Mitral Ring Extraction due to Nickel Allergy.

The incidence of allergic reactions due to mechanical prosthesis or rings is not well established. We report the case of a 56-year-old man who presented a persistent urticarial rash and anaphylactic shock after a mitral valve repair operation. Prick skin tests were positive for nickel.

Experience, outcomes and impact of delayed indication for video-assisted wide septal myectomy in 69 consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes in our department after surgery for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and to establish the impact of a delay on the indication for surgery.

Methods: From January 1998 to February 2011, 69 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction at rest were operated on by the same team, and followed up for at least 1 year. We retrospectively analysed clinical data, echocardiography and ambulatory Holter electrocardiogram findings before surgery, early after surgery, at 3 months and annually at follow-up, to detect possible prognostic determinants.