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Objective: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) concomitant to heart surgery in patients with underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) has gained attention because of long-term reduction of thromboembolic complications. As of mortality benefits in the setting of non-AF, data from both observational studies and randomized controlled trials are conflicting. Methods: On-line databases were screened for studies comparing LAAC versus no LAAC concomitant to other heart surgery. End points assessed were all-cause mortality and stroke at early and longest-available follow-up. Subgroup analyses stratified on preoperative AF were performed. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% CIs served as primary statistics. Results: Electronic search yielded 25 studies (N = 660 [158 patients]). There was no difference between LAAC and no LAAC in terms of early mortality. In the overall population analysis, LAAC reduced long-term mortality (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-1.00; P = .05; I2 = 88%), reduced early stroke risk by 19% (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72-0.93; P = .002; I2 = 57%), and reduced late stroke risk by 13% (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.84-0.90; P

Abstract Background Extracorporeal blood purification has been widely used in intensive care medicine, nephrology, toxicology, and other fields. During the last decade, with the emergence of new adsorptive blood purification devices, hemoadsorption has been increasingly applied during CPB in cardiac surgery, for patients at different inflammatory risks, or for postoperative complications. Clinical evidence so far has not provided definite answers concerning this adjunctive treatment. The current systematic review aimed to critically assess the role of perioperative hemoadsorption in cardiac surgery, by summarizing the current knowledge in this clinical setting. Methods A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane library, and the database provided by CytoSorbents was conducted on June 1st, 2023. The search terms were chosen by applying neutral search keywords to perform a non-biased systematic search, including language variations of terms “cardiac surgery” and “hemoadsorption”. The screening and selection process followed scientific principles (PRISMA statement). Abstracts were considered for inclusion if they were written in English and published within the last ten years. Publications were eligible for assessment if reporting on original data from any type of study (excluding case reports) in which a hemoadsorption device was investigated during or after cardiac surgery. Results were summarized according to sub-fields and presented in a tabular view. Results The search resulted in 29 publications with a total of 1,057 patients who were treated with hemoadsorption and 988 control patients. Articles were grouped and descriptively analyzed due to the remarkable variability in study designs, however, all reported exclusively on CytoSorb® therapy. A total of 62% (18/29) of the included articles reported on safety and no unanticipated adverse events have been observed. The most frequently reported clinical outcome associated with hemoadsorption was reduced vasopressor demand resulting in better hemodynamic stability. Conclusions The role of hemoadsorption in cardiac surgery seems to be justified in selected high-risk cases in infective endocarditis, aortic surgery, heart transplantation, and emergency surgery in patients under antithrombotic therapy, as well as in those who develop a dysregulated inflammatory response, vasoplegia, or septic shock postoperatively. Future large randomized controlled trials are needed to better define proper patient selection, dosing, and timing of the therapy.

Abstract Despite evidence suggesting the benefit of prophylactic regional antibiotic delivery (RAD) to sternal edges during cardiac surgery, it is seldom performed in clinical practice. The value of topical vancomycin and gentamicin for sternal wound infections (SWI) prophylaxis was further questioned by recent studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively assess the safety and effectiveness of RAD to reduce the risk of SWI.We screened multiple databases for RCTs assessing the effectiveness of RAD (vancomycin, gentamicin) in SWI prophylaxis. Random effects meta-analysis was performed. The primary endpoint was any SWI; other wound complications were also analysed. Odds Ratios served as the primary statistical analyses. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed.Thirteen RCTs (N = 7,719 patients) were included. The odds of any SWI were significantly reduced by over 50% with any RAD: OR (95%CIs): 0.49 (0.35–0.68); p

Background: The diagnosis of myocarditis remains challenging due to its diverse clinical manifestations. We recently demonstrated the ability of magnetocardiography (MCG) to screen for myocarditis and applied it successfully to detect myocarditis in this case study of a female-to-male (FtM) patient who had undergone sexual reassignment surgery. This case highlights two significant points: first, sex differences in myocarditis may be promoted by higher levels of testosterone, and second, the ability of MCG to diagnose myocarditis. Case presentation: We report on a 38-year-old FtM patient who was hospitalized for chest pain following testosterone therapy. The patient received testosterone every 2 weeks for 6 months following his FtM surgery. Two days after the last administration of testosterone, he developed chest pain. Electrocardiography identified non-significant ST elevations in V3–6, II and aVF and echocardiography revealed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and apical hypokinesia. High-sensitivity troponin-T (539 ng/L to 676 ng/L) and creatine kinase elevation (592 U/L) were elevated. Coronary CT angiography ruled out coronary artery disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed suspected myocarditis.Additionally, we used MCG to detect abnormalities in the electromagnetic field. A pathologic vector (0.179) supported the diagnosis of myocarditis in this patient. During therapy with ibuprofen the vector improved to 0.067 after 3 weeks accompanied by symptom improvement. Conclusion: Testosterone treatment may have promoted myocarditis in a FtM individual. Additional MCG assessment was consistent with a diagnosis of myocarditis and highlights the promising potential of this method to facilitate diagnostic screening for cardiomyopathy in the future.

Abstract Surgical intervention in the setting of cardiogenic shock (CS) is burdened with high mortality. Due to acute condition, detailed diagnoses and risk assessment is often precluded. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for perioperative complications and worse survival but little is known about AF patients operated in CS. Current analysis aimed to determine prognostic impact of preoperative AF in patients undergoing heart surgery in CS. We analyzed data from the Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgery (KROK) Procedures. Between 2012 and 2021, 332,109 patients underwent cardiac surgery in 37 centers; 4852 (1.5%) patients presented with CS. Of those 624 (13%) patients had AF history. Cox proportional hazards models were used for computations. Propensity score (nearest neighbor) matching for the comparison of patients with and without AF was performed. Median follow-up was 4.6 years (max.10.0), mean age was 62 (± 15) years and 68% patients were men. Thirty-day mortality was 36% (1728 patients). The origin of CS included acute myocardial infarction (1751 patients, 36%), acute aortic dissection (1075 patients, 22%) and valvular dysfunction (610 patients, 13%). In an unadjusted analysis, patients with underlying AF had almost 20% higher mortality risk (HR 1.19, 95% CIs 1.06–1.34; P = 0.004). Propensity score matching returned 597 pairs with similar baseline characteristics; AF remained a significant prognostic factor for worse survival (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.00–1.40; P = 0.045). Among patients with CS referred for cardiac surgery, history of AF was a significant risk factor for mortality. Role of concomitant AF ablation and/or left atrial appendage occlusion or more aggressive perioperative circulatory support should be addressed in the future.

BackgroundSince the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been increasing urgency to identify pathophysiological characteristics leading to severe clinical course in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Human leukocyte antigen alleles (HLA) have been suggested as potential genetic host factors that affect individual immune response to SARS-CoV-2. We sought to evaluate this hypothesis by conducting a multicenter study using HLA sequencing.MethodsWe analyzed the association between COVID-19 severity and HLAs in 435 individuals from Germany (n = 135), Spain (n = 133), Switzerland (n = 20) and the United States (n = 147), who had been enrolled from March 2020 to August 2020. This study included patients older than 18 years, diagnosed with COVID-19 and representing the full spectrum of the disease. Finally, we tested our results by meta-analysing data from prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS).FindingsWe describe a potential association of HLA-C*04:01 with severe clinical course of COVID-19. Carriers of HLA-C*04:01 had twice the risk of intubation when infected with SARS-CoV-2 (risk ratio 1.5 [95% CI 1.1-2.1], odds ratio 3.5 [95% CI 1.9-6.6], adjusted p-value = 0.0074). These findings are based on data from four countries and corroborated by independent results from GWAS. Our findings are biologically plausible, as HLA-C*04:01 has fewer predicted bindings sites for relevant SARS-CoV-2 peptides compared to other HLA alleles.InterpretationHLA-C*04:01 carrier state is associated with severe clinical course in SARS-CoV-2. Our findings suggest that HLA class I alleles have a relevant role in immune defense against SARS-CoV-2.FundingFunded by Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.

Abstract The study aimed to validate the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score (EuroSCORE II) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). All data were retrieved from the National Registry of Cardiac Surgery Procedures (KROK). EuroSCORE II calibration and discrimination performance was evaluated. The final cohort consisted of 44,172 patients (median age 67, 30.8% female, 13.4% with AF). The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.14% (N = 1830), and 5.21% (N = 2303) for 30-day mortality. EuroSCORE II significantly underestimated mortality in mild- and moderate-risk populations [Observed (O):Expected (E)—1.1, 1.16). In the AF subgroup, it performed well [O:E—0.99), whereas in the very high-risk population overestimated mortality (O:E—0.9). EuroSCORE II showed better discrimination in AF (−) [area under curve (AUC) 0.805, 95% CI 0.793–0.817)] than in AF (+) population (AUC 0.791, 95%CI 0.767–0.816), P

