Background and aim of the study. Wrapping of the ascending aorta (AA), isolated or associated with aortoplasty, has never been completely accepted. Some complications, as folding of the aortic wall, compression of the vasa vasorum and changes in the flow pattern, with consequent dilatation of the proximal arch, have been described. We used fresh autologous pericardium (FAP), so far never reported, to wrap the AA, with the aim to stabilize its size when moderately dilated, maintaining the preoperative dimension or limiting the reduction to a few mm. Material and Methods. From 2015 to 2019, 10 patients, who were operated on for valve or coronary surgery or both, underwent wrapping of the AA with FAP. Mean age was 69±7 years and ESII 3.5±1.7. Four patients had moderately impaired ejection fraction (35-49%). Results. There was no early or late mortality. One patient was reoperated on after 48 months for severe mitral regurgitation. At a follow up of 53±14 months, a transthoracic echocardiogram showed that the AA size reduced slightly but significantly, from 45.2±2.0 to 42.5±4.1 mm, p=0.03. The diameter of the proximal arch remained unchanged, from 37.1±1.6 to 36.3±2.9 mm, p=0.20. Conclusions. In presence of moderately dilated AA wrapping can be a reasonable option. The use of FAP stabilizes the size of the aorta after a follow up of 53 months. Maintaining a size similar to the preoperative one avoids the complications related to the procedure.

Less invasive techniques for cardiothoracic surgical procedures are designed to limit surgical trauma, but technical requirements and preoperative planning are more demanding than those for conventional sternotomy. Patient selection, interdisciplinary collaboration, and surgical skills are key factors for procedural success. Aortic valve replacement is frequently performed through an upper hemisternotomy, but the right anterior minithoracotomy represents an even less traumatic, technical advancement. Preoperative assessment of the ascending aorta in relation to the sternum is mandatory to select patients and the intercostal access site. This description of the surgical technique focuses on the specific procedural details including the obligatory planning with computed tomography, and our cannulation strategy. We also sought to define the anatomical ascending aorto-sternal relationship, as it is of utmost importance in preoperative computed tomographic planning.

ABSTRACT Introduction and Objective: There are various management options for newborns with single ventricle physiology, ventriculoarterial discordance and subaortic stenosis (SOS), classically involving the early pulmonary banding and aortic arch repair, the restricted bulboventriculer foramen(BVF) enlargement or the Norwood and the Damus Kaye Stansel (DKS) procedures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the midterm results of our clinical experience with palliative arterial switch operation (pASO) for this subset of patients. Method: We hereby retrospectively evaluate the charts of patients going through pASO, as initial palliation through Fontan pathway, starting from 2014 till today. Results: 10 patients underwent an initial palliative arterial switch procedure. 8 of 10 patients survived the operation and discharged. 7 of 10 patients completed stage II and 1 patient reached the Fontan completion stage and the other six of ten (6/10) patients are doing well and waiting for the next stage of palliation. There are two mortalities in the series (2/10) and one patient lost to follow-up (1/10). Conclusions: The pASO can be considered as an alternative palliation option for patients with single ventricle physiology, transposition of the great arteries and systemic outflow obstruction. It not only preserves systolic and diastolic ventricular function, but also provides a superior anatomic arrangement for following stages. Keywords: Congenital Heart Disease, Single Ventricle, Arterial Switch Operation

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Background: Whether perioperative glycemic control or markers of inflammation is associated with neurocognitive decline (NCD) after cardiac surgery was examined. Methods: Thirty patients undergoing cardiac surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were screened for NCD preoperatively and on post-operative day four (POD4). Serum cytokine levels were measured and human transcriptome analysis was performed on blood samples. Neurocognitive data are presented as a change from baseline to POD4 in a score standardized with respect to age and gender. Results: A decline in neurocognitive function was identified in 73% (22/30) of patients on POD4. Patients with postoperative leukocytosis (WBC ≥ 10.5) had more NCD when compared to their baseline function (p=0.03). Patients with elevated IL-8 levels at 6 hours postoperatively had a significant decline in NCD at POD4 (p=0.04). Surprisingly, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, or IL-6 levels were not associated with NCD (p>0.3 for all). There was no difference in neurocognitive function between patients with elevated HbA1c levels preoperatively (p=0.973) or elevated fasting blood glucose levels the morning of surgery (>126mg/dL, p=0.910), or a higher maximum blood glucose levels during CPB (>180mg/dL, p=0.252), or higher average glucose levels during CPB (>160mg/dL, p=0.639). Human transcriptome analysis demonstrated unique and differential patterns of gene expression in patients depending on the presence of DM and NCD. Conclusions: Perioperative glycemic control does not have an effect on NCD soon after cardiac surgery. Postoperative leukocytosis and elevated IL-8 levels are associated with neurocognitive decline. The profile of gene expression was altered in patients with NCD with or without diabetes.

