Abstract:

Since the 2006 Surgical Technology International monograph on valvular prostheses, there have been significant developmental and investigative advances, particularly for transcatheter implantation. Aortic bioprostheses and mechanical prostheses continue to incorporate design changes to optimize hemodynamics and prevent prosthesis-patient mismatch and to have a potential satisfactory influence on survival. There have been continual technological improvements striving to bring forward advances that improve the durability of bioprostheses and reduce the thrombogenicity of mechanical prostheses. There also has been a continuance to preserve biological tissue with glutaraldehyde, rather than clinically evaluate other cross-linking technologies, by controlling or retarding calcification with therapies to control phospholipids and residual aldehydes. The techniques of mitral valve reconstruction have now been well established, and annuloplasty rings have been designed for the potential of maintaining the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the mitral annulus. There has been limited advancement in the past four years for interventional annuloplasty, for remodeling of the length and shape of the dilated annulus, prevention of dilatation of the annulus, and support for the potentially fragile area after partial-leaflet resection. Currently, there continues to be emergence of catheter-based therapies, particularly for management of aortic stenosis but not mitral regurgitation. For management of selected populations with critical aortic stenosis, the techniques for aortic valve substitution have had further advancement for retrograde catheter techniques, as well as apical transventricular implantation. There has not been significant advancement during the past four years to address mitral regurgitation by experimental transcoronary sinus, stent-like devices and transventricular, edge-to-edge leaflet devices. The devices, descriptions, and pictorial images comprising this monograph have been limited to technologies that are considered to be predominant, at least for the immediate duration. The general purpose of the monograph is to serve as an educational document.

Authors:

W. R. Eric Jamieson, MD, FRCS (C), FACS, FACC

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Abstract:

Stroke is the third most common cause of mortality, and carotid artery stenosis causes 8% to 29% of all ischemic strokes. Best medical treatment forms the basis of carotid stenosis treatment, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has an additional beneficial effect in high-grade stenosis. Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has challenged CEA as a primary carotid intervention. At present, CEA remains the gold standard, but in the future, CAS techniques will evolve and might become beneficial for subgroups of patients with carotid stenosis. This chapter briefly describes the history of carotid interventions and current consensus and controversies in CEA. In the last two years, several meta-analyses were published on a variety of aspects of best medical treatment, CEA, and CAS. It is still a matter of debate as to whether asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis should undergo a carotid intervention. Especially because medical treatment has dramatically evolved since the early carotid trials. On the other hand, it is clear that carotid interventions in symptomatic patients with a high-grade stenosis should be performed as early as possible after the initial neurological event in order to achieve optimal stroke risk reduction. In CEA, the use of patching is advocated above primary closure, while the role of selective patching is still unclear. No differences in stroke and mortality rates are observed for routine versus selective shunting, for conventional versus eversion CEA, or for local versus general anesthesia. It is anticipated that in the future, there will be several interesting developments in carotid interventions such as plaque morphology analysis, acute interventions during stroke in progress, and further evolvement of CAS techniques.

Authors:

Robbert Meerwaldt, MD, PhD, Linda Hermus, MD, Michel M.P.J. Reijnen, MD, PhD, Clark J. Zeebregts MD, PhD

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Abstract:

The past few decades have seen a very rapid change in the manner in which infrarenal aortic disease is diagnosed and dealt with. The approach has changed from open, large incision surgery with long and complicated postoperative courses to minimally invasive techniques in which the patient can go home the next day. A large number of devices have come and gone, and techniques to deal with aortic problems are ever changing. We have reviewed the past, current, and future technology to help make the treatment options more clear.

Authors:

Scott A. Sundick, MD, Shariff Ellozy, MD, Angeliki Vouyouka, MD, David O'Connor, MD, Peter Faries, MD, Michael Marin, MD

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