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Background : Aortic valve infective endocarditis (AV-IE) and mitral valve infective endocarditis (MV-IE) are often grouped together as one entity: left-sided endocarditis. However, there are significant differences between the valves in terms of anatomy, physiology, pressure, and calcification tendency. This study aimed to compare AV-IE and MV-IE in terms of patient characteristics, pathogen profiles, postoperative outcomes, and predictors of mortality. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed data from 3899 patients operated on for isolated AV-IE or MV-IE in six German cardiac surgery centers between 1994 and 2018. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors for 30 day and 1 year mortality. A Log-rank test was used to test for differences in long-term mortality. Results : Patients with MV-IE were more likely to be female (41.1% vs. 20.3%.; p < 0.001). Vegetation was detected more frequently in the MV-IE group (66.6% vs. 57.1%; p < 0.001). Accordingly, the rates of cerebral embolic events (25.4% vs. 17.7%; p < 0.001) and stroke (28.2% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.001) were higher in the MV-IE group. Staphylococci had a higher prevalence in the MV-IE group (50.2% vs. 36.4%; p < 0.001). Patients with MV-IE had comparable 30 day mortality (16.7% vs. 14.6%; p = 0.095) but significantly higher 1 year mortality (35.3% vs. 29.0%; p < 0.001) than those with AV-IE. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significantly lower long-term survival in patients with MV-IE (log-rank p < 0.001). Conclusions : Due to the relevant differences between MV-IE and AV-IE, it might be useful to provide individualized, valve-specific guideline recommendations rather than general recommendations for left-sided IE.

The treatment of DeBakey type I aortic dissection remains a major challenge in the field of aortic surgery. To upgrade the standard of care hemiarch replacement, a novel device called an "Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent" (AMDS) is now available. This hybrid device composed of a proximal polytetrafluoroethylene cuff and a distal non-covered nitinol stent is inserted into the aortic arch and the descending thoracic aorta during hypothermic circulatory arrest in addition to hemiarch replacement. Due to its specific design, it may result in a reduced risk for distal anastomotic new entries, the effective restoration of branch vessel malperfusion and positive aortic remodeling. In this narrative review, we provide an overview about the indications and the technical use of the AMDS. Additionally, we summarize the current available literature and discuss potential pitfalls in the application of the AMDS regarding device failure and aortic re-intervention.

Objectives: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly used due to its beneficial outcomes and results compared to conventional CPR. Cardiac arrests can be categorized depending on location: in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Despite this distinction, studies comparing the two are scarce, especially in comparing outcomes after ECPR. This study compared patient characteristics, cardiac arrest characteristics, and outcomes., Methods: Between 2016 and 2022, patients who underwent ECPR for cardiac arrest at our institution were retrospectively analyzed, depending on the arrest location: IHCA and OHCA. We compared periprocedural characteristics and used multinomial regression analysis to indicate parameters contributing to a favorable outcome., Results: A total of n = 157 patients (100%) were analyzed (OHCA = 91; IHCA = 66). Upon admission, OHCA patients were younger (53.2 ± 12.4 vs. 59.2 ± 12.6 years) and predominantly male (91.1% vs. 66.7%, p=<0.001). The low-flow time was significantly shorter in IHCA patients (41.1 ± 27.4 mins) compared to OHCA (63.6 ± 25.1 mins). Despite this significant difference, in-hospital mortality was not significantly different in both groups (IHCA = 72.7% vs. OHCA = 76.9%, p = 0.31). Both groups' survival-to-discharge factors were CPR duration, low flow time, and lactate values upon ECMO initiation., Conclusion: Survival-to-discharge for ECPR in IHCA and OHCA was around 25%, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two cohorts. Factors predicting survival were lower lactate levels before cannulation and lower low-flow time. As such, OHCA patients seem to tolerate longer low-flow times and thus metabolic impairments compared to IHCA patients and may be considered for ECMO cannulation on a broader time span than IHCA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Background: Around the world, survival rates after cardiac arrest range between <14% for in-hospital (IHCA) and <10% for outof- hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This situation could potentially be improved by using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), i.e. by extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR)., Methods: A selective literature search of Pubmed and Embase using the searching string ((ECMO) OR (ECLS)) AND (ECPR)) was carried out in February 2023 to prepare an up-to-date review of published trials comparing the outcomes of ECPR with those of conventional CPR., Results: Out of 573 initial results, 12 studies were included in this review, among them three randomized controlled trials comparing ECPR with CPR, involving a total of 420 patients. The survival rates for ECPR ranged from 20% to 43% for OHCA and 20% to 30.4% for IHCA. Most of the publications were associated with a high degree of bias and a low level of evidence., Conclusion: ECPR can potentially improve survival rates after cardiac arrest compared to conventional CPR when used in experienced, high-volume centers in highly selected patients (young age, initial shockable rhythm, witnessed cardiac arrest, therapy-refractory high-quality CPR). No general recommendation for the use of ECPR can be issued at present.

