Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysmectomy in the high-risk patient

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to provide a review of outcomes and management strategies for high-risk scenarios in the open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

METHODS

Series examining the open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms were reviewed to identify well-described high-risk scenarios and summarize expected outcomes and management strategies in the current era.

RESULTS

The efforts of many have led to improved outcomes for patients undergoing the inherently challenging open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. Several well-described high-risk scenarios include those related to preoperative comorbid conditions (preoperative pulmonary dysfunction, low ejection fraction, and renal dysfunction), anatomically high-risk cases (extent II repairs), and those with acute presentations (rupture, mycotic aneurysms, acute complicated type B aortic dissection). Several operative and perioperative techniques have been developed to mitigate the risk in these formidable cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Challenges remain for several high-risk scenarios in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Judicious patient selection, meticulous surgical, and critical care strategies have greatly decreased the risk for many high-risk patients.

Comparative Analysis of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Outcomes in Women Using Different Conduits in the National UK Data Set

BACKGROUND

There is limited report of outcomes in women undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with left internal thoracic artery and different second conduits (saphenous vein graft [SVG], radial artery [RA], and right internal thoracic artery [RITA]).

METHODS

The National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit database was queried for women undergoing isolated CABG with left internal thoracic artery graft in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2019. Propensity score-based pairwise comparisons were performed between graft types. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

The study included 58,063 women (SVG, n = 48,881 [84.2%]; RA, n = 6136 [10.6%]; RITA, n = 2445 [4.2%]). SVG use was stable over the years; RA and RITA use decreased. In-hospital mortality was similar between the RA and RITA grafts (2.3% vs 2.8%; odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.22; P = .39) and between the RA and SVG (2.3% vs 2.0%; OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.93-1.55; P = .17) but higher in the RITA group compared with the SVG (2.7% vs 1.4%; OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.27-3.36; P = .004). Women receiving the RITA graft were more likely to have sternal wound infection (SWI) compared with the RA (0.6% vs 0.06%; P = .004) and the SVG (0.6% vs 0.2%; P = .032). SWI was consistently associated with higher risk of in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Conduit selection may affect operative outcomes in women undergoing CABG. The RA shows similar mortality and risk of deep SWI as the SVG.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of internal thoracic artery harvesting techniques: Skeletonized vs pedicled

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare clinical and angiographic outcomes of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery for coronary artery bypass grafting.

METHODS

A comprehensive search on Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and Scopus was performed from inception to December 2022. The primary outcome was follow-up mortality and graft failure. Secondary outcomes were repeat revascularization, cardiovascular death and operative mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and sternal wound complications (SWCs). Pooled estimate for follow-up outcomes was summarized as incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) while short-term outcomes were pooled as odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. For all outcomes, inverse variance weighting was used for pooling.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies, including 7 randomized trials and 21 observational studies, for a total of 5664 patients in the skeletonized group and 7434 in the pedicled group, were included in the analysis. At a mean weighted follow-up of 4.8 years, there was no difference in mortality between the two groups (IRR 1.14; 95% CI 0.59-2.20). However, the skeletonized group had a higher incidence of graft failure compared to the pedicled group (IRR 1.87, 95% CI 1.33-2.63) but a lower risk of SWCs (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.30-0.60). There was no difference in short-term outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to the pedicled harvesting technique, skeletonization of the internal thoracic artery is associated with higher rate of graft failure and lower risk of SWCs without mortality difference.

Risk profile and operative outcomes in patients with and without Marfan syndrome undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVES

To compare operative and long-term outcomes between patients with and without Marfan syndrome undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

METHODS

We identified all consecutive patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair between 1997 and 2022. Primary outcome was composite of major adverse events. Secondary outcomes were individual complications and long-term survival. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was performed. Weighted Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate long-term survival. Multivariable analysis identified factors associated with major adverse events.

