Search

OBJECTIVE Recent studies suggested higher rates of early structural valve degeneration or reintervention for the Trifecta valve compared to other valves. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of the Trifecta valve and the Perimount valves in patients who underwent a surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS All randomized control trials and observational studies which investigated the outcomes of the Trifecta valve and Perimount valves were identified with PubMed and EMBASE. The endpoints were the rates of reintervention and all-cause mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) for reintervention and all-cause mortality were combined with the random-effects model. RESULTS Our search identified 6 eligible observational studies which enrolled a total of 11,135 patients who underwent SAVR with either the Trifecta valve (n = 4932) or Perimount (n = 6203). Pooled analyses demonstrated that the reintervention rates were significantly higher with the Trifecta valve compared with Perimount valves (HR [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 3.16 [1.83-5.46]; p

Objective The optimal harvesting technique of saphenous vein (SVG) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still to be elucidated. The present study aimed to compare the methods of SVG harvesting technique, which were open vein harvesting (OVH), endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH), and no-touch vein harvesting (NT), using a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and propensity-score matched (PSM) studies. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through April 2021 to identify RCTs and PSM studies that investigated the outcomes in patients who underwent CABG with the SVG using one of three methods; OVH, EVH, and NT. The outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality, the rates of revascularization, and graft failure. Risk ratios (RRs) were extracted for the rates of graft failure, and hazard ratios (HRs) were extracted for all-cause mortality and the rates of revascularization. Results Eligible seven RCT and five PSM studies were identified which enrolled a total of 8111 patients. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients with EVH compared with OVH (HR [95% confidence interval (CI)] =0.77 [0.65-0.92], p = .0032). The rates of revascularization were similar among the groups. The rate of graft failures was significantly lower in patients with NT compared with OVH (HR [95% CI] =0.54 [0.32-0.90], p = .019) and with EVH (HR [95% CI] =0.39 [0.17-0.86], p = .023). Conclusion NT vein harvesting is favorable for graft patency, and OVH showed higher all-cause mortality than EVH. Further well-powered RCTs are needed to confirm our findings.

Background The optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with bioprosthetic valves and atrial fibrillation remains uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis using updated evidence comparing direct anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with bioprosthetic valves and atrial fibrillation. Methods Medline and Embase were searched through March 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies investigating the outcomes of DOAC therapy and VKA therapy in patients with bioprosthetic valves and atrial fibrillation. The outcomes of interest were all-cause death, major bleeding, and stroke or systemic embolism. Results Our analysis included 4 RCTs and 6 observational studies enrolling a total of 6405 patients with bioprosthetic valves and atrial fibrillation assigned to a DOAC group (n = 2142) or a VKA group (n = 4263). Pooled analysis demonstrated the similar rates of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-1.05; P = .18; I2 = 0%) in the DOAC and VKA groups. However, the rate of major bleeding was significantly lower in the DOAC group (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48-0.89; P = .006; I2 = 0%), whereas the rate of stroke or systemic embolism was similar in the 2 groups (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.44-1.17; P = .18; I2 = 39%). Conclusions DOAC might decrease the risk of major bleeding without increasing the risk of stroke or systemic embolism or all-cause death compared with VKA in patients with bioprosthetic valves and atrial fibrillation.

Background Metachronous pancreatic and gallbladder cancer is a rare condition and has a dismal prognosis. Herein, we present a patient with triple metachronous primary pancreatic and gallbladder cancer associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction who achieved long-term survival after undergoing repeat curative surgery. Case presentation A 65-year-old female patient with advanced gallbladder cancer associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction underwent extended cholecystectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection. The pathological diagnosis was T3N0M0 stage III A papillary adenocarcinoma with hepatic invasion. During a monthly follow-up, a diffuse hypovascular 2.0 × 1.5-cm mass was detected in the pancreatic head 6.2 years after the initial surgery. Hence, the patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histological examination revealed T3N0M0 stage IIA well-differentiated adenocarcinoma without lymph node metastases. Marked inflammatory reaction was observed in the non-cancerous lesions of the proximal pancreatic head parenchyma containing bile pigment within ductular lumens. After 12.5 years from the initial surgery, total pancreatectomy for a 4.0 × 3.0-cm mass in the remnant pancreas was performed. Histological examination revealed T3N1M0 stage IIB moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastases. Hence, surgical curative resection was achieved. Based on the pathological findings, a definitive diagnosis of triple metachronous pancreatic and gallbladder cancer was made. The pathology suggests no precursor lesions such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and atypical flat lesions, but marked inflammations in the non-cancerous lesions, strengthening our hypothesis that chronic inflammation induced by the pancreaticobiliary maljunction is related to carcinogenesis of the pancreas. Despite further adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient’s general condition worsened; however, she remained alive 15.2 years after the initial surgery while receiving the best supportive care. Conclusions Repeat curative surgery for triple metachronous cancer was associated with a favorable prognosis. Both the biliary tract and the pancreas should be closely monitored during follow-up among patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, which can be managed with curative surgery.

Background Although current guidelines recommend oral anticoagulants (OAC) with or without antiplatelet therapy (APT) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TVAR) in patients with an indication for long-term anticoagulation therapy, the optimal antithrombotic strategy remains unknown in these population. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis comparing the outcome of OAC alone versus OAC with APT following TAVR in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through May, 2020 to identify clinical trials that investigated OAC alone versus OAC with APT following TAVR in patients with AF. From each study, we extracted the hazard ratios (HRs) or risk ratios of major or life threatening bleeding, stroke, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Results 1 randomized controlled trial and 3 observational studies were identified, which enrolled a total of 2,032 patients with AF who underwent TAVR assigned to the OAC group (n=722) or OAC with APT group (n=1,310). Pooled analyses demonstrated the rate of major or life threatening bleeding was significantly lower in the OAC group compared to the OAC with APT group (HR [95% Confidence Interval [CI] =0.54 [0.38-0.77], P =0.0006]. However, the rate of stroke was similar in both groups (HR [95% CI] = 1.22 [0.80-1.87], P =0.36). All-cause and cardiovascular mortalities were also similar in both groups. Conclusions We observed that OAC with APT following TAVR in patients with AF increased the risk of bleeding compared to OAC alone without decreasing the risk of stroke.

