BACKGROUND:Use of donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplantation (HT) has dramatically expanded, with survival comparable to donation after brain death/standard recovery (DBD/SR). As cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a leading cause of post-HT morbidity, we sought to analyze CAV incidence among DCD recipients. METHODS:We used the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to tabulate adult (≥18 years) HT recipients between December 2019 and January 2024. DCD recipients were further stratified into the direct procurement with normothermic machine perfusion (DCD/DP-NMP) and thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (DCD/TA-NRP). The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of CAV over the first posttransplant year. RESULTS:Of 12,060 transplants, 11,262 (93.4%) used DBD/SR allografts, 566 (4.7%) used DCD/DP-NMP allografts, and 232 (1.9%) used DCD/TA-NRP allografts. The overall incidence of CAV at 1 year was 4.0% for the DBD/SR group, 3.8% for DCD/DP-NMP, and 7.1% for DCD/TA-NRP. After comprehensive risk adjustment, transplantation with DCD/TA-NRP allografts remained associated with greater hazard of CAV over the first posttransplant year, relative to DBD/SR (hazard ratio [HR] 1.83; 95% CI, 1.08-3.10). However, DCD/DP-NMP procurement was linked with comparable CAV hazard as DBD/SR (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.92-2.50). Considering recipients at high-volume centers, DCD/TA-NRP remained significantly associated with increased hazard of CAV (HR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.27-3.89; reference: DBD/SR). CONCLUSIONS:In this national analysis of CAV incidence among DCD HT recipients, DCD/TA-NRP, but not DCD/DP-NMP, was associated with greater risk of CAV.

BACKGROUND:Esophagectomy is a complex oncologic operation associated with high rates of postoperative complications. While respiratory and septic complications have been well-defined, the implications of acute kidney injury (AKI) remain unclear. Using a nationally representative database, we aimed to characterize the association of AKI with mortality, resource use, and 30-day readmission.METHODS:All adults undergoing elective esophagectomy with a diagnosis of esophageal or gastric cancer were identified in the 2010-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Study cohorts were stratified based on presence of AKI. Multivariable regressions and Royston-Parmar survival analysis were used to evaluate the independent association between AKI and outcomes of interest.RESULTS:Of an estimated 40,438 patients, 3,210 (7.9%) developed AKI. Over the 10-year study period, the incidence of AKI increased from 6.4% to 9.7%. Prior radiation/chemotherapy and minimally invasive operations were associated with reduced odds of AKI, whereas public insurance coverage and concurrent infectious and respiratory complications had greater risk of AKI. After risk adjustment, AKI remained independently associated with greater odds of in-hospital mortality (AOR: 4.59, 95% CI: 3.62-5.83) and had significantly increased attributable costs ($112,000 vs $54,000) and length of stay (25.7 vs 13.3 days) compared to patients without AKI. Furthermore, AKI demonstrated significantly increased hazard of 30-day readmission (hazard ratio: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.32).CONCLUSIONS:AKI after esophagectomy is associated with greater risk of mortality, hospitalization costs, and 30-day readmission. Given the significant adverse consequences of AKI, careful perioperative management to mitigate this complication may improve quality of esophageal surgical care at the national level.

This report describes the effective measures in order to prevent the devastating complication of AV groove disruption following mitral valve replacement. Ethics committee approval, consent statement and clinical trial registration are not applicable for our study.

