IntroductionIntubation time in patients undergoing cardiac surgery may be associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Premature extubation can have serious adverse physiological consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of intubation time on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of data on 1,904 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and stratified them by duration of intubation time after surgery – 0–6, 6–9, 9–12, 12–24 and over 24 hours. Postoperative complications risk analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression analysis for patients extubated ≤12 and >12 hours.ResultsIntubation percentages in each time cohort were as follows: 0–6 hours – 7.8%, 6–9 hours – 17.3%, 9–12 hours – 26.8%, 12–24 hours – 44.4% and >24 hours – 3.7%. Patients extubated ≤12 hours after CABG were younger, mostly males, more often smokers, with lower preoperative risk. They had lower 30-day mortality (2.02% vs 4.59%, P=0.002), shorter hospital stay (7.68±4.49 vs 9.65±12.63 days, P<0.001) and shorter intensive care unit stay (2.39 vs 3.30 days, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that intubation exceeding 12 hours after CABG increases the risk of postoperative delirium (OR 1.548, 95% CI 1.161–2.064, P=0.003) and risk of postoperative hemofiltration (OR 1.302, 95% CI 1.023–1.657, P=0.032).ConclusionResults indicate that risk of postoperative complications does not increase until intubation time exceeds 12 hours. Shorter intubation time is seen in younger, men and smokers. Intubation time >12 hours is a risk factor for postoperative delirium and hemofiltration after cardiac surgery.

Background Endovascular treatment of patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is not recommended. Hybrid procedures such as frozen elephant trunk (FET), which combines stent-graft deployment with an integrated non-stented fabric graft for proximal grafting and suturing, have not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of FET operation in patients with MFS. Methods Patients enrolled in the International E-vita Open Registry (IEOR) who underwent FET procedure between January 2001 and February 2020 meeting Ghent criteria for MFS were included in the study. Early and midterm results were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative, postoperative and follow-up computed tomography angiography scans were analysed. Results We analyzed 37 patients [mean age 38 ± 11 years, 65% men]. Acute or chronic aortic dissection was present in 35 (95%) patients (14 and 21 patients respectively). Two (5%) patients had an aneurysm without dissection. Malperfusion syndrome was present in 4 patients. Twenty-nine (78%) patients had history of aortic surgical interventions. The 30-day and in-hospital mortality amounted to 8 and 14% respectively. False lumen exclusion was present in 73% in stented segment in last postoperative CT. The overall 5-year survival was 71% and freedom from reintervention downstream was 58% at 5 years. Of the nine patients who required reintervention for distal aortic disease, one patient died. Conclusions FET operation for patients with MFS can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity. In long-term follow-up no reinterventions on the aortic arch were required. FET allows for easier second stage operations providing platform for surgical and endovascular reinterventions.

OBJECTIVES Our aim was to describe the outcomes of the latest treatment options of acute non-A non-B aortic dissection involving an entry tear in the aortic arch. METHODS Included were patients who presented between January 2001 and February 2020 with a non-A non-B aortic dissection involving the aortic arch but not the ascending aorta and with the most proximal entry tear located within the aortic arch between the innominate and left subclavian artery. Clinical data and operative details were retrieved from medical histories and surgical protocols. Preoperative, postoperative and follow-up computed tomography angiography scans were analysed. RESULTS We analysed a total of 39 patients [median age 62 (52; 67) years, men 76.9%] with non-A non-B arch entry aortic dissections type. They underwent 15 thoracic endovascular aortic repairs, 20 frozen elephant trunk implantations, 1 hybrid arch replacement, or 1 conventional arch replacement. Two patients were managed conservatively. Twelve (31%) patients underwent emergent intervention, 12 (31%) were treated invasively within 2 weeks. Another 2 (5%) and 9 (23%) patients were treated 2 and 4 weeks after dissection occurred, respectively. Six (15%) patients presented with an impending aortic rupture, while 19 (49%) had at least one malperfused organ. Four patients (27%) died after thoracic endovascular aortic repair; the 30-day mortality following frozen elephant trunk was 0%. CONCLUSIONS Non-A non-B acute aortic dissection reveals a frequently complicated course requiring emergency intervention. The majority of patients required aortic arch repair within the first 2 weeks. Total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique seems to be low procedural mortality, and may become the treatment of choice in arch entry non-A non-B aortic dissection.

Background: Endovascular treatment of patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is not recommended. Hybrid procedures such as frozen elephant trunk (FET), which combines stent-graft deployment and an integrated non-stented fabric graft for proximal grafting and suturing have not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of FET operation in patients with MFS. Methods: Between January 2005 and January 2017 out of 1049 patients 1020 who underwent the FET procedure were enrolled in the International E-vita Open Registry (IEOR). Included were patients, who met Ghent criteria for MFS. Early and midterm results were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative and follow-up computed tomography angiography scans were analyzed. Results: We analyzed 37 patients [mean age 38±11 years, 65% men]. Acute or chronic aortic dissection was present in 35 (95%) patients (14 and 21 patients respectively). Two (5%) patients had an aneurysm without dissection. Malperfusion syndrome was present in 4 patients. Twenty-nine (78%) patients had previous aortic surgical interventions. The 30-day and in-hospital mortality was 8 and 14% respectively. False lumen exclusion was presented in 73% in stented segment. The overall 5-year survival was 71% and freedom from reintervention downstream was 58% at 5 years. Of the nine patients who required reintervention for distal aortic disease one patient died.Conclusions: FET operation for patients with MFS can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity. In long-term follow up no reinterventions on the aortic arch were required. FET allows for easier second stage operations providing platform for surgical and endovascular reinterventions.