Valvular heart disease is common among left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients. However, its management at the time of LVAD implantation remains controversial. Patients who underwent LVAD implantation and concomitant aortic (AVR), mitral (MVR), or tricuspid valve (TVR) repair or replacement from 2010 to 2017 were identified using the national inpatient sample. End points were in-hospital outcomes, length of stay, and cost. Procedure-related complications were identified via ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding and analysis was performed via mixed effect models. A total of 25,171 weighted adults underwent LVAD implantation without valvular surgery, 1,329 had isolated TVR, 1,021 AVR, 377 MVR, and 615 had combined valvular surgery (411 had TVR + AVR, 115 TVR + MVR, 62 AVR + MVR, 25 AVR + MVR + TVR). During the study period, rates of AVR decreased and combined valvular surgeries increased. Patients who underwent TVR or combined valvular surgery had overall higher burden of co-morbidities than LVAD recipients with or without other valvular procedures. Postoperative bleeding was higher with AVR whereas acute kidney injury requiring dialysis was higher with TVR or combined valvular surgery. In-hospital mortality was higher with AVR, MVR, or combined surgery without differences in the rates of stroke. Length of stay did not differ significantly among groups but cost of hospitalization and nonroutine discharge rates were higher for cases of TVR and combined surgery. Approximately 1 in 9 LVAD recipients underwent concomitant valvular surgery and TVR was the most frequently performed procedure. In-hospital mortality and cost were lower among those who did not undergo valvular surgery.

Background Previous studies of patients undergoing various cardiac surgeries demonstrated worse outcomes among African-American (AA) patients. It remains unclear if the race is a predictor of outcomes among left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients. Methods Patients who underwent LVAD implantation between 2010 and 2017 were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. The race was classified as Caucasians vs AA vs Hispanics, and endpoints were in-hospital outcomes, length of stay, and cost. Procedure-related complications were identified via the International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) and ICD-10 coding and analysis performed via mixed-effect models. Results A total of 27 132 adults (5114 unweighted) underwent LVAD implantation in the U.S. between 2010 and 2017, including Caucasians (63.8%), AA (23.8%), and Hispanics (6%). The number of LVAD implantations increased in both Caucasians and AA during the study period. AA LVAD recipients were younger, with higher rates of females and mostly comorbidities, but lower rates of coronary artery disease and bypass grafting compared to Caucasians and Hispanics. Medicaid and median income at the lowest quartile were more frequent among AA LVAD recipients. We did not identify differences in stroke, bleeding complications, tamponade, infectious complications, acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis, and in-hospital mortality among racial groups. AA LVAD recipients had lower rates of routine discharge than Caucasians and Hispanics, longer length of stay than Caucasians, but similar cost of hospitalization. After adjustment for clinical comorbidities, race was not a predictor of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion We identified differences in clinical characteristics but not in in-hospital complications among LVAD recipients of a different races.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels can predict mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available studies. METHODS All studies investigating the prognostic impact of baseline (preprocedural) CRP levels on all-cause mortality after TAVI were identified by means of searching PubMed and Google Scholar through May 2019. For each study, (preferentially, adjusted rather than unadjusted) odds/hazard ratios (ORs/HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals of mortality per standard-deviation (SD) (or unit) increase in CRP levels or those for high vs low CRP levels. RESULTS Our search identified 14 eligible studies including a total of 3449 patients undergoing TAVI and reporting early (in-hospital to 3-month) and midterm (1-year to 3-year) all-cause mortality after TAVI. Pooled analyses demonstrated associations of high-baseline CRP levels with a marginal, but statistically nonsignificant increase in early mortality (pooled OR/HR per SD increase in CRP levels, 2.72; P = .09 and pooled OR/HR for high vs low CRP levels, 3.32; P = .07) and a statistically significant increase in midterm mortality after TAVI (pooled OR/HR per SD increase in CRP levels, 1.45; P

AIMS Catheter ablation (CA) is established therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, there is a limited understanding of CA in elderly patients. We studied the long-term efficacy and periprocedural safety of radiofrequency and cryoballoon CA for elderly patients with AF. METHODS PubMed and Embase were searched through April 2021 to investigate the comparative outcomes between elderly and non-elderly patients who underwent CA for AF. The primary efficacy and safety endpoints were AF recurrence and procedure-related complications, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed by procedure type of CA. RESULTS The search identified 20 observational studies with 110,606 patients, including 8,009 elderly patients (7.2%). The risk of AF recurrence was not significantly different between elderly and non-elderly patients (hazard ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-2.00; P = 0.10, I2 = 70%). However, relative to the non-elderly, elderly patients had significantly higher major complications (risk ratio [RR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14-1.54], P

Objective Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) through right mini-thoracotomy as well as robotic surgery has emerged for the last decade for mitral valve surgery. However, their risks and benefits are not fully understood yet. Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis comparing the early- and long-term outcomes of mitral valve surgery via the conventional sternotomy, MICS, and robotic approaches. Evidence acquisition MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through November, 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity-score matched (PSM) trials that investigated early- and long-term outcomes after mitral surgery via the conventional sternotomy, MICS, and robotic approaches. A subalalysis focusing on only subjects who initially underwent mitral valve repair was also conducted. Evidence synthesis Our systematic literature search identified 2 RCTs and 19 PSM studies. MICS was related to significant risk reductions of permanent pacemaker implantation, surgical site infection, and transfusion compared to the sternotomy approach. The robotic approach was associated with a significant increase in re-exploration for bleeding compared to sternotomy. The subanalysis showed that MICS was associated with a significant increase requiring mitral valve reoperation compared to the sternotomy approach (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] =7.33 [1.54-34.97], p=0.012), while no significant difference was observed between the sternotomy and the robotic approach. Conclusions Our network meta-analysis demonstrated that MICS was associated with better short-term outcomes compared to the sternotomy approach. Mitral valve reoperation was more frequent with MICS compared with the sternotomy approach after mitral valve repair, while no difference was observed between the sternotomy and robotic approaches.

