Abstract Introduction: The increase in the prevalence of aortic stenosis due to an aging population has led to an increasing number of surgical aortic valve replacements. Over the past 20 years, there has been a major shift in preference from mechanical to bioprosthetic valves. However, despite efforts, there is still no "ideal" bioprosthesis. It is crucial to understand the structure, biology, and function of native heart valves to design more intelligent, strong, durable, and physiological heart valve tissues. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to identify articles reporting the basic mechanisms of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction and the biology of native valve cells. Searches were run in PubMed, MEDLINE® (the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), and Google Scholar. Terms for subject heading and keywords search included “biological heart valve dysfunction”, “bioprosthesis dysfunction”, “bioprosthesis degeneration”, and “tissue heart valves”. Results: All the relevant findings are summarized in the appropriate subsections. Structural dysfunction is a logical and expected consequence of the chemical, mechanical, and immunological processes that occur during fixation, manufacture, and implantation. Conclusion: Biological prosthesis valve dysfunction is a clinically significant process. It has become a major issue considering the growing rate of bioprosthesis implantation and improved long-term patient survival. Understanding bioprosthetic aortic valve degeneration from a basic science perspective is a key point to improve technologic advances and specifications that lead to a new generation of bioprostheses.

Resumo Introdução/Objetivos: Comparar resultados do tratamento de aneurismas aórticos tóraco-abdominais pós-dissecção (AATA-PD) tratados por via endovascular ou aberta. Material e Métodos: Estudo observacional (coorte retrospetiva) dos doentes tratados com AATA-PD por via endovascular (grupo-1) ou aberta (grupo-2) entre Janeiro-2013 e Maio-2020. Outcome primário: mortalidade-hospitalar. Outcomes secundários: lesão de orgão, infeções hospitalares, duração de internamento, endoleaks, oclusões de ramo, re-intervenções e mortalidade no follow-up. Resultados: Trataram-se 21 doentes (15-homens): 8 no grupo-1 e 13 no grupo-2. A idade média foi menor no grupo-2 [68 (DP:11) versus 48 (DP:12), p=0.004]. Três doentes tinham conectivopatia. Os doentes do grupo-1 tinham um score ASA maior (p<0,001). No grupo-1 realizaram-se debranching e TEVAR em 2 doentes e em 6 utilizaram-se endopróteses custom-made com fenestrações/ramos. No grupo-2 realizou-se uma interposição na aorta tóracica e em 12 doentes a reconstrução envolveu as artérias viscerais. Em 7 casos utilizou-se a técnica de Crawford com patch visceral e em 3 (com conetivopatia) utilizaram-se próteses ramificadas. Em 5 doentes revascularizaram-se intercostais. A mortalidade hospitalar foi 12% (1 doente) no grupo-1 e 15% (2 doentes) no grupo-2, LogRank=0.9. O tempo de internamento foi maior no grupo-2 (p=0.033), e houve tendência para uma estadia maior nos cuidados intensivos neste grupo. Não houve diferença em isquemia medular, lesão renal aguda ou re-intervenções. Houve mais infeções pós-operatórias no grupo 2 (12% versus 69%, p= 0.017). Durante o follow-up [mediana 15 meses (IQ:55)], não houve mortalidade após a alta. No grupo-1 a taxa de endoleaks foi 14%, sem crescimento do saco aneurismático. A permeabilidade dos ramos durante o follow-up foi 100% no grupo-1 e 95% no grupo-2, LogRank=0.3. Conclusão: A cirurgia endovascular e aberta de AATA-PD permitiu tratar uma grande variedade de doentes nesta coorte. Os doentes tratados por via endovascular foram mais velhos e com maior risco mas sem repercussão nos outcomes. A cirurgia aberta associou-se a internamento mais longo e mais complicações pós-operatórias.

