Surgery of left ventricular aneurysm: a meta-analysis of early outcomes following different reconstruction techniques.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of linear and geometric left ventricular aneurysm reconstruction on early postoperative outcomes.


METHODS
A search of computerized databases supplemented with manual bibliographic review was performed for all peer-reviewed English language publications concerning randomized and nonrandomized studies reporting the results of left ventricular reconstruction after both linear and geometric reconstruction techniques. Meta-analyses of several short-term outcomes were performed.


RESULTS
No randomized trial was identified. Eighteen nonrandomized trials were found with a total of 1,814 and 803 patients who underwent linear and geometric reconstruction, respectively. Meta-analysis of all studies (n = 18) revealed an increased risk of in-hospital death for patients undergoing linear reconstruction (relative risk = 1.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.12 to 2.26, p = 0.01). The subanalysis of studies in which linear reconstruction was adopted mainly in the first period of time, and geometric reconstruction was adopted in a later phase, still showed a significant advantage in terms of in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing geometric reconstruction (n = 11 studies, relative risk = 1.89, 95% confidence interval: 1.22 to 2.93, p = 0.004). By contrast, when the two surgical approaches were carried out in the same time lag, there was no difference between linear and geometric reconstruction techniques (n = 7 studies, relative risk = 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 0.57 to 1.92, p = 0.89). No differences in the other outcomes of interest were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The advantage for geometric reconstruction techniques in terms of in-hospital mortality shown in some studies can be an effect of learning curve or of improvement over time in management of these difficult patients. Further studies are required to clarify this issue.
Parolari
Alessandro
A
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy. alessandro.parolari@cardiologicomonzino.it
Naliato
Moreno
M
Loardi
Claudia
C
Denti
Paolo
P
Trezzi
Matteo
M
Zanobini
Marco
M
Porqueddu
Massimo
M
Roberto
Maurizio
M
Kassem
Samer
S
Alamanni
Francesco
F
Tremoli
Elena
E
Biglioli
Paolo
P
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome