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Novel endovascular techniques hope to offer patients aortic arch repair with reduced morbidity compared to conventional arch surgery; however, current endovascular strategies remain challenged by the proximal seal zone, higher stroke rates, long-term durability and select anatomy. Hybrid arch repair offers patients a less invasive alternative that can treat more distal aorta than conventional arch repair yet still be performed via standard sternotomy. Areas covered: This review will discuss the current evidence and future development of hybrid aortic arch and frozen elephant trunk reconstruction. Several approaches to hybrid arch repair are summarized, including the off-label use of thoracic endovascular stent-grafts and commercially manufactured hybrid grafts. Technical considerations and clinical outcomes with each approach will be addressed along with advantages and disadvantages. Expert commentary: Hybrid arch repair will undergo continued refinement as our ability to provide a less-invasive alternative to conventional open arch repair grows. Evolution to allow for improved head vessel branch sizing, improved frozen elephant trunk deployment accuracy, monitoring to prevent paraplegia and utilization of intraoperative image guidance in hybrid operating rooms is necessary. The potential exists for hybrid approaches to arch pathology to completely supplant conventional surgery, while avoiding the potential deleterious complications of total endovascular repair.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of various brain perfusion techniques and nadir temperature cooling strategies on outcomes after aortic arch repair in a contemporary, multicentre cohort. METHODS A total of 2520 patients underwent aortic arch repair with hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) between 2002 and 2018 in 11 centres of the Canadian Thoracic Aortic Collaborative. Primary outcomes included mortality; stroke; a composite of mortality or stroke; and a Society of Thoracic Surgeons-defined composite (STS-COMP) end point for mortality or major morbidity including stroke, reoperation, renal failure, prolonged ventilation and deep sternal wound infection. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching were performed for cerebral perfusion and nadir temperature practices. RESULTS Antegrade cerebral perfusion was found on multivariable analysis to be protective against mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.86; P = 0.005], stroke (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37–0.81; P = 0.006), composite of mortality or stroke (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.45–0.72; P = 0.0001) and STS-COMP (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.41–0.67; P < 0.0001), as compared to HCA alone. Retrograde cerebral perfusion yielded similar outcomes as compared to antegrade cerebral perfusion. When compared to HCA with nadir temperature <24°C, a propensity score analysis of 647 matched pairs identified nadir temperature ≥24°C as predictor of lower mortality (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.40–0.98; P = 0.04), stroke (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31–0.84; P = 0.008), composite of mortality or stroke (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.89; P = 0.01) and STS-COMP (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49–0.85; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Antegrade cerebral perfusion and nadir temperature ≥24°C during HCA for aortic arch repair are predictors of improved survival and neurological outcomes.

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Background This study reports the incidence and prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in the UK, and describes the baseline characteristics and comorbidities associated with the condition. Methods This study was conducted using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a large routine primary care database in the UK. Approximately 60% of contributing English primary care practices are linked to Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) secondary care data. AxSpA and relevant comorbidities were identified from Read or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10 codes in primary care or HES datasets, respectively. The date of first axSpA diagnosis defined the index date. Patients with ≥90 days between practice registration and first axSpA diagnosis were classified as incident cases. The incidence and prevalence of axSpA were calculated annually from 2003-2017 for the UK as a whole, each constituent nation and English practices linked to HES data, to maximise case ascertainment. Comorbidities occurring prior to the index date (inclusive) were reported and compared with non-axSpA patients matched for age, sex, primary care practice and concurrent practice registration. Results Overall, 20,199 axSpA patients were identified, of whom 8,387 (41.5%) were classified as incident cases. Of the incident cases, 2,600 (31.0%) were female. Mean age at first diagnosis was 45.5 years (standard deviation [SD]: 17.2), mean body mass index was 27.2 kg/m2 (SD: 5.9) and 2,481 (29.6%) patients were current smokers. In 2017, the incidence of axSpA was 8.0 per 100,000 person-years and the prevalence was 15.8 per 10,000 population, an increase from 12.7 per 10,000 population in 2003. For patients from English practices linked to HES data, the incidence was 10.8 per 100,000 person-years and the prevalence was 17.5 per 10,000 population. 8,385 (∼100.0%) axSpA patients could be matched to non-axSpA controls. At baseline, all selected comorbidities were significantly increased in axSpA cases vs controls (Table). Conclusion This study reports an increasing prevalence of axSpA over the study period and higher rates of specific comorbidities in patients with axSpA vs matched controls. Caveats related to routine database studies, including secular changes in case ascertainment and observation bias, should be considered when interpreting these results. Disclosures C.L.I. Morgan: Other; Employee of: Pharmatelligence. A. White: Shareholder/stock ownership; Novartis. Other; Employee of: Novartis. M. Tomlinson: Consultancies; Novartis. A. Scott: Consultancies; Novartis. H. Tian: Other; Employee of: Novartis.

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a lifethreatening condition associated with high mortality and morbidity. 1 Without immediate surgical repair, mortality rates approach 50% within the first 48 hours. [2][3][4][5] Despite improvements in surgical technique and critical care, the short-and long-term mortality and morbidity associated with ATAAD, particularly the DeBakey I subgroup, remains high. Although standard repair for ATAAD involves resection of the primary intimal tear in the proximal aorta, persistence of flow through a large distal tear or a new entry tear at the distal aortic anastomosis may lead to persistent false lumen (FL) perfusion with unfavorable downstream consequences. 6 This manuscript aims to discuss the following concepts: (1) aortic true lumen (TL) and FL behavior after repair of ATAAD; (2) the concept of distal anastomotic new entry tear (DANE) following standard hemiarch repair; (3) how this impacts short-and long-term outcome of patients; and (4) strategies to prevent DANE. Better understanding of these hemodynamic conditions may serve to improve surgical technique, guide the creation of novel devices toward new therapeutic targets, reduce surgical risk, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

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IntroductionOperating room (OR) management plays a pivotal role in the healthcare system due to the high cash flow it yields. Enhancing communication in the OR, which is the common root problem for delays, might improve OR efficiency and revenues for healthcare. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an OR relay strategy on turnover time (TOT).MethodsA quality improvement project was conducted. In the intervention group, a certified registered nurse anaesthetist (CRNA) remained outside of the OR, coordinating the steps to get the next patient ready. This CRNA communicated with the anaesthesia providers within the OR via a Microsoft Team chat. The TOT for the control group was recorded from the electronic anaesthesia record system.Results/data analysisAnalysis of 636 turnovers was performed with non-parametric tests. The OR relay strategy decreased TOT for most ORs, with statistically significant results for three of the ORs and the overall ORs system. A decreased in variability between TOTs was evidenced for the overall OR and the majority of the ORs evaluated individually.ConclusionThe OR relay strategy has a positive impact on TOT.