The evidence regarding the impact of cerebral embolic protection devices (EPDs) on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate in-hospital outcomes with the use of cerebral EPDs in TAVR. We performed a comprehensive EMBASE and PUBMED search to investigate randomized control studies or propensity score-matched retrospective studies which assessed patients undergoing TAVR with or without EPD up to April 2021. Endpoints of interest were in-hospital mortality, stroke, acute kidney injury, pacemaker implantation, major bleeding, vascular complication, length of stay. Ten studies involving 173,002 patients with EPD (n = 16,898, 9.8%) and those without (n = 156,104, 90.2%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The use of EPD was associated with significantly lower risk of in-hospital stroke (odds ratio [95% confidential interval]: 0.64 [0.46; 0.89]), but similar rate of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [95% confidential interval]: 0.75 [0.54; 1.05]). No differences were observed in acute kidney injury, pacemaker implantation, major bleeding, vascular complication, length of stay. EPD during TAVR was associated with lower in-hospital stroke but did not affect procedural complications and length of stay.

Introduction To determine whether renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASI) prescription is associated with better survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), we performed the first meta-analysis of currently available studies. Evidence acquisition To identify all studies reporting impact of RASI prescription on survival after TAVI, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar through October 2019 We extracted adjusted (if unavailable, unadjusted) hazard ratios (HRs) with their confidence interval (CIs) of midterm (up to ≥6-month) allcause for RASI prescription from each study and combined study-specific estimates using inverse variance-weighted averages of logarithmic HRs in the random-effects model. Evidence synthesis We identified 13 eligible studies with a total of 26,132 TAVI patients and included them in the present meta-analysis. None was a randomized controlled trial, 5 were observational studies comparing patients with versus without RASI prescription (including 3 propensity score matched studies), and 8 were observational studies investigating RASI prescription as one of covariates. The primary meta-analysis of all studies demonstrated that RASI prescription was associated with significantly lower midterm mortality (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.92; P = 0.0002). Although we identified significant funnel plot asymmetry (P = 0.036 by the rank correlation test) suggesting publication bias, correcting for it using the trim-and-fill method did not substantially alter the result favoring RASI prescription (corrected HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.95; P = 0.004). Conclusions RASI prescription may be associated with better midterm survival after TAVI.

OBJECTIVE The optimal treatment strategy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remains controversial. Herein, we conducted a network meta-analysis comparing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients with CAD and low LVEF. METHODS MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through March, 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity-score matched (PSM) studies comparing CABG, PCI, and OMT. We extracted hazard ratios (HRs) of the outcomes. RESULTS A total of three RCTs and 10 PSM trials were identified, yielding a total of 18,855 patients with CAD with low EF who were treated with CABG (n = 9241), PCI (n = 8771), or OMT (n = 1003). All-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients with CABG compared with those with PCI or OMT (HR [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 0.72 [0.62-0.82], p

Background Although current guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 3 to 6 months following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), there are no studies directly comparing outcomes of different durations of DAPT following TAVR. Methods and Results PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database were searched through November 2020 to identify clinical studies that investigated single antiplatelet therapy versus DAPT use following TAVR. Studies using oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet therapy concomitantly were excluded. The DAPT group was subdivided by the duration of DAPT. We extracted the risk ratios (RRs) of major or life‐threatening bleeding, stroke, and all‐cause mortality. Four randomized controlled trials, 2 propensity‐score matched studies, and 1 observational study were identified, yielding a total of 2498 patients who underwent TAVR assigned to the single antiplatelet therapy group (n=1249), 3‐month DAPT group (n=485), or 6‐month DAPT group (n=764). Pooled analyses demonstrated that when compared with the single antiplatelet therapy group, the rates of major or life‐threatening bleeding were significantly higher in the 3‐ and 6‐month DAPT groups (RR [95% CI]=2.13 [1.33–3.40], P =0.016; RR [95% CI]=2.54 [1.49–4.33], P =0.007, respectively) with no difference between the 3‐month DAPT versus 6‐month DAPT groups. The rates of stroke and all‐cause mortality were similar among the 3 groups. Conclusions In this network meta‐analysis of antiplatelet therapy following TAVR, single antiplatelet therapy with aspirin had lower bleeding without increasing stroke or death when compared with either 3‐ or 6‐month DAPT.

BACKGROUND Robotic coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) has developed in recent decades, however, prior studies showed conflicting result of robotic CABG compared to nonrobotic CABG in terms of mortality, morbidity, and cost. Herein, we sought to analyze the in-hospital outcomes and health care utilization after robotic CABG compared to nonrobotic CABG, based on data from a nationally representative sample. METHODS Patients who underwent CABG were identified using the national inpatient sample. Endpoints were in-hospital outcomes, length of stay, and total cost. Procedure-related complications were identified via international classification of diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 coding and propensity score matching analysis was performed. RESULTS A total of 1,204,125 weighted adults underwent nonrobotic CABG and 7355 underwent robotic CABG in the United States between 2012 and 2017. The comparison of 7330 pairs after propensity score matching showed that in-hospital mortality was higher for those who underwent nonrobotic CABG compared to those who underwent robotic CABG (2.1% vs. 1.1%, p = .029). Similarly, the rates of acute kidney injury, transfusion, postoperative hemorrhage, length of stay, and total cost were higher for nonrobotic CABG compared to robotic CABG (all p

Background Despite the rapid adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), aortic valve reintervention, particularly surgical TAVR valve explantation (TAVR explant), has not been well described. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched through July 2021 to identify observational studies and case series reporting clinical outcomes of TAVR explant. Data on the frequency of TAVR explant, patient demographic characteristics, clinical indications, operative data, and perioperative outcomes were extracted. Study-specific estimates were combined using one-group meta-analysis in a random-effects model. Results A total of 10 studies were identified that included 1690 patients undergoing a TAVR explant. The frequency of TAVR explant among TAVR recipients was 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2%-0.6%). The mean patient age was 73.7 years (95% CI, 72.9-74.6 years). The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality was 5.9% (95% CI, 2.9%-8.8%) at the index TAVR and 8.1% (95% CI, 5.4%-10.8%) at TAVR explant. The mean time from implant to explant was 345.0 days (95% CI, 196.7-493.3 days). Among patients with documented device type, 59.8% (95% CI, 43.5%-76.0%) had a balloon-expandable valve and 40.2% (95% CI, 24.0%-56.5%) had a self-expandable valve. Concomitant procedures during TAVR explant were performed in 52.9% of patients (95% CI, 33.8%-72.0%), and the most common concomitant procedure was aortic repair (28.5%; 95% CI, 14.0%-42.9%). The 30-day mortality after TAVR explant was 16.7% (95% CI, 12.2%-21.2%). Conclusions TAVR explant in patients with a failing TAVR appears to be rare; however, the clinical impact of TAVR explant is substantial. Implanters must be mindful of the need for a lifetime management strategy in younger and lower-risk patients when choosing the valve type for the initial procedure.

