Unilateral versus bilateral cerebral perfusion during aortic surgery for acute type A aortic dissection: a multicentre study.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective multicentre study was to investigate and compare clinical outcomes of unilateral and bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) strategies on cerebral protection during surgery for type A aortic dissection.

Methods: Data from 646 patients who underwent surgical repair of thoracic type A aortic dissection using unilateral and bilateral ACP with moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest in 3 cardiac surgical institutions between 2008 and 2018 were analysed. Propensity matching was performed to assess which technique ensured better outcomes.

Eclipsed Functional Mitral Regurgitation Destabilizing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: An Unusual Case Treated With MitraClip.

MitraClip (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) is validated in high-risk patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR); however, it is not well established for functional MR in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We share a case of a 68-year-old man with HCM hospitalized for multiple incidents of acute pulmonary edema caused by a dynamic MR and successfully treated with the MitraClip device. Novel teaching points emerging from this case are that MRs in HCM can often be explained by mixed mechanisms, and properly identifying the MR mechanism is essential to choose optimal treatment.

Left ventricle reconstruction and heartmate3 implantation. The "double patch technique".

Background: HeartMate 3 is a left ventricular assist device, composed of a centrifugal pump. It can be applied as a myocardial recovery, a bridge to transplant, or a destination therapy, in the treatment of patients with left ventricular heart failure.

Methods: Herein we describe a technique applied against a giant aneurysmal dilatation, which combines a surgical device implantation and a left ventricular reconstruction using a double patch.

Rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients with severe endocarditis.

Background: Surgical management of aortic valve endocarditis in high risk patients is controversial and the ideal treatment has not been found yet. We describe a selected series of eight patients treated with rapid-deployment aortic valve prosthesis as a therapeutic solution for minimizing the risks associated with annulus manipulation in case of severe aortic infective endocarditis.

Methods: Eight consecutive patients (five men and three women) with a mean age of 74.

Animal Models of Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Current Applications and Future Perspectives.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. Despite ongoing improvements in the initial surgical repair, there are lingering concerns regarding the long-term outcomes that may be complicated by right ventricular dysfunction, right ventricular dyssynchrony, and sudden cardiac death. The mechanisms leading to these late complications remain incompletely understood.

Epicardial, Biatrial Ablation With Integrated Uni-bipolar Radiofrequency Technology in Stand-alone Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Objective: Although minimally invasive approaches for surgical treatment of stand-alone atrial fibrillation have gained popularity for the past decade, ablation technology and extensive lesion sets play a major role in the achievement of a successful procedure, especially in presence of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. We evaluated clinical outcomes after totally endoscopic biatrial epicardial ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation with a novel integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency device.

Methods: Forty-nine (49) consecutive patients with stand-alone atrial fibrillation underwent right-sided monolateral thoracoscopic surgical ablation with a novel integrated uni-bipolar radiofrequency energy delivery and temperature-controlled technology.

Early to mid-term results after total cavopulmonary connection performed in the second decade of life.

Objectives: Total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) performed in the second decade of life has rarely been studied. Thus, we investigated (bicentric study) early and late morbidity and mortality following completion of TCPC in these patients.

Methods: From January 1999 to June 2014, 63 patients (14.

Impact of Afterload Increase on Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation Indices.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) afterload could be associated with reduced myocardial contractility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative impact of increased afterload on LV myocardial deformation indices in chronic aortic constriction, with regard to hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and mitochondrial function, and to differentiate acute versus chronic afterload effect.

Methods: Young pigs underwent aortic banding (n = 11) or sham (n = 7) operations.

Gli3 regulation of myogenesis is necessary for ischemia-induced angiogenesis.

Rationale: A better understanding of the mechanism underlying skeletal muscle repair is required to develop therapies that promote tissue regeneration in adults. Hedgehog signaling has been shown previously to be involved in myogenesis and angiogenesis: 2 crucial processes for muscle development and regeneration.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the role of the hedgehog transcription factor Gli3 in the cross-talk between angiogenesis and myogenesis in adults.