Background Historically, female patients had worse outcome undergoing heart surgery. No recent data exist on gender-specific outcome after moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA). The aim of this large retrospective analysis was to investigate gender disparity in patients undergoing elective surgery of ascending aorta in MHCA at 24°C. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 905 (33.3% female) cases of elective heart surgery in MHCA for ascending aortic aneurysm (90.9%) or severely calcified aorta (12.5%) between 2001 and 2015. Furthermore, 299 female and 299 male patients matched by propensity score were compared. Patients with dissection of the aorta were excluded. Results Women were older (68.4 ± 9.9 vs. 65.8 ± 11.6 years; p = 0.002), had higher logistic EuroSCORE I (18.4 [11.7; 29.2] vs. 12.3% [7.4; 22.6]; p < 0.001), and significantly shorter cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (132 [105; 175] vs. 150 [118; 192] minutes; p < 0.001), while mean MHCA time was longer (15 [13; 19] vs. 14 [12; 17] minutes; p = 0.003). Surgical procedures were less complex in women and they were treated more frequently by isolated supracoronary ascending aorta replacement (61 vs. 54%; p = 0.046). Postoperatively, men showed a higher incidence of neurologic complications (7.0 vs. 3.3%; p = 0.03). The 30-day mortality (women 4.9% vs. men 3.9%; p = 0.48) did not differ significantly, likewise after statistical matching (4.7 vs. 2.3%; p = 0.120). Age, CPB time, and blood transfusion, but not female gender, were risk factors for mortality in multivariable regression analysis. Conclusion This study supports the hypothesis that female gender is not associated with increased short-term mortality or perioperative adverse events in elective aortic surgery in MHCA. The study was approved by our Institutional Review Board and accordingly individual patient consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of this study. ^* Both authors contributed equally to this work.

Epicardial ablation concomitant to cardiac surgery is an easy and safe approach to treat atrial fibrillation (AF), but its efficacy in longstanding persistent (LsPe) AF remains intermediate. Although larger left atrial size has been associated with worse outcome after ablation, biochemical predictors of success are not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between biochemical marker, echo-characteristic and cardiac rhythm in 6 months follow-up after epicardial ultrasound (HIFU) ablation. We included 78 consecutive patients, who underwent elective cardiac surgery. 42 patients with AF (11.9% paroxysmal, 23.8% persistent, 64.3% LsPeAF) underwent concomitant HIFU ablation (AF ablation group), 16 with AF underwent cardiac surgery without ablation (AF control) and 20 had preoperatively normal sinus rhythm (SR control). We measured plasma ANP secretion before, on postoperative day (POD) 1, POD 7 as well as 3 and 6 months after surgery. Moreover, we estimated cardiac rhythm and atrial mechanical function by Atrial Filling Fraction (AFF) and A-wave velocity in follow-up. Baseline ANP levels were higher in patients with LsPeAF, as compared to the paroxysmal and permanent AF and to the SR control group. Patients with LsPeAF (n = 27) who converted to SR had preoperatively smaller left atrial diameter (LAD) and LA area (p < 0.05) and higher ANP level (p = 0.009) than those who remained in AF at 6 months after ablation. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that only preoperative ANP level was an independent predictor of cardiac rhythm after ablation. Patients with LsPeAF and preoperative ANP >7.5 nmol/l presented with SR in 80%, in contrast to those with ANP <7.5 nmol/l who converted to SR in 20%. We detected gradual increase of AFF and A-velocity at 6 months after ablation (p < 0.05) solely in AF ablation group. ANP levels were increased on POD 1 in ablation group (p < 0.05), without changes in further follow-up. Our results indicate that preoperative ANP levels may be a new biochemical predictor of successful epicardial ablation in patients with concomitant LsPeAF. HIFU ablation caused a significant improvement of atrial mechanical function and gradual increase of AFF and did not associate with alteration of atrial endocrine secretion at 6 months follow-up.

Advanced age is a known risk factor for morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Minimized extracorporeal circulation (MECC) has been shown to reduce the negative effects associated with conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC). This trial assesses the impact of MECC on the outcome of elderly patients undergoing CABG. Eight hundred and seventy-five patients (mean age 78.35 years) underwent isolated CABG using CECC (n=345) or MECC (n=530). The MECC group had a significantly shorter extracorporeal circulation time (ECCT), cross-clamp time and reperfusion time and lower transfusion needs. Postoperatively, these patients required significantly less inotropic support, fewer blood transfusions, less postoperative hemodialysis and developed less delirium compared to CECC patients. In the MECC group, intensive care unit (ICU) stay was significantly shorter and 30-day mortality was significantly reduced [2.6% versus 7.8%; p<0.001]. In conclusion, MECC improves outcome in elderly patients undergoing CABG surgery.

Objectives: Patients in cardiogenic shock (CS) may be successfully bridged using intravascular micro-axial left ventricular assist devices (M-LVADs) for recovery or determination of definitive therapy. Methods: One hundred and seven CS patients implanted with M-LVADs from January 2020 to May 2024 were divided into four groups; group-1: 34 patients (transplant); group-2: 25 patients (LVAD); group-3: 42 patients (postcardiotomy CS (PCCS)); group-4: 6 patients (decision/recovery but excluded from analysis). Multivariable logistic regression and Multivariable Coxregression models identified predictors of early -hospital and late mortality, and Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with p < 0.05, respectively, were considered statistically significant. SPSS 29.0 and Python 3.11.1. were used for analyses. Results: Complications included device-malfunction (6%), gastrointestinal bleed (9%), long-term hemodialysis (21%), axillary hematoma requiring re-exploration (10%), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (4%) requiring heparin therapy cessation/initiation of argatroban infusion, and non-fatal stroke (11%). Early hospital mortality included 13 patients: 2 in group-1, 1 in group-2, 10 in group-3 (p = 0.02). In the Logistic-Regression model, category of CS requiring an M-LVAD was significant (OR = 4.7, p = 0.05). Patients were followed for 4.5 years (mean follow-up was 23 ± 17 months), and 23 deaths occurred; group-1: 3 patients, group-2: 5 patients, and group-3: 15 patients (p = 0.019). At 4.5 years, actuarial survival was 90.7 ± 5.1% in group-1, 79.2 ± 8.3% in group-2, 62.8 ± 7.7% in group-3 (p = 0.01). In the Cox-Regression model, M-LVAD category (HR = 3.63, p = 0.04), and long-term postoperative dialysis (HR = 3.9, p = 0.002) emerged as predictors of long-term mortality. Conclusions: In cardiogenic shock, mid-term outcomes demonstrate good survival with M-LVADs as bridge to transplant/durable LVADs and reasonable survival with M-LVADs as a bridge to recovery following cardiotomy, accompanied by reduced ECMO usage, and early ambulation/rehabilitation.