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el motivo de este estudio reside en la descripción y evaluación evolutiva de los resultados de una técnica original (Twisting Loop Technique) para el acortamiento de cuerdas en el prolapso de la válvula mitral mediante un método más sencillo y reproducible que las técnicas convencionales actuales. Material y métodos: consiste en el acortamiento por tor-sión de 180 o más grados de la cuerda, en el nivel proximal a la inserción del velo, fijándola al borde del mismo. Aplicamos la técnica en 22 pacientes: 16 varones y 6 mujeres. Edad media de 63 ± 11 años. La EF de 0,55 ± 0,1. En GF 2,5 ± 0,7. Regurgitación fue grave en 21 (17 de velo anterior) y modera-da en 1. Etiología: mixomatosa 20 y mixta en 2. La elongación media fue de 6,4 mm en 28 segmentos. Se asoció cirugía aórtica en 3, tricúspide en 3 y coronaria en 1. Se acortaron 43 cuerdas (31 en velo anterior), resección cuadrangular de P2 en 8 y cierre de clefts en 2. Implante de anillo mitral en todos. Clampaje: 88 ± 18 min. Resultados: mortalidad quirúrgica 0%. En la ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE) intraquirúrgico todas fueron competentes menos una insuficiencia mitral (IM) ligera. Tiempo de seguimiento: 18 meses (26–6), con un caso de IM moderada y otro ligera (FE: 0,54 ± 0,08 y GF: 1,22 ± 0,04). Todos los pacientes siguen vivos. Conclusiones: a) la técnica TLT presentó buenos resultados inmediatos y tardíos (95%) en el tratamiento del prolapso mitral, y b) la simplicidad del método hace de ella la técnica de elección en el tratamiento quirúrgico de esta patología, particularmente en el prolapso del velo anterior.

Analizar nuestros resultados en la asociación de ambas patologías, mitral y aórtica en función de las pautas y técnicas aplicadas en los pacientes quirúrgicos que presentaron insuficiencia mitral en este grupo de edad. Material y métodos: Estudiamos 104 pacientes de 70 o más años con insuficiencia mitral orgánica, mixomatosa o funcional y con distintos grados de estenosis e insuficiencia aórtica utilizando los habituales criterios de indicación quirúrgica. La edad media fue de 74 años; 54 fueron mujeres y 50 varones; 25 en GFIV, fracción de eyección (FE): O,48 ± 0,15. Con hipertensión pulmonar 42, diabetes en 14, coronariopatía en 20, EPOC en 14. En 55 se asoció estenosis aórtica y en 50 insuficiencia. La etiología mitral fue: orgánicas 37, mixomatosas 29, isquémicas 10, y funcionales 28. A nivel aórtico 41 estenóticas, 39 insuficiencias y 24 con doble lesión. Insuficiencia tricúspide asociada en 7. Resultados: Mortalidad: 4,8% (5/104) con 12,5% en la doble lesión aórtica, 2,5% en la insuficiencia y 2,4% en la estenosis. Se realizó cirugía mitroaórtica en 78 y aislada de una sola válvula en 26, con 6 y 0% de mortalidad, respectivamente. Se asoció cirugía coronaria en 7 enfermos. Complicaciones en 33 pacientes como: bajo gasto, respiratorias, renales, arritmias o sangrado. Conclusiones: A) la insuficiencia mitral en la tercera edad se presentó con una alta incidencia de la etiología funcional no quirúrgica; b) la cirugía univalvular mitral o aórtica se realizó sólo en una cuarta parte de los pacientes, y c) la baja mortalidad observada favorece la indicación de cirugía en estos pacientes.