RESULTS

Six hundred eighty-four patients underwent open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Ninety (13.1%) had Marfan syndrome, whereas 594 (86.9%) did not. Marfan patients were younger (46 years [range, 36-56 years] vs 69 years [range, 61-76 years]; P < .001). Extent II or III aneurysms (57 out of 90 [63.3%] vs 211 out of 594 [35.6%]; P < .001) and type I or III chronic dissection (77 out of 90 [85.3%] vs 242 out of 594 [40.8%]; P < .001) were more common. Cardiovascular risk factors were less frequent in Marfan patients. There was no difference in major adverse events between groups (12 out of 90 [13.3%] vs 100 out of 594 [16.8%]; P = .49). Operative mortality was similar between groups (3 out of 90 [3.3%] vs 28 out of 594 [4.7%]; P = .75). Unweighted survival at 10 years was 78.7% vs 46.8% (P = .001). Weighted Kaplan-Meier curves showed no difference in long-term survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.32-1.99; P = .62; Log-rank P = .12). At multivariable analysis, renal insufficiency (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.43-3.68; P < .01) and urgent/emergency procedure (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.35-3.48; P < .01) were associated with major adverse events, whereas Marfan syndrome was not (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.69-3.49; P = .28).

CONCLUSIONS

Open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair can be performed with similar operative outcomes in patients with and without Marfan syndrome despite differing risk profiles. Operative/perioperative strategies must be tailored to specific needs of each patient to optimize outcomes.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery to Treat Anomalous Origin of Coronary Arteries in Adults: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To review the available literature on the use of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as a treatment option for anomalous origin of coronary artery in adults.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in March 2023 (including Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases) to identify studies reporting the use of CABG in adult patients with anomalous origin of coronary artery.

RESULTS

A total of 31 studies and 62 patients were included, 32 patients (52%) were women, and the mean age was 45.1±16.1 years. The most common coronary anomaly was the right coronary artery arising from the left coronary sinus in 26 patients (42%), followed by an anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in 23 patients (37%). A total of 65 conduits were used in 61 patients, and 1 case report did not report conduit type. Reported grafts included saphenous vein (23 of 65 [35.4%]), left internal thoracic artery (15 of 65 [23.1%]), right internal thoracic artery (23 of 65 [35.4%]), and radial artery (2 of 65 [3.1%]); right gastroepiploic artery and basilic vein were used once (1.5%) each. Ligation of the native coronary artery was performed in 42 (67.7%) patients. Patient follow-up was available in 19 studies with a mean of 31.2 months. Only 1 operative mortality was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the limited available data, CABG can be performed with good early results. Use of arterial conduits and ligation of the native coronary artery may improve long-term graft patency.

Graft Failure After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Its Association With Patient Characteristics and Clinical Events: A Pooled Individual Patient Data Analysis of Clinical Trials With Imaging Follow-Up

BACKGROUND

Graft patency is the postulated mechanism for the benefits of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, systematic graft imaging assessment after CABG is rare, and there is a lack of contemporary data on the factors associated with graft failure and on the association between graft failure and clinical events after CABG.

METHODS

We pooled individual patient data from randomized clinical trials with systematic CABG graft imaging to assess the incidence of graft failure and its association with clinical risk factors. The primary outcome was the composite of myocardial infarction or repeat revascularization occurring after CABG and before imaging. A 2-stage meta-analytic approach was used to evaluate the association between graft failure and the primary outcome. We also assessed the association between graft failure and myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, or all-cause death occurring after imaging.