Background Cerebral infarction (CI) remains one of the most common and fatal complications of infective endocarditis (IE), and the timing of surgery for IE with neurologic complications is controversial. As outcomes beyond the perioperative period have not been assessed with a meta-analysis previously, we conducted a meta-analysis comparing mid- to long-term outcomes of early and late surgery in patients with IE and neurologic complications. Methods All studies that investigated early and late surgery in patients with IE and neurologic complications were identified. The primary and secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality and recurrence, respectively. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality and recurrence were extracted from each study. Results Our search identified five eligible studies, which were all observational studies consisting of a total of 624 patients with IE and neurologic complications. Pooled analyses demonstrated that all-cause mortality was similar between the early and late surgery groups (HR [95% confidence interval [CI]] = 0.90 [0.49–1.64]; P = 0.10; I2 = 49%). Similarly, the recurrence rates were similar between both groups (HR [95% CI] = 1.86 [0.76–4.52]; P = 0.43; I2 = 0%). Conclusions Our meta-analysis showed similar mortality and recurrent rates between the early and late surgery groups. The optimal timing of surgery should be individualized on a case-to-case basis.

Although a number of studies compared mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with that after surgical aortic replacement (SAVR) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), no meta-analysis of them has been conducted to date. To determine whether TAVI or SAVR is associated with better postprocedural survival in patients with COPD, a meta-analysis of all studies currently available was performed.

Background: Although moderate-severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) is an independent risk factor for progressive heart failure and increased mortality, the best method for tricuspid repair remains controversial. As such, we conducted a network meta-analysis to compare early and late outcomes for suture, flexible band, and rigid ring as tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) in patients with TR. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through February 15th, 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational trials that investigated early and late outcomes after TAP for TR. The outcomes of interest were perioperative mortality, long-term survival and TR recurrence. TR recurrence was defined as at least moderate (TR grade 2) on serial echocardiogram. Results: Our systematic literature search identified 2 RCTs and 16 observational trials, including 6,788 patients who underwent TAP. Median follow-up period was 1-7.4 year. There were no significant differences of perioperative and long-term all-cause mortality among three TAP methods. Suture TAP was associated with a significant increase in TR recurrence compared to rigid ring TAP (Hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% Confidence Interval, 1.40-3.80; p =0.001) (Figure). There were no significant differences were observed in other comparisons in TR recurrence. Conclusion: Our network meta-analysis demonstrated significant reduction in TR recurrence for rigid ring TAP compared to Suture TAP. However, there was no significant mortality difference among suture, flexible band, and rigid ring TAP.

Background: It has been well documented that the use of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to graft the left anterior descending (LAD) artery has a significant benefit in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, what graft is the best as a second conduit to complement LITA-LAD anastomosis remains uncertain. We thus conducted a network meta-analysis of RCTs to compare graft patency of the radial artery (RA), the right internal thoracic artery (RITA), the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA), and saphenous vein (SVG) as a second conduit in CABG. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through February 8th, 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated graft patency of a second conduit in CABG. From each study, we extracted the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of the outcome. Results: A total of 11 RCTs were identified, including 3,434 patients and 2,171 angiographic results. There was no significant difference of IRR in graft failure among the 4 groups (vs. SVG: RA, IRR [95%CI] =0.66 [0.41-1.07]; RGEA, IRR [95% CI] =2.12 [0.54-8.38]; RITA, IRR [95% CI] =0.71 [0.32-1.60]). (Figure) Sensitivity analyses restricting trials with ≥3 years angiographic follow-up time or ≥5 years angiographic follow-up time showed no significant differences of IRR in graft failure among the four groups in both analyses. Conclusion: In a network meta-analysis of the updated outcomes from RCTs, no significant differences were observed in graft patency with the use of RA, RITA, RGEA or SVG as a second conduit in CABG.

Introduction: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) improve morbidity and mortality in end-stage heart failure patients but high rates of readmissions remain a problem after implantation. We aimed to assess the incidence, trends, outcomes and predictors of 30-day readmissions after LVAD implantation. Methods: The National Readmission Database was used to identify patients who underwent LVAD implantation between 2012 and 2017 and those with 30-day readmissions. Results: The analysis included a total of 11,947 adults who survived the index hospitalization for LVAD implantation. Among those, 28.2% were readmitted at 30 days. The baseline characteristics were balanced between those with and without 30-day readmission except for the length of stay of index admission, which was significantly higher among those readmitted (39.0 days vs. 34.3 days, p Conclusions: Over one fourth of LVAD recipients have 30-day readmissions with gastrointestinal bleeding as the most frequent cause.

Introduction: Previous studies of patients undergoing various cardiac surgeries demonstrated worse outcomes among African American (AA) patients. It remains unclear if race is a predictor of outcomes among Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) recipients. Methods: Patients who underwent LVAD implantation between 2010 and 2017 were identified using the national inpatient sample (NIS). Race was classified as Caucasians vs. AA vs. Hispanics, and endpoints were in-hospital outcomes, length of stay and cost. Procedure-related complications were identified via ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding and analysis was performed via mixed effect models. Results: A total of 27,132 adults (5,114 unweighted) underwent LVAD implantation in the U.S. between 2010 and 2017, including Caucasians (63.8%), AA (23.8%) and Hispanics (6%). The number of LVAD implantations increased in both Caucasians and AA during the study period. AA LVAD recipients were younger, with higher rates of females and most of the comorbidities, but lower rates of coronary artery disease and coronary artery bypass grafting compared to Caucasians and Hispanics. Medicaid and median income at the lowest quartile were more frequent among AA LVAD recipients. We did not identify differences in in-hospital mortality, stroke, bleeding complications, infectious complications, and acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis among racial groups (Table). AA LVAD recipients had lower rates of routine discharge than Caucasians and Hispanics, longer length of stay than Caucasians but similar cost of hospitalization. After adjustment with age gender and clinical comorbidities, race was not a predictor of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: We identified differences in clinical characteristics but not in in-hospital complications among LVAD recipients of different race.

