom from ATA, comprising 2038 patients. Adjusted analysis revealed that hybrid ablation was significantly associated with greater freedom from ATA [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43–0.83, P < 0.001] compared with isolated thoracoscopic ablation. Additionally, older age (aHR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, P = 0.002) and a higher percentage of male patients (aHR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower long-term freedom from ATA recurrence. Conclusion Hybrid thoracoscopic AF ablation is associated with a greater long-term freedom from ATA when compared with isolated thoracoscopic ablation, without differences in complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES The threshold to perform concomitant tricuspid valve (TV) repair during primary mitral valve (MV) surgery has decreased, based on recent randomized evidence. Based on these developments, the indication for TV repair during MV surgery is expected to increase further. However, concerns have been raised regarding the risk of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) during a concomitant procedure. Therefore, we aim to assess the incidence of PPI in combined MV and TV surgery in a nationwide registry. METHODS The current study uniquely cross-linked the Cardiothoracic and Pacemaker/ICD registry of the Netherlands Heart Registration. Patients undergoing primary MV and TV surgery (± atrial septal defect closure, rhythm surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting) between 1 January and 31 December2021 were included. The primary outcome was PPI within 30 days after surgery. Subgroup analyses were performed for isolated MV and TV surgery and MV repair. The association between concomitant TV surgery and PPI was assessed using multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. RESULTS A total of 1060 patients (n  = 833 MV, n  = 227 MV + TV) were included. The overall incidence of PPI was 4.3%. No significant difference in PPI between MV and MV + TV surgery were found (3.7% vs 6.6%, P  = 0.06). Concomitant TV surgery was not an independent risk factor for PPI after surgery after adjustment for covariates. These results were robust after sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS The current study was not able to find a statistical difference between the PPI rate in MV surgery patients and MV + TV surgery patients. Extension of the waiting period prior to PPI, may result in decreased PPI rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Myocardial ischaemia following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a potentially devastating complication. Nevertheless, the incidence, aetiology and prognostic relevance of unplanned coronary angiography (uCAG) remain understudied. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and outcome of patients undergoing urgent, uCAG in the postoperative period following CABG. METHODS We screened all patients undergoing isolated elective CABG in an academic referral centre between 2016 and 2021 and identified patients undergoing uCAG within 30 days of surgery. For uCAG patients, a distinction was made between patients undergoing re-revascularization (REV) and patients receiving conservative management (CON). The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and unadjusted and adjusted long-term survival. Secondary outcomes were the indication for and prevalence of uCAG and urgent revascularization. RESULTS Of the 1918 patients undergoing isolated CABG, 78 individuals needed uCAG (4.1%), of whom 45 underwent immediate revascularization (REV group; 2.3% overall, 57% within the uCAG group, median age 69.9 years) and 33 were treated conservatively (CONS group; 1.7% overall, 42% within the uCAG group, median age 69.1 years). Patients undergoing uCAG (n  = 78) had a higher 30-day mortality than patients not undergoing uCAG (n  = 1840, 30-day mortality: 9.0% vs 0.4%, P  < 0.001). Long-term survival was significantly decreased in patients undergoing uCAG in both unadjusted (hazard ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.30–3.73) and EuroSCORE-, age- and sex-adjusted models (hazard ratio uCAG 2.03, 95% confidence interval 1.16–3.56). CONCLUSIONS Unplanned postoperative coronary angiography is performed in 4.1% of isolated CABG procedures, and patients in need of such urgent invasive evaluation are subjected to decreased short- and long-term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Mitral regurgitation (MR) affects millions worldwide, necessitating timely intervention. There are significant clinical challenges in the conservative management of MR, leaving a knowledge gap regarding the impact of multidisciplinary decision-making on treatment outcomes. This study aimed to provide insights into the impact of multidisciplinary decision-making on the survival outcomes of MR patients, focusing on conservative approaches. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzes 1365 patients evaluated by an expert multidisciplinary heart team (MDT) in a single center from 2015 to 2022. Treatments included surgery, catheter-based interventions, and conservative management. Propensity matching was utilized to compare surgery and conservative approaches. Results: Surgical intervention was associated with superior long-term survival outcomes compared to conservative and catheter-based treatments, particularly for degenerative MR (DMR). Survival rates of patients deemed by the MDT to have non-severe DMR were comparable to surgical patients (HR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.37–3.12, p = 0.90). However, non-severe functional MR (FMR) patients trended towards elevated mortality risk (HR 1.77, 95% CI: 0.94–3.31, p = 0.07). Pharmacological treatment for DMR was associated with significantly higher mortality compared to surgery (HR 8.0, 95% CI: 1.78–36.03, p = 0.001). Functional MR patients treated pharmacologically exhibited a non-significantly higher mortality risk compared to surgical intervention (HR 1.93, 95% CI: 0.77–4.77, p = 0.20). Conclusions: Survival analysis revealed significant benefits for surgical intervention, contrasting with elevated mortality risks associated with conservative management. "Watchful waiting" may be appropriate for non-severe DMR, while FMR may require closer monitoring. Further research is needed to assess the impact of regular follow-up or delayed surgery on survival rates, as pharmacological therapy has limited long-term efficacy for DMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outcomes of several randomized trials on extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were examined using frequentist methods, resulting in a dichotomous interpretation of results based on p-values rather than in the probability of clinically relevant treatment effects. To determine such a probability of a clinically relevant ECPR-based treatment effect on neurological outcomes, the authors of these trials performed a Bayesian meta-analysis of the totality of randomized ECPR evidence. Methods: A systematic search was applied to three electronic databases. Randomized trials that compared ECPR-based treatment with conventional CPR for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were included. The study was preregistered in INPLASY (INPLASY2023120060). The primary Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis estimated the difference in 6-month neurologically favorable survival in patients with all rhythms, and a secondary analysis assessed this difference in patients with shockable rhythms (Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model). Primary Bayesian analyses were performed under vague priors. Outcomes were formulated as estimated median relative risks, mean absolute risk differences, and numbers needed to treat with corresponding 95% credible intervals (CrIs). The posterior probabilities of various clinically relevant absolute risk difference thresholds were estimated. Results: Three randomized trials were included in the analysis (ECPR, n = 209 patients; conventional CPR, n = 211 patients). The estimated median relative risk of ECPR for 6-month neurologically favorable survival was 1.47 (95%CrI 0.73–3.32) with a mean absolute risk difference of 8.7% (− 5.0; 42.7%) in patients with all rhythms, and the median relative risk was 1.54 (95%CrI 0.79–3.71) with a mean absolute risk difference of 10.8% (95%CrI − 4.2; 73.9%) in patients with shockable rhythms. The posterior probabilities of an absolute risk difference > 0% and > 5% were 91.0% and 71.1% in patients with all rhythms and 92.4% and 75.8% in patients with shockable rhythms, respectively. Conclusion: The current Bayesian meta-analysis found a 71.1% and 75.8% posterior probability of a clinically relevant ECPR-based treatment effect on 6-month neurologically favorable survival in patients with all rhythms and shockable rhythms. These results must be interpreted within the context of the reported credible intervals and varying designs of the randomized trials. Registration: INPLASY (INPLASY2023120060, December 14th, 2023, https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.12.0060). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The letter by Heuts et al discusses the FAME-3 trial, which compared fractional flow reserve-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with 3-vessel disease. The 3-year follow-up results of the trial were presented, showing a point estimate in favor of CABG, although the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. The authors suggest that a Bayesian analysis, which takes into account the trial's results, indicates a potential benefit of CABG over PCI. However, they acknowledge that this analysis has limitations and that more nuanced conclusions are needed. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: Both isolated thoracoscopic and hybrid thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation techniques have demonstrated favourable outcomes in the management of patients with (long-standing) persistent AF, as compared with catheter ablation. However, it is currently unknown whether there is a difference in short- and long-term outcomes when comparing these two minimally invasive surgical AF ablation procedures. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate these two techniques, with a specific emphasis on long-term freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs)., Methods and Results: A systematic search through PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed. All studies reporting on short-term outcomes were included in the meta-analysis. A pooled analysis of long-term freedom from ATA was performed based on Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve-derived individual patient data. Reconstructed individual time-to-event data were analysed in a multivariable Cox frailty model with adjustments for age, sex, type of AF, duration of AF history, and study variable (frailty term in the frailty Cox model). In total, 53 studies were included in the meta-analysis, encompassing 4950 patients. There were no differences in major short-term outcomes (mortality or stroke) between isolated thoracoscopic and hybrid thoracoscopic ablation. A total of 18 studies reported KM curves for long-term freedom from ATA, comprising 2038 patients. Adjusted analysis revealed that hybrid ablation was significantly associated with greater freedom from ATA [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43-0.83, P < 0.001] compared with isolated thoracoscopic ablation. Additionally, older age (aHR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.12, P = 0.002) and a higher percentage of male patients (aHR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.03, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower long-term freedom from ATA recurrence., Conclusion: Hybrid thoracoscopic AF ablation is associated with a greater long-term freedom from ATA when compared with isolated thoracoscopic ablation, without differences in complications., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: M.L.M. is a consultant for AtriCure. B.M. is a consultant for AtriCure and Medtronic. The remaining authors have nothing to disclose., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: The Nuss procedure is the accepted standard approach to correct pectus excavatum. Still, is associated with potential major complications that are in part believed to be preventable as they might be the consequence of institutional case-volume differences. The objective is to evaluate the presence of a volume-outcome relation for the Nuss procedure and determine the optimal annual institutional case-volume threshold, defining high-volume centers., Methods: A systematic literature search was performed, considering studies from unique centers reporting on pectus excavatum patients who underwent the Nuss procedure. Primary and secondary outcomes were, respectively: the incidence of significant perioperative complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade-III and significant intraoperative complications) and bar displacement. The presence of a non-linear volume-outcome relation was evaluated through restricted-cubic-spline-analyses. If present, the optimal annual institutional case-volume was determined by the elbow method., Results: Forty-nine studies from 49 unique centers were included, enrolling 13,352 patients in total. The significant perioperative complication rate was low [7.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.4-9.0%] and demonstrated a significant non-linear volume-outcome relation (P<0.001), even after covariate adjustment. The optimal annual institutional case-volume was determined at 73 cases/year (95% CI: 67-89). In this scenario, the number needed to treat to prevent a single perioperative complication compared to a low volume center was 11 (95% CI: 8-19). A similar volume-outcome relation (P<0.001) and optimal case volume of 73 cases/year was observed for bar displacement., Conclusions: A significant volume-outcome relation for repair of pectus excavatum by the Nuss procedure exists with an optimal annual institutional case-volume of 73 cases/year. These findings provide rationale for centralization., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-690/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Coronary revascularization is frequently performed for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aims to assess the totality of randomized evidence comparing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DES-PCI) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for CAD., Methods: A systematic search was applied to 3 electronic databases, including randomized trials comparing DES-PCI with CABG for CAD with 5-year follow-up. A Bayesian hierarchical meta-analytic model was applied. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 5 years; secondary outcomes were stroke, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization. End points were reported in median relative risks (RRs) and absolute risk differences, with 95% credible intervals (CrIs). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to reconstruct individual patient data., Results: Six studies comprising 8269 patients (DES-PCI, n = 4134; CABG, n = 4135) were included. All-cause mortality at 5 years was increased with DES-PCI (median RR, 1.23; 95% CrI, 1.01-1.45), with a median absolute risk difference of +2.3% (95% CrI, 0.1%-4.5%). For stroke, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization, the median RRs were 0.79 (95% CrI, 0.54-1.25), 1.84 (95% CrI, 1.23-2.75), and 1.80 (95% CrI, 1.51-2.16) for DES-PCI, respectively. In a sample of 1000 patients undergoing DES-PCI instead of CABG for CAD, a median of 23 additional deaths, 46 myocardial infarctions, and 85 repeat revascularizations occurred at 5 years, whereas 10 strokes were prevented., Conclusions: The current data suggest a clinically relevant benefit of CABG over DES-PCI at 5 years in terms of mortality, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization, despite an increased risk of stroke. These findings may guide the heart-team and the shared decision-making process., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)