RESULTS

Seven trials were included comprising 4413 patients (mean age, 64.4±9.1 years; 777 [17.6%] women; 3636 [82.4%] men) and 13 163 grafts (8740 saphenous vein grafts and 4423 arterial grafts). The median time to imaging was 1.02 years (interquartile range [IQR], 1.00-1.03). Graft failure occurred in 1487 (33.7%) patients and in 2190 (16.6%) grafts. Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.08 [per 10-year increment] [95% CI, 1.01-1.15]; P=0.03), female sex (aOR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.08-1.50]; P=0.004), and smoking (aOR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.04-1.38]; P=0.01) were independently associated with graft failure, whereas statins were associated with a protective effect (aOR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.63-0.88]; P<0.001). Graft failure was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction or repeat revascularization occurring between CABG and imaging assessment (8.0% in patients with graft failure versus 1.7% in patients without graft failure; aOR, 3.98 [95% CI, 3.54-4.47]; P<0.001). Graft failure was also associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction or repeat revascularization occurring after imaging (7.8% versus 2.0%; aOR, 2.59 [95% CI, 1.86-3.62]; P<0.001). All-cause death after imaging occurred more frequently in patients with graft failure compared with patients without graft failure (11.0% versus 2.1%; aOR, 2.79 [95% CI, 2.01-3.89]; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In contemporary practice, graft failure remains common among patients undergoing CABG and is strongly associated with adverse cardiac events.

Spinal cord injury after open and endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a rare but severe complication after open or endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysms (DTAs) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of SCI rates and factors associated with SCI.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in September 2022 looking for studies on open and/or endovascular repair of DTA and/or TAAA published after 2018, to update the results of our previously published meta-analysis. The primary outcome was permanent SCI. Secondary outcomes were temporary SCI, 30-day and in-hospital mortality, follow-up mortality, postoperative stroke, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain-related complications. Data were pooled as proportions using inverse-variance weighting.

Results

A total of 239 studies (71 new studies and 168 from our previous meta-analysis) and 61,962 patients were included. The overall pooled rate of permanent SCI was 3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.9-3.8%]. Open repair was associated with a permanent SCI rate of 4.0% (95% CI, 3.3-4.8%), and endovascular repair was associated with a permanent SCI rate of 2.9% (95% CI, 2.4-3.5%). Permanent SCI was 2.0% (95% CI, 1.2-3.3%) after DTA repair, and 4.7% (95% CI, 3.9-5.6%) after TAAA repair; permanent SCI rate was 3.8% (95% CI, 2.9-5.0%) for Crawford extent I, 13.4% (95% CI, 9.0-19.5%) for extent II, 7.1% (95% CI, 5.7-8.9%) for extent III, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.6-3.5%) for extent IV, and 6.7% (95% CI, 1.7-23.1%) for extent V TAAA aneurysms. The pooled rate of CSF drain related complications was 1.9% (95% CI, 0.8-4.7%) for severe, 0.4% (95% CI, 0.0-4.0%) for moderate, and 1.8% (95% CI, 0.6-5.6%) for minor complications.

Conclusions

Permanent SCI occurs after both endovascular and open DTA or TAAA repairs. Open repairs and TAAA repairs have higher risk of SCI compared with endovascular or DTA repairs. In particular, extent II aneurysms present the highest overall risk of SCI.

Reoperative total arch replacement after previous cardiovascular surgery: Outcomes in 426 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVE

Total aortic arch replacement (TAR) after previous cardiovascular surgery is technically challenging and is becoming more frequent as outcomes for primary arch repair have improved. primary. We analyzed outcomes of reoperative compared with first-time TAR.

METHODS

The institutional aortic database was queried to identify consecutive patients undergoing TAR between 1997 and 2022. In total, 426 patients underwent TAR, of whom 150 (35%) had previous cardiovascular surgery (reop TAR) and 276 (65%) underwent their first cardiovascular operation.

RESULTS

The reop TAR group was younger (61 ± 13 vs 71 ± 11, P < .001) with more comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease (12% vs 4.3%, P = .006), previous stroke (36% vs 14.5%, P < .001), and renal impairment (24% vs 12.7%, P = .004). Reop TAR had longer cardiac ischemic times (119.3 ± 45.5 minutes vs 98 ± 31.9 minutes, P < .001), a greater operative mortality (3.3% vs 0.4%, P = .040), and incurred a 4-fold increased risk of major adverse event (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-11.49, P = .009). Ten-year survival was also lower in the reop TAR cohort (76% vs 82.2%; hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.12-2.86, P = .015) and there was greater need for late reinterventions, mainly on the downstream aorta (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.62, P = .024).