Abstract Introduction/Objectives: Repair of post-dissection thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms (PD-TAAA) is a complex challenge. Choosing the correct approach to manage these aneurysms is not straightforward as both open and endovascular strategies are valid. Our aim was to analyze and compare the results of PD-TAAA treated by endovascular or open surgery. Methods: A seven-year (January-2013 and May-2020) single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with PD-TAAA treated by endovascular (group-1) or open (group-2) surgery was conducted. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were organ lesion, in-hospital infections, length of stay (LOS), endoleaks, branch occlusions, re-interventions and mortality during follow-up. Results: Twenty-one patients (15-men) were treated: 8 in group-1 and 13 in group-2. The mean age was lower in group-2 [68 (SD:11) versus 48 (SD:12), p=0.004]. Three patients had connective tissue disease (CTD). Group-1 patients had a higher ASA score (p<0.001). In group-1, debranching and TEVAR were performed in 2 patients and custom-made fenestrated/branched-endografts were used in 6. In group-2, there was one thoracic aorta interposition graft and reconstruction involving the visceral arteries ocurred in 12 patients. Seven cases were operated using the Crawford technique with visceral patch, and branched grafts were used in 3 patients with CTD. Intercostal arteries were revascularized in 5 patients. In-hospital mortality was 12% (1 patient) in group-1 and 15% (2 patients) in group-2, LogRank=0.9. The LOS was longer in group-2 (p=0.033), and there was a tendency for a longer stay in intensive care unit in this group. No difference was observed in spinal cord ischemia, acute kidney injury or re-interventions. There were more post-operative infections in group-2 (12% versus 69%, p = 0.017). During follow-up [median 15 months (IQR:55)], there was no mortality after discharge. In group-1, 14% had type-II-endoleaks, without aneurysmal sac dilation. Branch permeability during follow-up was 100% in group-1 and 95% in group-2, LogRank=0.3. Conclusion: Endovascular and open surgery of PD-TAAA allowed treatment of a wide variety of patients in this cohort. Patients treated by the endovascular surgery were older and had higher surgical risk but without repercussions on the outcomes. Open surgery was associated with longer hospital stay and more postoperative complications.

Abstract Melanoma is a tumor that virtually involves any tissue and commonly metastasizes to the heart. It is usually not diagnosed because of the absent/nonspecific cardiac signs and symptoms. Herein, we present a case of a 41-year-old man without any cardiovascular risk factor, admitted to the emergency room with chest pain, diagnosed with a myocardial infarction. Due to the presence of a mass adjacent to the mitral valve on the cardiac ultrasound examination, causing mitral regurgitation, the patient was referred to surgery. Pathological analysis of the excised specimens diagnosed the melanoma. The chemotherapy was started and achieved a partial response. Cardiac metastases usually affect the myocardium, leaving the valves unaffected. In this case, the acute coronary syndrome was the first manifestation of the malignant melanoma. We highlight the high level of suspicion needed in these cases.

O carcinoma de células renais representa 90-95% de todos os tumores renais. O seu diagnóstico nem sempre é precoce uma vez que a tríade clássica, composta por dor no flanco, hematúria e massa palpável, apenas se encontra presente em menos de 10% dos casos. Este tipo de tumor apresenta tropismo para a invasão vascular, sendo esta considerada fator de mau prognóstico. Quando existe invasão vascular, a nefrectomia radical, conjuntamente com a trombectomia tumoral do sistema venoso, é a terapêutica de eleição na ausência de invasão ganglionar ou metástases. A abordagem cirúrgica é tecnicamente exigente, representando, contudo, um ponto de viragem na terapêutica que pode influenciar positivamente o prognóstico. Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de um doente de 57 anos, submetido a terapêutica cirúrgica multidisciplinar por carcinoma de células renais com envolvimento venoso.

Renal cell carcinoma represents 90 to 95% of all renal tumors, the diagnosis is not always early as the classical triad of flank pain, hematuria and palpable mass is present only in less than 10% of cases. This type of tumor has a tropism for vascular invasion, which is considered a bad prognostic factor. When there is vascular invasion, radical nephrectomy with venous system tumor thrombectomy is the treatment of choice in the absence of lymph node invasion or metastases. The surgical approach is technically demanding, yet represents a turning point in the therapy, which can positively influence the prognosis. The authors present a clinical report of a 57 years-old patient who underwent multidisciplinary surgical approach for renal cell carcinoma with venous involvement.

A leiomiomatose intravenosa é uma doença rara, associada a leiomiomas uterinos. Consiste na proliferação benigna de células de músculo liso no plexo venoso uterino. Pode progredir invadindo o sistema de drenagem venosa pélvico e abdominal até atingir as cavidades direitas do coração e as artérias pulmonares. Embora benigno, é um tumor fatal quando não diagnosticado e excisado em tempo oportuno. Neste artigo fazemos uma revisão do tema, chamando a atenção para esta doença, que é atualmente pouco conhecida. O diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento cirúrgico radi cal são a forma de melhorar o prognóstico destes doentes e evitar situações potencialmente fatais.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a rare condition associated to uterine leiomyomas. It consists on a benign proliferation of smooth muscle cells in to the uterine venous plexus. It can progress invading the venous drainage system of the pelvic and abdominal cavity reaching the inferior vena cava, the right heart cavities and the pulmonary arteries. Although benign this tumor can be lethal, when misdiagnosed and not treated in due time. Subsequently a detailed review of the topic, drawing attention to the disease, its clinical presentation, diagnostic strategy and different therapeutic approaches currently used. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are the only way to improve prognosis of these patients and avoid potentially fatal situation.