Infiltration of the myocardium with various cell types, cytokines and chemokines plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies including inflammatory cardiomyopathies and myocarditis. A more comprehensive understanding of the precise immune mechanisms involved in acute and chronic myocarditis is essential to develop novel therapeutic approaches. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of the immune landscape in cardiomyopathies based on etiology. It identifies gaps in our knowledge about cardiac inflammation and emphasizes the need for new translational approaches to improve our understanding thus enabling development of novel early detection methods and more effective treatments.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of inflammatory cardiomyopathies remains challenging. Life-threatening conditions such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) always have to be considered as differential diagnoses due to similarities in presentation. Diagnostic methods for inflammatory cardiomyopathy include endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). We report a case in whom magnetocardiography (MCG) led to an initial diagnosis of inflammatory cardiomyopathy and in whom MCG was used for subsequent monitoring of treatment response under immunosuppression.Case presentationA 53-year-old man presented with two recurrent episodes of inflammatory cardiomyopathy within a 2-year period. The patient initially presented with reduced exercise capacity. Echocardiography revealed a moderately reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF 40%). Coronary angiography ruled out obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and an EMB was performed. The EMB revealed inflammatory cardiomyopathy without viral pathogens or replication. Moreover, we performed MCG, which confirmed a pathological Tbeg-Tmax vector of 0.108. We recently established a cutoff value of Tbeg-Tmax of 0.051 or greater for the diagnosis of inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone was initiated, resulting in clinical improvement and an LVEF increase from 40% to 45% within 1 month. Furthermore, the MCG vector improved to 0.036, which is considered normal based on our previous findings. The patient remained clinically stable for 23 months. During a routine follow-up, MCG revealed an abnormal Tbeg-Tmax vector of 0.069. The patient underwent additional testing including routine laboratory values, echocardiography (LVEF 35%), and PET-CT. PET-CT revealed increased metabolism in the myocardium—primarily in the lateral wall. Therapy with prednisolone and azathioprine was initiated and MCG was used to monitor the effect of immunosuppressive therapy.ConclusionIn addition to diagnostic screening, MCG has the potential to become a valuable method for surveillance monitoring of patients who have completed treatment for inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, it could be used for treatment monitoring. While changes in the magnetic vector of the heart are not specific to inflammatory cardiomyopathy, as they may also occur in other types of cardiomyopathies, MCG offers a tool of broad and efficient diagnostic screening for cardiac pathologies without side effects.

The main goal of minimally invasive surgery is to reduce the perioperative trauma, accelerate patient mobilization and reduce the length of hospital stay. Due to the development of modern technology, these treatments can be offered to a wider group of patients. For many years, aortic root surgery consisted of mechanical conduit implantation and, therefore, necessitated life-long anticoagulation. At present, in patients with aortic root aneurysm and significant aortic valve regurgitation, it is possible to perform minimal-access valve sparing surgical procedures. The current paper is a brief description of the surgical technique for aortic root aneurysm surgery with preservation of the patient’s own valve using the David procedure.

Abstract Background The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large iconic marine predator inhabiting worldwide tropical and subtropical waters. So far, only mitochondrial markers and microsatellites studies have investigated its worldwide historical demography with inconclusive outcomes. Here, we assessed for the first time the genomic variability of tiger shark based on RAD-seq data for 50 individuals from five sampling sites in the Indo-Pacific (IP) and one in the Atlantic Ocean (AO) to decipher the extent of the species’ global connectivity and its demographic history. Results Clustering algorithms (PCA and NMF), F ST and an approximate Bayesian computation framework revealed the presence of two clusters corresponding to the two oceanic basins. By modelling the two-dimensional site frequency spectrum, we tested alternative isolation/migration scenarios between these two identified populations. We found the highest support for a divergence time between the two ocean basins of ~ 193,000 years before present (B.P) and an ongoing but limited asymmetric migration ~ 176 times larger from the IP to the AO (Nm ~ 3.9) than vice versa (Nm ~ 0.02). Conclusions The two oceanic regions are isolated by a strong barrier to dispersal more permeable from the IP to the AO through the Agulhas leakage. We finally emphasized contrasting recent demographic histories for the two regions, with the IP characterized by a recent bottleneck around 2000 years B.P. and the AO by an expansion starting 6000 years B.P. The large differentiation between the two oceanic regions and the absence of population structure within each ocean basin highlight the need for two large management units and call for future conservation programs at the oceanic rather than local scale, particularly in the Indo-Pacific where the population is declining.

Amyloidosis is characterized by a disorder of protein conformation and metabolism, resulting in deposits of insoluble fibrils in various organs causing functional disturbances. Amyloidosis can also affect the heart. Cardiac amyloidosis tends to have a poor prognostic outcome if diagnosed at a late stage. Therefore, early diagnosis and initiation of therapy as well as monitoring of treatment response are crucial to improve outcomes and to learn more about its pathophysiology and clinical course. We present an 83-year-old woman with cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) who was treated with tafamidis. The patient significantly improved 18 months after initiation of therapy with regards to exercise capacity and quality of life. In addition to standard diagnostic methods, we used magnetocardiography (MCG) to monitor potential treatment response by detecting changes in the magnetic field of the heart. MCG is a non-invasive method that detects the cardiac magnetic field generated by electrical currents in the heart with high sensitivity. We have recently shown that this magnetic field changes in various types of cardiomyopathies may be used as a non-invasive screening tool. We determined previously that an MCG vector ≥0.052 was the optimal threshold to detect cardiac amyloidosis. The patient's MCG was measured at various time points during therapy. At the time of diagnosis, the patient's MCG vector was 0.052. After starting therapy, the MCG vector increased to 0.090, but improved to 0.037 after 4 months of therapy. The MCG vector reached a value of 0.017 after 5 months of therapy with tafamidis, and then increased slightly after 27 months to a value of 0.027 (

