Aly Ghoneim

Long-term results after surgical treatment of paravalvular leak in the aortic and mitral position.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine immediate results and long-term outcomes after surgical management of paravalvular leak (PVL). METHODS Between 1995 and 2012, a total of 190 patients underwent primary surgical repair (n = 142) or valve replacement (n = 48) for a PVL at our institution. The PVL was mild in 6 (3%) patients, moderate in 85 (45%), moderate to severe in 84 (44%), and severe in 15 (8%). Among these, 120 (63%) had PVL in the mitral position, 63 (33%) had PVL in the aortic position, and 7 (4%) had PVL in both valves. Mean follow-up was 5.3 ± 4.6 years. RESULTS Mean age at surgery was 63 ± 12 years (64% men). Operative mortality occurred in 13 (7%) patients (10 [8%] in mitral; 2 [3%] in aortic; and 1 [14%] in double valve procedures). Survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 85% ± 3%, 73% ± 4%, and 56% ± 5%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of PVL recurrence was 3% ± 1%, 14% ± 3%, and 32% ± 6%, at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The number of previous surgeries was a predictor of survival and PVL recurrence. Freedom from New York Heart Association class ≥III was 96% ± 2%, 82% ± 4%, and 58% ± 6%, at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The freedom from rehospitalization for heart failure was 92% ± 2%, 83% ± 4%, and 67% ± 6%, at 1, 5, and 10 years. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment of PVL resulted in acceptable outcomes. Nevertheless, the continued risk of PVL recurrence is higher in patients who have had multiple previous surgeries. More studies are needed to compare these results with the transcatheter PVL reduction technique.

Is the Ross procedure a riskier operation? Perioperative outcome comparison with mechanical aortic valve replacement in a propensity-matched cohort.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes in young adults following isolated Ross procedure versus mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in a high-volume centre. METHODS From 2007 to 2015, 337 elective isolated mechanical AVRs and 137 Ross procedures were performed in young adults (<65 years) at our centre. Using a 1:1 propensity score match analysis, 140 patients were included in the study (n = 70 in each group). Perioperative outcomes were defined using STS guidelines. The primary outcome was operative mortality. RESULTS Median age was 52 [14] years and EuroSCORE II was 1.0 [0.4]%. There were no mortalities in the two groups. There were no differences in the incidence of myocardial injury (0% overall) and neurological complications (0.7% overall). Three (4%) reinterventions for bleeding were required in the Ross cohort versus six (9%) in the mechanical AVR cohort (P = 0.49). A significant increase in serum creatinine (>2-fold increase) was more commonly observed after the Ross procedure (11 vs 1%; P = 0.03), but there was no significant difference in the rate of temporary dialysis. Twenty-seven patients (39%) required ≥1 blood product transfusion in the Ross group, whereas 21 patients (31%) did so in the mechanical AVR group (P = 0.47). Median hospital length of stay was similar in both the groups (6 days). CONCLUSIONS There are no differences in mortality or major perioperative outcomes in adults undergoing an isolated Ross procedure or mechanical AVR.