CONCLUSIONS

Reop TAR is a technically challenging operation and is associated with increased operative mortality and adverse events. Gratifying results can be obtained with meticulous surgical planning and focused attention on end-organ protection. Late reinterventions occur in a significantly greater percentage of patients undergoing reop TAR, and future studies should focus attention on identifying those at-risk groups who may benefit from a more aggressive index procedure.

Short- and long-term results of total arch replacement: Comparison between island and debranching techniques

OBJECTIVE

The 2 most acceptable techniques for reimplantation of the supra-aortic vessels in total arch replacement include the branched graft technique (debranching) or en bloc technique (island). We aim to review our experience with total arch replacement and report short- and long-term outcomes from a high-volume center dedicated to surgery for the thoracic aorta.

METHODS

The aortic surgery database was queried to identify all consecutive patients undergoing total arch replacement between 1997 and 2022. Of the 426 patients who underwent total arch replacement, 303 (71%) received the island technique and 123 (29%) received the debranching approach. Operative and long-term outcomes were compared using multivariable models.

RESULTS

The debranching group was younger (64 ± 14 years vs 69 ± 12 years, P = .001), had undergone more previous cardiac operations (54.5% vs 27.4%, P < .001), and had more connective tissue disorder (20.3% vs 4.6%, P < .001). The debranching approach was associated with longer total circulatory arrest time (47 ± 15 minutes vs 37 ± 10 minutes, P < .001) and cardiac ischemic time (116 ± 41 minutes vs 100 ± 37 minutes, P < .001). More patients in the debranching group received blood products intraoperatively or postoperatively (56.1% vs 42.9%, P = .018). All other early outcomes did not differ between groups. Overall operative mortality was 1.4% (2.4% vs 1%, P = .486); the incidence of major postoperative complications was 6.3% (5.7% vs 6.6%, P = .897). Ten-year survival was 80% (78% vs 80.9%, log-rank P = .356). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that neither surgical approach was associated with survival advantage (hazard ratio, 1.18; 0.73-1.89; P = .495).

CONCLUSIONS

Debranching requires a longer operative time, with similar early and long-term outcomes. Preoperative comorbidity, not surgical technique, predicts major adverse events and long-term survival.

Long-Term Durability of Valve Sparing Root Replacement in Patients with and without Connective Tissue Disease

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) and compare them to patients without CTD who underwent VSRR for root aneurysm.

METHODS

Of 487 patients, 380 (78%) did not have CTD and 107 (22%) had CTD; 97 (91%) with Marfan syndrome, 8 (7%) with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and 2 (2%) with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Operative and long-term outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

The CTD group was younger (36±14 vs. 53±12, p<0.001), had more females (41% vs. 10%, p<0.001) and had less hypertension (28% vs. 78%, p<0.001) and bicuspid aortic valve (8% vs. 28%, p<0.001). Other baseline characteristics did not differ between the groups. Overall operative mortality was nill (p=1.000); the incidence of major postoperative complications was 1.2% (0.9% vs. 1.3%, p=1.000) and did not differ between groups. Residual mild aortic insufficiency (AI) was more frequent in the CTD group (9.3% vs. 1.3%, p<0.001) with no difference in moderate or greater AI. Ten-year survival was 97.3% (97.2% vs.97.4%, log-rank p=0.801). Of the 15 patients with residual AI, 1 had none, 11 remained mild, 2 had moderate and one had severe AI on follow-up. Ten-year freedom from moderate/severe AI was 89.6% (HR 1.05, 95%CI 0.8-1.37; p=0.750) and 10-year freedom from valve reoperation was 94.9% (HR 1.21, 95%CI 0.43-3.39; p=0.717).

CONCLUSION

The operative outcomes as well as long-term durability of VSRR is excellent in patients with or without CTD. Valve function and durability are not affected by CTD.

