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Background: We compared the outcomes of aortic root replacement by composite valve grafts (CVG) and valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) operations, with an emphasis on postoperative conduction block and the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM)., Methods: From 1997 to 2023, 1712 consecutive patients underwent ARR by VSRR (501 [29%]) or CVG (1211 [71%]) at a high-volume aortic center., Results: Patients undergoing CVG were older (59 ± 14 vs 49 ± 14 years, P < .001), with more cardiovascular comorbidities. Compared with CVG, there were more women undergoing VSRR (17% vs. 13%, P = .042) and more patients with connective tissue disease (22% vs 7.3%, P < .001). Multivariable analysis found that the risk for PPM was higher after CVG compared with VSRR (6.5% vs 1.2%; odds ratio [OR], 2.83; 95% CI, 1.23-7.69; P = .024). Other variables associated with PPM include older age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05; P = .006) preoperative renal impairment (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.24-5.6; P = .010), previous operation (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.29-5.62; P = .007), and bicuspid aortic valve (OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 2.13-6.33; P < .001). Among the CVG population, patients who are at increased risk are especially those with some degree of aortic stenosis (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.18-3.61; P = .011). Patients who required PPM had no additive risk for long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.47-2.17; P = .986); however, they were more likely to have reduced ejection fraction (29.3% vs 16%, P = .014)., Conclusions: The incidence of PPM after ARR is low, but rates were higher after CVG compared with VSRR., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pre-operative coronary angiography and concomitant, planned coronary artery bypass are infrequently performed with type A aortic dissection repair. We present a case in which pre-operative coronary computed tomography angiography was appropriate, and subsequent dissection repair and concomitant coronary artery bypass were successfully performed., Case Presentation: The patient is a 58-year-old male with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, renal insufficiency, hypertension, obesity, and smoking history, who presented with a three-to-four-day history of persistent back pain, worsening exertional dyspnea, and orthopnea, as well as a two-to-three month history of dyspnea, lower extremity edema, and intermittent angina. He was diagnosed with an acute type A aortic dissection and anti-impulse control was initiated. However, repair was delayed in order to allow apixaban to metabolize and decrease the risk of bleeding, as the patient was approximately six days post-dissection, without malperfusion, with a well-controlled blood pressure on anti-impulse therapy, and had received five days of anticoagulation. During this time, coronary computed tomography angiography was performed to assess the need for concomitant revascularization and showed coronary artery disease. Ascending aorta hemiarch replacement with aortic valve resuspension, two-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting, and left atrial appendage clipping were performed successfully., Conclusions: Pre-operative imaging can be considered in a select group of acute type A aortic dissections that present without malperfusion, and with well-controlled blood pressure on anti-impulse/negative inotropic therapy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the impact of concomitant mitral valve repair (MVr) or replacement (MVR) at the time of aortic root replacement (ARR)., Methods: We queried our aortic database for consecutive patients undergoing ARR in combination with MVr or MVR from 1997 to 2021. Patients undergoing valve sparing root replacement (VSRR) were excluded. We compared operative mortality (OM) and a composite of major adverse events (MAE) in those undergoing CVG both with (Group 2) and without a concomitant MV procedure (Group 1). We also analyzed outcomes between patients undergoing MV repair versus MV replacement., Results: Sixty-one patients underwent ARR with concomitant MVr (29/47.5%) or MVR (32/52.5%). Compared to patients in Group 2 (n = 955), those in Group 1 presented with worse NYHA class, lower ejection fraction, higher rate of connective tissue disease, and underwent more frequently urgent/emergent procedures. Group 1 had higher incidence of postoperative MAE (8/61(13%) vs 51/955(5%), p = .03). There was no difference in operative mortality between the two groups (0/61(0%) vs. 3/955(0.3%), p = 1). Compared to the ARR + MVR subgroup, the ARR + MVr subgroup had higher incidence of postoperative MAE (5/29(17.2%) vs. 3/32(9.4%), p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis identified MVr (OR 2.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.03;7.48], p = 0.04) as an independent predictor of MAE., Conclusions: Operative mortality remained low in both groups. The addition of MVR/MVr to composite valve-graft replacement of the aortic root does not increase OM in experienced hands. The incidence of MAEs was higher in those undergoing MVr but may be a reflection of greater preoperative comorbidity rather than issues related to a more complex operation., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Asian and Caucasian patients with lung cancer have been compared in several database studies, with conflicting findings regarding survival. However, these studies did not include proportion of ground-glass opacity or mutational status in their analyses. Asian patients commonly develop sub-solid lung adenocarcinomas that harbor EGFR mutations, which have a better prognosis. We hypothesized that among patients undergoing surgery for sub-solid