Saadallah Tamer

Extending the scope of mitral valve repair in active endocarditis

OBJECTIVE During the last 2 decades, we have applied a repair-oriented surgical approach to patients with active mitral valve endocarditis. We retrospectively analyzed the long-term outcomes with this repair-oriented approach. METHOD Between 1991 and 2010, 137 patients underwent operation for active mitral valve endocarditis; of these, 109 patients (80%) had mitral valve repair and represent the study cohort. Repair techniques without patch extension (no-patch techniques) include triangular or quadrangular resection (n = 49), sliding plasty (n = 24), neochordae (n = 18), chordal transfer (n = 12), and others (n = 5). Repair techniques using patch extension (patch techniques) included pericardium (n = 42), tricuspid autograft (n = 8), flip-over technique (n = 7), and partial mitral valve homograft (n = 5). Patches were used in 67 patients (61%). Ring annuloplasty was performed in 60 patients, and a pericardial band was used in 13 patients. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up were performed. Median follow-up was 48 months. RESULTS Hospital mortality was 16%. At 8 years, overall survival was 62% ± 10% with no differences between patients with or without patch repair (P = .5). Freedom from mitral valve repair failure was 81% ± 14% in patients with patch repair and 90% ± 10% in patients without patch repair (P = .09). The rate of thromboembolic or bleeding event was 1% per patient-year, and the rate of endocarditis recurrence was 0.3% per patient-year. Univariable predictors of mortality were age more than 70 years (P < .0001), perivalvular abscess (P = .002), diabetes mellitus (P = .0002), and renal failure (P = .04). Predictors of repair failure were renal failure (P = .035) and perivalvular abscess (P = .033). CONCLUSIONS In active mitral valve endocarditis, a repair-oriented surgical approach achieves a reparability rate of 80% with acceptable morbidity and good long-term results. The use of patch techniques offers a durability rate that approximates the rate obtained with the no-patch techniques.

Aortic valve repair with patch in non-rheumatic disease: indication, techniques and durability†

OBJECTIVES To analyse the long-term outcomes of aortic valve (AV) repair with biological patch in patient with non-rheumatic valve disease. METHODS From 1995 to 2011, 554 patients underwent elective (AV) repair; among them, 57 (mean age 45 ± 17 years) had cusp restoration using patch for non-rheumatic valve disease. Seven (12%) patients had unicuspid valve, 30 (53%) patients had bicuspid valve and 20 (35%) had tricuspid valve. Autologous pericardium was used in 26 patients (7 treated, 19 non-treated), bovine pericardium in 26, autologous tricuspid valve leaflet in 4 and aortic homograft cusp in 1. Patching was used to repair perforation (n = 20, 35%), commissural defect (n = 18, 32%), raphe repair (n = 17, 30%) or for cusp extension (n = 2, 3.5%). Echocardiographic and clinical follow-up was 98% complete and mean follow-up was 72 ± 42.5 months. RESULTS No hospital mortality. At 8 years, overall survival was 90 ± 5% and freedom from valve-related death was 96 ± 3%. Two patients (3.5%) needed early reoperation for aortic regurgitation (AR); they underwent re-repair and the Ross procedure, respectively. Late reoperation was necessary in 9 patients (16%) for AR (n = 4), stenosis (n = 3) or mixed disease (n = 2). They had the Ross procedure (n = 6) or prosthetic valve replacement (n = 3) with no mortality. At 8 years, freedom from reoperation was 75 ± 9%. Freedom from reoperation was slightly higher in tricuspid compared with non-tricuspid valves (92 ± 7 vs 68 ± 11%, P = 0.18) and slightly higher for bovine (95 ± 5%) compared with autologous pericardium (73 ± 11%, P = 0.38), but differences were statistically not significant. In tricuspid valves, freedom from reoperation was higher in perforation repair compared with other techniques (100 vs 50 ± 35%, P = 0.02). In bicuspid valves, freedom from reoperation was similar between different repair techniques (P = 0.38). Late echocardiography showed AR 0-1 in 30 (53%) patients, AR 2 in 12 (21%) and no AR ≥ 3. Three patients presented a mean transvalvular gradient of 30-40 mmHg. Thromboembolic events occurred in 2 patients (0.6%/patient-year), bleeding events in 1 (0.3% /patient-year) and no endocarditis occurred. CONCLUSIONS AV repair with biological patch is feasible for various aetiologies. The techniques are safe and medium-term durability is acceptable, even excellent for perforation repair in tricuspid valve morphology. Bovine pericardium is a good alternative to autologous pericardium.

