• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.369-376
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• 2021

Background: Sutureless and rapid deployment valves for aortic valve replacement (AVR) were introduced in Korea in December 2016. This study evaluated changing trends in the prosthetic valves used for AVR in Korea after the introduction of sutureless and rapid deployment valves. Methods: From December 2016 to December 2018, 4,899 patients underwent AVR in Korea. After applying the exclusion criteria, 4,872 patients were analyzed to determine changes in the type of prosthetic valve used for AVR. The study period was divided into 5 groups corresponding to 5-month intervals. Results: The total number of AVR cases was 194.88±28.78 per month during the study period. Mechanical valves were used in approximately 27% to 33% of cases, and the proportion of mechanical valve use showed a tendency to decrease, with marginal significance overall (p=0.078) and significant decreases in patients less than 60 years of age and in men (p=0.013 and p=0.023, respectively). The use of sutureless valves increased from 13.4% to 25.8% of cases (p<0.001), especially in elderly patients (>70 years) and those requiring concomitant surgery. In a comparison between sutureless and rapid deployment valves, the use of Perceval S valves (a type of sutureless valve), gradually increased (p<0.001). Conclusion: After the introduction of sutureless and rapid deployment valves in Korea, the rate of use of these new valves remarkably increased, especially in elderly patients and those requiring concomitant surgery. Further studies should investigate the clinical outcomes of these new prostheses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2024

Background: Sutureless aortic valves may enable shorter procedure times, which benefits patients with elevated surgical risk. We describe the outcomes of patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) using the sutureless Perceval aortic bioprosthesis. Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort were obtained from a clinical database. The study enrolled patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent surgical AVR with a sutureless bioprosthesis between August 2015 and December 2020. In total, 113 patients were included (mean age, 75.3±8.4 years; 57.5% women; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 9.7%; mean follow-up period, 51.19±20.6 months). Of these patients, 41 were octogenarians (36.2%) and 3 were nonagenarians (2.6%). Transthoracic echocardiography was employed to assess changes in ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and mean pressure gradient (MPG). Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%, and 13 patients developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3 patients (2.6%). The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 days), and the median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR, 9.5-15 days). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 95.9%. LVMI and MPG were reduced postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period. No structural valve deterioration was observed, and no meaningful paravalvular leakage developed during follow-up. Conclusion: The use of a sutureless valve in the aortic position is safe and feasible, even for high-risk elderly patients requiring surgical AVR. LVMI and MPG decreased postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.359-361
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• 2023

Coronary ostium obstruction due to dislodgement of the prosthetic valve is a rare and life-threatening complication, and particular caution is required for sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) with concomitant valvular surgery. In general, coronary artery bypass surgery is performed when coronary ostium obstruction occurs after AVR, but other options may need to be considered in some cases. Herein, we present a case of coronary artery occlusion in an 82-year-old female patient who had undergone AVR and mitral valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve stenosis at the age of 77 years. A hybrid procedure involving redo AVR and percutaneous coronary intervention after left main coronary ostium endarterectomy was performed. To summarize, we present a case of hybrid AVR in a patient with coronary artery obstruction after AVR that was successfully managed using this method.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2016

Background: In elderly high-risk surgical patients, sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) should be an alternative to standard AVR. The potential advantages of sutureless aortic prostheses include reducing cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and facilitating minimally invasive surgery and complex cardiac interventions, while maintaining satisfactory hemodynamic outcomes and low rates of paravalvular leakage. The current study reports our single-center experience regarding the early outcomes of sutureless aortic valve implantation. Methods: Between October 2012 and June 2015, 65 patients scheduled for surgical valve replacement with symptomatic aortic valve disease and New York Heart Association function of class II or higher were included to this study. Perceval S (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Sallugia, Italy) and Edwards Intuity (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) valves were used. Results: The mean age of the patients was $71.15{\pm}8.60years$. Forty-four patients (67.7%) were female. The average preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was $56.9{\pm}9.93$. The CPB time was $96.51{\pm}41.27minutes$ and the cross-clamping time was $60.85{\pm}27.08minutes$. The intubation time was $8.95{\pm}4.19hours$, and the intensive care unit and hospital stays were $2.89{\pm}1.42days$ and $7.86{\pm}1.42days$, respectively. The mean quantity of drainage from chest tubes was $407.69{\pm}149.28mL$. The hospital mortality rate was 3.1%. A total of five patients (7.69%) died during follow-up. The mean follow-up time was $687.24{\pm}24.76days$. The one-year survival rate was over 90%. Conclusion: In the last few years, several models of valvular sutureless bioprostheses have been developed. The present study evaluating the single-center early outcomes of sutureless aortic valve implantation presents the results of an innovative surgical technique, finding that it resulted in appropriate hemodynamic conditions with acceptable ischemic time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2024

