High-volume Centers Research Articles

Baseline C-reactive protein as a predictor of non-ischemic LGE in myocarditis

Abstract Background Identifying reliable early indicators of myocardial injury in myocarditis is a pressing concern in cardiology. Despite their established role in detecting myocardial necrosis, traditional markers like high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) may not fully capture the extent of myocardial damage identified by non-ischemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) Purpose To identify early admission biomarkers associated with non-ischemic LGE in patients with myocarditis, offering the potential for improved risk stratification and therapeutic targeting. Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed 59 myocarditis patients admitted to a high-volume medical center from 2017 to 2023, who underwent CMR to evaluate LGE. 41 patients (69.5%) exhibited non-ischemic LGE and 18 (30.5%) did not. We assessed baseline laboratory and echocardiographic parameters, employing Pearson correlation, logistic regression, and ROC curve analyses to elucidate the potential association of baseline biomarkers with non-ischemic LGE, while also discerning subepicardial from midwall patterns. Results Baseline C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels were significantly correlated with non-ischemic LGE (Pearson's r=0.301, p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis substantiated CRP as a predictor of non-ischemic LGE (OR=1.41, p<0.05), corroborated by a multivariate approach even after accounting for age and sex (OR=1.33; p<0.05). Among non-ischemic patterns, subepicardial LGE exhibited the strongest correlation with CRP (Pearson's r=0.321, p<0.05). In contrast, hs-cTn levels showed no significant association with non-ischemic LGE. The ROC analysis revealed that while both CRP and hs-cTn provide valid predictive values for non-ischemic LGE, with AUCs of 0.7333 and 0.6898 respectively, CRP demonstrated a higher discriminative performance, indicating that CRP may offer a more reliable assessment in this clinical context. Additionally, diabetic status emerged as the most significant condition associated with increased CRP levels, with diabetic patients presenting a substantial elevation in baseline CRP compared to non-diabetic patients (8.75 mg/dl vs 3.21 mg/dl; p<0.05). Conclusion CRP appears as a key early biomarker for non-ischemic LGE in myocarditis, with its predictive value being particularly evident in the subepicardial pattern and notably more pronounced among diabetic patients who demonstrate an increased inflammatory burden. These findings suggest a critical role for CRP in risk stratification right from the point of hospital admission and underline the potential for tailored therapeutic approaches that warrant further investigations. Figure 1: ROC curves comparison for CRP and hs-cTn in predicting non-ischemic LGE in myocarditis patients. Figure 2: Patients with diabetes (DM) exhibit significantly higher CRP levels (mean 8.75 mg/dl, SE = 5.54 mg/dl) than those without DM (mean 3.21 mg/dl, SE = 0.49 mg/dl).ROC curves comparisonCPR in patients with and without DM

Procedural and clinical outcomes according to ultrasound-guided access in TAVI: a propensity-matched comparative sub-analysis from the PULSE registry

Abstract Background Access-related vascular and bleeding complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound-guided (USG) puncture may reduce the incidence of these events, particularly in large-bore arterial access. However, large-scale data on this approach are limited and it has not yet fully been implemented into standard clinical practice during TAVI. Purpose We compared access-related vascular and bleeding complications in USG versus fluoroscopy-guided (FG) access from a large multicenter TAVI registry. Methods The PULSE registry (Plug or sUture based vascuLar cloSurE after TAVI) retrospectively evaluated data of 9,295 patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI at 10 high-volume German heart centers from 2016 to 2021. USG and FG access were performed in 1,992 (21.4%) and 7,303 (78.6%) patients, respectively. A propensity score was used to match 1,023 FG with 1,023 USG access patients in a 1:1 fashion. The primary endpoint was a composite of minor and major vascular complications at the TAVI-access site or bleeding type II-IV. Outcomes were evaluated in accordance with the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC-3) definitions. Results Mean age was 81.9±6.25 years and 48.0% of patients were female. Comorbidities and clinical variables were well-balanced in matched groups. The overall risk profile was comparable in USG vs. FG (mean EuroSCORE II: 3.4 [2.1, 6.4] vs. 3.6 [2.2, 5.7], p=0.54). The primary end point occurred in 12.0% in the USG and 17.7% in the FG group, p<0.001. While major large bore access-related vascular complications did not differ significantly (3.5% vs. 4.2%, p=0.49), there was a trend towards lower minor complications for USG compared to FG (5.9% vs. 7.8%, p=0.096). Large bore access-related bleeding occurred in 5.5% versus 7.8% (p=0.04) of patients. Endovascular balloon inflation was required in 0.6% and 3.3% (p<0.001) of all large-bore access vascular complications. Stroke (1.7% vs. 1.5%, p=0.86) and stage III/IV acute kidney injury (3.0% vs. 2.2%, p=0.42) were similar in both groups. Conclusion In patients treated with transfemoral TAVI, ultrasound-guidance for gaining access was associated with lower rates of access-related vascular complications or type II-IV bleeding. Endovascular treatment was required more frequently in case of a fluoroscopy-guided approach. These findings challenge the fact that most TAVI procedures were performed with fluoroscopy-guidance.