BACKGROUND Using a nationally representative database, the present study evaluated the degree of center -level variation in the cost of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS All adults undergoing elective, isolated TAVR were identified in the 2016 to 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Multilevel mixed -effects models were used to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with hospitalization costs. The random intercept for each hospital was generated and considered to be the baseline cost attributable to care at each center. Hospitals in the highest decile of baseline costs were classified as high -cost hospitals. The association of high -cost hospital status with in -hospital mortality and perioperative complications was subsequently assessed. RESULTS An estimated 119,492 patients, with a mean age of 80 years and a 45.9% prevalence of female sex, met the study criteria. Analysis of random intercepts indicated that 54.3% of variability in costs was attributable to interhospital differences rather than patient factors. Perioperative respiratory failure, neurologic complications, and acute kidney injury were associated with increased episodic expenditure but did not explain the observed center -level variation. The baseline cost associated with each hospital ranged from -$26,000 to $162,000. Notably, high -cost hospital status was not linked to annual TAVR caseload or to odds of mortality (P = .83), acute kidney injury (P = .18), respiratory failure (P = .32), or neurologic complications (P = .55). CONCLUSIONS The present analysis identified significant variation in the cost of TAVR, which was largely attributable to center -level rather than patient factors. Hospital TAVR volume and occurrence of complications were not drivers of the observed variation.

Objective: To characterize the impact of pulmonary complications (PCs) on mortality, costs, and readmissions after elective cardiac operations in a national cohort and to test for hospital-level variation in PC. Background: PC after cardiac surgery are targets for quality improvement efforts. Contemporary studies evaluating the impact of PC on outcomes are lacking, as is data regarding hospital-level variation in the incidence of PC. Methods: Adults undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve operations were identified in the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. PC was defined as a composite of reintubation, prolonged (>24 hours) ventilation, tracheostomy, or pneumonia. Generalized linear models were fit to evaluate associations between PC and outcomes. Institutional variation in PC was studied using observed-to-expected ratios. Results: Of 588,480 patients meeting study criteria, 6.7% developed PC. After risk adjustment, PC was associated with increased odds of mortality (14.6, 95% CI, 12.6–14.8), as well as a 7.9-day (95% CI, 7.6–8.2) increase in length of stay and $41,300 (95% CI, 39,600–42,900) in attributable costs. PC was associated with 1.3-fold greater hazard of readmission and greater incident mortality at readmission (6.7% vs 1.9%, P<0.001). Significant hospital-level variation in PC was present, with observed-to-expected ratios ranging from 0.1 to 7.7. Conclusions: Pulmonary complications remain common after cardiac surgery and are associated with substantially increased mortality and expenditures. Significant hospital-level variation in PC exists in the United States, suggesting the need for systematic quality improvement efforts to reduce PC and their impact on outcomes.

The acute and severe rise in systemic blood pressure during or aftercardiac operations may be life-threatening and result in end-organinjury. This case is the first report of spontaneous left atrialappendage rupture following the hypertensive crisis in cardiac surgery

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Entrapment of coronary angioplasty hardware is a rare but serious complication of coronary interventions which may be managed percutaneously or surgically. We described a case of an entrapped coronary stent in a patient with a history of failed coronary intervention with no documents available. In transesophageal echocardiography, there was a linear echo density in the ascending aorta stuck in the right coronary artery resembling a dissection flap but based on the history of failed coronary intervention, this odd structure was supposed to be a retained angioplasty device. The patient underwent surgical removal of the entrapped device which was a fractured stent.

Mitral valve aneurysm is a rare clinical entity that is mostly resulted from infective endocarditis, in particular, aortic valve endocarditis. Once mitral valve aneurysm ruptures and severe mitral regurgitation and hemodynamic instability develop, prompt surgery should be considered. Here we report a patient with ruptured mitral valve aneurysm associated with native aortic valve endocarditis that was improved after a successful mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery associated with antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks.

