Porcine versus bovine bioprosthetic valves in mitral position: does choice really matter?

Background: Bioprosthetic valves are increasingly used for surgical mitral valve replacement (MVR). The long-term outcomes of bovine (BoMVR) vs porcine (PoMVR) remain an enigma regarding the durability. This study aims to examine the outcomes of BoMVR vs PoMVR.

Weight gain potential-a neglected entity during valve replacement.

Introduction: During valve replacement, appropriate valve size will be chosen based on many factors, neglecting the potential of the patient for gaining weight. We aimed at evaluating the weight gain potential and its effect on hemodynamics in post mitral valve replacement (MVR) patients.

Material And Methods: In 118 post-MVR patients, demographic and echocardiographic data at the time of discharge and follow-up were obtained and analyzed.

Reversed Elephant Trunk Technique for the Repair of Type B Aortic Dissection: A Case Report.

We report a case of a type B aortic dissection with an aneurysm treated by the replacement of the proximal descending thoracic aorta via the reversed elephant trunk technique. A 48-year-old asymptomatic man was diagnosed with a type B aortic dissection, moderate aortic regurgitation, and a good biventricular function in March 2012. Four years later (April 2016), a contrast-enhanced computed tomography examination revealed an aneurysmal dilatation in the patient's descending thoracic aorta with a thrombosis in the proximal part of the false lumen, which warranted surgical repair.

Uncommon Anatomic Variation of Left Internal Mammary Artery: God-Created Y-Graft Conduit.

The left internal mammary artery is the most accepted and widely used conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting. This report presents a rare case of very early bifurcation of the left internal mammary artery at the level of the third intercostal space.

Role of surgical ventricular restoration post surgical treatment of heart failure (STICH) trial.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) versus surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) with or without CABG for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Methods: Retrospectively, 49 patients with ICM and severe LV dysfunction (LVEF < 35%) who underwent SVR with or without CABG from January 2009 to December 2016 at a single institution was compared with 49 patients who underwent isolated CABG. The two groups were matched for preoperative clinical and echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVIDs), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV).

Cervicothoracic Thymic Cyst: An Unusual Presentation.

Cervicothoracic thymic cysts are rare and difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We report a case of a cervicothoracic thymic cyst presenting as a lateral neck mass and mimicking a laryngocele in a 3-year-old boy and its definitive management.

Proximal ulnar artery aneurysm following a Bentall procedure for type A aortic dissection.

Non-traumatic or infective peripheral aneurysms of the upper extremities are rare. We report a case of an aneurysm involving the left proximal ulnar artery leading to upper limb ischemia in a patient following a Bentall procedure for a type A dissection.

Pediatric heart transplant for unresectable primary cardiac tumor.

Surgery for primary cardiac tumors in children includes complete resection, partial resection, and cardiac transplantation. A pediatric heart transplant in this setting is associated with significantly higher mortality and poorer long-term outcome, and it is reserved for unresectable tumors. We recently performed an emergency pediatric heart transplant in a 7-year-old boy with an unresectable cardiac fibroma in the left ventricle.