El Heart Port es una técnica de acceso al corazón. Consiste en realizar la circulación extracorpórea (CEC) con canulación arterial femoral y doble canulación venosa. El clampaje de la aorta se realiza habitualmente de forma interna con un endoclamp (puede realizarse también externamente). La cirugía se realiza a través de una minitoracotomía anterior derecha. Se dispone, además, de otros dos «puertos» para la cámara y aspiración de bomba. La cavidad torácica se rellena con CO2. El instrumental empleado es específico para la técnica. Sustitución de la válvula mitral, reparación mitral en todas sus vertientes, reparación o sustitución de válvula tricúspide o cirugía de la comunicación interauricular o de tumores auriculares. Realizamos la cirugía mitral con esta técnica desde 2003 (> 200 procedimientos). En 2008 hubo un cambio en el equipo quirúrgico. Desde entonces hemos realizado 50 cirugías. Edad media de 65,5 años. Enfermedad: mitral (48 pacientes); tricúspide (12); comunicación interauricular (CIA) (2); reintervenciones (6). Fracción de eyección ventrículo izquierdo (FEVI) media: 61%. New York Heart Association (NYHA) III-IV: 55%. Fibrilación auricular (FA) (55%); hipertensión pulmonar (HTP) (86%). EuroSCORE medio 6,41%. Treinta y tres reparaciones valvulares mitrales (RVM), 15 reparaciones mitrales, 2 cierres de CIA, 9 anuloplastias tricúspides. Complicaciones intraoperatorias: Adherencias pleurales, imposibilidad de canular cava superior, endoclamp, cardioplejía, reparación no satisfactoria y dificultad para salida de CEC. Postoperatorias: Encefalopatía post-CEC, FA, isquemia EID y oclusión de circunfleja. Mortalidad: 6,66%. Seguimiento: NYHA I-II (100%). Es una técnica reproducible, con necesidad de aprendizaje, con resultados parejos a la cirugía abierta; beneficios: confortabilidad del paciente, menor riesgo de sangrado, reducción de estancias hospitalarias y de las complicaciones de la esternotomía.

Background: Coronary embolism (CE) is an uncommon cause of non-atherosclerotic acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is the main cause of CE, evidence of clinical, biochemical, echocardiographic, angiographic findings and outcomes of AF CE is lacking., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 85 consecutive patients with CE that was diagnosed based on criteria encompassing clinical, angiographic and diagnostic imaging findings. We classified patients according to AF CE or non-AF CE., Results: Forty-five patients presented with AF CE (53%). Patients with AF CE were older (76 ± 12 vs. 63 ± 14 years; p < 0.001) and had more often chronic kidney disease (24% vs. 5%; p = 0.01). AF CE had lower estimated glomerular filtration rate at admission (59 ± 18 vs. 77 ± 16 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ; p < 0.001) and higher brain natriuretic peptide levels (512 ± 417 vs. 210 ± 479 pg/ml; p = 0.02). Coronary arteriography revealed a higher incidence of coronary artery obstruction in the AF CE group (73% vs. 38%; p = 0.001) without differences in interventional management. The AF CE group showed higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) (42 ± 15 vs. 25 ± 12 ml/m 2 ; p < 0.001) and showed lower left atrium ejection fraction (LAEF) (32 ± 17 vs. 49 ± 17%; p = 0.001). In the multivariable analysis AF CE (OR 10 [95% CI 1.04-95; p = 0.046]) and LAEF (OR 0.94 [95% CI 0.88-0.99; p = 0.02]) were associated with worse in-hospital outcomes. Moreover, in the multivariable analysis, prior stroke (OR 12.5 [95% CI 1.1-137; p = 0.04]) and LAVI (OR 1.1 [95% CI 1.03-1.14; p = 0.003]) were independently associated with worse long-term outcomes., Conclusion: AF CE has specific characteristics compared to non-AF-CE and it is associated with more in-hospital events. Furthermore, atrial cardiopathy is associated with worse in-hospital and long-term outcomes in this setting., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: We explored the current evidence on coronary disease treatment comparing the survival of 2 therapeutic strategies: coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES)., Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for randomized clinical trials comparing CABG versus PCI with DES. The end point was overall mortality. Two statistical approaches were used: the generic inverse variance method, which was used to pool the incident rate ratios, and the pooled meta-analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived individual patient data., Results: Eight randomized clinical trials comparing 4975 patients undergoing CABG and 4992 patients undergoing PCI were included in our meta-analysis. Generic inverse variance method showed a statistically significant survival benefit of the CABG group (incident rate ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.35; P < .01). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 1, 5, and 10 years of the CABG group were 97.1%, 90.3%, and 80.3%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 1, 5, and 10 years of the PCI group were 97.0%, 87.7%, and 76.4%, respectively. The log-rank analysis confirmed a statistically significant benefit in term of overall mortality of the CABG group (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.38; P = .0001)., Conclusions: The present meta-analysis suggests that CABG provides a consistent survival benefit over PCI with DES., (Copyright © 2023 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We explored the current evidence on the best second conduit in coronary surgery carrying out a double meta-analysis of propensity score matched or adjusted studies comparing bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) versus single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery., Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for propensity score matched or adjusted studies comparing BITA versus single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery. The end point was long-term mortality. Two statistical approaches were used: the generic inverse variance method and the pooled meta-analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived individual patient data., Results: Twelve matched populations comparing 6450 patients with BITA versus 9428 patients with single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery were included in our meta-analysis. The generic inverse variance method showed a statistically significant survival benefit of the BITA group (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.95; P = .04). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years of the BITA group were 97.0%, 91.3%, 80.0%, and 68.0%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years of the single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery group were 97.3%, 91.5%, 79.9%, and 63.9%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier-derived individual patient data meta-analysis applied to very long follow-up time data, showed that BITA provided a survival benefit after 10 years from surgery (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.94; P = .01). No differences in terms of survival between the 2 groups were detected when the analysis was focused on the first 10 years of follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.91-1.09; P = .93)., Conclusions: The present meta-analysis suggests that double internal thoracic artery may provide, compared with single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery, a statistically significant survival advantage after 10 years of follow-up, but not before. VIDEO ABSTRACT., (Copyright © 2022 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There is a lack of information about cardiac surgery training and professional practice in Latin American (LATAM) countries. This study is the first comparative analysis of cardiac surgical training and professional practice across LATAM and provides the fundamentals for future academic projects of the Latin American Association of Cardiac and Endovascular Surgery (LACES)., Methods: International survey-based comparative analysis of the training and professional practice of cardiac surgeons across LATAM. Trainees (residents/fellows) and staf (graduated) surgeons from LATAM countries were included., Results: A total of 289 respondents (staf surgeons N=221 [76.5%]; residents/fellows N=68 [23.5%]) from 18 different countries participated in the survey. Most surgeons (N=92 [45.3%]) reported being unsatisfied with their salaries. Most respondents (N=181 [62.6%]) stated that it was difficult to obtain a leadership position, and 149 (73.8%) stated that it was difficult to find a job after completing training. Only half of the trainee respondents (N=32 [47.1%]) reported that their program had all resident spots occupied. Only 22.1% (N=15) of residents/fellows were satisfied with their training programs. The majority (N=205 [70.9%]) of respondents would choose cardiac surgery as their specialty again. Most surgeons (N=129 [63.9%]) and residents/fellows (N=52 [76.5%]) indicated that the establishment of a LATAM cardiac surgery board examination would be beneficial., Conclusion: Modernization and standardization of training, as well as greater access to opportunities, may be required in LATAM to increase professional satisfaction of cardiac surgeons and to reduce disparities in the specialty. Such changes may enhance the regional response to the dynamic challenges in the feld.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents for left main stem disease. Five manuscripts publishing 5-year results of 4 trials (SYNTAX, PRECOMBAT, NOBLE and EXCEL) were included. Overall meta-analysis with inclusion of the 5-year results from the EXCEL trial using the protocol definition for myocardial infarction showed that CABG is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (risk ratio = 0.74; 95% confidence interval = 0.68-0.80). When the universal definition was used to define myocardial infarction in the EXCEL trial, the analysis demonstrated a larger benefit of coronary surgery in terms of reduction in the risk of MACE (risk ratio = 0.70; 95% confidence interval = 0.63-0.76). Non-significant differences were detected in terms of risk of overall mortality, cardiac mortality or stroke. In conclusion, this meta-analysis shows that CABG significantly reduces the risk of MACE in patients with left main stem disease. The inclusion of the 5-year results of the EXCEL trial using third universal definition amplifies the benefit of CABG over percutaneous coronary intervention., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Mitral valve disease (MVD) is a frequent cause of heart failure and death worldwide, but its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Interleukin (IL)-33 regulates inflammation and thrombosis in the vascular endothelium and may play a role in the atherosclerotic process, but its role in mitral valve has not been investigated. We aim to explore IL-33 as a possible inductor of myxomatous degeneration in human mitral valves. We enrolled 103 patients suffering from severe mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous degeneration undergoing mitral valve replacement. Immunohistochemistry of the resected leaflets showed IL-33 and ST2 expression in both valve interstitial cells (VICs) and valve endothelial cells (VECs). Positive correlations were found between the levels of IL-33 and molecules implicated in the development of myxomatous MVD, such as proteoglycans, extracellular matrix remodeling enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors), inflammatory and fibrotic markers. Stimulation of single cell cultures of VICs and VECs with recombinant human IL-33 induced the expression of activated VIC markers, endothelial-mesenchymal transition of VECs, proteoglycan synthesis, inflammatory molecules and extracellular matrix turnover. Our findings suggest that the IL-33/ST2 system may be involved in the development of myxomatous MVD by enhancing extracellular matrix remodeling.

