AI for Multistructure Incidental Findings and Mortality Prediction at Chest CT in Lung Cancer Screening.

Background Incidental extrapulmonary findings are commonly detected on chest CT scans and can be clinically important. Purpose To integrate artificial intelligence (AI)-based segmentation for multiple structures, coronary artery calcium (CAC), and epicardial adipose tissue with automated feature extraction methods and machine learning to detect extrapulmonary abnormalities and predict all-cause mortality (ACM) in a large multicenter cohort. Materials and Methods In this post hoc analysis, baseline chest CT scans in patients enrolled in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) from August 2002 to September 2007 were included from 33 participating sites.

Computed tomography angiography for imaging results of neochordal mitral valve repair.

Introduction: Degenerative mitral regurgitation is currently the most frequent indication for mitral valve repair.

Aim: To visualize and assess the mid-term results of mitral valve repair with neochordae implantation, using computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging.

Material And Methods: The CTA with ECG gating and without modulation was applied in 10 patients to assess the results of a mitral valve sparing procedure.

Can the onset of heart failure be delayed by treating diabetic cardiomyopathy?

The pathophysiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC) is not fully understood. This frequently undiagnosed complication of chronic hyperglycemia leads to heart failure (HF). However, it is suggested that an appropriate metabolic control of diabetes at an early stage of this deleterious disease, is able to inhibit the development and progression of DC to HF.

Artificial aortic valve dysfunction due to pannus and thrombus - different methods of cardiac surgical management.

Introduction: Approximately 60 000 prosthetic valves are implanted annually in the USA. The risk of prosthesis dysfunction ranges from 0.1% to 4% per year.

Iatrogenic left main-stem dissection extending to the circumflex artery and retrogradely involving the left and non-coronary sinuses of Valsalva: iatrogenic aortocoronary dissection.

We present the case of a 57-year-old female who experienced iatrogenic left main-stem (LMS) dissection during elective coronary angiography. The dissection immediately affected the circumflex artery (Cx), causing its total distal occlusion, and the left anterior descending artery (LAD), in which a metal stent, implanted six months earlier, provided blood flow. The dissection spread retrogradely to the left and non-coronary sinuses of Valsalva (SV).

Independent predictors of early mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting in a single centre experience--does gender matter?

Background: It is commonly believed that women undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) are subject to a higher risk of perioperative complications and death.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of sex as a risk factor on early complications and mortality after isolated CABG performed with cardiopulmonary bypass, and to evaluate the profile of the risk determined by the patient's sex.

Methods: Data derived from 2,194 surgical procedures performed in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Medical University of Lodz between January 2009 and March 2011 was analysed.

Cardiac tamponade and para-aortic hematoma post elective surgical myocardial revascularization on a beating heart - a possible complication of the Lima-stitch and sequential venous anastomosis.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery can be associated with some intrinsic, but relatively rare complications. A pericardial effusion is a common finding after cardiac surgeries, but the prevalence of a cardiac tamponade does not exceed 2% and is less frequent after myocardial revascularization.Authors believe that in our patient an injury of a nutritional pericardial or descending aorta vessel caused by the Lima stitch resulted in oozing bleeding, which gradually leaded to cardiac tamponade.

Urgent splenectomy in the course of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

We present a case of a 51-year-old male patient hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome requiring stent implantation to the left main stem. Double antiplatelet therapy was commenced. After 2-3 days, the patient presented with high fever, dyspnea on exertion, pain in the chest, myalgia, and general weakness.

Sarcomas of the heart as a difficult interdisciplinary problem.

Cardiac tumors are assumed to be a rare entity. Metastases to the heart are more frequent than primary lesions. Sarcomas make up the majority of cardiac malignant neoplasms.

23-year experience on diagnosis and surgical treatment of benign and malignant cardiac tumors.

Introduction: Although myxoma is the most frequent cardiac tumor, other conditions should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), followed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) remain the principal methods for cardiac tumor screening and visualizing. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostics, surgical treatment and prognosis of malignant and benign cardiac tumors.

Comparison of the clinical application of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory markers in patients with endocarditis.

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still connected with high operative mortality. Inflammatory markers are commonly used in monitoring patient clinical condition. Respiratory burst and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the main way of pathogen elimination.

Removal of the left atrium and left ventricle tumour: a case report.

The heart is the rarest site for neoplasms to be localized. Despite modern diagnostic techniques, cardiac tumours continue to among those discovered latest and with the worst prognoses. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with a heart tumour and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, who was admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery.