Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) has been implemented in refractory postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) patients to maintain excellent oxygenation and hemodynamic support. The aim of this study is to compare the results of early ECMO implantation to treat refractory PCCS in emergency versus elective patients who developed univentricular or biventricular pump failure. Patients and methods: Between January 2019 and June 2021, 35 patients received ECMO after refractory PCCS. Patients have been categorized into two groups: Group A contains 18 patients who were urgently operated on and Group B, which includes 17 patients who were electively operated on. ECMO was implanted through central cannulation (right atrium and ascending aorta), or through peripheral cannulation (femoral vessels or through axillary artery). Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two ECMO groups in the preoperative patient’s characteristics, complication rate, duration of mechanical ventilation, post-ECMO weaning hospital stay, duration of ICU stay, in-hospital mortality, and number of patients discharged from the hospital or in 1-year survival on follow up. Conclusion: Early use of ECMO in high-risk emergency cardiac surgery should be taken into consideration when possible, without hesitance. Emergency and elective patients benefit equally from ECMO implantation and show comparable complication rates.

Objectives: To find out the most successful surgical technique to obliterate left atrial appendage (LAA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who had undergone concomitant cardiac surgery. Background: About 10%-65% of patients develop AF following cardiac surgery [Rho 2009; Mathew 2004; Maesen 2012]. Cerebral cardio-embolic stroke remains the most serious complication in AF patients. LAA is the main anatomical source for thromboembolic events. The use of oral anticoagulants (OAG) is considered to be an effective method for reduction of thromboembolic complications [Johnson 2000]. The use of oral anticoagulants is faced by two important facts which are the therapy duration is still unknown [Kirchhof 2017] and importantly that between 30-50% of patients are not candidates for oral anticoagulants due to the high bleeding risk or other contraindications [Johnson 2000; Kirchhof 2017; Kirchhof 2014]. In such patients, LAA obliteration would be an optimal alternative technique as it will reduce the stroke risk by 50% [Go 2014]. Several surgical techniques with variable degrees of success rates have been used.  It still is unclear which surgical technique is optimum to achieve a successful obliteration of the LAA and a considerable reduction of the postoperative stroke events in AF patients. Patients and methods: A total of 100 patients have been subjected to surgical LAA exclusion from April 2017 to April 2019 in two different centers. All patients had postoperative transesophageal echo (TEE) examination to confirm the success of LAA occlusion. All patients included in our study suffered from AF at the time of surgery or in past history, which was confirmed by ECG examination in their previous medical files. A variety of surgical techniques to close the LAA have been utilized, including surgical excision by means of scissors, patch exclusion by means of an endocardial patch, suture exclusion and finally stapler exclusion. TEE examination 16 months postoperatively divided our patients into four groups as follows: successful LAA occlusion, Patent LAA, excluded LAA with persistent flow into LAA, and remnant LAA with a stump connection with LAA more than 1 cm. Results: Out of 100 patients, 30 patients (30%) underwent surgical LAA excision, 24 patients (24%) underwent surgical epicardial suture ligation, eight patients (8%) underwent patch exclusion using autologous pericardial patch, 33 patients (33%) underwent LAA internal orifice purse string suture obliteration, and five patients (5%) underwent stapler exclusion. Forty-two patients out of 100 (42%) showed successful LAA closure. The successful LAA occlusion occurred mostly in LAA excision patients 87%, 24% in LAA internal orifice purse string suture obliteration patients, 21% in epicardial suture ligation patients, and 37.5% in patch exclusion patients. The stapler exclusion was very disappointing as we did not record a single case out of the five patients who showed a successful LAA occlusion. Stroke events were recorded in all surgical techniques except the LAA excision technique. The stroke rate after two years follow up was zero in the surgical excision group, 49% in the suture exclusion group, 20% in the patch exclusion group, and 40% in stapler exclusion group. Conclusion: Surgical LAA excision is the most successful technique for LAA occlusion and represents a promising technique for the reduction of thromboembolic events in AF patients who undergo a concomitant cardiac surgery.

