Omar Sharaf

and 4 more

Background: Dysphagia following cardiac surgery is common and associated with adverse outcomes. Among patients receiving left ventricular assist device (LVAD), we evaluated the impact of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) on outcomes. Methods: A single-center pilot study was conducted in adults (≥18 years of age) undergoing durable LVAD (February 2019-January 2020). Six patients were prospectively enrolled, evaluated, and underwent FEES within 72 hours of extubation—they were compared to 12 control patients. Demographic, surgical, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Unpaired two-sided t-tests and Fisher’s Exact tests were performed. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Intraoperative criteria including duration of transesophageal echo (314 ± 86 min) and surgery (301 ± 74 min) did not differ. Mean time of intubation was comparable (57.3 vs. 68.7 hours, p=0.77). In the entire cohort, 30-day, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year mortality were 0%, 5.6%, 5.6%, and 16.7%, respectively. Sixty-seven percent of the patients that underwent FEES had inefficient swallowing function. The FEES group trended to a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) (29.1 vs. 46.6 days, p=0.098), post-implantation LOS (25.3 vs 30.7 days, p=0.46), and lower incidence of postoperative pneumonia (16.7% vs. 50%, p=0.32) and sepsis (0% vs. 33.3%, p=0.25). Conclusions: FEES did not impact 30-day, 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year mortality. Patients who underwent FEES trended toward shorter LOS, and lower postoperative pneumonia and sepsis rates, though not statistically significant. A higher incidence of dysphagia among patients undergoing FEES despite comparable baseline risk factors with controls suggests FEES may detect subclinical dysphagia.
Objective: Valve-sparing root replacement is commonly used for management of aortic root aneurysms in elective setting, but its technical complexity hinders its broader adoption for acute Type-A Aortic Dissection (ATAAD). The Florida Sleeve (FS) procedure is a simplified form of valve sparing aortic root reconstruction that does not require coronary reimplantation. Here, we present our outcomes of the Florida Sleeve (FS) repair in patients with dilated roots in the setting of an ATAAD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 24 consecutive patients (2002-2018) treated with FS procedure for ATAAD. Demographic, operative, and postoperative outcomes were queried from our institutional database. Long term follow-up was obtained from clinic visits for local patients, and with telephone and telehealth measures otherwise. Results: Mean age was 49 ± 14 years with 19 (79%) males. Marfan syndrome was present in 4 (16.7%) patients and 14 (58.3) had ≥2+ aortic insufficiency (AI). Nine (37.2%) had preoperative mal-perfusion or shock. The FS was combined with hemi-arch replacement in 15 (62.5%) patients and a zone-2 arch replacement in 9 (37.5%) patients. There were 2 (8.3%) early postoperative mortalities. Median follow-up period was 46 months (range; 0.3-146). The median survival of the entire cohort was 143.4 months. One patient (4.2%) required redo aortic valve replacement for unrelated aortic valve endocarditis at 30 months postoperatively. Conclusion: FS is simplified and reproducible valve-sparing root repair. In appropriate patients, it can be applied safely in acute Stanford type-A aortic dissection with excellent early and long-term results.

Henry Holmes

and 9 more