OBJECTIVES We sought to provide further evidence on the safety and efficacy of aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) using autologous pericardium in adult patients with aortic valve disease by reporting clinical and echocardiographic results from the first UK experience and performing a meta-analytic comparison with other biological valve substitutes. METHODS We reported clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of 55 patients (mean age 58 ± 15 years) undergoing AVNeo with autologous pericardium in 2 UK centres from 2018 to 2020. These results were included in a meta-analytic comparison between series on AVNeo (7 studies, 1205 patients, mean weighted follow-up 3.6 years) versus Trifecta (10 studies, 8705 patients, 3.8 years), Magna Ease (3 studies, 3137 patients, 4.1 years), Freedom Solo (4 studies, 1869 patients, 4.4 years), Freestyle (4 studies, 4307 patients, 7 years), Mitroflow (4 studies, 4760 patients, 4.1 years) and autograft aortic valve (7 papers, 3839 patients, 9.1 years). RESULTS In the present series no patients required intraoperative conversion. After mean follow-up of 12.5 ± 0.9 months, 3 patients presented with endocarditis and 1 required reintervention. The remaining patients had absent or mild aortic valve insufficiency with very low peak and mean transvalvular gradients (16 ± 3.7 and 9 ± 2.2 mmHg, respectively). Meta-analytic estimates showed non-significant difference between AVNeo and all but Magna Ease valves with regards to structural valve degeneration, reintervention and endocarditis. When compared Magna Ease valve, AVNeo and other valve substitutes showed an excess of valve-related events. CONCLUSIONS AVNeo is safe, associated with excellent haemodynamic profile. Its midterm risk of valve-related events is comparable to most biological valve substitutes. Magna Ease is potentially the best biological choice as far as risk of reintervention is concerned.

Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) is an uncommon complication following administration of blood products. It is often difficult to differentiate from other commoner causes of cardio-respiratory instability. However, prompt diagnosis and management is associated with favorable outcome.

Near-infrared spectroscopy can be helpful for monitoring the adequacy of cerebral perfusion during cardiovascular surgery. We report changes seen in regional oxygen saturation due to intraoperative thrombosis of the left common carotid artery graft during hybrid aortic arch replacement for traumatic aortic injury.

We show a method by which the HCU can be removed from the OR in a relatively low-cost, straightforward and practical manner.

Cardiac tamponade is defined as compression of the heart due to accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, leading to raised pericardial pressures with haemodynamic compromise. We describe the case of a 76-year old female patient who underwent a routine off-pump coronary artery bypass graft operation and within 48 h developed classic signs of cardiac tamponade. The perioperative echocardiogram and operative findings at re-exploration revealed no clots or fluid collection. A giant hiatus hernia was found to be responsible for the tamponade through extrinsic compression. After insertion of a nasogastric tube and decompression of the stomach, there was a rapid improvement of the clinical picture. The remaining postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 5 days later, with referral to the general surgeon for further management. We conclude that, in cases of tamponade post-cardiac surgery, extrapericardial pathologies should be considered.