We report our experience with the Levitronix CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) in the setting of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system support as treatment for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. Between January 2007 and August 2011, 14 consecutive adult patients received CentriMag ECMO support after cardiac surgery procedures at our institution. There were nine males (64.3%) and the mean age was 53.1 ± 14.3 years (range: 25-70 years). Cardiac surgery included: n = 6, aortic and/or mitral valve replacement; n = 5, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); and n = 3, Bentall procedures. The CentriMag ECMO support was installed centrally in eight patients and peripherally in six. Median duration of support was 5 days (range: 1-55 days). Seven patients were weaned from ECMO (50%), whereas six patients died while on support mainly because of multiple organ failure (42.9%). One patient died on ECMO support after transfer to the referral hub center while waiting for heart transplantation (Htx). Six (42.8%) patients were successfully discharged home. Levitronix CentriMag in ECMO configuration proved to be effective in managing postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock and the results are encouraging. The system was easy to install and manage.

This study provides contemporary data on the characteristics and outcome of patients undergoing first-time isolated aortic valve replacement.

Background-Age Ͼ90 years represents in many centers an absolute contraindication to cardiac surgery. Nonagenarians are a rapidly growing subset of the population posing an expanding clinical problem. To provide helpful information in regard to this complex decision, we analyzed the operative and 5-year results of coronary and valvular surgical procedures in these patients. Methods and Results-We retrospectively reviewed 127 patients aged Ն90 years who underwent cardiac surgery within our hospital group in the period 1998 to 2008. Kaplan-Meier and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. A longer follow-up than most published studies and the largest series published thus far are presented. Mean age was 92 years (range, 90 to 103 years). Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 21.3Ϯ6.1. Sixty patients had valvular surgery (including 11 valve repairs), 49 patients had coronary artery bypass grafting, and 18 had valvular plus coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (55 left mammary artery grafts implanted). Forty-five patients (35.4%) were operated on nonelectively. Operative mortality was 13.4% (17 cases). Fifty-four patients (42.5%) had a complicated postoperative course. There were no statistically significant differences in the rate and type of complications between patient strata on the basis of type of surgery performed. Nonelective priority predicted a complicated postoperative course. Predictors of operative mortality were nonelective priority and previous myocardial infarction. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 5 years were comparable between patient groups on the basis of procedure performed. Conclusions-Although the rate of postoperative complications remains high, cardiac surgery in nonagenarians can achieve functional improvement at the price of considerable operative and follow-up mortality rates. Cardiac operations in these very elderly subjects are supported if appropriate selection is made and if the operation is performed earlier and electively. Our results should contribute to the development of guidelines for cardiac operations in nonagenarians.

This study, showing that contemporary outcomes after AVR are excellent, may help to improve treatment decision-making in elderly patients with aortic valve disease.