IntroductionIn this study, a new probe was designed to enable electrocardiography of a rotated heart during cardiac surgery when skin electrodes became non-functional. This probe adhered non-invasively to the epicardium and collected the ECG signal independently from the position of the heart. The study compared the accuracy of cardiac ischemia detection between classic skin and epicardial electrodes in an animal model.MethodsUsing six pigs, an open chest model was devised with cardiac ischemia induction by coronary artery ligation in two non-physiologic heart positions. Both the accuracy and the time of detection of electrocardiographic symptoms of acute cardiac ischemia were compared between skin and epicardial methods of signal collection.ResultsHeart rotation to expose either the anterior or the posterior wall resulted in a distortion or loss of the ECG signal collected by skin electrodes after coronary artery ligation, standard skin ECG monitoring did not reveal any ischemia symptoms. Attachment of an epicardial probe on the anterior and posterior walls helped in the recovery of the normal ECG wave. After ligation of the coronary artery, the epicardial probes recorded cardiac ischemia within 40 s.DiscussionThis study highlighted the effectiveness of ECG monitoring with epicardial probes in a rotated heart. It can be concluded that epicardial probes can detect the presence of acute ischemia of a rotated heart when skin ECG monitoring becomes ineffective.

Abstract Background In Poland, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remain unknown. This study aimed to answer these unknowns by analyzing data collected from high-volume ECMO centers willing to participate in this project. Methods This retrospective, multicenter cohort study was completed between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021 (15 months). Data from all patients treated with ECMO for COVID-19 were analyzed. Pre-ECMO laboratory and treatment data were compared between non-survivors and survivors. Independent predictors for death in the intensive care unit (ICU) were identified. Results There were 171 patients admitted to participating centers requiring ECMO for refractory hypoxemia due to COVID-19 during the defined time period. A total of 158 patients (mean age: 46.3 ± 9.8 years) were analyzed, and 13 patients were still requiring ECMO at the end of the observation period. Most patients (88%) were treated after October 1, 2020, 77.8% were transferred to ECMO centers from another facility, and 31% were transferred on extracorporeal life support. The mean duration of ECMO therapy was 18.0 ± 13.5 days. The crude ICU mortality rate was 74.1%. In the group of 41 survivors, 37 patients were successfully weaned from ECMO support and four patients underwent a successful lung transplant. In-hospital death was independently associated with pre-ECMO lactate level (OR 2.10 per 1 mmol/L, p = 0.017) and BMI (OR 1.47 per 5 kg/m2, p = 0.050). Conclusions The ICU mortality rate among patients requiring ECMO for COVID-19 in Poland was high. In-hospital death was independently associated with increased pre-ECMO lactate levels and BMI.

Abstract A major concern with preterm birth is the risk of neurodevelopmental disability. Poor cerebral circulation leading to periods of hypoxia is believed to play a significant role in the etiology of preterm brain injury, with the first three days of life considered the period when the brain is most vulnerable. This study focused on monitoring cerebral perfusion and metabolism during the first 72 h after birth in preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g. Brain monitoring was performed by combining hyperspectral near-infrared spectroscopy to assess oxygen saturation and the oxidation state of cytochrome c oxidase (oxCCO), with diffuse correlation spectroscopy to monitor cerebral blood flow (CBF). In seven of eight patients, oxCCO remained independent of CBF, indicating adequate oxygen delivery despite any fluctuations in cerebral hemodynamics. In the remaining infant, a significant correlation between CBF and oxCCO was found during the monitoring periods on days 1 and 3. This infant also had the lowest baseline CBF, suggesting the impact of CBF instabilities on metabolism depends on the level of blood supply to the brain. In summary, this study demonstrated for the first time how continuous perfusion and metabolic monitoring can be achieved, opening the possibility to investigate if CBF/oxCCO monitoring could help identify preterm infants at risk of brain injury.