Circulating levels of soluble interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (sST2) are increased in heart failure and associated with poor outcome, likely because of the activation of inflammation and fibrosis. We investigated the pathogenic role of sST2 as an inductor of cardiac fibroblasts activation and collagen synthesis. The effects of sST2 on human cardiac fibroblasts was assessed using proteomics and immunodetection approaches to evidence the upregulation of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), a regulator of the profibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. In parallel, sST2 increased fibroblast activation, collagen and fibrosis mediators. Pharmacological inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) restored NRP-1 levels and blocked profibrotic effects induced by sST2. In NRP-1 knockdown cells, sST2 failed to induce fibroblast activation and collagen synthesis. Exogenous NRP-1 enhanced cardiac fibroblast activation and collagen synthesis via NF-κB. In a pressure overload rat model, sST2 was elevated in association with cardiac fibrosis and was positively correlated with NRP-1 expression. Our study shows that sST2 induces human cardiac fibroblasts activation, as well as the synthesis of collagen and profibrotic molecules. These effects are mediated by NRP-1. The blockade of NF-κB restored NRP-1 expression, improving the profibrotic status induced by sST2. These results show a new pathogenic role for sST2 and its mediator, NRP-1, as cardiac fibroblast activators contributing to cardiac fibrosis.

Background and Aim of the Study: We explored the current evidence available on total arterial revascularization (TAR) carrying out a meta-analysis of propensity score-matched studies comparing TAR versus non-TAR strategy., Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for propensity score-matched studies comparing TAR vs non-TAR. The generic inverse variance method was used to compute the combined hazard ratio (HR) of long-term mortality. The Der-Simonian and Laird method were used to compute the combined risk ratio (RR) of 30-day mortality, deep sternal wound infection, and reoperation for bleeding., Results: Eighteen TAR vs non-TAR matched populations were included. Meta-analysis showed a significant benefit in terms of long-term survival of the TAR group over the non-TAR group (HR: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-0.78). Better long-term survival over non-TAR strategy was confirmed by both subgroups: TAR with the bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) and TAR without BIMA. Meta-regression suggests that TAR may offer a higher protective survival effect in diabetic patients (coefficient: -0.0063; 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.0006), when carried out with BIMA (coefficient: -0.15; 95% CI: -0.27 to -0.03) or using three arterial conduits (coefficient: -0.12; 95% CI: -0.25 to 0.007). A TAR strategy carried out using BIMA, differently from TAR without BIMA, increases the risk of deep sternal infection (RR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17-1.77)., Conclusions: TAR provides a long-term survival benefit compared with the non-TAR strategy. Also, compared with TAR without BIMA, TAR with BIMA may offer a higher protective long-term survival effect at the expense of a higher risk of sternal deep wound infection., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The lack of benefit in terms of mid-term survival and the increase in the risk of sternal wound complications published in a recent randomized controlled trial have raised concerns about the use of bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) in myocardial revascularization surgery. For this reason, we decided to explore the current evidence available on the subject by carrying out a meta-analysis of propensity score-matched studies comparing BITA versus single internal thoracic artery (SITA). PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar were searched for propensity score-matched studies comparing BITA versus SITA. The generic inverse variance method was used to compute the combined hazard ratio (HR) of long-term mortality. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute the combined risk ratio of 30-day mortality, deep sternal wound infection and reoperation for bleeding. Forty-five BITA versus SITA matched populations were included. Meta-analysis showed a significant benefit in terms of long-term survival in favour of the BITA group [HR 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.86]. These results were consistent with those obtained by a pooled analysis of the matched populations comprising patients with diabetes (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.43-0.99). When compared with the use of SITA plus radial artery, BITA did not show any significant benefit in terms of long-term survival (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.69-1.07). No differences between BITA and SITA groups were detected in terms of 30-day mortality or in terms of reoperation for bleeding. Compared with the SITA group, patients in the BITA group had a significantly higher risk of deep sternal wound infection (risk ratio 1.66; 95% CI 1.41-1.95) even when the pooled analysis was limited to matched populations in which BITA was