OBJECTIVES: The goal was to develop a scoring system to predict the 30-day mortality rate for patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection on the basis of the German Registry for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (GERAADA) data set and to provide a Web-based application for standard use. METHODS: A total of 2537 patients enrolled in GERAADA who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2015 were analysed. Variable selection was performed using the R-package FAMoS. The robustness of the results was confirmed via the bootstrap procedure. The coefficients of the final model were used to calculate the risk score in a Web-based application. RESULTS: Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.018, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.009–1.026; P < 0.001; 5-year OR: 1.093], need for catecholamines at referral (OR 1.732, 95% CI 1.340–2.232; P < 0.001), preoperative resuscitation (OR 3.051, 95% CI 2.099–4.441; P < 0.001), need for intubation before surgery (OR 1.949, 95% CI 1.465–2.585; P < 0.001), preoperative hemiparesis (OR 1.442, 95% CI 0.996–2.065; P = 0.049), coronary malperfusion (OR 1.870, 95% CI 1.386–2.509; P < 0.001), visceral malperfusion (OR 1.748, 95% CI 1.198–2.530; P = 0.003), dissection extension to the descending aorta (OR 1.443, 95% CI 1.120–1.864; P = 0.005) and previous cardiac surgery (OR 1.772, 95% CI 1.048–2.903; P = 0.027) were independent predictors of the 30-day mortality rate. The Web application based on the final model can be found at https://www.dgthg.de/de/GERAADA_Score. CONCLUSIONS: The GERAADA score is a simple, effective tool to predict the 30-day mortality rate for patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. We recommend the widespread use of this Web-based application for standard use.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a leading cause of heart failure, but knowledge of the full repertoire of cardiac cells and their gene expression profiles in the human hypertrophic heart is missing. Here, by using large-scale single-nucleus transcriptomics, we present the transcriptional response of human cardiomyocytes to pressure overload caused by aortic valve stenosis and describe major alterations in cardiac cellular crosstalk. Hypertrophied cardiomyocytes had reduced input from endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Genes encoding Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly EPHB1, were significantly downregulated in cardiomyocytes of the hypertrophied heart. Consequently, EPHB1 activation by its ligand ephrin (EFN)B2, which is mainly expressed by endothelial cells, was reduced. EFNB2 inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro, while silencing its expression in endothelial cells induced hypertrophy in co-cultured cardiomyocytes. Our human cell atlas of the hypertrophied heart highlights the importance of intercellular crosstalk in disease pathogenesis and provides a valuable resource.

Editorial: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery: state of the art and current challenges

OBJECTIVES: The Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (AMDS) has been recently introduced as an alternative for total arch replacement in acute aortic dissection type A (AADA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes after AMDS treatment in a large contemporary cohort of AADA patients.METHODS: Data acquisition was performed retrospectively at 2 German aortic centres between 2020 and 2022 and comprised the perioperative parameters and postoperative results of all AADA patients. All patients treated with the AMDS for AADA were included in the study. The primary end point was in-hospital mortality. Secondary end points were defined as early postoperative and AMDS-related complications.RESULTS: Fifty-seven AADA patients treated by AMDS were included in the study group. The mean age was 64.6 ± 10.8 years and 59.7% (n = 34) were males. The actual in-hospital mortality was considerably lower than the predicted mortality risk by the German registry for acute aortic dissection type A score (16% vs 22%). The median ICU and in-hospital stay were 5 (interquartile range: 3–13) and 12 (interquartile range: 10–22) days, respectively. Postoperative complications comprised acute renal insufficiency (37%) with need for temporary (16%) or permanent dialysis (5%), delirium (26%), re-exploration for bleeding (14%), tracheostomy (14%) and new stroke (4%). A new AMDS-related complication (central stent collapse) was observed in 9% (n = 5) by postoperative computed tomography and chest X-ray. The incidence of complete central AMDS collapse did not impact 30-day mortality.CONCLUSIONS: The AMDS may be successfully used in AADA with acceptable 30-day mortality in accordance with the German registry for acute aortic dissection type A score. However, careful preoperative evaluation of the patient’s individual aortic anatomy regarding potential contraindications and proper device implantation are strongly recommended to avoid complete central AMDS collapse.

The Ross procedure, which involves replacing a diseased aortic valve with the patient’s own pulmonary valve (pulmonary autograft), has gained renewed attention in adult patients due to mounting evidence of excellent long-term outcomes. With increasing data demonstrating restoration of life expectancy and improved valve-related outcomes, it is now considered a viable first-line option for selected young and middle-aged adults with non-repairable aortic valve disease. Nonetheless, its adoption remains inconsistent across institutions, partly due to concerns about surgical complexity, long-term durability, and the need for structured follow-up. This expert consensus document, commissioned by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, synthesizes the current evidence and offers clinical statements for using the Ross procedure in adults. Developed through a systematic review and informed by the collective experience of a multidisciplinary panel of internationally recognized experts, the document addresses key topics including patient selection, technical refinements, and perioperative management. Emphasis is also placed on the need for procedural standardization, high-volume surgical expertise, and longitudinal imaging-based follow-up. Moreover, comparative outcome data and subgroup considerations are critically appraised, and areas for future investigation are outlined. This clinical practice document is intended to assist clinicians and Heart Teams in making informed treatment decisions, support harmonized implementation across centres, provide technical considerations to optimize procedural success, and substantially improve outcomes for patients considered for this complex but promising procedure.