High-intensity exercise-related sudden cardiac death in hypertrophy cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Whether exercise provokes sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is uncertain. Current European guidelines recommend against high-intensity exercise in individuals with high SCD risk or obstructive physiology. Purpose We investigated the factors associated with exercise-related SCD in HCM. Methods We retrospectively analyzed of 2,844 consecutive patients with HCM who underwent evaluation between 2005 and 2023 at a high-volume tertiary center. SCD events were defined as a composite of aborted SCD, appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock, and SCD. Among 80 first SCD events (2.8%), 75 events had a description of the physical activity at the time of the event. Patients were classified into two groups according to physical activity level at the time of the SCD event. Group 1 included patients with high-intensity exercise-related SCD events, defined as happening during or immediately after high-intensity exercise or physical activity, while Group 2 included patients with SCD events happening at rest or during light or moderate physical activity. Results The 75 first SCD events included 44 aborted SCD, 22 appropriate ICD shocks, and 9 SCD. Median age at SCD event was 54 (IQR 39.5–62.5) years and 60 (80%) were men. Patients in Group 1 (n=14) were younger than patients in Group 2 (n=61) (23.5 [IQR 16–48] vs. 55 [IQR 44–64] years, p<0.001), and most patients in group 1 (92.9%) were under the age of 60 years. Patients in Group 1 had slightly smaller left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension and had higher ESC SCD risk scores (3.6 [IQR 2.5–6.7] vs. 2.4 [IQR 1.7–4.8], p=0.044) than patients in Group 2; however, there were no significant differences in the proportion of high-risk patients (28.6% vs. 14.8%, p=0.396) or patients with AHA major SCD risk factors (57.1% vs. 55.7%, p=0.999). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in the presence of obstructive physiology, apical HCM, and apical aneurysm, LV systolic and diastolic function, and comorbidities between the two groups. Furthermore, of the 29 patients who underwent genetic testing, there was no difference in the proportion of patients with pathogenic sarcomeric variants according to exercise-related SCD (50.0% vs. 65.2%, p=0.683). To note, there was a non-significant tendency towards higher proportion of thin filament variants in Group 1 than Group 2 among those with pathogenic sarcomeric variants (100% [3/3] vs 26.7% [4/15], p=0.084). Conclusions Most high-intensity exercise-related SCD events happened under the age of 60. The ESC SCD risk score was higher in patients with high-intensity exercise-related SCD events, although the SCD risk categories or AHA risk factors could not discriminate patients at higher risk of events. These results suggest that exercise recommendations should not be based on SCD risk category, presence of obstruction, or degree of LV hypertrophy.

Long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: derivation and validation of the long-TAVI prediction model

Abstract Background Identification of high-risk individuals after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is essential to personalized care. Established risk models require a plethora of variables, fail to account for biomarker dynamics and imaging parameters, mostly focus on the short term, and offer limited predictive performance. Purpose We aimed to develop an easily applicable prediction model for long-term mortality or heart failure (HF) admission following TAVI. Methods Patients undergoing TAVI at a high-volume university centre in the United Kingdom (n = 990) were recruited into a prospective cohort study. Enrolled patients were divided into a development cohort (07/2007 – 12/2016) and a validation cohort (01/2017 – 11/2018) and followed for up to 15.1 (median 5.3, interquartile range [IQR] 2.8 – 7.4) years. Patient characteristics along with pre- and post-procedural imaging results and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels before the procedure and at 3 months were recorded. A clinical risk score for long-term mortality and HF admission (i.e., Long-TAVI risk score) was derived using Cox regression and evaluated using time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Results Age at presentation was 79.8 (standard deviation [SD] 8.9) years, 961 (99.0%) patients had signs of heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction was 52 (SD 11.2), and pre-TAVI BNP levels were 298.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 159.0 – 571.5) pg/mL. High BNP levels at presentation (higher vs. lower than 400 pg/mL: HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.17 – 1.92, P < 0.001) and dynamic changes in BNP with the first 3 months (low/high vs. low/low: 2.61, 95% CI 1.17 – 5.86, P = 0.020; high/high vs. low/low: 2.41, 95% CI 1.26 – 4.64, P = 0.008) were independent predictors mortality or HF admission. The simple 8-item Long-TAVI score accounts for periprocedural BNP dynamics and shows good discrimination (AUC 0.76, 95% CI 0.72 – 0.79) and calibration in the development cohort performing similarly well in the external validation cohort (AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.63 – 0.77). Long-TAVI significantly outperformed the logistic EURO score (AUC 0.56, 95% CI 0.52 – 0.59, P < 0.001). Conclusion Both pre-TAVI BNP levels and periprocedural BNP trajectories are independently associated with long-term outcomes after TAVI. Accounting for clinical characteristics, imaging parameters, and circulating BNP levels, the newly developed Long-TAVI risk score achieves high performance and provides the first prediction model for long-term mortality or HF admission. Long-TAVI represents a novel tool for personalized risk assessment in patients undergoing TAVI.Correlation at baseline A) and FUP B)Score performance A) and risk groups B)