Background: Endovascular repair of aorta in comparison to open surgery has a low early operative mortality rate, but its long-term results are uncertain.Objectives: The current study describes for the first time our initial four-year experience of elective endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) at Tehran heart center, the first and a major referral heart center in Iran, as a pioneer of EVAR in Iran.Patients and Methods: A total of 51 patients (46 men) who had the diagnosis of either an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (n = 36), thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) (n = 7), or thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) (n = 8) who had undergone EVAR by Medtronic stent grafts by our team between December 2006 and June 2009 were reviewed.Results: The rate of in-hospital aneurysm-related deaths in the group with AAA stood at 2.8% (one case), while there was no in-hospital mortality in the other groups. All patients were followed up for 13-18 months. The cumulative death rate in follow-up was nine cases from the total 51 cases (18%), out of which six cases were in the AAA group (four patients due to non-cardiac causes and two patients due to aneurysm-related causes), one case in the TAA group (following a severe hemoptysis), and two cases in the TAD group (following an expansion of dissection from re-entrance). The major event-free survival rate was 80.7% for endovascular repair of AAA, 85.7% for endovascular repair of TAA, and 65.6% for endovascular repair of TAD.Conclusion: The endovascular stent-graft repair of the abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection had high technical success rates in tandem with low-rate early mortality and morbidity, short hospital stay, and acceptable mid-term free symptom survival among Iranian patients.

Introduction: The use of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or without CPB technique (off-pump) can be associated with different mortality and morbidity and their outcomes remain uncertain. The goal of this study was to evaluate the early outcome of on-pump versus off-pump CABG. Methods: We conducted a retrospective database review of 13866 patients (13560 patients undergoing on-pump CABG and 306 patients undergoing off-pump CABG) at Tehran Heart Center between January 2002 and January 2007. We compared preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics between them. Results: In-hospital mortality in the on-pump group was 0.8% compared to 0.7% in the off-pump group (P=0.999) and in-hospital morbidity was 11.7% and 6.5%, respectively (OR: 1.533, 95% CI: 0.902-2.605, P=0.114). Postoperative atrial fibrillation was more prevalent in on-pump versus off-pump surgery (6.0% vs 3.0%, P=0.028), however there were no statistical significant differences in other postoperative complications with regard to cardiac arrest (P=0.733), prolonged ventilation (P=0.363), brain stroke (P=0.999), renal failure (P=0.525), and postoperative bleeding (P=0.999). The mean length of stay in hospital (P=0.156) and in ICU (P=0.498) was also similar between the two groups. Conclusion: The results from an Iranian population-based study showed similar early mortality and morbidity of off-pump CABG in comparison to on-pump surgery.

Objectives: Vein graft disease is a major drawback of coronary artery bypass grafting. However, histopathologic studies of old human aortocoronary grafts are scarce. Methods: We screened patients undergoing redo coronary artery bypass grafting at three university hospitals and selected those with at least one excisable old vein graft. Native non-grafted saphenous veins were also obtained as controls. Clinical and angiographic data were separately documented. Results: We evaluated 117 segments from 29 veins. All but 4 old graft segments showed degrees of luminal narrowing and fibrointimal proliferation. Moreover, 61 segments demonstrated atherosclerotic plaques. Such plaques were typically concentric and, compared with other segments, more frequently represented necrosis, calcification and giant cells (p < 0.001 for all comparisons) and had a higher inflammatory cell count, predominantly of lymphocytic origin. Native saphenous veins frequently showed fibrosis, but no calcification or active inflammation. Angiographic findings showed moderate correlation with the histological degree of luminal stenosis (Spearman’s ρ = 0.564, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Human vein graft atherosclerosis and arterial atherosclerosis share many features; however, we found lymphocytes to be the dominant inflammatory cells within plaques. Conventional angiography underestimated the atherosclerosis burden in vein grafts. Improved understanding of disease pathophysiology could lead to the development of novel interventions that reduce costly and suboptimal repeat revascularizations.

BACKGROUND:Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is commonly compromised by graft atherosclerosis. Histopathologic studies confirm various forms of atherosclerosis, including positively remodelled lesions in native coronary arteries but there are no histopathologic reports of extraluminal atherosclerosis in vein grafts. METHODS:We prospectively investigated the histopathologic presence and pattern of extraluminal atherosclerosis in human old vein grafts in a two-year interval among patients undergoing redo-CABG at three university hospitals in Tehran. We separately documented clinical and angiographic findings. RESULTS:We evaluated 100 segments from 20 human old vein grafts obtained during the redo CABG. All but four segments demonstrated some degrees of luminal narrowing. Luminal atherosclerotic plaques were detectable in 61 segments. We detected extraluminal atheroscleoris in seven segments. Mean vessel wall thickness was greater in segments containing extraluminal plaques (1.41±0.26 mm versus 0.91±0.04 mm, P=0.008). Angiographic findings had a modest correlation with presence or absence of luminal atheromatous lesions (Spearman's rho: 0.331, P=0.007). Angiographic degree of stenosis could not predict the presence of positively remodelled atherosclerotic plaques (Spearman's rho: -2.21, P=0.073). CONCLUSION:Previous studies suggested positive remodelling in vein grafts. Out study provides histopathologic evidence on extraluminal atherosclerosis in human aortocoronary vein grafts.