Background: Although current guidelines generally recommend watchful waiting strategy for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) until symptoms develop, the optimal timing of surgical intervention remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of early surgery vs. conservative strategy for patients with asymptomatic severe AS. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through February, 2020 to identify clinical trials that investigatedearly surgery and conservative strategy for patients with asymptomatic severe AS. From each study, we extracted the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analyses were conducted by dividing into severe AS (peak aortic jet velocity [Vmax] ≥4.0 m/s, mean aortic pressure gradient [PG] ≥40 mmHg, or aortic valve area [AVA] ≤1.0 cm 2 ) and very severe AS (Vmax ≥4.5 m/s, mean PG ≥50 mmHg, or AVA ≤0.75 cm 2 ) groups. Results: 1 randomized controlled, 7 observational trials were identified. Pooled analyses demonstrated that all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality for early surgery were significantly lower compared to conservative strategy (HR [95% Confidence Interval [CI]] =0.49 [0.36-0.68]; P P =0.01, respectively). Subgroup analyses showed significant reduction for early surgery in all-cause mortality (severe AS: HR [95% CI] =0.52 [0.35-0.78]; P =0.001, very severe AS: HR [95% CI] =0.38 [0.17-0.85]; P =0.02). Conclusions: We demonstrated that early surgery was associated with significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with severe AS. Further randomized trials are warranted to confirm our findings.

Background: Benefits and risks of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) through right mini-thoracotomy and robotic surgery for mitral valve are not fully understood. We conducted a network meta-analysis comparing the perioperative and long-term outcomes of mitral valve surgery via conventional sternotomy, MICS and robot. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through March 15th, 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity-score matched (PSM) trials that investigated perioperative and long-term outcomes after mitral surgery via conventional sternotomy, MICS and robot. Subanalyses were conducted by restricting trials, in which mitral valve repair was tried first for all patients. Results: Our systematic literature search identified 2 RCTs and 21 PSM trials. MICS was related to significant decrease in PM ([RR] [95% confidence interval [CI] =0.56 [0.40-0.78]] and SSI (RR [95%CI] =0.53 [0.33-0.85) compared to conventional sternatomy. Re-exploration for bleeding was significantly higher in robot compared to sternotomy (RR [95% CI] =1.56 [1.03-2.37]), and transfusion was higher in sternotomy compared to MICS (RR [95%CI] =1.63 [1.27-2.08]). No significant differences were observed in perioperative mortality, MI, stroke, and LCOS among there procedures. Similarly, there were no significant differences in long-term survival and mitral valve reoperation. Suanalyses by restricting trials in which mitral valve repair tried first for all patients showed MICS was related to significant increase in mitral valve reoperation compared to conventional sternotomy (hazard ratio [95%CI] =7.33 [1.54-34.97]) (Figure). Conclusion: Our network meta-analysis demonstrated similar long-term survival and mitral valve reoperation. However, MICS was related to significant increase in mitral valve reoperation after mitral valve repair compared to conventional sternotomy.

Background: Valvular heart disease is common among Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) recipients. However, its management at the time of LVAD implantation remains controversial. We sought to investigate and compare in-hospital outcomes of concomitant valvular surgery at the time of LVAD implantation. Methods: Patients who underwent LVAD implantation and concomitant aortic (AVR), mitral (MVR) or tricuspid valve (TVR) repair or replacement between 2010 and 2017 were identified using the national inpatient sample (NIS) in the US. Endpoints were in-hospital outcomes, length of stay and cost. Procedure-related complications were identified via ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding and analysis was performed via mixed effect models. Results: A total of 25,171 weighted adults underwent LVAD implantation without valvular surgery, 1,329 had isolated TVR, 1,021 AVR, 377 MVR and 615 had combined valvular surgery (411 had TVR+AVR, 115 TVR+MVR, 62 AVR+MVR, 25 AVR+MVR+TVR). During the study period, rates of AVR decreased and combined valvular surgeries increased. Patients who underwent TVR had overall higher burden of comorbidities than LVAD recipients with or without other valvular procedures. Post-operative bleeding was more frequent among those who underwent AVR whereas acute kidney injury requiring dialysis was higher among those who underwent TVR or combined valvular surgery. In-hospital mortality was higher among those who underwent AVR, MVR or combined surgery without differences in the rates of stroke among groups (Table 1). Length of stay did not differ significantly among groups but cost of hospitalization and non-routine discharge rates were higher for cases of TVR and combined surgery. Conclusion: Approximately one in nine LVAD recipients underwent concomitant valvular surgery and TVR was the most frequently performed procedure. In-hospital mortality and cost were lower among those who did not undergo valvular surgery.

Background: Although current guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 3 to 6 months following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), there are no studies directly comparing outcomes of different durations of DAPT following TAVR. Methods: Pubmed and EMBASE were searched through May, 2020 to identify clinical studies that investigated single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) versus DAPT use following TAVR. Studies using oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet therapy concomitantly were excluded. The DAPT group was subdivided by the duration of DAPT. We extracted the risk ratios (RRs) of major or life-threatening bleeding, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Results: Three randomized controlled trials, two propensity-score matched studies, and one observational study were identified, yielding a total of 1,833 patients who underwent TAVR assigned to the SAPT group (n=918), 3-month DAPT group (n=151), or 6-month DAPT group (N=764). Pooled analyses demonstrated that the rates of major or life-threatening bleeding were significantly higher in the 6-month DAPT group compared with the SAPT group (RR [95% CI] =2.54 [1.49-4.33], P =0.007) while no such difference was observed between the SAPT vs. 3-month DAPT groups or the 3-month DAPT vs. 6-month DAPT groups (Figure). P-scores were 98.1% (SAPT), 32.3% (3-month DAPT), and 19.6% (6-month DAPT). The rates of stroke and all-cause mortality were similar among the groups. Conclusions: In our network meta-analysis, we observed that DAPT for 6 months following TAVR was associated with increased risk of bleeding without decreasing the risk of stroke compared with SAPT, while there was no difference between DAPT for 3 months and 6 months.

