Project description:BackgroundRheumatic valve disease (RVD) is the most common cause of cardiovascular death in low-middle income nations. Surgical aortic valve (AV) interventions for RVD, especially in children, have proven problematic with graft failure, relapse, and poor compliance with anticoagulation. A novel technique involving neocuspidization of the aortic annulus using autologous pericardium to construct new AV leaflets (the Ozaki procedure) has shown promising outcomes in children with congenital AV disease; however, there are no previous recorded cases using this technique in children with RVD.Case summaryWe present the case of a 15-year-old male presenting with exertional angina and dyspnoea with a background of previous rheumatic fever. Echocardiography had shown a regurgitant tricuspid AV, left ventricular dilatation with mitral valve leaflet tethering. The patient underwent the Ozaki procedure for his AV regurgitation and was discharged following an uneventful post-operative recovery. The patient had full resolution of symptoms following the procedure and remains well 3 years following his operation.DiscussionThis case highlights that good outcomes with the Ozaki procedure in RVD are possible 3-years post-operatively and should prompt future studies to evaluate the procedure as a surgical option for paediatric patients in this clinical context. Additionally, the Ozaki procedure may also provide a cost-effective surgical technique requiring minimal additional operative resources and reduced follow-up demand, which would be critical in low-resource clinical settings where RVD is prevalent.
Project description:Background We assessed the Ozaki procedure, aortic valve reconstruction using autologous pericardium, with respect to its learning curve, hemodynamic performance, and durability compared with a stented bioprosthesis. Methods and Results From January 2007 to January 2016, 776 patients underwent an Ozaki procedure at Toho University Ohashi Medical Center. Learning curves, aortic regurgitation (AR), and peak gradient, assessed by serial echocardiograms, valve rereplacement, and survival were investigated. Valve performance and durability were compared with 627 1:1 propensity-matched patients receiving stented bovine pericardial valves implanted from 1982 to 2011 at Cleveland Clinic. Learning curves were observed for aortic clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, AR prevalence, and early mortality. Decreased aortic clamp time was observed over the first 300 cases. New surgeons performing parts of the procedure after case 400 resulted in a slight increase in aortic clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times. Among matched patients, the Ozaki cohort had more AR than the PERIMOUNT cohort (severe AR at 1 and 6 years, 0.58% and 3.6% versus 0.45% and 1.0%, respectively; P[trend]=0.006), although with a steep learning curve. Peak gradient showed the opposite trend: 14 and 17 mm Hg for Ozaki and 24 and 28 mm Hg for PERIMOUNT at these times (P[trend]<0.001). Freedom from rereplacement was similar (P=0.491). Survival of the Ozaki cohort was 85% at 6 years. Conclusions Patients undergoing the Ozaki procedure had lower gradients but more recurrent AR than those receiving PERIMOUNT bioprostheses. Although recurrent AR is concerning, results confirm low risk and good midterm performance of the Ozaki procedure, supporting its continued use.
Project description:ObjectiveIn the current study, we present our mid-term experience with modified edge-to-edge repair technique through a transventricular and transaortic route in patients requiring left ventricular remodeling or aortic root/valve surgery.MethodsFrom December 2006 through April 2015, 49 high-risk patients (median age: 69 years; median European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II: 11.4 [6.54-14.9]) underwent transventricular (N = 7; 14%) or transaortic (N = 42; 86%) edge-to-edge mitral valve repair. The Alfieri stitch technique was modified by MitraClip type overcorrection and solid buttressing behind the posterior leaflet. Indication was grade 2+ functional mitral valve incompetence and dilated or impaired left ventricle (N = 25; 52%), or grade 3+ (N = 22; 45%) and grade 4+ functional mitral valve regurgitation (N = 2; 4%). Surgical procedure included aortic root surgery in 65%, aortic valve replacement with surgical revascularization in 18%, and Dor-plasty with surgical revascularization in 14%.ResultsIntraoperative mortality and early neurologic complications were absent in our series. Ninety-day mortality was 12.2% (N = 6). Median clinical and echocardiographic follow-up-time was 50.7 (21.5-44.1) and 39.2 (33.7-44.1) months, respectively. Median postoperative transvalvular gradient was low (2.72 [1.91-4.22] mm Hg) and did not increase during follow-up (P = .268), although peak gradient rose slightly from 7.41 to 8.12 mm Hg (P = .071). The actuarial reoperation free rate at the index valve was 96.8%.ConclusionsTransventricular or transaortic Alfieri mitral repair mimicking mitral clip overcorrection represents a quick and safe technique in the setting of high-risk patients undergoing left ventricular remodeling or aortic root/valve surgery and can be performed with low risk of creating mitral stenosis at midterm. The technique is straightforward, with reliable identification of the center of the valve leaflets being the limitation.