Frailty and associated outcomes in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

Abstract Introduction Despite older age at diagnosis, the prevalence and clinical impact of frailty, an age-related geriatric syndrome, in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is poorly described. Purpose To determine: (1) the prevalence of frailty in ATTR amyloidosis patients; (2) the clinical frailty phenotype in ATTR amyloidosis (3) the independent and incremental prognostic value of frailty. Methods All consecutive patients diagnosed with ATTR-CA who underwent frailty assessment at two high-volume tertiary care centres from September 2019 to April 2023 were included in the study. Functional assessment was performed with the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), an established frailty screening tool that stratifies patients on a nine-point scale ranging from 1 (very well) to 9 (terminally ill) providing a useful measure of physiological reserve. Frailty was defined as CFS >4. Functional status was further categorized as follows: 'non-frail' (CFS 1-3), ‘mild’ frailty (CFS 4-5), and 'moderate-to-severe' frailty (CFS 6-9). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with CFS 6-9. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independent and incremental prognostic value of frailty. Results The study comprised 880 patients with ATTR-CA (719 [81.7%] with wt-ATTR-CA, 85 [9.7%] with p.(V142I) hATTR-CA and 76 [8.6%] with a non-p.(V142I) hATTR-CA. Overall, 43.0% (N=378) were considered ‘non-frail’ (CFS 1-3). Prevalence of ‘mild’ frailty (CFS 4-5) was 41.4% (N=364), while prevalence of 'moderate-to-severe' frailty (CFS 6-9) was 15.7% (N=138). Frail patients were older, more symptomatic and with advanced disease stage as assessed with the National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) staging system. At logistic regression analysis, age, female gender, non-p.(V142I) variants and NAC stage were associated with 'moderate-to-severe' frailty. Over a median 22 months, 16.8% died, with mortality rising with higher CFS levels. At Cox multivariable analysis, CFS was strongly associated with mortality (CFS 4-5 vs 1-3: Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.821, 95% C.I. 1.724-4.613; CFS 6-9 vs 1-3: HR 6.179, 95% C.I. 3.694-10.335, overall p-value<0.001), along with NAC stage and age. The addition of CFS to the NAC staging system significantly improved the goodness-of-fit of the model (X2: 73.26, p<0.00001), and significantly improved the discriminatory ability of the NAC alone (Figure, Harrell’s C statistics: 0.78, 95% C.I. [0.72-0.83] vs 0.69, 95% C.I. [0.64-0.75], p<0.0001). CONCLUSION Frailty is highly prevalent in patients with ATTR-CA, with up to 57% of patients living with some degree of frailty. Older age, female gender, non-p.(V142I) hATTR-CA variants and advanced disease stage were independently associated with moderate to severe frailty. Frailty was independently associated with all-cause mortality after adjusting for known predictors and increased the global predictivity of the NAC Score.Survival by Frailty Status and NAC

Impact of intravascular imaging on mortality in patients undergoing left main coronary artery PCI. Propensity score matching analysis of the high-volume single centre registry

Abstract Background Recent guidelines endorsed use of intravascular imaging in left main coronary artery (LMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, impact of adjunctive percutaneous imaging tools on mortality is ambiguous. Purpose The purpose was to investigate impact of intravascular imaging (IVI) on all-cause mortality in patients with LMCA disease. Methods Group of 998 individuals undergoing LMCA PCI was selected from medical records of patients hospitalized in years 2008-2022. Data on mortality were obtained from the Ministry of Digital Affairs. Overall observation time was 14 years (mean 4.3 years). Survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression in the overall and propensity-score matched (PSM) population. Results The median age was 71 y.o. (IQR 16), 265 (41.0%) of patients presented with acute myocardial infarction and 183 (20.7%) had history of previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). IVI-guided PCI was performed in 353 (35.4%) patients. In the overall unmatched population, IVI reduced one-year and long-term mortality by 70% (HR 0.3, 95% 0.19-0.47, P<0.001) and 57% (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.34-0.55, P<0.001). In the subgroup analysis stratified on the history of previous CABG, in patients with unprotected LMCA, IVI resulted in 74% and 63% mortality reduction in the one-year and long-term follow-up (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.16-0.42, P<0.001; HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.28-0.47, P<0.001; respectively). No influence of IVI on patients with previous CABG was observed. After PSM adjustment for baseline and angiographical characteristics, in the overall population IVI was still associated with significant one-year (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.99, P=0.045) and long-term mortality reduction (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.97, P=0.03). In patients with unprotected LMCA disease, IVI reduced mortality in two-year observation (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.91, P=0.02) and long-term follow-up (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.93, P=0.02), with no significant effect in one-year observation. No effect of IVI was observed in the PS-matched cohort of patients with previous CABG. Conclusions Intravascular imaging is associated with significantly better survival in patients undergoing LMCA PCI. The greatest benefit may be obtained in patients with no previous history of CABG. Further studies should investigate subgroups that benefit the most from adjunctive percutaneous tools.PS-matching detailsKaplan-Meier curves in subgroups