A 22-year-old immunocompetent female with a history of small pericardial effusion while infant presented with fever and hemodynamic collapse four days after facial trauma. She was found to have cardiac tamponade secondary to infected chylopericardium from bacterial translocation. We report this very unusual case and review of the literature on chylopericardium infections.

Title: Pasteurella Multiocida Infection Resulting in a Descending Thoracic Aorta Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm Objective: Highlight our management of a P. Multiocida infected descending thoracic aorta mycotic pseudoaneurysm Methods: Report a case of canine bite resulting in a P. Multiocida descending thoracic aorta mycotic pseudoaneurysm Results: We present a 61-year-old gentleman who was initially seen in an Emergency Department after a canine bite. He was admitted and treated with a course of IV antibiotics for P. Multiocida bacteremia and discharged. Three weeks post discharge, he continued to feel generalized malaise and work-up was significant for a descending thoracic aorta mycotic pseudoaneurysm. The patient underwent a low left posterior lateral thoracotomy and femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass for complete resection and replacement with a 24 mm GelweaveTM graft (Terumo Cardiovascular Group, Ann Arbor, Michigan). Given purulence and gross infection we planned for a staged approach, with a secondary washout and omental flap for biologic coverage of the graft. The patient did well clinically and was discharged at 14 days to rehabilitation with six-week intravenous course of antibiotics. Conclusions: The patient’s clinical course with subsequent follow-up suggest that complete resection of the mycotic pseudoaneurysm, followed by omental flap coverage is a viable strategy to manage mycotic aortic infections with virulent organisms.

Background: The average living age of the population is constantly increasing and so is the incidence and prevalence of aortic valve disease. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the current gold standard treatment. Nevertheless, the use of prosthetic valves in SAVR is associated with issues that impact patients’ quality of life. Aortic valve neocuspidization (AV Neo) offers a means to solve this dilemma by minimising foreign valve tissue. AV Neo can either be performed using glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium (Ozaki procedure) or bovine pericardium (Batista procedure). Aims: This commentary aims to discuss the recent study by Chan and colleagues which highlighted the surgical approach, clinical outcomes and limitations of the Ozaki procedure, and compare this to the Batista procedure. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, Embase and Scopus in order to collate the relevant research evidence. Results: Although the Ozaki procedure can achieve favourable results whilst mainly avoiding the need for life-long oral anticoagulation with mechanical valves, it still has several limitations that may hinder results. AV Neo using glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium, developed by pioneer cardiac surgeon Dr. Randas J. Vilela Batista, yields superior clinical outcomes to Ozaki’s, including excellent survival, lower complications and minimal need for reoperation as well as shorter operative times. Conclusion: AV Neo offers a means to perform SAVR whilst escaping the prosthetic valve issues. However, the Batista procedure has shown beyond doubt that it can be considered the superior approach for AV Neo over the Ozaki procedure.

Background and Aim: Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is defined as a complete interruption of aortic lumen between the ascending and descending aorta. It is an uncommon and complicated congenital heart disease with high mortality in infants. It is rare for patients with isolated IAA to survive to adulthood without operation unless the extensive collateral vessels joining the descending aorta. Here we present three unique cases with isolated IAA together with a review of the literature. Methods: case presentation: We retrospectively searched the hospital patient databases for patients (>14 years) with IAA diagnosed at the Wuhan Union Hospital over the past 10 years and excluded the patients with other cardiac malformations. Three patients were identified. Two were referred to us for hypertension management and were diagnosed with IAA at our hospital. They both declined surgical treatments and underwent conservative therapy including management of their hypertension. One patient was referred to our hospital for further treatment options after the patient was diagnosed with IAA at another hospital. This patient received an extra-anatomic bypass surgery from ascending aorta to descending aorta. His high blood pressure did not resolve and was subsequently managed by anti-hypertensives medications after the surgery. Discussion and conclusions: Adult patients with isolated IAA usually have extensive collateral vessels joining the descending aorta. Surgical intervention may not be necessary for these patients if the patients have no symptoms except hypertension. Anti-hypertensives medical management with long term follow-up appears to be a reasonable treatment option for these patients.