Findings on mutations, associated with lung cancer, have led to advancements in mutation-based precision medicine. This study aimed to comprehensively and synthetically analyze mutations in lung cancer, based on the next generation sequencing data of surgically removed lung tumors, and identify the mutation-related factors that can affect clinical outcomes. Targeted sequencing was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens obtained from 172 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery in our hospital. The clinical and genomic databases of the hospital were combined to determine correlations between clinical factors and mutation profiles in lung cancer. Multivariate analyses of mutation-related factors that may affect the prognosis were also performed. Based on histology, TP53 was the driver gene in 70.0% of the cases of squamous cell carcinoma. In adenocarcinoma cases, driver mutations were detected in TP53 (26.0%), KRAS (25.0%), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (23.1%). According to multivariate analysis, the number of pathogenic mutations (&ge, 3), presence of a TP53 mutation, and TP53 allele fraction &gt, 60 were poor prognostic mutational factors. The TP53 allele fraction tended to be high in caudally and dorsally located tumors. Moreover, TP53-mutated lung cancers located in segments 9 and 10 were associated with significantly poorer prognosis than those located in segments 1&ndash, 8. This study has identified mutation-related factors that affect the postoperative prognosis of lung cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the TP53 mutation profile varies with the site of lung tumor, and that postoperative prognosis varies accordingly.

Introduction Some have hypothesized that the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB) may modify susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. Thus, we conducted two meta-analyses to investigate the effect of ACEI and ARB on mortality and susceptibility to COVID-19. Methods Pubmed and EMBASE were searched through June 2020 to identify clinical trials that investigated the testing positive and in-hospital mortality rates for COVID-19 for those who were treated with ACEI and/or ARB and for those who were not treated with ACEI or ARB. The first analysis investigated the testing positive rate of COVID-19. The second analysis investigated the in-hospital mortality rate for patients with COVID-19. Result Three eligible studies for the first analysis and 14 eligible studies for the second analysis were identified. The first analysis demonstrated that the use of ACEI or ARB did not affect the testing positive rates (odds ratio [OR] [confidence interval [CI]] =0.96 [0.88-1.04]; p =0.69, OR [CI] =0.99 [0.91-1.08]; p =0.35, respectively). The second analysis showed that the use of ACEI and/or ARB did not affect in-hospital mortality (risk ratio [RR] [95% [CI]] =0.88 [0.64-1.20], p =0.42). The subgroup analysis by limiting studies of patients with hypertension showed ACEI and/or ARB use was associated with a significant reduction of in-hospital mortality compared with no ACEI or ARB use (RR [CI] =0.66 [0.49-0.89], p =0.004). Conclusion Our analysis demonstrated that ACEI and/or ARB use was associated neither with testing positive rates of COVID-19, nor with mortality of COVID-19 patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Highlights • We did network meta-analyses comparing clinical improvement of COVID-19 patients. • We compared 5-day course vs. 10-day course of remdesivir vs standard care. • Clinical improvement was higher in 5-day and 10-day course than standard care. • Clinical improvement was higher in 5-day than 10-day remdesivir., Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to investigate the effect of remdesivir for patients with COVID-19, but their results were conflicting. Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis comparing the rate of clinical improvement among patients with COVID-19 who received 5-day course of remdesivir versus 10-day course of remdesivir versus standard care. Our network meta-analysis of 4 randomized controlled trials demonstrated that the rate of clinical improvement was significantly higher in the 5-day remdesivir group and 10-day remdesivir group compared to standard care group (OR [95% confidence interval [CI]] =1.89 [1.40-2.56], P

There is no meta-analysis comparing clinical outcomes between valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation for failed surgical bioprosthetic valves (ViV-TAVI) and native valve TAVI for aortic stenosis (NV-TAVI). We aimed to investigate clinical outcomes between ViV-TAVI and NV-TAVI using a meta-analysis. EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched through April 2020 to investigate the comparative outcomes between ViV-TAVI and NV-TAVI. The main outcomes were short-term (30-day/in-hospital) mortality, pacemaker implantation (PMI), life threatening and/or major bleeding, stroke, and coronary obstruction, and long-term (1-year) mortality and stroke. Our search identified 5 observational studies enrolling a total of 8428 patients (1442 patients with ViV-TAVI and 6986 with NV-TAVI). ViV-TAVI was associated with significantly lower rates of short-term mortality, PMI, and life threatening and/or major bleeding, compared with NV-TAVI (relative risk [RR] [95% CI] 0.54 [0.34–0.84], P = 0.007; 0.25 [0.19–0.35], P

Nivolumab is one of the immune checkpoint inhibitors available for chemotherapy-resistant gastric cancer. There have been few reports of confirmed prominent shrinkage of the primary tumor and some reports of prolonged antitumor effect after discontinuance of the drug, but it is not universal. A 67-year-old male was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer that had spread to the bilateral lobe of the liver, distant lymph nodes, and peritoneum. He received five courses of S-1 plus oxaliplatin, followed by three courses of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel leading to disease progression. Then, the patient was administered nivolumab as third-line therapy. Tumor size was markedly reduced after three courses, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed scar formation on the lower gastric corpus after seven courses, and biopsy specimen showed no malignancy. When a slight lower limb muscle weakness manifested, possibly an immune-related adverse event (irAE) after 15 courses, we stopped administration of nivolumab. The patient has survived for 26 months since his first visit, and elimination of the primary tumor and ascites with noted shrinkage of liver and lymph node metastases have followed for more than 10 months since discontinuance of nivolumab.

Background Although moderate to severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) is an independent risk factor for progressive heart failure and increased mortality, the best method for tricuspid valve repair remains controversial. Therefore, this study conducted a network meta-analysis to compare early and late outcomes for suture, flexible band, and rigid ring as tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) in patients with TR. Methods Medline and EMBASE were searched through February 15, 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials and observational trials that investigated early and late outcomes after TAP for TR. The outcomes of interest were perioperative mortality, all-cause mortality, and TR recurrence with more than 1-year follow-up. TR recurrence was defined as at least moderate (TR grade 2) on serial echocardiograms. Results Two randomized controlled trials and 15 observational trials were identified, including 6138 patients who underwent TAP. The median follow-up period was 1 to 7.4 years. There were no significant differences of perioperative and all-cause mortality among 3 TAP methods. Rigid ring TAP was associated with a significant reduction in TR recurrence compared with suture TAP (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.23 to 0.78; P = .005). There were no significant differences in TR recurrence were observed between flexible band and suture TAP or flexible band and rigid ring TAP. Conclusions This network meta-analysis demonstrated significant reduction in TR recurrence for rigid ring TAP compared with suture TAP, although no significant differences were observed between suture and flexible band TAP or between flexible band and rigid ring TAP. There were no significant mortality differences among suture, flexible band, and rigid ring TAP procedures.