harvested according to the skeletonization technique (risk ratio 1.37; 95% CI 1.04-1.79). The use of BITA provided a long-term survival benefit compared with the use of SITA at the expense of a higher risk of sternal deep wound infection. The long-term survival advantage of BITA is undetectable when compared with SITA plus radial artery., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is highly effective and can be achieved with relatively low risk in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Bioprostheses have been used most frequently during the past 60 years. However, the function of biological valves usually declines after 10-15 years from implant when structural valve degeneration occurs often mandating a reoperation once valve dysfunction becomes haemodynamically significant. Known for many years by surgeons and cardiologists taking care of patients with SAVR, the issue of postimplant structural valve degeneration has been recently highlighted also in patients with transcatheter aortic valve implant (TAVI). There is growing concern that TAVI valves exhibit structural valve degeneration due to inherent challenges of the deployment mode. The impact on postimplant degeneration of TAVI valves compared to SAVR has still to be understood and defined. Based on the ongoing process of expanding TAVI indications, several potential shortcomings and caveats, learned during the last 60 years of SAVR experience, should be taken into consideration to refine this technique.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to review all published randomized clinical trials comparing levosimendan versus placebo in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library database of clinical trials were searched for prospective randomized clinical trials investigating the perioperative use of levosimendan versus placebo in patients undergoing adult cardiac surgery from 1 May 2000 to 10 April 2017. Binary outcomes from individual studies were analysed to compute individual and pooled risk ratios (RRs) with pertinent 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Fourteen randomized clinical trials with a total of 2243 patients were included in this review. Overall meta-analysis results demonstrated that levosimendan was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day mortality (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.53-0.95; P = 0.023). Subgroup analysis showed that this benefit was confined to the moderate and low ejection fraction studies (RR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.27-0.70; P < 0.001), whereas no benefit was observed in the preserved ejection fraction studies (RR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.72-1.56; P = 0.78). Levosimendan also reduced the risk of renal replacement therapy (RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47-0.92; P = 0.015) and low cardiac output (RR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.22-0.73; P = 0.003). No significant differences were detected, between the levosimendan group and the placebo group, in terms of risk of myocardial injury (RR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.69-1.17; P = 0.44), intensive care unit stay (weighted mean differences = -0.57, 95% CI = -1.15 to 0.01; P = 0.055) and the use of ventricular assist device (RR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.07-2.63; P = 0.35). In conclusion, levosimendan was associated with a reduced risk of mortality, renal replacement therapy and low cardiac output syndrome in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Aldosterone (Aldo) contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac oxidative stress. Using a proteomic approach, A-kinase anchor protein (AKAP)-12 has been identified as a down-regulated protein by Aldo in human cardiac fibroblasts. We aim to characterize whether AKAP-12 down-regulation could be a deleterious mechanism which induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in cardiac cells. Aldo down-regulated AKAP-12 via its mineralocorticoid receptor, increased oxidative stress and induced mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by decreased mitochondrial-DNA and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) expressions in human cardiac fibroblasts. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-down of AKAP-12 produced similar deleterious effects in human cardiac fibroblasts. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated activation of AKAP-12 blunted Aldo effects on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in human cardiac fibroblasts. In Aldo-salt-treated rats, cardiac AKAP-12, mitochondrial-DNA and PGC-1α expressions were decreased and paralleled increased oxidative stress. In myocardial biopsies from patients with aortic stenosis (AS, n = 26), AKAP-12, mitochondrial-DNA and PGC-1α expressions were decreased as compared to Controls (n = 13). Circulating Aldo levels inversely correlated with cardiac AKAP-12. PGC-1α positively associated with AKAP-12 and with mitochondrial-DNA. Aldo decreased AKAP-12 expression, impairing mitochondrial biogenesis and increasing cardiac oxidative stress. AKAP-12 down-regulation triggered by Aldo may represent an important event in the development of mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac oxidative stress.