(1) Background: This study aimed to morphologically analyze acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD) patients for potential endovascular treatment candidates. The objective was to specify requirements for aTAAD endovascular devices. (2) Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis included aTAAD patients who underwent open surgical repair between November 2005 and December 2020. Preoperative CTA scans were used for morphological analysis, assessing endovascular repair eligibility. Statistical tests were performed. (3) Results: A total of 129 patients with aTAAD were studied, with 119 included. Entry tear (ET) locations were identified, mainly in the aortic root, 20 mm above the sinotubular junction (STJ) and within the ascending aorta (20 mm above STJ to -20 mm before the brachiocephalic trunk). Endovascular treatment was deemed feasible for 36 patients, with suggested solutions for the aortic arch and descending aorta. Significant differences were observed between eligible and noneligible groups for aortic diameter, false lumen diameter, distance between STJ and entry tear, and more. Dissection extension showed no significant difference. (4) Conclusions: Morphological analysis identified potential aTAAD candidates for endovascular treatment, highlighting differences between eligible and noneligible morphologies. This study offers insights for implementing endovascular approaches in aTAAD treatment and emphasizes the need for research and standardized protocols.

Objectives: The prevalence and aetiology of acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) in patients ≤30 years is unknown. The aims of this clinical study were to determine the prevalence and potential aetiology of AADA in surgically treated patients ≤30 years and to evaluate the respective postoperative outcomes in this selective group of patients in a large multicentre study., Methods: Retrospective data collection was performed at 16 participating international aortic institutions. All patients ≤30 years at the time of dissection onset were included. The postoperative results were analysed with regard to connective tissue disease (CTD)., Results: The overall prevalence of AADA ≤30 years was 1.8% (139 out of 7914 patients), including 51 (36.7%) patients who were retrospectively diagnosed with CTD. Cumulative postoperative mortality was 8.6%, 2.2% and 1.4%. Actuarial survival was 80% at 10 years postoperatively. Non-CTD patients (n = 88) had a significantly higher incidence of arterial hypertension (46.6% vs 9.8%; P < 0.001) while AADA affected the aortic root (P < 0.001) and arch (P = 0.029) significantly more often in the CTD group. A positive family history of aortic disease was present in 9.4% of the study cohort (n = 13)., Conclusions: The prevalence of AADA in surgically treated patients ≤30 years is <2% with CTD and arterial hypertension as the 2 most prevalent triggers of AADA. Open surgery may be performed with good early results and excellent mid- to long-term outcomes., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (AMDS) has been recently introduced as an alternative for total arch replacement in acute aortic dissection type A (AADA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes after AMDS treatment in a large contemporary cohort of AADA patients., Methods: Data acquisition was performed retrospectively at 2 German aortic centres between 2020 and 2022 and comprised the perioperative parameters and postoperative results of all AADA patients. All patients treated with the AMDS for AADA were included in the study. The primary end point was in-hospital mortality. Secondary end points were defined as early postoperative and AMDS-related complications., Results: Fifty-seven AADA patients treated by AMDS were included in the study group. The mean age was 64.6 ± 10.8 years and 59.7% (n = 34) were males. The actual in-hospital mortality was considerably lower than the predicted mortality risk by the German registry for acute aortic dissection type A score (16% vs 22%). The median ICU and in-hospital stay were 5 (interquartile range: 3-13) and 12 (interquartile range: 10-22) days, respectively. Postoperative complications comprised acute renal insufficiency (37%) with need for temporary (16%) or permanent dialysis (5%), delirium (26%), re-exploration for bleeding (14%), tracheostomy (14%) and new stroke (4%). A new AMDS-related complication (central stent collapse) was observed in 9% (n = 5) by postoperative computed tomography and chest X-ray. The incidence of complete central AMDS collapse did not impact 30-day mortality., Conclusions: The AMDS may be successfully used in AADA with acceptable 30-day mortality in accordance with the German registry for acute aortic dissection type A score. However, careful preoperative evaluation of the patient's individual aortic anatomy regarding potential contraindications and proper device implantation are strongly recommended to avoid complete central AMDS collapse., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: In 2009, updated European Society of Cardiology guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) were released and restricted the use of antibiotic prophylaxis to high-risk patients only. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the restrictive antibiotic regimen on the incidence and manifestations of surgically treated IE before and after the guideline change., Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data of 4917 patients who underwent valve surgical procedures for IE between 1994 and 2018 in 6 German cardiac surgery centers. Potential risk factors for 30-day mortality were assessed using logistic regression. Interrupted time series regression was used to evaluate the effect of the guideline change on the manifestation of IE., Results: A total of 2014 patients (41%) underwent surgical procedures before the guideline change, and 2903 patients (59%) underwent surgical procedures after the change. After 2009, patients were older (67.0 years [interquartile range, 56.0-74.0 years] vs 64.0 years [interquartile range, 52.0-71.0 years]; P < .001), and they presented with more comorbidities, such as hypertension (56.9% vs 41.7%; P < .001), diabetes (27.4% vs 24.4%; P = .020), peripheral artery disease (8.5% vs 6.5%; P = .011), and preoperative acute kidney injury (42.8% vs 31.9%; P < .001). Patients had worse clinical outcomes with respect to 30-day mortality (18.1% vs 14.3%; P = .001) and 1-year mortality (37.1% vs 29.1%; P < .001). An increase in Streptococcus-related IE (P = .002) and an increase in mitral valve IE (P = .035) were observed after the guideline change., Conclusions: Since 2009, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of mitral valve IE and Streptococcus-related IE. Patients undergoing surgical procedures for IE present with more comorbidities, which contribute to high mortality rates., (Copyright © 2022 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients following surgery for infective native valve endocarditis (NVE) and prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE)., Methods: We retrospectively identified 633 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for infective endocarditis at our center between January 2005 and October 2018. The patients were interviewed, and the SF-36 survey was used to assess the HRQOL of survivors. Propensity score matching (2:1) was performed with data from a German reference population. Multivariable analysis incorporated binary logistic regression using a forward stepwise (conditional) model., Results: The median age of the cohort was 67 (55-74) years, and 75.6% were male. Operative mortality was 13.7% in the NVE group and 21.6% in the PVE group ( p = 0.010). The overall survival at 1 year was 88.0% and was comparable between the groups. The physical health summary scores were 49 (40-55) for the NVE patients and 45 (37-52) for the PVE patients ( p = 0.043). The median mental health summary scores were 52 (35-57) and 49 (41-56), respectively ( p = 0.961). On comparison of the HRQOL to the reference population, the physical health summary scores were comparable. However, significant differences were observed with regard to the mental health summary scores ( p = 0.005)., Conclusions: Our study shows that there are significant differences in the various domains of HRQOL, not only between NVE and PVE patients, but also in comparison to healthy individuals. In addition to preoperative health status, it is important to consider the patient's expectations regarding surgery. Further prospective studies are required.

Objectives : As surgical experience with infective endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement is scarce, this study compared the perioperative and short-term outcomes of patients suffering from endocarditis following surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Methods : Between January 2013 and December 2020, 468 consecutive patients were admitted to our center for surgery for IE. Among them, 98 were operated on for endocarditis following surgical aortic valve replacement and 22 for endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Results : The median EuroSCORE II (52.1 (40.6-62.0) v/s 45.4 (32.6-58.1), p = 0.207) and STS-PROM (1.8 (1.6-2.1) v/s 1.9 (1.4-2.2), p = 0.622) were comparable. Endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement accounted for 13.7% of the aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis between 2013 and 2015; this increased to 26.9% in the years 2019 and 2020.Concomitant procedures were performed in 35 patients (29.2%). The operative mortality was 26.5% in the endocarditis following surgical aortic valve replacement group and 9.1% in the endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement group ( p = 0.098). Upon follow-up, survival at 6 months was found to be 98% in the group with endocarditis following surgical aortic valve replacement and 89% in the group with endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement ( p = 0.081). Conclusions : Patients suffering from endocarditis following surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement present with comparable risk profiles and can be surgically treated with comparable results. Surgery as a curative option should not be rejected even in this intermediate-risk cohort.

Background: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) is an established treatment option for cardiac arrest. Mechanical reanimation devices are increasingly used but have been associated with complications. This study evaluates typical injury patterns and differences after mechanical versus manual chest compressions among patients undergoing eCPR., Methods: From 2016 to 2020, 108 eCPR patients were retrospectively analyzed. Primary endpoints were traumatic, hemorrhagic, or inner organ-related complications, defined as pneumothorax, pulmonary bleeding, major bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal ischemia, cardiac tamponade, aortic dissection, sternal or rib fracture., Results: 70 patients were treated with mechanical CPR (mCPR) and 38 with conventional CPR (cCPR). There were more CPR-related injuries in the mCPR group (55% vs. 83%, p = 0.01), CPR duration was longer (cCPR 40 ± 28 min vs. mCPR 69 ± 25 min, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in mortality between the groups., Conclusion: Mechanical CPR devices are associated with a higher incidence of traumatic and hemorrhagic injuries in patients undergoing eCPR.

Objective: Acute aortic dissection type A can occur in both genders at any age. Our aim was to report differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome in female and male patients with acute aortic dissection type A., Methods: Between July 2006 and June 2015, 56 centers participating in the German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A reported on a total of 3380 patients. As many as 1234 (37%) were women and 2146 (63%) were men. We compared their clinical features and events occurring within 30 days after surgery., Results: Women were significantly older than male patients (65.5 ± 12.7 years vs 59.2 ± 13.3 years; P < .001). Aortic dissection extended down to the abdominal aorta in 43% men and 39% women (P = .01). Visceral (4.9% vs 7.3%; P = .006) and renal malperfusion (7.7% vs 10.6%; P = .006) were more frequently diagnosed in men. Aortic roots were replaced more frequently in men (22% vs 18%; P < .001). Different aortic arch repair strategies were distributed similarly in both genders. The incidence of new hemiplegia or hemiparesis was also similar in men and women (P = .24). Thirty-day mortality did not differ between women and men (16.3% vs 16.6%; P = .18). In a logistically mixed-effect model, gender revealed no influence on 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.44; P = .21)., Conclusions: Aortic dissection type A occurs almost twice as frequently in men. Women develop aortic dissection later in life. Despite women and men presenting at different ages and exhibiting varying dissection and malperfusion patterns, and the fact that men undergo complex proximal aortic repair more frequently, outcomes are similar in both genders., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: It is current practice to perform concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) who have relevant coronary artery disease (CAD). However, CABG may add complexity to the operation. We aimed to investigate the impact of concomitant CABG on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for IE., Methods: We retrospectively used data of surgically treated IE patients between 1994 and 2018 in six German cardiac surgery centers. We performed inverse probability weighting (IPW), multivariable adjustment, chi-square analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates., Results: CAD was reported in 1242/4917 (25%) patients. Among them, 527 received concomitant CABG. After adjustment for basal characteristics between CABG and no-CABG patients using IPW, concomitant CABG was associated with higher postoperative stroke (26% vs. 21%, p = 0.003) and a trend towards higher postoperative hemodialysis (29% vs. 25%, p = 0.052). Thirty-day mortality was similar in both groups (24% vs. 23%, p = 0.370). Multivariate Cox regression analysis after IPW showed that CABG was not associated with better long-term survival (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.82-1.23, p = 0.998)., Conclusion: In endocarditis patients with CAD, adding CABG to valve surgery may be associated with a higher likelihood of postoperative stroke without adding long-term survival benefits. Therefore, in the absence of critical CAD, concomitant CABG may be omitted without impacting outcome. The results are limited due to a lack of data on the severity of CAD, and therefore there is a need for a randomized trial.

