Design and training effects of a physical reality simulator for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Objectives: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) through an endoscopic right minithoracotomy is a well-established yet complex procedure that has a challenging learning curve. We have developed a simulator for MIMVS and evaluated its short- and long-term training effects.

Methods: Trainees without simulator experience or training in MIMVS were divided into 2 groups (10 students and 10 residents) and participated in a 5-day training course after initial instruction.

Minimally invasive versus conventional extracorporeal circulation circuits in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: a propensity-matched analysis.

Objectives: Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation circuits provide several advantages compared to conventional extracorporeal circulation circuits. We compared the results of a minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation system with those of conventional extracorporeal circulation system, in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: We identified 753 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at our centre between October 2014 and September 2016.

Complex Valve Surgery in Elderly Patients: Increasingly Necessary and Surprisingly Feasible.

Objectives: The increasing proportion of elderly patients in cardiac surgery poses additional challenges for the clinical management and leads to a higher operative risk due to multiple comorbidities of these patients. We reviewed the outcome of patients who were 75 years and older and underwent complex multiple valve surgery at our institution.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who were 75 years and older and underwent multiple valve surgery between January 2011 and May 2016 at our institution.

Beating Heart Versus Arrested Heart Isolated Tricuspid Valve Surgery.

We analyzed the long-term results of two surgical techniques (beating versus non-beating) for isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery.The long-term results of 92 consecutive patients who underwent isolated TV surgery were analyzed. We compared patients with beating heart (BH) surgery (n = 48) with patients undergoing arrested heart (AH) surgery (n = 44).

Surgical treatment for isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis- long-term follow-up at a single institution.

Background: Systematic long-term data on tricuspid valve (TV) endocarditis are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of surgery for isolated TV endocarditis.

Methods And Results: A total of 637 patients who underwent TV surgery between June 1996 and September 2012 at Hannover Medical School were retrospectively investigated.

Pacemaker dependency after isolated aortic valve replacement: do conductance disorders recover over time?

Objectives: Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is required in 3-8% of all patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Our aim was to evaluate long-term PPM dependency and recovery of atrioventricular (AV) conduction disorders during follow-up in these patients.

Methods: Since January 1997, a total of 2106 consecutive patients underwent isolated AVR at our institution.

The first fifty consecutive Bentall operations with a prefabricated tissue-valved aortic conduit: a single-center experience.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Composite replacement is the standard treatment for the repair of aortic aneurysm with aortic valve pathology. With improved long-term durability and no requirement for long-term anticoagulation, tissue-valved conduits have become increasingly popular. Herein are reported the results achieved with 50 consecutive 'Bentall' operations, using the first commercially available prefabricated stentless tissue-valved conduit (Vascutek BioValsalva).

Aortic root reoperation: a technical challenge.

Background And Aim Of The Study: It is well known that aortic root re-replacement presents a formidable technical challenge. Thus, the study aim was to describe the authors' experience with this high-risk cohort.

Methods: Between August 1996 and January 2009, a total of 26 patients (mean age 51 years; range: 16-72 years) underwent aortic root re-replacement surgery at the authors' institution.