Background Inflammatory cardiomyopathy is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in young adults. Diagnosis of inflammatory cardiomyopathy remains challenging, and better monitoring tools are needed. We present magnetocardiography as a method to diagnose myocardial inflammation and monitor treatment response. Methods and Results A total of 233 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 45 (±18) years, and 105 (45%) were women. The primary analysis included 209 adult subjects, of whom 66 (32%) were diagnosed with inflammatory cardiomyopathy, 17 (8%) were diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and 35 (17%) were diagnosed with other types of nonischemic cardiomyopathy; 91 (44%) did not have cardiomyopathy. The second analysis included 13 patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy who underwent immunosuppressive therapy after baseline magnetocardiography measurement. Finally, diagnostic accuracy of magnetocardiography was tested in 3 independent cohorts (total n=23) and 1 patient, who developed vaccine‐related myocarditis. First, we identified a magnetocardiography vector to differentiate between patients with cardiomyopathy versus patients without cardiomyopathy (vector of ≥0.051; sensitivity, 0.59; specificity, 0.95; positive predictive value, 93%; and negative predictive value, 64%). All patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy, including a patient with mRNA vaccine‐related myocarditis, had a magnetocardiography vector ≥0.051. Second, we evaluated the ability of the magnetocardiography vector to reflect treatment response. We observed a decrease of the pathologic magnetocardiography vector toward normal in all 13 patients who were clinically improving under immunosuppressive therapy. Magnetocardiography detected treatment response as early as day 7, whereas echocardiographic detection of treatment response occurred after 1 month. The magnetocardiography vector decreased from 0.10 at baseline to 0.07 within 7 days (P=0.010) and to 0.03 within 30 days (P

INTRODUCTION:Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with LARIAT offers an alternative to oral anticoagulation (OAC) for patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to present long-term clinical outcomes of LAAC in these patients (AF). MATERIAL AND METHODS:A prospective, single-center study was performed in 139 patients undergoing LAAC with Lariat. Thromboembolic events, severe bleeding and mortality rate were recorded. The reduction in risk of thromboembolism and bleeding after LAAC was calculated. RESULTS:The mean CHADS2-score was 1.8 ± 1.0, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.9 ± 1.6 and HAS-BLED score was 3.1 ± 1.1. After 428.4 patient-years of follow-up (mean 4.2±1.0 years), the thromboembolism rate was 0.6% with a calculated thromboembolism risk reduction of 81%. The severe bleeding rate was 0.8%; calculated bleeding risk reduction was 78%. The overall mortality rate was 1.6%. CONCLUSIONS:Long-term outcomes show that LAAC with Lariat is a safe and effective treatment for stroke prevention and bleeding risk reduction in AF patients with a high level of underlying risk.

Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent disease considerably contributing to the worldwide cardiovascular burden. For patients at high thromboembolic risk (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥3) and not suitable for chronic oral anticoagulation, owing to history of major bleeding or other contraindications, left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is indicated for stroke prevention, as it lowers patient’s ischaemic burden without augmentation in their anticoagulation profile.Methods and analysis Stand-Alone Left Atrial appendage occlusion for throMboembolism prevention in nonvalvular Atrial fibrillatioN DiseasE Registry (SALAMANDER) will be conducted in 10 heart surgery and cardiology centres across Poland to assess the outcomes of LAAO performed by fully thoracoscopic-epicardial, percutaneous-endocardial or hybrid endo-epicardial approach. The registry will include patients with nonvalvular AF at a high risk of thromboembolic and bleeding complications (CHA2DS2-VASc Score ≥2 for males, ≥3 for females, HASBLED score ≥2) referred for LAAO. The first primary outcome is composite procedure-related complications, all-cause death or major bleeding at 12 months. The second primary outcome is a composite of ischaemic stroke or systemic embolism at 12 months. The third primary outcome is the device-specific success assessed by an independent core laboratory at 3–6 weeks. The quality of life (QoL) will be assessed as well based on the QoL EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Medication and drug adherence will be assessed as well.Ethics and dissemination Before enrolment, a detailed explanation is provided by the investigator and patients are given time to make an informed decision. The patient’s data will be protected according to the requirements of Polish law, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and hospital Standard Operating Procedures. The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was granted by the local Bioethics Committee of the Upper-Silesian Medical Centre of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice (decision number KNW/0022/KB/284/19). The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented during national and international conferences.Trial registration number NCT05144958.

ObjectivesAlthough endorsed by international guidelines, complete revascularization (CR) with Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) remains underused. In higher-risk patients such as those with pre-operative atrial fibrillation (AF), the effects of CR are not well studied.MethodsWe analyzed patients’ data from the HEIST (HEart surgery In AF and Supraventricular Tachycardia) registry. Between 2012 and 2020 we identified 4770 patients with pre-operative AF and multivessel coronary artery disease who underwent isolated CABG. We divided the cohort according to the completeness of the revascularization and used propensity score matching (PSM) to minimize differences between baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality.ResultsMedian follow-up was 4.7 years [interquartile range (IQR) 2.3–6.9]. PSM resulted in 1,009 pairs of complete and incomplete revascularization. Number of distal anastomoses varied, accounting for 3.0 + –0.6 vs. 1.7 + –0.6, respectively. Although early (< 24 h) and 30-day post-operative mortalities were not statistically different between non-CR and CR patients [Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs): 1.34 (0.46–3.86); P = 0.593, Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95% CIs: 0.88 (0.59–1.32); P = 0.542, respectively] the long term mortality was nearly 20% lower in the CR cohort [HR (95% CIs) 0.83 (0.71–0.96); P = 0.011]. This benefit was sustained throughout subgroup analyses, yet most accentuated in low-risk patients (younger i.e., < 70 year old, with a EuroSCORE II < 2%, non-diabetic) and when off-pump CABG was performed.ConclusionComplete revascularization in patients with pre-operative AF is safe and associated with improved survival. Particular survival benefit with CR was observed in low-risk patients undergoing off-pump CABG.