Cerebral embolism due to infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The optimal time-interval between symptomatic stroke and cardiac surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the patients' outcomes and define the potential risk factors with regard to surgical timing for IE patients with preoperative symptomatic cerebral embolism (CE). A total of 119 IE patients with CE were identified and analyzed with regard to operative timing: early (1-7 days), intermediate (8-21 days), and late (>22 days). The preoperative patient data, comorbidities and previous cardiac surgical procedures were analyzed to identify potential predictors and independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Actuarial survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. In-hospital mortality for the entire study cohort was 15.1% ( n = 18), and in comparison, between groups was found to be highest in the intermediate surgical group (25.7%). Univariate analysis identified preoperative mechanical ventilation dependent respiratory insufficiency ( p = 0.006), preoperative renal insufficiency ( p = 0.019), age ( p = 0.002), large vegetations ( p = 0.018) as well as intermediate ( p = 0.026), and late ( p = 0.041) surgery as predictors of in-hospital mortality. The presence of large vegetations (>8 mm) ( p = 0.019) and increased age ( p = 0.037)-but not operative timing-were identified as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. In the presence of large vegetations (>8 mm), cardiac surgery should be performed early and independently from the entity of cerebral embolic stroke. Postponing surgery to achieve clinical stabilization and better postoperative outcomes of IE patients with CE is reasonable, however, worsening of the disease process with deterioration and resulting heart failure during the first 3 weeks after CE results in a significantly higher in-hospital mortality and inferior long-term survival.

Objectives: The German Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA) score to predict 30-day mortality in patients suffering from acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) was recently introduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the GERAADA score's prediction corresponds with the authors' institutional results., Methods: All consecutive AADA patients between 2010 and 2020 were included. Retrospective data collection comprised 11 preoperative parameters: age, sex, previous cardiac surgery, inotropic support at referral, resuscitation before surgery, aortic regurgitation, preoperative hemiparesis, intubation/ventilation at referral, preoperative organ malperfusion, extension of aortic dissection and location of primary entry site. Calculations of the GERAADA score were individually performed by a cardiac surgeon blinded to the study for all patients via a web-based application (https://www.dgthg.de/de/GERAADA&#95;Score)., Results: A total of 371 AADA patients were operated at the authors' institution. The mean age was 62.7 ± 13.5 years and 233 (63%) were males. Prediction of 30-day mortality was accurate for the entire study cohort (actual vs predicted 30-day mortality: 15.1% vs 15.7%; P = 0.776) as well as for all 26 subgroups. In addition, preoperative resuscitation (P < 0.001), advanced age (P = 0.042) and other/unknown malperfusion (P = 0.032) were identified as independent risk factors., Conclusions: The GERAADA score prediction of 30-day mortality after surgery is accurate, easily accessible due to its web-based platform and can be calculated with very basic preoperative clinical parameters. A prospective clinical trial is required to further evaluate the new GERAADA score as a useful tool to allow for improved decision-making in the emergency setting of AADA., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Prosthetic valve endocarditis is associated with worse outcomes compared with native valve endocarditis. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of native valve endocarditis versus prosthetic valve endocarditis on postoperative outcomes and long-term survival and to identify preoperative risk factors in a large cohort of 4300 patients with infective endocarditis., Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in 5 German Cardiac Surgery Centers: the Clinical Multicenter Project of Analysis of Infective Endocarditis in Germany. Data of 4300 patients undergoing valve surgery for native valve endocarditis and prosthetic valve endocarditis were retrospectively analyzed. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used for risk stratification, Kaplan-Meier analysis for long-term survival. In addition, we performed Cox proportional hazards regression with multivariable adjustment., Results: Between 1994 and 2016, 3143 patients (73.1%) underwent surgery for native valve endocarditis and 1157 patients (26.9%) underwent surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis. Patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis were older (69 [60-75] vs 63 [52-72] years; P < .001) and had more comorbidities, such as hypertension (55% vs 46%; P < .001), diabetes (28% vs 25%; P = .020), coronary artery disease (32% vs 23%; P < .001), and preoperative acute kidney injury (41% vs 32%; P < .001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly decreased long-term survival of patients undergoing surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis compared with native valve endocarditis (P < .001). However, after multivariable adjustment, there was no significant difference in long-term survival between patients undergoing cardiac surgery with prosthetic valve endocarditis compared with native valve endocarditis., Conclusions: After adjusting for preoperative comorbidities, long-term survival for prosthetic valve endocarditis and native valve endocarditis is comparable. Thus, our large cohort study provides evidence that prosthetic valve endocarditis alone should not be a contraindication for redo operations., (Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The goal was to develop a scoring system to predict the 30-day mortality rate for patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection on the basis of the German