Hedinger Syndrome-Lessons Learnt: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND

Hedinger syndrome (HS) or carcinoid heart disease (CD) is a rare and challenging manifestation of malignant neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) involving the heart. We aimed to report our experience with surgical strategies and midterm results in HS patients.

METHODS

Eleven patients (58 ± 11 (range 41 to 79 years); 5 females) with HS who underwent cardiac surgery in our department between 07/2005 and 05/2023 were analysed.

RESULTS

All patients showed a New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV and in all the tricuspid valve (TV) was involved. Four patients received a TV replacement, and three TV reconstruction. Recently, to preserve the geometry and function of the compromised right ventricle (RV), we have applied the TV "bio-prosthesis in native-valve" implantation technique with the preservation of the valve apparatus (tricuspid valve implantation: TVI) in four cases. Concomitant procedures included pulmonary valve replacement in four, pulmonary implantation in one, and aortic valve replacement in three cases. To treat RV failure, we adapted a combined TandemHeart®-CytoSorb® haemoperfusion strategy in Patient #10 and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) support avoidance, after experiencing an ECMO-induced carcinoid-storm-related death in Patient #8. Mortality at 30 days was 18% (2/11). The median follow up was 2 ± 2.1 years (range 1 month to 6 years) with an overall mortality during the follow-up period of 72.7% (8/11).

CONCLUSIONS

HS surgery, despite being a high-risk procedure, can efficiently prolong survival, and represents a safe and feasible procedure. However, patient selection seems to be crucial. Further follow up and larger cohorts are needed.