OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and feasibility of different techniques of reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in surgical repair of truncus arteriosus. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients with truncus arteriosus who underwent successful surgical repair in our centre between 1994 and 2017. We analysed late results according to the type of RVOT repair. RESULTS We collected data from 29 survivors after truncus arteriosus repair. Six (20%) of them were affected by DiGeorge syndrome. The RVOT reconstruction was achieved using a valved conduit in 58.6%, while a direct right ventricle–pulmonary artery (RV–PA) anastomosis, with or without the interposition of the left atrial appendage, was performed in the remaining. At a median follow-up time of 7.9 years (interquartile range 1.8–13.1), 6 patients (3 affected by DiGeorge syndrome) died. Between the 2 groups, there were no differences in terms of the late mortality and onset of adverse events. However, the use of a conduit seemed more prone to reintervention and onset of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Different RVOT reconstruction techniques are safe and have similar late outcomes. However, use of a direct RV–PA anastomosis and left atrial appendage interposition may reduce the need for reoperation in the long term.

| 4293 best quality of life for the patients. More studies are needed to definitively establish the long-term durability and valve predisposition to SVD.

No abstract

Objective: We aim to show the step-by-step surgical technique of mitral valve re-repair by means of a repeated right anterior minithoracotomy in a case of a procedure-related early mitral valve repair failure due to left ventricular positive remodeling and chordal pseudo-elongation. Methods: The patient was readdressed to our institution for an early severe mitral valve regurgitation, less than a year after performing a right minithoracotomy mitral valve repair (42-mm annular ring implantation, P2 triangular resection, and P2 neochord positioning). The mechanism was attributed to a positive left ventricle remodeling and neochordal pseudo-elongation. Therefore, we decided to perform a mitral valve re-repair in a redo minimally invasive cardiac surgery. We describe in a video-guided step-by-step fashion the surgical procedure, from the reopening of the right anterior minithoracotomy to the surgical strategy chosen to address the re-repair, guided by the mechanism of the previous repair failure. Results: We replaced the previously implanted ring with a smaller one and positioned a new polytetrafluoroethylene 4-0 neochord at the P2 level. The patient was discharged home on the fifth postoperative day after an uneventful hospital stay. Predischarge echocardiogram demonstrated undetectable residual mitral valve regurgitation. At 3-month follow-up, echocardiographic and clinical data were encouraging. At 9-month follow-up, the patient endorsed no recurrence of cardiologic symptoms. Conclusions: Redo minimally invasive cardiac surgery is a viable option even in case of a mitral valve re-repair due to previous repair failure, especially when procedure related in degenerative mitral disease. Combining the benefits of mitral valve re-repair with those of a minimally invasive surgery may optimize short-term and long-term outcomes.

In their paper, Moula et al. conducted a metanalysis which aimed to investigate the differences in intrahospital outcomes of ET vs. FET. Twenty-one published articles between 2008 and 2021 with 3,153 patients were included. ET was associated with higher early mortality but lower incidence of SCI compared to FET. However, when studies published in the last 5 years were analyzed, no significant differences were found between ET and FET.

In this video tutorial, we demonstrate that minimally invasive cardiac surgery and all its benefits can be applied even to complex, multiple cardiac procedures. We present a 71-year-old patient with severely obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, moderate mitral regurgitation for systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, moderate aortic stenosis and regurgitation and atrial fibrillation. We performed a mitroaortic valve replacement, transmitral and transaortic septal myectomy and left atrial appendage closure through a minimally invasive approach (right anterolateral minithoracotomy). After establishing peripheric cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping and a left atrium opening, the anterior mitral leaflet was incised circumferentially at its insertion on the annulus to allow an optimal transmitral myectomy. Subsequently, mitral valve removal was completed, and a bioprosthesis was implanted. After closure of the left atrium, the left atrial appendage was closed using a 40-mm device (Atriclip). The aorta was then opened, the aortic valve was excised and a transaortic septal myectomy was completed. Finally, a sutureless aortic bioprosthesis was implanted. Postoperative transoesophageal and transthoracic surgery demonstrated a residual left ventricular outflow tract gradient of 14 mmHg and the correct performance of both biological prostheses. Minimally invasive heart surgery can be offered even to patients requiring complex and multiple procedures, including septal myectomy. Combining the benefits of the operation with those of a minimally invasive approach may optimize postoperative and long-term surgical outcomes.

Postoperative stroke is a rare but feared complication after cardiac surgery. The clinical presentation and the evolution of postoperative stroke associated with bypass surgery are extremely heterogeneous and depend on multiple factors, which are not always easy to identify. Computed tomography scan parameters like visual rating scales, in particular, the age‐related white matter changes and Mendes Ribero visual rating scale scores, could be used to predict postoperative stroke reconvalescence. Being reproducible and quickly appliable in everyday clinical practice, their implementation results are easy. Further studies are still required to validate these scores, to identify a “cut‐off” value for highly likely or unlikely neurological recovery.

No abstract