Project description:Aortic valve endocarditis may be destructive and cause an acquired Gerbode-type defect. The use of biological material in the closure of the Gerbode defect and reconstruction of the aortic valve is essential for both early and long-term survival. Herein, we present a 62-year-old male patient whose Gerbode defect was repaired with bovine pericardium. Additionally, the aortic valve was reconstructed by using bovine pericardium with Ozaki neocuspidization technique.
Project description:Background:Aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo), a novel surgical procedure used in the treatment of aortic valve diseases, including aortic stenosis (AS), involves the replacement of three aortic valve cusps by glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium. Although reoperation risk is low, no case report on the deterioration of the AVNeo has yet been published. Case summary:An 80-year-old woman who underwent AVNeo for severe degenerative tricuspid AS 6?years previously complained of shortness of breath. Echocardiographic assessment revealed the reconstructed aortic valve leaflet was elongated, thickened, and marginally calcified resulting in recurrent severe AS. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation using balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve was successfully performed. Discussion:To our knowledge, this is the first case report regarding the structural deterioration of the AVNeo resulting in restenosis 6?years after the first surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is possibly a suitable approach for post-procedural recurrence after AVNeo to avoid redo open-heart surgery which would be of prohibitive risk especially in an elderly population.
Project description:Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) following mitral valve edge-to-edge repair is a rare complication with high mortality. Case summary: A 91-year-old male patient was admitted to intensive care unit with sepsis due to urinary tract infection after insertion of a urinary catheter by the outpatient urologist. Two weeks ago, the patient was discharged from hospital after successful transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) using a PASCAL Ace device. The initially withdrawn blood revealed repeatedly Proteus mirabilis bacteremia as causal for the sepsis due to urinary tract infection. An antibiotic regime with Ampicillin/Sulbactam was initiated and discontinued after 7 days. During the clinical course the patient again developed fever and blood cultures again revealed P. mirabilis. In transesophageal echocardiography (TOE), IE of the PASCAL Ace device was confirmed by a vegetation accompanied by a mild to moderate mitral regurgitation. While the patient was stable at this time and deemed not suitable for cardiac surgery, the endocarditis team made a decision toward a prolonged 6-week antibiotic regime with an antibiotic combination of Ampicillin 2 g qds and Ciprofloxacin 750 mg td. Due to posterior leaflet perforation severe mitral regurgitation developed while PASCAL Ace vegetations were significantly reduced by the antibiotic therapy. Therefore, the patient underwent successful endoscopic mitral valve replacement. Another 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment with Ampicillin 2 g qds followed before the patient was discharged. Discussion: P. mirabilis is able to form biofilms, resulting in a high risk for endocarditis following transcatheter mitral valve repair especially when device endothelization is incomplete. Endoscopic mitral valve replacement could serve as a bailout strategy in refractory Clip-endocarditis.
Project description:Surgery is recommended for endocarditis complicated by annular abscess or destruction of the native valve. Guidelines also recommend valvular repair over replacement for endocarditis when feasible. Guidance on management of early repair failure is not well described. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).