Mechanical versus Biological Valve Prostheses for Infective Endocarditis Presenting with Stroke.

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of mechanical and biological valve prostheses in patients with infective endocarditis presenting with stroke. Ninety-five adults with infective endocarditis complicated by stroke at baseline who underwent aortic and/or mitral valve replacement were analyzed retrospectively. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of all-cause mortality, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and re-endocarditis.

Automated titanium fastener for surgical aortic valve replacement-preventive role for infective endocarditis?

Objectives: Evidence on long-term clinical outcomes considering suture-securing techniques used for surgical aortic valve replacement is still uncertain.

Methods: A total of 1405 patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement between January 2016 and December 2022 were included and grouped according to the suture-securing technique used (automated titanium fastener versus hand-tied knots). The occurrence of infective endocarditis during follow-up was set as the primary study end-point.

Automated titanium fastener vs. hand-tied knots for prosthesis fixation in infective endocarditis.

Objectives: To date, there is no evidence regarding the safety of automated titanium fastener compared with hand-tied knots for prosthesis fixation in infective endocarditis.

Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2022, a total of 220 patients requiring surgery for infective endocarditis were included in this retrospective analysis. The primary study endpoint was re-endocarditis during follow-up.

Increased Drop in Activity of Alkaline Phosphatase in Plasma from Patients with Endocarditis.

(1) Infective endocarditis is a severe inflammatory disease associated with substantial mortality and morbidity. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels have been shown to change significantly during sepsis. Additionally, we previously found that a higher initial AP drop after cardiac surgery is associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Mechanical versus biological valve prostheses for left-sided infective endocarditis.

Objectives: Our aim was to analyse outcomes after implantation of mechanical versus biological valve prostheses in patients presenting with left-sided infective endocarditis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre cohort study, analysing adults requiring valve surgery for left-sided infective endocarditis between January 2009 and December 2018 at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna. The primary outcome variable was all-cause mortality.

Femoral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass with a novel bidirectional perfusion cannula.

The use of the novel bidirectional femoral cannula is described in this video tutorial. We demonstrate the percutaneous cannulation and decannulation of the femoral artery for cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. The procedure itself is presented step by step for each important phase.