Background

Surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) via conventional median sternotomy has been established worldwide as a safe and feasible intervention for aortic valvular pathology [1]. Several minimal access strategies to access the aortic valve, including right para-sternal thoracotomy, partial upper hemi-sternotomy, transverse sternotomy, J-shaped partial upper sternotomy and complete median sternotomy via a limited skin incision [2–4] have been employed over the years with the aim of reducing surgical trauma. The proposed advantages of minimal-access aortic valve replacement (MAAVR) are reduced post-operative blood loss and transfusion requirements, reduced post-operative pain, shorter ventilation times, shorter length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, and enhanced cosmesis [2–6]. These benefits have been additionally validated in higher-risk elderly populations with multiple medical co-morbidities [7] who may tolerate prolonged operative and cardiopulmonary bypass times less well. However, obese patients are often denied MAAVR due to the perceived increase in technical difficulty associated with the procedure in such populations.

Over the past decade we have utilised a J-shaped partial upper sternotomy in ‘all comers’ as a first-line approach for MAAVR. In this retrospective analysis, we assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on post-operative outcomes in unselected consecutive patients referred to a single surgeon for surgical AVR over a 7-year period.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 90 patients who underwent elective isolated MAAVR through a J-shaped partial upper sternotomy between May 2006 and October 2013 under a single surgeon across three hospital sites (St Mary’s Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital, and The Wellington Hospital, London, UK). Patients with a severely-depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (<25 %), sternal deformity, heavy calcification of the ascending aorta, and concomitant coronary, mitral valve or tricuspid valve disease were excluded. One case was a re-operation. Data on pre-, intra-, and post-operative variables were collected retrospectively from the hospital cardiac surgical database. Pre-operative patient characteristics are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Pre-operative patient characteristics
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The surgical technique for aortic valve replacement via J-shaped partial upper sternotomy has been previously described [4]. A 6-7 cm midline skin incision is made over the upper sternum, followed by a limited upper sternotomy which extends in a “J” shape from the sternal notch to the right sternal edge at the third intercostal space. The sternum is spread to a maximum of 6 cm with a small sternal retractor to minimise stretching and avoid sternal fracture on the opposite side of the J incision. After pericardotomy, the aorta and right atrium are centrally cannulated in a routine manner via an EOPA® (Medtronic, Inc., USA.) aortic cannula and an Oval MC2™ (Medtronic, Inc., USA) double-stage venous cannula, respectively. Over the last 3 years in an increasing number of patients, a FlexFlow™ percutaneous double-stage venous cannula (Sorin Biomedica, Italy) has been positioned with its tip entering the superior vena cava under trans-oesophageal echocardiography guidance. An aortic root cannula is secured to the ascending aorta for antegrade cardioplegia delivery and venting/de-airing following aortic cross clamp removal. Cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest are instituted and maintained at moderate hypothermia (32 °C). Continuous carbon dioxide field-flooding is utilised to reduce the risk of gas embolisation. After application of an aortic cross-clamp via the sternal incision, a transverse aortotomy is made and aortic valve replacement performed in the standard fashion. The aortotomy is then repaired with a running suture and adequacy of de-airing with aortic root venting and/or needle aspiration is assessed on trans-oesophageal echocardiography. Temporary pacing wires are sited before removal of the aortic cross clamp and two 24Fr Blake® (Ethicon, USA) chest drains are placed via the right fifth intercostal space. The sternum is closed with steel wires. Post-operatively, all patients were transferred to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit, sedated and mechanically ventilated in accordance with local protocol. Follow-up with echocardiographic studies and clinical evaluation was performed at a mean of 2.5 years post-operatively (range 0.021–7.83 years).

Ordinary least squares univariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of BMI as a continuous variable on post-operative outcomes. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the effect of BMI as a categorical variable (factor 1: normal weight, BMI <25 vs. factor 2, overweight and obese, BMI ≥25) on continuous outcome variables. The Chi-squared statistic was used to determine the effect of the same BMI categories on binary outcome variables. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data analysis was performed using StataMP version 12.1 (StataCorp, Texas).

Results

Peri-operative outcomes and the correlation of these outcomes with BMI as both a continuous and categorical variable are shown in Tables 2 and 3 respectively. 28 % of patients undergoing MAAVR in our study were octogenarians, 51 % were aged over 70 years and 10 % were younger than 50 years. Mean BMI was 26.63 ± 4.07 (range 18.7–37.2 kg/m2), with 17 patients (19 %) having a BMI exceeding 30. Aortic valvular pathologies comprised stenosis in 72 patients, insufficiency in 13 patients and mixed disease in five patients. In 68 patients (76 %) a bioprosthesis was implanted, whilst 22 patients (24 %) received a mechanical prosthesis. The median size of implanted valves was 23 mm (range 19–25 mm).

