Background: Minimally invasive aortic valve (AV) surgery has become widely accepted alternative to standard sternotomy. Despite possible reduction in morbidity, this approach is not routinely performed for aortic surgery. Current report aimed to demonstrate early and mid-term outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic root-and ascending aorta-replacement with or without concomitant AV replacement (AVR). Methods: Between 2011 and 2018, 167 selected low-and intermediate risk patients (mean age: 64.1±11.3; 70% men; EuroSCORE II 2.58±3.26) underwent minimally invasive aortic surgery. The "V" shaped partial upper sternotomy was performed through a 6-cm skin incision. Patients were divided into minimally invasive root reimplantation/replacement/remodelling (root RRR), supracoronary aorta replacements (SCAR) and SCAR+AVR. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival were used. Results: Mean follow-up was 3.1 year (max 7.7 years). Of 167 patients, 82 (49%) underwent SCAR; 44 (26%) SCAR + AVR. Forty-one patients (25%) underwent minimally invasive root RRR. Average aortic diameter was 6.00±0.46 cm. The cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time were 152.0±46.8 and 101.8±36.8 minutes. There was one conversion to sternotomy. Median intensive care unit stay was 2.0 (IQR: 1.0-3.0) days. Thirty-day mortality was 1%. Within investigated follow-up, there was one late reoperation due to aortic valve thrombosis; late survival was estimated at 95% without differences between types of surgery: hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI: 0.36-1.81; P=0.61. Conclusions: Minimally invasive aortic surgery performed through "V" shaped partial upper sternotomy is feasible and safe in selected patients regardless of the extent of repair, from supracoronary aorta replacements to complex root surgery.

In SARS-CoV-2 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (V-V ECMO) was shown to provide valuable treatment with reasonable survival in large multi-centre investigations. However, in some patients, conversion to modified ECMO support forms may be needed. In this single-centre retrospective registry, all consecutive patients receiving V-V ECMO between 1 March 2020 to 1 May 2021 were included and analysed. The patient cohort was divided into two groups: those who remained on V-V ECMO and those who required conversion to other modalities. Seventy-eight patients were included, with fourteen cases (18%) requiring conversions to veno-arterial (V-A) or hybrid ECMO. The reasons for the ECMO mode configuration change were inadequate drainage (35.7%), inadequate perfusion (14.3%), myocardial infarction (7.1%), hypovolemic shock (14.3%), cardiogenic shock (14.3%) and septic shock (7.1%). In multivariable analysis, the use of dobutamine (p = 0.007) and a shorter ICU duration (p = 0.047) predicted the conversion. The 30-day mortality was higher in converted patients (log-rank p = 0.029). Overall, only 19 patients (24.4%) survived to discharge or lung transplantation. Adverse events were more common after conversion and included renal, cardiovascular and ECMO-circuit complications. Conversion itself was not associated with mortality in the multivariable analysis. In conclusion, as many as 18% of patients undergoing V-V ECMO for COVID-19 ARDS may require conversion to advanced ECMO support.

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Introduction Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has become a widely accepted alternative to the standard sternotomy approach for treatment of mitral valve (MV) disease. Because the extent and location of mini-thoracotomies employed for MIMVS vary from center to center, the conclusions regarding superior cosmesis are not generalizable. The totally thoracoscopic periareolar (TTP) – MIMVS technique has been used at our department for minimally invasive cardiac surgery since 2015. Aim To report early surgical data as well as mid-term outcomes in patients undergoing TTP-MIMVS. Material and methods Between 2015 and 2017, 48 consecutive patients (mean age: 65.4 ±10; 83% men; EuroSCORE II: 5.1 ±4%) underwent TTP-MIMVS due to mitral and mitral/tricuspid valve (TV) disease; patients’ demographics and clinical outcomes were prospectively collected. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival and freedom from re-intervention were analyzed as well. Results Mean follow-up was 1.7 (max 2.5) years. Of 48 patients, 33 (69%) underwent isolated MV repair, 4 (8%) isolated MV replacement and 11 (23%) MV/TV repair. The cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time was 166 ±70 and 103 ±39 min respectively. There was no conversion to either full sternotomy or a mini-thoracotomy approach. Median (interquartile range) duration of intensive care unit stay was 1.2 (1.0–2.0) days. There was one in-hospital death (2.1%) in the TTP-MIMVS group. No strokes or wound infections were observed. Within the investigated follow-up, the freedom from reoperation rate was 96.4%; remote survival was estimated at 96.9%. Conclusions The study proved that TTP-minimally invasive surgery was safe and feasible in mitral and tricuspid valve surgery. It has been associated with superior esthetics. Mitral repairs performed through TTP access are durable in mid-term observation.