Registry for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (GERAADA) data set and to provide a Web-based application for standard use., Methods: A total of 2537 patients enrolled in GERAADA who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2015 were analysed. Variable selection was performed using the R-package FAMoS. The robustness of the results was confirmed via the bootstrap procedure. The coefficients of the final model were used to calculate the risk score in a Web-based application., Results: Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.018, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.009-1.026; P < 0.001; 5-year OR: 1.093], need for catecholamines at referral (OR 1.732, 95% CI 1.340-2.232; P < 0.001), preoperative resuscitation (OR 3.051, 95% CI 2.099-4.441; P < 0.001), need for intubation before surgery (OR 1.949, 95% CI 1.465-2.585; P < 0.001), preoperative hemiparesis (OR 1.442, 95% CI 0.996-2.065; P = 0.049), coronary malperfusion (OR 1.870, 95% CI 1.386-2.509; P < 0.001), visceral malperfusion (OR 1.748, 95% CI 1.198-2.530; P = 0.003), dissection extension to the descending aorta (OR 1.443, 95% CI 1.120-1.864; P = 0.005) and previous cardiac surgery (OR 1.772, 95% CI 1.048-2.903; P = 0.027) were independent predictors of the 30-day mortality rate. The Web application based on the final model can be found at https://www.dgthg.de/de/GERAADA&#95;Score., Conclusions: The GERAADA score is a simple, effective tool to predict the 30-day mortality rate for patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. We recommend the widespread use of this Web-based application for standard use., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the incidence and surgical outcomes of patients with native infective endocarditis (IE) and prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis (PVE) over the past decade at a single institution., Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2015, 289 patients (mean age, 63.3 ± 14.2 years) suffering from native IE (n = 186) and PVE (n = 103) of the aortic valve underwent surgical procedures. Perioperative data were acquired retrospectively for statistical analysis., Results: During the study period the mean incidence of endocarditis increased from 22.0 ± 4.2 (2005-2009) to 29.8 ± 10.1 (2010-2015) cases per year. In-hospital mortality was significantly increased in PVE (22.3%) versus IE (9.1%) patients (P < .001). In elective cases in-hospital mortality between the 2 groups was comparable (2.2% vs 4.6%; P = .288). Multivariate analysis identified urgent surgery (odds ratio [OR], 6.461; 95% CI, 1.941-21.509; P = .002), mitral regurgitation II (OR, 4.230; 95% CI, 1.249-14.331; P = .021), previous homograft operation (OR, 66.096; 95% CI, 2.369-1844.272; P = .0.14), and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% (OR, 8.267; 95% CI, 1.931-35.388; P = .004) as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality, whereas pathogen identification by preoperative blood cultures (OR, .228; 95% CI, 0.063-0.817; P = .023) was found to be independently protective., Conclusions: Surgery for native IE and PVE of the aortic valve may be performed with satisfactorily results at experienced cardiac surgical centers. In comparison PVE patients suffer from a more than twice as high in-hospital mortality, more postoperative complications, and inferior long-term survival. However preoperative identification of causative pathogens in IE and PVE allows for improved in-hospital survival., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis (CP) is particularly challenging because of the increased risk of right heart failure. The necessity of postoperative extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can result in mortality rates of 100%. Preemptive implantation of ECLS may improve postoperative outcomes; however, no data are currently available on its use. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the feasibility of our strategy., Methods: Between September 2012 and June 2016, ECLS was established percutaneously through the groin vessels in 12 individually selected patients with high-risk CP immediately before pericardiectomy in the operating theater as part of the surgical strategy. Prolonged weaning was performed in the intensive care unit. Demographic characteristics, perioperative data, and survival were analyzed., Results: The median patient age was 61.5 years (first quartile, third quartile: 51.3, 68.5 years), with a preoperative central venous pressure of 24 mm Hg (first quartile, third quartile: 21, 28 mm Hg). Furthermore, the pulmonary artery pressure was greater than 60 mm Hg in 50% of patients and a dip plateau sign existed in 75% before surgery. The median duration of ECLS therapy was 132 hours (first quartile, third quartile: 96, 168 hours) with a length of stay on the intensive care unit of 10 days (first quartile, third quartile: 7.0, 16.8 days). There was no intraoperative death. The cumulative 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year survival rates were 83% ± 11%, 75% ± 13%, and 75% ± 13%, respectively., Conclusions: From our real-world data, preemptive use of perioperative ECLS, assigned by individual team decision in selected patients with severe CP, is a feasible and safe strategy., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Aortic surgery involving hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) results in a systemic inflammatory response that may negatively influence outcome. An extracorporeal haemadsorption (HA) device (CytoSorb®) that removes inflammatory triggers may improve haemodynamic and metabolic reactions due to excessive inflammation and, ultimately, outcome., Methods: As a single-centre experience, the data of 336 patients who had undergone aortic surgery with HCA between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed. Patients with HA were matched to patients receiving standard therapy without HA (Control) by propensity score matching and compared subsequently., Results: During aortic surgery with HCA, HA significantly reduced the requirement of norepinephrine (HA: 0.102 µg/kg/min; Control: 0.113; P = 0.043). Severe disturbances of acid-base balance as reflected by a pH lower than 7.19 (HA: 7.1%; Control: 11.6%; P = 0.139), maximum lactate concentrations (HA: 3.75 mmol/l; Control: 4.23 P = 0.078) and the need for tris-hydroxymethylaminomethane buffer (HA: 6.5%; Control: 13.7%; P = 0.045) were less frequent with HA. Compared to standard therapy, HA decreased the need for transfusion of packed red blood cells (1 unit; P = 0.021) and fresh frozen plasma (3 units; P = 0.001), but increased the requirement of prothrombin complex concentrate (800 IE, P = 0.0036). HA did not affect inflammatory laboratory markers on the first postoperative day. Differences in operative mortality (HA: 4.8%; Control: 8.8%) and the length of hospital stay (HA: 13.5 days; Control: 14) were not statistically significant., Conclusions: HA significantly reduces the need for vasopressors, the amount of transfusion and improves acid-base balance in aortic surgery with HCA. Multicentre prospective trials are required to confirm these results., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Our study aim was to evaluate the impact of left subclavian artery (LSA) flow preservation during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) on outcome., Methods: Between August 2001 and October 2016, 176 patients (mean age, 61.3 ± 15.8 years) underwent TEVAR with complete LSA coverage. Fifty-five of those patients (31.3%) also underwent LSA revascularization, whereas 121 patients (68.7%) did not. Perioperative data were acquired retrospectively for statistical analysis at the three study institutions., Results: Overall in-hospital and follow-up mortality was 8.5% (n = 15) and 9.1% (n = 16), respectively, including 88 urgent and emergent cases (50%). Stroke (independent of location) and permanent paraplegia rates were 6.8% and 6.3%, respectively, for the entire cohort. Isolated upper-left extremity malperfusion exclusively occurred in 12 (9.9%) of the 121 patients without LSA revascularization. Left-hemispheric stroke was observed four times more often in patients without LSA revascularization and left arm malperfusion (16.7% versus 3.7%, p = 0.095). Multivariate analysis identified no LSA revascularization (odds ratio [OR] 3.779, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.096 to 13.029, p = 0.035), two or more endografts (OR 3.814, 95% CI: 1.557 to 9.343, p = 0.003), and coronary artery disease (OR 3.276, 95% CI: 1.262 to 8.507, p = 0.015) as independent risk factors for procedure-related adverse events (left-hemispheric stroke, left arm malperfusion, and permanent paraplegia) after TEVAR with complete LSA overstenting., Conclusions: Every 10th patient with LSA overstenting and no revascularization experienced left arm malperfusion. No LSA revascularization, extensive aortic coverage with two or more endografts, and coronary artery disease increased the risk of permanent paraplegia, left-hemispheric stroke, and left arm malperfusion. Patients should undergo LSA revascularization to prevent left vertebral artery-associated central neurologic complications and to maintain upper-left extremity perfusion., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 66-year-old patient presented to the Leipzig Heart Center in Leipzig, Germany with therapy-refractory hypotension with a history of postural presyncope 7 years after supraaortic debranching and thoracic endovascular aortic repair of the transverse arch. Arterial angiography with invasive blood pressure measurement revealed pronounced hypertension of the lower body (blood pressure, 270/120 mm Hg) and subtotal prosthetic graft stenosis of the bypasses to the innominate artery and to the left common carotid artery. Open reoperation for removal of the stenosed Y-limb prosthesis and extraanatomic supraaortic revascularization was successfully performed. Subtotal prosthetic graft stenosis with need for reoperation may occur as a long-term complication after supraaortic debranching and thoracic endovascular aortic repair., (Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The true incidence of aortic events (AEs) and reoperations (REDO) following elective total aortic arch replacement remains unknown. The aim of this study was to review the incidence of AEs and surgical REDO, and its respective outcomes after 1232 elective arch repairs at 11 European aortic centres., Methods: Retrospective chart review (in the absence of prospective data collection) was performed for statistical analysis. Follow-up was conducted during routine clinical examination or in a telephone interview with patients and/or their respective physicians., Results: One hundred fifty-five (12.6%) patients were identified (median follow-up time 48.7 months). The recorded AEs comprised aortic dilatation (62.6%), rupture (15.5%), endoleak (11%), false aneurysm (3.9%), dissection (3.2%), infection (2.6%) and others (1.3%). REDO (open/endovascular) were performed in 85.8% of patients (n = 133). Intraoperative and in-hospital mortality in the REDO patients were 7.5% and 17.3%, respectively. Postoperative neurological complications comprised paraplegia (6.0%) and stroke (1.5%). Survival rates after REDO at 1, 3 and 5 years were 81.2%, 79.0% and 76.7%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified 'rupture' and 'diameter progression', 'older age at REDO' and the REDO strategies 'frozen elephant trunk' and 'no elephant trunk' as predictors of increased in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis identified 'older age at REDO' (P = 0.008) as the only independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality., Conclusions: AEs after elective arch surgery are not irrelevant and mostly involve the distal aspects of the adjoining aorta. In accordance with the underlying pathology, open or endovascular REDO may be performed with an acceptable outcome. Preparation of an adequate proximal landing zone at the time of primary arch surgery is advisable., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

