OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyse the impact of a simplified frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique on early outcome. METHODS: Between October 2010 and August 2018, 92 consecutive patients (mean age 64.4 ± 12.2 years) underwent FET surgery. Underlying pathologies were thoracic aneurysm in 35 patients, acute aortic dissection in 25 patients and chronic dissection in 32 patients. Thirty patients underwent a simplified FET technique with deployment of the stent graft in arch zone 2 with an extra-anatomic bypass to the distal left subclavian artery using the third branch of the Thoraflex™ Hybrid Plexus prosthesis via a supraclavicular access during reperfusion. These patients were compared to 62 patients who received the conventional FET procedure, in which a distal anastomosis is performed in arch zone 3. RESULTS: Circulatory arrest (41.7 ± 10.5 vs 76.5 ± 33.0 min; P < 0.001) and antegrade cerebral perfusion times (60.9 ± 13.5 vs 92.1 ± 33.1 min; P < 0.001) were significantly reduced in zone 2 vs zone 3 patients, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 3.3% (n = 1) in zone 2 patients vs 17.7% (n = 11) in zone 3 patients (P = 0.75). Stent deployment in zone 2 was associated with significantly reduced rates of postoperative stroke [zone 2: n = 0 (0.0%); zone 3: n = 11 (17.7%), P = 0.046] and recurrent nerve palsy [zone 2: n = 1 (3.3%); zone 3: n = 14 (22.6%), P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Simplifying the FET procedure leads to reduced circulatory arrest and cerebral perfusion times and improves early outcome.

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Our long-term data confirm the findings of the MAGIC study. The LV function did not improve, but the long-term LV volumes in the high-dosage group were reduced. During the follow-up, there were also no additional arrhythmogenic incidences. Our data could imply that CABG in combination with ASM-Tx is safe and has beneficial therapeutic effects in the long-term. However, due to the small patient number, the clinical impact is limited.

Background: Early survivors of acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) remain at risk for late death and late aortic events. However, the frequency and long-term effects of warfarin anticoagulation on long-term outcome in post-surgical AAAD survivors have not been elucidated. Methods:Two tertiary care centers performed a retrospective observational cohort study of warfarin anticoagulation in AAAD in 243 persons with early survival of surgical repair (WATAS). Serial postoperative tomographic imaging was available in 106 persons.Results: A total of 88 postoperative AAAD survivors (36%) were on long-term warfarin anticoagulation.The indication for anticoagulation was a mechanical aortic prosthesis in 46 (52%), atrial fibrillation in 33 (38%), stroke in 7 (8%), and pulmonary embolism in 1 (1%). The indication for anticoagulation remained unclear in 1 person (1%). Survival and aortic event free survival were 98.3±0.01 and 98.7±0.01 at 1 year, and 76.4±0.03 and 91.8±0.02 at 5 years, respectively, with no differences irrespective of warfarin anticoagulation. Multivariate Cox regression analysis established higher age (P<0.001), and operation extending into the descending aorta (P=0.030) as independent predictors of late death. Follow-up without tomographic imaging independently predicted increased long-term mortality (P<0.001) and lower rates of documented aortic events (P=0.003). Kaplan-Meyer analysis showed a relationship of aortic diameter growth ≥0.5 cm per year with late death (P=0.041) and with late aortic events (P<0.001). However, rapid aortic growth did not relate to warfarin anticoagulation.Conclusions: Warfarin anticoagulation is frequent in postsurgical AAAD and it is administered for vital indications. Warfarin anticoagulation does not relate to late mortality or to late aortic events. Rapid aortic growth predicts late mortality and late aortic events, but warfarin anticoagulation is not associated with aortic growth. Follow-up tomographic imaging is mandatory for long-term survival after surgical repair of AAAD. von Kodolitsch et al. Warfarin in aortic dissection

MICS for ASD II is a safe and reproducible procedure with 0% mortality in our cohort. More complete closure of ASD, decreased rates of new onset AF and decreased need for oral anticoagulation are the advantages of the MICS procedure. Compared with the current standard of care, the MICS approach is feasible regardless of ASD morphology.

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Background: Pathogenic variants in TGFBR1, TGFBR2 and SMAD3 genes cause Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and pathogenic variants in FBN1 cause Marfan syndrome. Despite their similar phenotypes, both syndromes may have different cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: Three expert centers performed a case-matched comparison of cardiovascular outcomes. The Loeys-Dietz group comprised 43 men and 40 women with a mean age of 34 ± 18 years. Twenty-six individuals had pathogenic variants in TGFBR1, 40 in TGFBR2, and 17 in SMAD3. For case-matched comparison we used 83 age and sex-frequency matched individuals with Marfan syndrome. Results: In Loeys-Dietz compared to Marfan syndrome, a patent ductus arteriosus (p = 0.014) was more prevalent, the craniofacial score was higher (p < 0.001), the systemic score lower (p < 0.001), and mitral valve prolapse less frequent (p = 0.003). Mean survival for Loeys-Dietz and Marfan syndrome was similar (75 ± 3 versus 73 ± 2 years; p = 0.811). Cardiovascular outcome was comparable between Loeys-Dietz and Marfan syndrome, including mean freedom from proximal aortic surgery (53 ± 4 versus 48 ± 3 years; p = 0.589), distal aortic repair (72 ± 3 versus 67 ± 2 years; p = 0.777), mitral valve surgery (75 ± 4 versus 65 ± 3 years; p = 0.108), and reintervention (20 ± 3 versus 14 ± 2 years; p = 0.112). In Loeys-Dietz syndrome, lower age at initial presentation predicted proximal aortic surgery (HR = 0.748; p < 0.001), where receiver operating characteristic analysis identified ≤33.5 years with increased risk. In addition, increased aortic sinus diameters (HR = 6.502; p = 0.001), and higher systemic score points at least marginally (HR = 1.175; p = 0.065) related to proximal aortic surgery in Loeys-Dietz syndrome. Conclusions: Cardiovascular outcome of Loeys-Dietz syndrome was comparable to Marfan syndrome, but the severity of systemic manifestations was a predictor of proximal aortic surgery.

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