lung adenocarcinomas, Asian patients have better survival compared to Caucasian patients., Methods: We identified Asian and Caucasian patients who underwent surgical resection for a sub-solid lung adenocarcinoma from 2002 to 2015 at our institution. Sub-solid was defined as ≥10% ground-glass opacity on preoperative CT scan or ≥10% lepidic component on surgical pathology. Time-to-event multivariable analysis was performed to determine which characteristics were associated with recurrence and survival., Results: Two hundred twenty-four patients were included with median follow up 48 months. Asian patients were more likely to be never smokers (76.3% vs. 29.0%, P<0.01) and have an EGFR mutation (69.4% vs. 25.6% of those tested, P<0.01), while Caucasian patients were more likely to have a KRAS mutation (23.5% vs. 4.9% of those tested, P<0.01). There was a trend towards Asian patients having a higher proportion of ground-glass opacity (38.8% vs. 30.5%, P=0.11). Time-to-event multivariable analysis showed that higher proportion of ground-glass opacity was significantly associated with better recurrence-free survival (HR 0.76 per 20% increase, P=0.02). However, mutational status and race did not have a significant impact on recurrence-free or overall survival., Conclusions: Asian and Caucasian patients with sub-solid lung adenocarcinoma have different tumor biology, but recurrence-free and overall survival after surgical resection is similar., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2020.04.37). JBS reports grants and personal fees from Becton-Dickinson, outside the submitted work; In addition, JBS has a patent CRISPR/Cas-mediated Genome Editing to Treat EGFR-mutant Lung Cancer issued. NSL reports other from Auspex, outside the submitted work and serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Journal of Thoracic Disease from Sep 2019 to Aug 2021. MFB serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Journal of Thoracic Disease from Sep 2018 to Aug 2020. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2020 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

We aim to describe the clinical course of a series of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and refractory systolic heart failure supported with a HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD) following Fontan palliation. This is a retrospective review of three consecutive patients supported with a HVAD following Fontan palliation through February 2016. Data include patient characteristics, operative variables, postimplantation hemodynamic/device parameters, event outcomes, and duration of HVAD support. Patient ages were 11.7, 13.5, and 17.5 years, respectively, at the time of HVAD implant. The duration of HVAD support was 148, 272, and 271 days, respectively, of which 86, 222, and 211 were outpatient days. Inflow cannula position was the morphologic right ventricle with depth adjustment and manipulation of the tricuspid subvalvar apparatus to ensure good inflow. Echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and noninvasive oximetric monitoring resulted in high RPM settings for all patients. Despite various complications, all patients were successfully transplanted and discharged home alive. We present three patients bridged to transplantation using the HVAD following Fontan palliation. We demonstrate potential for durable support with transition to outpatient care while awaiting heart transplantation in a subset of patients status post Fontan surgery., (© 2017 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We present a case of a 33-year-old female with a slow growing, right peribronchial vascular mass and associated symptoms of progressive cough, dyspnea on exertion, and hemoptysis. On routine diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy with needle biopsy, the lesion hemorrhaged extensively requiring emergent thoracotomy, right lower and middle bilobectomy. The histopathology of the specimen was consistent with the rare and unusually located entity Rosai-Dorfman disease., (Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association of open and closed Fontan fenestration status with event-free survival., Methods: All patients who underwent a fenestrated Fontan procedure at our institution from January 1994 through June 2007 were reviewed. Patient information was obtained from the medical records. The patients were assigned to 1 of 2 study groups, open or closed, according to their most recent fenestration status. Clinically relevant morbid events were tabulated, and Kaplan-Meier event analysis was used to create event-free probability curves with log-rank comparisons., Results: A total of 161 patients were classified as open and 51 as closed. The median interval to an event was 1.1 years (interquartile range, 0.1-3.3 years) after the Fontan procedure. The median interval to closure was 1.2 years (interquartile range, 0.7-3.3 years). The median interval to an event was 1.5 years (interquartile range, 0.1-4.6 years) in the closed group and 1.1 years (interquartile range, 0.1-3.3 years) in the open group. Event-free probability analysis revealed no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .15). The median follow-up arterial oxygen saturation was greater in the closed group (96.0%; interquartile range, 94.0%-97.0%) than in the open group (91.0%; interquartile range, 86.0%-95.0%; P < .0001)., Conclusions: Fenestration closure was associated with greater arterial oxygen saturation but not greater event-free survival. The interval to an event was slightly less than the interval to fenestration closure, suggesting potential merit in the evaluation of earlier fenestration closure. Adoption of specific fenestration management guidelines might help improve the overall outcomes and enhance the quality of future studies., (Copyright © 2013 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)