The reattachment of the supra-aortic vessels during hybrid arch repair using a branched prosthesis is time consuming and sometimes technically challenging. Here, we describe the surgical technique of bridging the end-to-end anastomoses between the graft branches and the supra-aortic vessels by self-expanding covered stents to reduce suturing time, avoid anastomotic bleeding, enhance true lumen remodeling, and improve vessel alignment to the hybrid graft., (Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Patients with acute aortic dissections involving the arch and descending aorta can effectively be treated using the frozen elephant trunk technique. We describe here the novel technique of temporary banding of the descending aorta onto the stent of the hybrid graft in 3 patients who developed unmanageable bleeding from the distal suture line due to retrograde false lumen perfusion and disintegration of the adventitia. Retrograde false lumen perfusion was stopped and therefore bleeding controlled in all patients. Temporal aortic banding represents a novel, feasible, and effective bailout technique for otherwise unmanageable bleeding with fatal outcome in hybrid arch surgery., (Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Surgical therapy for acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) in octogenarians carries high morbidity and mortality. The role of isolated medical treatment in this setting is controversial. The aim of this study is to determine whether risk of surgery for AADA outweighs risk of death from medical treatment only., Methods: From 2002 to 2015, 90 consecutive octogenarians (mean age, 83.5 ± 3 years) were treated for AADA at three institutions: 67 patients underwent surgery, 23 patients received medical treatment. Analysis of early and late outcome was performed., Results: Patients in the medical treatment group were significantly older than in the surgical group (84.9 ± 3.7 vs 83 ± 2.5 years, P  = 0.008) and in a more critical state. In patients undergoing surgical repair, perioperative mortality was 14.9% ( n  = 10). Rate of prolonged ventilation (63.2% vs 5.9%; P  < 0.001) and renal failure (35.1% vs 5.9%, P  = 0.029) was significantly higher in the surgical group. Thirty-day survival was impaired in the medical treatment group (34.8% vs 61.2% in the surgical group; P  = 0.032). Coronary artery disease (OR 3.95, 95% CI 1.16-13.49; P  = 0.029) and complicated dissections (OR 5.28, 95% CI 1.48-18.88; P  = 0.010)-composite variable of preoperative resuscitation, neurological injury and malperfusion-emerged as independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in the surgical group. There was no difference in long-term survival., Conclusions: Emergency surgery for AADA in octogenarians is associated with relatively high intraoperative mortality and may reasonably be avoided in patient with complicated presentation. Despite better immediate survival after surgery, long-term survival does not differ between medical and surgical patients, reflecting the extremely advanced point in life cycle octogenarians., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

SummaryAortic arch surgery requires complex patient management beyond the manual replacement of the diseased vessel. These procedures include (i) a thorough and pathologically adjusted preoperative evaluation, (ii) initiation and control of cardiopulmonary bypass, (iii) cerebral protection strategies and (iv) techniques to protect the abdominal end organs during prolonged operations. Due to the complexity of aortic arch procedures, multimodal real-time surveillance is required during all stages of the operation. Although having the patient survive the operation is the major goal, further observation is necessary because of the chronicity of the disease. This review summarizes specific aspects of patient management during and after operations requiring periods of circulatory arrest, without necessarily referring to all studies on this topic. The pros and cons of different strategies are weighed against each other, including the personal experience of the authors. A number of questions are raised without providing a 'right' or 'wrong' answer. We show that a number of different well-established strategies can result in comparable excellent long-lasting surgical results., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Renal neoplasms frequently expand into renal veins and inferior vena cava from the early stages of the disease. In this study, we set out to define the long-term outcomes of patients with Stage IV tumorous cavoatrial extension, undergoing radical nephrectomy with excision of cavoatrial extension in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA)., Methods: Thirty-five patients with Stage IV cavoatrial extension of renal cell carcinoma underwent radical nephrectomy combined with en bloc excision of cavoatrial tumour-thrombus extension, performed in DHCA. The preoperative staging of the tumour and assessment of the intravascular position of the tumour were performed using standard imaging techniques, including computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Patient data were collected in the patient data bank and analysed retrospectively., Results: In this study cohort, we demonstrate acceptable long-term results (the mean overall survival of 4.9 ± 1.0 years and the 5-year survival rate of 40%) and outline several clear predictors for postoperative long-term survival of the patients. Preoperative evidence of remote tumour metastases and tumourous lymph node involvement conversely predicts inferior postoperative survival. However, a high local postoperative tumour recurrence rate does not limit patient survival in this group., Conclusions: The data provide evidence for perioperative safety and acceptable long-term results of radical nephrectomy with excision of cavoatrial extension in DHCA in patients with Stage IV cavoatrial extension of renal neoplasm. Thus, this radical surgical procedure can provide effective long-term palliation in the absence of evident metastatic disease., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Near-infrared spectroscopy of the collateral network (cnNIRS) has recently been trialled to monitor real-time tissue oxygenation of the paraspinous vasculature as a surrogate for spinal cord tissue oxygenation. This large animal study was designed to investigate the correlation between cnNIRS and spinal cord oxygenation by comparing it to laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), a