Objectives: Since Heart valve surgery is the second most common type of cardiac surgery, and there is limited information about the outcomes associated to these types of surgeries, predictors of these complications, and comparison between aortic and mitral replacement procedures as being two most common valve surgeries, we conducted the present investigation to compare between aortic and mitral valve replacement in preoperative risk factors and in hospital mortality and morbidities.

Aim. Abdominal complications following open heart surgery remain rare but fatal events with mortality rates of 14.5% up to 100%. Manifestations and managements of these complications are varying. Approximately, 25% of patients with gastrointestinal complications require surgical management with obviously higher mortality risks. The aim of this study was to determine the perioperative prognostic factors of gastrointestinal complications with surgical consequences after cardiac surgery.Methods. The study enrolled 15 737 patients who underwent open heart surgery between January 2002 and September 2007. Sixteen (0.1%) persons required laparatomy due to postoperative gastrointestinal complications. Additionally, the preoperative, operative, and postoperative risk factors for this condition were studied. Results. Among the patients enrolled, 15 737 patients underwent open heart surgery while 16 (0.1%) required laparatomy procedures due to gastrointestinal complications. They were comprised of 11 (68.8%) men and 5 (31.3%) women at a mean age of 62.88 +/- 12.56 years. There was a history of hypertension in 9 (56.3%) patients, hypercholesterolemia in 11 (68.8%), renal failure in 4 (25%), previous CABG in 2 (12.5%) and PTCA in 2 (12.5%). Morbidity and mortality were significantly higher in this group of patients with a mortality rate of 68.8% (68.8% versus 1.6%).Conclusion. Our multivariate logistic regression model identified the following parameters to be the prognostic factors for gastrointestinal complications with surgical consequences: a history of previous CABG, previous PTCA, preoperative renal failure, preoperative anticoagulant agent use, valve surgery, combined valve and CABG surgery, and intra-aortic balloon pump requirement with OR of 51.95, 4.623, 26.436, 0.140, 5.43, 11.469 and 3.76, respectively.

BACKGROUND:Traditionally, the Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery outcomes of patients with low ejection fraction (EF) have been worse compared to patients with moderate to good left ventricular function. During the past decade, despite improvements in surgical techniques, the trend in the outcomes of these patients remained unclear. AIM:We sought to determine the effect of left ventricular dysfunction on early mortality and morbidity and to specify predictors of early mortality of isolated CABG in a large group of patients EF≤35%. METHOD:We retrospectively analyzed data of 14 819 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG from February 2002 to March 2008 at Tehran Heart Center. Patients were divided into two groups based on their LVEF (EF≤35% and EF>35%). Differences in case-mix between patients with EF≤35% and those without were controlled by constructing a propensity score. RESULTS:Mean age of our patients was 58.7±9.5 years. EF≤35% was present in 1342 (9.1%) of patients. In-hospital mortality was significantly increased univariate in EF≤35%, while this association diminished after confounders were adjusted for by using the propensity score (p=0.242). Following adjustment it was demonstrated that renal failure, cardiac arrest, heart block, infectious complication, total ventilation time, and total ICU hours were more frequent in patients with EF≤35%. CONCLUSION:We demonstrated EF≤35% was not predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients underwent CABG. Careful preoperative patient selection remains essential in patients with EF≤35% undergoing CABG.