Table 2 Peri-operative outcomes
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Table 3 Correlation between BMI and peri-operative outcomes. (a) Ordinary least squares univariate linear regression of BMI as a continuous variable; (b) Analysis of BMI as a categorical variable (factor 1 BMI <25 (n = 36) vs. factor 2 BMI ≥25 (n = 54)) using ANOVA (continuous dependent variables) and chi-squared (binary dependent variables) statistics
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Intra-operative outcomes and length of stay

There were no conversions to full sternotomy. Univariate regression demonstrated a significant positive correlation between BMI and cross-clamp time (r2 0.072; coef. 0.070; p = 0.0218) (Fig. 1). However, BMI was not found to correlate significantly with overall cardiopulmonary bypass time (r2 0.043; coef. 0.045, p = 0.0615).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Univariate linear regression analysis of BMI against cross clamp time for MAAVR

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A significant negative correlation was also observed between BMI and ventilation times (r2 0.084; coef. -0.295; p = 0.039) however BMI did not correlate with post-operative inotrope usage (r2 0.011; coef. 0.364; p = 0.359), intensive care unit (r2 0.019; coef. 0.941; p = 0.3310) or overall hospital stay (r2 0.017; coef. 0.080; p = 0.2614).

Analysis of BMI as a categorical variable (normal (BMI < 25) vs. overweight-obese (BMI ≥ 25) demonstrated a significantly longer overall cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.029) in overweight-obese patients. No differences were observed in cross-clamp time (p = 0.068), ventilation time (p = 0.064), intensive care unit (p = 0.74) or overall hospital stay (p = 0.68) between normal and overweight-obese groups.

Post-operative morbidity outcomes

There was no in-hospital myocardial infarction, stroke or mortality. One patient developed malignant arrhythmia immediately after coming off cardiopulmonary bypass, necessitating intra-aortic balloon pump insertion. The remainder of patients were successfully weaned off cardiopulmonary bypass without mechanical circulatory support.

One patient required full sternotomy for cardiac tamponade, and another was re-explored for bleeding but did not require extension of the original limited sternotomy. Two patients underwent permanent pacemaker implantation post-operatively, one for prolonged pacing dependence, and another for complete heart block.

A significant positive correlation was observed between BMI as a continuous variable and the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation (r2 0.067; coef. -2.13; p = 0.0243). However, BMI was not significantly correlated with the incidence of renal dysfunction (r2 0.004; coef. 1.12; p = 0.6551), or hospital-acquired pneumonia (r2 0.048; coef. 2.87; p = 0.113). There were no cases of sternal dehiscence or infection.

Categorical analysis of normal vs. overweight-obese patients revealed a significantly higher incidence of AF (p = 0.036) and post-operative hospital acquired pneumonia (p = 0.020) in the overweight-obese group. However, no differences were observed in renal dysfunction (p = 0.69) between BMI categories.

Red blood cell transfusion was required in 21 patients (23 %). BMI demonstrated a significant negative correlation with bleeding in the immediate post-operative period prior to arrival on ITU (r2 0.091; coef. -0.0096; p = 0.031) and within the first 12 h post-operatively (r2 0.067; coef. -0.0027; p = 0.019) (Fig. 2a, b). However, this did not lead to any significant correlation between BMI and peri-operative transfusion rates (r2 0.034; coef. -1.70; p = 0.1899). Similarly, categorical analysis of BMI revealed significantly less post-operative bleeding (prior to arrival in ITU) and 12-h blood loss (p = 0.039 and 0.013 respectively) in overweight-obese when compared to normal weight patients.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Univariate linear regression analysis of BMI against a peri-operative bleeding prior to arrival in ICU; b bleeding in the first 12 h post-operatively

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Echocardiographic follow-up

Follow-up echocardiography performed in 35 patients at a mean 2.5 years (range 0.021–7.83 years) post-operatively demonstrated trivial para-valvular leak in one patient, mild para-valvular leak in four patients, and mild-moderate para-valvular leak in one patient. One patient with moderate para-valvular leak was re-operated via the same surgical approach 47 months after the first MAAVR. No patients required re-operation for prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Discussion

Surgical AVR has traditionally been accomplished with excellent outcomes through a median sternotomy, permitting excellent exposure of the heart and great vessels [1]. This relatively invasive incision may however produce significant post-operative pain, impairment of respiratory function [8, 9], potential for chest wall instability, wound infection and a visually unattractive scar.

Thus, over the past two decades, several minimal access approaches for AVR have been introduced with variable uptake [2–4]. These have the potential advantages of less post-operative pain, decreased blood loss, shorter ventilation times, shorter durations of intensive care unit and hospital stay, faster functional recovery and favourable cosmesis [2–6] (Fig. 3). Despite these benefits, several meta-analyses have indicated no significant morbidity or mortality difference for patients undergoing either conventional or minimally-invasive AVR [10], and there is little evidence supporting MAAVR in obese patients.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Post-operative scar following J-shaped partial upper sternotomy for MAAVR

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We sought to determine the effect of BMI on outcomes in MAAVR performed via J-shaped partial upper sternotomy. Our results demonstrate that within the range of this study MAAVR can be safely performed in patients of higher BMI considered for an isolated first-time AVR with low post-operative morbidity and mortality.