Background: Sutureless valves are widely used in aortic valve replacement surgery, with Perceval valves and Intuity valves being particularly prominent. However, concerns have been raised about postoperative thrombocytopenia with Perceval valves (Corcym, UK). We conducted a comparative analysis with the Intuity valve (Edwards Lifesciences, USA), and assessed how thrombocytopenia affected patient and transfusion outcomes. Methods: Among 595 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement from June 2016 to March 2023, sutureless valves were used in 53 (Perceval: n=23; Intuity: n=30). Platelet counts were monitored during hospitalization and outpatient visits. Daily platelet count changes were compared between groups, and the results from patients who underwent procedures using Carpentier Edwards Perimount Magna valves were used as a reference group. Results: Compared to the Intuity group, the Perceval group showed a significantly higher amount of platelet transfusion (5.48±1.64 packs vs. 0.60±0.44 packs, p=0.008). During the postoperative period, severe thrombocytopenia (<50,000/μL) was significantly more prevalent in the Perceval group (56.5%, n=13) than in the Intuity group (6.7%, n=2). After initial postoperative depletion, daily platelet counts increased, with significant differences observed in the extent of improvement between the Perceval and Intuity groups (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in early mortality or the incidence of neurological complications between the 2 groups. Conclusion: The severity of postoperative thrombocytopenia differed significantly between the Perceval and Intuity valves. The Perceval group showed a significantly higher prevalence of severe thrombocytopenia and higher platelet transfusion volumes. However, thrombocytopenia gradually recovered during the postoperative period in both groups, and the early outcomes were similar in both groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.172-179
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• 2018

Background: This study aimed to compare preliminary data on the outcomes of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) with those of aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of SU-AVR in moderate- to high-risk patients from 2013 to 2016. Matching was performed at a 1:1 ratio using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality score with sex and age. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were operative outcomes and complications. Results: A total of 277 patients were studied. Ten patients (50% males; median age, 81.5 years) underwent SU-AVR. Postoperative echocardiography showed impressive outcomes in the SU-AVR group. The 30-day mortality was 10% in both groups. In our study, the patients in the SU-AVR group developed postoperative thrombocytopenia. Platelet counts decreased from $225{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ preoperatively to 94.5, 54.5, and $50.1{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3, respectively, showing significant differences compared with the AVR group (p=0.04, p=0.16, and p=0.20, respectively). The median amount of platelet transfusion was higher in the AVR group (12.5 vs. 0 units, p=0.052). Conclusion: There was no difference in the 30-day mortality of moderate-to high-risk patients depending on whether they underwent SU-AVR or AVR. Although SU-AVR is associated with favorable cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times, it may be associated with postoperative thrombocytopenia.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.851-852
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• 2022

