Long-term Mortality Predictors in Patients with Small Aortic Annulus Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement with a 19- or 21-mm Bioprosthesis.

Introduction: Replacement of the aortic valve in patients with a small aortic annulus is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A prosthesis-patient mismatch is one of the main problems associated with failed valves in this patient population.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term mortality predictors in patients with a small aortic annulus undergoing aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis.

Effects of skeletonized versus pedicled radial artery on postoperative graft patency and flow.

Background: Radial artery (RA) was the second arterial graft introduced in clinical practice for myocardial revascularization. The skeletonization technique of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) may actually change the graft's flow capacity with potential advantages. This leads to the assumption that the behavior of the RA, as a coronary graft, is similar to that of the LITA, when skeletonized.

Assessment of sternal closure using titanium plate.

Introduction: The use of plates and screws for more rigid fixation of the sternum, without maintaining contact between the upper portion of the sternum and mediastinum. The present study seeks new choice of plate with a significant difference, the same does not need to be removed in order to proceed to open when necessary sternal emerging opening of the bone.

Objective: The current study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure.

Surgery for aortic valve endocarditis: treatment options for aortic abscess.

Background: Patients with infective endocarditis show a large diversity of anatomical presentations, which has been a complicating factor for the surgical treatment of this condition, especially in those who develop abscesses in the aortic ring or intracardiac fistulae. For this reason, surgeons have been developing tactical options to repair it. There is consensus around the fact that the removal of infected tissue promotes radical cleaning, and that the outcome of the treatment has been improved by the manufacture of biological glues which facilitate the closure of abscesses and by the creation of new valve replacements.

Fibrinolytic therapy for thrombosis in cardiac valvular prosthesis short and long term results.

Objective: To assess the short- and long-term results of the use of streptokinase (SK) for the treatment of thromboses in cardiac valvular prostheses.

Methods: Seventeen patients with cardiac prosthetic thrombosis diagnosed by clinical, echocardiographic, and radioscopic findings underwent fibrinolytic treatment with a streptokinase bolus of 250,000 U followed by 100.000 U/hour.

Risk factors associated with cardiac surgery during pregnancy.

Background: This study is aimed at analyzing risk factors for fetal and maternal mortality in cardiac surgery during pregnancy.

Methods: Seventy-four pregnant women underwent cardiac surgery and 58 (78.3%) were followed.

Surgical treatment of partial atrioventricular septal defect: functional analysis of the mitral valve in the postoperative period.

Objective: To study mitral valve function in the postoperative period after correction of the partial form of atrioventricular septal defect.

Methods: Fifty patients underwent surgical correction of the partial form of atrioventricular septal defect. Their mean age was 11.