Bicuspid aortic valve aortopathies: An hemodynamics characterization in dilated aortas.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy remains of difficult clinical management due to its heterogeneity and further assessment of related aortic hemodynamics is necessary. The aim of this study was to assess systolic hemodynamic indexes and wall stresses in patients with diverse BAV phenotypes and dilated ascending aortas. The aortic geometry was reconstructed from patient-specific images while the aortic valve was generated based on patient-specific measurements.

Longitudinal strain by two-dimensional speckle tracking to assess ventricular function in adults with transposition of the great arteries: Can serial assessment be simplified?

Introduction: Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a rare form of congenital heart disease in which most patients reach adulthood. Right ventricular dysfunction is the most severe residual complication in long-term follow-up, both in patients treated by atrial switch and in those with congenitally corrected TGA. New echocardiographic tools such as longitudinal strain by two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking may improve assessment of ventricular function in these patients.

Uhl's disease: An uncommon presentation of a rare disease.

Uhl's disease, also known as Uhl anomaly, is a rare disease secondary to selective but uncontrolled apoptosis of right ventricular myocytes during the perinatal period, after complete cardiac development, leading to the absence of right ventricular myocardium and the direct apposition of endocardium to epicardium without a myocardial layer in between, resulting in right ventricular failure. The present paper describes a case of Uhl's disease with an uncommon presentation. A 28-year-old man was admitted with dyspnea and cyanosis.

Usefulness of right ventricular and right atrial two-dimensional speckle tracking strain to predict late arrhythmic events in adult patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Objective: To determine whether right ventricular and/or atrial speckle tracking strain is associated with previous arrhythmic events in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Methods And Results: We studied right ventricular and atrial strain in 100 consecutive patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot referred for routine echocardiographic evaluation. Patients were divided into two groups, one with previous documentation of arrhythmias (n=26) and one without arrhythmias, in a median follow-up of 22 years.

Bicuspid aortic valve outcomes.

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common CHD. Its association with early valvular dysfunction, endocarditis, thoracic aorta dilatation, and aortic dissection is well established.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and predictors of cardiac events in adults with bicuspid aortic valve.

Infective endocarditis complicated by large aortic pseudoaneurysm after cardiac surgery.

A 66-year-old female with Streptococcus viridans aortic and tricuspid infective endocarditis develops, during the course of antibiotic therapy, rupture of a right coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to the right ventricle. An urgent cardiac surgery is preformed with implantation of a mechanical aortic prosthesis and a right coronary sinus plasty. Six months later a huge aortic pseudoaneurysm is diagnosed and she is submitted to a second uneventful surgery.

Multivalve endocarditis with multiple peripheral and pulmonary embolisms: a case report.

Fever of unknown origin in elderly patients is a difficult diagnostic problem. Infective endocarditis is often not diagnosed in this group of patients, in whom other etiologies like cancer are considered first. The authors report a case in which an elderly woman with subacute mitral and tricuspid infective endocarditis was correctly diagnosed only after a peripheral embolism.

Thromboembolic and/or bleeding complications in patients under oral anticoagulation followed at a tertiary hospital.

Unlabelled: A better understanding of the characteristics of patients that come to the anticoagulation (AC) clinic of a tertiary hospital could lead to better healthcare provision and reduce the number of thromboembolic and bleeding complications.

Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of patients followed at our AC clinic and to determine which factors could predict an increased risk of complications.

Methods: Data obtained by doctors through a questionnaire from patients attending the AC clinic of our hospital were analyzed.

Eisenmenger syndrome in the adult--experience with new drugs for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The last few years have seen significant progress in the treatment of advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The efficacy of new drugs has been proved mainly in idiopathic PAH or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases. As the pathophysiologic patterns are similar, it is reasonable to use these drugs also in Eisenmenger syndrome or in other congenital heart defects with PAH related to initial high pulmonary flow.