proven method for direct oxygenation and flow assessment., Methods: Measurements were performed in seven animals. Four paravertebral cnNIRS optodes were positioned bilaterally at thoracic and lumbar levels to assess tissue oxygenation of the paraspinous vasculature. Paravertebral muscle and spinal cord oxygenation and microcirculatory flow were measured directly using LDF probes. LDF and cnNIRS were compared during consecutive repeated periods of descending aortic cross-clamping for 8 min and recovery by clamp release., Results: Following aortic cross-clamping, lumbar cnNIRS signals instantaneously responded with a decrease to 85 ± 4% within 30 s, and to a minimum of 69 ± 6% after 8 min, returning to baseline values after clamp release within 40 s. Direct lumbar muscle and spinal cord oxygenation assessed by LDF responded analogously to cnNIRS (muscle and spinal cord oxygenation after cross-clamping 11.3 ± 6 and 37.6 ± 22% after 5 and 8 min, respectively). Comparison between lumbar cnNIRS and LDF muscle and spinal cord measurements showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.51-0.52, P < 0.001). Thoracic cnNIRS signals remained relatively stable throughout the procedure. Lumbar paraspinous muscle oxygenation corresponded to direct spinal cord oxygenation (no significant difference, P = 0.296)., Conclusions: These experiments confirm that the paraspinous vasculature in the presented large animal model is directly linked to spinal cord microcirculation and that the regional paraspinous muscle oxygenation status reflects spinal cord tissue oxygenation. As lumbar cnNIRS reproducibly depicts tissue oxygenation of the paraspinous vasculature, it can be used for non-invasive spinal cord oxygenation monitoring in real-time., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The study was conducted to evaluate, on the basis of a multicentre analysis, current results of elective open aortic arch surgery performed during the last decade., Methods: Data of 1232 consecutive patients who underwent aortic arch repair with reimplantation of at least one supra-aortic artery between 2004 and 2013 were collected from 11 European cardiovascular centres, and retrospective statistical examination was performed using uni- and multi-variable analyses to identify predictors for 30-day mortality. Acute aortic dissections and arch surgeries not involving the supra-aortic arteries were not included., Results: Arch repair involving all 3 arch arteries (total), 2 arch arteries (subtotal) or 1 arch artery (partial) was performed in 956 (77.6%), 155 (12.6%) and 121 (9.8%) patients, respectively. The patients' characteristics as well as the surgical techniques, including the method of cannulation, perfusion and protection, varied considerably between the clinics participating in the study. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 11.4 and 8.8% for the entire cohort, respectively, ranging between 1.7 and 19.0% in the surgical centres. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified surgical centre, patient's age, number of previous surgeries with sternotomy and concomitant surgeries as independent risk factors of 30-day mortality. The follow-up of the study group was 96.5% complete with an overall follow-up duration of 3.3 ± 2.9 years, resulting in 4020 patient-years. After hospital discharge, 176 (14.3%) patients died, yielding an overall mortality rate of 25.6%. The actuarial survival after 5 and 8 years was 72.0 ± 1.5% and 64.0 ± 2.0, respectively., Conclusions: The surgical risk in elective aortic arch surgery has remained high during the last decade despite the advance in surgical techniques. However, the patients' characteristics, numbers of surgeries, the techniques and the results varied considerably among the centres. The incompleteness of data gathered retrospectively was not effective enough to determine advantages of particular cannulation, perfusion, protection or surgical techniques; and therefore, we strongly recommend further prospective multicentre studies, preferably registries, in which all relevant data have to be clearly defined and collected., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate, with an 'all-comers' approach, the survival and outcome of patients following secondary surgical or interventional procedures after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)., Methods: Between October 2002 and December 2013, 371 patients with different aortic pathologies underwent primary TEVAR at our institution. Fifty-six out of the 371 patients (15.1%, 18 females, mean age 62.3 ± 13.7 years) required secondary procedures, either interventionally (N = 31; 55.4%) or surgically (N = 25; 44.6%), due to stent graft-related complications. After TEVAR complications comprised endoleaks (N = 28; 7.5%), organ malperfusion (N = 9; 2.4%), aorto-oesophageal/-bronchial fistulae (N = 9; 2.4%), stent graft infections (N = 4; 1.1%), aneurysm progression (N = 3; 0.8%), retrograde type A aortic dissection (N = 2; 0.5%) and aortic regurgitation (N = 1; 0.3%)., Results: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 10.7% (N = 5): open surgery (N = 1; 4%) versus reintervention (N = 5; 16%; P = 0.14). The cumulative survival rates after secondary procedures at 6 months, 1 year and 3 years were 80.4, 73.5 and 69.3%, respectively. Postoperative complications either for open surgery or reintervention comprised stroke (8 vs 9.6%; P = 0.82), paraplegia (4 vs 6.4%; P = 0.68), renal failure (16 vs 3.2%; P = 0.09), respiratory failure (12 vs 0%; P = 0.04), sepsis (16 vs 3.2%; P = 0.87), organ malperfusion (4 vs 3.2%; P = 0.87) and need for a tertiary procedure (8 vs 6.4%; P = 0.82)., Conclusions: Stent graft complications after primary TEVAR were not infrequent and often required secondary procedures for definite treatment. Endoleaks (type Ia), organ malperfusion, stent graft infections, fistula formation and expanding aneurysm occurred predominantly during early and mid-term follow-up. Despite the high-risk nature of the complications, secondary open surgical or interventional procedures may be successfully performed with an acceptable outcome., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)