Summary: Background: Disease progression of subjects with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies dramatically. Understanding the various types of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical for better clinical management of coronavirus outbreaks and to potentially improve future therapies. Disease dynamics can be characterized by deciphering the adaptive immune response. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we analyzed 117 peripheral blood immune repertoires from healthy controls and subjects with mild to severe COVID-19 disease to elucidate the interplay between B and T cells. We used an immune repertoire Primer Extension Target Enrichment method (immunoPETE) to sequence simultaneously human leukocyte antigen (HLA) restricted T cell receptor beta chain (TRB) and unrestricted T cell receptor delta chain (TRD) and immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) immune receptor repertoires. The distribution was analyzed of TRB, TRD and IgH clones between healthy and COVID-19 infected subjects. Using McFadden's Adjusted R2 variables were examined for a predictive model. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the adaptive immune repertoire on the severity of the disease (value on the World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale) in COVID-19. Findings: Combining clinical metadata with clonotypes of three immune receptor heavy chains (TRB, TRD, and IgH), we found significant associations between COVID-19 disease severity groups and immune receptor sequences of B and T cell compartments. Logistic regression showed an increase in shared IgH clonal types and decrease of TRD in subjects with severe COVID-19. The probability of finding shared clones of TRD clonal types was highest in healthy subjects (controls). Some specific TRB clones seems to be present in severe COVID-19 (Figure S7b). The most informative models (McFadden´s Adjusted R2=0.141) linked disease severity with immune repertoire measures across all three cell types, as well as receptor-specific cell counts, highlighting the importance of multiple lymphocyte classes in disease progression. Interpretation: Adaptive immune receptor peripheral blood repertoire measures are associated with COVID-19 disease severity. Funding: The study was funded with grants from the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH).

Abstract Aims Because reported mortality on veno‐arterial (V‐A) extracorporeal life support (ECLS) substantially varies between centres, the aim of the current analysis was to assess the outcomes between units performing heart transplantation and/or implanting ventricular assist device (HTx/VAD) vs. non‐HTx/VAD units in patients undergoing V‐A ECLS for cardiogenic shock. Methods and results Systematic search according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE databases until 30 November 2019. Articles reporting in‐hospital/30‐day mortality and centre's HTx/VAD status were included. In‐hospital outcomes and long‐term survival were analysed in subgroup meta‐analysis. A total of 174 studies enrolling n = 13 308 patients were included with 20 series performed in non‐HTx/VAD centres (1016 patients, 7.8%). Majority of patients underwent V‐A ECLS for post‐cardiotomy shock (44.2%) and acute myocardial infarction (20.7%). Estimated overall in‐hospital mortality was 57.2% (54.9–59.4%). Mortality rates were higher in non‐HTx/VAD [65.5% (59.8–70.8%)] as compared with HTx/VAD centres [55.8% (53.3–58.2%)], P

BackgroundData regarding management of patients with unprotected left main coronary artery in-stent restenosis (LM-ISR) are scarce.ObjectivesThis study investigated the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs. coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the treatment of unprotected LM-ISR.MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent PCI or CABG for unprotected LM-ISR were enrolled. The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and stroke.ResultsA total of 305 patients were enrolled, of which 203(66.6%) underwent PCI and 102(33.4%) underwent CABG. At 30-day follow-up, a lower risk of cardiac death was observed in the PCI group, compared with the CABG-treated group (2.1% vs. 7.1%, HR 3.48, 95%CI 1.01–11.8, p = 0.04). At a median of 3.5 years [interquartile range (IQR) 1.3–5.5] follow-up, MACCE occurred in 27.7% vs. 29.6% (HR 0.82, 95%CI 0.52–1.32, p = 0.43) in PCI- and CABG-treated patients, respectively. There were no significant differences between PCI and CABG in cardiac death (9.9% vs. 18.4%; HR 1.56, 95%CI 0.81–3.00, p = 0.18), MI (7.9% vs. 5.1%, HR 0.44, 95%CI 0.15–1.27, p = 0.13), or stroke (2.1% vs. 4.1%, HR 1.79, 95%CI 0.45–7.16, p = 0.41). TVR was more frequently needed in the PCI group (15.2% vs. 6.1%, HR 0.35, 95%CI 0.15–0.85, p = 0.02).ConclusionsThis analysis of patients with LM-ISR revealed a lower incidence of cardiac death in PCI compared with CABG in short-term follow-up. During the long-term follow-up, no differences in MACCE were observed, but patients treated with CABG less often required TVR.Visual overviewA visual overview is available for this article.Registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04968977.