Cusp-overlap technique to reduce permanent pacemaker implantation rate after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract Background Persistent conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation are one of the most common complications after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). Cusp-Overlap Technique (COT) is a novel approach for self-expandable valve implantation to minimize the rate of procedural complications, mainly PPM implantation. Purpose To determine if the COT during TAVI with self-expandable valves leads to a reduction of PPM implantation rate in the real-world setting. Methods A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing TAVI between January 2020 and November 2023 in one high-volume tertiary care center in Portugal was conducted. Two groups were defined, the COT group and the control group based on the fluoroscopic approach. A baseline comparison between the 2 groups was made using independent-samples t-test and chi-square analysis to determine if there was a difference between the prevalence of known risk factors for PPM implantation after TAVI. Afterwards, chi-square analysis was used to determine if COT led to a reduction in the PPM implantation rate. Results Of the 539 completed procedures in this timeframe, 289 were excluded due to previous pacemaker implantation, use of a valve not amenable to COT or valve-in-valve implantation. COT was used in 57.6% of eligible cases. Baseline comparison did not show a significant difference in the prevalence of several known risk factors for PPM implantation, including complete right bundle branch block, atrio-ventricular block, calcium score, aortic ring dimensions and pre/post-dilation. PPM implantation after TAVI was required in 31.6% of cases. In the COT group the PPM implantation rate was 22.9% and in the control group 43.4%. Chi-square analysis showed a very statistically significant difference between the 2 analyzed groups (p-value = 0.001). Conclusion PPM implantation remains a frequent complication of TAVI. However, this study showed that the utilization of COT leads to a reduction of the PPM implantation rate.

Safety and efficacy of leadless pacemaker extraction using a novel retrieval tool: a multicenter analysis

Abstract Background Leadless pacemakers (LP) have emerged as a safe and effective alternative for cardiac pacing, increasingly adopted by the medical community. While rare, complications such as pacemaker syndrome or device dislodgment can occur. In such instances, the extraction of the leadless pacemaker and its replacement with a new device should be considered. Purpose This multicenter study aimed to describe the use of the Aveir retrieval sheath during Micra extraction procedure and to assess the success rates and potential complications associated with the procedure. Methods In this observational study, we analyzed prospectively collected data from 14 patients that underwent leadless pacemaker using Abbott retrieval catheter at three high volume centers for pacemaker extraction and leadless implant in United States. Thought femoral vein the Aveir steerable retrieval catheter is advanced to the right atrium and then across the tricuspid valve. Under TEE and fluoroscopy guidance the snare is advanced over the Micra, and the button is secured. A protective sleeve is advanced over the LP. With application of traction to snare and countertraction with the sleeve against the endocardium, the LP is free from the myocardium and removed via the sheath. (Fig. 1) The procedural duration should be intended as the combined total of the time taken for the extraction of the existing pacemaker and the implantation time of the new device. Extractions performed during the first year were described as early and thereafter as late. Procedural success was described as complete extraction of LP without procedural complication. Results The reason for early explant was LP dislodgment and for late explant was pacemaker syndrome. Median time to extraction was 4±2 months in early explant and 35±9 months in late explant. Procedural time in early and late groups was 68.7 and 72.3 min respectively (P=0.32). Fluoroscopy time in early and late groups was 12.2 and 16.4 respectively (P= 0.18). LP was then replaced with a transvenous pacemaker. Success was 100% in both groups. No complication occurred in both groups. Conclusion Micra pacemaker using Aveir retrieval catheter is an effective tool irrespective of dwell time.