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Background: Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) has been developed as an alternative surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of SU-AVR through an assessment of hemodynamic performance and safety. Methods: From December 2014 to June 2016, a total of 12 consecutive patients with severe AS underwent SU-AVR. The endpoints were overall survival and valve-related complications (paravalvular leakage, valve thrombosis, migration, endocarditis, and permanent pacemaker implantation). The mean follow-up duration was $18.1{\pm}8.6months$. Results: The mean age of the patients was $77.1{\pm}5.8years$ and their mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was $9.2{\pm}17.7$. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times were $94.5{\pm}37.3$ minutes and $54.9{\pm}12.5minutes$, respectively. Follow-up echocardiography showed good prosthesis function with low transvalvular pressure gradients (mean, $13.9{\pm}8.6mm\;Hg$ and peak, $27.2{\pm}15.0mm\;Hg$) at a mean of $9.9{\pm}4.2months$. No cases of primary paravalvular leakage, valve thrombosis, migration, or endocarditis were reported. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted in 1 patient (8.3%). The 1-year overall survival rate was $83.3%{\pm}10.8%$. Conclusion: Our initial experience with SU-AVR demonstrated excellent early clinical outcomes with good hemodynamic results. However, there was a high incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation compared to the rate for conventional AVR, which is a problem that should be solved.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.189-200
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• 1974

The mitral valve replacement with Beall prosthetic valve was performed on three patients, and double valve replacement. aortic and mitral valve, was performed in this department.1) The preoperative studies about the first case were compatible with mitral steno-insufficency.The diseased mitral valve was replaced with the medium sized Beall prosthetic valve under the cardiopulmonary hypass using hypothermic hemodilution technique. The total perfusion time was eighty minutes. Immediate postoperative course was smooth, but this patient was died of asphyxia due to tracheomalacia complicated after tracheostomy 3 months after operation. Autopsy on this patient revealed that no thrombus and no ball variance could be found, and endothelization on the valve cuff was satisfactory. 2) The preoperative studies on the second case were compatible with mitral insufficiency. The diseased mitral valve was replaced with the medium sized Beall prosthetic valve under the cardiopulmonary bypass using hypothermic hemodilution technigue. The total perfusion time was 123 minutes. This patient was discharged in good condition and follow-up study after 16 months revealed the patient had enjoyed healthy life. 3) The preoperative studies about the third case were compatible with aortic insufficiency and mitral stenoinsufficiency. The diseased valves were replaced with type 2 sutureless Magovern aortic valve and the medium sized Beall mitral prosthesis under cardiopulmonary bypass using hypothermic hemodilution technIque and coronary artery perfusion. The total perfusion time was 155 minutes. This patient was discharged in good condition, but thromboembolism was developed 2 months after discharge. 4) The preoperative studies about the fourth case were compatible with mitral insufficiency. The diseased mitral valve was replaced with the medium sized Beall prosthetic valve. The total perfusion time was 132 minutes. The atrioventricular block developed just after operation but converted to normal sinus rhythmn on the third postperative day. The preoperative NYHA functional classification IV was converted to Class 1 or 11 at the time of discharge and this patient enjoyed healthy life. Attendum; The fifth case, nineteen years old male with mital insufficiency underwent Beall valve replacement and his course was uneventful 2 weeks after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.305-313
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• 1985

Surgical therapy for dissection of the aorta has had a high mortality. One contributing factor has been hemorrhage from the prosthesis and the suture lines. Recently, a new method of treatment with an intraluminal graft that requires no end-to-end anastomosis has been developed. Of the four patients with dissecting aneurysm of the aorta treated by inserting sutureless ringed intraluminal graft at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, S.N.U.H., three were DeBakey type I [one with associated aortic insufficiency] and the other was DeBakey type III. Suspected etiology of the dissection was Marfan`s syndrome in one and hypertension in the others. Total cardiopulmonary bypass was utilized in repairing dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta [type A] and simple aortic crossclamping was used for the patient with dissecting aneurysm of the descending aorta. The basic technique consists of inserting the whole ringed graft into the true lumen of the dissected aorta and circumferentially ligating the aorta against the groove in the rings. The proximal ring of the graft effectively stabilized the flail aortic valve in patient with aortic insufficiency associated with dissection of the ascending aorta. There were no hospital deaths and one patient with type III dissecting aneurysm developed postoperative paraparesis and renal insufficiency which was resolved. Follow-up has been from 1 month to 16 months with no evidence of prosthetic problems, such as erosion, migration, or thrombosis.