Graft thrombosis after coronary artery bypass surgery and current practice for prevention

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most frequently performed cardiac surgery worldwide. The reported incidence of graft failure ranges between 10% and 50%, depending upon the type of conduit used. Thrombosis is the predominant mechanism of early graft failure, occurring in both arterial and vein grafts. Significant advances have been made in the field of antithrombotic therapy since the introduction of aspirin, which is regarded as the cornerstone of antithrombotic therapy for prevention of graft thrombosis. Convincing evidence now exists that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), consisting of aspirin and a potent oral P2Y12 inhibitor, effectively reduces the incidence of graft failure. However, this is achieved at the expense of an increase in clinically important bleeding, underscoring the importance of balancing thrombotic risk and bleeding risk when considering antithrombotic therapy after CABG. In contrast, anticoagulant therapy has proved ineffective at reducing the occurrence of graft thrombosis, pointing to platelet aggregation as the key driver of graft thrombosis. We provide a comprehensive review of current practice for prevention of graft thrombosis and discuss potential future concepts for antithrombotic therapy including P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy and short-term DAPT.

Angiographic Outcomes for Arterial and Venous Conduits Used in CABG

Coronary artery bypass grafting is the most commonly performed cardiac surgical procedure. Conduit selection is crucial to achieving early optimal outcomes, with graft patency being likely the main driver to long-term survival. We present a review of current evidence on the patency of arterial and venous bypass conduits and of differences in angiographic outcomes.

Coronary artery bypass with single versus multiple arterial grafts in women: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to investigate the impact of multiple arterial grafting on long-term all-cause mortality in women undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed to identify observational studies reporting outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting reported by sex and stratified into multiple arterial grafting versus single arterial grafting strategies. Articles were considered for inclusion if they were written in English and were propensity-matched observational studies. Included studies were then pooled in a meta-analysis performed using the generic inverse variance method. The primary outcome was long-term all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were operative mortality and spontaneous myocardial infarction. Meta-regression was used to explore the effects of preoperative and intraoperative variables on the primary outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 6 studies with 32,793 women (25,714 single arterial grafting and 7079 multiple arterial grafting) were included. Women who received multiple arterial grafting had lower long-term mortality (incidence rate ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.96; P = .007) and spontaneous myocardial infarction (incidence rate ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.93; P = .003) compared with women who received single arterial grafting, but the difference in mortality disappeared when including only the 3 largest studies. There was no difference between groups in operative mortality (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.17; P = .91). Meta-regression did not identify any associations with the incidence rate ratio for long-term mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of multiple arterial grafting in women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with lower long-term mortality, although the difference is mostly driven by small series. Further studies, including randomized trials, are needed to evaluate the efficacy of multiple arterial grafting in women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Differences Among Clinical Trials and Registries on Surgical and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

BACKGROUND

A need exists for systematic evaluation of the differences in baseline characteristics and early outcomes between patients enrolled in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical practice for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted to identify RCTs comparing CABG vs PCI and CABG or PCI registries. Sixteen predefined baseline characteristics and 30-day mortality were extracted from the included studies. Pooled proportion and mean with 95% CI were calculated for binary and continuous outcomes, respectively, by using the random effects model.

RESULTS

Fourteen RCTs and 10 registries including more than 2 million patients were included. Registry patients who underwent CABG had a higher prevalence of hypertension, smoking, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and prior myocardial infarction, but a lower prevalence of single-vessel disease when compared with CABG-treated patients included in RCTs. Regarding PCI, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, left main coronary artery disease, triple-vessel coronary disease, and NYHA functional class <IV were significantly more prevalent among patients in RCTs, whereas age, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and smoking were more represented among PCI registry patients. Thirty-day mortality was higher in registries for both PCI-treated and CABG-treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significant differences in baseline characteristics and 30-day mortality between patients enrolled in RCTs comparing CABG vs PCI and CABG and PCI registries. However, results were mixed, and the discrepancy was less than seen in other fields.