Clinical outcomes following debulking atherectomy of calcified left main coronary lesions: a high-volume centre experience

Abstract Introduction Plaque modifying-debulking (PMD) devices are the most effective initial strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of severely calcified lesions including left main coronary artery (LMCA). There is limited data comparing the short and long clinical outcomes of these devices in LMCA lesions. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients with fibrocalcified LMCA lesions treated with PCI with adjunctive PMD devices at a large centre between 2008 and 2021. The primary study endpoint was long-term mortality at documented longest follow-up. Secondary endpoints included procedural complications and inhospital clinical outcome. Results A total of 302 patients with fibrocalcified LMCA lesions treated with rotational atherectomy (RA; n=240), intracoronary lithotripsy (ICL; n=30) or excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA; n=32) were included. Approximately 55% of all patients presented with acute coronary syndromes. Technical success was achieved in 98.7% of patients and procedural success was achieved in 95.4% of patients. At a median follow-up of 42 [19-62] months, there was no difference in mortality between the 3 PMD modalities (RA 54/240 [23.4%] vs. ICL 1/30 [3.3%] vs. ELCA 5/32 [15.6%], P=0.128). Likewise, in-hospital clinical outcomes were similar. However, procedural complications were significantly higher in the ELCA group. Conclusions In patients with fibrocalcified LMCA lesions treated with PCI, adjunctive PMD devices appear safe with survival excceding 80% at long-term follow-up. Our study suggests that ELCA use may be associated with higher procedural risks however this did not increase in-hospital clinical outcomes or long-term mortality risk.

The feasibility of double stent strategy in left main true bifurcation with small and large angle change between diastole and systole: The Milan and New-Tokyo (MITO) registry.

Provisional single stenting strategy (PSS) is a default strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions (ULMD). Previous study reported that a bifurcation angle change (BAC) between end diastole and systole was associated with outcomes after PCI with double stent strategy (DSS) for ULMD. However, there are no data comparing outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS according the degree of BAC. We evaluated outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS for true ULMD with small and large BAC. We identified 566 patients with true ULMD underwent PCI in three high-volume centers. We calculated the BAC in ULMD between end-diastole and systole before stenting with 2-dimensional quantitative coronary angiographic assessment. We defined small (BAC < 7.0°) and large BAC (≥7.0°) group. We compared clinical outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS in each cohort after propensity score adjustment. The primary endpoint was target-lesion failure (TLF), which was defined as a composite of cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, and myocardial infarction. In small BAC cohort, TLF rate was significantly lower in DSS group than in PSS group (12.5% vs. 20.1%, adjusted HR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26-0.79; p = 0.006). In contrast, in large BAC cohort, TLF rate was significantly higher in DSS group than in PSS group (54.9% vs. 29.0%, adjusted HR 2.25; 95% CI, 1.50-3.38; p < 0.001). The TLF rate after PCI with DSS was significantly lower in true ULMD with small BAC compared to PSS even after propensity score adjustment. In contrast, it was significantly higher in those with large BAC.

Is It Worth Performing Intersphincteric Resection in Patients Having Rectal Adenocarcinoma with Oligometastasis

AbstractIntersphincteric resection (ISR) is being increasingly performed in metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma (with oligometastasis) patients. There has been a trend towards worse prognosis in this group. This study compares the oncological and surgical outcomes of patients with and without pre-operative oligometastasis who underwent ISR. The outcomes compared include prognostic factors like margin positivity, recurrence rates, stoma reversal rate, and surgical failure rate (defined as a combination of one or more of the aforestated factors). The demographic pattern, American Society of Anaesthesia grade (ASA), treatment received, clinical and histopathological T and N stage, grade, type of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach, neoadjuvant therapy, and pathological high-risk features are also studied. Patients who underwent minimally invasive ISR over 10 years at a high-volume tertiary cancer center were selected for the study. Factors used for the assessment of oncological outcomes were margin positivity (circumferential resection and distal margin), recurrence (both local and systemic), and stoma reversal rate. A descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Four hundred and eight patients underwent minimally invasive ISR of which 25 (6.12%) patients were oligometastatic. While R0 resection was similar in both groups, higher overall recurrence (24% versus 18.5%) and low stoma reversal rate (36.8% versus 67.3%) were observed in the oligometastatic group with statistically significant differences. No local recurrence was seen in the oligometastatic group, and the difference compared to non-metastatic group was not statistically different. This study indicates that oligometastatic patients who underwent ISR experienced lower stoma reversal rates, maintaining similar local control but facing higher rates of systemic recurrence.