Background: The most common conduit for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is saphenous vein graft (SVG). There are two techniques for SVG harvesting: open and endoscopic. Our aim is to evaluate clinical results of endoscopic versus open SVG harvesting. Nowadays, endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) has become prevalent because of reduced complications with more patient satisfaction. Objective: We designed and performed a prospective randomized cohort study of patients undergoing CABG to compare the results of open versus endoscopic harvesting technique. Methods: Patients who underwent elective CABG at our hospitals were divided into two groups, during the period of January 2019 to March 2021. The EVH group (50 patients) underwent endoscopic technique compared with the open vein harvesting (OVH) group (50 patients) that was underwent open surgical incision for great saphenous vein (GSV) harvesting. The two groups demographically were similar and received identical management. Leg wound was evaluated at discharge, two weeks, and four weeks for evidence of any complications. Early outcomes were recorded, including infection, gaped wound and surgical re-suture, degree of pain, level of cosmetic satisfaction, and early mobilization. Results: In the EVH group, harvesting time increased, and incision closure time decreased in comparison with OVH. The hospital stay was 5.5 ± 2.4 days in the EVH group versus 9.5 ± 2.7 days in the OVH group. Leg wound complications were significantly reduced in the EVH group in comparison with the OVH group. Conclusions: Endoscopic vein harvesting technique reduced leg wound complications. Conveniently, patients also were cosmetically satisfied.

Background: Small Aortic Annulus (AA) is big issue during Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) necessitating replacement of an undersized prosthetic valve especially with Double Valve Replacement (DVR). Despite that small aortic valve prostheses can lead to Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch (PPM), there remains reluctance to perform aortic root enlargement (ARE) procedures fearing from morbidity and mortality. Objective: To evaluate clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with small aortic annulus undergoing double valve replacement. Methods: The study included 100 consecutive patients underwent DVR for combined rheumatic aortic and mitral valve diseases, between Jan. 2016 and Sept. 2020. Only (50) patients had ARE with DVR. ARE was performed using an autologous or bovine pericardium or Dacron patch by Nicks or Manouguian procedures. The estimated postoperative end-points were mortality, effective orifice areas (EOA), mean aortic pressure gradient and valve-related complications. The least postoperative follow-up period was 6 months. Results: The study included 30 male and 70 female patients with mean age of 35±20 years, body surface area (BSA) of 1.7 ±0.3 m2, aortic annulus diameter was 20±1.4 mm, aortic orifice area was 0.8±0.1 cm2, and mean pressure gradient 85±2.5 mmHg. During follow-up period, there was a mild to moderate paravalvular leak (1%) with, (1%) heart block, and residual gradient on prosthetic aortic valve; that was all in DVR alone. Conclusion: Enlargement of aortic root by Nicks or Manouguian technique is safe and effective in patients with small aortic annulus undergoing double valve replacements.

Objectives Small Aortic Annulus (AA) is big issue during Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) necessitating replacement of inappropriate-sized prostheses especially during Double Valve Replacement (DVR). Despite that small aortic valve prostheses can lead to Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch (PPM), there remains reluctance to perform aortic root enlargement (ARE) procedures fearing from morbidity and mortality. We evaluate clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with small AA undergoing DVR. Methods The study included 100 consecutive patients underwent DVR for combined rheumatic aortic and mitral valve diseases, between June 2016 and November 2020. Only (50) patients had ARE with DVR. ARE was performed using an autologous or bovine pericardium or Dacron patch by Nick′s or Manouguian procedures. The estimated post-operative end-points were mortality, effective orifice areas (EOA), mean aortic pressure gradient and valve-related complications. The least post-operative follow-up period was 6 months. Results The study included 30 male and 70 female patients with mean age of 45 ± 10 years, body surface area (BSA) of 1.6 ± 0.50 m2, aortic annulus diameter was 20 ± 0.4 mm, EOAi was 0.80 ± 0.50 cm2/m2, and aortic mean gradient (PG) 80 ± 40 mm Hg. During follow-up period, there was a mild paravalvular leak (1%) with, (1%) heart block, and residual mean PG on prosthetic aortic valve with all cases of DVR alone. Conclusion Enlargement of aortic root by Nick′s or Manouguian technique is safe and effective in patients with small aortic annulus undergoing double valve replacements.