Modified valve-sparing reimplantation technique for para-commissural coronary ostia

In some patients undergoing a valve-sparing reimplantation technique, a coronary ostium may be very close to one of the commissures. This condition jeopardizes the coronary ostium patency and valve reimplantation. The authors describe a simple and safe modification of the reimplantation technique, leaving the misplaced coronary ostium attached to the commissure.

A simplified technique for pulmonary autograft stabilization with the Valsalva prosthesis.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE A transverse aortotomy is performed, and the aortic valve is excised. A root dissection with creation of coronary buttons is then performed. The pulmonary trunk is divided. Once the pulmonary valve has been deemed acceptable, a point anteriorly at a level just below the nadir of the valve leaflets is punctured with an angled clamp. The valve is then dissected free circumferentially. Once the autograft has been prepared, commissural height from the base of the interleaflet triangle to the apex of the commissure is measured. This corresponds to the diameter of the Valsalva graft to be selected. The inferior skirt of the Valsalva graft is removed. The autograft is placed inside the Valsalva graft and inverted. At the middle of the base of each interleaflet triangle, a single 4-0 polypropylene suture is placed through both autograft and Valsalva graft and tied externally (Figure 1, A). This ensures homogeneous suture placement, which is crucial to avoid distortion of the valve. A simple running suture is then performed circumferentially to complete the proximal anastomosis. Then, at the apex of each commissure, a 4-0 polypropylene suture is passed through the autograft and Dacron polyester fabric at the height of the neosinotubular junction of the Valsalva graft and tied externally (Figure 1, B). Once again, a simple running suture is then performed circumferentially to complete the distal anastomosis. At this point, the autograft is fixed proximally and distally within the prosthesis (Figure 1, C).

Video-atlas of aortic valve repair

Reconstructive surgery of the aortic valve is a recent development in our center, based on old roots. In the 1950s and 1960s, the first aortic procedures were performed with neither adequate echocardiography nor clear understanding of aortic valve geometry; those early attempts were of limited clinical outcome. Meanwhile, the availability of valve substitutes enabled more reproducible and consistent results. Nowadays, with the help of transesophageal echocardiography, and the discovery of the limitations of valve substitutes, aortic valve repair has become an inspiration for many surgeons. Our videos on aortic valve repair aim at showing our viewers the latest and most relevant techniques in aortic valve repair surgery, whether it concerns tricuspid or bicuspid valves.

Active infective mitral valve endocarditis: is a repair-oriented surgery safe and durable?†

OBJECTIVES We retrospectively analysed our 20-year experience on surgical treatment of native mitral valve (MV) endocarditis in a single institution using an early and repair-oriented surgical approach. METHODS From August 1991 to December 2015, 192 consecutive patients underwent MV surgery for active endocarditis. Of these, 81% (n = 155) had MV repair while 19% had MV replacement. In-hospital and late outcomes were analysed in the 2 groups and in the subgroups of repair with and without the use of a patch. Study end points were overall survival, MV reoperation and valve-related events. The median follow-up was 122 and 146 months in the repair and replacement groups, respectively. RESULTS Patients undergoing MV replacement were significantly older with more severe preoperative comorbidities and clinical conditions compared to patients undergoing MV repair (P < 0.05). When the repair and replacement groups were compared, hospital mortality was 11.6% and 29.7%, respectively (P = 0.006); at 15 years, overall survival was 57 ± 6% and 36 ± 12%, respectively (P = 0.03); freedom from MV reoperation was 81 ± 6% and 73 ± 18%, respectively (P = 0.46); linearized rate of recurrent endocarditis was 0.1% and 2.4%, respectively. Fifteen-year freedom from reoperation was 75.4 ± 8.6% vs 92 ± 4.5% in the patch versus no-patch repair subgroups, respectively (P = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS Active MV endocarditis remains a life-threatening disease. In experienced centres, an early and repair-oriented surgical approach can achieve relatively high reparability rates with good long-term durability of the repair and a very low recurrence rate of endocarditis. Patients could benefit from MV repair even if patch material is necessary to repair the valve.