Procedural Volume and Outcomes After Septal Reduction Therapies in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation (ASA) are septal reduction therapies for patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Operator and hospital volume may influence outcomes, but contemporary data on this relationship are limited. This retrospective cohort study used data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base (2016-2022). Patients with undergoing septal myectomy and ASA were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes and stratified into low-, medium-, and high-volume groups based on annualized operator and hospital volumes. The outcomes were 30-day in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmission, analyzed using multivariable adjusted logistic and Cox models. Among 5725 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (3990 septal myectomy; 1735 ASA), most operators and hospitals performed <10 procedures annually. For septal myectomy, low-volume operators were associated with higher odds of 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.86 [95% CI, 1.11-3.15]) and greater risk for 90-day readmission (aOR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.22-1.88]), and medium-volume operators had higher odds of 30-day mortality (aOR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.05-3.55]). Medium-volume hospitals had higher 30-day mortality (aOR, 2.29 [95% CI, 1.32-3.99]), with low-volume hospitals showing greater risk for 90-day readmission (aOR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.14-2.23]). For ASA, low- and medium-volume operators had increased 30-day mortality (aOR, 2.99 [95% CI, 1.15-7.75] and aOR, 3.86 [95% CI, 1.30-11.46]), but the risk of 90-day readmission was similar. Hospital volumes did not significantly impact outcomes for ASA. Low operator and hospital volumes were associated with worse outcomes for septal reduction therapies, emphasizing the need to refer patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to high-volume centers with experienced operators.

Can Obesity Serve as a Barrier to Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery? Overcoming the Limitations-A Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis.

Background/Objectives: Over the past two decades, significant advancements in mitral valve surgery have focused on minimally invasive techniques. Some surgeons consider obesity as a relative contraindication for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the specific characteristics of obese patients contribute to increased surgical complexity and whether this, in turn, leads to worse clinical outcomes compared to non-obese patients. Furthermore, we aim to explore whether these findings could substantiate the consideration of limiting this treatment option for obese patients. We investigated the outcomes of MIMVS in obese and non-obese patients at a high-volume center in Germany staffed by an experienced surgical team well-versed in perioperative management. Methods: A total of 934 MIMVS were performed in our high-volume center in Germany from 2011 to 2023. Of these, 196 patients had a BMI of 30 or higher (obese group), while 738 patients had a BMI below 30 (non-obese group), all of whom underwent MIMVS by right minithoracotomy. Demographic information, echocardiographic assessments, surgical data, and clinical outcome parameters were collected for all patients. Results: There was no significant difference in in-hospital, 30-day, and late mortality between groups (obese vs. non-obese: 6 [3.0%] vs. 14 [1.8%], p = 0.40; 6 [3.0%] vs. 14 [1.8%], p = 0.40; 13 [6.6%] vs. 39 [5.3%], p = 0.48, respectively). Respiratory insufficiency and arrhythmia occurred more frequently in the obese group (obese vs. non-obese: 25 [12.7%] vs. 35 [4.7%], p < 0.001; 35 [17.8%] vs. 77 [10.4%], p = 0.006). Conclusions: Obesity was not associated with increased early or late mortality in patients undergoing MIMVS. However, obese patients experienced higher incidences of postoperative complications, including respiratory insufficiency, arrhythmias, delirium, and wound dehiscence. Nonetheless, a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that obesity itself does not contraindicate MIMVS and should not be viewed as a barrier to offering this minimally invasive approach to obese patients.

Feasibility of telementoring during robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Introduction Telementoring could increase the quality, reduce the time, and increase cost efficiency of the proctoring program for robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). However, feasibility is unclear as no studies assessed telementoring for RAMIE. Methods The feasibility of telementoring was assessed during the thoracic part of RAMIE procedures in three high-volume centers. RAMIEs were performed by trained surgeons, proctored by two experts. The primary outcome was impact of the technology on conveying and understanding instructions. Results Between December 2021 and December 2022, nine RAMIE procedures were proctored using the telementoring. Overall quality of the telementoring technique was scored good to excellent (median score: good). The vast majority of the 24 proctor instructions were conveyed and understood fluently (n=21, 96%). Most proctor instructions were aimed at improving surgical exposure (n=9, 38%). The major point of criticism was the use of the audio as the communication through the headset of the performing surgeon was not accessible by the complete team. Conclusion Telementoring is deemed feasible for proctoring trained RAMIE surgeons after onsite proctoring. Technical improvements with regard to audio technology are warranted for broad implementation, especially in earlier training settings. The role of telementoring in the training pathway of learning surgeons needs clinical validation. Study registration number: 21/322 Date of registration: 14-5-2021.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery in Elderly Patients: Results from a Multicenter Study.

Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has been increasingly adopted worldwide as an alternative to conventional sternotomy, especially for young patients. The remarkable results gained by MIMVS have encouraged its application in more complex and fragile patients, such as the elderly, though results in this subgroup remain controversial. It is the aim of this study to assess the postoperative outcomes of patients older than 75 years old undergoing MIMVS, and to compare these results to those of younger patients. Methods: The data of all patients undergoing MIMVS between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively collected at seven high-volume cardiac surgery centers. Patients were divided into two age-based groups: the young (<65 years old) and the elderly (>75 years old). A propensity score (PS) matching analysis obtained two comparable groups. Postoperative outcomes were assessed in both the unmatched and PS-matched populations. Results: Out of 1113 patients undergoing MIMVS, 524 were young and 279 were elderly. Elderly patients were more commonly affected by multiple comorbidities, with a higher EuroSCORE II (4.6 ± 5.5% vs. 1.6 ± 3.3%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in postoperative mortality, though the elderly had a greater incidence of postoperative complications, such as re-exploration for bleeding, stroke, reintubation, and a need for hemodialysis and blood transfusions. After PS matching, 119 pairs of young and elderly patients with similar risk profiles (EuroSCORE II 2.5 ± 4.7% vs. 2.7 ± 3.2%, p = 0.7) were compared, and no differences in all postoperative outcomes were found. Conclusions: Adequately selected elderly patients can report hospital outcomes similar to young patients after MIMVS.

Outcomes after revisional surgery for paraesophageal hernias at a high-volume tertiary care center.

Although recurrences after repair of giant paraesophageal hernias (PEH) are common, revisional procedures are challenging and associated with higher complication rates than primary repair. Therefore, repair of recurrent PEH is often avoided except in symptomatic patients. Data describing operative outcomes in these infrequent cases is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to report and compare peri-operative outcomes of revisional PEH repair to similar patients undergoing primary surgery. A single-institution, retrospective cohort study was conducted on all adult patients undergoing primary repair of Type II-IV PEH and any revisional surgery for recurrent hiatal hernia after previous primary PEH repair (2012-2019). Patient and operative characteristics and post-operative outcomes were extracted from medical records. Patients were grouped into revisional (rPEH) and primary repair (pPEH). Coarsened exact matching was performed to create balanced cohorts. A total of 347 cases were identified. The matched cohort included 234 patients (rPEH: 46, pPEH: 188). Patient sex and comorbidities were well balanced, while those who underwent revisions were younger (64 ± 13 vs. 69 ± 11years; p = 0.01). Median time between primary and rPEH was 40[17-121] months. Incidence of emergency repair were similar among groups (rPEH: 9(15%), pPEH: 14(8%); p = 0.10). All revisional cases commenced laparoscopically with 7(15%) requiring conversion to open. The conversion rate was higher for rPEH than primary surgery (7(15%) vs. 3(2%); p < 0.01), with the most common reasons being adhesions and gastric fundus injury. Intra-operative complications occurred in 12(26%) revisional cases, of which 58% were gastric fundus injuries. Median length of stay was longer for rPEH than pPEH (2[1-5] vs. 1[1-2] day; p = 0.02). Incidence of severe complications (rPEH: 5(11%), pPEH: 11(6%); p = 0.23) and reoperations (rPEH: 2(4%), pPEH: 7(4%); p = 0.84) were similar between groups. There were no peri-operative deaths. In a high-volume tertiary care center, repair of recurrent giant paraesophageal hernias can be performed successfully laparoscopically in the majority of cases with acceptable morbidity and peri-operative outcomes in comparison to primary surgery.

The Role of Informal Social Support for Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery is underutilized as a treatment for metabolic disease and its associated comorbidities. While social support is known to play a crucial role in outcomes following bariatric surgery, little is known about the role of social support prior to surgery, which may impact preparedness for and willingness to undergo surgery. The study's objective was to examine the role of informal social support prior to bariatric surgery, the types of support received, and patient attitudes toward different demonstrations of support. We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients who had previously undergone bariatric surgery (n = 20) from two high-volume bariatric surgery centers. Interviews focused on patient engagement with and attitudes about social support during the preoperative process. Transcripts from each interview were iteratively analyzed through steps informed by deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged characterizing social support among patients undergoing bariatric surgery: (1) emotional support, (2) instrumental support, (3) informational support, and (4) self-support. Examples of meaningful support participants received included "cheerleading" (i.e., unconditional encouragement), advice from role models who had previously undergone surgery (e.g., receiving information on the process), shared experiences with loved ones regarding dietary and activity modifications (e.g., exercising with friends), and self-support measures (e.g., seeking therapy). A comprehensive understanding of how patients receive informal social support can offer valuable insights for individuals considering surgery. Further, such knowledge may enable providers to effectively counsel patients through the decision-making process and to ensure the establishment of support systems both pre- and post-surgery.

