Development of CIRC Technologies
Cardiovascular DiseasesHeart Failure8 moreCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Advanced cardiovascular imaging using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has proven to be effective in providing gold standard myocardial tissue characterization. Moreover, the intrinsic advantage of MRI's lack of exposure to ionizing radiation is particularly beneficial. At the same time, blood work can be very useful in early detection of certain cardiomyopathy, such as amyloid. However, there is a lack of agreement of on which markers are the most sensitive. This multi-study will allow us the unique opportunity to form a more comprehensive understanding for various cardiovascular diseases. Our team has developed novel cardiac MRI techniques that leverages endogenous tissue properties to reveal a milieu of deep tissue phenotypes including myocardial inflammation, fibrosis, metabolism, and microstructural defects. Among these phenotypes, myocardial microstructure has proven to be most sensitive to early myocardial tissue damage and is predictive of myocardial regeneration. In this study, the investigators aim to further study the importance of cardiac microstructure revealed by MRI in patient and healthy population and compare this novel technology with conventional clinical biomarkers.
Retrospective Post-Market Clinical Follow-Up Study of GORE-TEX® Vascular Grafts and GORE® PROPATEN®...
PAD - Peripheral Arterial DiseaseAAA - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm1 moreThis multicenter, single-arm retrospective registry (chart review) is being conducted to confirm the clinical performance and safety of GORE-TEX® Vascular Grafts and GORE® PROPATEN® Vascular Graft throughout the device functional lifetime for each indication area.
Cerebral Protection in Aortic Arch Surgery
Aortic AneurysmAortic Dissection2 moreAortic arch repair surgery is a technically complex and challenging procedure to treat aortic pathologies. Despite advancements in perioperative care, detrimental neurological complications occur during or after surgery. The neurological complications increase the economic burden of healthcare, morbidity and quality of life for the patients, even if they survive. Stroke, for example, leads to an increase in healthcare and social care costs, requiring a subsequent lengthy rehabilitation. Milder neurological impairments include transient ischaemic attacks, confusion and delirium, necessitating longer intensive care and hospital stay. Currently applied cerebral monitoring modalities are electroencephalogram and cerebral oximetry. However, they are not specific enough to timely detect early cerebral ischaemia to prevent neurological complications. S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase are serum markers that reflect cerebral damage, however, their applicability in the hyperacute setting is limited. However, rapid measurements of glial fibrillary protein have paved new pathways to detect cerebral injury. Recent studies reveal more sensitive biomarkers of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate and glycerol. These biomarkers could potentially detect cerebral ischaemia on a near real-time basis using the microdialysis method. The aim of the project is to develop a bedside system for early detection of cerebral ischaemia on a near real-time basis during aortic arch surgery. Early detection of cerebral ischaemia could mandate more aggressive cerebral protection strategies by further optimisation of hypothermia and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion during surgery, and optimisation of blood pressure and oxygenation in the intensive care unit. Ultimately, early detection of cerebral ischemia during surgery will prevent disabling and costly neurological complications following surgery.
CT-evaluation of Coronary Ostia Height After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.
Heart Valve DiseasesAortic Valve Stenosis11 moreThe goal of this interventional, single-center study is to demonstrate if there is a change in the coronary ostia height after surgical aortic valve replacement and if it depends on the type of prosthesis or surgical technique used. The study involves patients undergoing elective surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis. Participants enrolled will undergo a CT scan before and after surgery (at least 90 days after surgery) to analyze coronary ostia height.
Outcomes of Type A Aortic Dissection Repair
Type A Aortic DissectionAscending Aortic Dissection5 moreType A aortic dissection (TAAD) is a potentially life-threatening pathology associated with significant risk of mortality and morbidity. In acute forms of type A aortic dissection (TAAD) mortality is 50% by 24 h and 50% of patients die before reaching a specialist center. Rapid diagnosis and subsequent prompt surgical repair remain the primary goal for these patients. In the last decade it has been observed that improvements in diagnostic techniques, initial management and increased clinical awareness have contributed to a substantial increase in the number of patients benefiting from a prompt diagnosis and undergoing surgery.However, survival after surgical repair has not yet reached optimal follow-ups and is burdened by high in-hospital mortality(16-18%)
Phenotyping Heterogeneity and Regionality of the Aorta
Large Artery StiffnessAortic Disease2 moreThe aorta distributes cardiac stroke volume into the whole body through its finetuned conductance function, that is propagation and modulation of flow pattern. Physicomechanic properties of the aortic wall assure continuous and homogenous blood flow distribution to organs. The physicomechanic properties of the aortic wall are heterotopic: The collagen/elastin ratio doubles in the abdominal aorta as compared to the thoracic aorta. Malfunction of aortic conduction due to large artery stiffening (LAS) leads to premature wave reflection and excess pulsatility which translate into organ damage in low-resistance beds. The regional heterogeneity of aortic physicomechanic properties and their histomorphological substrate leading to altered regional hemodynamics are not well investigated. Within the PHaRAo population, there is a spectrum of higher and lower risk patients. The aim of this cohort study is to collect prospectively and systematically clinical research data from PHaRAo patients. This cohort study is an open-end observational study to identify master switches in aortic disease
Montalcino Aortic Consortium: Precision Medicine for Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease
Aortic AneurysmAortic Dissection1 moreThe Montalcino Aortic Consortium (MAC) will provide the infrastructure to assemble large cohorts of patients with mutations in known heritable thoracic aortic disease (H-TAD) genes, define the phenotype associated with these genes, and determine genetic and environmental modifiers of H-TAD.
Pathogenetic Basis of Aortopathy and Aortic Valve Disease
AortopathiesThoracic Aortic Aneurysm17 moreThe main purpose of this study is to define the complex genetic and pathogenic basis of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and other forms of aortopathy and/or aortic valve disease by identifying novel disease-causing genes and by identifying important genetic modifiers for aortic and aortic valve disease severity.
Mid- and Long-term Outcomes of Custom-made Aortic Devices
Aortic DiseasesThoracic Aortic AneurysmThis study aims to evaluate mid- and long-term outcomes after Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with custom-made devices.
AOrtic Surgery: Systemic Inflammatory Response Versus Sepsis
Systemic Inflammatory Response SyndromeInfections3 moreThe goal of the prospective observational study is to evaluate the immunological background of inflammatory response often seen after open thoracic aortic surgery. Patients scheduled for this type of procedure will undergo a series of blood testing (preoperatively, and several times postoperatively). The blood samples will be used for a wide scale of immunological tests to better evaluate potential differential markers against infection. A control group will include patients with active infective endocarditis (preoperatively). The main question is if there is a biomarker able to determine a difference between sterile systemic inflammation and infection after thoracic aortic surgery. The second question is if there is a difference in dynamics of evaluated biomarkers between sterile postoperative inflammation and active endocarditis.