The PARTNER group recently published a comparison between the latest generation SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in intermediate-risk patients, apparently demonstrating superiority of the TAVI and suggesting that TAVI might be the preferred treatment method in this risk class of patients. Nonetheless, assessment of the non-randomized methodology used in this comparison reveals challenges that should be addressed in order to elucidate the validity of the results. The study by Thourani and colleagues showed several major methodological concerns: suboptimal methods in propensity score analysis with evident misspecification of the propensity scores (PS; no adjustment for the most significantly different covariates: left ventricular ejection fraction, moderate-severe mitral regurgitation and associated procedures); use of PS quintiles rather than matching; inference on not-adjusted Kaplan-Meier curves, although the authors correctly claimed for the need of balancing score adjusting for confounding factors in order to have unbiased estimates of the treatment effect; evidence of poor fit; lack of data on valve-related death.These methodological flaws invalidate direct comparison between treatments and cannot support authors' conclusions that TAVI with SAPIEN 3 in intermediate-risk patients is superior to surgery and might be the preferred treatment alternative to surgery., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Patient-prosthesis mismatch has been identified as a risk factor for mortality after aortic valve replacement and for structural valve deterioration (SVD) in patients receiving a bioprosthetic aortic valve. The aim of the present study was to compare the incidence of aortic valve bioprosthesis replacement for SVD in patients with mismatch to a population without mismatch., Methods: Three hundred eighty-seven adult patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis from 1974 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Mismatch was considered to be present if the anticipated indexed effective orifice area was <0.70 cm(2) /m(2) . The median follow-up period was 7.2 years. Follow-up was 97% complete., Results: Patient-prosthesis mismatch was present in 12% of the study population (n = 47). Ten-year freedom from reoperation for aortic bioprosthesis replacement was 74.3 ± 3.2%. During follow-up, 111 patients underwent reoperation for aortic bioprosthesis replacement. Causes of aortic bioprosthesis replacement were SVD of the bioprosthesis (n = 96), paravalvular leak (n = 10), and acute endocarditis (n = 5). According to unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with mismatch had a higher incidence of aortic bioprosthesis replacement for SVD when compared with patients without mismatch (log rank test: p 0.05). This result was confirmed by multivariable Cox regression analysis, which identified two independent predictors of aortic bioprosthesis replacement for SVD: patients' age (hazard ratio (HR) 0.967) and patient-prosthesis mismatch (HR 2.161)., Conclusion: Patients suffering from mismatch were twice as likely to undergo reoperation for aortic bioprosthesis replacement for SVD than those without mismatch., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aortic stenosis is a complex disease. About 2-7% of the population over 65 years of age is affected by its degenerative form. In patients with severe aortic stenosis presenting with symptoms or left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF)<.50, aortic valve replacement is indicated. Management and timing of surgery in asymptomatic patients with preserved LVEF is still a matter of debate. Recent published data show that about one third of these patients present with low left ventricle stroke volume, which may affect survival. For this reason, and considering that aortic valve replacement is in most cases a low risk procedure, early surgery in this subgroup is a strategy that deserves to be taken into account. In this review we report on these recent findings, which allow understanding why patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis should not be considered and treated as a homogenous population., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: It is still not clear whether the presence of a moderate patient-prosthesis mismatch after isolated aortic valve replacement can increase 30-day mortality. The aim of this study was to determine whether a moderate mismatch is an independent predictor of early global or cardiac mortality after aortic valve replacement., Methods: The study involved 272 adult patients (median age, 72 years; interquartile range, 66-76 years) undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement. Moderate mismatch was considered to be present if the projected indexed effective orifice area was < or =0.85 and >0.65 cm2/m2. Severe mismatch was present if the projected indexed effective orifice area was < or =0.65 cm2/m2. Follow-up to assess survival at 30 days was carried out in 100% of patients., Results: Moderate mismatch was observed in 37.9% of patients. None had a severe mismatch. Multivariate analysis identified the following independent predictors of global mortality at 30 days: left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (P=.03) and age (P=.01). The same variables were identified as predictors of 30-day cardiac survival, but at a higher level of statistical significance: left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (P=.006) and age (P=.008). The analysis did not identify moderate mismatch as a predictor of global or cardiac 30-day mortality in our study population., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the evidence that inserting a prosthesis of the measured size in a small aortic annulus compromises the patient's survival is far from clear when the patient-prosthesis mismatch is moderate.