Neurosurgical Procedures in Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often withheld in patients with significant neurologic injury or recent neurosurgical intervention due to perceived futility. Studies of neurosurgical interventions before or during ECMO are limited to case reports or single-center series, limiting generalizability, and outcomes in this population are unknown. We therefore sought to report the outcomes of ECMO patients with acute neurosurgical interventions at four high-volume ECMO and comprehensive stroke centers. Retrospective case series. Four academic tertiary referral hospitals in the United States. Adults (n = 24) having undergone neurosurgical procedures before or during ECMO. None. We retrospectively reviewed adults at four institutions who had undergone neurosurgical procedures immediately before or during ECMO from 2015 to 2023. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included favorable neurologic outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) and neurosurgical complications. Twenty-four of 2957 ECMO patients (0.8%) were included. Primary indications for neurosurgical intervention included traumatic brain (n = 8) or spinal (n = 3) injury, spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (n = 6), and acute ischemic stroke (n = 5). Procedures included extraventricular drain (EVD) and/or intracranial pressure monitor placement (n = 10), craniectomy/craniotomy (n = 5), endovascular thrombectomy (n = 4), and spinal surgery (n = 3). Fifteen patients (63%) survived to hospital discharge, of whom 12 (80%) were discharged with favorable neurologic outcomes. Survival to discharge was similar for venoarterial and venovenous ECMO patients (8/12 vs. 7/12; p = 0.67) and those who had neurosurgery before vs. during ECMO (8/13 vs. 7/11; p = 0.92). One patient (4%) experienced a neurosurgical complication, a nonlethal tract hemorrhage from EVD placement. Survival to discharge was similar for neurosurgical and nonneurosurgical ECMO patients at participating institutions (63% vs. 57%; p = 0.58). Patients with acute neurologic injury can feasibly undergo neurosurgery during ECMO or can undergo ECMO after recent neurosurgery. Larger studies are needed to fully understand risks for bleeding and other procedure-related complications.

Risk factors for relaparotomy after cesarean delivery.

To identify and analyze risk factors associated with relaparotomy following cesarean delivery (CD), focusing on obstetric and surgical parameters. Retrospective case-control study conducted at a high-volume tertiary obstetric center. We reviewed all women who underwent CD between 2013 and 2023. Patients who required a relaparotomy, defined as the reopening of the fascia, were included in the study group. Patient data were systematically reviewed to identify potential risk factors contributing to the need for post-CD relaparotomy, compared with a control group that did not undergo a relaparotomy. Out of 11 465 women underwent CD, 59 (0.5%) required relaparotomy. Using a multivariate model for independent risk factors, we found the following to be associated with relaparotomy: emergency CD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78-5.38, P < 0.01), placenta previa (aOR 4.66, 95% CI 1.54-14.11, P < 0.01), and multiple gestation as indications for the CD (aOR 4.61, 95% CI 2.10-10.12, P < 0.01); estimated intraoperative blood loss of more than 1 L (aOR 5.98, 95% CI 2.79-12.80, P < 0.01); and intraoperative adhesions (aOR 7.12, 95% CI 4.06-12.48, P < 0.01). Our study underscores the multifactorial nature of relaparotomy after CD, emphasizing the significance of considering a broad array of risk factors. By identifying and understanding these factors, clinicians can optimize patient care and potentially reduce morbidity, particularly the need for subsequent surgical interventions.

The Use of Short Dilator Tip in Endovascular Branched Arch Repair: A Case Series.

The aim of the study was to investigate the safety and feasibility of branched endovascular arch repair (b-TEVAR) with a custom-made double or triple inner branched arch endograft using a short dilator tip (35 mm) in patients with aortic arch pathologies. Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing b-TEVAR with a short dilator tip for the treatment of aortic arch pathologies in a high-volume tertiary center between January 2019 and July 2023. The combined primary endpoint was technical success and perioperative complications caused by the endograft, including tip-induced cardiac injury and trackability issues. Secondary endpoints were major adverse events (MAE), including morbidity, mortality, and reinterventions within 30 days. During a 4-year period, 22 patients (median age 72 years, 16 males) were treated with a custom-made double or triple inner-branched TEVAR for different aortic arch pathologies using a short dilator tip (35 mm). After initial exclusive treatment of patients with previous valve replacement, the use of a short dilator tip became standard. Eighteen patients received a triple- and 4 patients received a double-branched endograft. Seventeen patients (77.3%) underwent elective treatment, while 5 patients underwent urgent repair due to contained rupture or symptomatic aneurysms. The technical success was 100%. No tip-induced cardiac mortality and morbidity occurred perioperatively. The trackability of the device was in no case affected by the short tip. Within 30 days, the MAE rate was 45%, including one death. No re-intervention had to be performed. Endovascular aortic arch repair with inner-branched arch endografts using a short dilator tip (35 mm) appears to be safe and technically feasible and could potentially reduce the risk of fatal myocardial injuries. Due to safe and stable maneuverability and deployment of endograft in zone 0 the use of short dilator tip might have the potential to become standard in endovascular branched arch repair. This is one of the first reports on the use of short dilator tip and associated complications in endovascular branched arch repair.