Sex differences in saphenous vein graft patency: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Saphenous vein grafts (SVG) are the most commonly used conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Graft failure is observed in up to 50% of SVG at 10 years after surgery. Whether a difference in SVG patency rates exists between men and women remains unclear.

METHODS

We performed a study-level meta-analysis to evaluate sex-related differences in follow-up patency rates of SVG after CABG. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies on CABG that reported follow-up SVG patency rates in men and women. The primary outcome was SVG patency rates by sex at follow-up.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies totaling 8235 patients and 14,781 SVG grafts were included. There was no significant difference in follow-up SVG patency rates between men and women (incidence rate ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.90-1.03, p = .24), with mean angiographic follow-up of 33.5 months (standard deviation 29.2). Leave-one-out and cumulative analysis were consistent with the main analysis. We concluded that follow-up SVG patency rate is similar between men and women undergoing CABG.

The impact of concomitant mitral valve intervention on outcomes of aortic root replacement

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.

Elephant trunk simplifies thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair without impacting operative risk

BACKGROUND AND AIM

An open two-stage elephant trunk (ET) technique may aid in the technical ease of subsequent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. We analyze whether the presence of an ET improves outcomes for patients undergoing extent I and II TAAA repair.

METHODS

From September 1997 to October 2020, 469 patients underwent extent I or II TAAA repair. We compared those with prior ET to those without. Primary outcome was composite major adverse events (MAE) including operative mortality, myocardial infarction, permanent spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular accident, need for tracheostomy, and new need for dialysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight (8.1%) patients had prior ET and 431 (91.9%) did not. There were no differences in baseline characteristics. The no ET group was more likely to undergo urgent or emergent procedures. Composite MAE occurred in 82 (19%) of the no ET group and 5 (15.8%) of the ET group (p = .785). Operative mortality was 5.5% and not significantly different between the groups (p = 1.00). No patients in the ET group experienced stroke or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Median partial bypass and cross-clamp times were significantly greater in the no ET group (28 [24-32] versus 19 [16-22] min; p ≤ .001 and 42 [32-53] versus 30 [25-39] min; p ≤ .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Extent I and II TAAA repair after ET can be safely performed in a tertiary referral center with shorter bypass and cross-clamp times. ET eliminates the need for circulatory arrest or clamping a hostile arch.

Aspiration thrombectomy for inferior vena cava tumor thrombus arising from hepatocellular carcinoma

Pharmacomechanical therapy and catheter-directed thrombolysis have been shown to be very effective in the treatment of venous thromboembolism; however, there is much less data regarding inferior vena cava thrombi. Tumor thrombi pose an even greater clinical challenge as anti-coagulation and thrombolysis are not effective. We present the case of a 61-year-old male who presented with an inferior vena cava thrombus emanating from an accessory right hepatic vein, treated with aspiration thrombectomy.

Predictors of failure to reach target sample size in surgical randomized trials

It is estimated that 25–30 per cent of RCTs fail to reach their target sample size. Multicentre design, publication year, and commercial sponsor were inversely associated with failure to reach the target sample size. A substantial proportion of surgical trials fail reach target sample size, but the trend is showing improvement.

Characteristics of Randomized Clinical Trials in Surgery From 2008 to 2020: A Systematic Review

IMPORTANCE

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) provide the highest level of evidence to evaluate 2 or more surgical interventions. Surgical RCTs, however, face unique challenges in design and implementation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the design, conduct, and reporting of contemporary surgical RCTs.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

A literature search performed in the 2 journals with the highest impact factor in general medicine as well as 6 key surgical specialties was conducted to identify RCTs published between 2008 and 2020. All RCTs describing a surgical intervention in both experimental and control arms were included. The quality of included data was assessed by establishing an a priori protocol containing all the details to extract. Trial characteristics, fragility index, risk of bias (Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 Tool), pragmatism (Pragmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary 2 [PRECIS-2]), and reporting bias were assessed.

