Root-commando operation with a modified self-assembled aortic root conduit for endocarditis after sutureless aortic valve replacement

We present a case of a Staphylococcus epidermidis early prosthetic valve endocarditis after minimally invasive sutureless aortic valve replacement. The patient developed a root abscess with a fistula, severe mitral and periprosthetic regurgitations, with a large mitral vegetation and a residual patent foramen ovale. The surgical approach consisted of a redo median sternotomy, explantation of a sutureless aortic prosthesis, resection of an intervalvular fibrosa and anterior mitral leaflet and debridement of an aortic root-left ventricle outflow tract abscess. These procedures were followed by a root-commando procedure with mitral and aortic root placement using a self-assembled mechanical aortic root conduit. The technique used is an alternative to a root-commando procedure performed with an allograft or a Medtronic Freestyle bioprosthesis. The same technique can be utilized with a commercially available stented bioprosthesis.

Sutureless aortic valve with supracoronary ascending aortic replacement as an alternative strategy for composite graft replacement in elderly patients

Aortic valve disease is frequently associated with ascending aorta dilatation and can be treated either by separate replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta or by a composite valve graft. The type of surgery is depending on the exact location of the aortic dilatation and the concomitant valvular procedures required. The evidence for elective aortic surgery in elderly high-risk patients remains challenging and therefore alternative strategies could be warranted. We propose an alternative strategy for the treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve pathology with the use of a sutureless, collapsible, stent-mounted aortic valve prosthesis.

Minimally invasive redo aortic valve replacement with a sutureless valve implant

Reoperations for a dysfunctional mechanical aortic valve prosthesis are usually performed with a repeat sternotomy. Reopening the chest may be associated with a heart structure tear, bleeding, excessive transfusion, and a possible unfavorable outcome. Experience performing a redo aortic valve replacement with a minimally invasive approach and avoiding lysis of the pericardial adhesions is growing. We describe a redo aortic valve replacement procedure performed because of subvalvular pannus formation in a patient with a mechanical prosthesis. A partial J-shaped hemisternotomy at the 3rd intercostal space was performed; the ascending aorta was exposed and the valve was replaced with a sutureless bioprosthesis. The video tutorial shows the surgical approach, cardiopulmonary bypass solutions, and sutureless valve deployment.

Clinical and haemodynamic outcomes in 658 patients receiving the Perceval sutureless aortic valve: early results from a prospective European multicentre study (the Cavalier Trial)†

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the Cavalier trial was to evaluate the safety and performance of the Perceval sutureless aortic valve in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). We report the 30-day clinical and haemodynamic outcomes from the largest study cohort with a sutureless valve.

METHODS

From February 2010 to September 2013, 658 consecutive patients (mean age 77.8 years; 64.4% females; mean logistic EuroSCORE 10.2%) underwent AVR in 25 European Centres. Isolated AVRs were performed in 451 (68.5%) patients with a less invasive approach in 219 (33.3%) cases. Of the total, 40.0% were octogenarians. Congenital bicuspid aortic valve was considered an exclusion criterion.

RESULTS

Implantation was successful in 628 patients (95.4%). In isolated AVR through sternotomy, the mean cross-clamp time and the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were 32.6 and 53.7 min, and with the less invasive approach 38.8 and 64.5 min, respectively. The 30-day overall and valve-related mortality rates were 3.7 and 0.5%, respectively. Valve explants, stroke and endocarditis occurred in 0.6, 2.1 and in 0.1% of cases, respectively. Preoperative mean and peak pressure gradients decreased from 44.8 and 73.24 mmHg to 10.24 and 19.27 mmHg at discharge, respectively. The mean effective orifice area improved from 0.72 to 1.46 cm(2).

CONCLUSIONS

The current 30-day results show that the Perceval valve is safe (favourable haemodynamic effect and low complication rate), and can be implanted with a fast and reproducible technique after a short learning period. Short cross-clamp and CPB times were achieved in both isolated and combined procedures. The Perceval valve represents a promising alternative to biological AVR, especially with a less invasive approach and in older patients.

Perceval S sutureless aortic valve prosthesis implantation via a right anterior minithoracotomy

The rapid development and refinement of techniques over the past decade have led to the realization that a minimally invasive approach enables aortic valve surgery to be performed with results, at the very least, equivalent to those of traditional (open) valve surgery done in experienced centres. Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) has now evolved into a safe, efficient treatment option providing greater patient satisfaction and fewer complications. For rapidly ageing population of industrialized countries, aortic valve replacement (AVR) has become the most frequent heart valve surgery. However, transcatheter aortic valve implantation techniques and sutureless aortic valve prostheses recently introduced into clinical practice are challenging now the results of MIAVR in certain high surgical risk patients. Right anterior minithoracotomy results in excellent exposure and a safe conduct of AVR. The minithoracotomy is performed via the second intercostal space with a 6-7 cm long skin incision and no bone transection. After direct aortic and peripheral venous cannulation, aortic valve is exposed in a conventional manner, and further conduct of the intervention is not different from the sutureless AVR in median sternotomy. Herein, we discuss the indications, surgical technique and initial results of sutureless AVR through right anterior minithoracotomy.