Martin Moscoso-Ludueña

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) screening on the perioperative stroke rate in cardiosurgical patients at risk of aortic calcification. Methods: Between May 2019 and April 2020, 129 patients at risk of aortic calcification underwent non-contrast chest CT screening before their procedure. They were assigned to Group 1 and compared with a historical Group 2, who were treated the previous year without a preoperative CT scan. The primary endpoint was to determine postoperative stroke occurrence. The secondary outcomes were the rate reintubation/tracheostomy, the length of hospital stay, and any change in surgical strategy based on the CT findings. Results: Groups 1 and 2 comprised 129 and 261 patients, respectively. Group 1 had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, less carotid stenosis, a history of carotid endarterectomy, and a longer cross-clamp time. The surgical strategy was changed for 6 patients in Group 1. Group 1 had a significantly lower stroke rate. No significant differences were observed in reintubation and tracheostomy rates, or length of hospital stay. Lack of CT screening, age, aortic valve surgery, aortic surgery, and rethoracotomy were identified as independent risk factors for a stroke. Conclusions: Preoperative non-contrast chest CT screening of patients at risk of aortic calcification reduces postoperative stroke through adaptation of the surgical approach and should be used routinely in these patients.

We evaluated the feasibility of hybrid percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) in patients with concomitant coronary and mitral disease. Of 534 patients who underwent MIMVS at our institution between 2012 and 2018, those with combined mitral and single vessel coronary pathologies who underwent MIMVS and PCI were included. Patients were excluded if they had endocarditis or required emergency procedures. Preprocedural, procedural, and postprocedural data were retrospectively analyzed. In total, 10 patients (median age, 75 years; 7 males) with a median ejection fraction (EF) of 60% were included. Nine patients underwent PCI before and one after MIMVS. The success rate was 100% in both procedures. There were no postoperative myocardial infarctions or strokes. Two patients developed delirium and one required re-thoracotomy for bleeding. The median stay in intensive care and the hospital was 3 and 8 days, respectively. The 30-day survival rate was 100%. A hybrid PCI and MIMVS approach is feasible in patients with mitral valve and single vessel coronary disease. In combined pathologies, the revascularization strategy should be evaluated independent from the mitral valve pathology in the presence of MIMVS expertise. Extension of this recommendation to multivessel disease should be evaluated in future studies.