Our findings demonstrate that MAAVR in patients with a higher BMI does not lead to prolonged length of intensive care or overall hospital stay. Furthermore, although we observed a significant positive correlation between BMI and cross-clamp time this was not reflected in total cardiopulmonary bypass times. Indeed, cross-clamp times were generally similar to those reported by other groups, who have not demonstrated these to be significantly longer with minimally invasive incisions [6, 11, 12]. It can also be expected that once the initial aspect of the learning curve has been negotiated, operative times in MAAVR may further trend downwards with accruing surgical experience. In addition, with the more recent adoption of rapid-deployment ‘sutureless’ aortic prostheses is likely we will see a further decrease aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times [13].

New-onset atrial fibrillation remains a pertinent issue after MAAVR, reported in 22–34 % of minimally invasive cohorts analysed by other groups [2, 11, 14, 15]. In keeping with the findings of previous studies [16, 17], our results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between new onset post-operative atrial fibrillation and BMI. Although the exact mechanism for this is likely to be multifactorial, it has been postulated that left atrial enlargement as a result of increasing BMI plays a key role in the setting up and maintenance of atrial fibrillation re-entrant circuits [16]. Indeed, our results demonstrate a highly-significant positive correlation between pre-operative left atrial size and increasing BMI (r2 0.2353; coef. 2.92; p = 0.001), suggesting that obesity-associated left atrial enlargement may present a quantifiable risk factor for the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation after MAAVR.

No significant correlation was found between BMI and other post-operative morbidities suggesting that within the range studied here, increasing BMI should not contraindicate a minimally invasive approach. Furthermore, there were no deaths in our series over the follow-up period, supporting evidence from other studies that MAAVR is associated with similar mortality rates to standard AVR [1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 15, 18–25].

Using this less-invasive approach comprising only partial sternotomy, a smaller area of exposed sternal bone marrow and minimised mediastinal dissection should theoretically produce less bleeding and ultimately improved sternal healing. Indeed, significantly reduced haemorrhage and blood product utilisation have been reported with MAAVR techniques [6, 15], with acceptable rates of re-operation for bleeding compared to conventional AVR [14]. In our experience no patients required intra-operative conversion to median sternotomy. Red blood cell transfusion was indicated in 26 % of patients in the present series with only two patients (2.2 %) requiring surgical re-exploration. We did not observe any increase in post-operative blood loss or transfusion requirement with increasing BMI, and, in fact, a significant negative correlation was seen between BMI and bleeding in the first 12 h following surgery. Furthermore, we observed no cases of sternal dehiscence. This highlights that with meticulous haemostasis, low rates of intra-operative blood loss may be achieved with MAAVR, independent of BMI. It is also notable that in the event of haemorrhage or technical difficulties conversion to full median sternotomy can still be carried out expediently.

Limitations

Our study is not without several important limitations. Firstly, it was a retrospective, non-comparative observational study comprising a relatively small group of consecutive patients referred for surgical AVR. As such, no direct outcomes comparison of MAAVR to conventional AVR was possible. Secondly, although all operations were conducted by a single surgeon, this was across three different institutions, where slight variations in peri-operative hospital protocols may exist. Thirdly, only 19 % of our patients were obese (BMI > 30) according to WHO criteria, and therefore overweight and obese patients were pooled into a single group for statistical comparison. Further work would require a larger sample population of patients with BMI > 30 to allow this group to be considered separately. Finally, our study lacks evaluation of patient satisfaction outcome measures, such as post-operation pain and quality of life, which are pertinent aspects of a minimal access procedure. We also did not perform any economic analysis to assess the financial implications of MAAVR in relation to standard AVR, since this was beyond the scope of our study.

In addition, there are a number of technical considerations that must be taken into account when adopting this minimal access technique. Although the use of a J-shaped partial sternotomy removes the requirement for pre-operative CT scanning to establish the aortic annular position, as required for approach through a second intercostal right mini-thoracotomy, it confers some technical difficulties. Firstly, placement of epicardial pacing wires is more demanding, and has to be performed before removal of the aortic cross clamp in the arrested heart. Second, internal defibrillation is not possible and external defibrillator pads must be applied prior to operation in all patients. Furthermore, removal of air from the heart after completion of the surgical procedure has been cited as a particular concern [12, 18], and, as such, to achieve satisfactory de-airing we employ continuous carbon dioxide field insufflation and aortic root venting or needle aspiration under direct trans-oesophageal echocardiographic monitoring.

Conclusion

Our 7-year data presented here support J-shaped partial upper sternotomy as a safe, reproducible and effective approach for MAAVR, offering good short- to mid-term outcomes in normal, overweight and obese patients. Further randomised study of obese patients, specifically with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 is now required to assess the role of MAAVR when compared to conventional sternotomy in this patient group who until now have been considered unsuitable for such a minimal-access approach.

Ethical approval

Not required.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of the image included in this manuscript.