FINDINGS

A total of 388 trials were identified. Of them, 242 (62.4%) were registered; discrepancies with the published protocol were identified in 81 (33.5%). Most trials used superiority design (329 [84.8%]), and intention-to-treat as primary analysis (221 [56.9%]) and were designed to detect a large treatment effect (50.0%; interquartile range [IQR], 24.7%-63.3%). Only 123 trials (31.7%) used major clinical events as the primary outcome. Most trials (303 [78.1%]) did not control for surgeon experience; only 17 trials (4.4%) assessed the quality of the intervention. The median sample size was 122 patients (IQR, 70-245 patients). The median follow-up was 24 months (IQR, 12.0-32.0 months). Most trials (211 [54.4%]) had some concern of bias and 91 (23.5%) had high risk of bias. The mean (SD) PRECIS-2 score was 3.52 (0.65) and increased significantly over the study period. Most trials (212 [54.6%]) reported a neutral result; reporting bias was identified in 109 of 211 (51.7%). The median fragility index was 3.0 (IQR, 1.0-6.0). Multiplicity was detected in 175 trials (45.1%), and only 35 (20.0%) adjusted for multiple comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this systematic review, the size of contemporary surgical trials was small and the focus was on minor clinical events. Trial registration remained suboptimal and discrepancies with the published protocol and reporting bias were frequent. Few trials controlled for surgeon experience or assessed the quality of the intervention.

What is the best graft to supplement the bilateral internal thoracic artery to the left coronary system? A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis was designed to assess the effect of the use of arterial conduits (ACs) versus great saphenous vein (GSV) grafts as a third conduit for revascularization of the right coronary artery system, in addition to the bilateral internal mammary artery on the left coronary artery. PubMed and OVID's version of MEDLINE were searched from January 2000 to September 2017 for relevant publications. The primary end point was the long-term mortality rate. The secondary end point was early mortality, defined as either in-hospital death or death within 30 days after the operation. Meta-regression was used to evaluate the effect of female gender and diabetes on the primary and secondary outcomes. A total of 10 studies (4121 patients) were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis comparing ACs (1619) versus the GSV (2502), 6 (2548) comparing the GSV (2548) versus the right gastroepiploic artery (1023) and 5 comparing the GSV (2548) versus the radial artery (596). The pooled analysis did not show any difference between ACs and the GSV in terms of long-term mortality rates [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.56-1.01; P = 0.061]. When using the leave-one-out analysis, after the exclusion of 1 study (outlier), ACs were significantly associated with lower long-term mortality rates (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54-0.83; P < 0.001). When the results were stratified according to the type of study, no differences with regard to long-term results were found between ACs and the GSV, either in the pooled analysis of the 6 propensity score-matched studies (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.43-1.08; P = 0.107) or in the pooled analysis of the 4 non-propensity score-matched studies (HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.62-1.23; P = 0.438). Again, when the outlier was excluded, the pooled analysis of the propensity score-matched studies confirmed that ACs were associated with lower long-term mortality rates (HR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.43-0.80; P < 0.001). Comparisons between the GSV and either the right gastroepiploic artery or the radial artery showed similar results. No publication bias was found. This meta-analysis is the first to compare the GSV to the radial artery and the right gastroepiploic artery for right coronary artery grafting in patients receiving a bilateral internal mammary artery to left coronary artery. The choice of a third AC seems to be preferable in order to achieve better long-term survival.

Radial Artery Versus Right Internal Thoracic Artery Versus Saphenous Vein as the Second Conduit for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Network Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes

Background

There remains uncertainty regarding the second‐best conduit after the internal thoracic artery in coronary artery bypass grafting. Few studies directly compared the clinical results of the radial artery (RA), right internal thoracic artery (RITA), and saphenous vein (SV). No network meta‐analysis has compared these 3 strategies.