Although current guidelines generally recommend watchful waiting strategy for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis until symptoms develop, early surgery for asymptomatic aortic stenosis remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of early surgery versus conservative strategy for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis.MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through February 2020 to identify clinical trials that investigated early surgery and conservative strategy for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. From each study, we extracted the hazard ratio of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analyses were conducted by dividing into severe aortic stenosis (peak aortic jet velocity ≥4.0 m/s, mean aortic pressure gradient ≥40 mm Hg, or aortic valve area ≤1.0 cmOne randomized controlled trial and 7 observational studies were identified. Pooled analyses demonstrated that all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality for early surgery were significantly lower compared with conservative strategy (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.68; P .0001, hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.82; P = .01, respectively). Subgroup analyses showed significant reduction for early surgery in all-cause mortality (severe aortic stenosis: hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.78; P = .001, very severe aortic stenosis: hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.85; P = .02).We demonstrated that early surgery was associated with significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Further randomized trials are warranted to confirm our findings.

Although endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) significantly decreases perioperative mortality compared with open surgical repair (OSR), we have not concluded superiority between EVAR and OSR beyond the perioperative period. The aim of this study was to compare phase-specific survival after EVAR vs OSR.The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. Embase and MEDLINE were searched up to November 2019 to identify randomized controlled trials and propensity score-matched studies that investigated ≥2-year all-cause mortality (primary outcome) after EVAR vs OSR for intact infrarenal AAA. For each study, the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of mortality for EVAR vs OSR was calculated using survival curves for the following specific phases: early term (0-2 years after repair), midterm (2-6 years after repair), long term (6-10 years after repair), and very long term (≥10 years after repair). The risk ratio (RR) in the perioperative (in-hospital or 30-day) period was also extracted. Phase-specific HRs or RRs were separately pooled using the random effects model. Sensitivity analyses were performed by removing one study at a time to confirm that our findings were not derived from any single study. Funnel plot asymmetry was also examined using the linear regression test.Our search identified four randomized controlled trials and seven propensity score-matched studies enrolling a total of 106,243 AAA patients assigned to EVAR (n = 53,123) or OSR (n = 53,120). The mortality after EVAR compared with OSR was significantly lower in the perioperative period (RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.29-0.51; P .00001) and similar in the early-term period (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84-1.03; P = .16). Notably, significantly higher mortality was observed in the EVAR group compared with the OSR group in the midterm period (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.03-1.29; P = .01). However, similar mortality was observed between the EVAR group and the OSR group in the long-term (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96-1.17; P = .27) and very-long-term (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.93-1.47; P = .19) periods. In sensitivity analyses, the significant benefit of EVAR in the perioperative period and that of OSR in the midterm period were not changed. No funnel plot asymmetry was identified in all analyses.Compared with OSR, EVAR was associated with lower perioperative mortality and higher mortality in the midterm period for intact infrarenal AAA. The superiority of EVAR was absent in the early-term period, and the inferiority of EVAR in the midterm period disappeared in the long-term and very-long-term periods.

Gastrocolic fistula (GSF) is a rare entity that arises mainly from splenic or gastric lymphoma. Gastric and splenic lymphomas can also fistulate with other organs, including the pleura and the colon, but there has been no reported case to best of our knowledge of a fistula involving three different organs. We hereby present the case of a female patient with gastrosplenocolic fistula secondary to non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. We performed an en bloc partial gastrectomy with splenectomy and partial left colon resection with colostomy. GSF can be treated with chemotherapy. However, when the definite diagnosis is unclear or GSF is causing serious complications such as bleeding or active infection, we believe surgical excision is the treatment of choice.

Both spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection (SMAD) and spontaneous renal artery dissection (SRAD) are very rare conditions. Their etiologies and natural histories are not precisely defined, but they are thought to be associated with underlying conditions. In this report, we describe an extremely rare case of SRAD in a man who had a history of spontaneous SMAD. We successfully treated SRAD with endovascular intervention. Isolated spontaneous SMAD and SRAD are both rare conditions. Their optimal treatment has not been established due to their rare entities, but endovascular treatment is a good option because it can prevent both advancement of infarction and renovascular hypertension, and it has become safer as device technology has improved. Patients with isolated visceral artery dissection should be carefully followed up.

Objective Controversy has continued regarding the use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) vs open aneurysm repair (OAR) for infected abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). In the present study, we investigated the comparative outcomes of EVAR and OAR for the treatment of infected AAAs. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through May 2021. We included studies that had described both EVAR and OAR for the treatment of infected AAAs. The primary endpoints were the rates of recurrent infection and related rupture and/or death. Perioperative and 1-year mortality and readmissions and reinterventions were also analyzed. Results Fourteen observational studies describing a total of 1203 patients (EVAR, 359 [29.8%]; OAR, 844 [70.2%]) were eligible for qualitative analysis. The baseline characteristics included diabetes mellitus (33.2%), fever at presentation (71.6%), rupture at diagnosis (26.1%), and positive blood cultures (52.5%). The mean follow-up period ranged from 12 to 40 months. The use of EVAR became more prevalent in recent years (2016-2020, 32.4%) compared with the former period (2010-2015, 13.8%; P Conclusions EVAR has become more prevalent as the initial treatment of infected AAAs. Although operative and 1-year survival were similar between OAR and EVAR groups, recurrent infection was more frequent after EVAR. This limitation should be weighed in selecting patients for EVAR in infected AAAs. Postoperative graft and infection surveillance are critical, especially after EVAR.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether preprocedural left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction impairs midterm mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available evidence. METHODS We identified all studies investigating impact of preprocedural severity of LV diastolic dysfunction on midterm (≥1-year) all-cause mortality after TAVI for patients with AS through a search of databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) until September 2019. From each study, we extracted an adjusted (if unavailable, unadjusted) hazard ratio (HR) of midterm mortality. We pooled study-specific estimates in the random-effects model. RESULTS Ten eligible studies with a total of 2380 patients with AS undergoing TAVI were identified. In accordance with pooled analyses, higher-grade preprocedural LV diastolic dysfunction was associated with significantly worse midterm all-cause mortality after TAVI compared to lower-grade dysfunction (HR for grade II vs I, 1.15; P = .002; HR for grade III vs I, 1.35; P = .001; HR for grade III vs II; 1.16, P = .002; HR for grade II-III vs I, II-III vs 0-I, or III vs I-II, 1.34; P