Abstract Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has presently become a rapidly spreading and devastating global pandemic. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) may serve as life-saving rescue therapy for refractory respiratory failure in the setting of acute respiratory compromise such as that induced by SARS-CoV-2. While still little is known on the true efficacy of ECMO in this setting, the natural resemblance of seasonal influenza’s characteristics with respect to acute onset, initial symptoms, and some complications prompt to ECMO implantation in most severe, pulmonary decompensated patients. The present review summarizes the evidence on ECMO management of severe ARDS in light of recent COVID-19 pandemic, at the same time focusing on differences and similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and ECMO in terms of hematological and inflammatory interplay when these two settings merge.

Abstract Background Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) that is refractory to inotropic support remains a major concern in cardiac surgery and is almost universally fatal unless treated with mechanical support. While reported mortality rates on ECMO vary from center to center, aim of the current report is assess if the outcomes differ between centres according to volume and heart transplantation status. Methods A systematic search was performed according to PRISMA statement using PubMed/Medline databases between 2010 and 2018. Relevant articles were scrutinized and included in the meta-analysis only if reporting in-hospital/30-day mortality and heart transplantation status of the centre. Paediatric and congenital heart surgery-related studies along with those conducted in the setting of veno-venous ECMO for respiratory distress syndrome were excluded. Differences were assessed by means of subgroup meta-analysis and meta-regression. Results Fifty-four studies enrolling N = 4421 ECMO patients were included. Of those, 6 series were performed in non-HTx centres (204 pts.;4.6%). Overall 30-day survival (95% Confidence Intervals) was 35.3% (32.5–38.2%) and did not statistically differ between non-HTx: 33.3% (26.8–40.4%) and HTx centres: 35.7% (32.7–38.8%); Pinteraction = 0.531. There was no impact of centre volume on survival as well: ßcoef = 0.0006; P = 0.833. No statistical differences were seen between HTx and non-HTx with respect to ECMO duration, limb complications, reoperations for bleeding, kidney injury and sepsis. There were however significantly less neurological complications in the HTx as compared to non-HTx centres: 11.9% vs 19.5% respectively; P = 0.009; an inverse relationship was seen for neurologic complications in centres performing more ECMOs annually ßcoef = − 0.0066; P = 0.031. Weaning rates and bridging to HTx and/or VADs were higher in HTx facilities. Conclusions There was no apparent difference in survival after ECMO implantation for refractory PCS according to centre’s ECMO volume and transplantation status. Potentially different risk profiles of patients in these centres must be taken account for before definite conclusions are drawn.

BackgroundEuropean surgeons were the first worldwide to use robotic techniques in cardiac surgery and major steps in procedure development were taken in Europe. After a hype in the early 2000s case numbers decreased but due to technological improvements renewed interest can be noted. We assessed the current activities and outcomes in robotically assisted cardiac surgery on the European continent.MethodsData were collected in an international anonymized registry of 26 European centers with a robotic cardiac surgery program.ResultsDuring a 4-year period (2016–2019), 2,563 procedures were carried out [30.0% female, 58.5 (15.4) years old, EuroSCORE II 1.56 (1.74)], including robotically assisted coronary bypass grafting (n = 1266, 49.4%), robotic mitral or tricuspid valve surgery (n = 945, 36.9%), isolated atrial septal defect closure (n = 225, 8.8%), left atrial myxoma resection (n = 54, 2.1%), and other procedures (n = 73, 2.8%). The number of procedures doubled during the study period (from n = 435 in 2016 to n = 923 in 2019). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time in pump assisted cases was 148.6 (63.5) min and the myocardial ischemic time was 88.7 (46.1) min. Conversion to larger thoracic incisions was required in 56 cases (2.2%). Perioperative rates of revision for bleeding, stroke, and mortality were 56 (2.2%), 6 (0.2 %), and 27 (1.1%), respectively. Median postoperative hospital length of stay was 6.6 (6.6) days.ConclusionRobotic cardiac surgery case numbers in Europe are growing fast, including a large spectrum of procedures. Conversion rates are low and clinical outcomes are favorable, indicating safe conduct of these high-tech minimally invasive procedures.

Surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation at the time of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting is reluctantly attempted. Meanwhile, complete revascularization is not always possible in these patients. We attempted to counterbalance the long-term benefits of surgical ablation against the risks of incomplete revascularization. Atrial fibrillation patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting for multivessel disease between 2012 to 2022 and included in the HEart surgery In atrial fibrillation and Supraventricular Tachycardia registry were divided into complete revascularization, complete revascularization with additional grafts, and incomplete revascularization cohorts; these were further split into surgical ablation and non-surgical ablation subgroups. A total of 8,405 patients (78% men; age 69.3 ± 7.9) were included; of those, 5,918 (70.4%) had complete revascularization, and 556 (6.6%) had surgical ablation performed. Number of anastomoses was 2.7 ± 1.2. The median follow-up was 5.1 [interquartile range 2.1–8.8] years. In patients in whom complete revascularization was achieved, surgical ablation was associated with long-term survival benefit: hazard ratio 0.69; 95% confidence intervals (0.50–0.94); P =.020 compared with grafting additional lesions. Similarly, in patients in whom complete revascularization was not achieved, surgical ablation was associated with a long-term survival benefit of 0.68 (0.49–0.94); P =.019. When comparing surgical ablation on top of incomplete revascularization against complete revascularization without additional grafts or surgical ablation, there was no difference between the 2: 0.84 (0.61–1.17); P =.307, which was also consistent in the propensity score–matched analysis: 0.75 (0.39–1.43); P =.379. To achieve complete revascularization is of utmost importance. However, when facing incomplete revascularization at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with underlying atrial fibrillation, concomitant surgical ablation on top of incomplete revascularization is associated with similar long-term survival as complete revascularization without surgical ablation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements of tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) are frequently used during vascular and cardiac surgeries as a non-invasive means of assessing brain health; however, signal contamination from extracerebral tissues remains a concern. As an alternative, hyperspectral (hs)NIRS can be used to measure changes in the oxidation state of cytochrome c oxidase (ΔoxCCO), which provides greater sensitivity to the brain given its higher mitochondrial concentration versus the scalp. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the depth sensitivity of the oxCCO signal to changes occurring in the brain and extracerebral tissue components. The oxCCO assessment was conducted using multi-distance hsNIRS (source-detector separations = 1 and 3 cm), and metabolic changes were compared to changes in StO2. Ten participants were monitored using an in-house system combining hsNIRS and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). Data were acquired during carotid compression (CC) to reduce blood flow and hypercapnia to increase flow. Reducing blood flow by CC resulted in a significant decrease in oxCCO measured at rSD = 3 cm but not at 1 cm. In contrast, significant changes in StO2 were found at both distances. Hypercapnia caused significant increases in StO2 and oxCCO at rSD = 3 cm, but not at 1 cm. Extracerebral contamination resulted in elevated StO2 but not oxCCO after hypercapnia, which was significantly reduced by applying regression analysis. This study demonstrated that oxCCO was less sensitive to extracerebral signals than StO2.

BackgroundNo single randomized study has ever before addressed the safety of On-Pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) vs Off-Pump CABG in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AF) and data from small observational samples remain inconclusive.Methods and findingsProcedural data from KROK (Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgery Procedures) were retrospectively collected. Of initial 188,972 patients undergoing CABG, 7,913 presented with baseline AF (76.0% men, mean age 69.1±8.2) and underwent CABG without concomitant valve surgery between 2006-2019 in 37 reference centers across Poland. Mean follow-up was 4.7±3.5 years (median 4.3 IQR 1.7-7.4). Cox proportional hazards models were used for computations. Of included patients, 3,681 underwent On-Pump- (46.52%) as compared to 4,232 (53.48%) who underwent Off-Pump CABG. Patients in the latter group less frequently were candidates for complete revascularization (PConclusionsOff-Pump CABG offered 30-day survival benefit to patients undergoing CABG surgery and presenting with underlying AF. On-Pump CABG was associated with significantly improved survival at long term.

Abstract Background A deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) can become a severe complication after cardiac surgery, with in-hospital mortality rates reaching up to 35%. Staphylococci, particularly methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), play important roles in its etiology. Case Presentation This case report presents a patient who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, and suffered postoperatively from a DSWI caused by MRSA. The pathogen was susceptible to vancomycin and rifampicin in vitro; however, this therapy was clinically ineffective. Both clinical improvement and MRSA eradication were achieved after surgical debridement of the wound and the intravenous administration of dalbavancin. Conclusions We decided to administer dalbavancin because of its convenient pharmacological profile. The patient’s tolerance of the antimicrobial was good, the biochemical markers of inflammation returned to the normal ranges, and the microbiological results one week after the dalbavancin administration were negative. A good clinical outcome was achieved with both the surgery and antimicrobial administration. In this case, dalbavancin was more effective in the treatment of the sternal and surrounding tissue infections caused by MRSA, when compared to vancomycin.