Re-repair of the failed mitral valve: insights into aetiology and surgical management

OBJECTIVES Mitral valve (MV) repair is the gold standard for treatment of degenerative mitral regurgitation. A variety of surgical techniques allow surgeons to achieve a high rate of MV repair even with MV diseases of other aetiologies. However, a certain number of repairs fail over time. The aim of this study was to review our single-centre experience of MV re-repair and analyse the mode of repair failure, re-repair safety and efficiency in relation to the initial aetiology. METHODS Between 1997 and 2015, 91 patients underwent redo MV re-repair. The first MV repair was performed in our institution in 59% of cases. Follow-up information was available for 93% of our patients. The median follow-up was 56 months. RESULTS The initial aetiology was degenerative disease in 40 (44%) patients, rheumatic disease in 25 (27.5%), endocarditis in 10 (11%), ischaemic in 6 (7%), severe mitral annulus calcification in 5 (5.5%), congenital disease in 4 (4%) and unknown in 1 (1%). The mean age was 58 ± 15 years. The median delay between the 1st and 2nd repair was 49 months with 6 early re-repairs. Re-repair was urgent or emergent in 19% of cases; indications for surgery were mitral regurgitation in 48%, stenosis in 19%, endocarditis in 19%, mitral disease in 11%, ring thrombosis in 2% and systolic anterior motion in 1%. The main mechanisms of failure included technical error (30%), progression of disease (35%), new disease (29%) and unknown (6%.) Re-repair was performed through a median sternotomy in 96% of cases, and 34% of patients had concomitant procedures. Eight (9%) postoperative deaths (4 of mitral annulus calcification, 2 of endocarditis, 1 of degenerative disease, 1 of ischaemia) and 5 (6%) early failures occurred (3 of rheumatic disease, 1 of degenerative disease, 1 of a congenital condition), requiring MV replacement in 4 and new repair in 1. Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 76% and 57%, 83% and 49% in patients with degenerative diseases and 95% and 95% in patients with rheumatic disease. Overall freedom from reoperation at 5 and 10 years was 82% and 61%, 94% and 87% with degenerative disease and 60% and 45% with rheumatic disease. CONCLUSIONS MV re-repair is feasible and has good mid-term results in patients with degenerative MV disease. Rheumatic MV disease is associated with a certain risk of failure over time; nevertheless, these patients show excellent survival after re-repair.

Valve sparing: aortic root replacement with the reimplantation technique

Aortic valve-sparing procedures are alternative options to aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic root aneurysm and/or severe aortic regurgitation reducing the risk of prosthesis-related complications, such as thromboembolism, and have no need for long-term oral anticoagulation. However, these techniques are technically demanding and long-term results are highly dependent on perfect intraoperative restoration of valve function. We describe a systematic approach to aortic valve-sparing aortic root replacement with the reimplantation technique the way it is currently performed in our institution.

Ross operation after failed valve-sparing reimplantation: pulmonary autograft inclusion into the previously implanted Valsalva graft.

grafting, the optimal graft choice and design are disputed. For younger patients, the internal mammary artery (IMA), which provides excellent long-term patency, is considered to be the first-choice vessel for revascularizing the left anterior descending coronary artery. However in our case, we considered that using the IMA might lead to unexpected postoperative coronary complications because the orifices of the bilateral subclavian arteries had been covered by the endograft, and IMA blood flow was provided by unnatural retrograde inflow from the aorto-subclavian bypasses. To revascularize the coronary arteries the saphenous vein was selected and anastomosed in an aorto-coronary fashion.

Leiomyoma mimicking an incarcerated inguinal hernia: A rare complication of laparoscopic hysterectomy

A 52-year-old, obese, female patient was referred for a right inguinal mass, which appeared seven months after a laparoscopic hysterectomy, which was performed because of myomatosis. Despite several examinations, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT)-Scan, positron emission tomography (PET)-CT, and ultrasound-guided biopsy, the diagnosis remained unclear until surgical exploration, which disclosed a well-encapsulated solid tumour corresponding to a fibrotic leiomyoma. Spilling of leiomyoma cells is a rare and unusual complication of laparoscopic surgery. Tumour development in the inguinal canal after laparoscopic gynaecological surgery should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of inguinal hernia and other uncommon pathologies.