Methods and Results

MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for adjusted observational studies and randomized controlled trials comparing the RA, SV, and/or RITA as the second conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting. The primary end point was all‐cause long‐term mortality. Secondary end points were operative mortality, perioperative stroke, perioperative myocardial infarction, and deep sternal wound infection (DSWI). Pairwise and network meta‐analyses were performed. A total of 149 902 patients (4 randomized, 31 observational studies) were included (RA, 16 201, SV, 112 018, RITA, 21 683). At NMA, the use of SV was associated with higher long‐term mortality compared with the RA (incidence rate ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12–1.34) and RITA (incidence rate ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.17–1.35). The risk of DSWI for SV was similar to RA but lower than RITA (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55–0.91). There were no differences for any outcome between RITA and RA, although DSWI trended higher with RITA (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.92–2.1). The risk of DSWI in bilateral internal thoracic artery studies was higher when the skeletonization technique was not used.

Conclusions

The use of the RA or the RITA is associated with a similar and statistically significant long‐term clinical benefit compared with the SV. There are no differences in operative risk or complications between the 2 arterial conduits, but DSWI remains a concern with bilateral ITA when skeletonization is not used.

A 20-Year Experience With Resection of Primary Cardiac Tumors and Metastatic Tumors of the Heart

BACKGROUND

Cardiac tumors are uncommon, occurring in less than 1% of the population, and are comprised of numerous tumor types. Management of certain tumors types such as sarcoma have evolved and improved in the recent era. We evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent resection of benign or malignant cardiac tumors with a focused review of cardiac sarcomas.

METHODS

Institutional data were reviewed from 1997 to 2017, and 180 patients who underwent tumor resection were identified. Outcomes and survival were examined based on tumor type.

RESULTS

Two-thirds of patients (119 of 180) had benign tumors. Of 61 malignant tumors, 23 were sarcomas, 24 were cavoatrial tumors, and 8 were T4 lung tumors. In the sarcoma group, operative mortality was 2 of 23 (9.1%). Neoadjuvant therapy was administered to 8 of 23 patients (34.8%) with R0 resection achieved in 5 of 8 patients (62.5%). R0 resection was successful in 7 of 15 patients (46.7%) without neoadjuvant therapy. Mean survival with neoadjuvant therapy was 2.76 ± 3.85 years versus 1.28 ± 1.31 years without neoadjuvant therapy (p = 0.428). Mean survival with R0 resection was 2.79 ± 4.23 years compared with 1.64 ± 1.63 years without (p = 0.407). In the T4 lung tumor group, operative mortality was zero and R0 resection was achieved in 6 of 8 (75%). The cavoatrial tumors were mostly renal cell carcinoma resected with a mortality of 4.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac tumors are comprised of diverse tumor types. Indications for, and benefits of, resecting benign tumors and many malignant tumor types are clear, and operative outcomes are generally good. Cardiac sarcomas benefit from neoadjuvant therapy, which improves the rate of complete resection, thus improving survival.

Comparison of Outcomes for Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Low-Volume and High-Volume Centers and by Low-Volume and High-Volume Surgeons

In terms of in-hospital outcomes, controversy still remains whether off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is superior to on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. We investigated whether the volume of off-pump coronary artery bypass procedures by hospital and individual surgeon influences patient outcomes when compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Discharge records from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample were retrospectively reviewed for in-hospital admissions from 2003 to 2011, including 999 hospitals in 44 states. A total of 2,094,094 patients undergoing on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery were included. In patients requiring 2 or more grafts, off-pump coronary artery bypass compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass was associated with increased risk-adjusted mortality when performed in low-volume centers (<29 cases per year) (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 1.57) or by low-volume surgeons (<19 cases per year) (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.56). In high-volume off-pump coronary artery bypass centers (≥164 cases per year) and surgeons (≥48 cases per year), off-pump coronary artery bypass reduced mortality compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass in cases requiring a single graft (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.89 and OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.47, respectively) or 2 or more grafts (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.99 and OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.81, respectively). In conclusion, the outcome of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting procedures is dependent on volume at both the institution and the individual surgeon level. Off-pump coronary artery bypass should not be performed at low-volume centers and by low-volume surgeons.