The use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for intraoperative cardiopulmonary support during lung transplantation has been increasing in the recent years. Our group previously described a novel hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit for use in lung transplantation. Our novel technique for intraoperative management of this circuit during lung transplantation is described.

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Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a supportive therapy used to provide cardiac support with or without respiratory support in the event of cardiopulmonary failure. The two main types of ECMO are Veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) and Veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO). The use of ECMO in cardiac surgery has been established in cases of post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock which is refractory to conventional therapy with inotropes and intra-aortic balloon pulsation support. Survival for this, otherwise, fatal condition has been shown to be improving through the use of ECMO. However, the decision and timing to initiate ECMO therapy remains selective and is dependent on a range of factors such as patient factor, clinician’s judgement, meaning there is no consistent and solid ground regarding the timing of ECMO initiation. This article will provide an extensive review of ECMO indications, contraindications, complications and outcomes to analyse the survival benefit of ECMO following cardiac surgery.

We read with great interest the article by Khashkhusha TR et al “ACE inhibitors and COVID-19: We don’t know yet”. The authors discuss whether the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEIs) in novel coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) patients is beneficial or harmful. ACEIs and angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARBs) both upregulate ACE2 levels. We believe that ARBs should be preferred since, unlike ARBs, ACEIs may increase angiotensin II through the chymase pathway. We would like to discuss potential harms ACEI may cause through secondary bradykinin-chymase pathways.

Colonoscopy is generally considered a safe procedure, with a low rate of complications. Although rare, the migration of the colonoscope may represents a life-threating events, requiring emergency treatment. We herein describe the case of an elective colonoscopy complicated by an irretrievable colonoscope that migrated, through a previous traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, in the chest cavity. This hernia was likely a chronic complication of a previous abdominal trauma. Several attempts to retrieve the scope were unsuccessful. After further investigations and collegial discussion, a left thoracotomy was performed, with the aim to retrieve the colonoscope and to reduce the hernia.

The current Covid-19 pandemic is a significant global health threat. The outbreak has profoundly affected all healthcare professionals, including heart surgeons. To adapt to these exceptional circumstances, cardiac surgeons had to change their practice significantly. We herein discuss the challenges and broad implications of the Covid-19 pandemic from the perspective of the heart surgeons.

Background and Aim Endoscopic radial artery (RA) harvest (ERAH) is an alternative to open RA harvest (ORAH) technique. Our aim was to compare clinical outcome, patent satisfaction and 1-year angiographic patency rates after ERAH and ORAH. Patients and methods 50 patients undergoing multivessel CABG were prospectively randomized to two groups. In the ERAH group (25 patients) the RA was harvested endoscopically and in the ORAH group (25 patients) openly. Results There were not differences between the groups in preoperative characteristics. Length of skin incision was shorter in ERAH (p<0.001) but there were not differences in the length of RA, harvest time, blood flow and pulsatility index after ERAH and ORAH. Wound healing was uniformly smooth in ERAH and there were 2 haematomas and 1 infection in ORAH. Postoperatively, major neuralgias were present in 5 patients in ORAH and none in ERAH (p=0.05) and minor neuralgias in 11 and 3 patients (p=0.02) respectively. Twenty-four patients in ERAH and 4 in ORAH graded their experience as excellent (p<00001). One-year angiographic RA patency was 90% without intergroup difference. Target vessel stenosis < 90% adversely affected RA patency (p<0.0001). Conclusions In expert center, ERAH has no negative impact on time harvest, length and quality of RA conduit. Moreover, ERAH may provide better wound healing, and is associated with less neuralgias, excellent cosmetic result and better patient satisfaction. RA graft patency is unaffected by the harvesting technique and is excellent when placed to a target coronary artery vessel with stenosis > 90%.

Tricuspid annuloplasty for moderate to severe TR (Class I, IIb) is the current standard of practice to restore the normal tricuspid annular dimension and function (1,2). The current controversy in atrioventricular surgery concerns the indication for concomitant TA in patients with moderate TR and significant annular dilatation of at least > 40 mm or at least 21 mm/m2 indexed for body surface area (Class IIb) during mitral valve surgery proposed by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology (1,2,3)

Scimitar syndrome is rare malformation defined as partial or total anomalous pulmonary venous return of the right lung veins to the inferior vena cava just above or below the diaphragm. Severe forms of the disease are diagnosed in infancy and childhood . However, because of the mild form of the syndrome in adult patients, they remain asymptomatic and few cases are reported in the literature. We report an unusual presentation of this syndrome mimicking unstable angina in one of the two described cases.