Herein, we describe a rare case of neoplastic meningitis in a 54-year-old male with a history of colorectal cancer. He first noticed a loss of sensation in his left thigh along with back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor lesion in the cauda equina. The tumor was surgically resected and pathologically diagnosed as a metastatic tumor of the descending colon cancer for which he had undergone resection a year earlier. The patient was treated with chemotherapy using capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab. During chemotherapy, his tumor markers decreased and magnetic resonance imaging showed tumor shrinkage, but he became aware of neurological symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache. The patient’s condition suddenly worsened during the 5th course of chemotherapy and he died 5 months after the diagnosis. Neoplastic meningitis occurs in 4–15% of patients with solid tumors, but it is rarely seen in colorectal cancer. It should be considered when a patient with a history of cancer has back pain or neurological symptoms. The progression of neoplastic meningitis is fast and it has a poor prognosis. Diagnosis in the early stages is important to prevent progression of neurological symptoms and to provide the most effective treatment.

Intrapericardial rupture of an aortic arch aneurysm is a rare and catastrophic event that requires emergency treatment. Recent development of thoracic endovascular repair has contributed to improved outcomes for the treatment of ruptured aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. However, when there is an aneurysm that involves the arch vessels, the treatment strategy, including conventional open surgery and endovascular stenting, is still controversial. We performed life-saving emergency total arch replacement using a modified elephant-trunk procedure for two cases of intrapericardial rupture of an aortic arch aneurysm. Prompt institution of cardiopulmonary bypass is effective for reducing the risk of re-rupture. Hybrid operation caries the risk of re-rupture during the procedure because it is performed under heparinization without blood pressure control. Open surgery is still a good option for such cases.

// Takahiro Nakagomi 1, 4 , Taichiro Goto 1, 4 , Yosuke Hirotsu 2 , Daichi Shikata 1 , Yujiro Yokoyama 1 , Rumi Higuchi 1 , Kenji Amemiya 2 , Kenichiro Okimoto 2 , Toshio Oyama 3 , Hitoshi Mochizuki 2 and Masao Omata 2, 5 1 Lung Cancer and Respiratory Disease Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan 2 Genome Analysis Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan 3 Department of Pathology, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan 4 Keio University, Tokyo, Japan 5 University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Correspondence to: Taichiro Goto, email: taichiro@1997.jukuin.keio.ac.jp Keywords: sarcomatoid cancer; lung cancer; mutation; next-generation sequencing; programmed death ligand-1 Received: July 06, 2017 Accepted: January 21, 2018 Published: January 31, 2018 ABSTRACT Objectives: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas are rare and generally aggressive tumors composed of carcinomatous and sarcomatous components; however, the evolution of sarcomatoid cancer has not been elucidated. Here, we aimed to evaluate the mutational profiles and phylogeny of sarcomatoid carcinomas using next generation sequencing and in-silico analysis to facilitate the development of novel therapies. Methods: Four patients who underwent surgery for sarcomatoid cancer were enrolled. Cancer cells were collected from carcinomatous and sarcomatous components in each tumor by laser capture microdissection. Next-generation sequencing was performed in each component, and the mutation profiles were compared. For further inference of phylogenies, phylogenetic and PyClone analyses were performed. Mismatch repair disturbance and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression were also evaluated. Results: Comparative genetic analysis of different histological areas revealed that the separate components shared several common mutations, which showed relatively high cellular prevalence in the PyClone statistical inference. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sarcomatous component had ramified from the carcinomatous component in the early phase of the evolution process and accumulated a number of mutations that were different from those of the carcinomatous component. Moreover, microsatellite instability was detected in a case of sarcomatoid cancer and PD-L1 was strongly positive (≥ 50%) in all sarcomatoid cancers. Conclusions: Our data suggest that sarcomatoid carcinoma evolves from a common ancestral clone, and its phylogenetic features may reflect high-grade malignancy in pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma. High tumor mutation burden and strong PD-L1 staining may provide a rationale for the use of targeted immunotherapies in pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas.

// Taichiro Goto 1, * , Yosuke Hirotsu 2, * , Kenji Amemiya 2 , Takahiro Nakagomi 1 , Daichi Shikata 1 , Yujiro Yokoyama 1 , Kenichiro Okimoto 2 , Toshio Oyama 3 , Hitoshi Mochizuki 2 and Masao Omata 2, 4 1 Lung Cancer and Respiratory Disease Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan 2 Genome Analysis Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan 3 Department of Pathology, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan 4 University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan * Taichiro Goto and Yosuke Hirotsu contributed equally to this study Correspondence to: Taichiro Goto, email: taichiro@1997.jukuin.keio.ac.jp Keywords: circulating tumor DNA, distribution, lung cancer, next-generation sequencing, plasma Received: October 19, 2016 Accepted: June 02, 2017 Published: July 25, 2017 ABSTRACT Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), extracted from plasma, is a non-invasive surrogate biomarker. However, the distribution of ctDNA in the body still remains to be elucidated. In this study, resected lung tumors, with simultaneous blood and bone marrow samples, were analyzed to elucidate the distribution of ctDNA. Rib bone marrow, pulmonary venous blood (Pul.V) and peripheral blood (Peri.B) were obtained from 30 patients. The liquid samples were divided into cell pellets and supernatant by centrifugation; a total of 212 DNA samples were subjected to massively parallel sequencing. ctDNA was detected in 5 patients. Given that the frequency of mutations in the primary tumor was considered to be 100%, those in the other specimens were as follows; Pul.V plasma 20%, Peri.B plasma 11%, and the other samples 0%. Furthermore, ctDNA reflected the predominant mutations in the primary lesion. Clinically, the presence of ctDNA was associated with significantly poorer survival. These results suggest ctDNA “spill over” into an immediate outflow tract (Pul.V), and from there is disseminated to the entire body. Thus, it can be inferred that ctDNA reflects the cancer progression and could function as a prognostic marker.