Background and Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the quality of life of elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with that of a reference group., Patients: A total of 163 patients aged 75 years who underwent aortic valve replacement were analyzed. Quality of life was evaluated by the Short Form Health Survey test 12 (SF-12). The median follow-up period was 37.4 months. Quality of life follow-up was complete at 95.6% of mid-term survivors. Quality of life data was compared with published data of a sample of the Spanish population (n.1312) of the same age and same sex., Results: Overall 30-day mortality was 7.4%. The mean SF-12 physical component score and SF-12 mental component score of the study population were 44,69 and 49,88 for woman and 47,38 and 56,19 for men, respectively. Our sample population showed a post operative quality of live comparable with that of the general population., Conclusions: Elderly patients who are candidates to aortic valve replacement represent a high risk population. Nevertheless, the quality of life achieved post-operatively is comparable with that of the general population.

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: is patient-prosthesis mismatch an independent risk factor for 30-day and mid-term overall mortality in adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR)? Altogether, almost 400 papers were found using the reported search, of which 22 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. The majority of the selected articles have focused their analysis on moderate mismatch defined mostly by the presence of an indexed effective orifice area (IEOA)0.65 cm(2)/m(2)) is an independent risk factor for 30-day or mid-term overall mortality for adult patients undergoing AVR. An exception could be represented by patients with poor ejection fraction, a condition that can make moderate mismatch a predictor of overall mortality after AVR. On the other hand, severe mismatch is a predictor of overall 30-day or mid-term mortality for patients undergoing AVR independently from the presence of poor ejection fraction. In conclusion, our review suggests that the condition of severe PPM should be always avoided, while the presence of moderate mismatch could be tolerated in patients with normal ejection fraction without any impact on overall survival.

Background and Aim of the Study: Since the introduction of its theoretical basis, patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) following aortic valve replacement (AVR) has been the subject of much debate. The study aim was to compare, by a propensity score adjustment, the survival and quality of life in elderly patients with PPM, to those of a population without mismatch. The analysis was focused on elderly patients, as their high prevalence of calcific aortic stenosis may increase the probability to receive a small-sized aortic prosthesis, and consequently to experience postoperative PPM., Methods: A total of 163 patients aged > or = 75 years who underwent AVR was analyzed. The median logistic euroSCORE was 7.1%. PPM was considered to be present if the anticipated indexed effective orifice area (IEOA) was < or = 0.85 cm2/m2. The median follow up period was 37.4 months. The patients' quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form 12 (SF-12) Health Survey test., Results: PPM was present in 43% of the patients. In multivariable analysis, patients with PPM were more often female, more often operated on for aortic degenerative calcification, had a larger body surface area, and more often received a bioprosthesis than those without mismatch. The survival analysis did not highlight any significant difference between the two groups. According to a multivariable analysis, the SF-12 physical component score of PPM patients was significantly inferior to that in patients without mismatch (p = 0.001)., Conclusion: The study results suggest that moderate PPM does not have a negative impact on mid-term mortality in elderly patients after AVR. However, PPM was associated with a reduced quality of life in this elderly population.

Background and Aim of the Study: Today, ageing of the western population is causing aortic valve surgery to be performed in elderly patients with increasing frequency. The study aim was to evaluate surgical outcome in octogenarian patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR)., Methods: A total of 100 patients (mean age 82.1 +/- 2.7 years; range: 80-95 years) who underwent AVR over a three-year period was reviewed. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 34% of cases, and a bioprosthesis was implanted in 80%. The mean logistic EuroSCORE was 13.3%., Results: Operative mortality was 8.0%. In multivariate analysis, a logistic EuroSCORE > or =13.5% (p = 0.02), cross-clamp time > or =75 min (p = 0.02) and postoperative acute renal failure were predictors for in-hospital mortality. Follow up was 100% complete; the mean follow up period was 10.6 months. At one year after surgery, the actuarial survival rate of those patients who survived surgery was 86.1%. Postoperative dyspnea at one month (p = 0.004) was the only predictor of short-term mortality., Conclusion: Age in itself should not contraindicate surgery, and healthcare systems should be prepared to accommodate elderly patients who may require special resources.